The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Unfathomable Depths of Time

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Unfathomable Depths of Time

     "I must speak with my mates and a few others, this changes everything I thought I knew of what happened and why. I also have a further question for you."

     "Ask."

     "When we first began speaking, you spoke as if you were sent to drag me back to the time you came here from, kicking and screaming. Now you speak as if you were actually sent to help me. Which is it?"

     "I apologize for the not quite deception. Your spell recalling the Lyrium Dragons was felt all the way back to the 'second Creation' and maybe the 'first' as well. I was sent to evaluate the situation, find out why no one knew anything was going on before you cast that spell. I do work for the ancestors of those you know of as the 'Ideal Masters'. However, they are very much different from the ones you know."

     "How are they different?"

     "They are a part of the 'Illuminated Ones'. The 'Ideal Masters' you know are. I think the word is 'castoffs'. They parted ways from the Illuminated Ones long before the 'Second Creation' was destroyed. We never knew where they ended up until I arrived here and found reference to them among the records on this ship. The one using this ship knew of them but had nothing to do with them, was in fact forbidden to deal with them in any way."

     "Do you know why?"

     "Not specifically, but I surmise, they would not care for whatever plans were in the making here. I think it would have created a major problem in their supply of souls. And I have no idea as to what use they have for them. Anyway, they are not a problem that needs to be dealt with, they are, as you say, minor players."

     "Alright, one more thing, the 'Wamphyrie', what do you know of them?"

     "More to the point, what do you know of them?"

     "I have had dealings with them, not at all pleasant. I want to find out where the source of the leeches are that are being distributed in my Creations and put a permanent stop to them. I know I cannot destroy them from their beginning, it would bring too much upheaval and destruction to the timelines here and now. But I can destroy them in my 'now' without causing such trouble."

     "Then we have compatible goals, for I agree with you on that. As to what you intend for the future of this entire Creation, that is yours to decide. I have no part in that, nor do I want a part in it. Although there are things that may come about because of your presence in these matters as they pertain to the 'Second Creation' and its unfolding fate. Things even I do not understand if they are true changes to the timeline or if they were fated to happen with you being the one to initiate it."

     "I understand, I have seen many examples along the way of just what you describe. But I intended to go alone because I feared paradoxes in the timeline. If I go back to the 'Second Creation' and as long as whatever I do does not stop its fate, I should be able to bring help with me."

     "Who do you wish to bring?"

     "Rigmor for certain, she will not allow me to go without her. I know how that sounds but you do not know her, or are wedded to her as I am. I will always look out for her, and never exclude her unless it means the destruction of all I work toward. Then I also want Illyria, I feel her alter ego, Desidarius may have an important role in this. The roiling cloud mentioned her and wanted her. I do not want her left behind because of that. Also, Phillipa, is like me in that she hosts the soul of one of the 'Dragons of Destiny', I feel there is much she could help with. And last but not least, Dettlaff, the parting we had when I told him he would have to stay. I cannot leave him if it is possible to bring him. And if we face Necromancers, as well as an undead army or two, with him at my side, they stand no chance."

     "I respect your choices and the reason you want them to go with you, very well. Take what time you need to gather them and I will open the time portal for you."

     "First I need to disable all of these zombies, I do not need them running amok as soon as I am gone." She withdraws within herself for a few seconds and touches the Amulet with her mind. As its glow expands, first the zombies in front of her collapse, then spreading outward to all of the ships where any were still present. When all were taken care of, she releases the Amulet and contacts Rigmor.

     "You have not gone yet, what gives?"

     Iriisii explains all that she has learned and her intentions to take help with her and who she wants.

     "Are you some kind of imposter, who has taken over my Iriisii?"

     "Har, har, har, I try to be considerate of you and you try to be funny."

     "I am sorry, but you have to admit, it is just a bit out of character for you."

     "And I am trying to work on that, the circumstances changed from what I first thought and understood, so I thought to bring you with me, of course, if you do not wish to go."

     "Oh no, you are so not getting away from me this time. I will gather everyone and we will port over. By the way, how did that night with Desidarius go?"

     "We will talk about that when I can talk with all of you together."

