348 Crystallus Luna
Reign of Cassius XI

    Thunder roared and lightning crashed. The windows magnified the eerie illumination, silhouettes of demons danced on your walls. In anguish, you roll over in bed, ignoring the flashes of light and crackling thunder. Faint but chilling wisps of air flowed from the cracked mortar in the brick-laid walls. You breathe a sigh of disgust, pulling the wool blanket closer to your neck. You did not have time to be chasing sleep, for it was the Day of Lucis tomorrow. By order of King Marcas V, all first born children who have come of age by the Day of Lucis, must be offered to the ranks of the Great Regis Army. In any case, your family was glad to see you go; one less mouth to feed. You had just closed your eyes and settled back in when a loud crash of thunder jostled you from your restful state.

    Light pried your eyes open with its cruel fingers. Begrudgingly you change out your woolen unders, fasten your leggings, and pull your tunic over your head. You begin to lace up your worn brown boots, its not like you had money for nice shoes, like the baker. You splash water on your face at the vanity basin and shudder in surprise. Your hair stands up in a number of places, where you promptly smooth it down. You hear a screeching sound, almost mimicking the sound of a dying cat, it is your mother. She is calling you to the table to eat breakfast. Your choices are bread and wheat meal, or wheat meal and bread. You select the lesser of two evils. 

    “HEYA!” a familiar voice yells. It’s your childhood friend, Pavel. His mother gave him the unfortunate name after he was born prematurely. Honestly, it’s a miracle he’s alive. You often jest that he was so annoying, death gave him back. “Are you ready for training today?! I can’t wait to be commissioned. Do you think we will get to eat like officers soon? What about housing? Do you think I’ll meet a cute girl?” His banter causes your head to spin. You make casual chat with him on the way to the parade grounds; but your mind is elsewhere. You’ve heard some people don’t make it through training, that the expendable are, well, expended. You are greeted by a massive line in front of the parade ground’s gates. Each child is let in one by one by the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper seems to be talking and directing each child to the grounds. After a few children proceed, it seems as though they are not all going the same direction. Soon it is your turn, you look back at Pavel, who gives a goofy smile and thumbs up. The gatekeeper looms over you and says in a gruff voice, Iron or Ink?

    “I-Iron” you stutter to say. “Hm? Iron? So be it. Please enter the gates and take a right.” You nod and scurry through the gate. Looking left and then right, you do as you were instructed and take a right. You walk for what seems like a small eternity to find other children standing in a corridor. “What do you think iron means?” one whispers. “Do you think it means we have an iron will? That’s what I thought…” says another. A few minutes pass and more children join the ranks behind you. You sit down and rest your back on the wall next to you, after all, you hadn’t slept much last night. A door slams and you are startled back to consciousness. “GRAB YOUR GEAR ONE BY ONE. I DON’T WANT TO SEE ANY LOLLYGAGGING!” A man in full armor with a cape ushers the others through the door to grab various assortments of gear. You scramble to your feet and make your way to a table studded with gear. Helmet, gauntlets, shin guards, chest plate, the metal got heavier and heavier by the second. You find a place to sit down and put your gear on. “Heya pal!” you turn to see Pavel with his helmet on sideways and chest plate upside down. You quickly advise him to fix his gear as you stand up in yours. “Ah, thanks pal, I had no idea how this stuff went on.”. The man with the cape returns to the gear room and yells “EVERYONE, OUT TO THE PARADE!”. As you make your way to the grounds, you see soldiers standing along the walls handing swords to each person. You quickly grab the sword thrust at you and follow suit. 

    Once on the grounds the man with the cape lines everyone up in rows and columns. He marches to the front of the flank and introduces himself. “My name is Commander Remus. If you laugh at my name, I’ll make it clear where you stand.” Holding back a snicker Pavel looks at you; ironically his name isn’t any better. The Commander goes on to describe a training mission for all the new ranks. You are to be presented with a hostage situation. You must decide the best course of action in the situation and evaluate it properly.

