The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Second Creation

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Second Creation

      Iriisii appears inside a larger version of the design that the Outsider drew on the deck of the zombie ship. As she moves off of it and starts to examine her surroundings, the others begin to arrive. She looks around and notices she is in a large circular area at the bottom. Around and rising upward and outward are rows of seats, vacant at the moment. Then she sees a single ornately robed figure sitting in one of the seats across from where she stands, on the opposite side. 

     Her mates have continued to appear one after another and are making their own perusal of their surroundings. Once all have arrived, they gather together, to determine their next course of action. It is then that the robed figure stands, the movement gaining Iriisii's attention. It looks toward her, acknowledging her response, and slowly moves toward a set of steps to walk down to where they all patiently wait.

     The Outsider bows to the figure as it approaches, and receives a nod in response. The others take their cue from Iriisii, who simply nods and stands silent. 

     "I welcome you to our Creation, Realm, World. This is the central meeting place for the Council of Realms. It is the main governing body for our Creation. You may call me, Lorem. I see that you came with our agent, Jerith. I take it that he feels you can illuminate us to the event we recently experienced, and possibly to other things going on around us?"

     "Under other circumstances, I would be exceedingly pleased to make your acquaintance. However, the current situation here and in my own Creation is most dire. I believe that what is occurring in both have a common thread, and I have been guided here to do what I can to learn of what happened here and prevent that within my own Creation.

     I am greatly sorrowful to say that I cannot stop what is to happen here, without destructive consequences that could bring down the very 'Arch of Time' itself should the paradoxes reach that far. With that said, if there is anything that I can do without creating such paradoxes, know that I will do whatever I can to help.

     But to answer your question, I was the one who initiated the resurrection spell to restore the lives and souls of the Lyrium Dragons. I do not know of the relationships if any, that exist between Dragonkind and the races that populate this Creation. But in my own, I am known as 'Dovahkiin' or 'Dragonborn', 'Dragonchild of Alessia, 'Thunderchild of Kyne' and the 'Mother of Dragons' and I consider them all to be my children. As I stood among their bones, I felt them calling to me, asking me to fulfill the promise they said I made to them uncounted years ago.

     A promise at that time I had no knowledge of. But still, the desire to fulfill that promise weighed so on me that I felt I had to do it. I entreated the 'Mother of the Cosmos' for the 'Rite of Rebirth' on their behalf, but was answered instead by one who claimed them as hers. A woman made of 'Red Lyrium'. I would not let go of those I claimed as my children and so I fought her for them. In the end, I destroyed her body, freeing her soul to go to whatever her fate was to be. In doing this I purged the corruption from their bones.

    The 'Mother of the Cosmos' sang my accolade and elevated me in her eyes. Gave me the power to bring about 'Rebirth' without recourse to anyone else for permission. And so I brought back the three hundred thirty Lyrium Dragons, who have declared themselves my children, support me in the war I must fight for my Creation, and one day follow me into the 'Great Beyond'."

     "I may not know of or recognize who you refer to, the titles you hold, or what they mean, but any assistance you can be of would be greatly appreciated. We have no one that I am aware of who has a relationship with Dragons. They are solitary in that they go their own way, and we do not interfere with each other. From what you say, they may know more than I or this Council of what we face, thus I would ask that you seek them out and inquire of them what knowledge they might share. I would ask that you do this quietly, for some on the Council seem to deny there is anything to worry about, and thus see no need for any action.

     "Politics is the same, no matter where I go."

     "Truthfully do you speak, and experience you seem to have of this."

     "On our homeworld, before she ascended, she earned by Right of Combat, and the Divine Right of being the Anointed of Akatosh, the Throne of the Empire of Cyrodiil."

     "So you either were or still are an 'Empress'?"

     "Until our child reaches her 'Age of Majority' when I will step down in favor of her taking the Throne."

     "Do not forget that you are Regent for the Empire of Nilfgard, as well."

     "Thank you, that is still a recent development."

     "It is evident you are well schooled in politics and the burden of governance."

