I had known Professor Tersius for almost the entire time I had lived in Terminus. We had met as a result of my frequent days at the library in Sapientia Coetus, seeking as much knowledge as I could about The Outside Ones. The professor and I maintained a cordial relationship that began to grow into genuine friendship. Eventually our chats had turned to the precise threat posed by the alien interlopers in our midst. I had found his deep concern and desire to resist their threat heartening, in the face of the general lack of knowledge or worry about them. It was on his advice, albeit reluctant and cautious, that I chose to go to Valmoor.
Now we faced each other across a dark, burl wood desk in the soft glow of muted lamps. I was always impressed by his ability to read me, in spite of my impassive demvir features. He immediately sensed the thrumming tension and nervousness in me and bade me speak. I laid out the particulars of my encounter in the horror-stricken bowels of Valmoor and the knowledge that the Outsiders were attempting to track me from a distance. Tersius listened, gave a nod and sighed. “In your absence, there have been developments and they are, sadly, far from encouraging.”
I leaned forward with a quizzical tone in my voice, inquiring as to what he meant. His face wore the most serious expression that I had ever seen from him. “You were correct in your assumption that they are magnifying their signals. It is being done with the connivance of TorBru Corporation.”
The news did not exactly shock me, although having it confirmed was not encouraging. I pressed him and learned that a doughty demvir quaeastor had been working on a lead after a particularly alarming, gruesome murder which took him right to their amoral doorstep. At the moment, they were still trying to prepare a case but being stymied. I replied that I would do anything at all to aid a fellow demvir and fighter of the doom slipping nearer to our unwitting world.
It was decided that it would be wise to hold off on further discussion until all of us had met, but I was excited to be in the midst of drawing up battle plans, not just staying on the back foot and reacting instead of planning. The counterattack was possibly too small and too late in coming, but it was better not to be led like lambs to a slaughter. I had always felt that a fight was better than giving in, even if the odds were not good.
Our meeting was set for a place that I had a great affection for. The Spinning Cog is Terminus’ main meeting place for the demvir population. It was also one of the most secure locations in the city. The owner of the place had been part of Terminus’ intelligence apparatus and he was careful to keep his premises away from spying eyes. I wasn’t at all shocked that Laermont had chosen it as the place for our meeting.
Of course, there are demvir who are as bad as the worst of the other races but The Spinning Cog wasn’t their sort of place. It was a place for the diplomats and detectives, professors and scientists to congregate. The meeting was being held in the infamous “back room” of the pub, a room that was impregnable to spying, attack or magical infiltration. I gave the appropriate signal to the bartender and he waved me back to the room. A switch under the bar opened the door and as soon as I had stepped into the room, it shut behind me with a heavy thud and the sound of a seal locking it tight.
I found myself confronting an interesting group of individuals beginning with Laermont. He was truly one of the largest demvir I had ever seen. His imposing bulk, however, radiated a certain refinement and calm. As he stepped forward to introduce himself, the cultured tones of his voice were a surprise to me. My eye next fell on his deputy. Quaestor Calvinia was a purple and green feathered enlil with sharp, elfin features who fairly bubbled with energy as she made her introduction. Eduard was there, looking more tense than usual and one more person stood to introduce herself. I must admit that I was glad for my featureless face because it would have otherwise worn a surprised gape.
We had all heard about the exploits of Aeria Luxus. From her trial as a terrorist to her rehabilitation as a Hero of the Black Portal and her distinguished service in the war against the naga, she was becoming a storied figure in Terminus. Now I found myself staring into her fine-featured, androgynous face. I could read strength and intelligence there, as well as fatigue and something harder underneath it. She was slight but her handshake was powerful and her bearing was almost regal.
Now that introductions were done, Eduard stepped forward. “I’m going to let Lurius here have the floor. I believe he’s going to make for a vital ally in this fight.”
I went through the experiences that I’d had over my awakening and journey to Valmoor. None of the others interrupted me until a natural break came. Out of all of them, Aeria was the first to speak, her sharp violet gaze sparkling with intelligence. “Please elaborate on your ability to resist the Outside Ones. It could be pretty crucial if we’re gonna fight them properly.”
I laid out the mental training regimen and constant vigilance, explaining that one had to work gradually at it. Aeria was frowning at me and raising a quizzical brow. “What if we don’t have the time, how should we prepare then?”
Eduard smoothly interjected. “I believe that I may be able to help. I plan on using some spells in combination with various testing apparati to examine what is going on in the brain when Lurius is practicing his technique. It may give us insight into what can be done to replicate it for the rest of us.”
Once Aeria had been satisfied, it was Laermont’s turn to speak. “I have been speaking with a source of mine who caused me to rationally ask why it is so complicated to simply block their signals. I had no answer for him. Can you clarify?”
I nodded. “It is the way in which their minds are integrated, one to the other that is the problem. It is like what one sees with fungi in that it is decentralized and capable of organic growth. If one part of a fungal network is interrupted, it sends out new tendrils to find another route.”
My fellow demvir nodded as if in confirmation. A silence fell over the group before Tersius spoke again. “We have one more guest to arrive. My colleague Professor Craxtus is on the way with something he has been working on. Why don’t we order some drinks and get to know one another more thoroughly?”
