Lords of RPG

Francios Marchant, sitting at the desk in his office, spoke quietly.  "You have shown me a great amount of trust in sharing your story with me.  And in turn, I will return that trust.  I am the Stravrophore of this Temple of Kempin, and the Speaker of the God Stone.  This is how the people of the town of Toulon see me.  But it is my public mask only."

Shade scrunched up his face, and rubbed his hands together.  "Now we're getting somewhere.  Go on...."

Francios gave him a slight smile and continued.  "I am a member of a secret order that studies the origins of the new world.  That is why I was asking forbidden questions on the God Board.  It is why I was so open to your story.  My order seeks to see the truth behind what we've been told.  How could Zuc-Swain save the three Kingdoms while the rest of Kempin was destroyed?  Who has such power?  Who is this man, and does he tell us the truth?  The whole truth?"

Timm nodded.  "Well, we're here to tell you he doesn't tell you the truth.  Because as far as the World of Kempin goes...the world is still there, and it is the three kingdoms that were destroyed."

"Moved."  Sympos' deep voice rumbled.  "The three kingdoms were moved."

Francios continued.  "Yes, moved.  And putting together what you've shared with me, regarding the Fey infesting the area where the three kingdoms once were, and the information my order already knew, it seems we can conclude the three kingdoms were moved into the Fey world...and displaced a large portion of the Fey world into the World of Kempin.  A trade.  A switching of places."

Sympos mused (and he rarely muses), "But what of places like the Dark Hold that survived Twigtail's Great Cataclysm?"

Francios perked up at the mention of the Dark Hold.  "No...the Dark Hold was destroyed.  It is a mere pile of rocks on a hill in our world.  Zuc-Swaine was unable to save the Dark Hold."

Arvin immediately added, "He failed to move it...to shift it...whatever you want to call it.  Anyplace that is ruins here, is alive and well in our world.  Anyplace that is ruins in our world, is alive and well here."

Timm smiled.  "That's why we saw ghosts among the ruins.  We were seeing through the barrier.  Those were living people in this world...leaking through into our world. Living their normal lives here, but appearing as ghosts among ruins in our world."

Vincent seemed to have been waiting to talk.  "We need to get home.  I appreciate that we're gaining an understanding of what happened...and maybe even why it happened.  But, this is not our world...not our home.  I don't know about all of you, but I intend to find a way home.  I hope you are with me."

Arvin nodded.  "This is not our world.  We need to find a way home."

Francios gave the two young men an empathetic look.  "I understand completely.  The Ordre de L'interdit may be able to help.  Let me reach out to my superiors, and make inquiries.  I would let you stay here at the Temple, but that may raise questions.  Get a room at the Tavern.  Eat, drink, rest.  But try to not to draw attention to yourselves. I will contact you within a day a or two with an answer.  Is this okay?"

Shade was concerned.  "And you trust this Ordre de L'interdit?  What sort of inquiries are you making?"

By his tone, it was clear Francios took the question seriously.  "I trust them with my very life.  We must trust each other...for all our lives are in jeopardy.  Membership in the Order is punishable by death.  I will reach out to them, and see if they have any ideas at all about how to get you home."