02. Beacon

[katzepaw]

[If you want to watch , it starts at 2:33:31 through 2:56:22, but continues to the next episode, too. I will just link to the good bits, and otherwise summarize.)

This memory opens in an ornate chamber with a fountain. You see Caleb and Beau there, though they are both very dirty and oddly dressed with a lot of leather straps on their clothes, like some kind of strange BDSM get up. They are standing and talking to a group of people. The only other person who looks human among their group is Yasha</>. Besides her, there’s a blue tiefling, Jester, a half-orc, Fjord, a little goblin, Nott, and a very tall firbolg, Caduceus.

As they wait together, there is a loud booming sound, and the heavy stone doors of their chamber begin to open upon a blinding white light. The chamber is a colossal cathedral-like octagonal throne room made of semi-opaque gray stone, rising to a pyramid. At the top of the pyramid is a sphere suspended in chains, emanating a brilliant white glow, like moonlight. Inside the throne room are figures in silver armor guarding the doors. The room rises to a lifted dais with elevated platforms and staircases. At the top of the first platform are eight figures in robes, mostly drow elves, talking amongst themselves - a council. Hanging above them is a platinum wire frame construct of a dodecahedron.

And then on the platform above them, the highest raised, are five chairs and a bright white crystal throne between them. There are figures - again mostly drow elves - in the chairs, and in the throne is an incredibly beautiful and regal drow elf woman in a white crystal tri-horned crown and a sparkling warrior dress of crystals and mithril chain.

A voice rings out and proclaims - “Visitors, you bear witness to the Bright Queen Leylas Kryn. May she warm your weariness.”

The queen stands to her feet, lifting her marble staff, and gazes down upon them. “Welcome, children of light. Lady Zethriss of Den Olios speaks of a deed done in the protection of Asarius, and discoveries most foul. I ask you to tell me of these deeds.”

Nott and Jester look at one another, uncertain, and then Nott begins to speak. “Yes, our queen, empress of light, it is lovely to take audience with you. Thank you for your time and your graciousness. We are the members of the Mighty Nein, a group of adventurers and investigators who have recently helped your Lady. . . “ Nott briefly forgets the name “Lady Olios.”

At this point, Jester interjects. “Yes, they were having an issue because a lot of like, fiends and monsters were coming out into the city, and also some people were being, like, mind-controlled? And they were acting very weird and stuff, so we, you know, took care of that.”

Fjord speaks up as well - “We found a happening under the soil, and there were creatures from the Abyssal plane. We fought, destroyed them, and managed to shut a rift to that dimension. We recovered an artifact which we brought to Lady Olios.”

Jester jumps in, “Yes, we had to wait until the dead of night, when one of the citizens of the town was being molested by evil mind-controlling succubuses and incubuses. And they were making him visualize, like, really sexy bugbears, like - “

Nott interjects, “We don’t need to get into the details, but it was devastating for your people until we stepped in and put an end to it.”

The Bright Queen seems to grin and raise an eyebrow at this colorful description. “Lady Zethriss of Den Olios also says you deferred most of your riches to seek my favor. Is this true?”

“It is,” says Fjord. “Money is not as important to us as a favor would be in our time of need.”

“Well, her word carries weight with this court. Might I ask, what are your origins? You act with an air that is unique in Xhorhas, especially during these trying times.”

A few of them look at one another, nervously, before Nott speaks. “The truth is, we are people without a home and without a place of our own. We have different origins, but - “

“We came together on the seas,” says Jester.

“We do have a favor,” Nott says. “If I may, we are on a greater mission of our own, an important mission to recover, or at least question a gentleman that we believe is in your custody, or at least your Dynasty’s custody. His last name is Brenatto, and he’s a scientist, a chemist. We believe he has done some experiments which have wreaked havoc in other parts of the world, and caused people great suffering, and as part of our mission we are to find out what he knows and possibly use his information to heal some of the people who are affected by his experiments.”

“We were asked to find him and return him so that he may be punished by the people there,” Jester adds, “but we know he is in your custody, so we understand if that’s not possible.”

