Haunt & Havoc

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Governor Ruedeli’s passing was not investigated further after Gisella gave the account of it, but the central bank merely promoted another high ranking counselor to fill the Governor seat which he had vacated. The death would have been considered scandalous otherwise, but Chroniclers were trusted to give true accounts, and no one was allowed to harm them so long as they were true to the Oath. Gisella had never violated it, so there was no fault on her part. After that, however, she was even more selective in the men she dated, but most men were undeterred by what had happened, thinking that Governor Ruedeli was an infamously pompous maniac to begin with, and that they were far better mannered than he ever was.

  Gisella was still invited to many lavish parties – with or without a date – and at these, she learned a great deal of the events in Tultavik, both financial and personal, interesting and mundane, and ranging from good to bad. All of this was recorded in her book, and she waited for the time that it was right to return to Emeth and report all of it.

  ~~~

  In the forests of Javanda stood an unusual tree over sixty-five (65) feet in height. Its height, however, was not its unusual attribute, as it was comparable to many other trees in the forest. Rather, what made it unique was that its branches were not living wood, but were actually swords, and its trunk was not living wood, but was made of black granite. Thus it was a sword-covered tower, and around the base of the tree were the carcasses of dead animals, including nine (9) deer, five (5) wolves and even two (2) brown bears. Additionally, there were several dead and decaying trees in a ring around the sword-covered tower.

  There were also eleven (11) men standing around the sword-covered tower, all wearing hooded robes covered in splotches of black and red, but their hoods were hanging back and their heads and faces were uncovered.

  One of the men was muscular and bald and he addressed the other ten (10), saying: “The suffering of these creatures is earned by their wild and lawless nature. They have been judged by God, and the judgment was suffering and death, for suffering purifies the soul, and death ends sin. Yet, there are men and women – and even their ill-begotten children – who are much wilder and even more lawless, so they are more deserving of being pierced by these swords.”

  “Of which men, women and children do you speak, Borislav,” one of the ten (10) asked.

  “They are the moneylenders, in the den of evil called by the name Tultavik, by the sea,” Borislav said.

  “Why was that city not destroyed in the tempest? Were they forgiven by God? If that is the case, then who are we to judge whom God has forgiven?” the same man asked.

  “Because the tempest was their warning, but they did not heed it, so now they will be judged more severely,” Borislav said.

  “What is the sign that this is the time for judgment?” the same man asked again.

  “The darkness in the skies, which matches the darkness in their souls,” Borislav said.

  “What shall their judgment be?” another man asked.

  “To come to this tower of swords, which will be their penance. We shall speak out to call for their condemnation and lead them here. Then, we will bring down the bankers and their false money, and end their undeserved joys that only distract them from the Plan of God. Then, they may know the cleansing power of penance to prepare their souls for the Kingdom. If they reject it, they will suffer vengeance in the Maelstrom,” Borislav said.

  Borislav then led the way through the forest, and the ten (10) men followed him. Each had vials of water on chains around their necks, and they were prepared to follow Borislav’s instructions. They journeyed by foot for five (5) days – the trip would have taken (3) days, but they stopped frequently to pray for strength.

  ~~~

  In Tultavik, it was business as usual, with dozens of ships under construction in the immediately adjacent shipyards, and many of them were held aloft by recently fitted sailing crystals that were energized and embedded in the sailcloth, although the energy they received from the dim light of the darkened suns took longer to charge those crystals.

  A fifty-four (54) year old man named Przemek stood on the deck of a one hundred seventy-five (175) foot long cargo vessel. He drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to manipulate crystals. He took the blue diamond sailing crystal in his hand and altered its structure ever so slightly, because he could see that its low level crystal geometry was insufficiently precise to harness the energy of the many suns in the sky. Under ordinary circumstances, it was a challenge for all but the most masterful crystal benders to be precisely correct, although it did not usually matter, as a sufficiently well cut diamond could still gather enough light from the many suns and generate the aura of energy that would lift a ship above the waters. A small difference in a crystal cutting angle, however, could have a dramatic effect and double or triple the lifetime of a crystal, as well as reducing its time to fully charge. However, given the darkness in the skies, the quality of crystal bending – and the purity of the Kazofen Ocean waters that the crystal bender drank – mattered much more, so as to gather all the sunlight that was available. The dim light from the darkened suns did not make for easy airship travel, and the difficulty was noticeable by everyone.

  Przemek finished cutting the diamond to exacting specifications – knowing immediately by looking deep into it that it was ready – and handed it to a sail weaver, who stitched the diamond into the sailcloth. It was the final crystal needed for this ship.

  The strength of the sailcloth – to anyone who thought about it for a moment – was not nearly sufficient to hold the ship aloft. The design was not that the sailing crystals lifted the sail cloth which then lifted the ship: the sailcloth would have torn instantly under the weight of ships of even a few tons, not to mention a ship of two hundred (200) or three hundred (300) tons. Rather, the unfurled sailcloth, stretched on the mast, held the sailing crystals – diamonds in most cases – in favorable positions to gather sunlight and become charged. When the masts were pivoted to the sides of the ships to form wail wings, the geometry of the sailing crystals was such that it gradually released that energy and thereby generated an ellipsoidal aura which enveloped and lifted the entire ship. The sailing crystals’ internal geometry – as well as their layout on the surface of the sailcloth – affected the shape of this aura of energy.

