The Lord of Chimes

The night is always darkest just before the dawn. The bells sway ever so slightly as a breeze winds its way through the sky, tickling the cold brass and sending it shivering.

We all wake to the sound of the morning chimes, a soft dull toll that lifts us all towards the coming light. We live by the bells, working by them, eating by them, then slipping into sleep once more all at the hand of the far away chimes.

Yet the night still does not falter. The wind is whisked away, following yet another whim. The bells settle once more, motionless. There is yet to be light on the horizon. There are no sounds in the land below. No movement disturbs the night.

We are the People of the Chimes. We are a dedicated, independent, and strong. We follow the one true god. The Lord of Chimes. He has guided us here to the Bell Tower and we have lived prosperously by his decree.

There is no more light. There is nothing but blackness, blinding and oppressing. It sinks down upon the world and gags us all, taking our sight, our speech. It renders us deaf dumb and blind. Yet the bells still sit in their tower. They do not break this evil that has beaten us. They do not save us from this mounting dread.

But that was then.

This is now.

Save us from the Night, Awoken. Carry us away from this evil. Strike the bells for all to hear.

Or let the end times come.









You are an Awoken, one of the few unaffected by the Nights oppression. All you've ever known is The Place of Chimes, the town you call home. You have lived every second of your life following the teachings of Our Lord and doing your best to live a blessed existence within the Church.

That is why you have awoken in the dead of Night. You have been chosen by Our Lord to strike the bells and rid us of this horrid darkness. You are the only one who can, for our town is asleep, trapped in nightmares, forced to slumber.

The Night shall try to stop you. Already, it has twisted our holiest men, growing them and shaping them into monsters of darkness. It has molded our greatest allies into blasphemous demons. You must elude them or destroy them. These monsters will not be tolerated by the Church.

Go forth oh Awoken. To long have we been without The Bells. Stop the Night from taking our town.

Spoiler

CodeSelect all

Age:(Any age is fine.)

Gender:

Personality:(Make sure to make it detailed. A lot of what you face will be based on this.)

Appearance:

Faith:(On a scale of one to ten, how much do you trust the Church. Please explain why or why not as well.)

Background:(The longer the better)

Magic: (please type the name of the sub type you want. ex: Songster or ex: Executioner)

Other:

Spoiler

The Church Of Chimes

The Church of Chimes is the second oldest structure in the town (the first being the Bell Tower.) It was founded by Lord William and his Cardinals. The Place of Chimes was built around the Church. This construction was mostly run by the Cardinals while Lord William worked within the Church. As the name says, the Church is dedicated to the Bell Tower above the town and The Lord of Chimes. They believe that their Lord lives within it and they believe that if they create a holy community dedicated to the Chimes, they may one day join their Lord within the tower.

The doctrines of the Church are simple yet strict. You must live by the Chimes and you must teach the way of the Church. Every parent must pass down his or her knowledge of the Church's doctrines to their young. Any violation of this is punished swiftly by the Cardinals of the Church. These men and women are the police force of the Church so to speak. They come cloaked in white and gold with a large church bell chained to their back. This is supposed to symbolize their dedication but also their burden.

The legend of the Church, spread by the Cardinals of Lord William are simple scrolls that tell of how the Church began.

William once lived in a far away city named Lorain that worshiped the sun. He was part of another church, a priest for the Cult of the Sun-blessed. Unlike many of the other priests there William was very close to the Leader of the cult, Duke Isaac. Isaac had founded the Cult of the Sun-blessed after a discovery that he believed would change the world. Beneath the Chapel of the Sun-blessed, Isaac had found the remains of a long dead beast. Darkness seeped from it's pores, filling the room with black fog. Isaac had his men come down to the catacombs to investigate the foul corpse. Though they spent many months conducting all kinds of test on the corpse, not on of Isaac's Cardinals could find out just what the darkness was.

However, as the year went on, men began reporting into the clerics for a strange skin condition. Isaac visited the clerics and found men with black veins running up their faces, dark patches along their arms and legs. The symptoms of this disease, as he found out later on, were paranoia and a strange sort of dementia. This was around the time Isaac began consulting William about this sickness. William had no training in healing but he convinced Isaac to let him investigate the corpse in the catacombs. William went down into the crypts and did not emerge for several weeks. Isaac began to fear for his friend's life. He went down into the crypts after the fifth week and found William still bent over the corpse, his arms and legs black. However, as Isaac came forwards, William held up a bell and rang it. To Isaac's amazement, the darkness shivered and receded from William, pulling itself back inside the corpse. Together, William and Isaac emerged from the catacombs claiming they had found the cure to this evil.