    You are brought into town and given a map with the location of the hostage. It is a small cottage at the edge of town. You make your way there, Pavel trailing behind. “Wow I can’t believe we were selected to be partners! Isn’t that awesome?” You just hope Pavel won’t slow you down, or trip on something. You and Pavel find the cottage and hide behind nearby shrubbery. You and Pavel decide to infiltrate the cottage and assess the situation. Sneaking in through a window, you make your way through the kitchen, then to the bedroom. There a man is hurriedly mixing concoction after concoction. A woman is tied to a small wooden chair. “After I finish this, everything will be back to normal! You won’t live to see another day!” The woman makes eye contact with you, her eyes pleading for your help. You decide to,

                                     Attack the Man                                                                 Wait It Out Longer 

    “An audience with the king? Why for?” Maksim asks. You explain that you would like to speak to the King about Semih and his evil deeds. Maksim nods and hands you a seal to take on your journey. “The gate keeper will open the gate to this seal. It is the seal of the royal alchemist. As long as you don’t say it was from me, you should be welcomed.”

    The morrow comes and you rise from your slumber. Taking herbs from Maksim you begin your journey down the mountain. The descent is much less taxing than the ascent. When you reach the bottom of the mountain, you find yourself back on the city path. Marching down the path with the same zeal as you marched up it, your confidence is at an all time high. 

    Determined, you grasp the seal in hand and walk up to the palace gate. The guard asks your purpose, and you hand him the seal. You walk through the great halls. The ceiling is so high, you get dizzy looking up at it. Portraits of the previous Kings and Queens follow you hauntingly with their eyes. Each step you take echoes, announcing the foreign presence. 

    You finally make it to the throne room where the great King Cassius XI sits. Bowing and presenting the seal from Maksim, you wait for the King to permit you to rise. He nods and you stand up. You explain to him, in great detail, the initial encounter with Semih while on a training mission. Then you explain the curse, and the stone that plagues the land. Finally, you speak of meeting Maksim and the story he told you. You also detail the evil and lies of Semih. 

    “And what, pray tell, do you suggest I do about this?” Cassius bellows. For a man about five and a half feet tall, his presence is menacing. The crown on his head glints, reminding you of his total and utter authority. You suggest sending a small squadron of guards from the cohort to apprehend Semih. Nodding Cassius calls an attendant over. He whispers something to him, you silently pray it is a good thing. The attendant bows and takes his leave. 
“So, you would suggest that I send my men to chase your fairy tale? I think not. As punishment for wasting my time, supporting the betrayer Maksim, and fabricating something that cannot be true, I sentence you to a harvest’s time in the dungeon.” The attendant returns with two guards who promptly seize you. The guards begin to escort you to the dungeons. Each step down to the cold and damp cell is agony. What did you do wrong? What did you say wrong?
 

Failed Ending, Relying on Friends

    Though you sympathize with the people, you absolutely have to return to the castle town and speak with Semih. He is the only one who can elaborate on the dealings of curses and evil possession. For the good of these people, and the rest of the nation, you have to end the spread of darkness. 

    You wait for candles to be blown out in the cottages surrounding your barracks. Silently you tiptoe across the floorboards, carrying you shoes behind you. There was one thing left to do before leaving the bandit town, there was someone you had to see. You stand in front of a building in the center of the town, there you see a room with lace curtains. You gently knock on the window and wait. 

    A little girl approaches the window and opens it. “Are you my knight in shining armor?” she asks sleepily. Letting out a soft giggle you nod and ask to see her dragon dolly. She hands him over easily, as she is half asleep. You reach for a small satchel in your pocket, revealing a pin cushion with two small needles and a few spools of thread. You sew the button on the dragon’s right eye tighter. Then you reinforce his well-worn limbs with more stitching. The little girl yawns and thanks you. You tell her to shut her windows and rest, you’ll be back another time to take her to the castle. She giggles and snuggles in bed. 

    The path back home is perilous, you hear the cries of many wolves and wild beasts. Gripping your cloak tighter you cautiously head down the path. You’re curious as to what Pavel is doing, he was in the tavern after all. You shake your head, dismissing all thoughts, he wasn’t your problem. Day begins to break, and you are tired and hungry. You can’t tell if the growling is from your stomach or a wolf, both are plausible. 

    Finally, you see the gates to the castle town. The guard asks you what business you have and who you are. You remove you cloak, showing the Regis Army insignia, proving you are a trainee. The gate keeper lets you pass and you enter the city. You return home, out of breath and starving. Your mother asks how training was, and you tell her of your capture. 

