Dark Side of the Moon

The Dark Side of the Moon

By Gilean Majere

           Those of the FreeSoul belief, state that there is no death within this shared dreamscape we call Underlight.  The closest one can get to death in our shared consciousness, is an art called Dreamstrike.  Dreamstrike causes a dreamer to never manifest on the Dreamscape again.

           Dreamstrike's effects are still debated.  Many Illuminates believe that Dreamstrike destroys a Dreamer's soul, effectively killing them on the waking world of Cloudsbreak.  FreeSouls hold to the belief that Dreamstrike merely blocks the Dreamer's consciousness from joining the rest of us here in the City of Dreams.

           The point of debate about whether or not it truly kills the dreamers themselves is almost moot.

           As we all know, the boundary mists have divided Cloudsbreak into millions of shards.  The Awakening into Underlight is still considered rare.  It is very seldom that there is more than one dreamer on a given shard.  The victim will never be seen by their close friends in the Dream again, and will be relegated back to having only their lonely, dreary everyday life on Cloudsbreak.

           Being pulled away from your closest friends, your life, and all you know - never to return.  Many would consider that no different from death at all.

           Nolan smiled warmly at the gathering of dreamers assembled in the Celebration Hall.  Today was a great day for the Order of the Sable Moon.  This dream would see the numbers of the Great House of Underlight increased by two.  The majority of the house had come to attend the Initiation of two dreamers, Choanna and Tarren.

           The subjects of interest stood next to each other by the entryway, whispering back and forth.  They scanned the assemblage every few moments, clearly nervous.  During their mentoring into the house they had met with each and every house member, and knew most of them quite well.  Yet, they had never seen such a large gathering at once within the dreamscape.

           One's appearance within the dreamscape is not always how one looks when awake.  Our subconscious crafts an avatar around our consciousness, formed from our thoughts and self-image.  Some dreamers appear as everyday people, while yet others have manifested in the forms of wolves and cats.  Generally, though, one appeared much as they did within Cloudsbreak.

           Choanna Lyndasia was an almost timid young lass.  She was pale of complexion, with long brown hair braided tightly behind her.  She had inquiring green eyes, which seemed to absorb everything she saw.  She wore a simple, plain jade-colored dress that accentuated her eyes with stunning effect.  She seemed to almost radiate with happiness and excitement.

           Beside her, Tarren was a lesson in contrast.  Tarren was a gaunt, lithe fellow.  He wore a faded brown tunic and pants under a loose black cloak.  He had midnight hair with piercing black eyes.  He seemed to gauge everything with an assessing glance.

           Nolan stepped up to the podium and raised his hands, bringing silence to the crowd.  Nolan cut an impressive figure behind the podium.  He was quite tall, with neatly groomed brown hair.  He had deep brown eyes, almost black.  He wore a large robe, patterned with gold, earth, and sable hues.  Around his neck hung a pendant, the crest of the Order of the Sable Moon.  The symbol of the house was abyssal, the crest itself blue, denoting him a Ruler of the Order.  Pinned to his robe was another symbol at his left breast, a perfectly black circular pin.

           The gathered dreamers grew quiet, and watched Nolan respectfully.  He was but one of the circle of Rulers, but some would argue he was the most respected within the house.  The other Rulers and Guardians stood behind him, watching the ceremony impassively.

           "Initiates of the Sable Moon" he said, his gaze roaming to include all of them.  "We are gathered here today to welcome two more members into our growing family.  Choanna, Tarren, would you both please step forward?"

           Choanna smiled nervously at the mention of her name, and timidly started forward.  Tarren strode forward firmly and purposely.  Choanna blushed a little, and hurried to keep up with him.  A few steps forward, they stopped in front of the podium.  Tarren knelt on one knee facing Nolan.  Choanna looked questioningly between Tarren and Nolan, and then knelt down beside him.

           “The Order of the Sable Moon is a house dedicated to study and knowledge.” Nolan began.  “We seek to learn all that there is to know of the Dreamscape, and search for a method to rid the Dream of the Nightmares that plague it.  We seek to continue the noble pursuit of the Trinity Brethren, as did Cybelle before us.  Are these your beliefs, as well?”

           Tarren and Choanna nodded together.

           “Do you swear to respect and honor your Rulers and Guardians, and to treat yourself and the house with honor, nobility, and respect?”

           Tarren and Choanna nodded again.

           “Then rise, Initiates Tarren, and Choanna.”  Roland said.  He extended a hand towards both of them, holding out two blue and white crests hanging from a chain.  The reverently took them, and placed them over their heads.  The shining blue crests sparkled brightly.

           The entire room then erupted in applause for the two newest Initiates of the Moon.

           Mengo paced impatiently back and forth across the facade of House Calenture.  He nodded to each initiate as they entered and departed the house, but did not stop to talk.  He solemnly continued to pace back and forth, waiting for his shift to end.

           As a Guardian of House Calenture, he was not required to stand guard.  Normally such duty was only required of the Initiates of the house, the Guardians and Rulers being busy with other house necessities.  But Mengo insisted on pulling his own shift as front guard.  He felt no reason his elevated position should absolve him of the responsibilities of an Initiate.

           Thus far, his shift had been entirely uneventful.  People coming for meetings, and to visit their friends.  A couple dreamers had stopped by to donate some talismans to the house, but another Initiate took them.  All in all, a very quiet dream.

           Unfortunately for Mengo, that silence wouldn't last until the end of his shift.

           A dark black shape appeared at the entry portal, and immediately flew towards the nearest Initiate.  The poor dreamer was petrified in fear as the shadowy form pounced upon him.  Dark claws raised in the air, slashing and swiping at the hapless dreamer.  The dreamer screamed in pain, and then collapsed.  His avatar fell to pieces under the assault, gathering in an essence on the floor.  The dreamer's corporeal form, a small floating orb, floated above the essence.  The soulsphere then floated quickly up towards the step and into the house.

           Everyone stared on in shock at the suddenness of the attack, and the rapidity with which the dreamer was collapsed.  The shadow leapt over towards another dreamer, and slashed at him.  That dreamer screamed in pain, and fell to the ground.  The second attack shocked everyone to their feet at the same time. 

           Mengo focused his strength, and formed a blade into existence in his hand.  He focused a second more on his avatar, ensuring that his movements would remain fluid, and strengthening his resolve for the attack to come.  He then raised his head, and charged forward at the shadowed form.

           The shadow was yet another DarkMare.  The dream started as a peaceful place, until the tampering of the Entropy Coalition.  In their mission to fight back against the Dreamstrike Masters, the unleashed the devastation of the Nightmares on the Dreamscape.  What exactly the Nightmares are, is still up to debate, and only the Entropy Coalition themselves would know.  What we do know is that they are beasts, intent on ravaging the Dreamscape and destroying any and all dreamers they happen across.

           The DarkMares were the strongest, most intelligent and cunning of these Nightmares.  With powers to rival even the strongest dreamers, they were near invincible.  Only through coordinated fighting and defense were dreamers able to defeat them.

           Mengo recognized this particular DarkMare.  It was in a form referred to as a Shamblix.  A floating, cowled figure with scythe shaped claws.  The mere glance of it would paralyze an unprepared dreamer with fear.  This precise DarkMare was known to go by the name of Kuldrym, and was strong enough to rival even his master Tehthu, Lord of the DarkMares.

           Mengo leapt at Kuldrym, his blade slashing towards the vulnerable spot on its back.  Kuldrym reared back suddenly, and swung a claw, deflecting the blow.  Mengo fell back, and Kuldrym immediately leapt at him.  A swift swipe of Kuldrym's claw sent the blade flying from Mengo's hand.  Without his willpower to hold the blade together, it dissolved in midair.  A second swipe went across Mengo's chest. 

           Mengo fell to the ground, and tried to pull another weapon from his pack.  Kuldrym gave him no such respite.  The DarkMare raised his claws to the sky, and glowed briefly for a moment.  The room grew a dark orange shade, and flames suddenly rained through the air.  Howls and screams of pain rang throughout the main entrance.

           Mengo floated inches above his essence.  He looked around and noticed, sadly, that everyone in the room had been collapsed.  The DarkMare floated around the room, stooping over and gathering all the dreamer essences.

           The Firestorm wrought by the DarkMare was impressive.  Mengo could think of no dreamer who could cause as much damage as that did.  It had collapsed the entire room in a matter of seconds.  They would have no chance to stand against a Dark such as this.  He hoped within himself that the Dark would not go inside.  No one was prepared at the least inside, and such havoc would be wrought.

           The Dark did not go inside, however.  Content with the carnage, it turned and left through the portal.  Mengo mumbled quietly to himself, and floated back inside to restore his coherence.

