The Dark Mirror (story) - Revision history

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			{{creative-work \|title = The Dark Mirror \|type = short story \|author = Xorus Kul'shin \|author-displayed = Lord [[Xorus Kul'shin]] \|date = 2019-02-23}}

	''"What follows is a philological reconstruction of a Faendryl 'faerie tale' from several thousand years ago. The legend has surfaced in various forms and titles over the centuries. It is customary to instruct the young with [[Dark Elven Horror Stories\|horror]] stories. But while this tale was intended for older adolescents, its political content was long a source of controversy. It has the dubious honor of an especially sordid history of book burnings or being banned and placed on blacklists. Its author was rumored to have been condemned to the asylums. This was more a punitive than a palliative measure, a question of the subject of well-being."''		''"What follows is a philological reconstruction of a Faendryl 'faerie tale' from several thousand years ago. The legend has surfaced in various forms and titles over the centuries. It is customary to instruct the young with [[Dark Elven Horror Stories\|horror]] stories. But while this tale was intended for older adolescents, its political content was long a source of controversy. It has the dubious honor of an especially sordid history of book burnings or being banned and placed on blacklists. Its author was rumored to have been condemned to the asylums. This was more a punitive than a palliative measure, a question of the subject of well-being."''

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	"You should not have done that, it was not a mercy." The Basilican Magistrate sighed. "Now, the soul of your son is lost to the Mirror. Forever."		"You should not have done that, it was not a mercy." The Basilican Magistrate sighed. "Now, the soul of your son is lost to the Mirror. Forever."

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Mirror (story)}}
	[[Category:Short Stories]]

INIQUITY at 10:45, 26 February 2019

2019-02-26T10:45:43Z

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	Within this curving ring inside the curtain walls was a towering black keep of dead [[despanal]], but the roofing between them was exotic, fanning out and upward like a [[Life and Being in the Sea of Fire#Fauna\|dune glider]] or the unnatural [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifold#Early_development manifolds] of some eldritch horror beyond the veil. These were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraboloid#Hyperbolic_paraboloid thin shells] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbolic_geometry hyperbolic geometries] unlike anything he had ever seen in construction, doubly ruled through an imaginary fixed plane cutting across the palace itself. The stars somehow reflected off the keep, covering them in shifting patterns. The blackened finger of the spire reached into the heavens, as if the sky itself were made to revolve around its subtle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolution convolutions.]		Within this curving ring inside the curtain walls was a towering black keep of dead [[despanal]], but the roofing between them was exotic, fanning out and upward like a [[Life and Being in the Sea of Fire#Fauna\|dune glider]] or the unnatural [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifold#Early_development manifolds] of some eldritch horror beyond the veil. These were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraboloid#Hyperbolic_paraboloid thin shells] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbolic_geometry hyperbolic geometries] unlike anything he had ever seen in construction, doubly ruled through an imaginary fixed plane cutting across the palace itself. The stars somehow reflected off the keep, covering them in shifting patterns. The blackened finger of the spire reached into the heavens, as if the sky itself were made to revolve around its subtle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolution convolutions.]

	Twisting throughout was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellarator helical curve] of ~~some~~ strange alloy, ~~the~~ unholy amalgam of electrum and zorchar with still more dangerous metals, its hovering infinity knot impossible to walk on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6bius_strip upright] without inevitably defying gravity. It was humming with power, the air around it heavy with [[Flows of essence#Nodes\|ozone]], a hint of brimstone in the wafting. There was a ubiquitous shearing, perpetual wailing. Black claws dug into the keep from below, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress flying buttresses] crawling up it with arcs of energy, a crown of tines violating the sky with inverted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel spandrels] from its highest reaches.		Twisting throughout was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellarator helical curve] of a strange alloy, some unholy amalgam of electrum and zorchar with still more dangerous metals, its hovering infinity knot impossible to walk on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6bius_strip upright] without inevitably defying gravity. It was humming with power, the air around it heavy with [[Flows of essence#Nodes\|ozone]], a hint of brimstone in the wafting. There was a ubiquitous shearing, perpetual wailing. Black claws dug into the keep from below, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress flying buttresses] crawling up it with arcs of energy, a crown of tines violating the sky with inverted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel spandrels] from its highest reaches.

