Tharizden Campaign - Chapter 3
Dark Clouds in the Nexus
Victor awakens next to Valris with their daughter Gem lying playing on the bed between them. Outside birds are chirping in full chorus and as always, life is good.
Apart from a girl called
At least those other selves are still alive, if that last dream is anything to go by, says Valris, stretching herself awake.
Like every morning, Victor strides to the balcony window and surveys the magnificent coastline view, the crystal blue sea and radiant sky. But this morning something seems different and amiss as on the horizon he sees a dark cloud.
One moment it is there and a moment later, as he wills it away, it vanishes, only to reappear again a after yet another moment when he diverts his attention.
Have you seen this? he asks Valris. There's a cloud out there. There's never been a cloud out there.
Valris wraps herself in a silken robe and joins him by the window. So there is she says absentmindedly. Why does it matter?
Victor considers for a moment before kissing his wife on the forehead. You're right, it doesn't matter. It's just a cloud.
Later that day Victor flies over on his magic carpet to see Fade, who is languishing with a fishing rod by a spectacular mountain lake.
Have you seen that cloud? Victor asks, knowing exactly where it is in the sky without even looking for it.
Cloud? Fade asks, his interest piqued. What cloud?
That one Victor points. The big black cloud over there in the distance.
Oh yeah. It's a cloud Fade says with a hint of mockery. Just get rid of it.
But that's the thing, I can't, and neither can Valris, Victor claims.
Maybe it's one of the Guardian's screwing around with stuff Fade offers.
With our environment? I thought that was impossible here?
Well, the warrior grumbles a bit. It kind of is.
Getting nowhere with Fade, but leaving with a few prize sized fish, Victor flies across to see the blue skinned elf called
When he arrives at her house he finds her sat outside on the grass, staring blankly ahead. He says hello but she seems in a trance, so typically of Victor, he gives her a nudge.
Kimi screams and then a moment later recovers her composure. Sorry she says. I was having a dream. A bad dream, she adds, furrowing her brow. I haven't had one of those since I came here, back when I was a dream weaver for
What were you dreaming about? Victor asks.
Oh, Kimi just shrugs. I can't remember. I'm sure it was nothing.
Victor frowns but lets it drop. The Nexus is just too beautiful and tranquil to raise any concern. And yet, the dark cloud refuses to disappear from his thoughts.
The day passes uneventfully and Victor and Valris tuck the children into bed, read them a couple of stories and then retire to their own room to talk a while.
I visited several of our friends today and they all seemed a little distracted says Victor, slipping into bed.
I know what you mean admits Valris, struggling to remember exactly how she felt and why. I've felt a little 'off' today myself. Tomorrow will be better though, you'll see.
It's already getting better Victor smiles as Valris naked body gleams before him in the moonlight.
That night though, after eventually falling asleep, Victor and Valris find themselves tossing and turning through one dream after another. Dark, malevolent, scary and all ending badly, they seem inescapable and make the two Bloodstar Vampires sweat blood.
One dream has Victor being ripped limb from limb by a demon and a wraith while another has Valris being blasted to smithereens by a girl called Sun who resembles Sinsifel.
Come morning, they awaken both knowing something is wrong with the Nexus. They hold each other for several minutes until finally Victor shakily walks to the window and sees the dark cloud now completely filling the horizon.
What did you dream of last night? Victor asks his wife.
Valris refuses to look him in the eye. Bad things. Let's just leave it at that.
She then hurries to the children who still seem asleep. Ethan suddenly wakes up crying I'm scared mummy, of the Dark Man, but Gemma remains peacefully sleeping until gently woken.
Victor gets dressed and heads downstairs, passed the Time Clock and into the kitchen. He is only there a minute when a knock comes at the front doors and Ragnek pays a flying visit.
You and Valris need to prepare yourselves. We have an audience with the Elder Gods in an hours time, says the Wizard, just about as seriously as Victor has ever seen him.
What about? asks Victor. Who's we? Me and Val, you and Syrene?
I don't know what it's about but I know who is going.
Who? Victor asks again, finding a decent un-combat damaged pair of shoes on the shoe rack.
Everyone the Wizard announces. Absolutely everyone.