The Bright Queen’s expression begins to grow stony listening to this; Nott and Jester are not the most convincing liars of your group. On realizing this, Nott uses her fragment of possibility, a powerful magic that comes from the artifact you secretly recovered in the Empire, the Beacon. This allows her to slightly change time so her lie lands more convincingly, but oddly enough, the Bright Queen seems to notice when she uses this, turns to look at her. You know the Beacon was originally an artifact belonging to the Dynasty, an object of religious importance to them, and you realize how foolish it was to use the artifact’s power here and expect it not to be recognized.

At that moment, a soldier behind you in dark, insectoid armor begins to speak. “My queen, if I could speak?” She nods, and the soldier steps forward from where he was waiting his turn for the queen’s audience. "My eye has been caught by these travelers, for their smell is alien, their intent unclear. I myself still recover from wounds suffered along the western edges of the Ashkeeper Mountains not a week before.”

There’s a glance again between the Mighty Nein, an obvious energy of “oh, shit.”

“As does my partner, a lauded echo knight in your service, my queen. We came upon a troop of Dwendalian scouts seeking weakness in our borders, wishing subterfuge upon our brave soldiers. We did battle, and slew many of their filthy ilk, but we were forced to flee when the tides turned against us. . .” He suddenly gestures to the Mighty Nein. “When these creatures, these allies of the Empire, assailed us.”

Every member of the court stands to look down upon the group assembled at the base of the throne room. The queen strikes her staff against the stone, and her eyes are now burning when her gaze meets you again.

“Is this true?”

Nott, starting to panic: “Yep, yep, that’s true. Yeah, we did fight with some of your soldiers upon crossing into the Dynasty, yes.”

“But we’re not soldiers of the Empire,” protests Jester.

In his far more diplomatic voice, and with his much higher deception skills, Fjord adds, “My queen, clearly the gentleman is confused, we too were found and ambushed and found ourselves assaulted from both sides. Your friend over here did not seem to take any special actions to ascertain the nature of our journey. We did trade blows, although I do not recognize him from the particular encounter, but yes, this did occur. We were trying to make our way to the City of Beasts, which we successfully did.”

Fjord’s words only seem to make it worse. The warmth has vacated the queen’s face, and her expression is hard and angry. “I am curious why you would walk into my sanctum. Have you nothing to say for yourselves?”

“We simply seek your aid,” tries Jester, but the queen strikes her staff again and calls to her guards.

(You can watch just this part, at 2:49:57 to 2:56:22)

“Wait, wait,” Nott cries. “We haven’t been honest for you, that’s true!”

“We don’t work for the Empire, please!” Jester shouts. But guards all around are swarming in; it’s far too many to contemplate fighting. A guard grabs Caleb by the arms, while Jester and Nott begin shouting at each other that they can explain, they have to just tell her the truth.

“I’m sorry, we are sorry,” Caleb says, speaking for the first time, his voice low and hoarse, and obviously afraid to be speaking in this place, in this enormous hall. “We have come to bring you something. We have come from a long way.”

Fjord is shaking his head, while Nott seems frightened. The guards are putting Yasha and Caduceus in shackles now.

“Please, please spare us,” Nott cries. “He’s my husband, you’re holding my husband,” but no one pays her any mind.

Caleb tries to gather his thoughts and muster his courage to try to speak again. There’s only one plan that he feels will save them from being executed now. Uncharacteristically, he lets his voice ring out loudly in the echoey chamber. “The Empire is working against you, and we have brought the proof, if you will allow me to show it to you. I need to approach my friend. I mean no harm, I need to remove something from her bag.”

“You have a moment,” a soldier says. “Anything strange and I take off your head.”

He approaches Jester to the sound of many blades being drawn as he reaches into the pink bag she carries, finding the lead lined box within, and opening it. The bright light is bearing down, and he can feel sweat beads forming and dripping down his forehead and gathering on his brow.

“I say this as a child of the Empire,” Caleb says. “Connected to the inner circles there long ago.” He pulls out the Beacon from the box where it was hidden, and holds it in the air. There is a chorus of gasps, and a clattering of metal as all of the soldiers in the room drop their weapons at once. Every eye in the room is staring at Caleb, and the Bright Queen steps forward, past her throne, and looks down straight at the object, and tears form at the corners of her eyes.

With renewed courage, Caleb says “I am of the Empire, but I am no friend to the Empire. One of your own came to retrieve this and fell. And I bring it to you.” He sets it down on the ground, raises his hands in the air and steps backwards.

