Immortal King Julius

Immortal King Julius by holyflpncows

I wake to quiet arguing. With a groan, I turn over and roll out of bed. I stretch—feeling surprisingly well-rested after all the fighting—as I examine the commotion in the tiny room.

On the table is a package wrapped in green paper. I throw on my coat while Mordax slowly tugs on the red bow holding the parcel together. The paper falls away and Mordax lifts off the top to reveal a large bottle of orange-colored liquid. Mordax turns over the paper tag attached to the bottle. "Drink me," he reads out.
Everyone else wary, Wander grabs the bottle and takes a sip. She immediately turns and steps out the window. We rush and look out. She's nowhere. Not below us. Not above us.
Nervous stares are exchanged, but one by one, we each take a sip. As the liquid runs down my throat, I realize that the only way to reach the Immortal King Julius is to walk out the window. I pivot, cross the small room, and step past the sill.
Within a blink, I find myself standing on the clouds. I peer down. Sprawled out below me is the city, just waking with the dawn. Oh, it has been too long since I had a view like this.
"Welcome," a soft voice says, pulling my attention to the source. Sitting in a large marble throne before us is a colossal man, seeming to almost be made of marble himself. His ebony-black hair is slicked back, emphasizing his broad and strong face. A red skirt with golden lappets covers his bottom half, but his chest is uncovered.
I speak up, taking my attention off his bare chest. "I—We have a friend who's been kidnapped. He says he's in some realm between nightmare and the waking." I shake my head. "The only lead I had was to find his father Temujin, and it brought me here. I was hoping you would have information about him," I try to have my voice crack, just a bit.
Julius gives a slow nod. "The name is familiar to me." His voice isn't as deep as I would expect from such a towering being.
"From what I know, when he came out this way, he was trying to find a way to break a cursed sword—Ogorath." My excitement isn't faked.
"Yes, I remember that. I destroyed that sword."
My head cocks. "Destroyed it?" Then what did Arslan have?
"Yes," he states. I grit my teeth. It's not going to do any good trying to argue that's he wrong.
"Um," I pull my thoughts back together. "What became of Timujin?"
His fingers tap thoughtfully against his unornate throne. "As I recall, with his quest complete, he left shortly after the deed was done. I believe he spoke about returning home."
"Is...that all you can recall?" My hope deflates. All that fighting, for what? "Do you have any other leads for me?" I plead. If I don't have more info, I won't be able to save Arslan. You shouldn't even be bothering. It's not what you came out here for.
Julius's brow rises. "You are trying to track this individual down? It's been decades."
"Well," I grimace, "the sword seems to have come back. That's why our friend was out here in the first place."
"The same sword, or a similar sword?"
Shen Po chimes in. "I was there with him when a"—he pauses—"wise woman informed him his sword didn't seem quite the same as when she first encountered Ogorath."
Julius frowns and shakes his head. "I'm sorry I cannot provide anything more substantial," he gestures apologetically. "I apologize if any mythos about me has been disproportionate. I'm not omnipotent; I merely cannot die." His arms fall back to his throne and the quiet clank of his bracers echoes louder in my head. All for nothing.
"Thank you for the information you were able to provide," I say with a small, stiff nod.
Luban then asks his question. "The mindflayers from the tournament," his voice is heavy, "they seem to have taken thralls. Would there be a problem if we took care of them?"
"Well, by now there are likely far from here," Julius says with a wave of his hand.
Luban looks crushed.
"Do you—by chance—know where they make their home?" Shen asks. Luban's posture lifts a bit.
"I believe they affectionately refer to it as the Weird." At least we know generally where that's at.
Luban's voice cracks with renewed hope. "And would you know where a long-bodied, short-limbed golden dragon lives out here?"
"If I did know, then the dragon would likely already be under my employ." His hand goes to his chin in thought. "I believe it has some manner of rivalry with a chromatic—I believe red—dragon out here, whose nature is even more secretive."
"Red, as in red scales, like the ones we've seen attached on the kobolds," Luban speculates. His head hangs as he steps away.
Mildred waits for Luban to pass behind her before stepping forward a bit. "I'm sure you've heard of the elves' inability to, well—erm—to have elven children." Who hasn't? I suck in a breath, trying to combat my resentment. "Do you know how to fix it? Do you know why it's happening?"
Julius sighs. "Regrettably, you are not the first elf to come before me with such a request, nor do I imagine you will be the last." Mildred's head sags in disappointment. "If I was capable of aiding the elves in avoiding their extinction, I would do so." He didn't sound overly empathetic.
"Thank you anyway." Mildred shuffles to the back with Luban.
Shen Po steps to the front of the group and gives a bow. "Your highness, I have come on behalf of the people of Circsom. They have been beset by extra-planar enemies and were forced to evacuate. Several of their dream tenders have been trapped in a nightmare realm, or some realm in between," he takes in a deep breath. "I seek to find a way to rescue them and bring them back to the mortal plane. Is there anything that you can do to aid the people of Circsom?"
Julius nods his head. "There is. But," he takes a mild interest in his hand, "I'm not sure if it would be wise."
"Well," Shen Po shrugs, "I'm used to unwise decisions. What manner of aid might you be able to provide them?"
Julius locks eyes with Shen Po. "I don't think you understand. Their small group has oft opposed my attempts to bring them into the empire."
"Do you know of a way that I might help them?" Shen asks. He then gives Julius a brief rundown of the demonic activity that happened around him, explaining why he feels responsible for what's happened to Circsom. Scenes of bloody aftermath flash in my mind. I suppose it makes sense that he feels so much guilt.
"You are not the first to think that the influence of the demons out here is somehow your own fault. It's not, and I would suggest that you put it out of your mind," Julius says flatly.
"Is there anything you might offer me to help the people of Circsom?" Shen Po is clearly reaching the end of his rope, getting frustrated. "My fault or not, they need help."
"Perhaps if you were to carry my word to them, they would view your aid in a favorable light," Julius replies with the faintest smug smile I've ever seen.
"I will pass along your word then," Shen Po says through clenched jaws. "I will also continue to search for an alternative method, should they deny your gracious request." Shen Po exhales and composes himself. "We've also come across one who has been sewing chaos and disease, and has traveled to the edge of the world. One named A. R. Xew. He participated in your tournament. Are you familiar with him?"
"There are many who participate in my tournament, and most of them fail." Julius waves a dismissive hand.
Shen Po doesn't give up. "But in all of your years, the name A.R. Xew has not come up?"
"No."
"And have you heard of anyone traveling to the edge of the world?"
"Yes," Julius responds and is silent for a moment. "It is a deadly place," he says. Then with a shrug adds, "for most."