	Were the boy himself not floating high with the battlements, he could scarcely imagine how such a thing could have been built. The black keep in the middle of the fortress with the surrounding warping of reality made it all a kind of demented [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon panopticon,] lending the dark palace a foreboding air of oppression from the inescapable sense of an omnipresent watcher. It was the work of a madman or incomprehensible genius, if such a distinction were merited at all. The boy was only vaguely aware Burgle was still beside him, telling him more cryptic nonsense, such as "the window is the eye of the soul" and "the mirror takes you wherever you look."		Were the boy himself not floating high with the battlements, he could scarcely imagine how such a thing could have been built. The black keep in the middle of the fortress with the surrounding warping of reality made it all a kind of demented [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon panopticon,] lending the dark palace a foreboding air of oppression from the inescapable sense of an omnipresent watcher. It was the work of a madman or incomprehensible genius, if such a distinction were merited at all. The boy was only vaguely aware Burgle was still beside him, telling him more cryptic nonsense, such as "the window is the eye of the soul" and "the mirror takes you wherever you look."
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	She pressed her burningly cold body against the young boy from behind, resting her palm on his shoulder and digging her claws into his flesh. Cracks in the sky opened in random spots and sealed themselves again in unnatural rhythm, each briefly showing some otherworldly vista from the merely alien to the hideous. "[[Dharthiir]] will be waiting in one of these worlds. I will break the skies of all worlds for him." The young boy shuddered and murmured her general is dead. Low chuckling menaced from behind him, whispering in his ear without leaning down. "Death is but a window, young Faendryl. They will all shatter. Then you will be doomed for all eternity."		She pressed her burningly cold body against the young boy from behind, resting her palm on his shoulder and digging her claws into his flesh. Cracks in the sky opened in random spots and sealed themselves again in unnatural rhythm, each briefly showing some otherworldly vista from the merely alien to the hideous. "[[Dharthiir]] will be waiting in one of these worlds. I will break the skies of all worlds for him." The young boy shuddered and murmured her general is dead. Low chuckling menaced from behind him, whispering in his ear without leaning down. "Death is but a window, young Faendryl. They will all shatter. Then you will be doomed for all eternity."

	Storms churned over the keep as the concentration of power escalated. The bizarre helical knot surrounding the spire ~~was now lashing~~ out in violent arcs. The night sky was increasingly filled with eerie viridian lights, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora aurora] streaking down the Dark Palace ~~and~~ through its ~~circular~~ ~~ring~~. Gnomes ~~marched~~ up its vertical walls with bloody handaxes~~, illuminated by the lights swirling through the mirror hall~~. The [[Mana storm\|tempest]] overhead struck with constant lightning upon the jagged blades issuing from the highest points of the keep. The boy felt the dangerously fluctuating power, which was exacerbating the rifting.		Storms churned over the keep as the concentration of power escalated. The bizarre helical knot surrounding the spire lashed out in violent arcs. The night sky was increasingly filled with eerie viridian lights, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora aurora] streaking down the spire of the Dark Palace, its circular ring illuminated by the swirling through its mirror hall. Gnomes were now marching up its vertical walls with bloody handaxes. The [[Mana storm\|tempest]] overhead struck with constant lightning upon the jagged blades issuing from the highest points round the keep. The boy felt the dangerously fluctuating power, which was exacerbating the rifting.

	"In the end ~~this~~ will rip apart the veil of your world. Your alabaster city will be utterly annihilated." Despana stroked the young boy, cutting him more with her razor nails. "There is poetry in it, is there not? In its place will rise this ~~city,~~ ~~your~~ palace replaced with mine, ~~once~~ more a child born from the death of its mother."		"In the end I will rip apart the veil of your world. Your alabaster city will be utterly annihilated." Despana stroked the young boy, cutting him more with her razor nails. "There is poetry in it, is there not? In its place will rise this dark mirror. Your palace replaced with mine. Once more a child born from the death of its mother."