           Choanna blinked her eyes in the morning sun, and yawned deeply.  She pulled the covers a little tighter around her neck, and rolled onto her side.  Her husband, Marr Lyndasia, was still sound asleep beside her.  She leaned over and pressed her face against his back, closing her eyes in contentment.

           She couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.  Whereas she had the communal dream of Underlight each night, he slept his nights away in dreamless sleep.  She would regale him with stories from the dream each morning when she awoke, while they began their daily chores.  He was always interested in the activities in the dream, especially those of his loving wife.

           Their two daughters were unable to dream as well.  She always harbored hope that some day, at least, another within her family would share the awakening, so that she might share the dream with someone.  Sadly, the awakening was still very rare within her shard.

           To be honest, she was the only one.

           Marr's breathing changed a little, and she grinned to herself.  He rolled over, and wrapped her in his arms.  Slowly opening his eyes, he smiled warmly at her.  He leaned down a little, and placed a warm kiss on her forehead.  She grinned happily, and snuggled closer to him.

           Sure, her nightly dreams were wonderful.  Nothing, however, could replace the happiness she had with Marr.  She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat within his chest, content to let the dream wait until tonight.

           Solus stood in the facade of the Order of the Sable Moon.  He was an elderly man, leaning slightly on a bent staff.  Wrinkles cascaded across his face.  Pale blue eyes seemed to almost shine with intelligence, their luster having dimmed a bit with age.  He wore the crest of a Ruler of the Order around his neck, and had a black circular pin attached to his brown cloth robes.

           He glanced appraisingly at the approaching Guardian of Calenture.  The young man was tall, and walked with an aire of assurance.   He had blond hair, and strong facial features.  Judging by the amulet worn around his neck, it would have been safe to assume that he was a GateKeeper.  The fact was supported by the two red and gold chakrams strung through his belt.  Chakrams of that type were usable only by GateKeepers.

           He nodded a greeting to the fellow as he reached the bottom of the steps.

           "Greetings, young fellow.  I am Solus, Ruler of the Moon." He said, politely.  "How may we assist you today, Guardian of our ally, House Calenture?"

           The dreamer lowered his head slowly, narrowly hiding a sneer of disdain.  He nodded a greeting towards Solus.

           "Sir," Mengo began, "last evening, our house was beset by the DarkMare Kuldrym.  We sent pages to the Order, and set out on a hunt of the beast.  Several houses joined in our search for him.  Alas, he was never found, and has surely escaped the Dreamscape back into Chaos by now."

           The dreamer's face turned somewhat angry at this point.

           "However, what I have come to state is that none of your members joined in this search.  That is in direct violation of the alliance formed by the FreeSoul houses.  When one comes under attack, all are to lend assistance.  Explain your absence."

           Solus' face creased sharply.

           "My dear sir.  Last evening, we were holding an Initiation into our house.  When your page arrived, we did shut down the Initiation and began preparing to assist you.  We headed toward your house to lend assistance, but by that time you were all scattered amongst the dream.  We fell back to the house and sent one dreamer to each house.  We planned to wait for the Mare, and alert any if he came to attack another house.  While your house and members were off scouring the wilderness of the Dreamscape for the Dark, we were guaranteeing it would not harm another of the houses."

           Mengo's face paled a little, but he soon recovered.

           "All is fine then.  Please, in the future, inform us of your actions.  I would hate for disrespect to arise between our houses due to a misinterpretation of intent.  Safe dreams to you, and all your members."

           Mengo turned abruptly, and departed through the portal.

           Solus muttered to himself, and hobbled up the stairs.  Nolan was going to want to know of this.  Things were always tenuous with the House of Calenture anyway; they needed no little disputes to stir things up.  He fingered the black circle pin on his lapel.

           This Kuldrym sounded powerful, indeed.  Able to collapse the majority of House Calenture with merely a single Firestorm.  Truly impressive.  Something worth studying.

           Nolan fumed inside the Ruler's chambers.  The other Rulers of the Moon, Solus, Eowyn, and Piro sat opposite him.  Solus sighed resignedly as Nolan grumbled and stomped around.  Eowyn and Piro looked at each other questioningly.

           Eowyn was the only female Ruler of the moon.  She had long golden hair, and wore a gold and white dress.  Bits of armor were attached to the dress; a bodice, shoulder guards, a chainmail belt, and she wore knee-high boots with golden studs attached to it.  Decorative armor, far from functional.  Eowyn was not a fighter, but a diplomat.  While her garment may not provide much benefit in warfare, her appearance was stunning.  She was able to impress people with merely a glance.

           Piro was clearly the opposite.  Dressed in a faded brown tunic and worn work clothes, he seemed a simple and honest man.  He had green eyes, ringed with a thin of fiery red around the irises.  He had cleanly cut black hair, and usually wore a smile.  A jovial FateSender, he seldom hesitated for a joke.  However today, the FateSender was not grinning.

           "Threaten our alliance, will he!?" Nolan shouted.  "I'll take this to his Rulers, and we'll see just..."

           Solus held up a hand.

           "It's been taken care of, Nolan.  There is no more need for concern about it."

           "No need for concern?!" Nolan said incredulously, "A Guardian of Calenture had the nerve to question our honor!  What do you mean 'no need for concern', old man?"

           Solus sighed resignedly.

           "Nolan, there are more important things to focus on at the moment.  The Dark, for instance."

           Nolan growled, and sat down.

           "Yes, you are correct.  The Dark is more important than a presumptuous Guardian."

           "Has anyone seen this DarkMare before?" Solus asked, turning from Nolan to the other Rulers.

           Eowyn and Piro shook their heads.

           "I haven't heard anything from the other houses about this one at all." Eowyn said.

           "I do know" Piro stated, "that he got into a scuffle with some of the FreeSpirits.  A couple times, actually.  The houses were never summoned, though..." Piro looked down.  "The Dark collapsed them all and was gone before anyone thought of seeking help.  He seems to be a rather vicious sort."

           "So has anyone ever managed to fight him off?  To collapse him?" Solus asked, curiously.

           Piro and Eowyn glanced at each other, shaking their heads.

           "No one?!" Nolan asked, incredulously. 

           He rose to his feet, and stomped a few steps away.  Pausing, he turned back towards the Circle of Rulers.  His eyes smoldered with an inner fire.

           "I want this Dark's essence, and I want it now."

           Nolan walked into the Celebration Hall, Solus hobbling along behind him to keep up.

           "So how progress our other studies, Nolan?" Selos asked, quietly.

           Nolan unconsciously fingered the black circular pin attached to his robes.

           "The Sable Guild has been active, Solus." he said quietly.  "I have begun seeking out a teacher to train me in the advanced methods of Drain Essence.  I seem to be nearing a breakthrough in that area, but have nothing to report on yet.  Our... 'agent'... has already procured 2 of the items we are seeking.  They are on the trail of the remaining ones, and I have full faith that we shall posses all of them within the month."

           Solus nodded.  "Good to hear.  Have you informed the other Rulers of our plans?  Or do we still operate in secret from them?"

           Nolan laughed darkly.  "Those two fools?  Do you have any idea how they would react if they knew what we were pursuing?  Think for a little bit, old man.  No, we still operate beyond their knowledge, and it shall remain that way.  There is no need for them to know of our presence, it concerns them not."

           Nolan paused, hearing footsteps approaching.  He turned, and smiled in greeting.

           Choanna walked through the Celebration Hall.  Coming to a stop before Nolan and Solus, she curtsied politely.

           "Greetings, Master Nolan, Master Solus!" she greeted happily.  Nolan and Solus bowed their heads in return.

           "Greetings to you again, Lady Choanna." Nolan said, cordially.  "How may we assist you this evening?  Have you been having any problems in our fair house so far?"

           Choanna shook her head, smiling.

           "No, by far no.  Everyone has been absolutely wonderful to me, and very supportive." Choanna said, happily.  "In fact, that is partially what brings me to you.  I believe that I am ready, and I request a task to attain my Second Sphere."

           Nolan looked at her appraisingly.

           "A Sphere task is nothing to be undertaken lightly." He cautioned.  "It is a great deal of work.  But it will also open up new paths of the dream to you."

           Choanna nodded. 

           "Yes, I am prepared for a difficult task.  I will strive to do my best."

           Nolan nodded toward her.

           "Very well, then.  Let me think upon this, and I shall get back to you with an appropriate task."

           "Thank you much, sir.  I shall eagerly await your summons." Choanna replied with a curtsy.  She turned and began to walk away.

           Nolan's face suddenly took on a look of inspiration.

           "Choanna, wait." he called.

           Choanna paused, turned, and walked back to the Rulers.

           "Yes, Master Nolan?"

           "I have devised a task for you." He stated, solemnly.  "We are a house of study.  We are seeking to study the essence of this new DarkMare Kuldrym.  I task you to attain its essence for the house to study."