     "Among other more esoteric fields of experience."

     "Be that as it may, they have no bearing here, not yet anyway."

     Suddenly there is movement all around as guards run out from doorways spaced around the chamber. Another robed figure walks out from one doorway.

     "Ah, I see Jerith was successful in finding the one who is the cause of the turmoil and strife that is going on across our Creation. Guards, you are to arrest these and take them to a holding cell for interrogation."

     "Rogan, you have no authority to take such action."

     "I have all the authority that I need. The Creation faces its most dire threat, the people demand action and I will give it to them. Guards, you have your orders."

     Dettlaff and Rigmor bristle at the guards approaching, Desidarius prepares to come forward as well, Iriisii gestures for them to back down but remain alert. She then steps out and addresses Rogan.

     "I am afraid you have started this on some very wrong assumptions."

     "Oh, and just what might they be?"

     "That you have the power to back up the words you speak. The least of mine could lay waste to this chamber, and these guards are not in the least way prepared for what I could unleash."

     "Bold talk for someone surrounded by our Council Guards. Guards, you have your orders, carry them out!"

     Iriisii makes another gesture, Rigmor reads it and calls out, "give her room, she is going to need a fair area for this demonstration." Her companions move to the side giving her as much room as they can.

     "What is she going to do?"

     Rigmor with a huge grin on her face, "you are going to just love this, watch these guards soil their breeches!"

     Iriisii bows her head for a moment then lifts it, the guards close enough to see her face, stop and stumble backward away from her. Her eyes had turned a solid violet color, a violet aura envelops her as her form melts then reshapes itself, growing exponentially until a huge violet-black dragon sits in the middle of the Council Chamber.

     Her dragon form, magnificent in more than just size, her violet-black scales edged in a deep violet glow, a double row of wicked spikes running down her back to the base of the tail. The tail itself is spiked with horizontal spikes, slender and barbed along their length. The fires of the brazier lights cause them to gleam with reflections of the flames. Her dragon face, slender with curved spikes protruding from her jaws, outward with the lower jaw spikes curving up, and the upper jaw spikes curving down. Both mesh together to form an impenetrable shield around her face. Her wings are muscled strongly, bone spikes at the joints, the veins within the wings glowing deep violet. Her eyes are violet within violet, the sclera a lighter shade than the iris, and with a depth that exudes just how deadly and dangerous she can be. Exactly as Rigmor predicted, the smell from several of the guards has some curling their noses in disgust.

     "Now who are you, Rogan, to gainsay the 'Mother of Dragons'!"

     "I see only one, and that one is likely nothing but an illusion."

     Then dragon calls are heard from outside, as three more forms materialize onto the floor around Iriisii. The lead Lyrium Dragon speaks.

     "Mother of Dragons, at last, you come to answer the call of your children. We knew you existed, we have heard your voice, felt your power within the Streams of Time."

     "Then by the ancient 'Traditions of the Dov' give unto me your greetings, who is eldest among you?"

     The 'Lyrium Blue' who first spoke gives the first shout of his Thu'um, "FUS!". As the force wave rolls over Iriisii, it does not even cause her to move the smallest amount, even as a few guards caught in the wake are thrown to bounce off of the walls. Iriisii responds with, "YOL!". As the fire breath hits him, he is forced to turn his face away. The scales of his face and neck were smoking and in a few places even smoldering. He recovers his place and speaks. 

     "Mother, your Thu'um is unmatched among any of us. We declare ourselves to be your children, and you, the only one worthy to be 'Mother of Dragons'." And then he walks up to her, the floor vibrating with his footsteps, he bows to her and stretches forth his neck. She gently takes his neck in her jaws and then releases him. "I greet you my 'son', as my 'child' and as my ally from this day forward. Call my name in your need, and I will answer." The Lyrium Dragons raise their heads to roar their acceptance, and Iriisii adds her voice to theirs, as stone dust falls from the domed ceiling above. Then she drapes a wing over the Lyrium Dragon, and everyone there watches as his wounds heal before their eyes.

     "Did you know that she could do that?"

