A greater evil

[Glarundis]

"A strange event"

-Ahh.... the sweet scent of nature.... I just love it! Music, nature, and a nice smoking pipe. And with that, my life is complete! Oh, and of course, sheering the sheep!
-C'mon Glarundis, you were always to fond of sheep, ahah!I still remember when we had that farm and you did all the work, but you didn't even complain!
-Yeah, you can laugh about it, Balu, but just because all you want to do is work out your body to the extreme, doesn't mean some of us can't have.... higher thoughts.
"Suddenly rain started to pour, and Glarundis felt kind of sad, for the rain would ruin his last weed."
-My weed!Damn, let's head to the Cat's Lair!
-Are you scared?Ahahaha, c'mon let's enjoy the rain a bit, we can walk.
"As they passed the Gung Farmer's bridge, they noticed someone.... or something, was upsetting the water.
-I don't like the look of it, let's get there fast!
"As they entered the Cat's Lair, it was so crowded they had trouble finding a seat, so they just leaned against the window.
-Look at the sky-said Glarundis- it's pitch black!
Balu looked and said:
-Are you crazy?It's so light it almost blinded me... Wha...What's wrong with you?
"Glarundis was pale, not like a regular pale person, but the kind of paleness from a person whose life has been squeezed out of her body."
"Darkness now covered the earth, the moon was dark red"
-Get out of the light, get out of the light!!
"They rushed to the centre of the tavern, but those who were caught by the moon's light, simply vanished, their cloths behind.
"Suddenly it all stopped, the day came back, and no one would say that a few seconds ago had happened what had happened."
"Glarundis had a worrying look, he went to the door and pulled it, rushed outside, and he saw some shields and gold cloaks. The guards were not allowed to take cover from the rain..."
"In a second, Glarundis started singing a song, and wept deeply, so deeply that words can't describe it.No one around him knew the tongue in which he was singing the song"
"In the end, he whispered: -Gaea, Gaea, please help me.How can I be what I am, without you?No life can truly be without you"
-Balu, to your house, immediately. Everyone, do not linger near the water, watch for sunburns and DO NOT stay in the moonlight if you see that it's turning red.Stay safe"
-Gaea, may your grace protect these people.
-What the hell is just happening here?Just use your music and let's go - shouted Balu.
-Hell?Hell is so much more different than this, and I doubt we will ever see it.And no, my friend, I will not use music, or any kind of magic right now.Something tells me not to.If only I knew what...
-We have to ride there.
*meanwhile, during the riding*
-GLARUNDIIIIIS!!!THE MOON IS TURNING RED AGAIN!!!!
-Shit!Let's hide in the orc fort.
-Orc??Hide with the orc?
-Even the orc are our friends in these times.Despite their intentions or what goes in their hearts, they are still living beings.
Balu whispers:
-I knew this guy had some serious issues...
"But no orc were to be found in the fort, so they had no trouble and hid in one of the houses"
-That guy again... - said Balu.
-Who? - replied Glarundis.
-Dennac....
-I wish it would be him.No, Balu, I seriously doubt that this is his work, even his perfected twisted work cannot create this...or destroy, for evil cannot create.
-This guy is a philosopher...
-No, I don't think it's him.I do not fear for the Order of Imperial, or Nature, or Law, or the Cult.
-Who then?
"Glarundis exhaled strongly, yet softly"
-For the human race.
"And those words marked his mind as soon as he said them.Still in his mind, the human race...the human race..."
-You know I like music and all that, but as you know, or should know, I truly like science.This has happened before.
-You tell me this is not the first time?
-No!Atleast the second time, or maybe more, if someone else witnessed it.When I was taking a nap at the inn in Moonglow I noticed some red glow outside.I didn't mind, because I thought it would be the sun.
But then I heard a metalic sound outside, and as soon as the red disappeared, I looked through the window and I saw a shield and sword in the ground, gold cloak on the side.The guard was no longer there.
I... went to Moonglow's Library to do some research on everything I could find that concerned "supernatural events".Here's some of it.

[Glarundis]

"The explanation"

*flashback- in the library*

-Good morning, what books do you have that talk about outer worlds and hierarchy of gods and deities?
-Ahahahah -the librarian laughed-, another Ismael Lukairnth?Right, here's the key to the library, you can spend the night here if you wish.

******

-Who is that Ismael guy?
-Let me finish.
-Right, go on, I'll chop some wood and start a fire.
-No, leave it, I think this has some relation with the elements.
-You prefer to be cold and wet?
-Yes, alive and wet is better than dry and dead.
"Balu swallowed hard."
-Just let me finish.

******

(back at the library)
-Ismael Luka.. whatever... who is he?
-Who was he!, you mean.Here, I'll get you his book along with the others, and it has a note added by my grandfather.
-Thank you.


