C O D: Epilogue -- Session 02

General Summary

“Tell me what I need to know and I may release you.” The voice was muffled. It emerged from a throat and jaws obstructed by the girl’s neck.

“I can’t tell you anything while I’m unable to breathe.”

“If I can trust you not to flee, I can loosen my hold on you. Run and you will know what it is to be run down.”

“I’m almost tempted. You make it sound like a race worth running. I love to run.”

“Spirit. Interesting. Very well, I will loose you. Tell me what you have seen. I can smell the Old Realm on your skin.”

Chisana knew she must do as bidden. Rubbing at her neck she looked around for a seat. There was none. She sat easily, cross-legged on the ground.

“Speak.”

“Let me think where it starts. Okay-so, it began at a clearing. There were quite a few Lion-headed types. Of course, Anhur was first among these. He was certainly commanding. He provided a table for the rest to sit at in the clearing. He was joined by other lion-men. A general named Khyon. Several warriors whose names were not called out. A bird-headed commander too, named General Aethaun. I’m not sure I’m remembering that name properly.”

“Close enough.”

“Okay-so, there was another lion-head in the bushes near where I watched from. The ones with him named him Uhamur. The ones with him, there were two, he named his children. There was a strange one, dressed in a kind of smock with a high collar. He spoke oddly. Not lisping but rather his words were odd. I only understood the general sense of what he said but the words were meaningless some of the time. The other I liked more. He was small. Smaller by half than me. He was named, Flit by his father. He spoke kindly to his father and brother and seemed knowledgeable.


“Anhur is lucky to have followers and the best part of himself left to him.”

Chisana felt that the words might be sincere. She also felt that they might be voiced by envy. She realised she’d stopped speaking and hurriedly continued.

“There was a strong man named Gerard. He seemed to be holding back a lot of things as he spoke with Anhur. Emotions I mean. I liked him. There was another man there. One who came with Khyon. He looked like a scout type of soldier? I suppose the lion-head general would have these? Not sure that any man would see better than a cat though. Of course, the reason I was watching from the bushes was that Tuan approached the clearing. He’s a man too and the one I travel with at all times.”

“Almost all.”

Chisana couldn’t argue that she was close to Tuan at the moment. She could sense that she was decidedly far from him.

“Okay-so, when Tuan arrived in the clearing with the table, Anhur greeted him and introductions were made. A selection of foods appeared on the table. There were so many things on the table that I couldn’t recognise. Fruits strangely shaped and meats which smelled unusual. I almost revealed myself to get a better look or even a taste. Tuan wouldn’t have wanted me to show myself. It would make for a distraction.

They spoke about many things but most important of these seemed to be a determination of where Anhur should go. There were worlds to choose from and he was happy to allow Tuan’s better knowledge of these to decide. I got the feeling that Anhur didn’t really care. He must be able to ignore quite a bit. He did seem more interested in the way the place was chosen and why. It was decided to go to Zomb. I was surprised but Tuan lives there and maybe he felt it was proper to have this Anhur close to hand? For reasons of his own I mean.

Anhur marshaled his commanders and there was a burst of organised action. Uhamur chose that moment to depart as well. I think the strange son of his spotted me. At least, he tugged on the. brim of his hat as he passed close by me. Maybe he was just adjusting it tighter to his head? The others went to ‘Anhur’s sky-barge’. As Tuan went with them, so did I.”

Chisana waited. She expected a question about how she’d managed to go with the others without being seen.

“You want praise? Am I breathless from your story-telling? No. Don’t stop talking, girl.”

“ ... We flew high into the air! It was exciting to be so far from the ground. I could not see how the barge flew. It didn’t have wings so it must have been chantries. None on it seemed very surprised. Even when the barge began to tip I sensed nothing from most of the travellers. When it did tip over, there were some shouts of alarm. Something had struck the barge solidly. An easy target given its size, I guess. Tuan flew through the air now on his own. He might have wind walked to the ground but there was no need. Some forceful hand saw that he landed with the same effect as jumping off a step. The scout of Khyon was with him. I’ve forgotten to say his name is, Thebes of Thebes. He wore a mask and a hood together. Most scouts I’ve seen wear only a hood and this is for disguise. This one must truly wish to have his face unknown? Maybe he commits acts that are likely to cause others to hunt him down?

As I most expected, the earth they stood upon was marked for alerting signs of life by the dread hordes. Before Tuan and Thebes could even ask of each other’s health, the undyne arose from their eternal beds. Fighting began. Tuan and Thebes handled themselves well. Thebes is an archer. I’m going to have to examine his bow as it looks different from my own. The draw he uses is unusual too. I use a two-finger draw, it was the draw I was taught by Owan in Deii Koam. This Thebes’s pull seems no harder than mine but his arrows fly with a rush. I don’t know how he does it. I almost joined in to help them as they might have been surrounded but the ground opened behind them to reveal a descending stair. From below a deep voice called up to them to step down it and follow him. It seemed a sensible thing to do...”