  Przemek then stepped off of the ship and moved on to another, providing another sailing crystal in the same way. Four (4) hours later, he returned to the dock in front of the first of these vessels and called to the construction crew, saying: “Convert to airship formation, ascend to thirty (30) feet of altitude, remain for two (2) minutes, and then return to sea level.”

  The construction crew on board the ship – which did not yet have a name, as it was not yet sold – moved some levers to pivot the masts and the sails at a proper angle where the sailing crystals would release their stored energy to generate a lift force.

  ~~~

  At the eastern edge of Tultavik, an opulent party was held at the estate of a very wealthy banker – the fifty-three (53) year old Governor Tenney. There were hundreds of guests, including many lower lever bank counselors, who themselves were far from poor. Their families were with them, and games with a mallet and balls were being played on the large lawn while rich meals of crab and lobster were being served by the hired staff.

  Gisella was in attendance at the party, enjoying the meals, and recording everything that she saw into her book, even the scores in the games, including the one she was playing. Gisella wasn’t terribly bad at driving the balls through the hoops with the mallet – especially on the deceptively sloped grasslands that surrounded Governor Tenney’s mansion. However, she did enjoy it at least a little and her best ever performance was a hopeful fifth place in a tournament of fifty-seven (57) players, so she didn’t give up hope. She came alone to the party, but suspected that she would leave with a date, as it was clear that at least four (4) men were flirting with her
, although one (1) was married and she had no time for his philandering: that would have constituted interference, anyway, which was against the Oath.

  ~~~

  The master shipbuilder Laurentius was tending to the land he owned, cultivating the trees and the other plant life. The timber on his property was high quality due to the Gradaken Ocean water which he drank, because it then energized him to manipulate the natural living elements. He invested in the land so that he could have a higher quality building material for constructing ships, meaning that certain trees received the majority of his attention, but he did not neglect the plants. The high purity Gradaken waters also gave him a connection to the animals, and he sensed their movements, and their emotions to some degree, as they emitted chemicals from their body which revealed these. Laurentius sensed something unusual, and then saw the probable cause.

  He could see that eleven (11) men wearing hooded robes – covered in splotches of red and black – emerged from the dense forests of Javanda and had walked past the nearby edge of his own land. He could see them, but did not believe that the men saw him, as he was crouched down planting seeds. Laurentius did not so much as move, because the appearance of the men was threatening, and his instincts were almost defensive like those of the animals to whom the Gradaken waters connected him. He did more than control the creatures – he learned from them – and had a sense of when to stay out of the way. This was one of those times to remain at a distance. A single man was in front, with the other ten (10) crowding behind him.

  ~~~

  Borislav was leading the ten (10) other men through the woods, into less dense woods and then to the eastern edge of the port town of Tultavik. He then turned to one of them and said: “Verissimus: Call out their condemnation, with the mighty voice of justice, and the resounding melody of truth.”

  One of the men in the hooded robes – a deep-chested man named Verissimus – then drank from the waters in his vial. They were the Pirovalen Ocean waters and he was energized with the power of music. He called out in a voice that was melodious at the same time it was frightening. There were no words, however, only a powerful chant. Verissimus adjusted the pitch of his voice and raised it, and the sound carried far.

  ~~~

  In the nearby shipyards, a horrid high-pitch sound was heard and sailing crystals cracked by the thousands. Four (4) ships under construction and in testing – currently held aloft by the energy auras – were suddenly dropped thirty (30) feet. Another one hundred fifteen (115) ships approaching by sea suddenly stopped because their sails were torn by the shattering of their own crystals.