Sadly, their friendship ended there. Isaac began taking frequent trips down to the crypt once more to find out just what the darkness that lingered there was. William tried to dissuade him, claiming that it would consume him so that even the bells would not banish it from his soul. However, Isaac believed the darkness and the corpse were both from a higher plane. He thought by studying them he would find the key to ascend to an even greater existence.

William, on the other hand, was wholly dedicated to the bells or "Chimes" as he called them. He began preaching tales of his spiritual endeavors down in the crypts and how the "Lord of Chimes" had come to him and helped him find the cure to the darkness. Isaac disliked this. As William attracted more and more of a following, Isaac became despised and hated by his former followers. Slowly, the Cult of the Sun-blessed split into two opposing factions, the first being Isaac's Church of Ascendancy, the second being William's Church of Chimes. Soon, the two separate religions became too big to exist together. Isaac began to fear for his life. According to his closest Cardinals, he believed that William was a vessel of the darkness and was plotting to murder him and absorb his following. Paranoid, Isaac struck at Williams church, reasoning that he was beginning a holy crusade against a false god. William and his church were caught off guard and decimated by Isaac's attack.

With only his Cardinals and a select few holy men, William escaped from Isaac's attack and traveled across the continent, confused and desperate.
After months of walking, the group ran out of food and water. On the brink of death, William had a vision of a sacred land dominated by a massive bell tower. He directed his small following East and soon they stumbled upon the long shadow of the Bell Tower. There, William found water and plenty of prey to hunt. He founded his church and dedicated it to The Lord of Chimes.

Spoiler

Duke Isaac

Isaac Lucienos was born into a poorer family outside of Lorian. Isaac's family did not have much which was probably why they were so devout in their worship of the sun. Isaac was raised within the churches of Lorian and rarely saw his parents. This was probably the reason why Isaac developed such a rigid personality. He had little friends within the church and preffered to lock himself in his room, either absorbed in his studies or practicing the many different magics taught within the church. Soon, Isaac rose to the top of his class, mastering every skill thrown at him. Hailed as a prodigy, Isaac was immediately vaulted to the rank of Cardinal after his graduation. However, Isaac harbored doubts and apprehension regarding the church's devotion to the Sun. Within the scripture, there was no mention of a deity or singular figure. This angered Isaac. He believed without a singular head of the religion there would be to much room for interpretation of the lord's will. This would allow citizens to carry out evil deeds in the church's name.

Using his rank, Isaac began distributing scrolls that told of a new Lord, one that governed the heavens and it's multitudes of stars and planets. The people of Lorian were skeptical at first, but they trusted Isaac and followed him as he built the Cult of the Sunblessed from the ashes of the Church of Light. This new religious evolution took Lorian swiftly and without bloodshed. Overnight, hundreds of thousands converted and left the old Church hollow and empty. Isaac became Duke Isaac and, with his newfound power, began studying once more, obsessed with ascension and evolution. Isaac believed wholeheartedly that if he were to die then the Church would be knocked off course and the faith in the Lord of the Heavens would be besmirched. For this reason, Isaac constantly explored the catacombs of Lorian, hoping that somewhere beneath the earth there was a hint of how to ascend to join his Lord in the heavens above.

Spoiler

Magics

As an Awoken, you have been gifted by Our Lord powers to rid us of the Darkness. Each of you may master a magic of your choosing.

Cleric

Being a Cleric does not simply mean that you a re a healer. Your job is to rid not only your friends of the Darkness but to rid the whole world of evil. Therefore, you must master more than the simple art of healing.

- Blessed Light

Blessed light is the purest of magic. To use it, you must have faith and fortitude like an iron wall. Only the most devout students may master Blessed magic. This type of magic reaches into the very soul of your enemy and purifies it, destroying any darkness it finds. Additionally, the use of Blessed Light may heal you or your allies. Our Lord smiles upon those that master His art. However, while this magic is very strong, it will not allow you to go it alone. Blessed Light cannot help you against all the Night's legions and requires support against multiple foes.

(This magic can only be chosen if your level of faith is seven or higher.)

