Insect Charter: Arrow's Divide Chapter 8 Part 2

The gray toned clouds fused with the dark emerald sky in a harmonious dance of rain and wind. As the rain pelted the mountains, gust of wind blew against the sharp cliffs. Over half a dozen coastal birds rested along the edges bringing the vibrant sight of the coast into the hinterlands. The valley below had an enormous gray stone building surrounded by dead lowlands.

 

Alone stood the destroyed palace of Prince Francisco. It’s faded green and gold paint pealed as the violent land stripped the unnatural objects from its home. The phantom building stood idled among the glossy mud as the rain formed small lakes on the dry land. The old ornate roof lay splintered, burnt and blackened by fires similar to that of the First world. Yet its sight is a vessel from the recent, untouched as it stood waiting. Out of view a faint shadow could be seen as a large crater shattered the mountains of near. Following the source, it originated back at the destroyed building. Heavy fog and rain gave the building a sense of discontent similar to the shards at Dead Crossing.

 

As Rubin observed the building he rested himself along the cliffs. The Healing Arrow expedition had been caught by surprised as a sudden rainstorm descended from the stone gray mountains above. Sierra Estrella stood before, as great spires towered into the low hanging sky.

 

Weeks of crossing and signs of early summer filled the air as the cool wind filled the valley. In the north far from the gray and rusted shards, endless rains brought forth and cleared the land in an endless baptism, washing the world from itself.

 

Thinking back, even to this day Rubin could not remember why constant rain gazed the land of Mercury even before the rumored Firing of Snowfall upon the nearby mountains. In the Barren its wash came after the violent winds and storms.

 

Unlike Dead Crossing, which held the sense of uncertainty, this palace was all too familiar. As seconded Palazzo ended followed by the creation of “Arrows Divide”.

All the great powers of the land joined in reconstruction from out of the fighting fashioned the Gray Mountain Foundation. Celebration became vendetta as the Foundation was tied to the will of the self-proclaimed lords of foreign interest.

 

Fate upon his land turned, as the discovery of Gold and Copper turned the lands of the South Barren. Once seen as near worthless, transformed into the most valuable lands in the world. Having arrived out of Palazzo and its frontier wars, alternative interest began to take hold among the worldly powers. Then as though god opened the land to the world to its possessions, a cache of First World relics sent the guardians of the world ablaze. The self-proclaimed protectors lost all sense of understanding as tales of the sun transmitters brought all to the flame, bringing down the unity before a sense of sane filled the foundations. Adrift was the consideration that the sun once rained metal and turned the soil to dust, leaving all that remained to inherit. Yet all turned towards to the cruel bombs in fervor and ecstasy. He truly does not blame those reactions as he too was among the fervor. In those days, burning steel shaped his heart to find any cause to undo.

 

Knowing this he again took up the call once again to burn the lands of his enemies. Yet his mere profession could not destroy the mighty Big Five as they found an even greater weapon, “The Jewels of Empires”. Dawning the worn colors of sand and night, he went forth to make sure his land was spared this potential age of mighty bombs. 

 

The cache of awe was among those who stood upon the columns of secret, become known amid its lands. The Big Five and its newfound allies in the court, fought over the claimed diamonds in the hopes to advert war in foreign lands. While the ideal of prevention loomed, an iron dome of war continued on. When the reality became clear that those not wielding such a device became subject, alliance set forth to avoid the wrath of the claimed Diamonds. Yet somewhere in those dark mountains, away from unknown eyes, lay in idle an unclaimed jewel. Snowfall slept, and he knew of its existence.     

 

Rubin’s return to this timeworn palace came once before, when the war among the Estates was at its height. A ghost told him of a place where the land barred the sight of mighty fires that caused rains to pour endlessly. This latest tale prolonged an old voyage that had already dwelled in fortune, revenge and exile, now events before time itself too became apart of his journey.

