Black Magic Woman

[The Forgotten God]

Thousands of miles from the apocalyptic lands of Innuria, a country of prosperity and beauty thrives. Lisandre is a relatively new colony, established only a century and a half ago, and yet it has two port cities famed for trading, a successful wine industry, and some of the most fertile land in the known world.

Key to the strategic success of the realm is its leader. Melreth Nazarian is a sorceress who acknowledges no peer among the world, her speciality mysterious and mostly fed by scurrilous rumors. What is known is that the powerful monarch brooks no dissent, and while her people are wealthy and well fed and secure, they cannot be said to be free.

[The Forgotten God]

Nazarian Keep sits on Palo Mountain, a gently sloping volcano where lava flows toward the coast in long shallow rivulets, forming smooth black walkways and trails and providing excellent fertilizer for pineapples and all sorts of foods. To talk to the queen, one must cross a bridge and walk directly over the molten rock prior to entering the basalt walls. The effect it has on people’s manners is noticeable.

Melreth had summoned her to her great observatory the night she received her first truly independent mission. Even Thalia seldom entered the queen’s private solar, the name ever more appropriate here, decorated with stat charts and highlighted by a colossal spy glass nearly forty feet long. The Queen’s paintings she had made of what she observed in the heavens dotted the walls.

Thalia has never seen Melreth look concerned before, but an uncharacteristic line in her forehead had formed when she turned to talk to her pupil. A sealed box sat next to her, about three feet high and five long, bound in iron chains. Her hair was loose and fell nearly all the way to the floor. “A gift from Edysse,” she said. “Or rather, an appeal. I was hoping to have you with me when I...released it.” It was a curious word for opening a box.

[Thalia Vedas]

Thalia was unfazed ny the lava at this point, having to cross very often as part of her role in the queens service, but it was always interesting to see the faces of those not expecting it.

He headed over to the solar and entered once given permission, taking the time to look around the impressive room, she was envious of it, of the beauty of it, but there wa enough most elsewhere to satisfy her mostly.

Thalia was about to say something in response to the detriment of innuria, but at seeing the look on the face of the queen decided to treat this more seriously, “It is a creature of some sort?” She asked curiously, looking at the box for any hint, what else would you release from a box than an creature?

[The Forgotten God]

“I’m not entirely sure,” Melreth said. She had raised her staff, a dark oaken stave studded with hundreds of gems, and they flowed in an arcane pattern as she pondered. “But I decided if there was something like that in there best to have you to back me up.” She had cast her spell and the lock had cracked open and the chains fell off, and the hinged side fell ponderously towards the stone floor, making an echoing clang through the great solar.

For a long moment nothing happened save a slow creeping fog from the box. Thalia had had no difficulty identifying the substance even without ever having actually seen it. The sorceress queen had raised her hand and shouted something and the box vomited out its contents, a single small green stone, perfectly round and clear like a marble, the rough size of a golf ball. Melreth went pale at the sight of it. “It...it can’t be,” she had whispered.

“Thalia...it’s time you proved yourself my heir in sorcery in truth as well as training. You must go to Innuria. Inmediately.”

[Thalia Vedas]

Thalia was surprised by the Queens reaction, but as soon as she mentioned heading off Thalia felt eagerness rise in her, a chance to leave.

“Of course,” she said easily, and looked at the green ball, trying to see if she could get any kind of magical feel from it, or clue to what it was without asking, she preferred to work things out if she could.

It was very concerning that Melreth seemed so concerned, but she was giving her an opportunity to go out and see the world, a thought struck her though, “is anyone to accompany me?” She hoped not.

[The Forgotten God]

The stone is enormously charged with some unfamiliar magical signature. “You’ll go on one of our diplomatic vessels,” she had said. “But this mission...no. Too sensitive even for our ambassador to know about. She’ll only know that my emissary is in Innuria and is to be given whatever she demands. I’ll spare the guessing games. This is one of the Thessalian Emeralds. They...they shouldn’t be here. They’re supposed to lose power once they leave the Mist, but someone has learned to create them...this would make every barrier Bastion erected useless. And if the ocean doesn’t stop the stone from functioning either...” she didn’t need to finish the implication.

[Thalia Vedas]

“I understand, I’ll leave at once” Thalia said, thinking of the possibilities, but also the responsibility, “and Innuria sent this to you? If they have the ability to contain it like that? There are an awful lot of questions, I look forward to bringing you the answers.”

Thalia knew it would undoubtedly be dangerous, but worth it to go, not that she had a choice.

[The Forgotten God]

“I have an old friend there,” she said. “She asked me for my assistance in a unrelated matter anyway. Perfect cover. I do believe the Emperor himself may have sent this. If he’s involved personally than it’s a good sign they’re taking it seriously.”

[Thalia Vedas]

“Yes, well, it is a serious topic, is there anything you’d like me to ficus on, other than information?” Thalia asked the queen,

[The Forgotten God]

Melreth swirled her wine absently then nodded slowly. “Yes,” she said. “If word of this got out it could empower our enemies to aggressively seek whatever sorcery this is. Make sure our...people are loyal. I’ll leave you to decide how.”