Tribulations of Wrath, part III: The Heavenly Demons

When clarity finally returned, it did so with the violence of a dam giving way. Memories cascaded back in overwhelming torrents: sounds first, a cacophonous symphony of every conversation and voice racing through recollection; then smells and tastes, every sip of wine and glass of whiskey and childhood juice all at once upon tongue and nose; finally, sights and touch, beloved moments and hated ones alike, the feel of weapon and quill in hand.

Two and a half months had passed in the interim. Late spring gave way to the height of summer, and those who regained their faculties found themselves with no recollection of the intervening time whatsoever. Yet curiously, many discovered their coin purses heavier and their skills sharper from activities conducted during that void period, having continued the routines of daily life throughout. Scholars of the Grand Library have since surmised that the countercurse functioned by trapping the memetic virus at the forefront of active memory, creating a prison of shallow, day-to-day experiences upon which it could only feast. Starved from the rich banquet of lifelong recollection, the entity weakened week by week until it finally perished.

With minds restored to coherence, the four strangers revealed themselves anew. Gone were the vague impressions of misshapen Sapience races that virus-addled minds perceived; in their place stood beings of truly alien aspect. They named themselves Asura, four of the thirty-three heavenly demons sworn to the service of Winter’s Vengeant Eye, the primordial Dragon of Wrath who rules distant Vorostra.

Kshetraghan, the twin-souled Yemali warrior-priest, spoke with two voices that echoed as one, their appearance, in many ways, similar to that of a Rakshasa. Salt-sowing Vek-Dansh-Who-Wears-Tuwri loomed as a Chitravin parasite inhabiting the hulking form of a deceased Gajatma, his insectoid head protruding where elephantine features should have been. Shvatahi, the six-armed Naga sea witch whose necromancy commanded the drowned dead, was the ‘Ophidian’ responsible for the countercurse. Lastly, Sholayu 714, the clone-soldier, bore the roiling, bloody eye of the primordial Dragon of Desire.

The Grand Library notes with some consternation that a full accounting of the ritual materials gathered for the countercurse cannot be produced. The considerable surplus of gems that Shvatahi requested, far exceeding what any reasonable ritual would require, vanished entirely. It is presumed she claimed them for herself as payment rendered during the void months.

The purpose of their arrival was declared with the absolute certainty of those who believe themselves instruments of cosmic justice. Kshetraghan announced the debt owed: retribution for the tidal wave that Slyphe deflected from Sapience’s shores during the Echoes of Power. That redirected catastrophe had claimed twelve coastal villages, three seaside towns, and countless fishing fleets upon Vorostran shores. Children drowned. By Vorostran law, absolute and unyielding, a price was owed and would be collected.

Shvatahi elaborated upon the terms with the cold precision of a merchant tallying accounts. They came not for conquest, nor did they harbour particular animosity towards the continent as a whole. By their reckoning, the loss of life was equal in the population of one of Sapience’s great city-states, thus one city would fall as payment, and thereafter the ledger would be settled in the eyes of the Vorostran justice. The Sea Witch even spoke of a potential alliance against the Dreikathi once debts were paid.

Which city would fall, however, was not for the Asura to determine arbitrarily. Each heavenly demon would deliver a tribulation to test Sapience’s mettle: Shvatahi would bring ruin to the Hammer of Dawn, Vek-Dansh would wreak havoc upon the Theocracy, Sholayu 714 would undo the Heartwood, and Kshetraghan would crush the Sanguine Fist. Whichever city proved too weak to endure its trial would fall, and the debt would be satisfied. The strong would survive, as was the way of their harsh homeland.

Sapience responded with characteristic defiance and belligerence. Threats were issued and bravado displayed in abundance. Yet for all their bold words, the defenders of Sapience found themselves already outmanoeuvred. During the void months of amnesiac darkness, the Asura were not idle. Every major port lay in ruins, too damaged to be used, and ships capable of battle were sabotaged or sunk. Furthermore, the Orrery of the Spheres unlocked during the incapacitation, and the Asura claimed its empowering attunement seemingly unopposed – though none can say for sure if any city actually tried to contest them.

Before departing, the four Asura noted, with some amusement, the hobgobbler invasion that erupted during the populace’s incapacitation, wondering aloud whether Sapience would even survive this fowl menace long enough to face their tribulations in the coming weeks. Their formal proclamation would follow in due time; the trials, they promised, would begin soon.

With the hobgobbler menace closing in and foreign invaders preparing for a campaign of didactic justice, Sapience prepared for a long struggle to survive…

~~~~~

Summary: Approximately two and a half months passed during the countercurse’s effects, with mortals retaining no memory of the intervening time. The four strangers revealed themselves as Asura in service to Winter’s Vengeant Eye, the primordial Dragon of Wrath from the continent of Vorostra. They declared their purpose: to collect a blood debt owed for the tidal wave redirected to Vorostran shores. One Sapient city must fall; which one would be determined by tribulations testing each city’s strength in the coming weeks. During the void period, the Asura sabotaged every major port, ensuring Sapience cannot take the fight to the seas.

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 14th of Lleian, in the year 15 AC.