The Mistress and I had just returned to temporal zone zero or the present take your pick. After having been bound by the Guardian Spirit which is watching over our fate I soon found that much seemed to be as we had left it with the exception of the timely arrival of Gul’Vol and Tal’Vol. The day turned out to be quite more interesting than I would have expected but it was the arrival of Tiberius which brought about the timely return of the Master which brought about a sense of order that had been missing the set the chain of events that would follow in motion.
To set the stage if you will a few of the Masters other simulacra were at that moment spread out around the globe as it were keeping an eye on the Masters investments. So of course I am speaking about Justice for while the Master did not exactly consider himself a member of the Street Gang called Justice it had proven to be quite profitable to have made their acquaintance. This among other reasons was why the Master had dispatched the Elite Rank Eight Simulacra Sebastian to keep an eye on Kameron since the Master had enacted a Protection Protocol which rendered most of Justice protected from all of the elements as well as scrying. It was primarily due to the fact that Kameron was a chaotic violent hot headed Destroyer whose actions were likely to bring about conflict at the slightest provocation. Don’t get me wrong the Masters cousin and half Howling Dragon can really help to stir fear and terror into your enemies it’s just that sometimes you have to make sure there are enemies around for Kameron to devour or he is just as likely to get, as I like to call it restless.
Kameron with Eagle at his side was at that very moment staging a battle to face his Senator who to be honest looked like a well placed plant but until the Master knew who had planted him he was willing to let him live and play out the role he seemed to have been given. So it came to pass that Kameron faced his Senator to be Bobby Stallone an advocate of Ares in a field of anti-magic maintained by the familiar rat of Sebastian. The battle between them lasted thirty seconds and went to a stalemate which to Sebastion’s well trained eyes had favored Bobby but the assembled crowd was more than willing to accept the terms of the battle. Our deep cover NU Agent on site Kameron’s trusted advisor Andros Lamar would also make a similar report to his fellow operative at the Network University. It is worth noting that Kameron in the end while not exactly trusting his new Senator was willing to allow him to continue his duties and report his operations to Andros who would see that the information reached Kameron on a timely basis.
Drago and Ti on the other hand were visiting Aurora along with Drago’s girlfriend Sara and his adopted daughter Alma. The Masters former personal Rank Seven Simulacra Mandy had been recently promoted to Elite and if Drago would have her in-between duties at the Justice Base would become his new assistant. Drago had managed to acquire an audience of Nobles and Merchants within the Aurora Court. He had even attempted perform an elaborate performance designed to win the Nobles and Merchants over to his cause. Now of course trying to convince them to fund the construction of a new Air City where he would be training an elite army of Monk-Mages could have gone better. As it was he ended up causing so much political strife that there was a failed attempt on his life and it took all of Mandy’s impressive diplomatic skill to assist them in withdrawing from the area without the entire affair erupting into a complete disaster.
On the other hand if was Mordalfus who would end up in the most dire of straights that I am sure allowed the rest of Justice to see the value of the Masters Protection Protocol but I get ahead of myself. For while Mordalfus had left the Justice Base with the intention of assessing the territory of Justice within Center I am surprised grown so brazen. Well not really I am sure he was aware that the Master had dispatched another of his recently promoted former personal simulacra to him. It was therefore the Elite Rank Seven Simulacra Armana’s duty to watch over him and to die if necessary to make sure he survived. It is something all of the Masters Simulacra have to face for while the Master gives them an immense amount of personal freedom they are after all servants to his will and his assets and investments are more important than there semblance of life.
Now back to the Master whose personality and form came back to him the moment that Tiberius had entered the Justice Base. The Master had been eager to see Tiberius ever since he had vanished recently. It was obvious to the Master that he had acquired a form of mind shielding and the actions of Tiberius like the Masters had already had subtle effects on the timeline. So the Master engaged him in conversation eager to learn all that Tiberius was willing to share and all that he could deduce. For the chaotic wild card known as Tiberius had already managed to form an entire Paladin order dedicated to love which literally worshipped the ground he walked on. He had even been seeking a place for two of his new companions to stay in town. It seemed Don Wan was a Human male who sought to do good in the name of love along with female Fey who might very well have been Seelie named Colin. The Master had just the place as it would turn out none other than Markessa’s Companions and Inn where Don could stay in a room and Colin would be more than welcome on the roof. Since the Inn was also the ideal location for Markessa to collect the Ambrosia that the Master had been stockpiling and it being a house of pleasure it seemed to fit perfectly.