	<center>'''~~~*~'''</center>		<center>'''~~~*~'''</center>

INIQUITY at 02:11, 26 February 2019

2019-02-26T02:11:28Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 21:11, 25 February 2019
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	''"What follows is a philological reconstruction of a Faendryl 'faerie tale' from several thousand years ago. The legend has surfaced in various forms and titles over the centuries. It is customary to instruct the young with horror stories. But while this tale was intended for older adolescents, its political content was long a source of controversy. It has the dubious honor of an especially sordid history of book burnings or being banned and placed on blacklists. Its author was rumored to have been condemned to the asylums. This was more a punitive than a palliative measure, a question of the subject of well-being."''		''"What follows is a philological reconstruction of a Faendryl 'faerie tale' from several thousand years ago. The legend has surfaced in various forms and titles over the centuries. It is customary to instruct the young with [[Dark Elven Horror Stories\|horror]] stories. But while this tale was intended for older adolescents, its political content was long a source of controversy. It has the dubious honor of an especially sordid history of book burnings or being banned and placed on blacklists. Its author was rumored to have been condemned to the asylums. This was more a punitive than a palliative measure, a question of the subject of well-being."''

	''Lord [[Xorus Kul'shin]], Vice Chancellor Emeritus''<br>		''Lord [[Xorus Kul'shin]], Vice Chancellor Emeritus''<br>
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	Hearing at first only a light scuttling, it sounded as if a lizard had snuck into the room in the pockets of darkness, perhaps a chameleon cloaking itself in the lights. Shuffling grew into thumping. Things were bumped like a mouse in a cupboard.		Hearing at first only a light scuttling, it sounded as if a lizard had snuck into the room in the pockets of darkness, perhaps a chameleon cloaking itself in the lights. Shuffling grew into thumping. Things were bumped like a mouse in a cupboard.

	With the sound so close to his bed, the boy resolved his bloody intent. This was his room and he meant to be alone in it. Seizing the opportunity, he leapt fiercely from his bedding, candelabra tightly in fist. Suddenly lighting the room with the very instrument of death, he swung his blazing cudgel through the air with terrible might. Scrambling soon turned into crashing. Squealing in surprise, a small [[imp]] had fallen from the shelving, huddling itself up in the corner. It was vainly trying to remain hidden under a cloak. In shock the boy had dropped his improvised mace on the stone floor, clanging with a voluminous reverberation, reaching past the doorway and loudly through the hallways.		With the sound so close to his bed, the boy resolved his bloody intent. This was his room and he meant to be alone in it. Seizing the opportunity, he leapt fiercely from his bedding, candelabra tightly in fist. Suddenly lighting the room with the very instrument of death, he swung his blazing cudgel through the air with terrible might. Scrambling soon turned into crashing. Squealing in surprise, a small [[imp]] had fallen from the shelving, huddling itself up in the corner. It was vainly trying to remain hidden under a cloak of scarlet and grey. In shock the boy had dropped his improvised mace on the stone floor, clanging with a voluminous reverberation, reaching past the doorway and loudly through the hallways.

	His surprise was swiftly replaced with dread. Time slowed to a crawl as he cringed at what he had just done, almost completely forgetting about the intruder cowering in the corner. Silence was met with more silence, only an ominous nothingness. Father must have had too much wine again. Thankfully just enough.		His surprise was swiftly replaced with dread. Time slowed to a crawl as he cringed at what he had just done, almost completely forgetting about the intruder cowering in the corner. Silence was met with more silence, only an ominous nothingness. Father must have had too much wine again. Thankfully just enough.

	This silence was broken with cackling and giggling, which startled the boy horribly. That was not the sound of a harmless imp. Without knowing now if it was only some household servant, the boy jumped back frightened. This was immediately met with peals of laughter as the figure threw the cloak aside revealing itself. It was like no [[demon]] the boy had ever seen, more homunculus or tiny miniature than a real person. It was stumpy and rounded like a half breed, with purple eyes and ears like an elf, but the beard of a dwarf woman. It was wearing some kind of [[Ferroniere#Ferrigem\|jewelry]] under its hat, made from what appeared to be links of mismatched silverware, with his own missing cufflink as the center gem.		This silence was broken with cackling and giggling, which startled the boy horribly. That was not the sound of a harmless imp. Without knowing now if it was only some household servant, the boy jumped back frightened. This was immediately met with peals of laughter as the figure threw the cloak aside revealing itself. It was like no [[demon]] the boy had ever seen, more homunculus or tiny miniature than a real person. It was stumpy and rounded like a half breed, with purple eyes and ears like an elf, but the beard of a dwarf woman. It was wearing some kind of [[Ferroniere#Ferrigem\|jewelry]] under its little red hat, made from what appeared to be links of mismatched silverware, with his own missing cufflink as the center gem.