     "What morph into a dragon or heal while in dragon form?"

     "Either one actually."

     "She has been able to morph into dragon form for some time. She just did not need to, since she had other ways to handle things. She does not like to show off what she can do, just to show off. If there is a need then she will do so, like now. As to healing in dragon form, that is more complicated. She has not needed to before and so has not even tried. I suspected she could, she simply had no need to do so."

     "Why now then?"

     "To demonstrate to these dragons that she is the 'Mother of Dragons', that she has the requisite power and this is not just an empty title. I would gather others have from time to time tried to convince them of this in order to gain something but did not have the power to make it stick. Iriisii does, that is a fact, she lives it each and every day. She has had the soul of the 'First Dragon of Destiny' sharing her body with her from before her birth. It makes sense for her to feel toward dragons as she does."

     Iriisii looks up to find Rogan, but he is conspicuously absent. Lorem speaks as he sees her looking for Rogan. "He fled just after you assumed dragon form. And I must say, this was well done, indeed. When word of this gets out, if it has not already, there will be no question as that you are indeed who you say you are. I would like to speak in more detail about exactly what you know about that is coming. What you may be able to do, and what you cannot. Then I can go to the entire Council and inform them of what is to happen and what we can do."

     "I look forward to that, although it may not be as fruitful as either of us would like, we shall see." She looks to the Lyrium Dragon and speaks to him, "tell your brothers and sisters, what has transpired here. Know that 'War' comes to fight against that which destroyed the 'First Creation' and seeks to destroy this one as well. I come to you from the Third Creation, in which I am building a Celestial Army, to do battle with the forces that seek its destruction. I have the resources, the training, the knowledge, and the support to win that battle, however long it takes. I may not be able to stop the destruction of this Creation. Other factors of higher import are at stake as well, but I will save as many lives as it is allowed for me to save."

     The Lyrium Dragons leave the same way they came. Iriisii morphs back into her human form and Lorem asks, "I understand why you cannot save this Creation, even if many will not be able to. But how many lives can you save and where will you take them?"

     "As to how many, I cannot offer a specific number, but as many as it is possible for me to save. As to where I will see them taken to, I have a destination in mind. It will take a bit of time and work to see if I can make it happen, but if I can, there will be room for every soul I can send to safety, you have my solemn word on this."

     Rigmor looks up at her, "how do you intend to make good on that. Our Creation cannot handle that high of a number of refugees."

     "I know, but I also found out that even though the First Creation was destroyed and this one will likely be as well, their presence in the Dreamlands is still there."

     "Of course! If the Dreamland presence is still there, then they can be transported there. The Dreamlands can expand to take as many as can enter."

     "The main problem will be how to get as many as possible transported there. I do not wish for a single one who wants to go and live to be left behind."

     "Well if anyone can find a way, you can."

     "Maybe I can at that."

     "You have something in mind?"

     "A possibility, something to be explored later. Lorem, the main reason I have come is that I seek information. More than one plague that causes my Creation to suffer seems to have a presence here." She goes on to elucidate on just what information she is looking for and to speak of what possible remedy she has in mind for survivors. With sorrow in her voice, she tells of what she suspects as to the fate of this Creation and her inability to affect it and why.

     "It is indeed as I suspected. I know many on the Council will not agree and I can understand their position. It is to be expected, no one wants to face utter destruction and know there is no way to stop it. But we must rise above such, and look to our people, the possibility of saving as many as we can will be a balm worth fighting for."

     "What of your 'Gods'? I have heard nothing but silence since I arrived. This is something that I have never felt before. Always, I could at least feel their presence if not their voices, but now I feel only silence. The surface of the 'Void', still and placid as glass. Have you ever had entities grow into Gods to guide and shepherd you? To protect and advise?"

     "We too, have wondered such things. The oldest writings speak of Gods, such as you speak of, but there has been no sign for a very long time. Our Sages and Philosophers have sought answers but never found any."

     "One more thing to investigate, to find the answer to what happened and if it has any bearing on this current situation. However, I think the answer will not be here, but rather elsewhere."