           Choanna blanched, and gulped nervously.

           "Is this too difficult of a task?" Nolan asked, his eyebrow raised skeptically.

           Choanna shook her head.

           "No, Master Nolan.  I shall accomplish it post-haste." she replied, then turned and departed.

           Nolan turned to Solus, who was standing aside, clucking his tongue.

           "I cannot believe the danger you just put our newest Initiate in, Nolan." he said, disapprovingly.

           "Danger?" Nolan replied.  "Pah!  Danger.  There is no death in the Dreamscape.  And she does not even have to combat the Dark, merely attain its essence.  Look on it as a test of her intelligence.  If she is stupid enough to go toe-to-toe with the Dark at only her First Sphere, then she deserves every collapse she receives."

           Solus sighed, still shaking his head.

           "I can see no good to come from this." he sighed, and walked away.

           Tarren waited in the shadows of the Vault.  He smiled grimly to himself as dreamers wandered in and out.  He could tell from the way they glanced around and fingered their Vision alterors, that they could sense someone was in here.  They just couldn't find who.

           One truly inquisitive dreamer wandered around for the better part of a half-hour, poking into each corner, checking under the water, using up two or three Vision alterors.  Tarren had merely chuckled to himself and crept along behind the dreamer, hugging the shadows against the wall.

           Finally, the man he was waiting for stepped in.  Tarren emerged from the shadows, greeting him.

           "Nolan."

           Nolan jerked a little in surprise, but recovered quickly.

           "Tarren.  I trust you have a good reason for leaping from the shadows as such?"

           Tarren nodded, and reached inside his vest.  He pulled out a small, odd-looking elemen.

           "The Alteror of Aprillic, as requested, milord." Tarren said, handing the talisman towards Nolan.  Nolan took the item, and swiftly put it inside his own cloak, his eyes gleaming hungrily.

           "Well done, Initiate Tarren." He said, congratulating him.  "Soon we shall have enough of the pieces we'll never have to worry about the Codex of Immortal Dreams being assembled again."

           Tarren nodded sagely.  "I shall do all in my power to ensure that the art of Dreamstrike is never loosed upon the Dreamscape again, sir."

           Nolan nodded absentmindedly, already starting toward the portal.

           "Yes, yes.  Please try to get the remaining pieces.  I do not like them being left unsafe in the other houses."  Nolan said, and walked out through the portal.

           Tarren sighed, and slipped back into the shadows.

           A small army of dreamers walked in a crowd along Evernight Plateau.  Ten dreamers walking along in little to no formation.  It was an odd assortment of dreamers, with varied house crests being displayed.  Each glanced around as they walked, nervously fingering their blades or chakrams.

           Choanna trailed along behind them, nearly paralyzed with fear.

           Kuldrym had been sensed within the Dream, but none were able to sense his exact location.  The call had gone out to the FreeSoul Alliance, and members had scattered from each house to search for the DarkMare.

           Hearing of this, Choanna had trudged along.  With any luck, she would be able to barter with whomever collapsed the DarkMare in exchange for the essence.  Nolan hadn't required she be the one to collapse it, merely that its essence be attained.

           She looked up, noticing that a Guardian of House Calenture had slowed down to her pace.  She recognized him from the house a few days prior.  He was the dreamer who had spoken in such rude tones to Solus.  His name was Mengo, as she recalled.

           "So, you seem like you're getting cold feet?" Mengo said.

           She turned her head away haughtily.

           "Well, just know that once the fighting starts, you're on your own." Mengo said, with a sneer.  "We're fighting one of the strongest DarkMares ever seen in the dream, and won't have time to baby-sit.  I hope you can restore or something, so you'll be at least partially useful."

           Choanna pointedly ignored him, and Mengo shrugged.

           "Always free to run away home." he said.  He picked up his pace, and returned to the forward group.

           Choanna glanced upward at the stars in the night sky, and sighed inwardly to herself.  Yes, she was free to run away home.  But running away home would be a disservice to herself, her friends, and her house.  They all deserved better than that.  She trudged onward after the pack of dreamers.

           Suddenly, shouts began falling back from in front of her.  Choanna rushed ahead, trying to catch up with the group of dreamers, when the sounds of battle began filtering back to her. 

           From the shadows in the road ahead rose a dark, menacing form.  Eyes glimmered a shining bloody red within a cowled cloak.  Scythe-like arms reached from the sleeves of a worn shirt.  Below, trailing amidst strips of torn cloth, a spine sprouted like a perverse tail.

           They had found the Shamblix Kuldrym.

           Kuldrym leapt amongst the dreamers.  Prepared, they were not paralyzed by his gaze this time.  They fought against their fear and held their ground.  Regardless, he slashed and sliced, mowing through the dreamers as a demented farmer reaping a harvest.  Dreamsoul trailed from the ends of his claws, and essences began falling freely around him.

           Choanna dashed back against a wall, and began attempting to restore some of the dreamers.  Soulspheres floated around the battlefield, shouting curses and threats at the vicious mare.  One by one, Choanna brought shape and form back to them, and they rejoined the fray.

           Kuldrym fought off the dreamers effortlessly.  No matter how many went at him, he still seemed almost uninjured.  Soulspheres began to float off after they were collapsed, off to seek help.  Kuldrym continued attacking anyone foolish enough to attack him.

           As the attacks slowed down and became less hectic, Kuldrym's glowing red eyes began to dart around the darkened plane.  Choanna froze as she saw the Mare's eyes land on her, and gleam with a sickening glow.  The pit fell out of her stomach.

           With a roar, almost reminiscent of glee, the DarkMare raged toward her.  Choanna turned and started to run, but tripped and fell to the ground over her own feet.  She rolled over just in time to see Kuldrym rise above her.  He raised his arms high in the air.

           Having no chakrams, blades, or any other form of self-defense, Choanna did what came naturally to her.  She raised her arm in defense, and tried to push the DarkMare back.

           Kuldrym pulled his claws back, and lunged forward.  Her arm disappeared beneath the cowl.

           Choanna let loose a scream of intense pain.  The other dreamers, slowly restoring and healing themselves, dashed forward to attack the DarkMare. 

           Kuldrym opened his mouth, releasing Choanna.  She fell to the ground, pale and dazed.  He turned back toward the approaching dreamers, and raised his claws into an attacking position again.

           Choanna looked at her arm in a daze.  She saw rows of pinpricks, holes poked into her avatar.  She saw the skin around her arm glow a dull green.  She heard a low murmur.  She looked up, and watched disinterestedly as the Dark attacked the dreamers.  One after another, they fell to his slashing swipes.  She began to hear quiet voices inside her mind, talking to her.

           "Weakling..."

           "You can't protect them..."

           "You have dishonored us all..."

           Her head rolled a little to the side, and everything began to grow dark.

           "Give in..."

           "You can do nothing more..."

           "Allow me..."

           "Allow us."

           The dreamscape grew dark around her, and Choanna thought no more.

           Mengo entered the facade of the Order of the Sable Moon, with a formal aire.  He carried a small bundle in his hands, wrapped in a black cloth.  He stepped down the stairs, and made his way towards the steps, stopping at the bottom.  He looked at the Initiates gathered around, and cleared his throat.

           “Would I be able to speak with a Ruler?” he asked, quietly.

           One of the Initiates nodded, and dashed inside.  She returned shortly, followed through the portal by Nolan.  Nolan looked at Mengo, and nodded a greeting.  He descended the steps and stood in front of him.

           “How may I help you this evening, Guardian of Calenture?”

           Mengo looked a bit uncomfortable.  He looked down at the bundle he carried in his hands.

           “I came to deliver this to your house.  Your initiate, Choanna, was following us this evening.  We tracked Kuldrym, and engaged him in battle.  At first, he battered us senseless…” Mengo said, frowning. 

           “Choanna attracted the Dark’s attention long enough for us to regroup.  I fear she was injured grievously in the encounter.  At least, it seemed so.  She fell to the ground, and the Dark turned its attention back to us.  We held him off for a good while.  He was still stronger than us.”

           Mengo paused for a moment, and sighed.

           “I fear he would have defeated us thoroughly and utterly, had not Choanna intervened again.  She rose from the ground, with a strange gleam in her eyes.  She formed a blade in her hand, and leapt on the Dark.  The Dark fought savagely, but Choanna managed to dodge and parry.  She alone collapsed the Dark, I know not how.  As soon as the Dark collapsed, however, she woke.  I came to deliver this essence to you, so that you may return it to her.  The victory is hers, so goes the trophy.”

           Mengo extended his hand holding the small bundle.

           Nolan’s eyes gleamed hungrily, and he reached for it.  He took the bundle and held it tightly, turning back to Mengo.  He nodded thankfully.