     "Oh my, this is serious, isn't it? No, I am not going to spill the beans. I know you too well not to be able to read you. If it makes any difference, you have my vote. I know you would not even think about it if you did not feel it was best for all of us. And I do have to admit to just a bit of curiosity as to what she can bring to the table. If she has been able to turn you around like this, I would love to know how she did it."

     Iriisii responds with 'silence'.

     "I am so close to the mark, you never go silent unless I am very close. Ok, ok, I will get everyone together and we will be over there as soon as we can. Thank you for bringing us. I said that now, in case things go 'bad' later and I change my mind about it being a good idea."

     "See you when you get over here."

     "Now tell me what you can of these other 'Gods' that destroyed the first two Creations."

     "Speaking of the 'First Creation', they were not of any who formed within its beginning. Where they came from, we simply do not know the circumstances of how, why, they appeared. If they. like Sithis was a part of the Void at that time. That is the most accepted theory, for Sithis did not exist during the 'First' or the 'Second' Creations."

     "How can this be? Our tomes say Sithis has always existed within the 'Void'."

     "And how would the writers of those tomes know this if they were not present during the first two Creations?"

     "Yes, there is that. I would say then that one who was there at that time would have greater credence than one who was not. So, continue with what you do know of them."

     "Their physical forms no one could agree on, as no one who ever saw them either survived or if they did survive, their minds did not." He notices Iriisii deep in thought over what he is saying but decides to wait before inquiring what she is thinking.

     "Their number seems to change with whoever you ask, some say one, some say two, some say more. It is surmised they have the ability to merge themselves to increase their power. Their appetite for the consumption of life was almost insatiable. They would instruct their followers to bring captives to a sacrificial altar, on which they would consume their life force as they were held in place. If they did not provide a suitable number, some among the followers would be used instead. It gave great incentive to make certain there were enough captives on hand."

     "There must be something about how they came to either be or to show themselves. Ones like that do not just...drop in...from nowhere."

     "You are thinking about something, something that you feel may have relevance to that question?"

     "I am not certain if it does or if it does not, but it is eerily familiar to something I experienced some time ago."

     "Tell me, maybe I can help sort through it."

     "Let me show you instead, better you see it as I did. Then you will have the context to analyze it from."

     Iriisii again forms a mind link and replays the memory sequence from when she received the vision on her first visit to the nomad world. She allows it to play completely through to when she finally emerged from the wormhole as it collapsed.

     He is silent as he looks upon Iriisii in a whole new light. Then he carefully considers how to phrase what he wants to say.

     "What you have shown me, could answer many questions. I have some knowledge of 'wormholes' as you refer to them. And it seems my knowledge is more complete than what yours was at that time, and possibly even now."

     "Tell me what you are thinking?"

     "First, do you think wormholes are purely a spacial phenomenon?"

     "You mean they are not? Or that they do not have to be?"

     "The latter is more correct. They can but do not always traverse time as well as space. And most importantly, you could experience one effect, while another follows you could experience a different effect. And if you can factor in grazing the walls of such a wormhole, not to mention bursting through the wall. I do not have the capability to calculate what the end effect would be, but it is not outside the realm of possibility."

     "What are you saying, that I may have had something to do with these 'Gods' appearing back within the 'First Creation', that I am responsible for the destruction of the first and second Creations?"

     "No, that is not what I am saying, they themselves are responsible for what they did. Neither you nor anyone else made them do and act as they did. But cosmic events have a way of either creating or distorting themselves to fit some overarching agenda, that is far beyond our comprehension."

     "We can discuss the metaphysics later, suffice it to say when the 'Ravenous Darkness' touched and then later breached the wall of the wormhole. Some of the pieces were dropped inside my Creation while others may have been tossed back in time into the First Creation?"

     "I can agree with what you say, pending some form of corroboration."

     "Then what of the main body? I know where it landed, what it did, and ultimately being sealed inside a Realm, or could it possibly escape not through space, but through time. Backward to a time before its prison even existed, but if so then it would simply drop out before the Gods of Eld ascended from the mortals they once were. Then it could have rampaged without opposition."

     "More likely, it was helped to escape, helped in the form of the smaller pieces, they would bring the parent back to when they emerged. And that would bear with what we know of the destruction of the 'First' Creation. The pieces were not that great a threat, because they hoarded the power of the lives sacrificed until they could bring the parent to the time they were in, then merge with it. Gave the power they hoarded to it, which allowed it to burst out, decimate an unsuspecting Creation, and in the defensive battle, destroy the 'First' Creation."

