Scene 1:

 

Lorant has supped from two barmaids/sculls, and is keeping the leather curtains closed. He hears someone familiar out at the bar, and peeks out of the curtains. Lorant does a double take as he looks at the bar and sees someone he faintly remembers from his very distant past. He looks directly at her with his Heightened Senses; she's standing at the bar having a beer alone. Not someone he grew up with, not Jewish. He stages his victims in the booth and walks over. Once he gets closer, he realizes who she is; the owner of the Eye of Mars sword he claimed during their swordfight in Venice. She doesn't respond to him and continues to drink from her tankard. Lorant orders another round and retreats to a different booth. Lorant hears a voice in his head. "Herr Kelemen. Stay at the bar." "You're not going to be so gauche as to cause a scene here, are you?" "Of course we're not going to cause a scene. Our meeting is purely coincidental. Although it might be significant in some larger sense. In any event, once my companion is done with your companion, we'll be getting out of your hair." Lorant turns on his heel, walks back to the bar, and locks eyes with her. "So you're part of the group here to see Dr. Demont." "I would have thought this much exposure to Mages would've allowed you to suppose what I was and what my purpose was back when you took that painting." "My dear, I haven't given you a second thought in the years since..." "You obviously have," she says, gesturing to his (her) sword. "You keep me close to you." "No, this is not your sword. This *was* your sword. It has served me well in the intervening years." "I'm surprised Matthieu has never said anything about it. It bears several secret symbols of the Guardians of the Veil." "Intriguing, I was not aware of that." "So you are a vampire. How's that working out for you?" "It is not the most convenient happenstance, but I am making do. I can do some interesting tricks, like... this conversation, for instance." "Indeed," she says, smiling wanly. "Whatever ended up having to the painting?" "I believe it is in the possession of the Cardinal who retained my services." "I'm sure the you of today would never allow the Cardinal to have such a valuable, powerful prize." "Although my status has become elevated in the past few years, I remain a simple sellsword. If the Emperor sent me on such an errand, I daresay I would go get it." "I hope you bear no grudge or ill will towards me. I'm going to be in Prague a little while longer, and I hope if we had another chance encounter, there'd be no conflict." "I'd like that very much as well! In fact, would you care to join me at a table?" "I should not make this encounter last any longer than it has to, since you are aligned with a cabal of Mages here in Prague." There is a tacit respect there. "Do you need to come to our school and present banners and such?" "We don't operate that way. We don't operate within a Consilium." "That must be convenient." "Just call us peregrini." She laughs. Lorant tips his drink to her, and she leaves. And Lorant, using his Heightened Senses, is able to tell she used Space to leave Ludmila's. (0 - 17)

 

Scene 2:

 

Ernst can tell his body is changing and he knows he is taking Veles's place. Ernst puts up Spirit Sight as Veles gets up to leave. Veles's aura is blindingly powerful, and Ernst struggles to discern the nature of his aura as he leaves. "So what now?" "Well, this world will tell you what you need to do to keep things running smoothly. You can't make mistakes here." "Why me?" "You know why." "I'm not trustworthy, I'm not the right person. As I left you on the side of the road, clearly I am not worthy of being in control of the spirit world." "Well, that's exactly the point. The fact that you are taking my place means you have to abide by all of the old laws." "For all I know and care, your laws will no longer apply to me. And that's something you want to risk?" "The only people you will damage if you give up on this life will be the members of your cabal." (17 - 22)

 

Scene 3:

 

Matthieu returns. We find out that she stole back her sword, and replaced it with a poker from the bar using Matter magic. Eye of Mars: one of the 49 masques. "We crossed swords about three years back. I bested her, took her sword. And then she stole it back." "Did she say anything else?" "She said she's in town to see you. She knew I was a vampire; the worst-kept secret in Prague. She also said something interesting about keeping the cabal meeting informal; they don't belong to any consilium." "Their presence is known by the hgher-ups. "Like I said, I'm not even supposed to think about it." "Then let's not think about it. I appreciate her plot and I'm more than happy to let her keep her sword. If we cross paths again, I'll just get it back." (22 - 29)

 

Scene 4:

 