	"Burglar!" The young boy exclaimed. "What kind of imp are you?!"		"Burglar!" The young boy exclaimed. "What kind of imp are you?!"
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	"Impostor puts the silly Elf in the zoo!"		"Impostor puts the silly Elf in the zoo!"

	Throughout the thoroughfare were any number of minor demons, which was [[The Theory of Governance and Social Order#New Ta'Faendryl\|common]] ~~for~~ a civilized society, but they were all running ~~wildly~~ having not been bridled. The lamp crystals were burning with balefire in a bilious green as they wandered deeper into the dark city. Gargoyle statuary had been replaced with sculptures of [[gremlock]]s. Labyrinthine stairs whether about parks or buildings led in impossible directions, some up into seemingly nothing, others upside-down or configurations of up and down that defied orientation. However fantastic and exotic the city, the young boy was fascinated with the night sky.		Throughout the thoroughfare were any number of minor demons, which was [[The Theory of Governance and Social Order#New Ta'Faendryl\|common]] enough for civilized society, but they were all running wild having not been bridled. The lamp crystals were burning with balefire in a bilious green as they wandered deeper into the dark city. Gargoyle statuary had been replaced with sculptures of [[gremlock]]s. Labyrinthine stairs whether about parks or buildings led in impossible directions, some up into seemingly nothing, others upside-down or configurations of up and down that defied orientation. However fantastic and exotic the city, the young boy was fascinated with the night sky.

	Overhead the stars moved at a speed that was just perceptible to the eyes. It was as vibrantly detailed as what he had seen far out in the desert away from the city, though without any moons in sight. In curiosity he asked Burgle why the stars moved as they did. The gnome pulled out a mechanical contraption with rapidly spinning arms on its indecipherable face, some kind of clockwork that would seem to be useless. "Time is almost up!"		Overhead the stars moved at a speed that was just perceptible to the eyes. It was as vibrantly detailed as what he had seen far out in the desert away from the city, though without any moons in sight. In curiosity he asked Burgle why the stars moved as they did. The gnome pulled out a mechanical contraption with rapidly spinning arms on its indecipherable face, some kind of clockwork that would seem to be useless. "Time is almost up!"
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	When the boy turned around the hall was entirely different, in spite of having seemingly come from that same direction. Braziers reached in staggered rows and heights into the depths, providing ambient saturation off the gold rimmed floor of white marble and crenellated moldings. There were large ornate arches one level higher, gold set into light blue, with domes imprinted within them between perpendicular archways. High above this pattern repeated itself with great celestial lights set in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_vault barrel vaults,] the patterns of the domes and arches ensconced in nested [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal fractals.] The walls were mirrored in such a way as to obscure the curving of the hall.		When the boy turned around the hall was entirely different, in spite of having seemingly come from that same direction. Braziers reached in staggered rows and heights into the depths, providing ambient saturation off the gold rimmed floor of white marble and crenellated moldings. There were large ornate arches one level higher, gold set into light blue, with domes imprinted within them between perpendicular archways. High above this pattern repeated itself with great celestial lights set in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_vault barrel vaults,] the patterns of the domes and arches ensconced in nested [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal fractals.] The walls were mirrored in such a way as to obscure the curving of the hall.

	The gnome suddenly appeared along side him ~~as if~~ from parts unknown. Burgle tugged on the boy's sleeve and made him follow along the rich corridor. When he attempted to look closer at the patterns, he found they kept receding into mirror images of themselves. This was wondrous. He looked down to comment on it to the gnome, only to discover he was floating a few stories in the air. The higher walls were inlaid with purified [[veniom]], allowing him to look out the elevated windows.		The gnome suddenly appeared along side him from parts unknown. Burgle tugged on the boy's sleeve and made him follow along the rich corridor. When he attempted to look closer at the patterns, he found they kept receding into mirror images of themselves. This was wondrous. He looked down to comment on it to the gnome, only to discover he was floating a few stories in the air. The higher walls were inlaid with purified [[veniom]], allowing him to look out the elevated windows.