A Gathering of Gods
With the hour nearly up, Victor and Valris make a few final adjustments to how they are dressed in a giant wall mirror.
I think it's important we impress these beings says Valris. Rumour has it they're older than the Nexus itself.
I'm wearing my best cape! What more can I do? Victor exclaims, before laughing. Dressed in a cape, hat and suit, carrying a sabre and wearing the symbol of Dawn around his neck, Victor thinks he looks damn impressive. But as always, he stares at Valris and melts with awe.
You're going to fit right in with these Gods he says to her softly, admiring her choice of a plain black dress and helping her on with her coat.
A quick check on the children finds them safely ensconced in a giant jigsaw puzzle and some three dimensional doodling while two mares from Torran's herd, Blueberry and Vanilla (2 very giggly horses but both as thick as two planks) watch over them.
I don't know when we'll be back Valris explains for the fourth time to Blueberry.
Aww, that's fine by us. We'll have a merry time looking after your colt and filly. Plus, there's gossip to be catching up on, if you know what I mean? Blueberry replies, giving a very un-horse-like wink.
Shhh, don't tell them about that! interrupts Vanilla.
I didn't mention anything.
Oh, I just thought you mentioned Cloud being with foal again. That's all.
Yes, but that's private gossip. I wouldn't do that.
Both mares abruptly stop thinking aloud to stare innocently at Valris. Bye! they say in unison and Valris leaves them to their task.
Valris rejoins Victor on their grand balcony to look across the sea and at the suddenly very busy sky. As far as the eye can see, tiny flying black rectangles, numbering in the thousands or even perhaps tens of thousands, are heading west.
And as they watch, one such dark rectangle moves closer until they can recognise its shape and design.
It is a Time Clock, almost identical to their own, but with slightly different exterior markings, maybe a little taller and with a pointy bit of metal on top.
It comes to a smooth complete rest just five feet in front of them and opens its door.
It would appear our ride has arrived says Valris. And I thought our Clock was one of a kind.
After you my lady, Victor offers, helping her by the hand into the glowing interior of the machine.
As soon as they are both inside, the Time Clock begins spinning into the air again and then making a straight beeline west.
They fly over the sea and beyond the sea, over a continent they have never visited and mountains they could never imagine. They fly through a hundred mile high spider's web of glowing strands and then follow the other vessels ahead of them into the depth of a purple sea. Through patterns of energy, fiery earth, stars and singing light the Clock soars, until eventually they see their destination.
Hundreds of thousands of vessels, similar, but not the same as their own, move in orderly lines to dock within a structure that resembles a giant crystal flower perhaps a thousand miles across.
Valris squeezes Victor's hand for comfort and he holds her close.
This feels bigger than the Castle of Chaos she whispers. Bigger than anything so far.
I know, says Victor. I know.
Their Clock docks and they disembark on a floating pier of light that leads into the heart of the flower. Around them, creatures of all shapes and sizes, races and colours, shamble, walk, roll or fly in the same direction and to their left and right, a dozen other piers of light support thousands of others.
Victor!
Victor turns and sees
The two men shake hands but Kryss kisses the back of Valris' like a true gentleman.
So, impressive stuff eh? says Kryss.
Come now Kryss says Valris. You're not usually one to understate such a thing. This isn't impressive. This is unbelievable.
What do you know about all this? asks Victor, stepping to one side to allow a creature made out of jelly to wobble by.
Only the same as you I expect. That this is something important and that it's about the future of the Nexus.
Vic and Val exchange looks. They had guessed the Nexus' fate was behind it, but not really wanted to voice it aloud. Especially as there was a good chance Sinsifel and Maloth were partly to blame.
Valris changes the subject. These vessels. There are so many. Are they all like ours?
Kryss smiles. No, I doubt like yours. These just seem to be a way of travelling across the Nexus.
You've never seen them before? Valris asks. Kryss had been in the Nexus much longer than her.
No, never. But then there is so much of the Nexus that remains hidden, Kryss replies.
Not so much now mutters Victor as they pass into the outer layer of crystal petals and join a growing crowd of beings waiting to hear their fate.