“Why do you stop?”

“My mouth is dry.”

“I have no ease for thirst except death.”

"... Okay-so, they fought while descending. Gerard appeared at the top of the stair opening. I assume he had fallen not too far away and had seen where the pair had come to ground. He was close to being awash in Cadavivva bodies. Gerard didn’t use a weapon. He seemed to be without one. His hands and forearms were used to great effect in dealing with some of his attackers. The one who had opened this stair must have decided time had passed enough and the opening began to shut. Tuan caste his jade lotus toward the opening, in hopes of creating a space for Gerard to get inside. It didn’t work as planned and Gerard wound up cut off from Thebes and Tuan. I didn’t see him after that. Tuan and Thebes followed the stranger down into a fashioned underground hall. The one who led the way was tall, maybe seven to eight feet. He was fit looking from my vantage. Well-muscled and wore only leggings made of a fabric I couldn’t say I’d seen before. Others males, similar to his stature, stood aside as he passed. We came to a greater hall. At the far end was a great chair. He went to it. It was as he sat that it became apparent that what I had thought to be a pile of grey rugs was actually many grey-skinned females. These were dressed even more simply and sparsely than the male who had led us here. One in particular took it upon herself to embrace the male as he sat, by sitting in front of him, at his feet. She faced Tuan and Thebes but didn’t really look at them as she was too focused on reaching her arms upward and behind her to embrace and caress the male. He paid this attention no mind. He spoke to Tuan and Thebes, “I am Pestilent, Seat of Bile. I am of the Oagnis. We have learned that the undyne have lessened their numbers. Now is our time of chance. We will come again to the surface of the world and finish the cadavivva horde. Humans have been our enemies. You will take our words to the rest of the races. Human, Cleftyck and Vast must forget their hatred of us and help the world.”

Tuan was pleased. Well maybe not pleased but pleased enough to say that he saw things the same way. Okay-so, I was just pleased that Thebes chose not say anything to the contrary. They might never escape if they were to be difficult with this oagnis.

Pestilent said he would gather the other Seats. There are five altogether. It didn’t take long to bring them but it was long enough for Pestilent to leave with the woman. He said that attempting to bring new life into the world was a sacred duty. Okay-so, he mentioned that the other women could be had by Tuan and Thebes but they declined. Ha, they were both like cubs, far from the fierce warriors they had been just an hour before!”

“You would have been inclined to accept then?”

“Yes and no.”

“Do tell.”

“It’s different for me. I can’t just have sport like you males. What if I had to carry a child? Once born, who would care for it? I need to pick my spots.”

“Yes and no... I understand this now. Continue.”

“Just let me know if there’s anything else deeply personal you want to know!... Pestilent returned and there soon followed another four chairs with occupants. The Seats of; Blood, Hate, Cruelty, Bile and Sin.

Cruelty was female which I was both glad to see and concerned about. Tuan might have been asked again to an intimate encounter. To her credit, apart from posing her body to advantage over much once or twice, she didn’t suggest anything. Some of Tuan’s former companions, Mifooney say, would have probably made advances without waiting for an invitation! He’s a grunting boar. Okay-so, the five spoke among themselves a lot about the responses to questions made by Tuan and Thebes. Thebes kept banging on about Anhur coming and how that would bring the light of the sun, whatever that means. I guess it sounds better than bad? Zomb already has a sun, so I’m not sure there’s an job for one more? Wait! I forgot, Anhur renamed the world at the first meeting. He said Zomb would be newly called, Zom-Rahn. So that’s that, I guess. Throw away all the old maps, navigators!”

“Zom-Rahn.”

“Oh, when you say it, it sounds better! Do it again?”


“Enough, girl. It is a notable change so I said it to honour it.”

Chisana paused, hoping that he would say it again. He didn’t.

“The Oagnis Seats all agreed that Pestilent had done a good thing and they seemed to trust in Tuan. To be honest that made me trust them back. I shouldn’t but there it is.

Pestilent told the others that he would take them by secret ways beneath Highsky Daybreak to the top of the city and open a way into it for them. The Seats then left with promises made to ally forces when called upon.

Soon they were at the Ehre Ward of Highsky. They stepped out and the Oagnis left them there. The city’s highest section was reserved for the great buildings of civic importance. Main among these was a building in the middle of the ward. Before it sat six great, cylindrical blocks of stone. Nothing stood atop them but their purpose seemed clear enough. They awaited statues or had once had statues upon them. Maybe the six winds had once had statues there? Or perhaps the Moguis? I can’t say.