Salih is in the suburn of Veleslavin, meeting Libuse in the flesh. "We've had a problem for the past few months, but no longer. He must be back. He would not come back of his own free will. I feel like it must have been Ernst." "What will that mean for him?" "For your Hallow, for Ernst. Have you noticed a drop-off in Mana?" "We haven't been there enough." "If Veles left the role accorded him in the narrative, it would mean the villagers' story would also stop. The stones are not there to direct the ley lines. They're there to keep the ghosts in line. That's why I am here. This is an ancient cult site of Veles. Look down with your Space magic." There is an obelisk buried on its side, 8-10 under the paving stones. "You visited that village before. Visiting twice, even with a Master of Death, could be dangerous. If we can reach and re-erect this obelisk, all it will take is channeling some Mana, and Veles or the person inhabiting his role, would come here." "Why would that be necessary?" "Don't you want Ernst back?" "Would that solve anything?" "You'll need want something to take his place. This would cause your Hallow to spiral out of control and die." "Is there a way we can force Veles into his role?" "I believe he likes his freedom too much. Once Ernst takes on spirit flesh, he will be free. One more cycle of the myth. Tomorrow night the lighrning of Perun will come down, the Veles will crawl from the swamp to do battle." "If you bring Ernst here, he will still be trapped." "Yes, but we can coordinate with him about a solution." (29 - 36)

 

Scene 5:

 

"So that is the true punishment here." "What do you think will happen?" "If they won't be hurt, all the better for me."  "The story you're reenacting here means you'll need to leave this. Starting out there," he gestures to the swamp. "What if I say no?" "You have choice. This constant re-telling the story fills your cabal's Hallow." "Just that? You rule over a large… kingdom. It seems strange you have such limited power." "I am only concerned with what i happening here." Ernst grows angry. "Answer the question." "How long have you been a Spirit mage. You don't understand. This happens here, other things happen elsewhere. This is the truth, this happens." "Who enacts these other plays?" "Other entities." "Bring me to them." "Gladly. But you'll need to start in the swamp." "Also gladly. Bring me to them. I am the doubting Thomas in this story," he says to a blank look. "If I am meant to be this role, as the Christ role," again more blank looks, "I need to see." "All right, come with me." As they exit, his/Ernst's hut and the two of them are invisible to them. They head east towards the swamp. Ernst finds himself snorting and bleating. Hair from straight to curly, horns growing. Veles walks with less of a bestial, spirit nature. (36 - 45)

 

Scene 6:

 

L: "Perun ordered Maier to initiate me into the further mysteries of the Rosicrucians. As a member of the Ladder, that seems outside his purview. Something else: He sees a time when the Rosicrucians and the Ordo Dracul would be one and the same." Matthieu ponders why Perun would do this. Awakening Sleepers? Seers? Maybe it's that Perun wants him initiated but not by the Ladder. Using Rosicrucians as a tool? "I bring this to you because I accept that I am a pawn." "That is the game they play." "I eventually hope to bring Sleepers into a cult, to educate them and provide blood for me." "What kind of education do we mean? I wish to as well, but according to my philosophy in the Guardians." "If we pool our resources, perhaps we can work effectively for both our purposes. As much as I want to preserve knowledge, I care more for feeding safely." "Fair. I want to preserve knowledge of humanity. Not the secret knowledge, that for the Awakened." "There is some interesting occult lore I want to pass along, and if they Awaken, great. But again, I am more concerned for feeding." "I would be very interested in discussing that with you. I don't think you should get out of bed with the Rosicrucians." "Of course. But I feel like Perun wants me to be the viper drawn to their bosom. I… would like to see what would happen, but I also do not want to be the one to bring down our house of cards. We have been building something here..." "And our last set of moves was in order to preserve it if and when things start to go south. Please give me an idea of what you are looking for. I could provide help in the crafting of Labyrinth." "The opera is the first stone in my foundation." "Interesting. With the truths hidden in your opera, it's practically a Labyrinth." Matthieu explains the Labyrinth and they feel like they can work together. (45 - 53)

 

Scene 7:

 

