"It was then that Duchess Hfragar the Iceborn saw her folly, in trying to tame the wastes she had nearly broken the Wulfgrem Duchy and its people, with shame in her face and tears in her eyes the mighty battlemage sounded the retreat, ending one of the many doomed campaigns in that accursed place"

The Duchy of Wulfgrem and its story, primer for non-Vermilians.

 

Vivienne strapped herself with her armor and staff, sword in hand as she walked toward the entrance of the dungeon and sent a pulse of mana towards the small panel to the side of the main doorway, the intent was clear, she would face the beast of plague and pox to prove herself. And yet a thought kept racing around her head, why were these creatures of immense power testing her? What were they planning?

Does it matter? said the inner voice as she made her way into the depths of the dungeon I need every edge I can get! the enemies are at the door and I will not be caught unaware again! 

It was a side of her she often kept restrained, it was so easy to be angry at the world, at the injustice of it all but with that sword in hand she felt those chains and locks slowly being broken, the wrath of a scorned woman was no joke as her father oft said. Her mind and heart calmed for a bit as she began casting Miracles to ward off every manner of toxin and curse, half the battle was prep work after all.

She could see the phantom of Kaine to her side pointing out flaws in her weave, Vivienne often felt jealousy of the young mage for he was the first among the friends of Lucrezia, even now after they had entered a relationship it was clear to see she valued his opinion greatly...she laughed at the silly notion and felt that she still had some issues to work it out with her beloved...

"Focus" Vivienne said to herself as she began to cast magic taught by Kaine, this would be her first and final line of attack together with the sword, her Magi-Tech staff glowed with power and a low hum could be heard from the weapon, floating behind her now she balled her left hand into a fist and felt a snap in the arcane weave, with another thought she shaped it into a knot and it was done.

"Spell Order: Purge All Toxins, Halo of Power, Halo of Healing, Revival from Near Death," A click in her mind told her the spell was working and she was ready, a silent nod to the gatekeeper and she was off to fight the Plague-Seeker.

Ten steps into the darkness and she was within a large circular arena, nowhere to run or ride as a mighty beast stood in the middle of it, its body was made of a mass of rotten flesh, vestigial wings dotted its back and weird frog-like legs gave it a mighty leaping ability, its head was half skeleton half boils and scabs, it was like a horse and snake had mated and this unholy beast was the result of it.

Vivienne felt holy power flow from the blade, her mind was stricken as if a lightning bolt had slammed into her 'NO FEAR' it said and she snarled as the beast unleashed a stream of curses upon her position.

The hunt was on, with short incantations she raised her staff, and new magic flowed from it, a mighty aegis of green and silver forming and shielding her from the initial barrage, she threw the staff in the air and the weapon hovered above her, grabbing the blade with both hands she went on the offensive, a mighty overhead slash into one of the legs found purchase and the beast shrieked in horror.

Foul miasma escaped from the wound and Vivienne felt her Revival from Near Death go off, with a mighty leap backward she took a guarding stance and circled the beast, her staff glowing to recast the spell, she could only do it 2 times a day, so cutting off the other leg was out of the table.

Eyes full of hate and fear stared right back at her, the beast mimicked her movements placing one of its vestigial wings forward almost like a shield, it snarled once, then twice, and tried to pounce with speed unnatural, and yet the beast did not find purchase for its attack as a mighty boom came from the staff, golden light pierced the darkness and for a brief minute, the entire arena was alight!

Fevor, fury so righteous it nearly singed her fingers poured from the blade, it begged in some eldrich way to kill the beast, volition she had never felt in her life in a way that was near maniacal and unhinged. It was a test, she could feel it as the intentions of the ones who gifted her this powerful weapon also came from below, should she succumb to this rage it would end the potential of growth, she would have a powerful weapon and that was that.

Refinite, polished to a mirror sheen, her father's words came to her mind as the memory of being taught how to wield the blades of the Shogunate and its unique arts played within her head. So Vivienne rose above it and found a wave of approval from the powers from beyond the cosmos.

"Worthy" she spoke out loud as the blade's fury was replaced with grim determination, with a grunt of power she leaped and slashed the wing's muscles, the Plague-Seeker did not take the wound lightly as it spitted foul venom from its mouth and with the good leg, leaped to the walls of the arena and bellowed a horrifying scream, no doubt trying to intimate Vivienne.

