(( Five points. One for on time, one for subplot, one for others, one for progress. And a WORLD EVENT: Shanghai becomes a battleground as a war between competing factions of mages aided by other supernatural allies battle for control of the Earth.))
Onward Christian soldiers, marching on to war. With the cross of...
I swear the pun isn't intentional. Actually I didn't have much to do with the actual conquest side of things. That's not really my strong suit, let's be honest here. Remember when I tried to rebuild the Diamond Nation? I do! How’d that go? Oh, I‘ve had to start tearing it down? Yeah, that happened. Or it's happening right now. Work in progress, but much more progressed than it was back 1n the Dreamlands. There’s so much to talk about I don't even know where to begin! Let's start with the Diamond. I’m sorry you don't want me to succeed, Darrel. Please don't think I mean this new organization to rule the world and all who live upon it. The Diamond Nation was once the ruler of humanity. That doesn't include you or Rick or even Lizzie technically. Some mages think that it ruled the entire Earth way back when. I’m not so sure about that, just like I’m not sure about the history of the spirits and that whole thing shamans talk about sometimes. You’re right that we are going to need something new Darrel, since the world of the past is gone. No more secrecy and no more lies. I love the Union and everything it stands for... but before we can contribute like we need to, we need to be united. That’s why this has been my main priority since the very beginning.
I applaud every worthy effort that has been engauged by our various members. And if you look at the different individuals in our group, I see that every one of us has became a leader in our own right. Everyone has made an impact. Even you, Justin. Don't tell yourself that you're meant for the background. No wlllworker is made for that. You like I have tasted of Supernal fire — this fire is meant to change the world. It is humanity's birthright, but not all of us can channel it yet. Not everyone has tasted of this living water. As one of the few, we have a responsibility to be a beacon. Do not abandon your efforts. Do not abandon your city. I have faith in your ability. Besides... I think we’ll be needing that city to be intact.
The Undying Ones have dreamed again. They dreamed that our great council shall be built again atop your powerful Egyptian relic. Their ancient magic shall make of it a fortress that the Outsiders will cower to see. We shall weave anew the rends they tear in the tapestry. There are many; many more every day. There is work enough to do.
Along those lines, I fear I gave the wrong impression about my allies (mostly to Darrel). The Undying Ones are not truly immortal. They are not the invisible Masters with their world-shaping elder magics. Those I have not met since my days with the Order. They are ordinary mages of ordinary power, who have earned their name because they have become beings of soul, not body, and so are not affected by time. They are the Undying Ones because they come from hundreds of years of history. Thousands of years, really. The dreaming minds of the greatest men and women to live among the Awakened, and many who were not awakened 1n their life but had the secrets of the Dreamlands anyway. Here on Earth they are very mortal. So far as I know, none of them has ever been killed. If they did... I have good reason to suspect they would end up in the Underworld, almost without fail. They are basically the ghosts of dead mages more able to learn and to grow, and fully physical. Kill them, and they die like ghosts.
You might ask now I know that. Well, as you may've heard by now, there’s been a hit of a war lately. Sorry about causing so much death and strife, Lizzie! I hope you'll still love me. Alas, we’ve had no choice. The unity of the Orders I created has been working toward our destruction... all of ours... in the insane hope that the Outside might be placated somehow, as though it were an ordinary abyssal acamoth that could be paid off with a few souls and sent back to its gnawing unknown home. That would have been enough were they not trying to kill us as well. All legend and occult insight agrees we are surely the only way to bring an end to this. And can anyone fail to see why?
Look at the impact we have had! Rick and his uniting of the ferals, Darrel and his war for dominion of the Earth with the others of his kind. Lizzie and the Dim Suns. And Justin, you too. How could anyone not see the difference we're all making here! There is more to do; much more. This enemy was mighty. They have been too occupied with killing me, as a rival for power among our kind. With me dead, I have no doubt they would have turn on all of you next. Justin first, then the others. But that is not a concern anymore.