The Master had continued to fill in Tiberius of what had been happening while he was gone and Tiberius informed him of his desires to become a deputy to the new High Speaker with the ability to fill in for him if something were to happen to him. He had of course managed to befriend one of the contending Senators named Jefferson during his temporal incursions and Jefferson seemed alright with the arrangement. With the current political structure Tiberius’s plan did not stand a chance but you never knew and the Master after having seen the work of the Tale of the Artifact Pants was not planning to be against Tiberius. The Master therefore took the time while they spoke to protect Tiberius from the elements and even with his permission establish a telepathic bond to make sure in the future if he was ever again stranded or in need of assistance he could contact Armand to assist. The Master had learned long ago it is best to keep an eye on the chaotic ones for they could be just as likely to bring about wanton destruction as opposed to delightful opportunities for profit.
I was wondering if all was well with the Master as his thought had suddenly started to race and I soon realized he was conferring with Quick and receiving a status report on the Network. I also realized he was having a conversation with his daughter Shay Quickshar regarding her continued experiments. I will not go into details on those matters but suffice to say that all Network University operations were currently performing above expectations. I suppose what can said about Shay but at least the apprentices Voltana and Collum were keeping her occupied within the Master’s Magical Laboratory. I did catch that she had heard about her Mother Delilah’s meeting with Kameron and her convincing him to fund the operation to seek out the weaknesses of Narvada. Shay it seemed was eager to meet her cousin and see what she could convince him do for her. Let’s just say and I quote that “I have big party plans and woe to any that would dare to stand in my way.” Now let me remind you Shay is ten years old and don’t get me wrong I am as evil as they come but she takes the concept to a whole new level. That vacation the Master is planning for her on the Island with her Grandmother Lorali will not come soon enough as far as I am concerned.
The Master was about to retire to his room to share the company of Leydarfel who had number of details to discuss with the Master regarding his commitments to Justice and how they might begin to cross over into Network University territory. She had taken the form of a raven and sat on his shoulder while I chose to enter a familiar pocket on the Masters belt. One might say that Seelie Fey Leydarfel was a bit haughty but she had learned early on by the grace of Hecate that the Master and she shared the same goals and she and her Clan had prospered and of course she loved him and was his newest Consort. She had wanted to discuss certain issues that dealt with Mordalfus, Kameron, and Drago. Mainly she was concerned that if he continued to associate with them that their issues might soon require him to step up his level of commitment. In other words she did not feel a simple Protection Protocol would be sufficient and that a Retribution Protocol was in order.
In other words it was time for the Master to assume that he might very well soon become a target or that either Drago, Kameron, or Mordalfus or any of the others enemies might soon try and bring death to his door unless he dealt with them strongly and firmly. Or to put it mildly showed them why he was called the Master by actions and not just words. So it came to pass that the Master cast upon himself and therefore I as well the veil of undeath a ritual designed to protect us as if we had embraced undeath itself. I would require a sacrifice of the Master’s power and the use of a metamagic rod to enhance the duration of the ritual but it would be I did not doubt the wisdom of Leydarfel and neither did the Master.
The timing seemed to have been a sign from Hecate to always be prepared to bring magic to bear against your concerns, problems or desires. For while the Master had been spending time with Leydarfel for I assure they did more than just talk Mordalfus and Armana had expanded their tour into the surrounding territories and Mordalfus had decided to stop into a new desert shop which was new in a line of shops that had started to spring up in the area as of late. Mordalfus along with Fey Aria, Psicrystal Alth and of course Armana were being served when all of a sudden a rain of arrows suddenly erupted from twenty of the twenty two patrons who it had seemed at first were also enjoying desert. Alas it was a trap for Mordalfus and Armana had failed see it coming and if it had not been for the quick actions of Aria that failure would have been her last.
Mordalfus was in mortal danger and the link shared by the Master and select members of Justice flared with his pain and shock. Meanwhile Drago, Ti, Kameron, Eagle, and even Tiberius were shocked and ready to go into action but alas they had no idea where to help Mordalfus. For while they had all decided to spread out and had not checked back on Mordalfus since they had left the Lighthouse only the Master had planned ahead and seriously I no longer wonder why Mordalfus was always hiding and never allowed himself to be seen when we had first encountered him after many years. Don’t get me wrong but for being a supposed team Justice seems to leave itself open to disaster quite often brought about by their own actions. Thankfully the Master had arrived in their midst and it seemed just in the nick of time.