	Within this curving ring inside the curtain walls was a towering black keep of dead [[despanal]], but the roofing between them was exotic, fanning out and upward like a [[Life and Being in the Sea of Fire#Fauna\|dune glider]] or the unnatural [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifold#Early_development manifolds] of some eldritch horror beyond the veil. These were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraboloid#Hyperbolic_paraboloid thin shells] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbolic_geometry hyperbolic geometries] unlike anything he had ever seen in construction, doubly ruled through an imaginary fixed plane cutting across the palace itself. The stars somehow reflected off the keep, covering them in shifting patterns. The blackened finger of the spire reached into the heavens, as if the sky itself were made to revolve around its subtle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolution convolutions.]		Within this curving ring inside the curtain walls was a towering black keep of dead [[despanal]], but the roofing between them was exotic, fanning out and upward like a [[Life and Being in the Sea of Fire#Fauna\|dune glider]] or the unnatural [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifold#Early_development manifolds] of some eldritch horror beyond the veil. These were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraboloid#Hyperbolic_paraboloid thin shells] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbolic_geometry hyperbolic geometries] unlike anything he had ever seen in construction, doubly ruled through an imaginary fixed plane cutting across the palace itself. The stars somehow reflected off the keep, covering them in shifting patterns. The blackened finger of the spire reached into the heavens, as if the sky itself were made to revolve around its subtle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolution convolutions.]

	Twisting throughout was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellarator helical curve] of some strange alloy, ~~perhaps~~ electrum and [[zorchar]], its infinity knot impossible to walk on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6bius_strip upright] without inevitably defying gravity. It was humming with power, the air around it heavy with [[Flows of essence#Nodes\|ozone]], a hint of brimstone in the wafting. There was a ubiquitous shearing, perpetual wailing. Black claws dug into the keep from below, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress flying buttresses] crawling up it with arcs of energy, a crown of tines violating the sky with inverted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel spandrels] from its highest reaches.		Twisting throughout was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellarator helical curve] of some strange alloy, the unholy amalgam of electrum and zorchar with still more dangerous metals, its hovering infinity knot impossible to walk on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6bius_strip upright] without inevitably defying gravity. It was humming with power, the air around it heavy with [[Flows of essence#Nodes\|ozone]], a hint of brimstone in the wafting. There was a ubiquitous shearing, perpetual wailing. Black claws dug into the keep from below, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress flying buttresses] crawling up it with arcs of energy, a crown of tines violating the sky with inverted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel spandrels] from its highest reaches.

	Were the boy himself not floating high with the battlements, he could scarcely imagine how such a thing could have been built. The black keep in the middle of the fortress with the surrounding warping of reality made it all a kind of demented [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon panopticon,] lending the dark palace a foreboding air of oppression from the inescapable sense of an omnipresent watcher. It was the work of a madman or incomprehensible genius, if such a distinction were merited at all. The boy was only vaguely aware Burgle was still beside him, telling him more cryptic nonsense, such as "the window is the eye of the soul" and "the mirror takes you wherever you look."		Were the boy himself not floating high with the battlements, he could scarcely imagine how such a thing could have been built. The black keep in the middle of the fortress with the surrounding warping of reality made it all a kind of demented [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon panopticon,] lending the dark palace a foreboding air of oppression from the inescapable sense of an omnipresent watcher. It was the work of a madman or incomprehensible genius, if such a distinction were merited at all. The boy was only vaguely aware Burgle was still beside him, telling him more cryptic nonsense, such as "the window is the eye of the soul" and "the mirror takes you wherever you look."

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:35, 24 February 2019
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	<center>'''~~~*~'''</center>		<center>'''~~~*~'''</center>

	Breathtakingly enormous, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep keep] was a single hollow space with almost no material in it nor adornment, its seamless walls nothing but the pitch black of obsidian curving up into the darkness. He stood upon the landing of ~~one of~~ ~~eight~~ ~~piers~~ reaching out across a vast chasm, ~~their~~ ~~arches~~ holding up a central spire floating above the pit. There was only a dais saturated in white light. The young boy began walking across the dreadful way, haunted by the faint howling of the abyss.		Breathtakingly enormous, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep keep] was a single hollow space with almost no material in it nor adornment, its seamless walls nothing but the pitch black of obsidian curving up into the darkness. He stood upon the landing of a long pier reaching out across a vast chasm, its single arch unnaturally holding up a central spire floating above the pit. There was only a dais upon it, saturated in white light. The young boy began walking across the dreadful way, haunted by the faint howling of the abyss.