"The doctor would very easily raise that obelisk through the pavement. But you seem conflicted." "I am but that's beside the point. I would like to communicate with him in a way that would represent a plan of action. Is there anybody else that would… why would Veles, after all this time, trick Ernst into this position?" "If my understanding is correct, Ernst freed him and utilized him to get to Prague very quickly. In the absence of their regnant, the courtiers will gossip." Salih realizes this is where the air spirits came from. "Veles could not be humiliated, nor to owe Ernst his freedom." Libuse tells about the need for a spirit in that place. "The results would be unpredictable." "Is it possible to get another spirit?" "You're asking me to find one?" "No. My knowledge of the spirit world is minimal." Salih notices her locking up when it comes to taking Veles's place. Salih weaves a Fate effect to see if she is under some kind of compulsion. She's not, but what she wants to say is incredibly important to her identity.(53 - 59)

 

Scene 8:

 

V: "Now we wait." E: "Wait for what." "You'll see." "You understand the powers I have, correct? Do I need to bring one here?" "No. Be patient." (59 - 60)

 

Scene 9:

 

"Perun intimated an old friend might be back in town. Zsuzanna. How would you like to end an encounter that started the very first day you met her." "I don't have a stake in it. Why do I want to do this?" "It's one more complication I don't need." "Why is eliminating her simplifying?" "There will be no other Ordo presence in the city." "Once you have more information, I'd like to assess the risk myself. I'm not opposed to it." Lorant decides to use his contacts in the castle to see if anyone's been sick in the staff. There's been no such. (60 - 66)

 

Scene 10:

 

Salih now quickly follows this up with Divination. "How will the raising of the obelisk affect her?" "It will allow her to see her true face." "What will happen when her true face is shown?" "It would be an accurate portrayal of one who knew her well." "Who would she use the stone to contact?" "Three of her fellow seasons." Salih looks down with Space and sees it is a four-sided obelisk. Salih to Libuse: "You said it was dangerous to do this at Benatky now?" "The first repeat of the myth with Ernst in place will be… energetic. There would be a lot of Essence needed to initiate him. It could be unpredictable in both worlds." "Wouldn't it be more dangerous to remove him?" "That is why I wanted to do this before dawn." "If we need Matthieu, we will need to do it quickly." "I can do so." She raises her hand, and S says "Wait. Wouldn't there be ramifications in doing it here?" "This place was holy to Veles. Doing it here will have ramifications." "And Ernst as Veles?" "Yes, the same. But remember, this place was a place of sacrifice millennia ago." "Have you ever dealt with a situation like this before? A person being sent to take a spirit's place?" "What are you getting at, Herr Cavus." Testily. "I mean, in all of history, this must have taken place before?" Quickly: "I don't know what you're talking about. Yes, of course this must have happened before." "To you?" A pause. "I suppose he would've told you sooner or later. When you ascended to the right rung. It would've been the last holy secret he told you. Perun and I walk with the gods. We are immortal."

 

"I knew about Perun, but thank you for your honesty." "It is not a common thing." "I am pleased to hear that." "How do you mean?" "I would be… very disturbed at the idea of gods walking the world being commonplace." Blankets of dark clouds move in from the east… not usually where they come from. "I know that you and Perun are close, and I don't wish to interfere." "Do you think it's a good idea for your friend Ernst to have all the powers of a god." Salih laughs. "Besides, a young godwalker becomes more their deity than themselves for quite a while."

 

Libuse calls down from the storm a group of grey-black air elementals and sends them off to do their bidding. (66 - 80)

 

Scene 11:

 

The doorframe in Matthieu's room begins to rattle. Matthieu believes this is not a proper way for air to behave. Matthieu puts up Prime Sight, and sees the spirit. It whispers/rumbles, "Your presence is needed. My mistress Libuse and your friend Salih need your presence in the square of Veleslavin. The two of them walk there: 25 minutes, and a little over an hour until dawn. Lorant does some calculations. The question is, does he project and remain vulnerable, or go bodily and risk incineration. He decides to go bodily, and uses Celerity to get there quicker. Salih is surprised that he was summoned; Libuse is the only Mage who doesn't know he's a vampire. Lorant says time is of the essence, so may he use Telepathy. Salih: "No. There is an obelisk below the ground. I need you to raise it. "It is the middle of town." "It will allow me to free Ernst. We will be able to call him." "All we will need to do is put some Mana into it," Libuse says. "Explain it to me," Matthieu says. "How will this allow you to free him?" Libuse: "It allows us to find out his current situation and possibly find a substitute." Lorant: "In all honesty, you said so yourself... has something else happened to change your mind?" S: "This is not the proper order. This is a power Ernst shouldn't have." L: "I agree!" M: "Isn't he imprisoned right now?" Libuse reminds them it will be dangerous as he enacts the myth cycle for the first time. The ghosts will be more powerful. Salih explains without the mythcycle the Hallow will die. Also, unpredictable effects. L: "Do we need to install someone now?" Libuse says, "No, it survived without someone in the role for months. It is a slow process." Lorant decides to lair in the space left by the obelisk.