The Master of course was not shocked but instead he was angry that someone would dare to arrange an assault that had caught one of his prized Simulacra the crossfire. That it was Mordalfus someone the Master considered intelligent and wise enough to be considered his friend literally put him over the edge. Orders went out at the speed of thought to Mandy, Gul’Vol and Tal’Vol to prepare to transport us all to the last known location of Armana. We arrived within seconds of Mordalfus being felled and a Dvati or a set of bonded female twins who shared one soul stood over him. Armana had been saved by Aria who herself lay helpless after being poisoned. Mordalfus had been stuck by Eternium weapons actually several had been stabbed into him and one no doubt held his soul. It would seem that the Dvati Ninja and their twenty other Ninja’s of Clan Youa-Youa would soon learn the cost of crossing the Master.
I have to admit that the Gargoyle Ti is faster than I expected it had not surprised the Master for when Ti had arrived he was not sure what to do. The Master directed him to the Dvati and said to him “Stop the two that stand above Mordalfus and I will handle the rest.” So it came to pass that Ti unleashed the second great volley in the shop only this time Youa-Youa were on the receiving end. One of them dropped unconscious the other her life force fleeing was transported away by a contingency teleportation. We stood in their midst and so therefore the Master called on metamagic to chain and reach out to them with a smoky containment transmutation ritual which acquired and trapped the remaining Youa and fourteen of their twenty remaining Ninja’s. I then followed up on the remaining six with a chained evocation ritual loaned to me by the Master and cut them down with orbs of acid. Just like that they were down but still one remained and the Master had plans for the other Youa.
The others began to act and Kameron and his Second the Priest Marcus saw to the revivification and healing of Mordalfus. Drago seemed disappointed that he had arrived and the Master and I had already dealt with the remaining Ninja and only clean up remained. Gul’Vol and Tal’Vol for all intents and purposes stoic magical muscle saw to the healing of Armana. Mordalfus rose and thanked everyone and even praised them for their timely arrival and no doubt he noticed the Masters eyes were still glowing red. I say that because the next thing he said was not to kill the remaining six just as the Master reached out with the ritual he had just used to contain the remaining six unconscious Ninja into another bottle. I had of course erected a major illusion around the shop to conceal the ongoing events from the public eye. The Master looked to Mordalfus and asked if he was ready to leave and he had responded indeed but also told the Master that he needed dimensional shift the captured Dvati as if the other had risen she could find her anywhere on the same plane.
The Master had already considered that option as Tal’Vol threw the Master’s portable hole to the floor entered with the two bottles to hand over to Leydarfel for safekeeping. He then had the healed Armana and Mandy use scrolls to transport us back to the teleportation site near the Justice Base and then asked everyone to come inside the dimensional dark forest realm that had been created by Leydarfel so they could discuss the fate of Youa-Youa and their Ninja Clan. Just for the record the reason that Leydarfel was with the Master was due to the Protection Protocol but as the affairs of Justice were not official sanctioned Network University business the Master had chosen to not even let her presence be known. The capture of the majority of a Ninja Clan kind of blurred the line and while she would still remain silent around Justice just seeming to be only a spirit within her domain I assure she was interested.
Meanwhile Mordalfus seemed to be considering the implications of turning Youa-Youa over to the law. The Master believed that was just a little too messy and not quite tidy enough for an example needed to be set that you did not mess with the Master much less Justice or at least not when the Master was around our you paid the consequences. I almost felt sorry for Youa-Youa for the Master next peeled her mind like an onion with a mind probe ritual that revealed much about her Clan and her plans. The Master was still angry and I knew why for Mordalfus had mentioned that he had a Ninja Clan and the Master had actually thought he had been joking but he obviously had not. In the end the Master sought and found exactly what he would need to shall we say make the situation profitable if he wished.
The Ninja Clan Youa-Youa had been in their mind wronged by a minor insult and set in motion plans to eliminate Mordalfus. When their original reason to eliminate him had vanished they had already invested too much to not continue and they hoped for the Artifact Pants payoff. Their plan was actually quite elaborate they had set up a number of new shops all around Center solely with the plan to lure Mordalfus into on and spring their trap. They sadly seemed to know little of the other Dvati that Ti sought who were believed to be part of a mysterious sect that sought Drago but it was still a lead. The Master also gained detailed information on their Clan with included their fifty one members, safe houses, operations and of course the most important part that if one of the Youa’s were captured they would disperse to the wind and attempt to vanish without a trace. Well that of course would just not do and the Master had just the ritual in mind.