"Lesser deities"

Page 1

G and W and D and E and W and D and E and G.
And D and E and and W and G and G and E and D and W and waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
Ahahahah!!!
The moon is black! and we're all high on crack!
But if she's white!, can we all get it right?!?



-Wow, I know I'm crazy, but this guy definately takes the cake.
Oh, here's the famous note.

*Glarundis reads the note*

This is the book of Ismael Lukairnth, an ancient mage, the most powerful of his time, he stated that he saw a spirit greater than all of the four gods known to us.
He was declared to have a mental disorder, and was sent by the Order of Law to the Cult of Tekstone, in exchange for a period of peace.No one knows what happened to him after that, but maybe some books from the Cult may have
something related to this.



Page 2


-Oh!This is getting interesting, a music, with the parts!



"Loi Mokaen" - "The Beggining"

-Ah!Can't wait to get this home and play the music.The librarian must lend me the book.

*****
(back in the orc fort with Balu)

-And the moon is now ok, so it's safe again.Quick, to Yew!

*during the ride*

-Who are you sending that message to?
-To Ethazhiel, I feel he has something to do with this, or atleast, what he does for a living.
-Necromancers in the mix?Boy, is this gonna be a cocktail or what?You better write down the recipe.

*arriving at Yew's house*

-Ok Balu, stay here and wait for Ethazhiel.If he arrives before me tell him to wait and give him...ummm...some raw meat and...ummm...a cup of blood to drink.Eww, that guy is sick....
-Where are you going?
-To Moonglow, the book's in my house.
-And how are you going to get there, genius?You said yourself the water is dangerous, and you weren't going to use music or magic.
-I know I did, but right now I have to take the risk. Besides, if we don't get to the bottom of this, we're all gonna die.



*Arriving at Moonglow*

-Ffffheww..., I'm safe now.

"A lightning bolt came down from the sky and struck Glarundis in his chest.

-LEAVE IT!
-What the? - replied Glarundis with a surprisingly look stamped upon his face.
If it's like this, I just hope I can make it back.


*arriving at Yew's house*

"Glarundis enters the house, a staff pointed at his neck."

-I am not happy!I had a lovely rat in my house and was nearly ready to cast an enchantment on him.What can be so important?
-Your life, along with everyone's.
-My death, you mean...
-Yeah, right, don't have time for that.Here's the deal, I asked Gormax Fox to come and I will not tolerate fights between the both of you!
-And what are you gonna do if we actually do fight?Bring me to life?Pathetic....

"Glarundis fell on his chair, shook his head, hand on his forehead"

-Just don't do it!
-Sure thing, sure thing. A necromancer's word is a necromancer's word! - with his fingers crossed behind his back.

[Glarundis]

"A druid and a necromancer"


"A magical sound is heard, and so Glarundis goes outside"

-Gormax! Thank you for coming.
-Hello Glarundis, this was one heck of a travel...You better explain me what is going on.
-I wish I could explain better. Now, Ethazhiel is inside, I don't want any mess.
-What is he doing here?!?C'mon Glarundis, you know I can't stand it.
-I'm sorry, but both of you are needed.


-Hello, hello, Gormax! - said Ethazhiel, with an evil tone.

Gormax refrained from saying anything.

-Let this be clear, anything between you two will result in devastation for what is around of you, for any reason you are know both equally powerful, or both equally powerless.
-Yeah yeah, for all I care! Ulties Manum Necarent!
-Ethazhiel!

"After a few seconds, they were all scattered, lying on the ground, but now outside the house.

-My house!You are gonna pay me a new one!But hey, how come is Gormax still alive, and not a scratch on him?
-Ethazhiel - said Glarundis this time, - please blind us.
-Will that be a problem! Nox!
-Ahhh!Stop it, there's too much light!!
-What the... - said Ethazhiel.
-This is indeed mind-boggling... I'm out of thought right now.Let's get to what matters before I faint.
Here's the music part, what can you tell me about it?
They all replied more or less the same:

-You know I don't understand a lot about music, but it just seems to be beautiful, even though I haven't heard it yet.
-Yes, I agree - continued Glarundis - and if you look at it, the title is translated to our own language, yet, whoever composed this song, has music in his own world, which leaves me to think
that music is one of the few languages that go beyond this world. Concerning the both of you, I strongly believe that druidry and necromancy have a strong relation with elements and I think that these may be in
the foundation of our own world, thus it leaves me to conclude that those two...arts, if we can call it that -You bet you can! - said Ethazhiel and Gormax together- are related with what's beyond this world.
Later, I will ask you for your teaching, or demonstration of your powers. I have this belief that what we know is nothing compared to what is real, but, maybe this is not the time to talk about it. I need
to prepare a meeting, and I just hope it takes place, because it will not be a pretty one.In the meantime you all go to rest, it's already late. I'll call you when it is ready.
Balu, where are you going to sleep?