Fumes and oily liquid filled the arena below it, Vivienne felt the Halo of Power going off, forming an invisible shield around her that kept the tide at bay, and for as long she remained inside of it, her powers would also be boosted.

She pointed the sword to the beast and with a short chant let loose two projectiles filled with Divine energy, one from the blade and another from her staff, she wanted to shape them into arrows but in her battle high the one imagined that came to her mind were mighty spears, feeling her mana drop to half her capacity due to the increased shaping of the arcane, Vivienne roared a scream in challenge to the animal.

"Get down here!" she bellowed out as the spears pierced its twisted flesh, a wailing so high it hurt her ears, the foul liquid vanished in a plume of toxic smoke and she bolted forward, sword in hand and burning mana to summon a pillar of holy fire. The world slowed down around Vivienne as the fruits of her training showed themselves, she was a warrior now, a holy warrior even, and in this crucible of combat, she would be forged into a fearsome force on the battlefield.

Piercing and Slashing at the monster, she dodged its blows, and countered its vile magic with her powers both magical and divine, raising Ascalon high she pulled forth the powers from beyond and pillars of white salt slammed into the beast, comets of brimstone destroying its wings and blocks of hail so massive she heard the crunch of bone and sinew.

With a scream of raw power and desperation, she pinned the beast and pierced its belly, dragging the blade to its tail with the power she didn't know she had in her own body, the beast became wisps of mana as she slammed the blade into the ground, holding her entire body weight into it. her body tensed up as a powerful presence filled the room, and then she relaxed, it was the Red Dragon.

A voice boomed from the walls "Impressive work my lady, I've spoken with the Guild Leader already, and she has extra rewards for you, out of my private collection" She nodded in thanks, having little strength for actual words, her minding racing thinking about the rewards, it was no wonder Lucrezia often went to the dungeon on her own, the allure of loot was a powerful thing.

---

"Kaine please, this is dramatic even for you!" Kaede raced around the room as the love of her life dressed in what had to be the most cutting-edge suit of mage armor that existed in the land, she felt the tinges of panic race all across her back and tail, she wasn't made for this she thought to herself as Kaine remained quiet, nery a sound coming out of the young man.

"Has to be done dear, unfortunately as it is for me to say it, it has to be done" his voice was eerily heavy and sad, lacking the manic energy and cheer she knew so well, out of everything it came to her mind to try and stop this mad quest of his, nothing seemed to work because she was all too aware it wouldn't work, he had to win this upcoming fight, totally win in a way so brutal it would shape future events...

"Will she do it? are you sure of it?" Kaede asked Kaine one more time and he closed his eyes, power hummed all across him like pure energy "...Gwennarius refuses to save her, in grief and rage Hope forcefully summons down the Goddess onto the mortal coil and slays her with the spear that was gifted by the Hive-Mind partition, things escalate further from there into pandemonium..."

Kaine sighed "...Hope becomes Duchess-in-Waiting of Wulfgrem, Arthur renounces the claim for the throne as he joins his beloved, blessed by the Winter Spirits they raise a grand army, Grannarius, the Imperium, Sea-Folk, Shogunate, and even the Elves from the Principality, Vivienne together with Richard both who went mad and cruel with grief are named Warmasters of the North, more allies from beyond, Dragon Hordes and Demon Armies..."

Such was the command of the river of time from Kaine, Kaede could see whispers of this dire future, she saw her friends warped in malice, rage, and grief as they built an army that would swallow Vermilion whole, and then the world.

She saw Hope sat upon an icy throne, spear in hand and armor wrought of unknown metal, her visage one of pure barely controlled rage as the men and women of Wulfgrem, a few Kaede herself had the pleasure of meeting spoke with this alternative Hope, the thirst of blood clear to see in their eyes as they pointed to maps and scrolls, magickal forms of armies, ships and airships all around them.

She saw Richard and Vivienne, now twice as big and armed with powerful suits of armor not unlike the ZENOS units, Raven motifs around the pauldrons for Vivienne, Dire Wolf for Richard as they stormed the Palace and slaughtered the men and women there down to the last, only for the vision to speed itself up and show a half dead Richard holding the head of Queen Malphas, raising his sword and head to the skies and screamed to the skies.

"And yet this is not the full account of these events, are they?" Kaede asked, iron in her mouth as she knew what her beloved was hiding, after all, who was first among Lucrezia's friends and advisors? who had she gone out of her way to save from a battle against the first prince, trained and was trained by, granted weapons and magick no one had ever seen and made anointed by the Goddess of Time herself?