  Przemek looked on in horror – and held his ears – as did many others. He had never observed such a thing in his life, and was filled with fright for the people on board the fallen ships, as well as for himself.

  ~~~

  On the grounds surrounding the estate of Governor Tenney, a horrid high-pitch sound was heard and brought all guests except Gisella to their knees, holding their ears. Gisella heard the sound, but her Guardian Angel of the Chronicler’s Oath – Ondothel – protected her from any injury, so the sound was greatly diminished for her.

  She knew that this was a momentous event, and immediately dropped her mallet, as it was clear that the time for games had come to an end, because this was an attack upon the senses.

  A group of eleven (11) men – with one (1) in front and the other (10) behind him – approached the grounds of the estate. They all wore hooded robes covered in splotches of red and black. One of the men was singing a chant and was most likely the source of the sound.

  The man leading the others then spoke out, saying: “Silence, Verissimus, that they may hear the words of condemnation.”

  The singing man ceased his chant and the guests at the party were able to let go of their ears, although the pain still stung.

  The leading man then spoke again, saying: “We are the Pilgrims of the Burning Road. Your lives of wealth have distracted you and turned your eyes away from the Kingdom. Only a life of suffering – that travels on a long road through fire and torment – can cleanse the soul of sins and prepare you to enter God’s Kingdom. You will travel with us along that road, and learn to crave only the spirit world, and despise the pleasures of the flesh. We will lead you now, into the depths of the forest, on your pilgrimage. There will be pain, but you will be purified.”

  Being a Chronicler, Gisella noted all that was said, and she knew that these Pilgrims were false. She believed very much in God’s Grace, and that suffering for suffering’s sake was not the plan. Rather, suffering was punishment for evil, or a warning of greater evil. She was witness to blessings that she believed were of God, and so much of life was wonderful, which meant that The One True God wanted joy in the world. She had met the Pilgrims of the Burning Road in the past, and had seen them abuse others. A great deal of unneeded suffering occurred, and would likely occur now. Yet, the Chronicler’s Oath forbade judgment or interference, so she would have to accept what was going to happen – however horrid. Yet, it would not happen to her. She would have to witness it, and record all of it, and be filled with sadness because of it.

  “Who are you to judge us? What wrong have we done?” Governor Tenney spoke up and said.

  “I am Borislav, leader of this troupe of Pilgrims. I know your ways, for you are a moneylender, charging great sums and living in luxury, pretending that the Kingdom of God can be built by the sins of men, and basking in false pleasures,” the leading man said.

  “We earned all that we have. You should earn your own wealth, and then you wouldn’t look down on the rest of the world from your false ethics,” Governor Tenney then said.

  “You are the sinner, and we have told you the truth. That you would tempt us to join you only shows how depraved you truly are, and how blinded you are to wealth that you cannot see the shining truth of God’s Greater Plan past the luster of your platinum coins. You must be led along the path – on a pilgrimage through cleansing fire into salvation,” Borislav said.

  “You’re not leading us anywhere!” Governor Tenney then said.

  Borislav then said: “Verissimus, speak truth to them, in a voice they cannot refuse, with a melody from God that will lead them to the Kingdom.”

  The other man, Verissimus, then began singing his chant again and the horrific high-pitch sound returned. He then modulated his voice further, and the people ran from it, in the direction of the forest. Borislav and the others followed Verissimus, who knew the path and used the high-pitch sound to drive the people along it: six hundred twenty-one (621) partygoers, including Governor Tenney, were thus corralled for three (3) days. When Verissimus began to be tired, he would rest his voice for a few minutes, but then call it up again, drinking anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean. Gisella followed them the whole way, recording everything, even when Verissimus rested and when he sang again.

  Another person followed them, as well, from behind, keeping near to the trees. Gisella noticed out of the corner of her eye but said nothing. She recorded this other person’s presence into her book, however.

  The partygoers were led to a strange tree whose branches, upon closer examination, looked like swords, and whose black trunk was not wood but granite. Dead animals – as well as dead and decaying trees – surrounded this sword-covered tower.

  “God is the source of life, even the trees of the forest. This is the tree of justice, and you shall be pierced upon the swords that are its branches,” Borislav said as they surrounded it.

  “No! This is sick! Who is your god?” Governor Tenney asked. Others shouted similar things, all in horror and fear.

  “Verissimus, lead them to their penance, and let the truth pierce their cold hearts that love only material wealth,” Borislav said.

  Verissimus began singing again and the pain was so great from the high-pitch sound he created that the partygoers were physically compelled to walk away from him and into a path he directed by the shape of the sound, leading them to be pierced
by the swords upon the sword-covered tower that stood among the dead and decaying trees and animals. All of them became blinded, and four hundred fifteen (415) of them had their spines cut, becoming crippled, as well.

  ~~~

  In a hidden place nearby, Laurentius – who had followed the so-called Pilgrims – watched the torture but had little he could do. He considered calling the forest animals to interfere, but the religious zealot’s music would have overpowered them even more than it did the people, only adding to the slaughter. He was sickened, and suddenly aware of the horrid danger that resided in these forests.

  ~~~

  “You can no longer see your worldly treasures. Yet, those eyes that were closed to the world can now be opened to look upon God’s Plan, and you will not be lured by false treasures. Seek, then, true wealth,” Borislav then said.

  The people were screaming in pain, and Borislav and the other ten (10) Pilgrims of the Burning Road then departed deep into the forest.

  Gisella recorded all of this into her book – including the injuries of each and every one of the victims – and decided not to follow the Pilgrims, but chose to leave the forest and return to Tultavik. She was sickened, but could not help them directly – due to the Oath’s ban on interference. She could merely report the horror.

  ~~~

  From his hiding place among the trees, Laurentius saw the departure of the Pilgrims and realized that the danger had passed for the time. He drank anew of the water of the Gradaken Ocean and was energized. He called out to the nearby animals – deer, bear, even wolves – by gestures and then touched them and commanded them. These animals were then brought in and allowed the people to mount and ride them.

  “I’ll stay with you, all of you, and get you help,” Laurentius said.

  “Who are you?” people asked.

  “I am Laurentius, a shipbuilder,” he said.

  “You control the animals?” Governor Tenney asked. He couldn’t see the man, as he was blind like the rest of them.