     "All this time we have thought it was still within the sealed Realm. And it may have escaped, its mind at least somewhat restored by the pieces merging with it, enough that it can plot and plan. And it has undoubtedly learned how to conserve its power by 'sleeping' for eons until it awoke to find a whole new source of food had been created nearby, and history repeated itself."

     "Yet now, the 'Cosmos' seems to be working against it, bringing up heroes to fight it, exposing its plans and workings, bringing together those that stand the best chance of thwarting it."

     "I can do nothing but agree with you on that, for I have a part of what I need to create a prison that is capable of holding it for eternity. And I know where the rest lies, it is just a matter of going after it. Yet you see, I keep getting sidetracked with other tasks. And I wonder now if I was not ready to withstand what I would have to face. That I needed tempering in the heat of the forges of battle before I could understand what I had to do and survive the trial. For the last part of the answer lies in the Dreamlands."

     "Where within the Dreamlands? This is critically important that you understand. Even though the 'First' and 'Second' Creations are destroyed, their counterparts in the Dreamlands were not. Those still exist there, and are accessible from there."

     "I must enter, where the 'dead gods lie dreaming', a Sage, who has the information I require, was seen entering there. Yet no one knows if he is still alive or not. None who enter are ever seen again. Whether they stay there or go on to somewhere else, no one knows."

     "Yet you intend to enter."

     "I saw myself in the timestreams if I entered with Dettlaff, my Vyrkolos, and Elric, Aspect of the Eternal Champion, we would return with my lost daughter, Kathea. If anyone else entered with us, none would return. I know I am fated to face the 'Ravenous Darkness', but now I do not know where. Will I face him, in the sealed Realm or will I face him in the 'Second Creation', after it is destroyed, imprisoning him forever?"

     "There is a third possibility, the 'Second' Creation is destroyed and he avoids you by returning to the sealed Realm to buy himself time before you go to fight him there. This way you would not have to complete the Dreamlands part before going to the 'Second Creation', but could do it after, along with whatever else you had planned before you went after him."

     "The only things I know about now, are a visit to Tanelorn, to recruit more of the Aspects of the Eternal Champion, and a trip to the 'Forge of the Stars', to forge weapons and armor for those who will be with me on the front lines facing the 'Ravenous Darkness'."

     "You should go to Tanelorn last, before you face the 'Ravenous Darkness', as for the 'Forge of Stars', it can be accessed from any time you wish to enter it from. It is a place outside of time and space as you know it. It has access to many other times and places. There is access from within the Second Creation, should you wish to use it. You can do what you need, make all the weapons and armor you desire, then return and from this time, take possession of whatever you leave there and distribute it to your army."

     "There is something I have, that I wish to use in the making of a weapon, at least that is what I feel when I am near it."

     "What is it?"

     Iriisii extends a hand into her dimensional storage and brings out a 'Void Metal' casket.

     "Please, do not open it here, I can feel what is inside. The Forgemaster can instruct and equip you to work with that. But know what you want from it when you forge it. No other weapon can stand against it, especially if it is alloyed with...that is what you intend isn't it? To alloy that with 'Uru Metal', only within the Forge of Stars would that be possible. The Forgemaster is one of the few left who can work with either of those materials. And I suspect he has been guiding you in this pursuit. Such a weapon would be his masterwork, it would secure his place among the very greatest of the Forgemasters who have attended to the Forge.

     Be prepared, it will take years to forge even the weapon alone, but since time is meaningless in that place. You will have all the time you need. You must also be careful, from time to time he has visitors. Nearly all are Gods whom he has either worked for or with. Most you should have no difficulty with should they visit. They would undoubtedly be very interested in meeting you. But a few are not of such as the rest, they will not risk the Forgemaster's ire to attack you there. But distract you from your work, indeed they would, for they would view you as unworthy to work the 'Forge of Stars' because you are a woman. I know better than to think such things, but I am sure you have met some in your life like they will be."

     "Yes, I have indeed." She returns the casket to its storage, unopened. "Since you seem to know so much of the Forge, maybe you can advise me." She returns to the storage and draws out two skulls.

     "I want to forge these into helms, and allow the wearer to channel the power of their former

owners through themselves."