    After your mother finishes lecturing you on why you shouldn’t have been in the tavern that late, she sends you to bed to rest. After your brief slumber, you brush your hair and smooth your tunic. You have an alchemist to see. 
                                                                                           

                                                                                            See Semih

    Begrudgingly, you nod yes. “Ah a smart one. Your wit will save you pain in many battles.” the man in the chair retorts. You feel cool metal on your wrists as your binds are cut. “Now, get ‘em dressed and ready to go.” You are lead down a corridor to a small, simple room. There your gear is generously returned to you. The cool shin guards and gauntlets are the only familiar thing to you in this situation. A small, light knock on the door brings you to attention. A small girl opens the door and stares up at you. “Daddy told me to come get you for dinner. Mommy and the other women made yummies for dinner. Do you want some?” A gentle smile forms on your face, your heart warmed by her innocence. Following the child, almost forgetting about your kidnapping, you enter a large dining room. “You can sit by me and DraDra ok?” says the small child grasping a worn stuffed dragon. Silently you take your seat at a large table and await further instruction. 

    The man in the chair from earlier comes forth and sits at the head of the table. Other men come and join him, taking what seems to be their respective seats. Women bring out plates of meat, vegetables, and fruits, passing them around to all in attendance. Once the plates were set, the women took their seats near their children and spouses. “Thank you all for a good meal, but before we begin, I want to introduce our newest recruits!” You and a few other tavern patrons rise and are introduced one by one. The man in the chair introduces himself as well, his name is Ranvir, son of Rangvald. Once introductions have been complete, the congregation begins to eat. You nervously take a spoon and try the warm green colored soup. It is divine. 

    At the end of the dinner, you are escorted to your chambers, or barracks. In a daze, you ask one of the elderly men in the barracks where you are. “Well child, you have found yourself in the town of bandits. Here men and women with nothing else to lose try their luck at making a home. We take care of one another and steal from those who turn their backs on us.” Sympathizing with their struggle, but intent on returning home to continue your investigation into the evil possessions, you decide to

                                                 Flee in the Cover of Night            Remain with the Bandits

    You had seen enough. You decide to take matters into your own hands. Removing the quilt from your body, you try to get out of the bed. Unfortunately, your legs give out and you fall to the ground. There is a splitting pain in your head and you wince. “Now young one, what did I tell you? Sit a while. Getting up this instant won’t fix anything.” 

    Morning comes with a rude awakening. Sunlight claws at your eyes, you shiver in pain. Sitting up, you remember your task. You must destroy the stone in Semih’s possession. Maksim greets you with some herbal tea, and you begin to wake up. You brush your unruly hair and smooth your tunic. While lacing up your shoes, Maksim offers you some herbs for the journey back down the mountain. Taking herbs from Maksim you begin your journey. The descent is much less taxing than the ascent. When you reach the bottom of the mountain, you find yourself back on the city path. Marching down the path with the same zeal as you marched up it, your confidence is at an all-time high.
In the distance you see the familiar cottage puffing out smoke as always. Little did Semih know, he had another thing coming! You walk up to the front door, but before you can knock, Semih opens the door. “Ah, welcome back trainee. Are you here for the stone?” At this greeting you
                                                               

                                                       Draw Your Dagger                Tell Him to Hand it Over

    A little reading never killed anyone, unless of course you read the warning label on a bottle of poison after you drank it. Pavel, utterly disgusted with the thought of staring at a dead tree for hours, decided to go to the tavern. You two say your goodbyes and part ways. You walk down the small gravel path to the library. The library was a medium sized cottage, rarely ever used. It had no official librarian, just a few scholars who frequented it here and there. The rooms always smelled of old pages and dust, but you didn’t mind.

    On your way to the library, you can’t help but remember what Semih told you. Curses are on the rise, but why? Of course, evil exists. You were told stories of warlocks, demons, monsters, and ghouls in your childhood, but nothing could prepare you for evil in close quarters. 