The Master I should note is by practice a devoted Conjurer and Necromancer and when he had spoken to the Estate’s Districts proxy he had not been boasting about his ability to trap and contain souls. So while the members of Justice had busy discussing the plans to find the other Youa and the fate of their Ninja Clan the Master had reminded me of one major flaw of their race the Master reminded me of a Dvati flaw. That flaw was of course that while their souls were actually one and what was done to one would occur to the other as well. So the Master trapped their soul using their link to bring the body of the other Youa into a prepared gem and the one out of the bottle as well that the Master kept around just for such a propose. He then had ended the Justice discussion and informed them that they need no longer worry for he now had Youa-Youa and if Mordalfus wished he could burn their souls to oblivion.
I will admit I was a little taken aback and wondered for a moment I wondered if the Mistress had returned. I was actually more interested in the fact that they were women and Kameron was even at that moment still speaking of how any torture was not good enough for them. While Drago and Ti the ones I knew to be good natured seemed only slightly taken aback and were not urging the Master to show mercy. Thankfully Leydarfel was nearby and stepped into the Masters mind like a smooth caress her aura of glory bathing him and she spoke of nature and the potential value of having a Ninja Clan owing him their lives and one day soon calling him Master.
There was more to her words than I shall record but suffice to say that she and the Master had decided if Justice was willing a compromise might be possible. Leydarfel had convinced him to look into their minds again and seek a path within their minds that they would accept to allow them to continue to live with only a few necessary compromises. Those compromises would of course entail them becoming an adjunct of Justice and answering to Armand to deal with any conflicts of interest as they would know he was true to his reputation being well mannered diplomatic and above all honorable. As a matter of fact while it had been his magic that had defeated them it had also been thanks to his keen intellect that realized that all that had transpired between Justice and Youa-Youa was nothing more than a tragic misunderstanding. Which was of course why they had been spared and the Master had stepped in to speak for them lest they be destroyed which had been quite with his power to do. He also instilled in them as Mordalfus wished them that Justice did not always stand for death and that as the people of their territory knew they could be just and fair. The Master of course followed that up with a minor glimmer of loyalty to Justice for sparing their lives when they had no reason other than the word of Armand regarding the misunderstanding between them.
Of course the Master also included few safeguards a minor one regarding a minor attraction to Armand that the Master would use to further instill himself into their Clan operations. Another was far more insidious which was twofold one they would actively work to avoid every having a cast any ritual to break the spell placed upon them and second if for some reason they ever felt that they ever needed to turn against Justice they would first speak to Armand to release them from any bindings that might cause their Clan’s demise. In truth the Master had done far worse too many individuals in the past but he had learned by keeping a mind rape quite closely to the truth even if one day it was broken than what they knew of Armand would still ring true which was indeed the ironic charm of the whole thing. Don’t get me wrong the Master of course acquired blood from Youa-Youa and their twenty other Clan members for various reasons we need not to discuss and gave them each a sending stone in order to keep in contact with them and if only that had been the end of the talk of Ninja’s but alas I had forgotten that Kameron was in the room.
Suffice to say that the talk of Ninja’s had sparked a memory of the Justice Soul Link that had caused Kameron to suddenly begin to speak of the fate of Natakoo. Now of course Armana had already spoken with Mordalfus regarding that issue and the terms the Mordalfus was comfortable with were not quite equitable to the Master. On the other hand Kameron and Mordalfus flew into an intense argument on the subject that lasted for hours.
Meanwhile Drago who clearly had others things in mind decided to depart and of course Mandy went with him. He choose that time to visit the darkest part of Center and meet with Absidian a figure who claimed to be a Paladin yet shared the company of two Demons. He also made a journey to Valn to seek out a guide who could direct us to the location of the hidden fortress of Klon Barr. Believe it or not he had the time to travel around Perciphea making both personal and arrangements for Justice before Mordalfus and Kameron were even done arguing as a matter of fact it looked to be coming to a duel to the death phase actually you have to remember that we are talking about Kameron but oddly it was Mordalfus who seemed almost ready for it.
Drago had returned and Mandy realized he seemed sad and so asked him what seemed to be the trouble reminding him that he had and experienced Elite Rank Seven Simulacra at his disposal so why not use her expertise. He decided to take her advice and soon they were on their way to Markessa’s Companions and Inn to pick up a little of the Ambrosia that the Master had been producing and storing for Drago just in case his level of ambition ever grew to the task. So soon his other concerns became apparent he wished to representation on Spearhead Island and beyond so Mandy informed him that Spearhead Island was even as they spoke making arrangements to build a magical school. It therefore came to pass that Ben Simulacra of Drago came in to being with plans to assist in the building of a magical school and orphanage which would be cosponsored by the Network University.
