Alden woke with a sense that something was left undone. He set out into the city to see if any of his brotherhood were lounging at the Salon but so early in the afternoon there weren't many folks around. Lord Enoch was just coming down for the day wearing his dressing robe and sandals. The elderly noble lit up a marijuana cigarette and invited Alden to join him. Alden make pleasantries with the older Decados and Enoch expressed discontent with his current medical regimen and explained the concept of chasing the dragon. Alden politely suggested that Enoch take some time off of his drug fueled lifestyle but Enoch seemed baffled by what that might accomplish and Alden, lacking the courage to be confrontational agreed that perhaps that was a radical move.
Not having any luck finding his order mates Alden walked around The Hub looking for a place he could rent time on a Starlight and reach the Order's Mannor to let them know his plans to leave town. He finally found the very quiet office of the Charioteer's Guild. The tiny office was clerked by a single charioteer who was so excited to have a customer he nearly tripped over himself helping Alden. After several attempts to provide Alden guild services the charioteer ensign sighed and offered to let him use the Starlight free of charge. Alden was able to reach Lord Marshall Henning and update him on his plans to travel south. Henning was anxious for Alden's written report of the incident in Sarsbourg and he also had a package that needed to be couriered to a town near Alden's destination.
Alden cancelled his plans and returned to the townhouse to sit down and complete his report to his order. The work came hard to Alden who doesn't excel as a writer. It didn't help that Emily was bored and continually distracted him by trying not to be a bother. finally Alden took Emily out to walk around the park while he cleared his head. She asked him if he was happy and he said he didn't think so. She asked what would make him happy and he admitted he didn't know. Emily grew silent and morose until Alden asked what was bothering her and she admitted that all her life she was told it was her duty to make her Lord happy, but now it didn't feel like that's what makes her happy anymore. Maybe, she mused, Alden should look for what makes him happy in life.
Brother Godfrey rose early and organized himself for the final day of preparing decorations and organizing events for Bier Viering. His skillful planning and new mastery of leadership skills served him well as he put the final pieces in place but his satisfaction over the work seemed hollow as his mind kept wandering to the upcoming trip South to Emerald Cove. He left the Cathedral just a bit early to return to his cousin's townhouse and have dinner with Alden. The brothers finalized plans for the next day and discussed the possibility of freeing Emily from her serfdom.
Godfrey disclosed the information that Uzilo had given him, a report from the Knights of Lexitus about a man who had come in from the wilds to a town in Elibyrge called Riserton. He claimed to have come from Emerald Cove. The man had injuries to his mouth and throat and what appeared to be high tech just under his skin. The Phisyk could do nothing for the man and sent him on to the Amaltheans with a passing merchant caravan but he never arrived. Later the Knight of Lexitus had questioned some Muster Ashtati who were hunting Changed in the area of the cove and they were able to give her a map of the area and a drawing of the building where they believed these strange people where hiding out.
Sometime after dinner the Scravers who were working on Jenny Spark's cab returned with it in stellar condition and with a bright purple coat of paint. Sir Altier arrived with the package Alden was to deliver to Northgate in Elibyrge and collected his report on the events in Sarsbourg. Brother Godfrey tucked Emily in and walked back to the Cathedral to sleep.
In the morning Alden woke early and packed his belongings before going over instructions with Ada. Sometime later he heard a loud argument outside as the local militia men were harassing Uzilo for hanging around the outside of the upscale townhouses. Alden managed to come down and settle the argument just as the Decados militia men where demanding to search the Hironen's heavy demolition bag. As Alden had Uzilo upstairs for breakfast and fitted his armor, Brother Godfrey arrived and finished off the last of breakfast. The three of them packed up their things and climbed into the shiny autowagon to drive southward.
A few hours later on the Causeway the brothers ran into a checkpoint at the border of Elibyrge where they faced a more intimate inspection. Godfrey snagged Uzilo's demolition bag and tucked it between his feet. The Royal Guard inspected the vehicle and checked everyone paperwork before observing that the ink was still wet on the registration for their autowagon. The guardsman looked at Brother Godfrey and gestured at the bag at his feet "Am I let to inspect that?". Godfrey was never very good at lying but this time he didn't have to "No, no you can not..". Before releasing the brothers the guardsman pulled Alden aside to tell him he was missing the paperwork for the rifle he had taken off of the Decados Soldiers back in Sarsbourg and he should make sure that's updated as soon as he can and mysteriously he let Alden and his stolen rifle drive away from the checkpoint.