- Stalwart Light

Stalwart Light are for those that make up the backbone of our Church. For all of the men and women that work tirelessly to mend our bodies and minds so that we may continue the Lords work. Clerics of Stalwart Light are those who focus their efforts on healing. This magic can increase your allies resilience to the night and allow them to fight longer and harder against our enemy. However, this magic has its limits. There is no offensive application for this magic and therefore it requires some sort of team to use effectively.

(No specification)

Chime Bearer

Being a bearer of a sacred chime grants you immense power. These bells bless you with the power to control the battlefield. Though it takes years to master the many different songs of the chimes, the chimes can empower your team, create whole areas of destructive force, and even stop time. However, these effects take time to cast and may not be as effective against larger more resilient enemies

(This magic can only be chosen if your level of faith is above five.)'

- Prophet

As a Prophet, you are granted the power to control the outcome of the battle. With your massive effect based powers, you can cast spells that empower your team, leading them to victory. You are the heart of every group, bearing the holy chimes you are filled with the wisdom of Our Lord. This allows you to see strengths and weaknesses hidden to your teammates. However, the Prophets strongest ability is the power to stop time. With this you can get your team out of tight places and give yourself a second or two to analyze and change the battlefield to your advantage. Though you have total control over the battlefield, you have little in offensive capabilities. This skill set requires offensive support.

(This magic can only be chosen if your level of faith is above eight.)

- Songster

As a Songster you are a striker, with the power to deal massive damage to single targets. With the power of the bells you are able to cast high powered bursts of magic that effect the enemies mental state, tearing them apart from the inside. With this power, you may enchant your enemy with a song, confusing them and making the turn against themselves. However, you will not begin as an Arch-Songster. You must learn each song as you move along in your quest. In addition to this, you must have a defensive support. Songs alone will not save you from the Night's Legions.

(This magic can only be chosen if your level of faith is above five.)

Cardinal

As a Cardinal, you are the designated "tank" of your team. With a more melee based skill set, you can take punishment and dish it out as well. The Cardinals use chains as their main source of attack, either manipulating the chains to snare their enemy while they charge in to deliver a crushing blow or using the chains as whips to drive crowds of enemies back. Cardinals can also call upon The Lord of Chimes to ignite their souls with a holy fervor, making them more resistant to the Night's Legions. However, as a Cardinal you not only lack healing but also mobility, making it easy to get stuck in mobs of enemies. While you do a lot of damage and can take a lot of damage, large groups of fiends will exact their revenge on you if you're not careful.

- Holy Vanguard

The Holy Vanguards of the Church are the strongest, most devout members and have consequently been blessed with the requisite powers to carry out their duties. As a Holy Vanguard you are a master of magic, often infusing your weapons with spells that give them a mind of their own. With this, you are able to keep enemies in check and help control the battlefield in your favor. You can also call upon the Lord of Chimes to desecrate a chosen enemy, making them vulnerable to your magical onslaughts. However, as a Holy Vanguard you lack mobility and striking power. Though you can desecrate enemies to make your attacks stronger, this power cannot be used in excess. In addition to this, your chains lack the power to take down enemies quickly. As a result, you will need another teammate to go in for the kill while you make sure they aren't swarmed.

(This magic can only be chosen if your level of faith is above seven.)

- Executioner

Executioners are mysterious figures. Their faces are always hidden and they are always bound by the chains they use in combat. As an Executioner, you are a hulking powerhouse, able to crush an enemy with a single blow. You wield massive chains that dwarf those of the Holy Vanguard. With these you create craters wherever you strike. In addition to brute strength, you can call upon The Lord of Chimes to grant you divine armor that shields you and grants your chains lasting effects. Although you deal massive damage, your attacks are as slow as your movements, making you a target for all enemies.

(This magic can only be chosen if your level of faith is above nine.)

(New types of magic will be added depending on when we reach a certain point in the SB. However, please choose a skill set for your character based on these options for now.)

Murana Sindra|High Priestesses' Quarters|

Murasin awoke suddenly. There was no light on her eyelids, no gentle tolls from the tower above. No footsteps could be heard in the hallways past her door and no songs could be heard in the classrooms below her. Murasin bolted upright, awake and alert. Something was terribly wrong.

No light seeped through the blinds across her window. She sneaked over to them and threw them open. Only darkness greeted her. She scowled into the night and drew the blinds across the opening once more. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing glyphs etched into her forearms and hands. Songs of war and destruction. Songs she had not used in a long time.

