Forum

[Delemental]

As he approached the age of twenty-five, rumors began to circulate that Resplendent Ghost of Midnight was no longer the best thief in the city. Rivals, jealous of his skill, hoped to goad him into attempting a daring theft which would result in his capture and arrest. His pride wounded by the taunts, Ghost vowed to commit the boldest theft of all – to steal the satrap’s Writ of Authority, the documents that were signed by the Scarlet Empress herself granting Nellens Rombulac authority over the Imperial holdings in the East. Losing the Writ would not mean that the Empire had no power in the land, of course; such things are granted by swords, not words. But it would be a devastating blow to the satrap’s honor to have the Writ stolen, and the subsequent investigation might well reveal some of his more unscrupulous dealings, or at least give one of the Great Houses sufficient cause to replace Rombulac with one of their own family members.

It was no great challenge for Ghost to enter Garrison Heights; he had been coming in and out unseen since he was a boy. The passages through the walls were in the same places, and the guard patrolled the courtyard in the same way. He came to the satrap’s treasury and slipped inside. Surrounding him were vast treasures, the wealth of entire towns in silver and jade. But Ghost had long ago ceased coveting wealth – he only cared for the symbolism of his act, and his own reputation. He found the Writ sealed in a wooden chest, and soon it was in his possession. But when he emerged from the treasury, Ghost found himself surrounded by many guards, with their weapons drawn and pointed straight at him. The Writ dropped from startled fingers.

“Your plans were known to us, thief,” said a very familiar voice. Stepping from behind a pillar came Callum the Dutiful. The father did not recognize his son; Ghost wore a mask on his face, and Callum had no reason to suspect that his missing son was in fact Greyfalls’ most infamous thief. “We were informed of your plans,” Callum continued. “Thus ends the career of Resplendent Ghost of Midnight.” Callum ordered the guards to bind the thief and remove his mask. At that very moment, something extraordinary happened.

It seemed to Ghost that the room suddenly filled with light. At first, he thought that perhaps he had tarried in the treasury longer than he’d thought, and that dawn’s light was now entering the palace. But then he realized that although the golden light was as bright as the sun, it came from within the palace, surrounding everyone. Then he began to hear a calm but strong voice, whose words held no meaning for him but were reassuring nonetheless. Ghost felt strange as though he was both moving and remaining motionless at the same time. Soon, the light faded, but did not diminish entirely, and when Ghost looked around he saw that all of the guards were dead, slain with their own blades. Only Callum remained standing, unharmed. The bureaucrat backed against a wall, a look of terror on his face. Ghost realized that somehow his mask had torn free, but still his father seemed not to recognize him.

“Anathema!” Callum screamed.

Here I must pause in the telling of this tale. Those who hear my words have no doubt guessed what has happened to young Ghost, though he himself would not understand it for some time. And perhaps you may wonder at my purpose in telling the tale of such a being, when so many would call it blasphemy at best. But I say to you now, there are lessons to be learned in the telling of this tale, and the others like it, but the tale entire must be heard.

As I have already said, Resplendent Ghost of Midnight’s heart was filled with fear and confusion. Surely he could not be one of the Anathema! He sought to speak words of comfort and reassurance to his father. Instead, he spoke words that he had not intended to say, but were his words nonetheless.

“Your beliefs are flawed, and your masters corrupt. Those who lay claim to stolen power shall soon know that there is nothing in all Creation that cannot be stolen back.”

Callum the Dutiful fainted, and Resplendent Ghost of Midnight ran. The light followed him.

It is the sad truth that in the life of a criminal, even a noble one, he can name many companions but few true friends. Ghost was no doubt being pursued by the satrap’s soldiers, and on top of that he had been accused of being Anathema. He thought of turning to Rhulad, but knew that the Guildsman would likely turn him away to protect his own interests. Thus, he could think of only one place to go.

He arrived at the apartments that had been rented out by Pearlescent Lotus Whispers, sneaking into her bedchamber. Desperately, he tore a strip of cloth from his garment, to tie around his head and cover up the light which seemed to emanate from his forehead.

“You cannot block out the sun, young one,” said Lotus. He turned to see the courtesan, dressed and kneeling before a tea service set for two. “The light will fade when you are calm. Please, be seated. It is most discourteous to keep your host waiting.”

The night became day, and then became night again. Lotus explained much to Ghost in that time. She explained that yes, he was one of the Chosen of the Unconquered Sun, and no, that did not make him a demon. She stated that she had knowledge of such things, though she did not say where such knowledge had come from.

“I had a feeling from the first day we met that you might be chosen,” she told him. “That is why I guided you toward the path you now walk. That is also why I informed your father of your plan to steal the satrap’s Writ.”

“You!” he gasped. “But why?”

“You needed a push,” was her only reply.

The courtesan left Greyfalls the next day, her entourage having grown by one. Resplendent Ghost of Midnight traveled with Lotus for six months, and in that time he learned about the powers granted him by the Unconquered Sun, and how to use them. He learned to balance on a blade of grass and to leap high walls, to disappear from sight and how to avoid the swiftest attacks. He learned the use of the boomerang and the blade. But most importantly, he discovered his purpose. He knew that the common people were capable of throwing off the chains of oppression placed on them by the powerful and greedy. He knew that all they needed was an example of one of their number rising up from obscurity to greatness. Thus he resolved to become the greatest thief in all Creation; he would be known as the thief who stole the corruption of a Deathlord, who stole a playing piece from the Games of Divinity, perhaps even the one who stole the Scarlet Throne from the Dragon-Blooded.

When he was ready to make his own way in the world, Pearlescent Lotus Whispers presented him with three gifts. The first was a jade pendant, which he recognized as the first thing he had ever stolen. It had once belonged to a noblewoman who had been carrying on an affair with the satrap, and then using her influence to extort higher taxes from the lands she controlled. The pendant had been a gift from the satrap, and its loss was never investigated, as it would have led to too many questions.

“The pendant carries magic that will repel dirt and filth,” Lotus explained, “so that you will always be presentable, at least.”

The second gift was a suit of chain armor, made of an opalescent grey metal that was light as a feather. “This is Hidden Strength,” she said. “For you cannot always remain unseen.”

The final gift was a pair of war boomerangs, crafted from amber-colored Chiaroscuro glass. “They will not break, and will not lose their edge. Use them well, use them wisely.”

Resplendent Ghost of Midnight bowed. “Thank you for all you have done for me.”

“We shall meet again, Nightbringer,” Lotus said. “Farewell.”

With that, Resplendent Ghost of Midnight left, and sought to make his own fortune in Creation.

But there is a final note to this story. For back in Greyfalls, Callum the Dutiful, who successfully protected the satrap’s Writ of Authority from one of the Anathema, was finally recognized for his years of loyal service, and promoted to the head of his department, as well as receiving a sizable reward. Thus he lives on, enjoying his newfound prosperity and reputation, not knowing that he had been guided there by the actions of his Second Son.