With the slight delay the brothers and Uzilo got off the causeway at the first exit and took the turn-off to Northgate where Alden was to deliver his package to a member of the Alchemist's Cartel. They arrived at the gates just after sunset and checked their weapons at the gate save Alden's sword and sidearm. Northgate was a cluster of tall time-worn buildings with protective walls built between them. Inside people were reveling and playing music as some part of festival. With most of the businesses closed for the night the heroes got a room in an inn high up in one of the town's buildings.
In the morning they woke to a fantastic view of the megalopolis under the rising sun. Alden went to deliver his assigned package while Brother Godfrey and Uzilo shopped for supplies for the journey ahead. As Alden handed the package over the Alchemist Brandt it occurred to him he had no idea what he was transporting. Godfrey, realizing the days ahead might be rough splurged on a nice breakfast for the team. While the day was still young they drove back towards Riserton. Brother Godfrey thought it was a good opportunity for a driving lesson but Uzilo's Muster instincts told him they needed to stick to the schedule.
The Brothers arrived in Riserton in the late morning, a smaller town built into three large well-preserved buildings surrounded by sheep pens crop planters. They and discovered that the rumors of the forbidden area were very serious. Even hunters were reluctant to tell them anything about the Emerald Cove or give directions. They met with a local Ashtati who pays out bounties for changed and a few of the market hunters and eventually they put enough firebirds in enough palms that a fur hunter reluctantly offered to show them to the edge of the forbidden area and give them directions into the wilderness.
The brothers parked their autowagon on a bridge on the river that marked the boundary and hiked into the dark overgrown coastal region of the megalopolis with all of their gear. The deeper they went the closer the overgrown decaying buildings became and the thicker the canopy of foliage overhead became, one by one they realized that they were being followed by something. As the sun sank behind the maxicrete walls of the jungle they decided they needed to camp for the night so they scavenged some fallen branches and rotten furniture and built a fire in one of the more defensible buildings. Godfrey performed the rite of Empyrean Light on a small piece of debris to keep the area bathed in pure light, Uzio offered to take the first watch and they turned in for a anxious sleep.
Seemly just after closing their eyes they woke disoriented to the sound of two man-like beasts with fox features attacking Uzilo. Alden embarrassingly was overcome with the incomprehensible horror of the reality of changed and he feinted dead-away. Godfrey grappled for the Mitchau protector his brother had gifted him and begin firing wild at the the creature who was wielding a heavy rebar mace. Uzilo traded blows with the clawed menace facing him, taking some nasty slashes to his warming doublet but leaving him unharmed. Godfrey caught a nasty slash to his face before finally putting a second changed foe down with two more shots to the chest. After they caught their breathe they shook Alden out of his fugue and decided to keep guard together for the rest of the night.
At first light Godfrey stepped out into the overgrown streets to get direct sunlight for meditation and prayer. As he stood in the sun-dappled clearing he spotted one of the changed moving in the shadows. He was in mid prayer and didn't want to stop so he watched until he drew closer and he screamed for help. The beast crawled into the darkness before Alden and Uzilo arrived outside but the encounter left Godfrey shaken, unsure why the thing didn't just attack him.
Five more hours of hiking brought the group to a set of ruined buildings that matched the drawing in the Knights of Lexitus report. It was a tall tower presiding over a massive sculpture that looked like a three-pronged claw jutting out of the ground and a curved building that wound around the other side of the sculpture. The claw had an Erie effect where light played off of it like it was reflecting off of a pool of water. They watched and waited for some time before approaching the buildings, seeing a distinct line where the overgrown buildings of the cove gave way to aged but well-cared for walkways and groomed gardens. As they stepped onto the ancient campus an old man with braided grey hair wearing colorful but ragged robe stepped out of the large curved building "Welcome travelers to the House of Lights. Be welcome, your journey must have left you weary..".