Murasin opened the door to the outer hallway. Moving quickly yet silently, she swept through the dark corridors, looking for her comrade's quarters. Finally, she found the familiar oaken door that housed a fellow high priestess. She opened the door and let herself in without hesitation, kneeling to shake her comrade by the shoulders. Still the woman slept on. Murasin tried again, going so far as to strike her friend across the face but to no avail. The woman remained asleep.

There was something dreadfully wrong. The bells had not tolled, the church and it's defenders were all asleep, captivated by something beyond her power to banish.

Why did the bells not toll?

Murasin leapt from her comrade's quarters, throwing caution to the wind. She moved through the church at speed, finally winding her way down to the altar and through the aisles. She braced her arms against the massive doors to the outside and heaved, opening them slowly but surely to reveal the true form of the horror that haunted her home.

Outside, the Night lurked. It boiled and churned, enveloping everything it touched, painting the world pitch black with it's treacherous brush. Murasin stared out at it, her features rigid. It was as a beast trapping it's prey. The Night coiled, drawing itself together, then struck. Murasin braced herself, holding her hand out to shield her face and sang a short clipped note, erecting a small barrier of light around her. The inky blackness rushed past her, enveloping the pews and altar behind her. The church had been taken.

Finally, the evil wind stopped. Murasin released her barrier, heaving. She gazed once more around her. Every house, every neighborhood and residency had been taken. No light shone in the darkness. Murasin looked up at the Bell Tower far above the village. Not a sound came from the holy chimes. Nothing to rid them of the Night.

Why us? Why must we endure this evil?

Murasin ground her teeth. If she was awake then she could fight. If she still drew breath than she could plot against her enemy.

There was still hope. Hopefully.

Rae awoke with a deep inhale, launching up into a sitting position. Her heart was racing, thump-thumping away to a fast beat. She clenched at her chest, white spots dancing doing ballet in the corners of her eyes.

With a few deep breaths, she managed to calm her chest, and only after that did she notice the lack of noise in her simple room. Pulling her hair back into a bun and tying a loose strand of ribbon around it, she changed into her normal clothing.

On her nightstand she noticed the Amulet of Chimes, its three tiny bells dangled off the edge of the table, swaying softly to an unknown wind. She didn't put that there.

That's when she realized what the absence of noise meant. The bells were silent.

Snatching the amulet, Rae raced to the only other room in the house. Her dad's old room. On his dresser, the five candles were all extinguished. She didn't need to know what was going on. The Night had made it into the town, and everyone had been consumed by its spell.

Everyone but her. She hung the amulet around her neck and re-lit the candles. Immediately, the house shook and the shutters to her father's window slammed open, revealing the Darkness outside. The chimes around her neck were tossed around from the force of it, emitting soft pings as they rang.

Rae stood her ground, planting her feet in a defensive stance. Reaching from within, Rae closed her eyes, and time stilled. Oh Lord of Chimes. Grant me strength to do your will. She imagined her body as a vessel, dark and empty. Normally, the sound of the Chimes would immediately allow her to fully imagine her powers, but they were silent. So she relied on herself, reminding her that she was the one with the powers. If she was awake, she would have to focus on being the best she could be.

And the Light sparked into existence within her. At first, it was flickering, but she breathed life into it, allowing the Light to fill her vessel. She was One with Mind, Body, and Soul, and her breathe was only allowed through the Church of Chimes.

Her eyes opened.

A dark tendril flew through the window, sensing Rae. She sidestepped it and grabbed a hold. Her hand burned with energy as she willed her Light through it. White light erupted from her palm and burst through the tendril, slicing it completely.

The Night recoiled from the sudden outburst of power. Rae stepped forward and held out her palms, the both of them glowing with power. "I bless this house, Monster. You are not to be in here!"

A sphere of like grew out from her palms, growing and coiling within itself. Two more tendrils ripped through the wall, extinguishing the candles once more. A ferocious wind shook the house to its core, howling with an eerie glee.

The dusty cot flew to the far wall with a soft thud. The ribbon in Rae's hair unraveled and her crimson hair was caught in the wind in a frenzy, flowing behind her like a mane. Still, Scirae was not moved. "You are not to be here, Darkness!" She repeated with a gusto.

The amulet glowed a soft blue and felt white-hot against her bosom. In the midst of the wind, she could have sworn the a faint ringing. "You are not to be here, you filth." She whispered, and the sphere swelled against her. White tendrils met the Darkness, forcing it back outside of the house. The rotting wooden planks grew healthy against the Light, the walls re-forming.