           “Your gesture is appreciated, noble Guardian.  It shall be returned to her safely when next she dreams.  I thank you for your honorable deed.”

           Mengo looked strangely at Nolan, but nodded.

           “Quite.  Safe trails to you, Ruler of the Moon.” Mengo replied.  He turned, and quietly departed the Order.

           Choanna slowly opened her eyes as the sun shone in through the window.  She yawned, and stretched out on the bed.  She smiled, hearing her husband snoring beside her.  She rolled over and put her arms around him, pressing her head against his back.  Something sticky pushed against her face, and she pulled back.

           She gasped as she looked at her husband’s back.  There were scratches all up and down his back, some still bleeding a little.  She pulled her hands to her face, to cover her mouth to keep from screaming.  It didn’t help.  There was blood covering her fingers, and bits of flesh caught in her fingernails.

           Her husband rolled over a little, and whimpered quietly in pain.  A tortured look crossed his face.

           How could she have done this?  How, what could have caused her to inflict pain on her husband?

           She heard her twin daughters playing around in the main room of the house.  The sound of them playing together usually brought a warm feeling to her heart.  Today, they simply brought a cold fear into her stomach.  If something had happened, causing her to bring such pain on her husband… what might befall her beloved children?

           She quietly got up from the bed, threw a gown around her, and walked outside to the well.  She drew a bucket of water up, and began scrubbing her hands.

           Why wouldn’t the blood come off?

           Solus hobbled along the hallways of the Order, leaning heavily on his cane.  He smiled warmly at each member he passed, nodding a polite greeting.  Everyone smiled seeing him, and returned his greetings respectfully.  He slowly made his way through the Courtyard, and into the Ruler's Areas.

           He entered a portal, and nodded a greeting to Nolan.

           Nolan stood in a corner of the room, arranging some items on a table.  Alterors and Elemens were strewn on the table in front of him, and he was examining an essence that lay before him carefully.  Above the table was hung a small sable circle.  The black circle was identical to that which they both wore upon their chest.  The sign of their secret circle of the Sable Guild.

           The Sable Guild was a sub-sect of the house, devoted to study.  They were devoted to studying the subjects the house didn't want known it was studying.  The Codex of Immortal Dreams.  Drain Essence.  Dreamstrike.  The Chaos Chakram.  All studied for the benefit of the house, in secret so that the houses image wouldn't be tarnished.

           Or so Nolan had told him, when he talked him into forming this group.

           They had continued research apace for a long time now, in secrecy from the other rulers and initiates.  They'd made several interesting discoveries, too.  Solus had disproved the notion that Draining Essence was inherently addictive.  Plus, the third member of their group had managed to deliver four pieces of the Codex of Immortal Dreams for study.

           As of yet, though, Solus had seen none of the information discovered disclosed to the house in any form.  Nolan kept all discoveries secret to himself, telling them that the information would be made public to the house 'when the time was right'.

           "The essence was delivered to the house last night."  Nolan said over his shoulder, without lifting his gaze from the essence.  "A Calenturian Guard brought it in, claiming that Choanna collapsed it."

           "Oh?" Solus said, interested.  "That young lass?  She defeated it, when no one else could?  Wonderful!  I presume there will be a Sphering ceremony when she next dreams?"

           Nolan smirked.

           "Come now.  Do you think I honestly believe she could have collapsed Kuldrym?  She's surely made some arrangement with this Calenturian fellow.  She's not so un-attractive to not be able to come to some arrangement.  Your bones may be old, my friend, but surely even your blood must stir a little.  Regardless of the fact the essence was delivered unto us, I do not think such is a fitting way to complete a Sphere task."

           "Shouldn't you ask her and investigate this matter before drawing such conclusions?"

           "Ask her?  Pah!  If she's willing to stoop to such methods to complete a simple task, I do not think lying will come to her with any difficulty whatsoever.  And as chaotic as that battle sounded when I was told of it, I doubt even eyewitnesses will be able to vouch for who did and did not destroy the Dark."

           "I can't believe any of our members would stoop to such depths, Nolan." Solus replied, shaking his head.

           Nolan laughed sharply, and then smiled patronizingly at Solus.

           "Well, I will look into the matter then, if you insist.  But until such time as I am satisfied, the Sphere shall not be granted.  If you don't mind now, my friend, I would like to return to studying this essence."  Nolan lowered his head and returned to intently studying the essence in front of him.

           Solus shook his head, and walked out of the room.

           Choanna felt restless as she fell asleep that afternoon.  Her husband and children had acted nervously all day, avoiding her whenever possible.  They didn't speak much to her, and kept darting suspicious looks at her whenever she entered the room.

           Her husband had taken the children with him to work today.  She'd spent most of the day laying around the house, crying.  She'd finally lain down in front of the fireplace, and drifted off into the lucid dreaming of the Dreamscape.

           As the real world blacked out around her, the dreamscape slowly brightened and came into focus.  She felt herself drawing the dreamsoul of the Dreamscape around her, forming her avatar.  The Courtyard of Awakening snapped into focus, portals leading to all the rooms of Threshold.

           Her arm stung a little, and she looked down at it.  She gasped, and recoiled in shock.

           When one forms their avatar in the Dream, it is usually done unconsciously.  One's avatar mirrors their mental self-image of themselves.  You can manipulate and mold your avatar to look however you desire it, but such is hard work and most often do not bother with it.

           Her arm, where Kuldrym had bitten it, was discolored.  It was tinged abyssal, and the skin seemed to be wet and glistening.  Small scales had appeared around the holes where his teeth had punctured her.  Even more shocking was that the teeth marks were still evident.

           The anomaly was not large, only about a handbreadth.  But the fact that something could have damaged her avatar beyond her control even in the smallest amount distressed Choanna.  She closed her mind and tried to focus on changing her avatar, healing the anomaly.

           "It's no use..." a voice spoke softly.

           She turned around, searching for the sound of the voice.

           "Who are you?" she shouted in a panic.  "Where are you?  Did you do this?"

           "I suppose you could say that I did this." the voice replied, with a hint of laughter in its voice.  "But then I suppose you could also say that you did it yourself."

           "What do you mean?" Choanna shouted, angrily.  "Explain yourself!"

           But the voice disappeared, and Choanna was left alone.

           Tarren focused his thoughts, and evoked chamele multiple times.  He was good at finding his way around places, and loosing himself in the shadows.  But every little bit that makes you more difficult to detect helps.

           Chamele is an interesting art.  It allows those with great insight to make themselves invisible to the naked eye.  Any quick movement or attack brings you into focus immediately.  Tarren had no plans for violence, at least not immediate violence.  He only needed to get into the Union of the Covenant.

           Now transparent, he slipped into the facade of the Union.  A crowd of dreamers was gathered, which was fortunate for him.  Dreamers can usually sense when other dreamers draw near.  If it had been only one or two people standing guard they would have sensed him, and tried to heighten their vision in order to see him.  With this many people, however, it was a simple feat to slip past them into the house.

           He paused for a moment on the steps, to make sure the guards had not noticed him amidst the throng.  He listened to their conversation for a moment.

           "So I'm telling her, I think it was just some FateSender's idea of a prank."

           "But, you've got to admit, whatever the reasons for it, it's pretty impressive."

           "What, an eye that can paralyze people when they happen to look right at it?  On a pillar that raises it so high above the average line of sight that you have to try to look at it purposefully?  Bah.  Should have put their efforts towards something more practical."

           "Like what?  Let me guess... another item font?"

           "Well, you've got to admit, it *would* be a heck of a lot more useful than some be-damned jeweled decorative eye thing."

           "That pillar was placed by the Lake of Tears as a tribute, I'm sure they had some reason to put it there."

           Tarren listened intently, but forced himself to move on.  The guards clearly had not noticed him, but their conversation was intriguing.  A forged item that could paralyze dreamers with but a glance?  And a jewel of that size would be impressive, regardless!  It was definitely something to look into later.  He filed it in the back of his head, and slipped past the guards.

           Once inside, he evoked a different art, one given the name of Mind Blank.  Dreamers are able to sense where others are also by their thoughts.  They can be sensed anywhere in the dream, and the closer you draw to them, the more precise their location is.  Here in the house, if anyone began searching for him they would find him in seconds.  Not if they weren't able to locate him.  Mind Blank cloaked your thoughts, and made them untraceable.

           Fully hidden, he walked along the wall.  No sense walking through the middle of the room.  If someone happened along and bumped into him, all his work so far would be for nothing.  He stepped a few rooms further in, and knelt down in a dark corner.

