Tilting the crucible, Eberk carefully poured the hot metal into the mold. Nearing the completion of his work he was filled with apprehension. Here he stood, forging not fighting in one of the last bastions against the shadow, Uvandir, with the enemy at their gates. Word of the barrier being breached could come at any moment, and then of course his work would be for naught. If the rest of the city knew of their secret project, they would probably revolt, which then again his work would be for naught. He thought of it himself as he was not entirely convinced it was their best plan, then chuckled at the absurdity of revolting. Though, he didn’t really know what the best plan was, at least this was a plan. Which was better than not having any plan at all. Which seemed to be the norm as of late. Simply fighting and retreating, retreating and fighting. He just wasn’t sure how he felt opening a gateway to Vathel, the Evernight itself. Surely the plan was suicide, if the hostile realm didn’t kill them, a large guarded fortress surely would. What chance did their small group stand against the very heart of the shadow itself. At this point though, what other options did they have. They were stuck, like rats in a cage.
“Oh, don’t look so glum there,” Hargen said jovially while clapping Eberk on the shoulder, “or you might start to look as ugly as all them darklings out there.”
“I’m not glum,” replied Eberk, “just pensive. With all the resources we’re taking and using for this insane plan, I just wonder if they couldn’t be put to better use winning the war here, in Elrün.”
Stroking his beard, Hargen replied back, “we can’t dwell too much on what could, or may, or possibly happen. If ya do, you might start to sound like a kor attempting to read fate from the stars. If ya start to sound and act like a kor too much, you may wake up and find yer beard replaced by those weird tentacle-y barbel-y thingies they got. How much longer until you’re finished anyway? That durn’d Alynic Keeper of the Light wants to know.” In a more somber tone Hargen continued, “It’s looking like there isn’t enough power to run the barrier and this machine of yours, he’s preparing some final defenses and wants to know how much more time he has.”
Releasing another lever the mold retracted into a chamber where the power of a water elemental would rapidly cool the metal and infuse it with additional magic. After doing so Eberk turned to face Hargen, “well this is the last piece and it will only take me an hour to fit it properly. From there I was going to begin work on cutting another set of gems. This isn’t something we have tried before and I am unsure if the APM’s will be able to handle the load. If there is any blowback it could crack or even fracture the gems. Assuming we don’t die if that happens, then we will need another set of gems to try again. If we even have enough power to try again.”
Turning to walk out of the circular workshop Hargen replied, “Great, I will let him know. There is a war council in an hour as well. Seem’s your presence is requested.” Smirking, Hargen continued as he walked out of the workshop, “no doubt we will see you there at your usual time… late, ahahhaha!”
Later at the War Council
Eberk walked into the war council, late as usual. As usual they had started without him. He didn’t mind, finishing his work was more imperative than listening to generals blabber on about rations, or unit counts or power readings for the barrier. Being cut off from Dawnspire, no backup from the angels, without the king or the prince to power Uvandir’s barrier, they were truly in a dire predicament. If the rumors were true and the prince had indeed joined the shadow… then maybe their plan was the best option. Though, killing the king of the darklings would be no easy feat. But surely the shadow would retreat without its leader. Besides, if their theories were correct, there would be a way to pull the shadow back into Vathel, stopping the war entirely. Darklings don’t survive long in the light afterall.
After stopping to wait for Eberk to sit, in her loud nasally voice General Horatia continued, “We have three maybe four days until the barrier falls. By the arcanists estimates, if we wait much past tomorrow evening to execute the plan there won’t be enough power to run the gateway. I have prepared extra defenses to fight in the city once the barrier goes down. Their fliers will be especially dangerous to contend with but I have archers stationed on the rooftops. In the end though, we won’t last long, we are estimating their force is ten times ours.”
Completing her report General Horatia gestured to a wizened, battle hardened man with stark white hair and beard and then primly sat in her chair.
Standing to address the council the old man began, “my clerics, templars, and I have begun preparing some final defenses at the entrance to the workshop. We will make our final stand there. However, Alynir’s wisdom has blessed me with the way to provide extra protection and to prevent the darklings from entering the workshop should we fail to hold them at bay. It is similar to what was done when we sealed Nurduhm.”
“What do you have in mind Ezalyr?” A tall kaldyr continued in his booming voice, “there are no angels here within the city to complete such a ritual. Besides, I am still doubtful that using magic to hide a keyhole is an effective strategy.”
“Well met Vali,” continued Ezalyr, “indeed we do not have any angels, but some of the most devout of the Four reside within this very room. I say we place a seal that requires four individuals as devout as they to open the door. Additionally, I believe we should place a similar seal upon the gateway itself. The last thing we need is the darklings being alerted to our plan and then having the means to give chase and stop it before it can be fulfilled.”
Speaking up Eberk said, “I agree, such a seal would be wise. It is unlikely there will be many survivors and rebuilding will commence. In the event that we do not return, we do not want anyone stumbling into the workshop and accidentally opening the gateway again. Thus providing a new path to Vathel from which the darklings can invade Elrün anew.”
Standing again and addressing the council General Horatia spoke, “it is agreed then, lets not idle here any longer. We know our tasks, once the seal is complete we will open the gateway. The Four bless us all that our plan works.”
The Next Morning
Eberk shifted the weight of his pack on his shoulders and then began to fidget with his gauntlet nervously. He wished there was another way, wished that their mission wasn’t the best plan. Mostly, he just wished he could be back at his workshop in Nurduhm. He had so many other designs of things he wanted to build. Alas, his dreams were quashed by nightmares. Well, now he would be the nightmare to the darklings.
He then focused on the ritual to open the seal and thereby opening the gateway. It really was an ingenious device, one of his best works yet. Before now, they had no idea how to travel between realms. Indeed they didn’t know how the darklings did it, though they had their suspicions. Perhaps now they could truly gain an advantage on this endless cycle. Maybe future generations could fight them on their own turf, maybe even end it.
Looking up from his journal, Eberk was in awe as the gateway opened. A metallic control arm extended from the ceiling, at its tip was a blade forged from the purest oricilium. In a quick motion it slashed and a bright purple line of arcane energy cut through the air above the seal. Four more control arms then extended from the sides of the workshop. At their tips were hooked apyrium needles that pierced into the line of arcane energy. They then expanded it like a tear in the very air before him. As the tear began to widen, two more control arms then extended from the walls, one whizzing past his head. These had large, thick half-moon rods made of reshium. They touched the edges of the tear, steadying its frayed edges. They then began to pull it, expanding it wider and wider into a large perfect flat disk. As the disk finished forming it began to pulse and ripple across its surface, a rush of energy pulled him towards it, threatening to throw him off his feet. Just as quickly as it started, the APM’s absorbed the excess energy, just as he had calculated, and hoped. The gateway stabilized and the workshop stood still. Hargon approached the gateway and tentatively tapped it with his finger. It rippled at his touch like water in a pond.
“Feels cold,” Hargon stated.
Jotting down a few more notes in his journal Eberk replied, “should be safe enough to go through.”
In a confident matter of fact tone Hargon addressed the four others who would be accompanying them through the gateway. “Alright, let’s get it done then.”
Hargon stepped through followed by the others. Moving to tuck his journal into his coat, Eberk stopped. Taking in one last look at his current workshop, he set his journal on a workbench. He wasn’t coming back to Elrün. His journal wouldn’t help him in Vathel, but perhaps it could help someone who came after him.
Walking up to the gateway and taking a deep breath, Eberk followed the others through into the Evernight.