     "Where, if I may ask?"

     "The Dreamlands may very well hold the answer, to more than just this question. But I cannot just go blindly into this, we have not the time for that. I will have to seek help from those I know who have been there the longest, see what they may know, or at least what direction they may be able to point me in."

     "I will leave that to you then, I will go among the council members that I think I can sway to my side. We will be the ones to see what can be done to calm the people, as much as we can do so."

     Iriisii gathers her group to her, "I have to speak to 'She Who Watches All' and may have to go to the Dreamlands to Ilek Vad and speak with the Arch Sage. Someone knows at least some of the answers I seek, and the Dreamlands are where the paths cross. I can try 'She Who Watches All' first without going to the Dreamlands, but I do not want to try it here. I want someplace where we will be more protected."

     "What about where the Lyrium Dragons roost? They might have a place nearby."

     "Yes, that would do nicely. Let me see if I can establish a link and we will be on our way."

     Iriisii reaches out with her mind, following the trace she formed with the Lyrium Dragon during the Greeting Ritual.

     "How may this one be of service, Mother?"

     "I am in need of a protected space while I speak with distant friends regarding answers to the questions that I have about this Creation. There are things that do not feel right, and I need answers to know how to proceed. Would you and yours allow me and mine to come to you for a time?"

     "There is no need to ask, Mother, anything we can do we will do."

     "I have your position in mind, we will arrive in the next few minutes. Thank you, my son."         Iriisii looks up and informs everyone that they are going as soon as she opens a portal. Jerith says he will stay and speak to the Sages and Librarians here about her questions. Iriisii acknowledges his choice and opens the portal. She and her party walkthrough and find themselves inside of an open bowl in a mountain range, the air is warm, and there is a clear lake with some kind of rock cone above the water surface in the center. The area around the lake is grassy, with large stones scattered about, just right to use as seats.

     "I thank you, my son, for allowing us to come into such a private place, it is indeed beautiful and soothing to a troubled soul."

     "You are most welcome, Mother. I and my brothers and sisters will watch, to see you are not interrupted."

     "The rest of you get comfortable, I do not know how long we will be here for. I am sure if you have questions, the dragons will answer what they can. Just be polite, and if they prefer not to answer, do not press it."

     Iriisii then looks around and spotting a flat-topped boulder, she makes her way to it, climbs atop, then settles herself down into a meditative state of mind. As she sinks deeper, the crystal leaf around her heart chimes a slow song that evokes a bit of melancholy. The dragons close to her hear the chimes and interest piques in what is happening.

     Iriisii on the other hand is being drawn to where 'She Who Watches All' has made her new home.

     "My Mother, as much as it gladdens my heart to be with you again, I wish the circumstances were better."

     "My Daughter, much have you accomplished, higher you have climbed, and more powerful you have grown. How can I be of help to you?"

     Iriisii explains what has taken her to the 'Second Creation' and what she has felt since arriving there. She goes on to explain what she knows of the circumstances, the fate of the Creation, and her plan to save as many of the people of the Creation as she can before its destruction.

     "You have taken much upon yourself, more than is truly needed, but you would not be true to who you are if you did not. Very little knowledge remains of the 'Second Creation' and even less of the 'First'. But the Dreamlands are indeed the only place where any more might be learned. All that I learned of them, I learned within my time there, from the travelers that would come, visit with me, and tell me stories of their travels.

     You are right that there exist analogs of the 'First' and 'Second' Creations in the Dreamlands, but they will be difficult to find much less enter."

     "Why is that, and does it perhaps have anything to do with how they were destroyed?"

     "Indeed it does. The violence of their destruction echoed even here, causing a great rift to form, separating them from the rest of the Dreamlands. The edges of them can be seen from time to time, most though they are obscured by fog. What caused it, no one has come across to tell."

     "There must be a way to cross over. Can I not do it from within the 'Second Creation?"

     "Normally, yes you could, but that 'fog' prevents that from happening. Just what it is, no one knows, although many have speculated, even the Sages of Ilek Vad. Although I think there may indeed be a way to cross over."

