Visions

Written by LeeStepp

Suggested Audio

Court of the Count

Shadows dance and twist across stone and tapestry, far within the bowels of the castle. A pale and corpulent seer meditates amid the gloom, one attendant casting herbs onto the embers smoldering in the heart of this chamber while another drums across from him. A foul and dizzying smoke drowns the chamber yet Ghislaine inhales deeply, allowing his consciousness to swim. Eyes squeezed shut, they repeat their ritual until he goes eerily still.

At his reaction, the first attendant smothers the embers with a black cloth and an intricate web of glyphs woven into the fabric produce a dull luminescence. The tempo flutters like an anxious heart under the drummer's hand and in the darkness, Ghislaine's eyes flash open. Even in this dim chamber, one can make out deep blue-black ink staining its way across his face and he weeps a viscous, tarry fluid, wriggling over his eyelids like maggots. His lips wisp inaudibly and his gleaming blue eyes flit about as visions flash through his mind. When his whispering ceases and his eyes close again, the drummer slows the beat before ceasing altogether. Once all is silent, both attendants relight candles along the periphery of the room. King Ambrose steps inside as they finish and the attendants bow and slip away. Ambrose perches across from Ghislaine, waiting in silence for his advisor to collect himself and watching the blue-black fade from his face.

His majesty will be pleased!

Ghislaine finally speaks, his reedy voice piercing the hushed atmosphere

This session has been... fruitful.

When he opens his eyes they appear pallid but ordinary. He watches satisfaction light Ambrose's eyes.

Long overdue.

Ambrose admonishes yet his tone holds relief

Yes, Irkath has not been forthcoming for quite some time now. But he's given me a bounty to decipher today!

Ghislaine pops up a finger as Ambrose frowns

However... one vision was quite clear.

Oh?

Ambrose hums, leaning forward

Ghislaine clears his throat before continuing. His hands waft before the king, conjuring illusions from his fingertips which bring his words to life!

A dark dragon slumbers atop a southern peak and a maiden, draped in moonlit hair, plummets before him. The beast awakens, imbuing her with darkness! She descends into the kingdom and hides among your soldiers. She marches with your armies.

The luminous silhouette of a young woman, nearly swallowed by her wild snowy hair, falls helplessly before the dragon. It reaches out and catches her dainty form, his fingers like a birdcage. Her body is tainted black upon contact and shadows pierce her body violently. As Ghislaine finishes his prophecy, the girl fades into rows of marching soldiers. The emblem of his kingdom glints on her armor.

And what does any of this mean, Ghislaine?

Ambrose drones

You speak in riddles, as always.

My apologies, sire.

Ghislaine answers but knows well how Ambrose enjoys his cryptic theatrics

What Irkath shares is often incoherent but this vision is far more direct. The dragon,

He pauses and conjures the image again

I believe represents the dark one's familiar, his herald.

Ambrose sucks in a sharp breath and Ghislaine watches the eagerness enter his usually stoic expression

And the girl?

Ambrose questions, folding his fingers together as though to restrain himself

His servant has been hiding away from the world for some time.

Ghislaine continues and conjures the image of the girl. With shadows spinning around her, she is a wavering star amid the starving void.

The girl will draw him out, force his hand in some way. I believe... he will choose her.

Ambrose's face darkens, trembling as his rage bubbles.

This ruins everything!

Ambrose booms, rising from his seat and pacing

She's going to steal it..!

He looks at Ghislaine, furious, but restrains himself seeing his advisor's unfazed demeanor

You believe we can salvage this?

Her change... will complicate matters

Ghislaine admits but gains sudden confidence as he continues

But I believe this is an opportunity!

Ambrose deflates, letting out a sigh and returning to his seat

We've never been able to capture him... we've never even lain eyes on him! Yet she may be the key to fulfilling your desire. Once he tethers himself to her, the girl will leave him exposed!

Ghislaine alters his illusion again, repeating the image of her fading into rows of soldiers.

She will be recruited?

Ambrose questions

This rotation?

The vision certainly suggests that, yes.

Ghislaine answers with a satisfied nod

She must be of age, trapped already by policy and will be forced to blend in. If we can identify her...

Then we have our first tangible opportunity!

Ambrose breathes. He falls silent, machinations whirring away in his mind, before returning his attention to Ghislaine and offering him a satisfied smile.