     'He' takes the skulls and looks them over. "I have not encountered the beings these were taken from, but they are still powerful indeed."

     "The big one is from a 'Balrog of Morgoth' a being of 'smoke and fire'. The other is from a Kuurii, that I fought and killed in a 'High Duel', the Kuurii is a being of claw and shadow."

     "You have fought in 'High Duels' as the Gods fight?"

     "Yes, the Kuurii and a High Demogorgon, a Prince of his kind. The Balrog was killed by another of my wedded mates, Byrsael, by name."

     "You and all of your wedded mates have my utmost respect and admiration. To have accomplished what you have in such a short time against the most dangerous of enemies."

     "Well at least we have made some progress, I know we need to go to the 'Second' Creation before doing anything else right now, then after that, I can plan what I need to do and where I need to go according to what comes up. Something always comes up, that I can count on."

     "You can count on what? And just who is this? Did he have anything to do with the zombies?"

     "The body over there against the wall was using the zombies. As to my friend, he has not told me his name, he said I would find out when I was ready. As to the first, we have been busy comparing notes and knowledge. Whereas we have put together quite a bit, it is still conjectured without hard proof to back it up. However, I am confident that at the least we are on the right path.

     This is going to be hard, harder than anything we have had to do so far. And I will be counting on each of you to hold up your end, no matter what."

     "You know we will by now."

     Desidarius picking up on the intensity of what Iriisii is feeling, steps in. 

     "Iriisii is more deadly serious than she has ever been up till now. Do not make the fatal mistake of taking this lightly. The forces in play now are greater than anything we have encountered, and all the more dangerous for that. Take everything she says literally and do it without hesitation, only then will we all return."

     Dettlaff feels the shift in Illyria, even though he has never met or known Desidarius, he knows she is the one who just spoke. "Desidarius?"

     Desidarius looks at him and nods her head. "The words she speaks are from experience. She is one of the few of the 'dark' to have faced what she has and still exists. But make no mistake, 'dark' or 'light', she cares for our Iriisii, and if necessary will lay down her existence for her. I know the depth of what she feels, for as Iriisii's Vyrkolos, I feel the same. And 'like' recognizes 'like'."

     "I may be the odd woman out here, so can someone bring me up to speed on what is going on?"

     Iriisii walks up to Phillipa, "this may hurt, but it is the quickest way to do as you ask."

     Phillipa nods her head and sets her 'will' to accept the flow of information. Iriisii places both hands on either side of her head and lets the information that Phillipa needs to know flow into her mind. The 'Dragon Soul' within her recognizes the need for this and steps in to help Phillipa sort and deal with it even as she reads it herself to bring herself up to speed.

    Thinking that she will be needed if Iriisii is bringing her on this deep dive. She is amazed at the concepts of what happened before the Dragon's own birth within this Creation. No one ever thought about if there had been Creations born before this one or even what might have happened. As the flow slows she picks out a few pieces of information and shows Phillipa how to put them together to cause everything to make sense.

     They make short work of putting everything together and when they are done, they are amazed at the complexity of it all and how each major event comes around to form a part of another. As Phillipa comes out from under her trance, she looks at Iriisii and in an awed voice, "I understand it now. I see the threads woven around and through everything that has happened. How it builds to bring us to this point. I see why you wished to bring me, and understand the enormity of the threat that caused you to consider needing to attempt what you feel may be needed."

     "Then can someone enlighten me about that please?"

     "She thinks it might be needed to merge three of the Crystal Dragons with two of the Dragons of Destiny."

     "Is that even possible?"

     "You had better hope it is, or we could be in for a whole Realm's worth of hurt."

     "If there is nothing else, it is time to go."

     Each nod, and then the Outsider draws a complex design on the metal deck using nothing but his 'will'. Just as it is done, it flares up with a burst of energy like unto that sometimes seen around an active 'event horizon', it dies down but the design still glows. When you are ready, step into the temporal portal, the power for it is supplied from the far end."

     Iriisii steps onto it first, the energy flares and as it drops back down she is gone. One by one the others step into the portal and are sent back into the unfathomable depths of time, before the death of the 'Second' Creation. After they are gone, the design remains on the deck glowing softly, and the silence of the grave once more reigns supreme upon the zombie ship.