 

By 38’ Rubin carried his persona as Ballistic Sting passionately and with youthful vigor. Wars in the south loomed like a burning dust wall and he was looking for souls that would be put into that hell for a release from the endless world. He worked for a small outfit of brokers that made deals with exiled prisoners whose profession ventured into the unknown. He himself once had his start in such a system. The Albernian Mercury Colonies had prisoners charged with crimes by the Big Five’s Secret Rust Ethics Court. Those charge in the malevolent crimes were exiled to a land far from the world of the secret. However with a big war that concerned their interest in the Barren, the Empires needed its damned to fight for country once again.

 

Touring several towns along the way Rubin saw nothing but shacks that where so worn that not even savages from the inlands would not dare burn them down. After weeks of travel he came across a Penal Colony at the edge’s of the known world, behind loomed the vast mountains with its snow peaks reaching high into the sky.

 

Arriving the colony was built below a massive formation of red rocks that splintered out of the land like thorns. Upon Entering the town with his party Rubin visited the Guardian that watched over the damned, where he begins to broker for the trade of souls. While in the confines of a small home, Rubin noticed a frail creature wondering without purpose outside. Once his eyes shift back towards the old Guardian they continued to talk about several individuals of note. Over the next several hours Rubin met with these individuals and recruited them into service.

 

 During this process a contract was made. In which the individual must serve for period typically no more than five seasons in which a fix amount of pay will given followed by care and provisions. The process is identical to the indentured servants used in the colonies however with modifications that it was often simply referred to as “Apprentices”. One of the most alluring proposals offered by broker agencies besides a pardon is ‘The Killing Favor’ or what often referred to as ‘The Devil’s Deal’. The favor can be whatever “within” Foundation or what Territorial law permits and can be chosen as an end of contract compensation for the individual. Whether that be revenge or escape too name a few that any sane soul would seek from living devils. As it is such a deal that drives any soul into a fever during the “Great Game of the Foundations”.

 

Before the party could depart, a powerful rainstorm entered the region. By night it became calm and the clouds overhead began to thin out and the shining night appeared in all its glory. The moon was high and majestic like the heavenly breast of a dove. Droplets of rain fell gently on the leaves and the air was cool. Annoyed by the prospects of having to stay in town for the night, Rubin had sought to find a whore or a young enough soul to fulfill his state yet none where close in attendance. So the bottle would have to suit. Drinking, the wondering creature from earlier was again seen wondering. A figure of gray hair and worn clothes came out of a worn house of leaves. Smelling Rubin’s heavy drinking that the old bat carried his limp body over to him.

 

Once close enough to Rubin could smell the foul hair of the bat that he stank like a washed out spider that still sold herself. His breath faired less to the pleasing. Once his stance became clear the bat placed himself next to Rubin.

 

“Sought social company, and the bottle answered. Shame everyone kept their daughters and wives inside for they speak of a devil entering this town. They say he sought souls for the Den.”

 

“Could be, though I keep those blind eyes away from my drink or ill smash a hot pin on them.”

 

The Bat unmoved by the threat, “Ha! Have all the pins you need for I was already blinded by a cruel demon. But I ain’t here for drink. Tell me son, what brings one like yourself to a land like this?”

 

“Haven’t you heard? War among the Estates in its third season, and the powers that be have an interest in land. Alberni, Brittany and Sonne need wicked souls and I have the hallow bodies to fill that need.”

 

“You aren’t very smart are ya? Masked or unknown persona is no cause for common war on these lands that had seen endless generations of blood spilled upon its rusted soil. Regardless if another Palazzo has again occurred I am surprised they feel more are needed to fight for another war. If they were smart Jewels from the Faded Empires would keep what they wanted out and those who came to its flame in line, maybe end all their wars.”

 

Rubin gave a look of drunken skepticism, however he wanted to see how this blind fool would entertain him for a spell.

 

“Don’t believe me son? Go to a land North of here and far across a lake of bone and salt. Deep in Mercury lays a building in the middle of a valley. There you will see a blacken mountain burned by fires greater than the Sun. There you will find a place were the cries of the universe will lead you to a diamond. A Jewel fashioned by the First.

 

Inside this chamber rest a diamond, greater than Gold and Silver. It waits for someone to curdle it in lust. I know this is true as I built its tomb where it sleeps. But it is nothing but a half to make it whole. To find this Jewel and beckon in it’s power, you’ll need the Black Dust Stone. Built from matter the universe had rained down from the heavens.” 