 

Matthieu conjures shadows, hurts himself with Paradox. Lorant's senses pick up the faintest glow of sunrise and... a little kid witnessing their magic. He quells the Beast and locks eyes with the kid, using Awe to scare him away. Matthieu begins to shift the obelisk through the cobblestones as Lorant very sternly tells the kid to "Go away." He scampers off. The obelisk is on its side in the square. Salih physically lifts the obelisk with the help of Libuse and Lorant. It takes a little extra time to lift it and put it in place.

 

Salih wants to put Mana into it. There are four faces: a man on a horse with a sword, a woman with a horn of plenty, a woman with a ring, and a man on a hill with a disc. Salih's instinct and the cabal's knowledge, specifically Lorant's geomancy and time with Zalmoxis: the man on the hill with a disc. The solar disc. And Ernst appears before them. (80 - 100)

 

Scene 12:

 

Ernst is half in the swamp, and half in a square on the outskirts of Prague. Salih tries to free him from this. And then, Ernst feels like something tried to rip him out of his place, causing terrible pain. And Ernst's appearance, already frightening and weird as he appears satyr-like, is made more disturbing by the sideways tears in his new spirit flesh. "What was that?" S: "I was trying to free you." E: "And you couldn't ask first." Libuse asks, "Why did you do that?" S: "I was trying to getting him out, that's the plan." E: "You know I have enough power to get out of this." S: "Then you should."  A voice says, somewhere behind Ernst, invisible to the mortals, "Is that Libuse?" The cabal recognizes it as Veles. E: "Who is Libuse?" V: "Perun's lover." E: "Let me deal with this so we can finish what we need to do. So, you severely harmed you in the effort of getting me here." S denies this, it was him trying to free him. Libuse: "You are the god now." E: "I have quite a bit of power." S: "I know." E: "I did not ask for this." S: "I KNOW." Matthieu says, "Are you making a false idol out of yourself?" Ernst: "I'm not. And that's all I will say about that." A pause. "Is there anything else I can do for you right now?" M: "Can you contact us, in private, a set number of hours from now?" E: "I cannot predict the timetable yet. When I can contact you, I definitely will. You will hear from me indirectly before you hear from me directly." S: "In a day you will lose your mortal form." Ernst turns away from Veles, and tells the cabal he is only pretending to go along with Veles. "It is out of your hands, Salih," E says loudly. "It is now up to me, with the power I have..." Salih looks at Libuse to see her reaction. Libuse says, "If you wish to come back, one of you must find a substitute." E: "If I wish to come back under your rules. The rules no longer apply to me." Lorant laughs. "Are you kidding me with this?" Lorant begins to smoke in the rays of the sun. E: "I'm sure you don't our friend to become a pile of ash. Is there anything else I can do for you this morning?" Ernst departs of his own free will, using Spirit magic. And he finds his facility much much stronger. The raw chthonic power of the god Veles cracks the obelisk down the middle. As the sun comes up, Lorant jumps into the hole and he is quickly buried. Libuse says, "Did you see what happened to him? The power is raw, he is a young godwalker. I don't think we can leave this any longer. He cannot go through the full cycle in the spirit world." M: "I believe it's his intention not to." S: "I don't trust him." Libuse: "I think he's already taken on the role of the god." M: "I think you're wrong."

 

In the crudely dug haven, Lorant resists the call of the sun for a little while and astrally projects. He appears to Libuse. In the time it takes him to collect himself, he manages to stay awae for the entire day. Libuse tells them about this and Matthew puts up Death Sight. (100 - 112)

 

Scene 13:

 

