Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4890003" data-attributes="member: 3285">Castle Ambrose: Part 20 – The Potion of Time TravelSebastian’s negotiating skill and disguise eventually enabled them to find a black market contact in Alar.  They were to meet the contact behind an alley, a seller of potions who was willing to risk the Inquisition for a gold piece.Beldin and Vlad flanked Sebastian as they stood over a barrel with an open flame.  It was the only light source nearby, illuminating Sebastian’s sharp features as he waited.A cloaked figure slid out of the darkness.  “I am here.”Sebastian looked around. “No guards?  Security seems very tight in Alar.”“The Immemorial City has suffered much as of late,” whispered the contact.  “A curse is raging that animates the dead. It’s worse in Hastur,” his white smile indicated that he very much enjoyed that fact.  “Thanks to the Inquisition, we have put a stop to such animations.”“Yes, about that.  I trust this place is safe for our…particular form of trade.”“It is,” said the man.  “You listed a variety of potions.  I have them all.  You have the gold?”“I do.”  Sebastian nodded to Beldin, who thrust a bag full of doubloons and imperials at the man.  The contact exchanged a bag with Beldin. It clinked with the sound of potion vials within. “Healing, strength of a bull, and more.  It’s all there.”Beldin handed the bag back to Sebastian.  He rifled through its contents.  “The potion of time travel is missing.”  The man smiled.  “I saved the best for last.  Tell me, Stranger.  Do you know the sentence for those who practice arcane magicks?”Sebastian took a step back.  “I do.” Beldin and Vlad raised their weapons. The man threw off his cloak just as bright lights illuminated them. Beneath his cloak was an old man with white hair and piercing eyes, dressed in bright yellow armor.  “Heathens!  Know that you stand in the presence of Elhalyn, Grand Inquisitor of Alar!  You’ll not animate any undead this night!”With a shrug, Sebastian shed his magical disguise, revealing his true self.  The Inquisitors gasped in fear.The dark-kin spread his wings wide.  “I am no mere necromancer, fool!  I am the Phantom of Truth!  Do you dare deny me what I seek?”Elhalyn looked startled, but he held firm.  “It was Alar that sent you!  You dare to defy us?”“I dare,” boomed Sebastian, “because I have come from Hastur to seek out the traitor in your midst.  There is someone here,” he looked around, stopping at Elhalyn, “who worships the Old Gods.  One of you is a heretic.”The Inquisitors stared at each other. Sebastian slowly raised an arm, about to point at the source of heresy.“Enough!”  Elhalyn reached into his robes.  “If you are indeed the Phantom of Truth, then you know that the vials I gave you are merely colored water. Let us shake and be done with charade, so that you may leave the honest and pure to their tasks.”Sebastian took his hand.  Elhalyn slipped a vermilion vial from his cuff into Sebastian’s palm as he did so.“A mushy hand, as was foretold,” said Elhalyn softly.  “He really is the Phantom of Truth.”The Inquisitors drew back.  Sebastian pointed at them all.  “The dead King hunts and eats the gods.  The skies are darkened, the bones of the earth-god tremble, the planets are stilled, and the Hyades made cold.  For they have seen the King, appearing in his power, the dead king who hunts and eats the world.”Elhalyn and his Inquisitors doused their lights and disappeared into the darkness. “I can’t believe you pulled that off,” said Beldin.“Believe it,” said Sebastian.  “Elhalyn is a cultist of the Unspeakable One, masquerading as their Chief Inquisitor so that he can ferret out his rivals and steal their power, in much the same way I extorted him into handing over the potion of time travel.”“Wow, maybe you really are the Phantom of Truth!” exclaimed Vlad.“Who said I’m not?” asked Sebastian.</blockquote>

Verification