 

“How would a fool like you know of a jewel and universe urinating such stones?” Asked Rubin as he took another sip from his drink.  “Everyone here has been casted from their land and knows little about this one.”

 

“You think I was sent here by the Courts? No, I wondered here, and these folks took me in. As far the world knows Black Sonar died long ago. I am but a soul inhabiting a husk waiting to die.” 

 

“Wondering ghost eh? Spout this tale to every visitor that ponders in?”

 

“Perhaps, I tell you this as my days are numbered, for I keep no print or word and the tale dies with me.” Said the now smiling Bat.

 

 “If such a thing is not the product of a fever dream, how would I find this Black Dust Stone?”

 

In a voice of such hatred that evil sprits leapt from the bats pours said, “JOHANN! The keeper and holder of the stone, after I built the tomb and Snowfall was placed in its chamber, I was blinded and had my gifts taken away from her. To keep me from finding it, she then left me to wonder Mercury until the land welcomed me, however I did not succumb. Some say that madness is life’s cruel remedy to keep us moving for a little bit longer. So I waited to find a soul that could find it and use the fabled Jewel.”

 

“Why haven’t you done this earlier?” Rubin asked

 

“The Brand, it comes with receiving the stone, I listened to its weeps and I fell to its spell. You will not do the same, for I tell you this. The Black Dust Stone tells tales, do not listen for they are lies. It has taken me this long to regain my sanity, but not my passion for blood. Heed this! Do with what you will with this tale, pass this on or let it die.” 

The next day the old bat died in his sleep. Rubin realized that none of the other town’s folk had known his true identity as Black Sonar. As they only knew him as a blind bat that life kept alive.

 

Curious Rubin then assigns his second in command to take the party back home, while he takes a small group to the location described by the Bat. There he witnessed the burnt home and destroyed mountain. Fascinated by this Rubin sought to find this fabled Jewel of empires and the holder of the Black Dust Stone.

 

Seasons pasted with nothing but dead ends. All seemed lost and bitterness took hold as the land changed and transformed. Until a mutual friend from Rubin’s time as an apprentice, came forth to join in shared interest in finding the Black Dust Stone. Hailing from a land where the Palm leaves bathed in Citrus and inhaled tobacco came forth Red Pentagon. Said to be a master of deception while also having a great intellect of the modern mind, he was everything the College Foundations represented.

 

A secret journey was then made for the two to meet. Away from the Gray Mountain Foundation, Rubin made his way down to Galveston along le zone muerta. Its white walls filled the coastline in serene beauty with the cool winds of the ocean. Once there he met Red Pentagon, though Rubin never trusted Roaches or someone from the East, yet it was something about his mind intrigued the Wasp since meeting him.

 

After their short time together in Galveston, Red Pentagon would present Rubin with a manuscript that alluded to First World relics that had the power to destroy mountains. Red Pentagon implied that he acquired the document from a close group of friend’s in the student corps. How he did so was a mystery, however Rubin did not dwell on the thought other than deeds of murder weighed up his friend’s own soul.

 

Thinking back it was Red Pentagon’s education and knowledge of the new and old is what made a stupid fool like Rubin desire the thrust for understanding. After spending his early life upon the causes of rightness under the illusion of someone’s vision. Now nearing mid age Rubin would develop a mild passion for undoing his past deeds.

 

Reading the accounts on mystical objects among Francisco’s Treasure rejuvenated Rubin’s quest into pursuing his goal once again. After his short meeting with Red Pentagon, Rubin made his way to back into the interior of the Barren.

 

Now his mission was to acquire Snowfall a weapon that sent a powerful prince mad and torched his domain, to what stands before in ruin. Soaked in water droplets on the cliffs Rubin over looked Francisco’s palace. Now in his possession he held onto the Black Dust Stone. Obtained by blood and cunning design, he watched over, as it became his beacon to find the First World relic. Holding the Black Dust Stone Rubin listened to its calling. As the sound of the morning artillery roared in the distance Rubin’s mind return to the present.