“Release their bindings,” the Bright Queen demands. The guards begin to undo the chains and manacles on the others of the Mighty Nein. She begins to walk down the staircase from her throne, imposing and ethereal, and draws close. She sets her staff aside, reaches down, and lifts the Beacon up.

“You bring us hope. And you have undone one of many great wounds against us today. I have no words, my emotions burn in my chest. If you are no friend to the Empire. . . you have certainly today become heroes of the Dynasty.” She looks at the Mighty Nein, tears on her cheeks, and then calls attendants to bring the Beacon back to its vault. “So. Travelers from the Empire, who renounce their home and history. I have many questions. How did you come upon our beacon, and why have you returned it?”

“That is a tricky story,” says Caleb. “To preface, it is difficult for me to say that we have turned our back on the Empire, some of us are not from the Empire. Those of us who are and all of us have a fair share of skepticism of how things are done there. I do not wish to see war, I don’t think any of us wish to see war.”

The queen’s expression is hard again. “War is upon you whether you like it or not.”

“We did come to bring it to you,” Caleb says, “but we have selfish reasons as well.” He gestures to Nott. “This is my friend. Nott the Brave. Her husband is here in this kingdom. I don’t know if he is here or somewhere else in your great nation, but we have come to look for him and hopefully, today, leave with him. We are small pieces on this game board and I don’t pretend to know all the pieces moving on either side. I know that there are people where I come from who are watching for you and I know there are people here, watching from where I come from. Some may know better than I, but I know that Nott’s husband is somehow tied to your beacon and the war. We’d like to take him back and I’m only hoping that our offering today makes that somewhat easier to do.”

“Is what he says true,” the queen asks, looking at Nott.

“It is, your majesty,” she says, “but not just my husband, he’s the father of my child and I have been desperate to get him back, to make our family whole again. Surely even someone of your great stature must realize that reuniting a family is the most important thing a mother could ask for. We may have fibbed a bit coming in the door, but hopefully you will see that our intentions are true and noble and honest. I don’t know what he’s done to be imprisoned. He’s gotten wrapped up in this whole magic business, but I just want him home with his son.”

The Bright Queen nods and glances at a handsome male drow next to the throne in an elaborate mantle. “Shadowhand, can we confirm there has been some sort of goblin capture?”

Nott clears her throat. “He’s not a goblin like I am. He’s a halfling man. His name is Yezza Brenatto, he’s a chemist.”

The Shadowhand says, “Yes, we do indeed have this figure in our Dungeon of Penance.”

“When this discussion is over, you will take them with you to see this prisoner,” the queen says, her hand raised. “I do not know the scope and depth of his involvement with the conflict to the west, but I’m certain the Shadowhand will inquire, and if there is anything else required, we will attempt to close our interrogation and return him to you.”

“Where we are from, all we hear of is the big bad other from Xhorhas, invading,” Caleb says. “Is this what it’s about? These beacons?”

“There are many reasons for the war,” the Bright Queen says. “There have been conflicts and bloodshed across our borders with the Empire for some time.”

“What would it take to end the war?” Caleb asks.

“Knowing what I know,” she says grimly, “of the people who live across those mountains, a lot of death, on either side. Do you trust them? Do you trust the king, do you trust the people around him?”

“I don’t know many,” says Caleb, “but I can’t say that I am heartened, no.”

“I do not know where particularly you grew up in the Empire, but know that you are unaware of the murderous and vile intent that has encroached and killed so many in these wastes and stolen and burned. What happens now is retribution. What happens now has been earned by their actions, and by taking something that we require. We will not stop until we’ve left an equal or more share of blood across the Marrow Valley and beyond.”

The group looks at each other nervously at this speech.

The Bright Queen leans forward and puts her hands up. “Now, is there anything else you would ask? I do not wish to keep debts.”

“Free passage,” Caduceus suggests.

“To that point, I did notice that some of you would have a difficult time traversing Xhorhas.” She looks at the humans in the party. “The capital city would be a difficult place to tread with such company. I’m surprised you made it this far. I will grant you my emblems of trust.” She raises her hand, and an assistant brings them silver medallions, shaped like a dodecahedron. “These symbolize an ally of the Dynasty. Keep them close, for many would wish to take them and abuse the access they provide in times of war.”