Rae released the sphere of Light, and it filled the house. The groaning stopped. It was still and quiet, even more so than when she woke. It was... serene.

She didn't feel exhausted anymore. It was a feeling she didn't even know she had until it was missing.

The chimes on her amulet pinged softly, as if to agree with her. They had stopped glowing, but the warmness was still there. She sighed softly, and for the first time since she had noticed the glaring void of the Chimes, she believed everything was all right, even if just for this moment.

The shutters to the window were closed; she had all but forgotten about the Night invading the city. Whatever she had done to this house had worked. She couldn't even hear what was going on outside.

But she wasn't worried about that, not now.

Humming a small tune, Scirae set to work on the room. The cot was no longer in the room, as the wind blew it through the door and into hers. She dragged it back, fixing the woolen blanket and down pillow back in their proper place.

Heaving the dresser back upright, she carefully picked up each candle, affixing them in an angle with the middle one next to the wall. Opening the top drawer, she pulled out a small painting. It was of her parents, before she was born.

A festival of Lights had gone through the town after a monumental victory, and many vendors were set up near the town center. A dance square had been set up where couples danced to the ringing of the bells. It was said that the Darkness had never been further away from the town than that day.

It was then that her parents had gotten this painting done, to commemorate the day. It was the only thing she had left of her parents.

Setting it in the middle of the candles, she re-lit them. She wished she could have been there with them that day. They could have been together with no doubt or worry about tomorrow. If only they were here now. What a mess.

She cleared her thoughts. Dwelling on the past solved nothing, and grieving about how things could have been doesn't fix what can be better now.

"I need a plan," she muttered to herself. She knew how the Night consumes one if left alone in their soul. If the Chimes didn't start back up, everyone in this town would be lost to the Darkness.

But, maybe, just maybe there were others awake. She'd have to try. "If I were awake all alone, where would I go? Where would I seek solace and safety?"

The Church of Chimes.

Kathleen Syre

I awoke in my sleeping quarters with a feeling of unease. Looking around, I realized it was early. The sun had not yet risen. I tried to close my eyes again, but the anxiety kept me awake. Finally I pulled off my bed sheets and walked to the window, throwing the curtains aside. Before me, seeping through the town, was the vast darkness of night. I took a step back, horrified.
But why didn’t the bells toll? I thought, grabbing my holy tome and placing it in my satchel. And why am I still awake? I picked up my chime. It was a bell with a long metal covered chain. A stone ball was at the end. The metal bore the Church symbol- a set of bells. There must be others still awake.
I fled out the door and bolted down the hallway. Bodies of sleeping men and women filled the main corridor. I kept running until I arrived at the church atrium. Around the dome, halls went off into different directions. Before me was the Primary doorway leading into, an out of, the church. I pushed open the ten foot doors.
Before me was the silence of a sleeping town. No citizens off to work. No birds chirping the morning away. There was nothing but the inky blackness of the night. I felt like it was pulling me in, yet I resisted. It grew stronger, and I fled back to the church, fearing I too would fall into a deep sleep.
“The night will affect the souls of the lonely,” I remembered from my training to become a priest and prophet. And here I was, alone. I needed to find someone else, another resister of the night. And so I did something extremely dangerous.
I opened the doors to the church and shouted at the top of my lungs.

Something darkened in the sky. It was almost dawn, but as the minutes went by, the sky seemed to get darker and darker as if the night had only been twilight, before the sun set, and something terrible was still yet to come. It permeated the air. Suffocating the sky. Pulling apart clouds. Trees seemed to come alive, their branches dancing to an unearthly beat, then suddenly stopping, as if the wind itself had died.

Lux pulled his cloak tighter around himself. In a land without shadows, it was easy to lose your way, and with his hometown in sight, he didn't want to take any chances. As he came to the first house, memories slowly trickled into his mind. A brighter world, maybe not the brightest, but he could live with that. A home, identical to the one he'd just passed. Full of life, well, maybe not life, but something similar. A tree that sat next to the house. Massive, with branches protruding from its trunk in every which way. Sunlight filtered from the top of it, a beacon of youth. And the way it contrasted with the shadows of those sunlit leaves. But no, Lux had a job to do, and until it was complete, he needed to stay focused. As he walked, he noticed that the deeper he got into the town, the more buildings he saw. It seemed the population had doubled since he'd left. Lux made a note to return more often. Finally, he reached the Bell Tower. It rose into the darkness like a massive monolith. Lux walked up to the base of the tower. The scrolls had said something about the north side of it. Lux carefully opened the leather bag tied to his hip and reached into it. His hand emerged with four scrolls. Quickly, he poured through them. Scanning for the phrase he'd heard back in Kego. On the third scroll he found it. It was written in an ancient dialect, but Lux had deciphered it months ago.