"Why?" Wander interjects, her curiosity taking over.
"It is a land that is bound in a magic that is strange to even myself."
"The prevailing wisdom from where we are from is that an ancient city—East—lies toward the edge of the world," Shen Po says. "I also understand that you claim this to be East; that you have risen it from the earth."
Julius dips his head. "Regretfully, this city is but a pale imitation of the former glory that was East." Julius sits even taller as if he wasn't regal enough before. "I rule this city in its honor, and in its absence. Were one to head even further east, there is but one milestone to reach before they come across a very unstable place. A place where mortal bodies cannot function well."
"Was it not always like that?" Wander asks.
"Only in my memories," Julius says with a hint of remorse.
"What's the milestone?" Shen Po asks before Julius can get caught up in memories.
Julius's eyes snap to Shen Po. "There is a large resilient structure that resides between here and that most damnable place. I believe it is a reclusive shelter of sorts, where only a few live. And even there, their bodies are taxed. They call it the Bimonastery."
Shen Po nods in acknowledgment. "And what do you know of the owner of the Rusty Spear?"
"I do not know the exact nature of the individual who owns that establishment," he says while stroking his chiseled chin. "But it is my understanding that it is a being whose power rivals—and possibly surpasses—my own." My brow rises. Oh?
Shen Po has much the same expression as me. "What event transpired that forced all the ruling parties to sit down at the same table?"
"They say the site was originally a location of a catastrophic clash between the various pawns," Julius begins. "At which point, a great and unstable fury was unleashed upon the area. That fury would become the proprietor." Julius sighs. "Shortly after, the building was constructed and, in time, it was deemed wise to afford it a neutral status, lest the wrath of that being be suffered a second time."
Shen Po creates a small illusion of the sliver. "Is this something you recognize?"
Julius's incredibly smug smile returns for a brief moment. "Yes."
"What is it?" Several of us ask at the same time.
"It is a piece of an artifact."
"Fantastic," I say. "What kind of artifact?"
Now his smug smile fully emerges. "That is something that I must confess, I do know, but I will not tell you."
"Have we not proven ourselves enough?" I ask, only slightly irritated.
"You have, certainly!" The compliment seems genuine. "But that secret is mine." I huff out a breath. All I need is information, and so far my hands are empty. That's not what you need.
"Let me ask you this then," Shen Po says. "If an unwary band of travelers was to accidentally collect all the other fragments of this artifact—"
"They would not," he smugly interjects.
"If," Shen stresses, "it was to happen, would it be ill-advised that all pieces of the artifact be combined together?"
"It amuses me that you continue to show concern regarding the impossible. I will let you know if Ahri herself decides to grace us all tomorrow."
With a controlled sigh, Shen tries framing his question differently. "If the Immortal King Julius decided to obtain all the fragments and put them together, would that be bad?"
"Allow me to phrase that in a way that will sell no information but you will comprehend," Julius's amusement vanishes. "I will not do that a second time."
Tense silence reigns for a moment.
Wander breaks the silence by asking about a recommended place to travel, seeking adventure. This has Julius think for a while before responding with either the Dao's Domain or one of the Archfey's many, many forests.
Luban steps back in. "I need protection against the control of a mindflayer, because I intend to walk into the Weird and I intend to take someone back."
Julius tilts his head in thought. "What is your preferred weapon?"
"Bow."
Julius leans forward, reaches into the cloud, and pulls out a wisp of it with one hand. He takes his other hand and compresses the chunk of cloud between his massive hands. Crack! Crack! Then he presents Luban with ten arrows, each pitch black. "They possess a very lethal poison," Julius explains. "Additionally, they make no sound."
Luban gingerly takes the arrows. "I assume the best defense against the mindflayers is a good offense then."
Mildred and Wander and Mordax ask about armor, or something. My mind swirls. Ask. Look at what he was able to create from just a cloud. Julius once again reaches down into the clouds and pulls another wisp free. I let out a frustrated breath. What other leads do I have for Arslan? Stop. Forget about him. Julius holds the wispy cloud in his hand before Wander and Mildred. He takes in a breath, and then blows the cloud onto them. Parts of the cloud seem to stick around each of them, clinging closer to their bodies before fading from sight.
Wander's wide eyes pan over her arms. "What is this?" she asks excitedly.
"If you are both interested in shapeshifting, then this shield will protect you no matter what your form." He turns to Mordax. "You have asked me for armor, but what you seek is resilience." Julius leans forward and touches his large finger to Mordax's forehead. Mordax blinks.
Maybe. Maybe Julius could fix me.
"As it appears that we are reaching the end of negotiations, was there anything that either of you desires?" he asks Shen Po and me.
Shen Po answers first. "Well as it turns out, I am to be fighting demons and mindflayers. I don't use weapons if I can help it, so I suppose anything you can offer me to aid in regards to those creatures."
Julius's eyes fall to me. "I was looking for information," I say with a sigh. "May I...explore your library?" I ask. Part of me internally screams. Why? Why avoid it again? What would everyone think? Would they pity me?
"I appreciate your honesty." He turns away from me and back to Shen Po, drawing forth a small sheet of parchment from beside his large chair. He curls it around his finger, and draws it off. As he hands it down to Shen Po, it condenses until it's the size of a ring. I peek into Shen Po's palm and notice the arcane etchings in the now pale-gold metallic ring. "You'll need to attune to that, but once you do, I am certain you will find it overwhelmingly useful."
"Thank you, most gracious Julius," Shen Po bows, though I've no doubt it was partially to mask his contempt from calling Julius "gracious".
"And if you seek knowledge," Julius says locking eyes with me, "then I will let you find it." I feel a small power well up inside me. I break contact, looking down to the clouds, trying to examine this unfamiliar power. "Well then," he straightens in his chair. "I believe our business is concluded. Before we part ways, I do have one command. You are not to return to this city. Ever."
My gaze snaps back up. "Why?" I ask.
"Because if you do, I will personally annihilate you." For some reason, I don't get the feeling it's because of something we did. "Master Umatoko, your request?"
"Do you know of Greenleaf?" Umatoko asks as he moves in front of us.
"I do."
Umatoko turns to us. "Thank you for letting me come this far, but this is where we part ways." He dips his head. "Thank you. I wouldn't have made it without you guys." He faces Julius. "Julius, I want you to bring me to Greenleaf."
Julius motions and I find myself outside the inn we rented rooms in—sans Umatoko.
Wasting no time, Mordax walks into the inn for breakfast. The rest of us meander in after him. I hastily eat, anxious to get to the goliath-only library.