           He reached inside his vest, and drew out a small black pouch.  Setting it down, he reached behind his neck and undid the clasp holding his emblem for the Order of the Sable Moon.  He opened the black pouch, and placed the amulet inside.  He then pulled a different piece from inside.  Another amulet, much the same as the one for the Order.  However, this symbol bore the design of the Union of the Covenant, and was colored abyssal and blue.  The crest granting entrance to the Ruler's chambers.

           Tarren smiled wryly to himself.  It was good having friends in high places.  He slipped the amulet around his neck, and stuffed the pouch back inside his vest.  He stood back up, and crept along the wall.  He'd been lucky so far not to run into anyone.  If he could make it through this last room, he should be home free.

           He crept along the wall towards the final portal.  Taking a deep breath, he slipped through.  He exhaled in relief.  The room was still empty.  He gave up all pretense of secrecy, and dashed forward, looking all around the room.  Spying his goal in a far corner, he grinned.  An elemen crafted in beige and sand.

           The Alteror of Denak.  The fifth talisman he had obtained for the Order of the Sable Moon.

           He slipped the talisman in his cloak, and dashed towards the portal.  He concentrated for a moment right outside, and ensured that his chamele and mind blank would last sufficient enough time for him to make his getaway.

           By the time he reached the main entrance, word had already spread throughout the house.  The guards were putting wards up on the main entrance, and yelling for everyone to remain where they were.  Tarren quickly dashed past them unobserved, and escaped freely out the main entrance.

           Choanna sat silently on the steps of the Order's facade.  Several initiates walked by, asking her what was wrong.  She didn't reply to them, and they slowly wandered off.  She had changed her avatar a little and was now wearing a long sleeved shirt, covering up her arm.

           Nolan walked out after awhile, and glanced in her direction.  With a disappointed look on his face, he walked over towards her.

           "Well, my dear.  It seems you may have accomplished your task, but I do question your method."

           Choanna looked up towards him in confusion.

           "What do you mean?"

           "Why," Nolan said curiously, "I mean your collection of Kuldrym's essence."

           "But I do not have the essence." Choanna said. "What are you talking about?"

           "No need to play coy, my dear." Nolan said.  "Your Calenturian friend delivered it to us last night."

           "Calenturian friend?"

           "I grow tired of this charade, Choanna." Nolan said, a hint of anger entering his voice.  "You were a part of the group hunting Kuldrym last evening.  Kuldrym was caught, combated, and collapsed.  The essence was brought to the house along with the statement that you were the one responsible for the collapse?"

           "Me?!" Choanna asked in exasperation, "Me, collapse that beast?  That blasted thing beat me senseless, and even managed to bite my arm!"

           She rolled up her sleeve and stuck her arm towards Nolan.  He peered curiously at the disfigured area, and returned his gaze to her.  His eyes narrowed a little, as if judging her.  Then he sighed.

           "I must admit, I do find that much easier to believe than you collapsing the Dark.  It was clearly a measured attempt on the part of the Calenturian to bring discord and questioning into our house, and it will be dealt with summarily."

           "On that note, sir, do you have any idea why the bite of that foul being would be affecting my avatar so?  Try as I might, I cannot..."

           Choanna's question was interrupted by shouts of terror and alarm.

           Nolan and Choanna's heads turned simultaneously towards the entryway.  Standing in the shadows of the portal was the very beast of which they spoke.  Glowing blood eyes peered from beneath the shadowed hood, gazing hungrily at Choanna.  The scythe-like hands twitched as if anticipation.

           Nolan reacted first, closing his eyes and focusing on the Dark.  Kuldrym roared as Nolan tried to paralyze it, to scare it, and to blind it.  He dared not firestorm with this many dreamers in the area.  Unfortunately, such considerations did not stop Kuldrym.

           The Dark raised his claws above him, and the entire area filled with scorching flames.  Many of the younger Initiates fell immediately before the onslaught, while the older and more experienced dreamers focused intently on just maintaining their coherence.

           Choanna tried to stand up, but darkness gathered around her.  She fell weakly to the steps.

           "You're not strong enough alone..."

           "But I am..."

           "We are..."

           "Your fellows are hurt..."

           "Allow us..."

           "Give in…"

           The darkness claimed Choanna.

           Nolan gave up on his arts; the Dark's chaotic nature protected it too well against any harm he might try to cause to it that way.  Instead, he pulled forth a high quality chakram.  It was time for more direct measures. 

           He turned towards Choanna, preparing to ask her for assistance, just in time to see her slump over.  He smirked to himself.  There was definitely no question now.  Someone who faints at the first sign of a Dark like that could surely never have been the one to collapse him.

           He rushed forward.  The Dark, seeing him coming, let up on his Firestorm.  The dreamers gathered about quickly healed themselves, and prepared to attack.

           Nolan dashed in circles around the Dark, flinging his chakram at the Mare every chance he got.  Shamblix mares were usually much weaker from behind, but could still sometimes be injured from the front.  The other Dreamers were coming now, too, attempting to surround the Dark.  With a concentrated attack, he was sure they could collapse it fairly quickly.

           He drew back his chakram to fling it again, but froze in shock.

           Choanna leapt through the air behind the Dark, brandishing her blade.  The blade sunk through the Dark's back, piercing clear through, and emerging in the front.  The Dark screamed in rage and pain, and flung Choanna off.  The blade remained stuck within the dark, but dissolved the second Choanna's hand released it.  She leapt to her feet, and formed another one quickly in her hands.

           Forgetting all about Nolan, the Dark whirled on Choanna.  He swung his bladed arms at her, but she deftly parried each blow.  She jumped backward just as he swung them both downward simultaneously.  His blades missed her, and sunk into the ground.  Then she deftly leapt over the DarkMare, sinking her blade in him from behind once again.

           The Dark swung around, but by now everyone was prepared and battle-ready.  Before it could launch another attack at Choanna, Dreamers all around began loosing their chakrams and arts on the beast.   The DarkMare collapsed, and its essence fell to a small pile on the floor.

           Nolan looked at her, trying to keep his mouth shut.  Was this the same dreamer whom only moments ago had fainted as this Dark entered.

           "Congratulations, my dear..." he said, hesitantly.  "I take back my statement.  You clearly are capable of handling this beast."

           "I still hunger..." Choanna said, in a hollow voice.  She turned towards Nolan, raised her blade, and advanced.  Nolan stepped back, and the world became a silver blur as her blade sped towards him.

           Choanna woke as the warm sun passed over her face.  She stretched, and slowly opened her eyes.  She rolled over to look toward her husband, and started in surprise.  The bed was empty.

           She took the room in with a glance, clearing her eyes.  Everything was torn asunder.  There were scratches in the wall, which looked as if they’d been ripped by a wild beast.  Red flecks covered the wall.

           Choanna slowly rose from the bed, trembling.  She shakily walked along the wall, hesitant to enter the next room.  Fearful of what she would find within.  Step by step, she crossed the ruined chamber.  Her foot stepped in a sticky substance, and she refrained from looking down at that.  Swallowing nervously, she finally reached the doorway.  She leaned through.

           Lying in the middle of the floor were two immobile bodies.  Their colorful dresses were torn with rips and tears, exposing pale, lifeless flesh underneath.  Blood seeped in a pool around tiny fingers lying motionless on the floor.  Once glowing faces peered at her with uncomprehending lifelessness.  Miniature legs lay at unnatural angles, bent in upon themselves.  A lone foot lay alone, torn from its limb.

           Choanna fell to her knees, a scream of pain welling up from deep in her soul.  The light slowly rose into the room from behind her, illuminating yet another horror.

           Her husband was pinned to the wall.  Sharp knives and scissors pinned him to the wall as a fly to paper.  His limbs were spread out, exposing him completely.  His toes and fingers had been cut off, and stuffed into his mouth.  His eyes were filled with wax, a half burnt candle lying on the floor nearby.  Blood streamed down the wall in rivulets, gathering into a small pool at the base of the wall.

           Choanna lay on the floor, sobbing heavily.   Pain welled up inside her.  She felt as if her heart and insides were preparing to burst from her chest.  She felt all warmth fade from her.  She felt her insides turn cold and numb.  Her heart became an icicle, her soul frost.  She continued crying, but eventually even her tears ran out, dry.

           She eventually rose to her feet and, mechanically, walked into the kitchen.  She picked up the mop and a bucket of water, and returned to the living room.  She began mopping up the pools of blood.  The water turned a murky red, and she changed it quickly.

           “It wasn’t me,” she repeated to herself.  “I didn’t do it, it was someone else.”

           By the evening sun, she filled in three graves in her backyard.

           “It wasn’t me,” she continued repeating to herself, as a litany.  “I didn’t do it, it was someone else.”

           “Yes, dear,” a voice inside her head spoke softly to her, “Just keep telling yourself that.”

           As the sun fell in Choanna’s world, she walked inside, and lay down on the cold bed.

           The Lyndasia family was no more.