E to Veles: "They fear you, and I believe Salih now fears me in response. He and I have had an often-times tense relationship with the powers I was Awakened to. So where are the extra spirits?" "Oh, you met them." "Who?" "Libuse. What do you think we were doing there? She is a godwalker, like you." "You are a wily one." "It is part of being a spirit representing all things having to do with civilization, yes." "So what's the next step?" "Well, I'm going to teach you the myth." "No you are not." "Oh no?" "You are not going to teach me the myth. Today we create a new myth. If you like your old myth, you are free to take up your role again." "I don't care about Benatky, I don't care about your school, I don't care about your Hallow." "You probably should, because I've seen the future. And if you want to enjoy the time you have up there, you probably want to know what's going on...." "What do you mean?" "Well, it's the new myth. Oh, now I have something that you want. The great and mighty Veles needs something. I may have been quite bull-headed up there where I come from, but I learned, and now you will learn from yours." "What is intended for me up there?" Ernst laughs. "You're not to know. After all, mortals are not supposed to know the future. That power is reserved for entities like me." "What will happen to me?" "You will die in a horrible way. That is my gift from me to you. And no, you cannot stop it." "Are you saying that there's something special about your school?" Veles asks, seemingly desperately. "Let me put it this way. Whatever is going on with our school, I am willing to let the magic dry up. It's not that important." "But your friends." "The fates are as the fates are. As I said, I know the future." "I don't want my new life..." Ernst shouts, "It's not about what you want anymore. After all, this is not what I wanted and you didn't seem to care that much either. Now you will know what it's like for the rest of us."

 

"All right, let's make a deal then," Veles says. "Oh, we're making deals now! Just remember who holds the power right now. Remember one other thing about the surface: the people in power get to dictate the rules. I'll hear you out." "When I get up there I want to have a moderately happy life." "Won't happen. That is beyond my power." "Aligning myself with the four of you will make me safer." "I will tell you this much: the only way you can be safe is switching places back with me." "I can't." "Yes you can." "Do you know what it is like to never die?? It is... no gift, believe me." "And yet it was worthy of a gift to give me. It was a grave mistake on your part. My friends up there? They may be willing to destroy you and that might be preferable to a life here. I will tell you it will be better to be here than be up there. I will put you right back where you were. Or you can stay up there." "There is a third way." "There is no third way! Because I am in control and these are your options. I stay and you die, or you stay and I die. The death will not be pleasant." "I..." "There are two options on the table," Ernst says, louder than last time. (112 - 120)

 

Scene 14:

 

Lorant to Matthieu: "I'm just as happy to see him gone. He is reaping what he has sown." M: "I think you may have missed something. I think he might have a scheme here. I think we should... I can't believe I'm saying this, I think we should have some faith in Ernst." L: "I think we should have faith in Veles, to teach him some humility. I don't bark orders to gods and that's what he did, he summoned a god to give him a lift into Prague." Matthieu offers Salih Death Sight and Salih withdraws. "I am taking a walk." Matthieu and Lorant express disbelief at Salih's behavior. And the neighborhood is growing active. Matthieu had sunk the obelisk into the ground before this; no Paradox. After a while, Libuse follows after Salih. "We failed," she says before following him. Lorant: "Either Ernst has a plan or he doesn't. Either way, I have things to do." Matthieu considers how the mythcycle could be a prison for someone. L: "Ernst wouldn't hear of it." M: "I don't think he was free to talk about things, with Veles present."

 

Libuse: "Herr Cavus, I'm sorry." S: "It's not your fault." L: "Do you have something else up your sleeve?" S: "No." L: "So... Ernst will remain there?" S: "He's made his decisions. I guess it will be up to his elders to teach him how much of a child he is being." (120 - 128)

 

Scene 15:

 

V: "There is no way to provide you with a third option." E: "No. I will not allow a third party to be a victim of this. Consider this the free will I wasn't offered." V: "Even if you are telling me I am doomed, I wish to live the rest of my short life as a mortal. I will be leaving you." V: "Good, I hope you enjoy it." E: "Follow the myth as best you can for the benefit of your cabal." V: "The myth is done, it is over. If the myth is that important, you can continue it." V: "It is not important to me, goodbye." Ernst goes back to the town. (128 - 130)

 

Scene 16:

 

Matthieu says keeping Benatky safe is his utmost concern. Lorant says we need to see how it all plays out. Matthieu thinks he may go to where Ernst is. "Libuse says it would be risky even for a master of Death, but she hides from the world." Lorant agrees. They talk about Lorant's plans and his astral projection; he is headed to the castle. They agree to meet at sundown.

