The Unfated Wanderers Canto 17
In the early morning, the Unfated Wanderers, Vilerend Skymarch and Billet Stormstone, ventured forth from Shatterbone on an urgent errand. Once more, willfully wandering the wild, their feet carried them to Twigstar. A distant giant ravaged the western horizon. Colossal chaos could not yet be ceased. But for now, they could avoid it.
The midday sun illuminated Twigstar when the wanderers worked their way into the city. Dire devastation still dimmed the delirious citizens. The rotting carcass of the bald, behemoth bear still burdened the city. Flattened buildings and crushed people remained buried beneath the stinking bulk. The burden was too great. The body could not be broken apart and moved fast enough to avoid the onslaught of festering flesh. It was likely that the three terrible bear skulls would never be removed.
The Unfated Wanderers found their way to Unbe Magister. By luck or Fate, his neighborhood within Twigstar was undamaged by the giant’s trundling strike and subsequent fall.
After a brief greeting and sharing of news, Unbe said, “I have been looking into the dangerous magic the Stormcraft Cult used to kill that giant. Normal magic draws its energy from the Realm of Power. The Stormcrafters are drawing additional energy from the Realm of Terrors. This is a serious concern. They are causing temporary rents in the Confines. They could cause another Apocalypse, like the last one when Darklings killed so many people.”
“We need to figure out how the Stormcrafters perform this new magic. It could help us prepare for Darklings, should they come back to the Living World. We know how to see them with Oil of Hellsight. Sadly, we do not have any other dragon friends that would fight them on our behalf. Marshall of Beasts lost his life fighting just one Darkling. I dare not even imagine a torrent of Darkling Fomenters terrorizing our world.”
“Go to Stormcraft. The cult has a research compound east of the village, near Lake Slowmelt. You should infiltrate the compound and look for information.”
“Oh! I also have something for you.” He handed two small boxes to them. “I invented these Boxes. I am working to get one into the hands of every Learned Scholar. Here is one Box for you and one for Tong. Be sure to give it to him. I have already distributed Boxes to most of the other Scholars.”
“You can write a message on a slip of paper and put it in the box. It will then instantly appear in everyone else’s Box. I call it Boxing. You can also write a person’s name on the paper and it will go to their box only.”