Meanwhile Leydarfel had produced the body of Natakoo and the Master gave the scroll of speak with dead to Tal’Vol to use so they could ask their questions. Suffice to say a point of contention for the Master was answered early. Natakoo had indeed been in communication with Celestial Entities who had given him tools and advice on how to repair the seals that had held Narvada. It was a small concession but along with others Kameron felt he deserved a chance. Mordalfus and the Master conferred on the matter and his warning was altered to the Master still being responsible if anything went wrong. The Master at that point was going to insist on bindings upon Natakoo to make insure that he would remain loyal but of course Kameron would have none of it.
I tried to make the Master point with Kameron but of course it was Kameron and my words went upon deaf ears. Kameron as usual saw things his way and no other way which I realized was why the Master wished for the bindings. As it had already occurred Kameron had pressed the Master about loyalties regarding him and Mordalfus and the Master had made it clear that those were the reasons why he often chose diplomatic solutions whenever possible. In the case regarding Natakoo if Kameron was willing to speak for him then if Natakoo ever turned against Justice than not only would the Natakoo life be forfeit but Kameron would also share his fate.
Delilah who was about as chaotic as Kameron or Tiberius combined having been informed by Leydarfel of what was going on had chosen to speak to the Master on my behalf. I tried to dissuade Kameron for I truly liked him and I did not really like the idea of him risking his very soul on someone he had never even met. The Masters concessions would have spared him the risk but as Delilah often says “What is life without risk and what better way to live your life than to risk it! “ it therefore seemed he could not live his life without risk such is the life chosen by Kameron.
The Master therefore conferred with Mordalfus informing him of the new deal that Natakoo would be resurrected and as he had discussed with Kameron would be unbound but still be honor bound to serve the Justice and the Network. As it had been established that he still held certain members of Justice responsible for him losing his honor which forced his suicide he would forswear any type of vengeance in order to gain assistance in finding a way to once again contain Narvada if it were possible. It was also stated in very clear terms that his life would be forfeit as well as Kameron who spoke for him if he broke his word.
It therefore came to pass that Natakoo was resurrected and the Master of course peeled his mind like an onion which was of course standard procedure in such arrangements and Leydarfel informed him of the concessions that had been made and his responsibilities to Justice as well as the Network and its intention to assist him in his Holy Quest. Of course the Master also made the knowledge he had gained from Natakoo available to Mordalfus in order to assure him as it had been his willingness to deal with Kameron but it had become more of a problem for Kameron with the price for failure being the loss of his soul. I will be honest I was not content with the deal for I did not doubt that the Master would keep up his end of the bargain it was more what I knew it would do to the Master and the dark and evil place he would enter and while I recognized the whole Mistress as a way for someone with the Masters intellect to cope with his darker side I also knew the price he might pay if Natakoo failed Kameron.
An hour later after the Master took the time to rest in order to restore his magical energies which he had expended over the day with the aid of a fortifying bedroll. He also loaned a fortifying bedroll to Drago, Kameron as well as Natakoo as it seemed again against the Masters wishes Kameron wished him to come with them. Mordalfus it seemed to agree that he would be useful so it came to pass. Drago made his arrangements and the Master along with Gul’Vol and Tal’Vol transported us all to the shores of Valn. Mordalfus made sure as this was a Justice operation to inform everyone that we were going to try and solve the situation with the Estate District with diplomacy before violence of course making sure to remind Kameron. He had also reminded everyone to stay near the Master for he would be responsible for containing the souls of the fallen as he previously explained to Klon Barr on the behalf of Justice. It was finally the time and soon the fate of the Estate District would be in the hands of Master or else they would face Justice.
Of course I had spoken to soon for it was time for the mysterious link which bound the Master and I to Justice had chosen that time to once again latch onto our souls. I knew not if we were heading into Eagle’s past who I should note was acting a bit odd towards Kameron by the way but she is Anthropomorphic Eagle after all so who could really tell. Or to the strange world filled with mystical runes that a mysterious Arch Mage had pushed power into causing strange Zombies to arise and the very fabric of reality to seem to bend to his will I knew not. I had faith in Hecate and the Master for as the famous tenet of Hecate states magic is the key that unlocks all desirable things I had learned my lesson. For while I had and still paid the price for my hubris in seeking power beyond that of the Goddess in the Far Realm I have since learned my lesson due to the patience of the Master and the grace of Hecate who spared me but that of course is a story for another time.
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