Quizzil
In a room several miles across, with three sides made up of curtains of energy mostly obscuring monstrous shapes beyond, Victor and Valris wait along with thousands of others to hear the Nexus' fate.
The largest, forward facing curtain of light trembles slightly as a monstrous Titan-like shape moves ever so slightly closer. Outside of the Nexus, it's tentacled quivering silhouette striking madness and terror into any who behold it and yet in the Nexus, for those who do, only the feeling of goodness and love.
The Last of the Great Yuushi'att speaks
KINDRED OF TIME, GUARDIANS, PROTECTORS, NURTURERS, LIFE GIVERS, BELOVED... CHILDREN, A CRACK HAS FORMED IN THE NEXUS AND IT CAN NOT BE SEALED.
EVERYTHING WILL BE UNDONE. EVERYTHING WILL END AND CEASE TO HAVE EVER BEEN.
BUT THERE IS HOPE... WE HAVE DELIBERATED - WE HAVE LOOKED INTO THE DEPTHS OF TIME... AND WE HAVE SEEN A FUTURE, WHERE SOME WILL SURVIVE.OF ALL THE POSSIBLE FUTURE PATHS WE HAVE EXPLORED, THERE IS ONLY ONE PATH WHERE THIS IS THE CASE.
WE HAVE GATHERED YOU HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT THE END OF THE NEXUS HAS BEEN FORESEEN... AND IS INVITABLE.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELVES. IT IS ALL YOU CAN EVER DO, ALL YOU CAN EVER BE.
A Personal Address
Victor and Valris are about to leave with everyone else when the Eldar God speaks directly to them.
REMAIN... APPROACH...
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE. YOUR ARRIVAL HERE IN THE NEXUS - WAS ORCHESTRATED BY A LORD OF CHAOS - USING A PIECE OF ANCIENT CRAFT WHICH YOU CALL A TIME CLOCK... IT IS THE LAST OF ITS KIND TO POSSESS UNRESTRICTED TIME TRAVEL - AND IN HIS POSSESSION IT HAS BEEN AN INSTRUMENT OF GREAT DESIGN...
YOUR LIVES, YOUR VERY EXISTENCES HAVE BEEN CREATED... HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED AND GUIDED... FOR ONE PURPOSE...AND THIS PURPOSE IS NOT WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND IT TO BE.
I MET AND SPOKE WITH KUDOS HERE SOME TIME AGO - TOGETHER WE CREATED A PLAN - THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE BOTH OF YOUR BIRTHS... IT WAS NECESSARY TO MANIPULATE THE CHAOS BARON OF BLOOD - TO ORCHESTRATE A MYRIAD OF TINY THREADS OF FATE, AND DESTINIY TO ARRIVE AT THIS POINT..... TO BRING YOU HERE.. TO THE NEXUS, WITH THE CLOCK... AS YOU ARE
BOTH IN THE EYES OF THE MULTIVERSE OF CHAOTIC ORIGIN... YOU BY YOUR NATURES, DEFY UNIVERSAL LAW.... YOU ARE NOT BOUND BY COVENANT OR CONVENTION - HARMONY COULD SEND PERFECT REPLICAS OF YOU BOTH OUT INTO THE TIME STREAMS... WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION... AND THIS SHE HAS DONE, BY OUR WILL, TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT.
YOUR COPIES HAVE FOUGHT, HAVE BEEN DECOYS, HAVE BEEN THORNS AND IRRITATIONS IN THE PLANS OF OTHERS.... THEY HAVE EACH ACCOMPLISHED DEEDS NO OTHERS COULD... AND THEY HAVE DONE SO, BY STAYING AHEAD OF THE PREDICTIONS AND THE POWERS OF THARIZDEN.
MANY HAVE FALLEN... EVEN MORE HAVE BEEN CONSUMED.... BUT NOW, SOON, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE BOTH OF YOU TO LEAVE... FOR ONE LAST TIME.
THARIZDEN CANNOT BE DESTROYED.
THARIZDEN CANNOT BE STOPPED.
BUT THARIZDEN CAN BE STALLED. HIS PROGRESS SLOWED - YOUR FAMILY VICTOR HAS STALLED HIM BEFORE.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS HE FEARS...