 

Salih goes back to his sanctum and teleports to Benatky and prepares to take care of any repercussions at the Hallow. Lorant projects to Zsusanna's old Haven; she is not there. He decides to spend the day widening his searches around the city for her. He finds no evidence of vampiric presence at all in Prague.

 

Matthieu takes the Death Gate, goes off the brick-paved road, which Matthieu believes to be made of ephemeral bricks from a pre-Roman time. At the sides of the roads, thoughtless mostly-empty ghosts, their features so muddled by centuries, even their own face can no longer be remembered by them. He then goes toward the village. As he does, he notes there is a war party of tribal ghosts waiting to ambush him.

 

Ernst is back at his hut. He tries to repair the damage from Salih trying to pull him out.

 

Salih: back at Benatky, in his private room, his Legacy Prime Sight shows that the Mana is splashing about and is no longer placid. And then he sees the walls begin to turn translucent. These changes are going to have more physical effects if he can't get a handle on it. 

 

Ernst in his hut: a lightning storm begins to rage. And in the middle of the jet black clouds of the spirit world's sky, Ernst sees Perun.

 

In the woods off the Ghost Road, Matthieu weaves a Control Ghosts effect to put them all under his control. A great amount of Paradox results, but he is able to gain control over the ghosts. He forms them into a phalanx around him and makes his way towards the village.

 

"Ernst!" "Perun!" "Let's speak!" "Sure, come on down." "I'm not supposed to touch the ground here." "Then come down and hover. Don't make me shout up to you." "But... that's your role." "I get to design my roles here now." "Oh Ernst," Perun says. Ernst can clearly see this is actually Perun, it's his aura. "Veles wanted me to replace him." "No, no you're not." "You can't take me away. Salih already tried, and I'm barely back to my own self." "You at this point only have about 10 hours before this becomes something you can't escape. So let me ask again: do you know of any spirit who can take over for you in this particular myth?" (130 - 147)

 

Scene 17:

 

Salih receives more Mana than he could ever hope to channel, in the vain hope he could stop these unpredictable effects. He falls unconscious after pure Mana shoots from his body. He wakes to the sound of a ticking clock. He opens his eyes, stretching out in both directions, a long thin strip of bronze. Beyond it? Spheres made of brass... he is standing inside a giant orrery. His vision is tinged with pure Mana, and a man shuffles out of the bright light all around him. The man appears to be Tycho Brahe. "Steward, how did you get here?" "I'm not sure. Where am I." From behind him, another man, dressed in ancient clothing. Roman? "Is this the one we sent the message to?" Tycho says, "Yes. He's not supposed to be here yet." S: "I know. I'm sorry." From behind the two of them, a third man, taller, dressed in strangely tailored black clothing, a tabard with a high round collar, and woolen trousers. "It's not his time yet." Tycho: "It may not be his time, but he must be here for an important reason. How did you approach here?" S: "I... took in too much energy." Tycho: "From your Hallow, from your school?" S: "Yes." T: "What is happening there?" S: "The spirit world is in upheaval. I don't know how." T: "Look into the Orrery. And weave your threads." Earth lies in the Orrery, and even to the microscopic, zooming down to the surface of the Earth and Benatky. (147 - 152)

 

Scene 18:

 

Matthieu sees the lightning hitting the hex marks in the village on the roofs and watches Perun and Ernst. Ernst says, "I have one." Matthieu approaches closer. "If you believe that my existence here will be chaotic, if that spirit takes my place?" "It will be a different story." "Why shouldn't it be me?" "You're not following the rules, you're not Veles. What's happening topside is evidence of that?" Matthieu emerges, "What's that?" P: "I can't tell you." M: "What do you mean?" E: "Let's just take a look for ourselves." Perun says, "Salih is dead."

 

Lorant awakes and goes to get new clothes and a new sword.

