The Fall of Veilward

[MRCHENN 4741]

 

 

Issued and averred by the office of the

GRAND INQUISITOR

 

 

Hearken, subjects of the Imperium. On this day, the Imperial Inquisition records its victory over the floating landscar. For years, the traitor known as Ark moved freely, first within the Empire she sought to destroy, then beyond its borders, in the shadow of orc territory, where she raised a tower and filled it with mages who shared her allegiances. She attempted to claim the life of His Imperial Majesty. She courted the Void. She believed distance and secrecy and sympathy to her own treachery would protect her. They did not. The Magi tower known as Veilward was infiltrated by the brave defenders of the Imperium. Those who swore themselves to her service and, by extension, to unforgivable treason against the Crown have been put to the sword. Their heads hang as testament to the fate that awaits enemies of the Imperium. Ark herself was captured and delivered to Imperial justice. Decades ago, the former Grand Inquisitor, Sir Antonius of the House Helane set this in motion. He did not see its conclusion as Grand Inquisitor, but it is his dedicated work that made it possible. The success also belongs equally to [REDACTED], whose intelligence proved indispensable. The Empire does not forget those who serve it faithfully. Unfortunately, many of Ark’s followers have now dispersed into our realm. Therefore, all Mage licenses previously valid within the Crownlands are hereby revoked, with reapplication required in order to set foot within the Imperium. All Magi or mundanes with ties with Veilward are to be submitted to the Imperial Inquisition.

 

However, what this office has uncovered in that tower, demands the attention of every loyal subject of the Empire.

Ark, the individual formerly recorded as Yera, the Architect, and Norigami, is not merely a mage. 

Examination of the recovered chassis established her nature. She is a machine spirit: a descendant soul severed from its mortal body and bound into an automaton frame purpose-built for spellcasting, its interior laden with enchantment and glyphs carved into the cogwork throughout. Embedded within were self-illuminating crystals of unidentified composition. Their purpose remains under investigation.

Most functioning automata within the realm are known to this office by the ‘APA line’ or accounted for by their makers in Kurai-Kuni. Any that are not are to be regarded as suspect. Visual identification alone is insufficient: cloth, finery, and illusion magic can obscure an automaton chassis from casual inspection. Aurum applied to the skin will not. Contact with the standard test will identify metal where flesh is claimed. Inquisitorial agents are authorized to conduct this examination on any automaton of unverified origin without prior warrant.

But this was the lesser discovery. We have been informed of something far more terrifying.

 

 

Ark is a host. A host of the Parasite known to us as the Nyxium Infection. It is not native to this plane of existence. It has consumed another plane entirely, morphing whatever inhabitants remained into something of pure terror, and it has attempted to breach ours once before. Those who stood in Veilward's tower did not serve a rogue mage with a grudge against the crown. They served a catalyst for something that has already ended a world, and now seeks ours.

Enemies of the Empire answer to Imperial justice. Those who consort with the Nyxium Infection are enemies of Creation itself. This office will treat them accordingly, and expects the realm to do the same.

Machine spirits do not die as men do. The soul does not perish with the body — it migrates. Ark has in all probability secured a new vessel. This office assesses two possibilities:

✢ She has occupied a prepared automaton chassis, built and stored in advance of her capture. Such bodies are inert without a soul to inhabit them and must be kept somewhere.They can be found. They can be destroyed. Without spare chassis, her soul has nowhere to flee, and death becomes permanent. 

✢ Or, she has resorted to Tawkins craft, transferring her soul into a flesh-clone of false make. 

Both have limits. Both can be uncovered through a standard Darkspawn test.

If you encounter an automaton or mage that you cannot account for, report them to this office. Do not engage. Do not warn them.

 

The Parasite has one world. It will not have this one.

 

AVE IMPERIUM!

 

---

 

His Excellency, Simon of Vîlachia, by the Grace of GOD, 

Imperial Grand Inquisitor, and Knight of Valmont.

 

 

[Morigung-oog 5697]

Inquisitor Aurelius high-fived their boss and raised their glass of Carolustadt red in celebration the moment the announcement was made.

 

@MRCHENN

[Navigator 4260]

Inquisitor Amyas, assigned with rear-guard and having seen literally none of the battle, sighed in relief.

[MonteGiant 891]

Tupaq Amaru stood tall as he gazed upon the missive, previously being one of the many who stood side by side to that Simon Vilachia, against that very Ark. He simply furrowed his brow, preparing for what is to come...

[JudgeTrudy 610]

Lukas nearly spits out his cup of tea as he reads a copy of the missive. "Norigami?!" he blurts out to himself. "Oh mein GOTT. . . .OH MEIN GOTT!!"

 

Later, the distressed squire sends a concerned letter to a friend.

[nunlover 579]

"Strong." Spoke the Knight Commander of Alba.

[Ardory 2978]

37 minutes ago, MRCHENN said:

Therefore, all Mage licenses previously valid within the Crownlands are hereby revoked, with reapplication required in order to set foot within the Imperium.

 

“Last time oi applied oi didn’t hear anything back!” a Gnome shakes his fist in the air.

[Lbunz120 41]

Sir Leoni Corvus read the copy of the missive whilst enjoying his free time with family, though his mood soured as he looked over towards his blade resting alongst the table. He knew the sacrifices and blood that were going to be shed in the oncoming months. . .

[molly molly molly 1329]

The deranged Lady-Matron Nightblood overlooks Alba from her tower beyond the bay, and she lounges. An airy black robe adorns her damp flesh after a well-earned ice bath. A crystalline chalice of cold vodka threatens to grace her purple lips.

 

A rare reward, reserved for victories of this scale. The little spider savors her victory, twelve years in the making.

So she drinks. And she couldn't possibly hope to fight her smile. 

[milksoda 2884]

Jenny gets ready for another adventure at the Imperial DMV.

(
 

Spoiler

(not my og art just a meme trace over frieren art)

 

[Frisket 4537]

“So it is done, a clear canvas. They are still out there, but in hiding, no longer able to influence the magic world openly unless under threat of death. “
 

a High Witch said in the silent filled halls of the Idunian palace, where construction was left behind to a half built tower.

 

”My turn…”

[xo31 3979]

A wrathful Void-Entity cackled madly. It was almost audible over the valleys.

Flaxen ichor seemed to melt from cracks in that Veilward when nobody was looking.
 

He composed himself.

A chess piece was moved forward in his game alongside a fellow wizard.
"That's one less loose end."

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 15456]

Secret Agent Kato Ena puffs on his Hirano Select Cigarillo as the news reaches his office. 

 

"Machine Spirits? they have the SYS Protocol?...TAWKINS? FLESH CLONES? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? RAAAAAAGH!"

 

The Secret Agent foams at the mouth, realizing the cigarillo had been laced with poison and dies. He respawns at Cloud Temple and forgets this eldritch knowledge - intent to go back home with confidence that Ark had to be dead. Or a nubdead.

[Aftrballini 450]

“What heads.. I wonder.. will I replace them with?”

    The new found enemy of the inquisition would persist from the shadows of the trees. Blood wiped from once peaceful hands against the length of her apron. How far this Professor had fallen. This now monster. And surely. How much farther that fall would take them all.  Let the hunt begin. 

[Wonderland_Boy 1081]

Around the time the missive made its way throughout the lands of Azuras, a soul would be summoned from the Soulstream, its time in this realm short, yet more than enough to know who to come after once its new form finally becomes complete