    Entering the library, you direct your attention to a shelf of books caked in dust. The books were a part of a short series written by the royal alchemist generations before, and supplemented by the royal mage. You run your finger across the spines, “Do’s and Don’ts of Raising Dragons”, “Fairy Moods, and How to Deal with Them”, “Jack-O-Lanterns, Why Do They Smile?”, “Languages of Woodland Creatures”, and “Your Pet Rock Is Ignoring You, The How and Why?”. None of the titles compelled you to pick them up. Your interest was much darker, much more…evil. Rounding the corner, you bump into a frazzled looking woman. Books fall to the ground and she scrambles to pick them up. “S-Sorry!” she frantically chokes. Nodding you tell her not to worry. “Can I h-help you with something?” she eventually mumbles. In inquiry, you ask her if there are any books on curses or curse magic. Surprised, she takes a step backwards. “U-um, we may have o-one title that relates to something s-so sinister, n-not that you are I just, it’s rare and especially someone so young and…” stopping herself to recollect her thoughts she motions for you to follow. 

    She brings you to a writing desk and opens the second drawer. There she pulls out a journal with a padlock on it. “This…is the journal of the former royal alchemist. Please, be careful with it.” Lifting her frizzled, curly hair, she takes a necklace off. Dangling from the leather binds is a small key. You grasp the warm metal in your hand and nod. You make yourself at home at the writing desk and put the key in the lock. You take a deep breath and turn the key, revealing the worn pages. Carefully you leaf through, absorbing each table, chart, formula, alchemy circle and note. Finally, you reach the end, “Curses”. The more you read, the more butterflies find their way into your stomach. “Curses are the result of malicious intent by a powerful entity.” “This entity will most likely be a warlock, or even a black alchemist.”

    The night has grown deep, and suddenly you find yourself in a darkening scape. Closing the journal, you place it back in the second drawer. You get up, stretch, and find the frazzled woman. You thank her for the journal and key and return the key. With a new-found curiosity, you are determined to find the cause of the rise of curses. However, for now, you decide to

                                                        Go to the Tavern                        Go Home

    You look at Pavel and unsheathe your blade. He nods and follows suit. Quietly you two sneak into the room and hide behind a chest of drawers. The man frantically pours one concoction into the other and screams with delight. He turns to grab another glass jar; you and Pavel jump out from behind and tackle him. The man yells in pain and shock, falling to the floor. “What are you children doing?! You can’t do this!” Pavel looks at you in silence and you wince, taking the hilt of your blade and knocking the man out. You two get off of the man and go to the woman. Pavel cuts her binds and you remove her gag. She thanks you for saving her, and smiles. Pavel, clearly bewitched by her charms tries to look good in front of her. Bewitched was the right term, as her smile quickly turns into a smirk. The woman raises her hands in the air and utters an incantation. Suddenly, the cottage is engulfed in flames. “Bye bye children” she cackles. Before you can grab her, she vanishes. Pavel, hysterical, grabs the old man. The two of you make your way out of the cottage, placing the old man on the ground. As the cottage burns, you sit, flabbergasted. 

    The Commander meets you back at the parade ground and does not look pleased. He addresses you and Pavel in a grave tone. “Not only did you let a witch go, injure the royal alchemist, and burn his home down, but you failed to assess the situation, which is exactly what was asked of you. Were you so charmed by a woman, and so inclined to violence, that you were blinded? This world has consequences children. Take off your gear and return to your homes in shame.”

Failed Ending

    The sun shines high in the sky. It is hard to believe that somewhere out there, darkness is brewing. The only one who can guide you, and give you answers, is Semih, the royal alchemist. You walk the familiar path into the town center but take a side road to the outskirts of town. There, his cottage can be seen, puffs of smoke released from the chimney. You knock on the door and wait for a reply. Suddenly you hear an explosion and a yell. Concerned, you enter the cottage. 

    In the kitchen you see Semih covered in black soot. His disdainful state can only leave you guessing what he had just done. Setting down a glass jar, he wipes his brow. “Hello there young trainee, what brings you here?” You explain your findings after reading the journal. His friendly deposition turns grim, and he no longer has a glimmer in his eyes. 

    “I see, please take a seat young one.” Semih motions to a lounge chair before you and sits in the one opposite it. “Many years ago, we alchemists tried to find a way to, control our enemies. The great war under Marcas V left us tired and drained. Our troops were falling. There was no hope. A great alchemist, Maksim, found that in exchange for this and that, one could create a stone to control people, the Philosopher’s Stone. Of course, no one questioned the science behind it, we watched as he controlled the enemies from a high tower, leading them to surrender. We were in total control. Maksim, tried to control Marcas himself. He was discovered and sentenced to execution, but before we could detain him, he escaped. He has remained quiet all these years, but now…I fear he is once again trying to control the kingdom.” You reflect on what has just been told, disturbed and intrigued. In inquisition, you ask what you can do to solve this problem.