	In the depths below he could see only its dark red glow. There was now a vision in his mind of a sea of volcanic rock erupting upwards, somehow held into place with terrible and unimaginable magic, freezing into a solid shell as its immolating marrow receded. It was less a disturbing dream and more a foreign and uninvited memory.		In the depths below he could see only its dark red glow. There was now a vision in his mind of a sea of volcanic rock erupting upwards, somehow held into place with terrible and unimaginable magic, freezing into a solid shell as its immolating marrow receded. It was less a disturbing dream and more a foreign and uninvited memory.
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	She pressed her burningly cold body against the young boy from behind, resting her palm on his shoulder and digging her claws into his flesh. Cracks in the sky opened in random spots and sealed themselves again in unnatural rhythm, each briefly showing some otherworldly vista from the merely alien to the hideous. "[[Dharthiir]] will be waiting in one of these worlds. I will break the skies of all worlds for him." The young boy shuddered and murmured her general is dead. Low chuckling menaced from behind him, whispering in his ear without leaning down. "Death is but a window, young Faendryl. They will all shatter. Then you will be doomed for all eternity."		She pressed her burningly cold body against the young boy from behind, resting her palm on his shoulder and digging her claws into his flesh. Cracks in the sky opened in random spots and sealed themselves again in unnatural rhythm, each briefly showing some otherworldly vista from the merely alien to the hideous. "[[Dharthiir]] will be waiting in one of these worlds. I will break the skies of all worlds for him." The young boy shuddered and murmured her general is dead. Low chuckling menaced from behind him, whispering in his ear without leaning down. "Death is but a window, young Faendryl. They will all shatter. Then you will be doomed for all eternity."

	Storms churned over the keep as the concentration of power escalated. The bizarre helical knot surrounding the spire was now lashing out in violent arcs. The night sky was increasingly filled with eerie viridian lights, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora aurora] streaking down the Dark Palace and through its circular ring. The [[Mana storm\|tempest]] overhead struck with constant lightning upon the jagged blades issuing from the highest points of the keep. The boy felt the dangerously fluctuating power, which was exacerbating the rifting.		Storms churned over the keep as the concentration of power escalated. The bizarre helical knot surrounding the spire was now lashing out in violent arcs. The night sky was increasingly filled with eerie viridian lights, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora aurora] streaking down the Dark Palace and through its circular ring. Gnomes marched up its vertical walls with bloody handaxes, illuminated by the lights swirling through the mirror hall. The [[Mana storm\|tempest]] overhead struck with constant lightning upon the jagged blades issuing from the highest points of the keep. The boy felt the dangerously fluctuating power, which was exacerbating the rifting.

	"In the end this will rip apart the veil of your world. Your alabaster city will be utterly annihilated." Despana stroked the young boy, cutting him more with her razor nails. "There is poetry in it, is there not? In its place will rise this city, your palace replaced with mine, once more a child born from the death of its mother."		"In the end this will rip apart the veil of your world. Your alabaster city will be utterly annihilated." Despana stroked the young boy, cutting him more with her razor nails. "There is poetry in it, is there not? In its place will rise this city, your palace replaced with mine, once more a child born from the death of its mother."
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	The runes inscribed on the buildings by the gnomes were all glowing with stellar power. Rifts were ripping open at random in the streets, worlds of incomprehensible horror disorienting his mind, as if somehow reaching out with shadowed tentacles. The ground had fallen away into pot holes and sewage vents between the pales. In some of these lakes of perdition he saw our world. He was looking through the clouds, soaring above the mountain peaks, making specks of the great Elven cities far below. The slightest misstep would make him fly through the skies like a bird. The ground trembled with minor quakes. It was more like a skyship turning than chthonic undulations.		The runes inscribed on the buildings by the gnomes were all glowing with stellar power. Rifts were ripping open at random in the streets, worlds of incomprehensible horror disorienting his mind, as if somehow reaching out with shadowed tentacles. The ground had fallen away into pot holes and sewage vents between the pales. In some of these lakes of perdition he saw our world. He was looking through the clouds, soaring above the mountain peaks, making specks of the great Elven cities far below. The slightest misstep would make him fly through the skies like a bird. The ground trembled with minor quakes. It was more like a skyship turning than chthonic undulations.