     "Tell me, please."

     "It is somewhat of a winding path you will need to tread. And surprisingly or not it begins in the 'Forge of Stars'."

     "What does the 'Forge' have to do with this?"

     "Not the 'Forge' itself, but one who visits there. One known to the Forgemaster, who has forged weapons for him from time to time. If you travel to the 'Forge' and begin forging your weapons and armor, he will feel your presence, and the power of the weapons and armor you forge will draw his interest to see who has the power to make them and the need of such weapons and armor.

     He is most wise and is a great deal like you in temperament. You will get along with him very well and he may even assist you in the forging process. If he does, listen to him, for he has made mighty weapons of great renown on his own. With he and the Forgemaster helping you, what you can create will go beyond anything ever made before and likely will ever be made in the future."

     "Who is he?"

     "You will not have heard of him, for his Realm is exceedingly far from our Creation, yet he has access to a bridge of wonder, a bridge that can be used to cross any gulf, any rift. And the Guardian of that Bridge has eyes that see farther than any God or Goddess, even me. When you meet him, take the time to ask your questions of him, for he above all others will have seen what happened when the 'First' and 'Second' Creations were born and destroyed.

     You will know the one you need to meet at the 'Forge' by the two ravens that perch atop his shoulders whispering the secrets that they collect into his ears, and the eye he is missing, the eye he gave to pay for the wisdom that he now possesses. The Bridge Guardian you will know for he never leaves his post on that Bridge, unless by direct order of his master. He is taller than anyone you have met so far, and he bears a two-hand sword as tall as he is. When you look into his eyes, you will know him, for his eyes look deeper than anyone else's does."

     "Do you know what happened to the 'Gods' of the 'First' and 'Second' Creations?"

     "To my eternal regret, I do. I could do nothing to help them, and the pain I felt because of that still haunts me."

     "If they were destroyed before you were born how could you know them?"

     "Because they reside 'where the dead gods lie dreaming'."

     "I am sorry, for bringing that memory forward."

     "It is not your fault, I knew the time would come when you would need to know when it would draw you to itself like a moth to a candle flame. Just when it comes your time to go there, be careful of what you see, feel, and experience. You have within you the gift to give them what they seek over all other things. But it will not be until after you have passed through after you have completed even more of the tasks ahead, that you can help them find peace at last. Remember this, you and no other can help them, and it cannot happen until the stage is properly set."

     "So they did once exist and now are no more within the Creations."

     "Yes, the people have had to live their lives without them, for better or for worse, that judgment is yet to be determined. But they have done far better than it was expected of them, but it was not good enough for their Creation to survive."

     "I want to save as many of them as I can. I thought that maybe they could find a home here, apart from the Creations that were and mine to come. But now, I am at a loss as to what I can do. It should be possible without causing any paradoxes, but only if they are separated from my reality. And not knowing what the state their Dreamlands are in, I cannot tell if it would make a suitable home for them."

     "A quandary wrapped within a conundrum. If when you find your way into those Dreamlands and they are not suitable for what you want, then ask the 'Child of Infinity', what she may be able to do. Between the two of you, it should be possible to find a solution to the problem."

     "I thank you, Mother, at least now I have a direction to go in."

     "Indeed, but first you must deal with the source that has brought both zombies and Wamphyrie into the Second Creation. What little I can tell you is this, when you have defeated the source, you must allow it to run, to escape. Do not follow it, for you are not yet ready for that, soon yes, but not yet. Once the dual scourge has been dealt with, go to the 'Forge', then once your path through the 'Forge' has been followed you will have a clearer vision of what is to come.

     And as I am certain you have surmised, all of this has a role to play in preparing you, Dettlaff, and Elric for what you must do to find and rescue Kathea. Stay on the path, and you will find her, you will save her. You are strong enough for this, but now, so too, must be your companions, for if they fail, you fail."

     "Where will I find this 'Source'?"

     "Do not fear, 'it' will find you soon enough, be ready."