    “My child, no one is powerful enough to stop him, not as long as he holds the stone. He himself is the evil, he is the curse.” You rise from the seat and ask Semih for

                             Directions to Maksim’s Possible Lair                 An Audience with the King

    “Oh, come now trainee. You think I would so easily?” Semih raises the stone in the air and mutters something under his breath. Suddenly your body goes numb. “Didn’t the Commander ever tell you? Your weapon is more motivational than your words.” Your arm moves on its own to take your dagger from its sheath on your side. Your arm shoots forward, dagger in hand. “Look now trainee, I control you. No one will ever know about the stone now. Cassius has been an indispensable puppet. You won’t ruin my ascent to the throne.”

    Frantically you try to move. Alas, you have no control. You hand turns towards your body, slowly it comes closer to your neck. “See trainee? I have a knife, and now I’m going to use it.” An incantation can be heard from behind you, an explosion rings out. Opening your eyes, you see Maksim and Pavel standing before you. “Pavel, my boy, grab the stone!” Maksim shouts. “Uh, yeah, no problem gramps!” Pavel runs and slides in the dirt, grabbing the stone from the incapacitated Semih. 

    “How did I find you? That’s easy, I entered town after you and this boy wouldn’t stop shouting and crying your name. He led me to this cottage.” “Yeah pal! I was worried sick about ya!” Pavel interjects. “Now young one, it is time to destroy the stone.” Standing up with the help of Pavel, you take the stone in your hands. It was smooth and cold to the touch, a little heavy too. You decide the best thing to do is allow the creator, Maksim, to destroy the stone. He sets the stone on the ground and raises his staff in the air. Bringing it down quickly, the stone shatters into tiny fragments. 

    With Cassius free of the stone’s control, children once conscripted to the ranks of the army were sent home. You and Pavel begin to study under the royal alchemist, Maksim, and peace returns to the land. 

The End, Good Ending

    “His lair? My child, one can only guess.” You stare into Semih’s eyes for a second, pleading for his help. “Fine, the East Mountains. They say an old man live by himself. He is only ever seen gathering herbs, I’d assume for alchemy.” With that you begin to leave the cottage when Semih stops you. “Please, take these.” He hands you a bag of herbs. “They will heal you and give you the nutrients you need for your journey. Please take caution young one.” After the exchange, you start on the path to the East Mountains. 

    You find yourself at the base of the mountains, faced with a cold climate and a now empty stomach. You begin to climb the mountain. The chilling winds assault you with their claws of ice. You use your dagger to help you up the rocks layered in a sheet of ice. Half way up the mountain you find a ledge and sit. You decide to use some of the herbs Semih gave you. Feeling rejuvenated, you return to you quest. A harsh wind blows and you lose your grip on your dagger. You begin to fall, grasping for anything, but grabbing nothing. You land, your vision grows dark. Everything is cold. 

    You wake to find yourself in a firelit room, warm and a little dizzy. “If you move around too much, it will hurt later. The herbs will numb the pain for now.” You turn your head to see an old many mixing herbs on a table. “Relax child, you’re in the hands of the royal alchemist, Maksim.” “M-Maksim” you utter as your vision blurs once more. 
“I am sure you have heard of me child. I was once the greatest alchemist in the palace. Now I stay here in the mountains, minding my own business. It seems as though the kingdom has fallen into disarray. They had to send a child to fetch me. Unless that is not the purpose of your quest?” You sit up cautiously and try to speak. “Ah, you can just write for now, words will not come out properly while you are under the herb’s affects.” You write about your quest, the curses, and possessions. “Interesting, and Semih directed you here? He’s a foul one. I hope you do not trust him. After all, he is the one who framed me.” At this you raise your eyebrows. 

    “Once, Semih tried to use my Philosopher’s Stone to control the king Marcas. I tried to stop him, but he framed me, saying only I had the power to use the stone. They took it from me and put it in Semih’s lab for research, then tried to kill me. I escaped and fled here. I can only imagine what he uses the stone for these days. He must have the whole kingdom in his pocket.” Shocked at this new development, you lie back down. The possessions, the corruption in the palace, they were all Semih’s device? 