	In the merchant district the chaos had fallen into havoc and bloodlust. The burghal gnomes were savagely striking their Faendryl slaves with crude weapons, now little more than [[Lines of Blood: A History of the Gnomes#Origins\|hunch-backed]] monsters hissing with cackles instead of giggles. Glowing green orbs moved through the black sky, the only hint of the fell predators. He was sure he was being stalked, that one would swoop down and lift him back to the dark palace at any moment. The boy fled further down the boulevard toward his manor.		In the merchant district the chaos had fallen into havoc and bloodlust. The burghal gnomes were savagely striking their Faendryl slaves with crude weapons, now little more than [[Lines of Blood: A History of the Gnomes#Origins\|hunch-backed]] monsters hissing with cackles instead of giggles. Glowing green orbs moved through the black sky, the only hint of the fell predators. He was sure he was being stalked, that one would swoop down and lift him back to the dark palace at any moment. The boy fled further down the boulevard zigzagging toward his manor.

	When he turned down the var he found that the cul-de-sac no longer ended in the wall of the city. It had collapsed into the night sky with nothing but the unfamiliar beyond. He peeked over the edge as he made his way past it. The dark city was floating through the stellar abyss on an iceberg of torn earth and rock, suspended over black nothingness much as the dais in the keep. It was as if the whole of Maelshyve had been ripped from our world and plunged into the vast interplanar void. Impaled with this horrible understanding, the boy shook off his momentary paralysis, fleeing inside his manor. He quickly made his way up the stairs toward his bedchamber.		When he turned down the var he found that the cul-de-sac no longer ended in the wall of the city. It had collapsed into the night sky with nothing but the unfamiliar beyond. He peeked over the edge as he made his way past it. The dark city was floating through the stellar abyss on an iceberg of torn earth and rock, suspended over black nothingness much as the dais in the keep. It was as if the whole of Maelshyve had been ripped from our world and plunged into the vast interplanar void. Impaled with this horrible understanding, the boy shook off his momentary paralysis, fleeing inside his manor. He quickly made his way up the stairs toward his bedchamber.

	There stood the jagged rift with the borders of white light, the only inexplicable feeling of normality in this wretched hell. He took the smastan berries from his pocket, making himself ready to jump through the narrow portal. When he swallowed one his flesh tingled, but then nothing happened. Panicking, the boy swallowed all of the berries, and still nothing happened. Their power did not work in the flows of this world. He grasped his hands vainly through the air, crying out for help.		There stood the jagged rift with the borders of white light, the only inexplicable feeling of normality in this wretched hell. The walls were now covered with an oily black ichor and foul toadstools, the fungus of some otherworldly cavern. He took the smastan berries from his pocket, making himself ready to jump through the narrow portal. When he swallowed one his flesh tingled, but then nothing happened. Panicking, the boy swallowed all of the berries, and still nothing happened. Their power did not work in the flows of this world. He grasped his hands vainly through the air, crying out for help.

	Suddenly there were bright arcs of magical energy lashing out from the rift, swallowing him in ozone and bursts of heat. He was ripped from the mirror world into his own room, the sun setting on the horizon out his window. Father was there surrounded by robed figures and [[Path to Palestra\|scarlet triskele]] insignias, what could only be Basilican sorcerers and Palestra Blades. He was standing amid an intricate summoning circle drawn around the tear in reality powered by the stars of darkest divination.		Suddenly there were bright arcs of magical energy lashing out from the rift, swallowing him in ozone and bursts of heat. He was ripped from the mirror world into his own room, the sun setting on the horizon out his window. Father was there surrounded by robed figures and [[Path to Palestra\|scarlet triskele]] insignias, what could only be Basilican sorcerers and Palestra Blades. He was standing amid an intricate summoning circle drawn around the tear in reality powered by the stars of darkest divination.