           She was alone.

           Choanna slowly materialized with the inner chambers of the Order.  Taking a look at her wound, she stifled a sob.  Something had happened, but she couldn't explain it.  Ever since she was bitten by that Dark, she'd been feeling strange.  And now, someone had killed her family.

           She walked purposefully through the house.  She needed to find Nolan.  He was intelligent.  Surely he would have some idea what was behind all of this.  She waved towards some Initiates as she walked by, but they turned coldly from her.  She frowned in confusion, and continued on her search.

           Nolan and the rest of the Ruler's Circle were waiting for her inside the Celebration Hall.  Nolan gazed at her with open contempt.  Solus looked at her with pity, and sadness.  Eowyn frowned, looking her over assessingly.  Piro watched her warily, as if half expecting her to attack.

           "Master Nolan", Choanna said, "I would speak with you for a moment, if I may?  My arm has been troubling me greatly since I was bitten by Kuldrym, and"

           "SILENCE!" roared Nolan, furiously.

           Choanna jumped and fell silent, gazing at him uncomprehendingly.

           "Choanna, for your acts of violence against the House last night, you are hereby demoted from the Order of the Sable Moon.  You have brought great dishonor upon yourself, and this house.  You are no longer welcome here, and we demand that you leave immediately."

           He reached down and grabbed the Order's amulet around her neck, and pulled on it roughly.  The chain holding it around her neck snapped, and it came loose.  He pulled it from her, and squeezed it in his fist.  Motes of dreamsoul trickled from his fist as the amulet was crushed from existence.

           "But, Nolan, what are you talking..." Choanna stammered in confusion.

           "Eowyn?  Please have some of the guardians remove her.  Forcibly, if necessary."

           Two large dreamers bearing the crests of Guardians of the Order entered from a side portal.  Eowyn nodded toward Choanna in disgust, and the pair grabbed her by the arms.  They pulled her toward the portal.

           "Nolan!  Please wait!  Solus, listen to me!" Choanna cried, as she was pulled away.

           The guardians carried her, kicking and fighting, all the way through the house.  Once the reached the front portal and left the house, entering Trinity Rise, they tossed her to the ground.

           "Stay out, gutter trash.  Your backstabbing kind are not wanted here!" said the first guardian contemptuously.  He glared at her, then turned and stormed back through the portal.

           The second guard sighed sadly, watching the first guardian leave.  He turned to Choanna.

           "I find it hard to believe you did what they say you did, but, they are our Rulers.  Please don't return, Choanna.  Though I do not think you guilty, it will be my responsibility to fight you if you come back.  Go, and stay safe."

           He nodded curtly toward her, and stepped back through the portal.

           Choanna pulled herself into a sitting position against the nearby wall, and stared at the portal before her.  The closest friends she'd had in the Dreamscape, her home, her family, had just abandoned her.  Tossed her out into the cold like so much garbage.  No questions, no explanations, nothing.  She felt her insides turn bitter cold again.

           "Well, well... the world's just full of surprises today..." a quiet voice said inside her mind.

           "You're responsible for this, aren't you?" she said, quietly.

           "Me?  I tell you again, my dear.  We." the voice responded.

           "We who?  Who are you?"

           The voice laughed harshly.

           "Who am I?  I am you.  You are me.  We are ourselves."

           "I am not the same as you!" Choanna replied indignantly, "You are the one responsible for all this, aren't you?  You block me from control, and do horrible things with my avatar!  You are the reason I have been hurt so!  You are some vile incarnation of Chaos, trying to manifest inside me!"

           "Come now, dear." The voice chided.  "If I were something given to you by Kuldrym, how can I also be affecting you on Cloudsbreak?  You call yourself a FreeSoul..."

           "I don't know how you did it, but I shall find a way to expel you!"

           The voice clucked at her.

           "Let me put it in simple terms for you, dear.  I am a part of you.  I'm your, how would you say, 'darker side'?  I'm your primordial self, vicious, merciless, hungry.  Your animal instinct.  Our entire life, I've been suppressed in your subconscious.  You lived your happy, peaceful life on Cloudsbreak.  No need for violence, anger, nothing.  I grew starved, and weak."

           "I'm glad!  I have no need for something as evil as you!"

           The voice continued on, ignoring the interruption.

           "You suppressed me so much that I became a separate part of your psyche.  Alone, unused.  Until the dream you battled the DarkMare.  When his teeth sunk into you, you realized the world was not the happy, peaceful place you thought it to be.  You realized you could be hurt.  That pain was real.  And you didn't like it one bit."

           Choanna shuddered at the memory.  Her hand went to her arm, covering the marks.

           "Your fear and pain brought back memories and thoughts you had never used.  Primordial urges, instinctive urges.  Fight or flight.  Adrenaline.  Never having used any of these, you knew not how to control me.  How to use me.  So, the only way I could protect us was by taking control."

           "But why the rest!" Choanna shouted in rage, "Why my husband?  Our children?"

           "Oh, yes, and don't forget your -loving- family in the Order while we'rre at it, too." the voice added.  "As to why?  My dear, if you'd been suppressed for ages, I'm sure you'd like to even the score a bit, too.  But more than that, they all made us weak.  We need to be strong.  We can't be forced to depend on other people to live our life for us!  If we are to survive, we can depend only upon ourselves!"

           "So why are you telling me all this now?" Choanna asked.

           "We cannot survive like this.  We must be of one mind.  You must accept me, so that we can try to regain any semblance of sanity we have left.  We are each missing a part.  I cannot survive without your kindness and caring keeping me from committing vicious acts.  And without your protective guardians, you cannot survive without my force of will, and strength."

           Choanna sighed defeated.

           "And if I refuse, you will simply wrestle control away from me."

           "Precisely, my dear.  I think I've already proven which of us is the stronger."

           "And if I join you, I'll at least be able to temper your maniacal urges."

           "Which is exactly why I require you.  Society will destroy me before long if I enact all my urges."

           Choanna sighed in defeat.

           "I do not enjoy this."

           "Don't think I do either, my dear." The voice said quietly.  "But we all do what we must to survive."

           Choanna closed her eyes.

           "Do what you must."

           Choanna felt the coldness inside her start to warm up.  A small flame leapt from her mind to her stomach.  She felt the chill and ice thaw.  She felt warmth return through her veins.  Feelings she had never felt bubbled to her conscience.  Anger welled up inside her, rage at the injustices done to her.  Hatred for those who condemned her, and tossed her from her house.

           Choanna leapt to her feet, eyes blazing with righteous fury.  She closed her hands into fists, and formed a blade in each.  The small scales on her arm around the bite-mark slowly began spreading.  Her avatar turned a shade darker.  Her eyes changed from the soft green eyes of an innocent dreamer, to pale green reptilian eyes, like a snake.  Her hair grew stiffer, and stood out in spikes behind her.

           She felt a calming influence come over her.  It would be foolish to attack the Order right now.  Everyone was present.  Rulers, Guardians, everyone.  And they had just thrown her out.  It would be foolish to think they were unprepared for her to try and force her way back in.  She released her control of the blades, and they disappeared into the Dreamscape.

           "I have truly changed." She said to herself, softly.  "Such power, I feel as if no one could stand before me!"  She looked at her skin.  Instead of being frightened by the change, as she would have normally, she found it rather amusing, and exhilarating.

           "I can no longer go by the name of Choanna Lyndasia.  That was when I was weak." She said, reflectively.  "Perhaps just a small change, though.  One in respect to the cause of all this." she chuckled to herself.

           "From now on, I shall call myself Chao.  Yes, I rather like that.  Chao Lyn.  Nice ring to it."

           Smiling to herself, she turned her back on the Order, and departed down Trinity.

           Choanna, or Chao, wasn't the only one having a confrontation with the Order this evening.

           Tarren stood firmly before Nolan and Solus, shaking his head.

           "No.  I shall not go get another piece." He stated. "We have more than enough to study, Nolan."

           "You dare to refuse an order from me?" Nolan asked, dangerously.

           "I agreed to this study for a variety of reasons."  Tarren said.  "First and foremost, I hate Dreamstrike.  I would give anything to see it eradicated from the Dream.  If we can study these Talismans, we can possibly learn how to destroy them forever.  Or to counteract the art.  My second reason is that the more of these we possessed, the fewer would be laying around for others to find.  I want to lessen the chance that someone else will learn Dreamstrike while we are researching it."

           Nolan snorted in derision.

           "I will not deliver enough pieces of the Codex to this house, allowing someone in here to learn it." he stated firmly, staring directly at Nolan.

           “Just what are you implying Initiate?” Nolan asked, stressing the final word.

           “I am implying that I do not fully trust your motivations for research, Master Nolan.” Tarren said, angrily.  “I do not trust anyone with such a temptation as this, and I shall not bring any more pieces of the Codex of Immortal Dreams into this house while these remain!”