    No, that’s not right, Semih would never. You draw your dagger and sit back up. “Come now little one. Put the dagger away. If I were evil, why would I have healed you?” Confused you sit back defensively. “Do you still need more proof? Try this young one.” Maksim pulls out a small glass mirror from his robes. He hands it to you. It feels cold in your hands, slightly shimmering in the candlelight. You look into the mirror and see Semih. He seems to be tinkering at his desk. There, on his desk, amidst the papers, books, and models, lies a small shining stone. You decide to 

                                                         Destroy the Stone                Seek Audience with the King

    You turn to Pavel and motion for him to wait. He nods in slight confusion, but follows your lead. The woman begins to stir, frustrated at your lack of action. Clearly, she has become impatient, knowing help is just around the corner. Suddenly, a small explosion within the old man’s glass catches your attention. “I have it!” he exclaims. “With this, my dear, the evil that has plagued you will be forced out. No longer will you suffer.” At this Pavel tugs on your sleeve, “Hey, pal, we should help her. Who knows what that crazy man is gonna make her drink.” Brushing Pavel aside, you decide to enter the room and assess the situation close up. The old man notices your presence and says “Nice of you to join us, trainee. Could you and your friend come hold this young woman down? Things are about to get messy.” Pavel scrambles around the corner of the door frame. “YO! How did ‘ya know I was there?” Without hesitation, you brace the back of the chair, preventing it from tipping. Pavel, still in shock clumsily does the same. The old man removes the young woman’s gag and prepares to feed her the potion. The woman begins to scream and wail, shouting curses. The man holds her mouth open and pours the potion down.  The woman begins to choke and her thrashing grows weaker. Suddenly, a wisp of black smoke leaves the woman’s mouth, freeing her from what seems to be a greater evil. With that, the woman goes limp. 

    “My name is Semih, but most know me as the royal alchemist. Thank you for your help young trainees. This woman had been plagued by a curse. She was brought to our village in order to be cured, but the curse fought my help. It seems that in the past few moons, people have been exhibiting curse like symptoms. I am very distraught as to why.” “Whoa! So that’s how you knew we were here! You’re a magician!” Rolling your eyes at Pavel’s comment, you look to the alchemist. “Young swordsman, I am no magician, I simply saw your foot in the doorway.” You slap your face with the palm of your hand, of course, leave it to Pavel. 

    The woman begins to stir, lifting her head up. “Where am I?” she inquires. Of course, she must be exhausted. Semih cuts her binds and prompts you and Pavel to carry her to a bed to rest. He covers her head with a wet woolen cloth and sits by her side. “Thank you both for your help. I will be sure to report your deeds to the Commander. Please feel free to return home. Your judgement and compassion have allowed you to survive this day.” You, in your wisdom, decide not to return home, but to

                                                        Go to the Library                        Go to the Tavern

 
    “Oh, come now trainee. A dagger?” Semih raises the stone in the air and mutters something under his breath. Suddenly your body goes numb. “Didn’t the Commander ever tell you? If you raise a dagger to someone, use it.” Your arm shoots forward, dagger in hand. “Look now trainee, I control you. No one will ever know about the stone now. Cassius has been an indispensable puppet. You won’t ruin my ascent to the throne.”

    Frantically you try to move. Alas, you have no control. You hand turns towards your body, slowly it comes closer to your neck. “See trainee? I have a knife, and now I’m going to use it.” An incantation can be heard from behind you, an explosion rings out. Opening your eyes, you see Maksim and Pavel standing before you. “Pavel, my boy, grab the stone!” Maksim shouts. “Uh, yeah, no problem gramps!” Pavel runs and slides in the dirt, grabbing the stone from the incapacitated Semih. 

    “How did I find you? That’s easy, I entered town after you and this boy wouldn’t stop shouting and crying your name. He led me to this cottage.” “Yeah pal! I was worried sick about ya!” Pavel interjects. “Now young one, it is time to destroy the stone.” Standing up with the help of Pavel, you take the stone in your hands. It was smooth and cold to the touch, a little heavy too. You decide the best thing to do is destroy it yourself. You’ve learned there are few you can trust. You place the stone on the ground and pull out your dagger. Raising the dagger above your head, you bring it down onto the stone, shattering the fragile sediment. 