My foolish Diamond Nation is no more. I cannot share with you the joy I felt to see that city fall. The mightiest elder magics... among my kin and vampires both... was employed 1n protecting it from any threat. But they were totally unprepared for what happened. I would not be at all surprised if the population of mages in the world was significantly impacted by this invasion. Thousands, and more than a hundred thousand others among past dreamers who were not Awakened themselves but wielded our Enlightened weapons. Many vampires were slain by Supernal sunlight. I have never seen justice so liberally administered.
By all accounts the battle was a rout. It never helped that the Arrow has been loyal to me from the beginning, as well as the Mysterium. Seeing our army at their gates with the banner of the Undying Ones, most of the security force defected. The Arrow are an honorable lot. They would not turn and slaughter their charges... but left as a group all at once, nearly two hundred battlemages, to do honorable combat as they have been waiting to do for some time.
It did me no pleasure to see the Chancellor of the Veil and many of the Seers standing and fighting to the death when they discovered that the Undying Ones had created a dead zone in the city, preventing all supernal influence but our own. Not that such was easy. But I will spare you the detail of price. Right now we estimate the loss of life on both sides and civilian bystanders was nearly ten thousand. A great victory, won at incredible cost.
It's been a somber moment for Rami and I. The snake no longer has a head, but the war isn't won. Just because the heads of those orders that wished humanity harm (even if they didn't understand it) have been killed or imprisoned (so far as we know, nobody escaped who was in the city at the time)... this does not mean we have won the loyalty of the Veil or the Ladder, to say nothing of the Seers (their head surrendered, so we're not entirely hopeless there). As a matter of fact... plenty of the Ladder have since openly stated they intend to wage a war for revenge for the overthrow of their dominance. The Veil isn’t inclined to declare much of anything, but the Undying Ones warn me their heaviest hand remains unplayed.
But there is hope. The Arrow is ours again, honored and willing to serve. The Free Council and the Mysterium were with us before the war was even over. There is not much left to build our center here... so we shall move on. There are far too many men for this city to support. I cannot say where we are going next, except that it is important. I don't know how we will make the other Orders kneel. Perhaps we never will. But I am getting reports that significant numbers... those that have supported us from the beginning... are defecting to the Arrow and the Mysterium. The Free council doesn't need anyone else... it's been the largest of the orders ever since the world’s been falling apart anyway. All the newcomers. Can't say I’m upset about that either.
Be safe, everyone. This is a great time to be alive!
Oh, and congratulations Rick! To create life is a sacred responsibility. Now that you've done it, you have to stay true to that. Your child deserves a father who can raise them to be better than he was. This is your new responsibility... in addition to somehow helping us to save the world. Is the child of two ferals more likely to be teral too? I’ve never really understood how you left humanity to begin with. I know that you're not numan. You've got a dualistic spirit-soul nature like werewolves do, and don’t go to the Underworld like werewolves don't. At least usually. That's the trouble with stuff like this. There are always exceptions. But you get the point! Let us know when you know its sex. Keep your mate safe.
Lizzie, I expect you to stay safe too. For similar reasons I suppose. Though so far as I know there aren’t any babies on the horizon, are there? Is that even possible for Sin-Eaters? I get that you’re not entirely human, but it seems like you’re alive enough for that. From what I remember you are. No double-entendres there, I swear. I've missed you, Lizzie. Rami and I have got loads closer out here... being together in the Dreamlands for more than a year can do that... but it's nothing like... well, she does know my secret as I've said, but more to help us hide than anything else. On the plus side, she's learned some damn good Japanese because of it, so that's cool! Helps me a whole lot during those times, since my English hasn’t improved yet. It's sorta like a reset each time. which she finds endlessly hilarious.
Alas, I'm out of time. We've one more night here, then it’s time to mobilize. Dai, everybody!
-Christian
((Sorry you all probably got this way late, and chances are not even because of Kirby. When I get everyone's posts a day before the month ends, it's very hard to have a reply written in time for the next month.))
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