THE ETERNAL CHAMPION. LAW AND CHAOS AS ONE. AND HIS OWN REFLECTION.
HE DOES NOT FEAR TIME... TIME IS HIS DOMAIN... IN TIME, HE IS UNRIVALED.... BUT WITH THE SKARRION STONES HE CAN BE CONFRONTED BUT WITHOUT THEM NOTHING CAN TRULY FACE HIM.
THERE IS ONLY ONE FUTURE WE HAVE FORESEEN WHERE SOME WILL SURVIVE. REMEMBER, TIME IS NOT AS MANY BELIEVE, INFINITE. IT IS FINITE. EVENTUALLY, THIS CYCLE WILL END... THIS IS INEVITABLE... NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE... ONLY THAT IN THIS ONE FUTURE SOME WILL SURVIVE THE END OF TIME... TO BEGIN AGAIN.
THARIZDEN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
YOU HAVE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME THAT THARIZDEN HAS BEEN HUNTING YOU... THIS IS TRUE... AND HE WOULD HAVE FOUND YOU... WERE YOU NOT HERE... AND HE WOULD CAUGHT YOU... HAD YOU NOT HAD A TIME CLOCK... HE DOES NOT KNOW WHICH OF YOU IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE FORESEEN WILL STALL HIM LONG ENOUGH FOR THE SOME TO SURVIVE, AND SO HE HAS SPREAD HIS FORCES THROUGHOUT REALITY TO ELIMINATE EVERY INCARNATION OF YOU AND HE HAS SPREAD THEM THINLY.
TO NO AVAIL THOUGH AS WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ONES, AS YOU TOO HAVE KNOWN.
NOW I WILL SPEAK OF THINGS THAT YOU MUST KNOW AND ACCEPT.
NEITHER OF YOU WILL SURVIVE TO SEE THE NEXT CYCLE. EVERYONE WHO GOES WITH YOU WILL PERISH. AND YOU WILL SEE THE END OF TIME.
HOWEVER IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL - YOU WILL ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF MANY AND SECURE A LEGACY.
YOU DEPART FROM US WITH OUR LOVE. THIS IS YOUR DESTINY.
Victor and Valris, stunned, walk from the chamber of the Elder Gods and back to their Clock. They walk in silence but holding hands, until they come across two of their friends waiting patiently for their return.
Kryss and Fade look a little saddened by Quizzil's address but more concerned for their friends.
How'd it go? Fade asks.
Valris begins to speak but cannot find any words.
All we can do is make the best of what we have - and do the best that we can, says Fade.
Exactly my man! says Victor boldly. Exactly.
First Recruits
Not long after returning from the Elder God's address, Victor and Valris have a visitor. To their utter surprise a Time Clock identical to their own materialises alongside theirs and Cartavian steps out; a much younger, stronger, healthier looking Cartavian without his bowed back or slight limp.
The old man turned younger smiles and warmly shakes both of their hands before explaining where he has been.
For me it's been 14 years. I know Time moves differently here or not at all but fourteen long years filled with travels, excruciating pain and one very absolute death.
You see after you lured the Hounds from me I managed to escape. They tried picking up my scent again but I kept low and used the Clock sparingly to search different Times and Worlds.
What was I searching for you might ask? Information on Tharizden. Information I might add that people believed had either been erased, destroyed or wiped from existence by the being himself. I knew that others had learned things about him in the past and future and was hoping something remained as an oversight. Something we could find useful in our battle.
And I was getting close to something, some major revelation when disaster struck. Another of his cosmic minions was waiting for the Clock as it came out of Time. It struck and temporarily disabled many of the Clock's systems before sending it and me crashing at horrendous speed onto the surface of a planetoid. Normally as you know, the Clock has a dampening field that prevents its passenger from harm but on this occasion, said field had been damaged.
Suffice to say, the Clock survived but I did not as my parts became scattered over several miles.
Years passed in that Timeline, what I later learned as 223 to be precise. Then one day my mind awoke, my thoughts took shape and sometime later I began to understand, that I had been rebuilt, cell by cell by a lonely robot called X14-BENE.