A string is only as strong as the light that weathers it. Pull and it will give.

Lux puzzled over it. The Kego people had called the phrase a Wiilogy, a phrase of deception, but they'd refused to explain it any further, saying that such a phrase was evil and should never be used. Nevertheless, they'd said it was linked to the forming of the bell tower somehow and so Lux had written the scripture down. Now as he puzzled, something stirred behind him. Lux turned slightly. It was hard to see in the dark, but he saw a cat slink across the street behind him, eyes shining in the night. Lux turned back to his work. The phrase was deceptive, which meant it probably meant the opposite of what it said. Lux substituted stone for string and push for pull. Slowly, he reached out and pushed on the Bell tower.

Nothing.

Lux cursed under his breath. With a sigh, he placed the scroll back in his bag. He'd solve the mystery later. For now. He needed to find a prospector. It would be morning soon and the bells would have rolled by.....

Lux paused. Why hadn't the bells tolled? A rush of air signaled something behind him, Lux turned just in time to be thrown across the street and into a the wall of a nearby house. Quickly shaking the spots from his eyes, he looked up and was confronted by a whirling mass of dark wind. The Night. Lux's flute shot out of his sleeve and as the dark wind prepared to strike him once more, he played a soft melody ending with an ear-splitting D sharp. A crack resounded through the sleeping town and a brilliant flash of light struck the Night, sending it reeling back like a wounded beast. Instantly Lux was on his feet and running for the nearest church. It was a block or so away, but he could make out a figure standing at the doorway. As he ran, he could feel the Night on his back. Turning, Lux played another quick tune. Instantly, the night froze, as if it had been rooted to its spot. Lines of light circled it like a cage, but as the seconds passed, it began to crack. Lux sprinted for all he was worth, but in the next instant, he was on the floor, trapped by the swirling mass of black on top of him. That's when he noticed the figure standing over him. Sharp features. Graying hair. An embroidered uniform only high priests were permitted to wear. He recognized her instantly. High Priestess Murasin had come to his aid.

Kathleen Syre

I was curled in a ball on the floor, located on the far wall of the atrium. I muttered incantations said to hold the Night back. However, they weren’t working. I’d been alone almost an hour, and the Night had taken its toll. Enveloped in darkness, I weakly arose and practically limped to the door. If the Night was going to get me, I decided, then it would have to fight me first. I pulled out my staff and opened the grand doors.

Dragging my body through the doorway and down the stairs, I put my holy chime out before me. I couldn’t see two feet in front of my face, and so if something was in front of me, the chimes would hit it first and ring. I continued my slow journey.

Suddenly, the chimes hit something. It was not solid, but more like a gust of wind. I looked closer and realized what it was with a gasp. I jumped back and my legs buckled beneath me. The Night was before me. Instantly, still on the ground, I pulled out the holy tome and opened it. It flipped open to just the page I wanted automatically.

I had never had to deal with the Night, but I assumed it would be similar to an exorcism. I read a few words from the book, and a small ball of light enveloped the cloud of shadow. It held the Night there for a few seconds before it had been blown apart.

In fear, I realized truly for the first time that this was hopeless. I stood no chance. Try as I might, I didn’t even know how to defeat the Night. Even if I somehow defeated it now, it would weigh on me until I was lost like the rest of the town.

I thrust the chime into the night. It faded for a second before reappearing, clearly affected by the holy chimes. I had noticed, and an idea struck me. I began chanting the incantations used to reject the Night and as I did so, I stopped time. I then thrust the chimes into the Night. I resumed time, and the Night faded again, but the words seemed to form a sort of barrier which prevented the Night from reforming. It disappeared in a wisp of light.

I let out a sigh. Tired and in need of rest, I sat down. Stopping time was a lot of work, and I probably couldn't do it again today. It seemed like a powerful ability prophets could use, but it really was not as useful as it was made out to be. In actuality, it was extremely strenuous.

