Lords of RPG

Tibbert, hustled into the Trois Fluers, sweating a bit from hauling around his overt fondness for rich foods and too much wine. Huffing and puffing, he asked after the six travellers, and was directed to Vincent’s room. His thick knuckles thudded on the door as he knocked tentatively.

Tibbert spoke directly through the door, his voice still a little breathless and hoarse. “Vincent? Vincent? I come from the Temple of Kempin, and bring news.”

Vincent opened the door and looked Tibbert over. The big man was wearing monk robes, and seemed the part of a country priest. “Come in.”

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That night, the Six were welcomed into the Temple by both Tibbert and Francois. There were no worshippers there, and candles burned around the God Stone. Francois guided the Six to his office, and Tibbert took his leave of them.

“Sit...if you wish” Francois gestured to the three chair, and a bench on the wall. “I bring you information from the Ordre de L'interdit. Dangerous information. Information for which we may yet all hang.”

Shade’s fingers ran over the pommel of one of the knives on his belt, a habitual movement he had carried with him for years. “So, your secret organization has been of some use.”

Francios nodded. “Yes...Yes. There may be a way to send you home. To walk the roads of your land. To see whatever loved ones you may have left there.”

Vincent sat down in the chair nearest the desk. “So you can send us home? Can you reactivate the Orb?” Arwin and Gabe took the remaining chairs. Timm sat upon the long bench, and Shade and Sympos remained standing.

Francois took his seat behind his desk. “No, not the Orb. I’m afraid we have no idea how it works, and only Zuc-Swaine himself knows its mysteries. But there is a book…”

Shade scoffed under his breath. “A fucking book.”

Francois heard the comment, and continued talking, his only response to Shade a single finger held up, as if to ask for more time to explain. “...and this book was written by the foremost expert on travelling the planes of existence. On exploring the mists beyond the real, and walking between worlds. His name was Theopesis. A great mage and scholar. He wrote many books, but there is one book in particular we need. The Tome des Mondes Infinis."

Vincent worked out the meaning from what little of the old dialect of Swanluke and the Kingdoms of the West he had learned from traders. “The Book of Infinite Worlds.”

Francois smiled. “Yes...a book where every turn of the page opens up new vistas, and the impossible becomes the possible. A book that describes methods for walking from one world to the next without the use of the Orb. Great magicks are needed...that much is sure. But, the formula...the methods...they are spelled out in Theopesis great tome.”

Sympos deep labored voice was heard. “This Tome of the Impossible. You have it?”

A shadow fell across Francois’ face. “No….no. Lucien Zuc-Swaine has it.”

Shade laughed. “Of course! Why shouldn’t he? Fucking hell.”

Francois held up both his hands in supplication. “Zuc-Swaine possesses many such objects of power. So many, that none may hold his attention for long. For some reason, Zuc-Swaine has the Tome tucked away safely at the Fort des Ténèbres.” Upon saying this name, Francois looked at Vincent, and his eyebrows raised. Vincent shook his head, unable to translate these words from the old dialect.

Francois continued. “The Fort of Darkness. I lies one day’s travel from here. Before Zuc-Swaine took possession of the fort, it belonged to the LeLoup family. It stood at the borders of their land, a border shared with a family with which they had long feuded. 500 years ago, Zuc-Swaine took possession of the Fort and made it a stronghold to contain some of his more dangerous treasures. Or so the legends say. Who but he could know the full extent of what he keeps there. But, it is the resting place of the Tome. Multiple sources confirm it, both historical and contemporary. The book is there.”

Arwin sat back in his chair casually. “So we break into the fort...steal the book...and you and your Order will be able to send us home. That’s the deal you are bringing to us?”

Francois nodded, but remained silent.

Timm spoke up from his bench at the back of the room. “It is clear that magic is both accepted and practiced here in the Three Kingdoms. And Zuc-Swaine appears to be incredibly adept at exploiting this magic. We can expect that this is no simple fort, waiting for us to jump the walls, sneak about, and secret off with the book. This is going to be much more complicated than that.” Timm let that sink in and then continued, addressing Francois directly. “Tell us what you know of this Fort des Ténèbres. What can we expect?”

Francois sputtered out, “I have no idea what lies within the Fort, but I can tell you something of what exists around it. There is a great ring of land around the fort...about a quarter mile thick...where it is perpetually daytime.”

Gabe looked up from something he had been fiddling with. “What?”

Francois continued. “The sun rises and falls outside this unnatrual ring of land, but the ring itself remains as bright at day, even when the sun is set. But, that is not the end of it. Inside this ring, the area around the fort itself, remains in perpetual night. This area is believed to be a half-mile, or so, in diameter. In order to get to the fort, one must pass through a quarter mile of always-day...only to enter the always-night that crouches on the fort like a predator upon its prey.”

There was silence in the room. It lasted for what seemed a minute, but was surely less.

Vincent broke the silence. “Always day...always night...enter the fort, and what will we find?”

Francois pursed his lips, and then relaxed. “The Tome des Ténèbres....but beyond that, I have no idea.”