A man came toward them a short time after they had begun to look about. He looked to be a caster, of that I have no doubt. His flying book was a big clue, ha! He was pretty put out with Tuan’s and Thebes’s being there. It could be that there was no simple way for men to get this far unnoticed, yet here they were. Thebes showed more interest than he normally did in general, in the central building. This caster said he could take them inside if they wished. Tuan saw no reason not to have a look and Thebes seemed eager. The caster explained on the way to the large doorway that he was known as a Magane. Some kind of city warden and a caster. Interesting idea. I guess they’d be at least as tough to deal with than a regular soldier. He opened the doors big as they were, with a blue caste from his tome. Inside there was a simply laid out space as is our way. People of Zomb… Zom-Rahn, I mean, like rooms that are free from clutter. All the room contained was a large hexagonal, metal font. Inside it was obvious from a distance was a source of heat. The heat was dry so I knew it wasn’t a cauldron. More like an over-large brazier. Maybe it was black iron? Probably. Then the magane left them both there to stay for a time. I got the sense that he expected the room to take care of them. Could it be that there would be an increase in the heat from the brazier to the point that Tuan and Thebes would be cooked? I hoped not but prepared for that possibility. Before anything sinister could happen, Thebes made a pretty speech. Some kind of caste I think but far more like a poem than any caste magick I’ve heard. Okay-so, then when he…”

“Wait. Remember his words. Remember his words… Speak.”

Gods together with men are with thee;

No harm cometh unto them from thy shining,

Nor from thy journeying in the celestial boat.

Thy enemies have ceased to be, for I am protecting thee!

Come thou to us unbridled, thou great Sun god.

Depart not from us who behold thee

There proceedeth from thee the disc in heaven at evening, at the resting of every day!

Lo, it is I, at the approach of the Moonlite period, who doth watch for thee,

Nor will I leave off watching for thee; for that which proceedeth from thee is revered.

Come thou to us from thy chamber, when thy soul begetteth emanations,

The day when offerings upon offerings are made to thy spirit, which causeth the gods and men likewise to live.

Praise be to the Lion of the sky, for there is no god like unto thee, oh Anhur-Rah, our light, our blessing.

Thy soul possesseth the earth, and thy likenesses the underworld.

“Our Blessing.”

Chisana stared at him closely, “You look odd. Different.”

“It might be so, girl.”

“Okay-so…”

“Enough.”

“Enough?”

“Yes, I wish to hear no more. These words you have remembered…”

“Yes?”

“They should be the last you speak. There is nothing else to say for now. I have learned enough.”

“Ah, so I can go now? I mean, if I have pleased you somewhat?”

“You’re lucky it’s me and not one of the others. There are several that might not be given to your faith in sentimentality.”

“Why? What difference does it make if they or you would kill me? Dead is dead.”

“Ahem, yes it is… a suitable ending, you might say. Some would like a death to be chosen. Others seek to choose their own point of no return. In point of fact, there are as many ways of dying as there are lives to live. The study of these ways is an art I have mastered.”

“I guess that makes sense. So, you’re a deathmaster well versed in the art of dying? I wouldn’t say I’ve thought that hard about death. Not a pleasant thing.”

“This coming from a girl who fights Cadavivva... You will need to be more willing to examine your chosen path.”

“I’m not sure anybody has control over what they learn? I see what I see. I can’t make myself see things, can I?”

“... and what if you were shown?”

“A teacher shows students things they do not know about. Is that what you mean? I’m too old to go to school!”

“Not all teachings come from schools. Each day you teach yourself, if you are willing to learn.”

“If I didn’t know better I’d say you are a sage.”

“I’m no sage. If I was, I might let you live and learn... If.”

“What will you gain by my death? Is what I know so secret?”

“Not what you know but what you will know. This is my dilemma.”

Like a small shaft of light had suddenly appeared beneath a prison door, Chisana felt a glimmer of hope. This thing wasn’t sure what to do with her.

“Girl, I will remember you when the time comes to do so.”

Chisana didn’t like the finality of those words but chose to ignore it and sighed loudly, “I can’t say as I blame you. You can’t have too many people running about knowing all your secrets. It would make you less fearsome. I get why I must die.”

“My secrets are not known. You do not have any way of knowing ‘my secrets’. You are mortal. Small things that have no knowledge of true secrets.”

“You can’t believe that? How does an insect make a tunnel without the secret?”

“What’s this, some sort of riddle?”

“I guess? Do you know the answer?”

“I don’t care to know it. Insects making tunnels...”

“So this small creature knows something you don’t. Same with me. I’m bigger than an insect but probably not by much from where you stand. I know things too.”

“When you die I will know these secrets, girl. How’s that for a riddle answered? Heh!”

“But not the secrets I’m going to learn.”

“There will be others. There are always others. Other girls. Other girls’ secrets.”

“Okay-so, if you’re sure.”

