The Consulate of Mages

Seven old, mostly bearded men and Six elderly women spoke to each other around a well-polished, wooden table. Each of the chairs were magically arranged equidistantly from each other in order to maintain a proper, safe distance at all times. Their staffs rested on the table beyond their nameplates, far enough away that no one could easily reach them.

Lumber supports held up the solid, marbled stone above them while stone masonry and carvings made up the walls. A moderately sized, rectangular gap in the wall gave the room’s inhabitants a view of the lush valleys, mountains, and hills beneath them, magically concealed as ordinary rocks and bushes when viewed from the outside. Thirteen different flags spread out on the long sides of a rectangular wall represented the attendee’s nations. A flag with a glowing staff floating in the white space above a jagged blue line which itself sat atop a line of green adorned the two shorter walls. This flag represented the entirety of The Consulate of Mages.

A man behind the nameplate reading ‘Belzinth’ wore a thick, woolen tunic matching one of the thirteen flags on the wall, down to the deep maroon triangles interrupting its checkerboard pattern. He stood up and cleared his throat, only speaking once the final echoes of conversation died down.

“I have called you all here today to discuss a Brass Armada fort recently discovered in the Grave Forest. We have already sent Galorex in to investigate; however, he went missing three days ago before he even managed to reach the fort.”

A man named John who wore a black robe spoke up.“Why weren’t we told about this sooner, we could have sent someone more…” He spun his hand around. “…disposable.”

“We believed it to be something in need of our immediate attention.”

“Could’n’a sent anyone else?” A man wearing a vest and a planter’s hat spoke. “I s’pose yous thought it was worth the risk.” He played with the nameplate in front of him labeled ‘Chance.’ “No matter, we’ve all lost on the river before. What matters is what you plannin’ to do about it?”

“We have already sent a scout team to investigate. Our other plan was to gather you all here to discuss releasing the seven heroes from their magical stasis.”

It was now Repose’s turn to speak up. “Won’t that be difficult without Galorex?” Her cat-eyed sleep mask and the bobbing of her massive witch hat made it impossible to tell where she was looking.

Everyone’s eyes darted towards Belzinth.

“The greatest dispeller is still alive to our knowledge and she will be able to wake them just as well as he could.”

They each sat there in thought.

“Didn’t she get kicked out over a hundred years ago?” Repose asked.

“Yeah we exiled her after she killed that Phetam fella.” Chance added on.

“No discussions with or about her have even taken place since then.” A representative mage continued to add to the pile.

“I cannot find a trace of her in the archives. Are you sure she is still alive?” Another mage named Grimhildoir chimed in as well.

“Quiet! quiet!” Belzinth’s voice quelled to replies. “We have no reason to believe she isn’t and it would not take long at all for our scouts to find out one way or another if she is.”

A crystal ball in the center of the table lit up as a rectangle of light shot from it onto the ceiling.

There were two men walking through a city made almost entirely of brass. Each of them wore the dark glasses and tight-fitted, head-covering robes of unified scout mages.

“Sir, Belzinth, sir.” One of the scouts saluted. “The city is largely barren, only civilians remain. We still have yet to find any sign of Galorex or his older apprentice.”

“Be careful of their steambots.”

“We have discovered parts of their steambots throughout the entire city. Whoever got here before us sure made a mess out of them. One had even been crucified at the entrance.”

Silence and understanding invaded the room.

“Well ain’t that a stroke a positive fortune?” Chance broke the silence.

“Gimhildoir, do you know of any other factions currently opposing the Brass Armada?”

“Not one that resides in the Grave Forest, aside from the local druid, Birch, whose last recorded sighting was over a decade ago.”

Belzinth redirected his attention towards the scouts. “Have you talked to any of the civilians?”

“Most wouldn’t give us any information, but one of them mentioned a child we believe to be Galorex's apprentice and an ‘oddly-dressed woman’ who showed up right before ‘the incident’ then disappeared along with a well dressed man and ‘that nice secretary gal, Vivi.’ According to her, the strange woman was carrying what appeared to be a weapon of sorts on her back and the boy ‘had that apprentice look about him.’”

“Find them and report back to me as soon as you do.”

“We decided it would be best to split up to increase our efficiency, the others are already searching for any evidence of any camps, monsters, or groups who could be responsible.”

"Great work."

Another rectangle of light shot out of the crystal ball. Two more scouts showed up on screen, this time in a clearing.

“Sir, Belzinth, Sir.” The scout saluted. “We found fresh charcoal and evidence of magic use. We believe this to be a campsite.”

“Do you have any other information?”

“We were lucky enough as is to find this place sir.”

“How many different magical signatures were you able to find?”

“We believe two, one faint and the other impossible to hide. We initially thought there might have been a third, but we believe it was likely nothing more than a fluke when we detected it.”

“Do you know where they might have—”

A rope wrapped around one of the scout’s necks and yanked her away.

“Show yourselves.” The remaining scout readied his backup wand. He turned his head revealing a bloody cheek. Flames spewed from his wand as he advanced. His face became sweatier and sweatier and the flames grew weaker with each step.

“When did you get that wound!? Use antidote magic now!”

“About… twenty… minutes ago.” His voice was breathy and his skin began to blue. The flames stopped. His pupils were dilated. “I thought…” He paused for a moment. “I was… just... whipped… by a branch.” He vomited and fell over, still conscious.

“We thank you for your service.” Belzinth bowed his head.

A tear slid down the scout’s face. His rectangle of light dissipated.

Belizinth looked at the other two scouts. “I need you to remain at your position until we can send reinforcements or retreat by air. Whatever you choose to do, DO NOT go into that forest until further notice.”

“We will remain here to see if we can gather information.” He saluted again. “Sir, Belzinth, Sir.” The remaining rectangle retracted into the crystal ball.

“Grimhidoir, what was the name of that dispeller?”

“I believe her name was Vivian.”

"She is alive but unreachable then. Galorex is likely dead as well." Belzinth raised his hand. "All in favor of of Summoning a new hero and releasing the heroes of old.“ He counted than lowered his hand. "Ten in favor. All opposed." 

Repose raised her hand. “It just sounds like too much work and it looks like whatever is out there is also helping us defeat the Brass Armada.”

Chance raised his hand as well. “I ain’t placing any bets till I see the flop.”

Sister Mahou, her wrinkled face mostly covered by a habit, raised her hand. “I will not condone using a person as bait but I will aid in releasing those poor souls trapped in that godless, eternal slumber.”

“Any others?” Belzinth looked around the room. "Anybody who wishes to change their votes?"

No one raised their hand.

“Well then, with a vote of ten to three, we will summon another hero then begin work on releasing the old heroes. Those of you opposed are free to return to your people or you are welcome to remain here. The great country of Speluem will always have its doors open to you.” He opened his arms wide.

“I'll stay, but know I’m foldin’ at the first sign of things goin’ bad. I ain’t puttin’ myself or my people at unnecessary risk.”

“I shall remain here to assist with freeing those poor, lost souls.”

“I want to see how things go so I’ll stay for now.” Repose stretched while she yawned.

“Before we adjourn, are there any other orders of business?”

No one raised their hands or spoke up.

“Work begins immediately then. I will meet up with you all again after I send reinforcements to the Grave Forest. For those of you who are participating, the guards will show you to the summoning room. The others know their way to their rooms or the public areas.”

The mages grabbed their staffs and began to leave, starting with the one nearest the door and ending with Belzinth.

He looked at the ceiling on his way out. “What sort of monster are we up against?”