Hope often spoke with Keade, about how she felt jealous of how Lucrezia always consulted with Kaine first, how she would call him for backup when she was just as good with magic, and how much she trusted the man, it was petty Hope said, but a good kind of petty and endearing because she knew Lucrezia didn't discriminate or favored, she knew how to best work a problem with the ones around her, and often Kaine was the best for it.

"Do you want to see it?" Kaine asked after a long pause, she read his face and saw a rare hint of sadness in it, holding Kaine's hand she steeled herself for the vision, for the fate that would wait for them all if Kaine did not win the coming battle. Kaede nodded still holding his hand. The vision shifted into a horrifying battlefield, melted bodies and broken stonework dotting the scene as a pair of mages floated above, raw arcane power crackling through them as they rained down terror unto the survivors.

And no just that, huge flesh abominations wrought of necromancy were summoned by them, as the tiny crystal shards coming from their wands betrayed their identities, hidden in macabre ritual garbs that shone like an oil spill, heads hooded with some monster hide, gasp of surprise left Keade's mouth as she saw herself, pale as white snow and with eyes of madness staring at the ground.

Kaine looked just as evil, and yet she could also see the pain in his face, the rage, and self-hatred of being unable to save his friend making him fall to his wrath and anguish, a perfect gallery of villains, of evil bent on inflicting pain and misery to lash out against the world who was cruel enough to steal their beloved friend, Kaede didn't fail to see Castra-Cam's form in the battlefield either, the undead warrior looking especially grim with a scythe made out of blood red crystal.

Kaine ended the trance-like state and spoke "My mother has a spell, one she has worked for nearly a decade to perfect, it can put anything or anyone into a perfect stasis by removing the local that the spell was cast from the river of time without upsetting Gwennarius, if we can grab hat spell we can save Lucrezia, and this future will not come to pass, but to get said spell we will have to fight her" He spoke slowly and methodically, clearly not a fan of the idea but knowing it had to be done.

"And your father, plus your sister" Kaede sighed "Who are holed up in the Arch-Mage's tower surrounded by Magi-Knights, their troops, and gods know how many mages of high level who will fight to defend their stronghold, Kaine I know you are strong, I know I am strong, but this is too much! how can we fight them? without becoming enemies of the state in the process?" Kaede laughed, the insanity of it all making her lose it a little.

Kaine smirked, and said, "Oh, I have a few ideas about that, my dear, now listen..."

---

"I am sorry Kaine, we have barely gotten the weapons platform working and the elven leaders that rule over our little moon spaceport are being unreasonable about their demands again, I am afraid I can't let you test fire the main gun yet, even if I would find it funny hearing your mother swear at you again, no Kaede of course, Gods know the woman doesn't deserve it" Lucrezia spoke as she toiled at some Magi-Tech gizmo, Kaine felt a weird flashback seeing the scene, as if something else was happening in the background that was the woman in front of them.

"A ship, a dozen ZENOS units, and your Knight-Commander?" Kaine asked, barely holding the laughter back as he mouthed the insane request.

Lucrezia cleared her throat and turned to face him and Kaede "Ahem, I will not be trialed for treason of the state, sedition, or a coup my arcane-inclined friend, Kaede you ought to knock some sense into him, this is enough men and material to overthrow a small country he's asking!" She laughed but Kaine saw that Kaede was not smiling, her tail betraying the severity of the request and conversation they were having.

Lucrezia stared Kaine down, then started Kaede down "Why?"

"You" Kaine spoke and Lucrezia sat down on her chair, hands on her face as she contemplated the meaning of that reply, all the things left unsaid by Kaine and he knew she would understand it.

"You" Kaede spoke afterward, and the woman in front of her slouched on her chair, looking like a blacksmith who had just heard his shipment of ore was delayed for a whole month, indignation, rage, a sigh to keep it all locked away before resignation blossomed upon her face, a look very few were privileged to as Kaine knew from his time spent with her up in the north.

"Talk with Vivienne, that's all I can do without getting everyone here thrown into the dungeon" Lucrezia relented and both mages were off, ready for the next stage of their plans.

---

Duskweaver Cakrahan sighed as she patrolled the outer walls of the Arch-Mage's compound, today was an awful summer day, in a row of awful summer days and she prayed for winter to relieve her of this misery, using spells to cool her down was already starting to taper off and she had an inkling the Summer Spirits were doing this on purpose, Gods knew they were whimsical like that...