-I wouldn't mind sleeping in the forest and all, but with this moon thing, I guess I have to go to the inn.
-Ok, I have to go now.

*waves*

-Music, as fast as you can!To Britain!

[Glarundis]

"A very unlikely meeting"


"A villager walks nearby Lord British's castle and reads a sign."

"By order of Lord British, all members of the Cult of Tekstone, Order of Imperial, Order of Law and Order of Nature, together with Balu, Ethazhiel, Glarundis and Gormax Fox will have permission to step into his own castle,
for a most important meeting."

-Has Lord British gone mad??
-Yes he has - said a black cloaked women, followed by a group of people dressed the same as she was. - Get out of my sight, before I offer you as a sacrifice to Dennac.

Inside the castle, the environment was tense, with members of the four religions all together.

Glarundis enters the hall, followed by Balu, Ethazhiel and Gormax.

-Erm... I know this is one very odd situation, but I have information that requires immediate attention.
I will go straight to the point, because there's no time to play around. - said Glarundis.
There is a possibility that these gods you worship are not more than lesser deities, d...
-Excuse me?Do you have dreams of a long time in a cold stone?Or maybe one is not enough for you, since there are four religions here - said the headpriest of Imperial.
-Or better, - said one from the Cult - have his soul extracted from his body, I'm sure Dennac would appreciate this.
-Let him continue - said the headpriest of Nature.
-I too, like all of you, believe in something higher, I believe in Gaea.
-Which gives us a reason to kill you when this is over - said another person, this time the same woman that spoke to the villager.
-And that is why, I too, am confused. If these are lesser deities, how can there be life when Life is a lesser deity? This shocks me as much as it shocks you, and there's only one reason for me to think
this.

"Glarundis takes his lute out of his backpack and a music part"

-This song is called "Loi Mokaen", in our tongue "The Beggining". I believe this was created by something greater than whatever we have knowledge of, and I think this was how our world began.

"Glarundis starts to play the song, but after the last note he mutes the strings so the song isn't finished to the very end."

-So, what can the four headpriests tell me?

The headpriest of Law was the first, and said:

-It just....makes sense.

"The four headpriests looked to eachother, stunned, because they were somehow forced to say the same."
"And for maybe the first time in a long time, they all.... agreed."

[Glarundis]

"A Mighty Puzzle"

-Ok people. Something's happening and I'm not sure what it is, I don't know if anyone knows. But I suspect this is related to whatever druids and necromancers do, and the gods have something to do with it. Either they're responsible, or they can save us from it.
This piece of music I have just played, came from a book by Ismael Lukairnth, an ancient mage who lived many years before all of us. Now, I don't think he wrote this, but maybe he was able to get it somewhere? From a different world, I suppose? It is said that he stated he saw something or someone greater than all he has ever seen or heard or thought of, maybe this is where he got the music from?
A note that was in the book also says he was sent from the Order of Law to the Cult of Tekstone in exchange for a peace agreement, and it's life after that is unknown. Maybe there are some notes about him lying in the Order of Law or the Cult's ancient libraries? I can't say, it's up to these religions to look for them.
Now, as this song is called "The Beggining", I'm tempted to think the elements, which are four (or atleast we assume) are a key to this. What's even more odd, there are four religions just like there are four elements. However I can't find any necessary correlations between the elements and the religions. And, I can't find any specific necromancer chant that is related to elements. Now, Gormax, you can find four or your druidric spells attached to elements right?
-Well... Let's see. We have stone rain which is clearly attached to earth. Waterfall for water... Snowstorm for maybe wind? And fire snakes for fire.
-I knew those fire snakes would come useful one of these days! - said a druid in the audience.
-Hold on! We have some studies concerning plague which might be useful here. - said one from the Cult of Tekstone.
-Hmm...Interesting. Well, while necromancers sure can plague. But so can you with your rites. Maybe necromancers got this from Dennac?Or the other way around? I'm thinking of the very ancient tale we have about the boy and the girl in the community that was burnt by a necromancer. Maybe the tale is more than a tale and it's older than it seems, connected to the very beggining of everything.
But what about alchemists and their plague potions? I don't know, I can't make any sense of this.. Maybe plague comes from out of this world and we can merely start its process, considering we have no control whatsoever over it, as if it answered to something out of this world. And according to these notes there's no way to "tame" it. These papers are helpful to our cause, indeed.
And the Head Priest of the Order of Nature said:
-Well, one thing is certain for now. We need to gather druids, necromancers and men and women from all the religions to fight whatever is coming from some other world. Wether it is a god or some sort of elemental hazard, we need to put an end to it. But how will it attack us, and how do we end it?
-I have no idea..For now. I need the Order of Law and the Cult of Tekstone to look for information about Ismael Lukairnth. And I need a good scribe to help me with this book. It's too complicated for me. - replied Glarundis.
-We don't need to make sense of it! We just need to kill whatever comes at us! - said Balu.