The old man introduced himself as Illuminatus Mata, the elder of the House of Light. He explained that he and the others who have made a home in this haven seek only to subside in peace and learn more from the wondrous building they have come to call their home. As the elderly man led through through the ancient ruin it's lights came on and it's doors opened as if by magic. He led them to the roof where there were garden planters that were blooming late into the winter. He showed them the communal living space they share and walked them past many high-tech looking rooms with functioning think machines. Lastly he took them to the damaged tower on the far side of the campus and unlocked a door that someone had painted a Jumpgate cross over. He explained that his people have long wanted a church but no priests has found their way to the House of Lights until today. The tower was badly damaged from a huge hole in it's side that had been allowing the elements inside over time. The brothers poked around briefly before the elder warned them "It's best you not move around in here too much, they hadn't explored the tower extensively and it could be dangerous.
The brothers had met a few of the nine residents Mata had said lived at the colony. They had seen that many of them had what looked like scars on their skin in geometric patterns, one of the patterns appeared to be moving before the woman cover it abruptly. They wanted to speak with the others. Illuminates Mata was reluctant but finally agreed to introduce them to the colony's oldest member, Old John. He explained that Old Jon was one of the original three who found the House of Lights, he has difficulty concentrating and he grows tired and erratic and his words should be taken gracefully. They were shown to a clean white curved room with a man laying in a central bed and introduced to Old John.
Old John appeared initially senile. Having conversations with people who weren't present and speaking in the present tense of things Illuminatus Mata had to remind him were in the past, or people who had died. However soon Alden's questions brought the old man into focus. He told them about finding the building while taking refuge from a storm and being given the kiss of wisdom that opened his eyes to his surroundings. Old John was confused about how many people were in the colony. He thought 15 but the Illuminatus corrected him that there were now just 9. The next he claimed that they were only 3. When questioned about the three he explained cryptically that they were Context, Paradigm and Situation and began lecturing about meta-psychology with an erie clarity of mind. Godfrey, knowledgeable in Wyrd Theory recognized the urtech babble as Favyana Institute theory. Old John corroborated the illuminatus's claim that no man was coerced to come to the House of Lights and none were refused right to leave. Godfrey grew impatient and began questioning Old John about the patterns on the skin of the colony members, making both Illuminatus Mata and Alden more anxious. Old John became more muddled mentioning something about the mark of the kindred and the network of brotherhood. At this point the Illuminatus finally interceded "Alright, I had warned you that John's mind was addled, not you're just upsetting one of my people, there will be no more questions. Alden aimed his rifle at the elder and explained "You're going to take us back to the tower and we're going to look at every inch of it.."
The brothers led Illuminatus Mata back to the old tower under protest, and instructed him to lock the door behind them. Alden kept a gun on the elder as Brother Godfrey and Uzilo began searching the tower. The illuminatus began to angrily protest "We welcomed you as guests, offered you our food and shelter, we have hidden nothing from you, please lower your gun before someone is hurt.." but he was cut off by Uzilo coming back upstairs "There's a big room in the basement, with a control room of some kind and a big freaky chair..". Alden decided immediately that the tower would have to be destroyed but Uzilo wasn't sure he had enough blasting clay. Alden insisted that if he couldn't bring down the tower he needed to at least destroy the chair room and Uzilo returned below to search for structural lines. Iluminatus Mata began to reason with Alden, explaining that he didn't understand what he was doing, that he was making a mistake, and then Alden heard the echo of a heavy door closing deeper in the tower.
Not willing to leave Illuminatus Mata unguarded, Alden kept his gun on the old man while yelling pointlessly down the hallway where his brother and Uzilo vanished. Down below in the spooky chair room Brother Godfrey heard the thump of the security doors and overhead lights in the chair room began to flicker on. He returned to the stairs to find the door at the top of the stairs sealed. When he returned to Uzilo in the chair room the Hironem was trying to pry one of the wall panels open when suddenly three wall panels in the large room opened and automatons stepped out into the room and immediately looked at the both of them.
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