He could not be sure. His mind wasn’t sure of anything. He was confident that the girl was essentially harmless. Capable but nothing he need worry about. If he killed her he would learn whatever things she hadn’t told him. He didn’t know but he felt there would be little to learn. She was an open mind. Innocent? No. Not innocent, she was far from that or he wouldn’t have bothered.

He examined her carefully. In measuring her he knew that she was that rare soul that hung in the balance. Not one thing or the other. On the edge of the sharpest dagger. What had she said? ... 'Yes and no.' ...


He needed to know his proper course. He was not a judge of souls but he was blessed with an exacting measuring device which would give him a clear answer. This was not a casual effort for him and normally his own perception was sufficient. This girl demanded his full awareness. His staff began to diminish, becoming finer and more delicate. Notches in its surface meant for providing grip, became finer too, turning into narrow lines of incremental measure. In each of his hands appeared a round, flat plate, identical in every way. These plates moved into the air to seem suspended below the opposite ends of the thinned staff. The staff hung horizontally in the air before him. All was in readiness... Chisana stared at all this with interest.

“Sit.” Chisana sat.

“You look tired, girl.” Chisana slept.

He took from the air a silvered feather that had not been there before. He paused to admire it. The feather was exceedingly rare. He had not seen one for a great time. He hoped this was not a wasteful use, something told him it was not. He placed the feather on one of the golden plates. This sent the plate spinning slowly. He paid this no mind. Placing his palms together he invoked his gift. Silent communion with those that had gone before, urging a connection however brief with the power they had once wielded without rival. When it was said and done, he drew his long-fingered hands apart. The girl gasped in her sleep. Between his palms floated a traceried heart. Real but ghostly clear. It beat its life rhythm in the air. He motioned and the heart lifted to settle on to the plate opposite the one holding the silver feather. The plate with the heart descended. He smiled. It was to be expected after all. The ‘heart-plate’ stopped moving downward. It rose some. He stared at the plate’s progress. As the plate moved higher it passed the feather-plate moving downward. His smile grew wider, revealing his side teeth near as long as his stabbing ones. The girl was innocent... Or perhaps not, as the heart-plate slowed and moved down again. A pity but he shrugged, that’s life — that was life. He stared at the girl’s resting form. Young but not as young as some. His face drew serious. In this application he was most serious. No more the jovial killer, not any longer the deadly jester set to remind the lesser beings and his betters, of their final responsibility to themselves and creation. It was her time. He reached out to her with an outstretched arm. His other moved toward her heart, still beating on the scale...

The heart and the feather were at the same height. He blinked. It was true. This had not happened before. Either one was judged worthy or unworthy. This girl was... neither — or both? Impossible! He stilled her heart. The beating might be throwing off the measurement. The girl shuddered but he paid no heed to the body. The scale held her soul and the body would wait a little to be re-joined as he needed to be sure. Her heart grew silent. His eyes narrowed to white lines, shuttering out any distraction. His focus narrowed upon the delicate indentations of the staff. There he read the truth. She was a vessel halfway between. He did not know what to think. He could comprehend the possibility but this was the reality. The girl was special and a question to be answered. He need know no more…

Chisana sat up in a momentary panic but there was no need for panic. The world was as it was. Nothing had changed. She looked and found Tuan’s blue cloak hanging on the hook by the Fremde’s doorway. She decided to get some night air before the day came. She stepped out of the Fremde and turned left but looked right. She wasn’t sure why she looked over her shoulder. A dog lay outside the entrance-way, across the street where the day had seen the birth of two children to the same household. Chisana stared at the dog. She had an ability to make dogs howl or leave her presence. She didn’t want to wake up the city so she bade it to move on. The dog stood only to settle into a seated posture. Then lifting its head the dog howled louder than she believed a dog could do. Strangely in response, no lanterns were lit, no soldiers came running, no people opened shutters. Chisana stared at the dog. She could swear it was smiling. The dog looked toward the higher part of the city, as if waiting for something… Nothing happened. The dog no longer smiled. Gold tears fell from its eyes.

It stood and with a huff, loped off toward the Stone Gate of Highsky Daybreak. It seemed to sift between the portcullis bars. It moved down the bridge-ramp stopping near some wrecked wagons where the hole was that Gerard had emerged from earlier that day and lifted its leg. After that it disappeared into the lightening night horizon beyond. Chisana felt moved to track after the dog but another part of her knew that was not necessary or wise. She felt as though she’d see the dog again. She might reveal a thing or two to the dog then. Chisana felt odd even thinking this. What was a dog to her? She didn’t even like dogs. Her gaze moved back to the Ehre Ward walls above her. A ruddy glow had begun. The slopes of the mountain behind the daybreak were lit by this deep vermillion hue. She looked to see if the dog had noticed but the dog was gone. Chisana stared at mountainside well after the light of the day made the deep redness impossible to see.

Report Date

21 May 2019