“One request that I had, I have two,” Caleb says, “but one is that her ladyship consider that the Empire we are from is full of very good people. Most, almost all. I have been scarred by the few who do not fit that category and rather than kill the entire animal, I ask that you consider cutting the cancer out, so that the whole may live.”

Beau speaks up here, too. “I understanding wanting retribution and it’s earned. You all have endured a lot. But equal suffering to countless innocents on the other side, I don’t know if it would feel as satisfying as you think. What if we could offer judgment and vindication towards those individuals that are actually involved in wronging you? Consider you might not be at war with the entire Empire? It may be a handful of assholes, instead.”

“Through retribution, one would eventually end up with an unending line of enemies,” Caduceus says. “There is no end to that.”

Her expression grows dark. “The world is not as easy as you say. We do not wish to commit genocide, but defending us means that innocents will die, perhaps. You have not seen the things I have seen. You have not known the atrocities of the Calamity like I have. In these 1200 years that I have lived, and lived, and lived again, I have also known that the people who live under such banners believe what they’ve been fed. So if there are those you care for, and those you believe do not deserve the hammer that will fall upon these lands, then perhaps you should tell them to leave, for war is coming. We cannot stop is because they will not, and I am not about to let them have the first and final strike.”

She looks at all of them. “Let me ask you my final question. You have many gifts to have found your way here, and you have seen many things that may be helpful in the battles to come. Will you join us in this struggle to reclaim our final lost relic of renewal? And help us punish these insolent murderers who cut us down and steal our birthright?”

“If we do this,” says Beau, “will you halt the attacks that you’ve been waging on town like Felderwin? At least give us a chance?”

“It is not something I can halt. It is something that must pass to keep the balance.”

“We serve the living,” says Caduceus. “For as long as we walk within your kingdom, we will serve all goodness that we come in contact with. But we do not, and I also apologize if I speak for everyone, we are new to this place and would know it better before we could give you such fealty.”

“And Umavi, I beseech you,” says Caleb. “The fact that we have brought what we have brought to you shows - I know you have lived so long - but I hope shows that our people are able to change and shake off the bonds that they have grown up under.”

The queen dismisses them to the Shadowhand, telling him to escort them through the city, and to take them to the dungeon to collect Nott’s husband. Back in the antechamber once again, the Shadowhand gives them a moment to speak amongst themselves.

“Well, that went - ” Fjord starts.

“What the fuck?!” says Beau to Caleb.

“I’m so proud of you,” says Caduceus, also to Caleb.

“Exactly as we totally thought it would happen, Caleb,” says Jester.

“I don’t think it was our first choice of an ending,” Caleb says, “but it is one we discussed.”

“You made the right call,” says Caduceus. “I’m very proud of you.”

“I am too,” says Nott. “I think that was the smartest choice of action. And now we have an ally that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

“Well, regardless,” says Beau, “I think we all need direction among us, maybe. Kind of have a feeling like our current plan of pissing in the wind and then using that to decide our direction might not work so much anymore.”

“The Wildmother spoke to me while I was in the cave, and she thinks we’re going in the right direction,” says Caduceus.

“Toward the piss,” Jester says firmly.

Caduceus laughs. “Toward the piss, metaphorically speaking. We’re going to where we’re needed, our destiny awaits.”

“I’ll tell you what, though,” Caleb says, quietly. “The first time in a very long time, I feel hopeful.”

Jester looks at his drawn, serious face, and with a teasing tone says, “You look like you feel hopeful, Caleb.”

The group bursts into laughter, and Caleb can’t help but crack an amused smile at her.

“I think it’s going to be hell on earth for us to try to go back to the Empire," he says. "I assume everything that was said in that room is going back to the Cerberus Assembly. My goose is cooked. But we have, if we play it right, very strong allies, and things that were impossible yesterday are possible today.”

“This is true,” Fjord agrees.

“It is true,” Beau agrees, looking at Caleb a little more skeptically. “It just depends on the type of possible you’re looking for. I think your allies here are owed a little bit more of an explanation, Hope-Bringer.”

But at that, the Shadowhand returns to the room, and they agree to continue their conversation later. The memory ends.