As a more relaxed atmosphere fell on the room, I began to try and learn about my new companions. I was scarcely prepared for what was about to happen, but that can wait for the next diary entry. For now, I will sign off.
Now we faced each other across a dark, burl wood desk in the soft glow of muted lamps. I was always impressed by his ability to read me, in spite of my impassive demvir features. He immediately sensed the thrumming tension and nervousness in me and bade me speak. I laid out the particulars of my encounter in the horror-stricken bowels of Valmoor and the knowledge that the Outsiders were attempting to track me from a distance. Tersius listened, gave a nod and sighed. “In your absence, there have been developments and they are, sadly, far from encouraging.”
I leaned forward with a quizzical tone in my voice, inquiring as to what he meant. His face wore the most serious expression that I had ever seen from him. “You were correct in your assumption that they are magnifying their signals. It is being done with the connivance of TorBru Corporation.”
The news did not exactly shock me, although having it confirmed was not encouraging. I pressed him and learned that a doughty demvir quaeastor had been working on a lead after a particularly alarming, gruesome murder which took him right to their amoral doorstep. At the moment, they were still trying to prepare a case but being stymied. I replied that I would do anything at all to aid a fellow demvir and fighter of the doom slipping nearer to our unwitting world.
It was decided that it would be wise to hold off on further discussion until all of us had met, but I was excited to be in the midst of drawing up battle plans, not just staying on the back foot and reacting instead of planning. The counterattack was possibly too small and too late in coming, but it was better not to be led like lambs to a slaughter. I had always felt that a fight was better than giving in, even if the odds were not good.
Our meeting was set for a place that I had a great affection for. The Spinning Cog is Terminus’ main meeting place for the demvir population. It was also one of the most secure locations in the city. The owner of the place had been part of Terminus’ intelligence apparatus and he was careful to keep his premises away from spying eyes. I wasn’t at all shocked that Laermont had chosen it as the place for our meeting.
Of course, there are demvir who are as bad as the worst of the other races but The Spinning Cog wasn’t their sort of place. It was a place for the diplomats and detectives, professors and scientists to congregate. The meeting was being held in the infamous “back room” of the pub, a room that was impregnable to spying, attack or magical infiltration. I gave the appropriate signal to the bartender and he waved me back to the room. A switch under the bar opened the door and as soon as I had stepped into the room, it shut behind me with a heavy thud and the sound of a seal locking it tight.
I found myself confronting an interesting group of individuals beginning with Laermont. He was truly one of the largest demvir I had ever seen. His imposing bulk, however, radiated a certain refinement and calm. As he stepped forward to introduce himself, the cultured tones of his voice were a surprise to me. My eye next fell on his deputy. Quaestor Calvinia was a purple and green feathered enlil with sharp, elfin features who fairly bubbled with energy as she made her introduction. Eduard was there, looking more tense than usual and one more person stood to introduce herself. I must admit that I was glad for my featureless face because it would have otherwise worn a surprised gape.
We had all heard about the exploits of Aeria Luxus. From her trial as a terrorist to her rehabilitation as a Hero of the Black Portal and her distinguished service in the war against the naga, she was becoming a storied figure in Terminus. Now I found myself staring into her fine-featured, androgynous face. I could read strength and intelligence there, as well as fatigue and something harder underneath it. She was slight but her handshake was powerful and her bearing was almost regal.
Now that introductions were done, Eduard stepped forward. “I’m going to let Lurius here have the floor. I believe he’s going to make for a vital ally in this fight.”
I went through the experiences that I’d had over my awakening and journey to Valmoor. None of the others interrupted me until a natural break came. Out of all of them, Aeria was the first to speak, her sharp violet gaze sparkling with intelligence. “Please elaborate on your ability to resist the Outside Ones. It could be pretty crucial if we’re gonna fight them properly.”
I laid out the mental training regimen and constant vigilance, explaining that one had to work gradually at it. Aeria was frowning at me and raising a quizzical brow. “What if we don’t have the time, how should we prepare then?”
Eduard smoothly interjected. “I believe that I may be able to help. I plan on using some spells in combination with various testing apparati to examine what is going on in the brain when Lurius is practicing his technique. It may give us insight into what can be done to replicate it for the rest of us.”
Once Aeria had been satisfied, it was Laermont’s turn to speak. “I have been speaking with a source of mine who caused me to rationally ask why it is so complicated to simply block their signals. I had no answer for him. Can you clarify?”
I nodded. “It is the way in which their minds are integrated, one to the other that is the problem. It is like what one sees with fungi in that it is decentralized and capable of organic growth. If one part of a fungal network is interrupted, it sends out new tendrils to find another route.”
My fellow demvir nodded as if in confirmation. A silence fell over the group before Tersius spoke again. “We have one more guest to arrive. My colleague Professor Craxtus is on the way with something he has been working on. Why don’t we order some drinks and get to know one another more thoroughly?”
As a more relaxed atmosphere fell on the room, I began to try and learn about my new companions. I was scarcely prepared for what was about to happen, but that can wait for the next diary entry. For now, I will sign off.