BENE or Arnold as I later called him had been a scientific probe droid sent to find a new world to terra form and colonise. But he had been knocked off course and stranded on this empty planetoid for ten thousand years and forced to make the best that he could of his situation.
When the Clock crashed Arnold gathered as much of my body as he could and began experimenting on me. He had never seen a human before or anything like me so it was a long process filled with dozens of terrible failures, but eventually, by adding cellular changes, a reinforced skeleton and a quantum power source, he made me.
*Note - The robot was called X14-BENE - Cartavian called it Arnold after Benedict Arnold.*
So, you're an artificial man? asks Valris.
I suppose I am. Though I prefer to think of myself as just another magnificent stage in human evolution, says Cartavian.
Well, you don't look like a robot or sound like a robot says Victor. So welcome back and now why are you here?
I'm here to help you. I know of your mission and what you must do. The Elder Gods informed me to some degree a long long time ago. I guess you could say I'm reporting for duty. Cartavian offers both Vic and Val a friendly smile but neither of them are in a particularly cheerful mood.
It's good to have you here says Valris. But we're both a little tired and need some time to think.
Cartavian bows and goes to stay somewhere nearby, leaving Victor and Valris alone with their sadness.
Valris spends the night sobbing into Victor's shoulder and Victor holds her, close enough and tight enough to crush a lesser being until the sun rises.
Breakfast Guest
Harmony arrives for breakfast. She helps cut Ethan's egg bread into little soldiers and plays dolls with Gemma until Victor and Valris are ready to talk to her.
The children go elsewhere to play and at first things are a little awkward - a strange thing to be around Harmony who usually makes everything as easy as possible, but her smile soon wins the two Vampires over and the atmosphere relaxes.
Harmony sighs. Quizzil can see many things, many Timelines and possibilities. He even considers himself better at it than the Lords of Law, which is saying something. But I believe there are variables even he cannot predict, not perfectly. Variables that can minutely change the course of any prediction.
He said we're both going to die and that anyone going with us will die. Valris's voice was cold this morning and matter of fact. Do you believe that is true? She would believe Harmony's verdict over any Elder God. Harmony in her opinion WAS an Elder God.
Harmony's expression grew more serious. I believe that is true, yes. But is death the end? No. Getting to live and see the next Cycle of the Multiverse? I think for the majority of people, that that is not a good thing anyway.
The Nexus is ending says Victor. Is it our fault by bringing the Eye of Chaos here?
It is ending, yes. But it is time for it to end. And no, you already know it isn't your fault. Didn't Quizzil admit to manipulating your lives. You are to blame for nothing.
They continue talking a while and Harmony admits that the Nexus never effects her - she never really feels the pull of either the Anima or Anima as she has to exist between them in a perfect balance in order to survive.
Harmony - Of all the Victor's and Valris' out there - you are the only ones who can ensure the singular Timeline the Elder Gods have foreseen... the only Timeline where some will survive.
Meaning says Valris, that all our other selves are mere distractions, designed to slow down the advance of Tharizden's forces while we prepare to act.
Tharizden cannot convert Servants of the Balance. (Meaning Valris is a viable target) but Victor isn't.
Junis - Is it moral to take him out of Time?
Discussion turns to whether Harmony can use herself as a weapon; her answer is an emphatic No, as must remain neutral or cease to exist herself. She herself exists in such a delicate balance that the slightest digression of her own spirit and she will basically go poof - which could also (something she really fears) result in a tremendous detonation of conflicting energies - like the biggest imaginable black fire explosion - which in turn could set off a chain reaction of astronomical proportions. When you leave you'll be leaving the Nexus of your own accord. I won't be making any alterations to your memories so take advantage of what the Elder Gods have given you. Their presence has temporarily dampened the Nexus' effects on you but that will wear off after a couple of weeks and the Nexus will take hold of you again, Harmony warns.
Of course Harmony doesn't tell them everything at this stage. She doesn't mention the notion of
Vic and Val are soon saying goodbye to Harmony and within an hour saying hello to two other house guests' Ragnek and Syrene.
The Wizard and Witch ask for all the juicy details of their mission and what the Elder God said, so Victor tells them - holding nothing back.