 

Salih asks, "Could I... lay threads or just view and heal them." "From where you stand? Which of these is bigger?" The astronomers gesture at the comet closer to him than earth. "They're the same." "But this one looks bigger. Here, it is bigger." "So you're saying my perceptions shape reality." "Here they do." Salih realizes that he could cast a spell on the whole Earth as adjacent to him. But he decides not to trip up hubris and keep his intentions pure and relatively modest: Salih attempts to Forge Destiny on Benatky. To make it a vault safe from the change about to roil Europe. He succeeds with 50 successes thanks to the magnification effect. (152 - 161)

 

Scene 19:

 

"When I arrived at the school to see what was happening, I found him in a room trying to keep the Mana storm under control. He's dead." M: "Shall I bring him here?" E: "If he's dead we might as well." Matthieu cannot get his ghost; a great barrier is preventing it. "What is happening here that is causing the Mana storm there?" "We need a spirit to take his place." E: "If the spirit takes my place, will it save Salih." "Salih is dead, Ernst." "Then why bother?" "It will save the rest of the students in your school." "I am not willing to sacrifice the rest of the ages if it will not help." P: "Why are you here then?" E: "It's where I meant to be."

 

Brux tells Lorant that there was an emergency at Benatky. Lorant goes to the Death Gate. 

 

Something has changed the geography and even topography of the school. Lorant activates Celerity and runs around trying to help the students. Lorant goes into a hallway and sees a student stuck in a solid rock wall. "Please sir. K-kill me." Lorant activates his sword's blood drinking ability. "Do you want me to put you out of your misery, son? We may be able to save you."

 

Salih: "What should I be doing here?" Ptolemy says, "The problem is you're not supposed to be here." Sagan says, "The problem is that if we send you back now, you'll be in the midst of the chaos in your Hallow." Tycho says, "It will depend on how well the spirit world is healed around your Hallow. Hold. Something is happening."

 

Lorant senses all the Mana in the area surging. He is loath to kill the student. He leaves him and goes to usher the rest of the students out into the courtyard. Lorant bursts in on Zayed and Maryam and leads them out. There is another burst of Mana-infused fire; Lorant survives it and does not Frenzy. 

 

"You understand what you're asking me to give up. The magnitude of it." Ernst says. "I feel like I am placed here because I have a responsibility." P: "You're not fulfilling it well." M: "I don't think anyone should be stuck in this kind of cycle. These ghosts are no better than puppets." Matthieu and Ernst talk about whose responsibility these cycles that power the world are. E: "Do you have... somebody who can reverse what happened to Salih." P: "Ernst, even Mages cannot bring back the dead." E: "No, but they can reverse time. I've seen it done." P: "No, we have no one in Prague who can do that." E: "Matthieu, if you were me, what would you do?" M: "Perun, does an individual in this position get godlike power, but they cannot leave?" P: "Yes. So the influence of the Blood of Christ," and at this Ernst is visibly shocked, "would alter this myth forever." M: "Is that our best..." E: "It might be our only option." M: "What about the torture demon and the cyanide spirit." E: "It would have to be a spirit I have control over." P: "I don't think we should make either of those spirits gods." M: "But their influence would be limited." E: "I don't think the Blood should be either. But if there is no other option..." M: "I would trust both of those spirits to behave more predictably than the Blood." E: "So if you were me, you would bring one of them here." M: "Perun. Why should we not make them gods." P: "Ernst, think about what Veles decided to do. He said he could no longer exist as a god, needed to, wanted to, had to become mortal. Yes, granted he did have great power and in an attempt to trick you here, abused it. Even with the feeble extent of their powers, I would not trust either of them." Matthieu again disagrees." E: "This place changes you. Perun, you know where the Blood is." M: "It's in the Star Palace." E: "I am trusting you that this is the right decision. Know that I do not do this because I believe in you but because I think this might save more lives." (161 - 179...)

 

Scene 20:

 

Lorant picks up Salih's dead body and brings it out to the courtyard.

 

E: "You need to go back to fix things while I stay here to finish things off." Matthieu agrees to go back, and comes stumbling out of the manor in front of Lorant and the rest of the escapees.

 

Salih looks down microscopically at the Earth and sees the building being evacuated. Matthieu puts Matter Sight up. The Mana is wrong, too powerful and too poisoned, and it's sickening reality, including the building. Matthieu starts fighting the fire with Destroy Mana. As the Mana starts to die out, the geography and topography begins to right itself. 

 

Perun comes back with the reliquary. "We will need to talk to it." The blood speaks, "Why have you done this to me?" E: "It is the way it had to be. You have spent years leading me down the right road, guiding me, and now it's my turn to guide you." B: "Do you remember how we stepped through the fire? you showed me reverence, and I guided you." E: "You showed me power and I defied you." B: "What must I do?" E: "Sacrifice." The Blood recognizes this as it becomes more and more used to the situation.