    With Cassius free of the stone’s control, children once conscripted to the ranks of the army were sent home. You and Pavel begin to study under the royal alchemist, Maksim, and peace returns to the land. \

The End, Good Ending   

    You decide to go to the tavern and see if you can get a bite to eat. The tavern reeks of alcohol and unsuccessful men who are too lazy to go home to their wives. You decide to sit down at the bar and order a fizzy sweet children’s drink, and wild boar cutlet. The drink bubbles in your mouth and tastes like sweet wild berries. The boar cutlet is warm and hearty, reminding you of the kind your grandfather made after the yearly hunt. You see Pavel in the corner, trying to talk to a girl who just does not seem interested. You smile and go back to drinking, in this moment, all is right with the world. 

    Suddenly, the door slams open, and the sound of smashing glass rings out. The lanterns go out, and shrieks of women can be heard. Heavy footsteps crush the floorboards, and people struggle grasp their bearings. Your head begins to hurt, and you feel a little dizzy. Your thoughts begin to dim, the last thing you comprehend is the feeling of burlap across your face.

    When you awaken, you are greeted by the heavy smell of beer and sweat. A man pulls you up by your bound arms and drags you in front of a chair. “Which one is ‘ee?” says the man in the chair. “We got ourselves a royal trainee, complete with the gear too!” At this, you realize you’ve been stripped down to your tunic. The gear issued to you now sits in a pile in the corner, definitely not a good impression on the Commander. As you struggle to stand the man in the chair looks at you. “Now look here kiddo, you can either join us as a scout, or you can die ‘ere. What’ill it be?” You still don’t understand where you are or who you’re talking to. The effects of the airborne drug are still pertinent, you cannot even form words. You must make a choice, you lift you head and 
                                                           

                                                               Nod Yes                            Shake No

    “An audience with the king? Why for?” Semih asks. You explain that you would like to speak to the King about seeking Maksim out and rallying an army in opposition. Intrigued Semih agrees and decides to write you a letter of permission. “All you have to do is present this letter to the gatekeeper, he will let you in to the throne room for an audience.”

    Determined, you grasp the letter in hand and march to the palace gate. The guard asks your purpose, and you hand him your letter. The letter bears the seal of the royal alchemist; therefore, you are permitted to progress. You walk through the great halls. The ceiling is so high, you get dizzy looking up at it. Portraits of the previous Kings and Queens follow you hauntingly with their eyes. Each step you take echoes, announcing the foreign presence. 
You finally make it to the throne room where the great King Cassius XI sits. Bowing and presenting the letter from Semih, you wait for the King to permit you to rise. He nods and you stand up. You explain to him, in great detail, the initial encounter with Semih while on a training mission. Then you explain the curse, and the stone that plagues the land. Finally, you speak of the evil Maksim and his plan to return to the Kingdom. 

    “And what, pray tell, do you suggest I do about this?” Cassius bellows. For a man about five and a half feet tall, his presence is menacing. The crown on his head glints, reminding you of his total and utter authority. You suggest sending a small squadron of scouts from the cohort to search for Maksim. Nodding Cassius calls an attendant over. He whispers something to him, you silently pray it is a good thing. The attendant bows and takes his leave. 

    “So, you would suggest that I send my men to chase your fairy tale? I think not. As punishment for wasting my time and fabricating something that cannot be true, I sentence you to a harvest’s time in the dungeon.” The attendant returns with two guards who promptly seize you. The guards begin to escort you to the dungeons. Each step down to the cold and damp cell is agony. What did you do wrong? What did you say wrong? Who…did you trust?
 

Failed Ending, Trust 
 
    The curse and evil possession was indeed a concern, but Semih had it under control for now. These people need your help immediately, they are suffering. Even though they kidnapped you, it was for a reason, they needed the attention. You curl up in your new bed and let sleep take you.

    You wake up prompted by a small tug on your sleeve. The little girl with the dragon from the night before is silently staring you down. “Come to breakfast, mommy finished making the eggs.”  Smiling and nodding at her, you rise from your bed. After changing your tunic, you decide to follow her. You enter the large dining hall from the night previous. There, men, women, and children are all eating eggs and what looks to be like wheat meal.