"I miss the North" she spoke to no one and sighed, After nearly 2 decades living in the South after the war against the elven menace she still couldn't get used to the weather, nevermind the fact her home had gone through an actual honest-to-gods coup. the alabaster woman stopped at a checkpoint to relieve herself, her tall frame towering over even the men who worked with her, cold magenta eyes and equally colored hair gave her quite the striking appearance within these arcane halls, and no end of confessions by younger mages.

"And I thought becoming a weaver would've stopped them" she spoke to no one while resting on the porcelain throne within the checkpoint, aye it was rare for anyone nowadays to get through the tests, forge, and wield the special sword-staff AND defeat whatever abomination the Arch-Mages summoned via their spells but by the Gods above and Demons below she had done it, and now was in charge of her very own squad of would-be candidates, plus security of the place together with the Mage-Knights and the other security measures they had in place.

In this most sacred of places Cakrahan heard furious knocking outside, and sounds of hurried footsteps in the distance "I am in the fucking shitter unless this is an emergency fuck off!" she screamed, likely it was some newbie guard spooked because some would-be mage summoned some demon or such, Gods be good the level of discipline these days...of course, she wasn't expecting an explosion the size of a small house to hit her checkpoint.

Instincts honed by war kicked in and within seconds she was outside, hand in a warhorn that was blown so loud, half the city would've heard it, in the distance more horns were blown, and magickal alarms rung with gusto, she couldn't believe it, someone was stupid enough to attack the Arch-Mage's hold head bloody on! flares rainbow in color went up in the skies as she looked up and beheld the fools who dared to commit such an act.

A squadron of Mage-Knights teleported to her location as she whistled, her squad members rushed to her side and got ready, with a smooth motion Cakrahan summoned her weapon of choice and called out the intelopers, magic powering her words "Halt! Who dares attack the demesne of Arch-Mage Valtas and Sophia!?!" A boom came from the figures up in the skies as mages raised their shields and wands, some summoned familiars ready for the fight.

"ME!" Cakrahan eyes widened as she beheld the face of one Kaine Antewood, son of the very same people she had just proclaimed. To her credit she did not hesitate and immediately went on the offensive, arcane weave flowed through her like a river and the young mage above her was quick to fire back a beam of pure golden light at her, it was nearly like miracle incantations!

Her forces didn't falter either, the trio was pierced by a barrage of spells, magical bombardments, and plain old steel as soldiers from the ramparts fired arrows at the interlopers, Cakrahan pointed her sword towards Kaine and fired a gnarly-looking spiral projectile, it drank the light around its path and for a moment the entire battlefield went silent as the woman had fired something that could kill the scion of their bosses.

"Vivienne, deal with the rabble" Kaine spoke as Cakrahan's men exploded into motes of light and sparkle, she saw they were being entombed in prisons of light that looked alien and offputting, she didn't need to guess that was no native spell of this world and cursed out loud before speaking "Eldricht Element!" the mages near her shouted in response and instant multiple pillars of green looking runes were raised, Order was restored to the Material Plane as one of the most advanced weapons against the enemies from beyond was called upon in this dire field of battle she found herself in.

The third Inteloper raised a crystal staff towards the projectile Cakrahan had launched and sucked the spell in, once again she cursed out loud and called more mana towards her soul, if the kid wanted to pick a fight gods above she would grant him his wish! with a leap she fell behind the pillars and barked orders, the people fighting with her following them to the letter as they warded off the light pillars Kaine and the now revealed Kaede, rumored girlfriend and Kitsune where throwing.

"Lockdown, eliminate that shell!" Kaine commanded again and Cakrahan's eyes went wide once again, she was aware of the name as she had seen firsthand the Terrifying War Golem from Lucrezia's forges demolish Uumaries cathedral!

She then saw a small woman charge them, staff floating behind her back and a golden sword pointed straight at Cakrahan's neck, a bolt of lighting halted her advance as the mages around gasped at the identity of the woman, the bloody Arch-Duke's daughter! and that sword, gods be merciful an actual artifact of the powers from beyond! it brimmed with alien power too!

"...Raise your staves and wands men! grimories and words of power, for we are not a bunch of neophytes fresh out of academia! warriors of the arcane, masters of the weave and flow from the heart of this reality, HOLD. YOUR. GRO-" A rousing speech came from an older-looking mage who was a bit far away from Cakrahan before a shadow fell on top of him.