 

Matthieu is able to extinguish more and more Mana than he should. Lorant hears the ticking of a large clock; no such clock is at Benatky.

 

Salih. The Oracles says, "You realize once you leave here, you will not be able to rejoin us until your skein runs out." S: "Would I be allowed to stay if I choose to?" O: "You are not ready yet. You have much more to do. Many more motions to interpret, many more stars to track in the night sky. You're doing well, the Legacy and your Stewardship... we chose well."

 

B: "I understand this story. It is the story of Cain and Abel." E: "There is one difference. Here, you are truly your brother's keeper. By accepting this burden, you keep us safe. Thank you for your sacrifice. I know it will not be forgotten." Ernst takes the vessel and returns to the material world.

 

Salih awakes, and Ernst and Perun emerge from the darkness. (179 - 190)

 

Scene 21:

 

Perun rushes over to Salih. He is hurt, but alive. "Are you all right?" Salih looks with his Mage Sight and sees the Forge Destiny is still up. Ernst heals Salih away from the students. Salih refuses the healing, even as Ernst casts at a distance.

 

Lorant gathers up the students and calls a school-wide meeting; Matthieu accompanies him. They concoct a cover story that involves ergotism. Matthieu creates some mold on bread, and uses it as a teaching moment. Lorant uses Awe to seal this explanation.

 

"What is Veles's status here?" Ernst asks. Perun says, "He is a mortal. A man." E: "With no extra power." P: "He may have even forgotten what he was." E: "How can I find him?" P: "Why do you need to find him?" E: "I need to. If you need my word I will bring no harm to him, you have it." P: "Find him like you find anyone else. Use your magic. I need to see Salih." (190 - 200)

 

Scene 22:

 

Perun comes to Salih's chamber, giving him the Silver Ladder greeting. "Salih can I come in?" "I'd rather be alone." Perun remains. "I'm very sorry this happened." "It's not your fault." Perun looks out the window of the room. "This chamber... this used to be Kepler's chamber didn't it?" "Yes." "Hmm." Perun looks outside at the night sky, his long beard blowing in the cool April night breeze. "Sometimes I think that we all chose very very poorly. Myself, and Libuse, and Veles, and Zalmoxis." "We are who we are." "But Salih, we are... not who we are. We are not what we were born us." "True, but we grow to fill the shoes we want. I would not be who I am if I didn't believe we constantly change, becoming better, gaining understanding." "When I decided to walk this path, I said this is the great service I could give humanity and Mages. To not die, to walk the path of this god. I don't know if I believe that anymore. Vampirism is a curse. Being what I am is not pure either." "We are all flawed beings in some way." "Flawed beings who should have a natural lifespan," Perun says. "Why don't you take the route that Veles took? If that is what you believe or want, why not?" "I am so close to ascending to the top of the ladder, so close to joining the Oracles. I can feel my archmagedom imminent. With that I can leave behind the cloak of Perun and join the Oracles." Salih is a little taken aback, but guards this well. Especially at the mention of the Oracles. And Salih thinks maybe this was a test, mentioning the Oracles. And maybe that Salih is closer to the Oracles than him, on a higher rung. S: "I hope you achieve your goals." Perun nods and walks out. Before he does, Salih says, "The nature of your existence seems... like a great deception for as well and as long I have known you." P: "I can't deny that." S: "And I would like to hear the whole story. In your words. And I believe that is a right I have earned." P: "Very well." (200 - 209)

 

Scene 23:

 

Lorant believes we need to call a cabal meeting. In the meantime, Matthieu goes back to Prague; everyone else stays at Benatky. Matthieu is sleep-deprived, he sleeps for a long time. Upon waking, Brux has sent a summons to the library. Sitting in the reading area is a young man, wearing the habit of a Jesuit priest, and a porcelain domino mask. Blank, with light horizontal lines. "Doctor. Have a seat." "Thank you." In the folder before him is a folio containing printed pages, engravings, etc. "This is Jacobus Typotius's last work. It was to be printed here at Prague and disseminated widely." "I can do that. I have a printing press." "I... would use the Sedalius brothers' press. Let them take credit. As of this day you are the highest ranking Moros and the highest ranking Guardian of the Veil in the Consilium of Prague. Do with that information what you will." The priest stands up and leaves. (209 - 214)