    After you have you fill, you decide to join the men on their morning hunt. You had often helped your father hunt, and at the very least knew how to use a bow. Grabbing a bow with good resistance, you set off. “So, you were gonna be forced into the ranks huh?” asks a young man, most likely three or four years older than you. “You know, my sister was forced to join the ranks, I’m the second child. She left one day and came back in a box another.” You wince in discomfort hearing such a sad story retold so, bluntly. 

    It seemed as though you and the party of bandits had been crawling the forest for half a rotation. Finally, the party leader’s hand goes up, a deer. Crouching behind a brush, you draw your bow back and wait. The leader nods and you let the arrow graze your knocking arm, silently it cuts through the air. The deer is pierced in an instant, falling to the ground. Thankfully her death was swift and will be put to use. 

    After the procurement of several more carcasses, the party decides to return home. There you are met by the women who take the carcasses from you to prepare them. You extend a helping hand to Ranvir’s wife, Qadira, the head of the household. She tutors you on how to properly skin the deer, prep the meat, and clean it. The women in the household are friendly and lively. You feel a slight tug on your pants, it was the dragon carrying child. You crouch down and ask her if she will tell you her name. “G-Geneweeve” she manages to stumble over. Qadira smiles and says “Her name is Genevieve, and she is the daughter of I and Ranvir. She will be the leader one day.” Looking again at the worn dragon doll in her hand, you as to see it. Genevieve reluctantly agrees and hands the dragon over. You take out a small satchel, inside a pin cushion with two small needles, and a few spools of thread. In your compassion, you sew the dragon’s eye back on and reinforce his well-worn limbs with more stitching. Genevieve gleefully squeals, takes the dragon, and runs off. 

358 Crystallus Luna
Reign of Cassius XII

    Cradling your child, you pull your cloak tighter to your chest. Cassius has riders scowering every town, every cottage. He’s looking for something. Something dangerous. 
Ten years ago, you read of a curse, a curse and evil possession. After Cassius XI’s sudden death, his son took the throne. There was much debate about such a young King, though he was of age. He was kind at first, but he has incrementally become more corrupt. Day by day, more people suffer under his hand. He is possessed by evil, you know it. 

    Had Semih lived to tell the tale, you would know what Cassius is searching for, and why you are running for not just your own life, but the life of the future. Your child cries, my how time flies.

Path of Iron, Purgatory Ending

    In disgust, you bitterly shake your head at his request. “Oh ho ho, a defiant one! Listen kid, I like yer spunk. I’m gonna give you another chance, wanna join?” Staying true to your heart, you once again deny his request. “Welp, nothing I can do” he says flippantly. Suddenly you are pulled up by your binds, the men holding you begin to drag you across the dirt floor. “Defiant defiant, he’s gonna see the giant!” cheers ring out from the horde of rugged men. “Giant? What Giant?” you think to yourself. You are drug to a gate where the men cut your binds. “Now look ‘ere son, you can only pick one ok?” you are shoved to a table by one of the men. On the table are weapons of all sorts, and a shield. Weighing your options your attention is held by the shield. Apprehensively, you reach for a lightweight rapier; it is probably best to stay on the offensive. The men around you start to laugh, rapiers aren’t very strong after all.  

    Without any time to correct yourself, you are ushered through the gate. You fall to the ground and hear the gate slam behind you. “Bearing only a rapier, we have the defiant child. Not much better than your toddler at home, give it up for the kid!” Cheers assault your ears. You frantically stand up, still a little dizzy from the poison before. Chains rattle, and the gate opposite to you begins to rise. 

    “The reigning champion for twenty-two years, Kadir!”. Once again cheers assail your ears. This cannot be happening. A man, at least four times your size approaches the center of what seems to be a dirt ring blocked off by wooden barriers. You were going to fight, a dog fight.

    “Ready or not our loyal spectators, here, he, comes!” Your now adversary, Kadir, raises his giant axe in the air and runs toward you. With your quick wit, you jump to the left and roll out of the way. Panting for air, you run the opposite direction. “Here kiddie kiddie” Kadir provokes. In desperation you try to climb over one of the wooden barriers, but your feet slip on each attempt. In agony your fingers claw at the wall, Kadir stomps towards you. Your hands, bloody, blistered, and littered with splinters grasp tightly to the rapier in your hands. Kadir looms over you, “Nighty night kiddie.” You should have picked the shield.

Failed Ending