Lords of RPG

PART ONE - Sister Cities

The once great city lie in ruins.  The grey black stones rising up like the jagged teeth of a corpse.  At one time, the city had been massive.  Surrounding and expanding out from a large warm ocean bay.  White gulls glided along the beach and over weathered, broken docks.

Rising from the center of this vast empty necropolis was a rocky volcanic spire, encircled by a wide rising stairway, carved from the stone itself.  To walk up this spiraling stair would have once provided magnificent views of the city below.  Perched like a raptor atop this towering cylinder of rock was a broken high tower of brilliant blue stone.

Half of this blue tower still defied the sky and the pull of time, but the upper half had fallen, and its remains lay scattered below, as tiny blue dots amid the fields of black rubble.

This vast ruin was Old Bassot, the once proud capital of the Kingdom of Othamar.  Its destruction lay witness to the Great Cataclysm, and the failure of Zuc-Swaine's magic to bring the capital to the new world.

Like a living twin mourning her fallen sister, New Bassot had been built next to this vast area of ruin.  It was New Bassot that served as the capital of the three kingdoms in exile.  It was New Bassot that served as the seat of power for the Savior from Destruction, Zuc-Swain.

The new city had been built to the east, and took advantage of a smaller bay area near the original city.  The land beneath New Bassot rose from the sea more prominently, and into a hilly area to the east.  While the original city had been fairly level and flat, except for the great volcanic spire that rose from its center, the new city lay like a beautiful plaid blanket over many hills and valleys.

On the tallest hill, near the center of the new city, a new tower had been built.  The stone for its construction was a silver-grey granite quarried and transported at great cost and effort from the Duchy of Vesh.  The base of the large tower was encrusted with smaller towers, buildings, and a sturdy wall to surround it all.

IF one were to look closely on this day, one would see around the top of the great tower, the air seemed to vibrate and throb in great waves.  The sky above the tower was tinged in a subtle scarlet color, and one could smell the overwhelming scent of freshly bloomed roses.  Those that lived in the neighborhoods around the tower complex were so used to the sights and smells, that they paid them no mind.

----------------------

PART 2 - News Travels Slow

The red light and heat of the large ruby gem permeated everything in the small room near the top of the tower.  Sitting upon its pedestal of stone, the air around the ruby shimmered with power.  Arcane runes, covering the walls, floor, and ceiling seemed to absorb that power, and glowed like red hot coals.

Basking in the red light was a man of about 40 years old.  He was of average height, and average build, with black hair, and eyes to match.  His arms were out-stretched, his head thrown back, and his eyes closed.  The red fire coming from the large ruby washed over the man's naked flesh in great waves.

There was a knock at the rune-covered door.  "Lucien?  Something has happened.  Zuc-Swaine?"

The basking man muttered a word of power under his breath, and the ruby slowly began to dim, falling into darkness.  The residue of its power was still hanging in the air, and the runes on every surface of the room still glowed with residual might absorbed from the stone.

The man walked to the door and opened it briskly.  "What did I say about interruptions, my dear Murielle?"  His teeth were gritted as he spoke, and it was clear he was working hard to contain his anger.

The young girl on the other side of the door blurted out.  "But the Gate of Oth closed!"

"When did this happen?"

The girl bit her lip.  "Yesterday.  Yesterday afternoon."

"And we're just hearing of it?"

The young girl was mildly pretty, with thick brunette hair and rosy cheeks.  It was the sort of beauty that blooms brightest in youth, but quickly dims as the years stole from her.  "It was not noticed immediately...."

Lucien interrupted, his frustration boiling over.  "Not noticed immediately!?!  The Gate has remained open for over 500 years...it abruptly closes, and you want me to accept that it was not noticed immediately?  You want me to accept it took an entire day to notify us?"

Murielle looked more awkward in the moment, than afraid.  But, it was clear she did not have an answer that would satisfy the King of Oth.

Lucien Zuc-Swaine took a deep breath, and seemed to gather himself.  "Nevermind...nevermind.  I'll deal with that in turn.  First...first, you must gather my Cabale de Sorciers.  No excuses will be accepted.  I want the Master of every académie des sorciers present.  I would have their advice.  We will meet within the hour."

Murielle gave a curt nod, and rushed off to do her king's bidding.  Lucien pulled a grey cotton robe around his body, and tied it loosely at the waist.  He muttered to himself, "What dangers lie before us, and what opportunities shall we make?"