           “You dare…” Nolan said, his face red with rage.  “You dare to question ME!”

           Tarren stood his ground, looking defiantly at Nolan.

           Nolan reached forward, and yanked the amulet from around Tarren’s neck.

           “Get out of this house, scum.” Nolan said, trembling with rage.  “Leave this house, and if I ever see your face again, you shall rue the day.”

           Tarren turned on his heel and walked out.

           Later that dream, the Initiates of the Order of the Sable Moon were milling peacefully in front of the house.  Sitting on the steps, they casually exchanged stories, poems, and songs.  Talking happily about how their dreams had gone so far, and what their plans were.  Discussing theories of the nature of the dreamscape, and things learned from studies of essence.

           Two house Guardians stood watchfully, but complacent.  Kuldrym had not been seen in the Dreamscape since his second defeat at the hands of Choanna.  They watched the entrance, but had no blades in their hands, or chakrams at reach.  The few days of peace had overridden their common sense.

           The portal to Trinity darkened, and a dark form leapt through.  Chao Lyn stood at the bottom of the steps, assessing the crowd.  The Guardians stood in shock at her sudden appearance.  The Initiates gaped in confusion, recognizing Chao for whom she was, and amazed at the change in her.

           Chao summoned forth a blade in each hand, and leapt towards the stairs.

           The first Initiate barely had time to realize what was happening before his essence collapsed around him.  Whirling, Chao swung her blades viciously.  Another Initiate fell before her.

           “I shall have my revenge on you all!” she shouted with rage.

           The Guardians gained their senses, and pulled out their own blades.  They pushed the Initiates out of the way of her slicing weapons, and attempted to duel her themselves.

           She deftly dodged the slashes of the guards, as one stood in front of her and the other behind.  Blade glanced off of blade, glimmers falling from their swords.  Nimbly Chao dodged and parried, letting the Guardians land no hits. 

She grinned to herself. It was almost too easy. These fools were no match for her in blade combat. She landed several gashes on each Guardian, wounding them both a great deal.

Finally, one Guardian tripped over a step and fell backward. Chao leapt at the Guardian still standing, knocking him to the ground. She knocked his sword from his hand, dissolving it. She raised her blade above her head, preparing to impale the dreamer beneath her. She looked at the dreamer’s face, and relished the look of fear and pain shown there. She brought the blade down.

The blade never reached the dreamer.

           Her limbs froze in place, immobile.  She was unable to move even the slightest muscle.

           “Bravely fought, lass.” Nolan said from behind her.  “Perhaps next time you’ll come prepared for Paralysis.  You should know better than to attack a house with FateSenders unprotected.”

           He moved in front of her, so that she could see him.  He smirked at her condescendingly.

           “Foolish pest.  Do you honestly think you could bring harm to this house?” Nolan asked her.

           Chao glared at him in rage, her inner rage burning brighter each second he was near.

           Nolan summoned a blade to his hand.  He looked her at the blade appraisingly, and then looked toward her.  With little ceremony, he plunged the blade through her chest.  She felt her avatar collapse around her, and was suddenly floating above it.  She turned toward Nolan.

           “You are a vile dreamer, Nolan, and you shall pay for your sins!” Chao shouted.

           Nolan waved his hand dismissively.

           “Begone, insect.  And remember how well you fared this time when you next consider attacking my home.  I shall not go so easy on you if you return.”

           Nolan turned on his feet, and walked inside.

           Chao Lyn floated down Trinity.  Passing a river, she paused, hearing a quiet laugh.  She floated back and viewed a dreamer, standing in the shadows of the wall.  He grinned at her.

           “So, not very successful, were you?” he asked.

           Chao felt a fiery rage burning inside her.

           “Be glad I am not coherent dreamer, or you would be in much pain.” She said, grimly.

           The dreamer laughed softly.

           “I am not your enemy, Choanna.  Do you not even remember me?  We were initiated together.”

           “I am not Choanna, I am Chao.  And any Initiate of the Moon is an enemy of mine.”

           The dreamer stepped out of the shadows.

           “I am not a member of the Moon anymore, either.  I was expelled, as were you.  It seems we share a common foe.”

           Chao watched him silently.  The dreamer watched her intently, and shook his head.

           “Well, one of us is going to have to show a measure of trust.  Might as well be me.” He stated, simply.  “If I restore you, will you hear me out?”

           “Why should I trust you?” she asked.

           “Like yourself, I was forced from the Moon by Nolan.  I do not trust him.  He is a cancer on the Order, and deserves to be punished.  I cannot defeat him alone.  Neither can you.  But together, I believe we stand a good chance.”

           Chao floated quietly in front of him for a long moment, and then spoke.

           “I shall hear you out.”

           Tarren nodded, and began focusing his concentration.  Dreamsoul rose from the ground around them, and gathered around Chao’s floating presence.  She slowly formed, first a colorless humanoid.  As he gathered more to her, she grew darker, more defined.  Her eyes turned green, and her hair sharp.  Finally, she was fully coherent.

           She stared warily at Tarren for a moment, and then nodded to him.

           “Thank you.  I shall hear what you have to say now.”

           Tarren nodded, and moved closer.  He began whispering to her.

           Chao strode purposefully into Umbric.  Walking down Trinity, she’d overheard that some DarkMares had appeared and were causing trouble around here.  Surely enough, as she drew near, she started noticing several dreamers.  She also noticed several soulspheres floating down the path away from her destination.

           She finally reached the expected scene of chaos.  Dreamers ran circles around a trio of DarkMares, which fought them off easily.  Each dreamer that neared them was collapsed almost instantly.  Several stayed in the background, restoring their comrades.  The DarkMares continued to leap forward, slashing.  They fired blasts of flame at dreamers.  They fought with the raw power of Chaos.

           Chao called her blades into her hand, and strode forward.  She dodged each slash, and ducked each flame.  The Darks converged on her, sensing the first real threat since they began their rampage.  She deftly avoided contact with each, and finally slipped beneath a slash and stuck her blade deep into the back of one of the DarkMares.

           The DarkMare roared in rage, and lunged at her again.

           She leapt gracefully out of its reach, and drew back near the portal.  She grinned at the mares, and motioned them forward.  She slipped through the portal.

           The DarkMares looked questioningly at each other, then at the pathetic dreamers gathered around them.  They roared in anger, and took off after Chao.

           Chao laughed as the DarkMares charged after her.  She dashed down towards Threshold quickly.  Fast enough to stay ahead of them, but not fast enough to loose them.  She definitely did not want to loose them.

           Every few minutes she would slow down, and engage them.  A quick skirmish, just to keep their interest peaked.  Keeping their attention, and their anger.  Let them draw close enough, and slash them a few times.  Then back to the chase.

           She led them down Umbric in this fashion, then up Trinity.  She reached the portal to the Order of the Sable Moon, and grinned in triumph.  She waited until the Darks closed near her again, and slipped through the portal.

           Guardians stood atop the steps.  Nolan looked at her with perverse satisfaction.

           “Well, well.  Look who it is.” He said, bemusedly.  “We’ve been waiting for you.”

           Chao Lyn stood at the bottom of the steps, grinning maliciously.

           “Well, Ruler,” she said with contempt.  “I do hope you planned for company as well.”

           At her words, the DarkMares tore through the portal towards her.  She dashed to the side, and grabbed something tightly.  A chamele alt, given to her by Tarren, was gripped tightly in her palm.  She faded from view, and the DarkMares stopped in confusion.

           The DarkMares turned toward the members of the Order, at the same time Nolan and the Order turned their gaze back.  The DarkMares rushed towards the dreamers, who dashed to form a hasty defense.  They drew their blades and shields, and stood their ground.

           Nolan fell back, trying to see where Chao had gone.  He sensed her presence, but couldn’t see her.  He didn’t have time to dig in his pack for a Vision alteror.  He glanced from the guards battling with the DarkMares, to the portal into the house.  He would be safe if he made it inside.  He turned toward the portal.

           As he stepped forward, he felt a tug on his robes.  He turned, and saw Chao standing before him.  She reached out, and grabbed the amulet around his neck.  She yanked it forcefully from his neck, and disappeared again.  She had stolen the Ruler’s Crest for the Order.  He grasped for her, but couldn’t feel her.  He sensed her depart the area.

           Growling in anger, Nolan dashed past the battle.  The guards looked on helplessly as he dashed past them, leaving them to battle the DarkMares alone.

           He wasn’t concerned about them.  All that mattered was getting his crest back.  All that mattered was teaching that girl a lesson.  He would show her who was more powerful around here.  He would make her hurt worse than she ever thought possible.