Syrene - We won't be coming with you. We can help best by defending the Idiom... it's where we were created and where we are most valuable.
"Power and responsibility come hand in hand - never ever lose sight of who you are and your purpose," Harmony
Ragnek and Syrene have decided to leave - to take their fight into the Idiom and battle Tharizden there.
It is sad news for Victor and Valris but the four friends wish each other well.
At midday two more house guests arrive. This time Kryss and Fade.
What can you offer me? Give me an alternative, says Kryss. He doesn't want to die fighting in several small conflicts but wants to go out with a bang.
Victor doesn't want anyone coming along, let alone his friends, especially knowing they will die.
He tells Kryss that he cannot offer a thing, that the two of them cannot go.
You expect us to stay here and wait for the Nexus to just dwindle around us? says Kryss, angrily. We can't fight here; the Nexus won't let us. We're both warriors and used to battle. If you're worried about us, don't be. We know the Multiverse is going to end and just want the respect of one warrior to another, to be able to die fighting for a just cause.
What he said says Fade. Are you our best shot at hurting Tharizden? asks Fade. Because if you are, you're not convincing us.
I don't want to convince you. You need to decide for yourself, says Victor back.
Victor - I'm going to do whatever I can, for my kids, my friends and family... whatever I can to defeat Tharizden. That's all you need to know.
Kryss smiles. That's good enough for us. We're coming with you.
Victor is about to argue some more, to try and convince the two men to stay, but his heart isn't in it. He sighs and nods to them both. OK. You're coming.
The two warriors from an ancient destroyed Battle Moon walk away, leaving Victor to find Valris. We have two more recruits he explains.
I know. Kryss and Fade, she smiles sadly. It would have been wrong to deny them this end.
I know. It'll be good having them with us, but it still sucks though, Victor grumbles.
Valris begins to plan their next course of action. What should be the first thing we do when we leave? she asks.
Victor thinks of Tanith Lore, of Soloman, Kûtal, the original Rune - there's so many choices... but where to begin?
Valris cautions about using their trump card of Kit-Nox too soon - as once she defies the rules, she'll be usurped by Law and Chaos - and someone else appointed to the role.
The Mission Begins
Session 24/06/10
Harmony and Ithillan visit Victor and Valris before they embark on their mission.
They present the couple with a few items that will help them on their journey in the Time Clock. The items all look similar - like smooth polished pebbles, but of different hues and materials. To avoid losing them, Harmony has made sure that they resonate on contact in perfect time with Victor and Valris' aura's, allowing the stones to phase inside and outside of their bodies - hence only able to be removed, upon death or by Victor and Valris' own hands.
The Alkium
The Candora
Each half is a virtually unlimited power store of Nexus energy (allowing Valris virtually unlimited spells and Victor virtually unlimited spiritual powers).
The Constructs
The Constructs look the same as Victor and Valris, but are entirely synthetic / created - powered by the Twin halves of Heart of the Nexus. Hence, when the Nexus ends, so will they.
Harmony offers to restore stolen memories of other copies leaving Nexus but Valris says that they have to think about it.
The Time Piece
Victor does not seem impressed by Ithillans Timepiece. So much so that Ithillan storms off upset as he's put a lot of effort into its creation.
Ithillan requests two pure samples of their blood; even though Harmony has already sampled it Ithillan needs direct samples to not only infuse into the Constructs and make them as perfect as possible but to manipulate Victor and Valris' other items.
Give us 3 days to come back with something for you, he announces, before leaving.
Then Kryss turns up demanding he be a General whereas Fade is happy just chilling out and killing things. I have lots of military experience says Kryss.
Fine, you can be a General agrees Victor. A General over half a dozen people at the rate we're going.
Next Victor and Valris have to decide where to go.... to Nox and her Minnow's, Kudos, Kutal, Han, Dawn and the Evereon, Sin, Rune, Nynsagul or The Blank. The list goes on.
Victor realises that Eternium is likely to be the final endgame - as it reaches from the beginning to the end of Time. But where to begin.
For other Nexus related content, see The Timeline of Wan, The Unmaking, for details of Quizzil's fate.
Chapter 2 Chapter 4