The Evil colossus was wrought from crystal and silver, plated in steel and malice, and with weapons tailor-made to kill mages, Cakrahan didn't think twice as she lept into the fray and with power hitherto known to her cast a spear of pure darkness and heaved at the war golem, this was it she thought to herself as the vile mechanical beast placed both arms forward, palms outstretched as an actual black hole manifested itself and sucked the spell into the aether.

Death comes.

And yet the mage line held true and fast, the interlopers focused down the group with spells she could barely react to in time, Cakrahan felt her very thoughts slowing down as Kaine pointed his staff to them and chanted in wordless form, Vivienne stabbed the foul blade onto the ground and a blasted tree, shining in silver light was summoned, with its roots it grabbed the first row of mages and Cakrahan.

"Gods forgive me for being lax with my morning watch" were the last words that escaped the northern woman whose thoughts went home, she heard a boom and thunder and braced herself for the killing blow.

Death did not come.

"I will fuck you up Kaine, and your father won't be here to stop me this time you ungrateful, whore chasing disgrace of a son, think you can just ruin my place?! sling spells at my people?! Use that disgrace of a golem in my gardens!?!" A very familiar voice screamed all around Cakrahan as she opened her eyes and found herself up in the skies, beneath her was the compound, to her side Sophia Antewood and Margaret Antewood stood, the Arch-Mage was the very image of wrath, but her daughter looked subdued, as if this fight to the death was all a waste of time.

"On your feet Duskweaver, you have someone to fight! on your fucking feet Cakrahan!" Sophia's voice came with magic that lifted Cakrahan from whatever platform was holding them up in the clear skies granting her sharper focus and renewing her energy reserves, she was ready for round two but the question was, would she want to fight that fight?

"What, you think only because you are a Chronomance you are the only one privy to future events you cock sucker? I AM ARCH MAGE, I HAVE DIVINATION SPELLS THAT WOULD MAKE YOUR WHORE OF A GODDESS BLUSH!" Sophia bellowed towards her son who had yet to utter a word to his mother, Cakrahan knew the Arch-Mage had a temper and a bone to pick with her son for a while no but this was, well there were no two ways to put it, downright rude.

She beheld Vivienne's steely gaze and drew her weapon again, the Arch-Duke's daughter closed her eyes in silent prayer and Cakrahan nearly fell at her knees when she saw the sight, a blur enveloped Vivienne and a torrent of Divine Energy flooded the arena in the skies, the girl had an Divine Avatar on her. Another rush nearly knocked her again as Kaine also summoned it, but the form behind him was not a slight shadow, no his was something else.

A woman, a beautiful woman hugged his neck, her eyes were starting at Cakrahan and she saw the stars on them, her hair flowed like a dark icy river, and upon her entire body was rune carvings, a humm to the air as the noise of clocks rung around their ears, tick tick tick Cakrahan felt as her very soul beheld one of the most powerful divines in existence.

Gwennarius had come.

"You little whore of a friend dies! YOU" Sophia pointed to the image of the Goddess of Time hugging her son's neck like a lover "Die as well, it all goes to shit so bad an invasion by the Imperium looks less grim! Oh, I know you little cunt of a son, I know and she knows as well, no you will not have my spell, why? because you ruined it all!"

Vivienne stepped forth and spoke, her voice barely a whisper "...Something is controlling your mother, it is nested deep inside her mind, it reeks of Malpha's mana" Kaine looked at Kaede and nodded, he then looked at Cakrahan and spoke.

"Leave, this is family business Lady Cakrahan, I would ask that you do not speak of what you heard here, and tell the good men and women down below we are just having a...family dispute over weave methodology" Kaine smiled a half smile, oh yes Cakrahan was keenly aware of that topic, it was often mages would come to blows due to it, so bad it was a joke around the place.

Would the rest believe it? she didn't know but more importantly, did not care, she had fought enough fights, seen enough death to nod at the young man's word and be sent back to earthen grounds, with quick explanations she managed to calm the people down and spread the word to the rest, as things started to calm down she saw a smoking wrecked pile of crystal to the side of the checkpoint she was, Arch-Mage Sophia had actually destroyed that terrifying war golem just like that.

"Chief Valtas, I hope you have better luck than me" Cakrahan spoke out loud and went back to her barracks, a bottle of strong sleep potion waiting for her beside her bed.