           Tarren focused his thoughts, and concentrated on himself.  He evoked Free Action, making him feel limber and in control of himself.  The art protected one from the several arts of the FateSenders.  Most important in this case, it prevented one from being paralyzed.

           He stepped forward and looked up at the top of the pillar.  He peered at the jeweled eye.  Sure enough, he felt a shudder pass through him.  The jewel did seem to try to paralyze its viewer.  He grinned, and began climbing the pillar.

           After several tries, he reached the top.  He leaned over the pillar, and evoked his blade. Using the blade, he pried the jewel loose from its socket.  It fell to the ground with a clatter.  Tarren let go the pillar, and fell down next to it.

           He picked up the jewel, and looked at it.

           He felt the familiar shudder again, and smiled mischievously.  It still worked.  Wonderful.

           He pulled a large black cloth from his pack, and wrapped the jewel inside of it.  Once it was covered, he felt the effect lessen.  As long as it was covered, he wouldn’t have to worry about guarding his movement.

           Glancing around to make sure no one saw him, he slipped back through the portal.

           Chao paused as she entered Edgeward Barrows.  She closed her eyes, and tried to sense the location of Nolan.  She grinned to herself.  He was on his way.  Not close, but on his way.  She fingered the amulet in her hand.

           Tarren dashed into the room, and stopped.

           “Did you get it?” he asked her.

           She nodded.

           “Good.  Here.” He said, handing her the cloth-wrapped jewel.

           She took the jewel, and tossed the amulet to him.

           “You know what to do now.” He said.  He slipped past her through the portal.

           She looked at the bundle in her hands.  She was tempted to open it, but she knew what it was already.  She would wait.  Better to not take that chance yet.  She turned, and headed towards the Cairn of Sorrow.

           Nolan fumed as he ran down Trinity.  His face was red with rage.  He imagined all the horrible torments he would execute on Chao Lyn when he reached her.  He would paralyze her, and summon a SoulMaster.  He would collapse her enough to take her sphere from her.

           Trinity willing, soon he would get a lead on another piece of the Codex of Immortal Dreams, and Dreamstrike the uppity harlot.  He was only one piece short now, as it was.  One more piece, and he would have the complete Codex.  Then he would be the first to possess Dreamstrike.  He would be the most powerful dreamer.

           But first, he had this matter to deal with.

           He closed his eyes, and focused on Chao.

           Cairn of Sorrow?

           Why would that tramp head there?

           Nolan shook his head.

           It mattered not.  He would find her wherever she ran to.

           He would find her, and deliver justice unto her.

           Chao paced back and forth in the room.  She’d heard once that it was called Anelinde’s Prison.  Amusingly enough, it was about to serve the very same purpose.  There was only one exit to the room, and that was Warded.  She had waited until she sensed Nolan enter the plane before doing so.  Then she destroyed each of her amulets she carried in her pack. 

           The eye was placed on the floor nearby.  The sheet still covered it.  She concentrated and evoked Free Action on herself a few more times.  Better safe than sorry.

           She closed her eyes, and focused her thoughts on Nolan.  She grinned.  He was very close.  She backed away from the portal, and grasped the chamele alteror again.

           Nolan entered in a rage.  He paused, and looked around the chamber.

           “Show yourself, trollop!” he shouted.  “I know you’re in here!”

           “And what will you do to me if I don’t?” she said.

           “What will I do?”  Nolan said angrily.  “I’ll show you!”

           He raised his hands above his head, and the room turned into a raging inferno.  Chao flinched in pain as the flames flicked against her.  She ached and burned.  She growled at Nolan.

           Nolan stopped evoking, and stood defiantly.

           “Now, show yourself!”

           Chao slipped near the jewel, and pulled the sheet from it.  She slipped behind Nolan quietly.  She then summoned her blade to her hand, and advanced on Nolan, holding the jewel before her.

           “I am behind you, coward.” She said.

           Nolan turned, rage covering his features.  He looked at her, and lowered his gaze to the jewel held before him.  He shuddered as he felt himself being stricken with paralysis.  His eyes glared at Chao angrily, and she grinned defiantly as she advanced on him.

           She leaned the immobile Ruler against the wall, and sat him down.  Still holding the eye before her, she pulled a small pedestal over.  She sat the pedestal immediately in front of Nolan, and placed the jewel atop it.

           Nolan sat helplessly, his face frozen towards the eye.  He could not move, not even to turn his head.  The relic held him in its disabling gaze.  He felt rage boiling inside him, and with a great power of will, forced his lips to move.

           “You… will… pay for … this… indignity.” He said, haltingly.

           Chao stood behind the eye, watching him curiously.  Then she laughed.  A high, patronizing, taunting laugh.  She paced away from the Ruler for a moment, to catch her breath.  She walked back, and locked her green, reptilian eyes on his.

           “I do not think you should plan on repaying any indignities soon, ‘noble Ruler’.” She said, coldly.

           She knelt down, face to face with him.

           “Everything that has happened has been due to you.  I blame you for the death of my husband.  I blame you for the death of my daughters.  And I blame you for the dishonor you have brought unto the Order of the Sable Moon.”

           She heard a cough behind her, and turned.

           Tarren had entered, and was watching the scene.  A bemused smile crossed his face.

           “So, frozen, unable to leave.  And according to legend, that eye paralyzes a dreamer completely.  He possibly won’t even be able to wake himself under its influence.  Might be interesting to see him try, though.”  He paused, watching Nolan intently.  “Judging by the look of complete and utter hatred on his face, though, I do believe he’s already tried that.”

           Chao turned back to Nolan, and summoned her blade to her hand.

           “One other thing, Chao.” Tarren said.  She turned toward him, and saw him evoking an art.  She looked back, and Nolan glowed a faint pink tint for a moment.

           “Mind blank.” Tarren explained.  “Don’t want to have our ex-house mates showing up and ruining our fun, do we?”

           Chao grinned maliciously.

           “Do…what…you want…to me.  I shall… free myself… eventually… and…you…will feel…pain!”

           Tarren looked condescendingly at Nolan, and shook his head.  He pulled small velvet sack from inside his cloak, and sat it before Nolan.

           “You’re not the only one that knows how to be dirty and underhanded, my friend.” He said with a wink.  “I’m sure you’re dying to know what’s in here… and don’t worry, we’ll share it with you shortly.  But first, I think my comrade here deserves a little time with you.”

           He stepped back, leaving the sack where it lay.

           Chao advanced on Nolan once again, brandishing her blade.

           “The pain you gave to me will live forever, Nolan.  The loss of all that I love will haunt me every waking day.”

           She drew the blade slowly down his side.  He screamed in pain.  Small motes of Dreamsoul floated down from his avatar to the floor.

           “You have taken everything precious to me.  Such a thing can never be punished enough.”

           She traced the blade down his chest, leaving a small incision.  He cried out.

           “I can never explain, nor demonstrate how much pain you have caused me.”

           She took the blade in both hands, and chopped viciously down on an arm.  Nolan’s eyes rolled to the top of his head.  His avatar seemed very near dissolution, about to fall apart at any second.  Nolan relaxed in that, for if his avatar collapsed, he would be free of the imprisoning eye.

           Chao lowered her head, looking deeply into his eyes.

           “Just when you think there might be salvation, it will be taken away.”

           She evoked Restore on him, recalling all the injured Dreamsoul to his body.  His avatar came sharply into focus again.  The arm re-attached, and scars healed.

           “And we will continue as before.”

           She sunk the blade hilt-deep into his leg.  Then she released the blade, letting it disappear into the dreamscape.  She stepped back, and Tarren stepped forward.

           “And now for my surprise.” He said, with sadistic glee.  Lifting the bad, he emptied the contents onto the ground in front of Nolan. 

Nolan gazed at the items, and recognition dawned on him. He fought against the paralysis with panicked fear, but could not move his limbs. He managed a pathetic whimper, which only caused Tarren to grin more widely.

Every piece of the Codex of Immortal Dreams was gathered together in a pile.

Tarren swept them all back into the pouch, and looked at Nolan.

“I wanted to protect the Dream from this art, which you sought so hard to learn for yourself.” Tarren said, coldly. “Since you desire the art so badly, you can be the first to ever experience it. Once Chao has finished with her fun, I shall begin with mine.”

Chao advanced again, with a sadistic grin across her features. She plunged her blade into him. Nolan whimpered in pain, too defeated to even cry out loudly. Again and again, the blade was swung. Just when he reached dissolution, they would restore him.

He slowly lost track of the time. The pain didn’t hurt anymore. It had become part of his existence. He looked through foggy eyes at Chao and Tarren as they continued their torture.

Slowly, his vision blacked out. A voice called to him softly, as his conscience faded.

“May the Overlight have mercy on your soul.”

And the Dreamscape disappeared, forever.