---

It's a huge library. Not only is it incredibly tall from ground-level, but it also bores into the ground. The sheer amount of books is overwhelming. Where do I even start?
Curious if Julius's gift can help, I tap into the power. It floods my eyes. But nothing happens. Shouldn't something hap—suddenly a bunch of books grow legs and jump off shelves. What?
I blink and shake my head slightly. I look around and let my gaze linger on other books. They don't do the same thing but instead shake and fall off the shelf. I inhale and focus my thoughts on the Nightmare realm. The silence and darkness Arslan spoke of. Stars and flame from Shen Po's encounter in the temple. My eyes dart around, looking for...something. Anything to show me where books on the Nightmare realm are. There! A blue glow some distance from me, down a floor and behind several rows of shelves. The power fades, as does the blue glow, so I hurry to the small section of books.
I skim through the volumes on the shelves. The Good and Lawful Histories of Mount Celestia, Infinite Layers of Abyssal Culture and Cooking, Dendrology in Arcadia: A Lesson Learned, Dances with Devils—that one seems misplaced. Then I spot a thin book, easily missed if it wasn't tucked so suspiciously at the end of the shelf. I pull it out and flip to the first page. Shadowfell. I lean against the shelf behind me and skim the pages. Mostly, it seems to theorize that the Shadowfell is closer to this plane the further east one is, and is a soul-web, having a higher chance of capturing souls of the dead the further east you are. Alarming. And the author repeatedly emphasizes how all of this is theory. Yet...with everything happening...
I glance around me, ensuring no one is watching, then tuck the book into my coat. On my way out, I pass a librarian picking up the books that had jumped off the shelf. A small grimace appears on my face, but I say nothing and continue out of the library.

---

Everyone discusses our next move over dinner. Luban is resolute in going to rescue Gesh. But the Weird is nowhere near the Bimonastery in the east. And the further east, the closer we likely are to the Shadowfell, where Arslan is trapped. To everyone else though, that's not important. Helping Luban is priority. So, it's decided that we go back to Ace Hovel, then to the hourglass temple portal, to teleport to Ulaanbaatar, rest at the Rusty Spear, and then north to the Weird. Simple, in theory.