The darkness around me was suffocating, and I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe. I remembered this from when I was younger. I was claustrophobic. It seemed to be a painful irony that I defeated the Night, yet fell victim to myself and my own weaknesses. The little bit of the world I could see blacked out.


I opened my eyes and immediately remembered what had happened to me. I took a few deep breaths and counted to ten. It worked, and I didn’t feel so trapped. Getting up, I looked around. Deciding to just walk in any direction (In other words, I was utterly lost), I headed off. I felt refreshed- there was a strength in my stride. I continued down the empty pathway.

Looking around, I realized I had no idea where I was in the town. I pulled out a map but the Night had seemed to gather over it. It was determined to keep me lost. Putting the map away, I kept walking. I was on edge. Every sound seemed, to me, to be the Night.
Ignoring the fear creeping into my bones, shredding what nerve I had, I pushed onward. Emotionally, I felt like I was walking through syrup, constantly being resisted. Physically, I had no trouble. Except when I slammed into the building. That’s when I remembered to use the staff.

Then I saw the light. I was a huge spire of light in front of me. My eyes widened, and I ran forward. The Night gathered before me, but I slashed it apart with my chime and spoke the words that forced it to disappear. I continued to run, gaining speed, but tripped on a small rock. I had cut my knee. Was everything against me?

Taking a quick break, I ripped off a corner of my sleeve. I apologized to the Lord mentally for ruining the holy robes. Then I wrapped it around my injured knee. Leaping up, I wasted no time. Running towards where I spotted the light, I felt hope rush through my body. The Night almost seemed to back away now, and I realized I was approaching another person.

I arrived in a clearing. A man stood in it. Beside him was High Priestess Murasin.

With her Amulet held out in front of her, she treaded through the wide main street of the Place of Chimes. The Darkness clouded everything, allowing her to only see a couple of feet in front of her, only faintly illuminated by the Amulet. Its chimes had faded, only now softly flowing with the wind as it dangled from her hand.

Rae focused solely on getting to the Church of Chimes, trying to ignore the Night's confusions and temptations. In the corners of her eyes, she could have sworn she saw figures moving inside the Darkness. She tried to remind herself that the only thing the Darkness held were illusions.

But then again, she has never traveled this much in the Darkness. Sure, she's fought off this beast the better part of her life, but it was only in the act of defending her city. She had never been far into the Night, because although she believed her Faith to be stronger than most, she was not willing to test it alone. No one was stupid enough to venture alone into the Night, especially away from the safety and comfort of the Chimes.

Yet, here she was, slowly traversing the streets of the town alone, in the midst of suffocating Darkness, only to reach a building that may or may not be compromised already. She hoped that if there were anyone somehow Awake in all of this like she was, they would be following her train of thought and hopefully seek refuge in the Place of Chimes until the Chimes themselves start ringing again.

Somehow, she doubted that.

Doubt is only in the mind of Darkness. She chided herself. Cast those thoughts from your own.

She continued forward slowly, not realizing she had stopped. Focusing on the Amulet, her train of thought began to trail. What would happen to her if the Chimes never started back up? This town would be forever immortalized in Darkness. She tried to recall the teachings in her childhood about the founders of the Place of Chimes. There might be another safe haven, but she didn't remember how far away it was or in what direction or even if it was still a safe haven. If the Place of Chimes fell, she doubted any other city could stand against the Night.

Then there was the question of why --or how-- the Chimes stopped. She assumed the Lord of Chimes was the one ringing the Bells or had some kind of mechanism to keep them running. Whatever stopped them was most likely magical in nature. She worried for the Lord of Chimes, wherever he was.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she stopped again. The Chimes on her Amulet were softly jingling, which seemed like thunder in her ears. It was weird to hear anything besides the constant howling wind that carried the Darkness, if not somewhat calming. She knelt down and examined the ground. It was the hard brick of the main square instead of the dirt that she was used to crossing. The Night was thick here as well, but the Church of Chimes stands on the northern corner of the square, in the direct middle of the city. It was the heart of the city. If it fell, Scirae doubted that the fate of the rest of the city was any different.

The Night coiled around her as she stepped towards the Church. She could feel the weight of the Darkness clawing at her mind, as if trying its hardest to keep her from visiting the Church. She took one step at a time, inch by inch, forward.

The Night separated for a figure dressed completely in black. Well, dressed in black were poor words for this... thing. Blackness covered it like tar, slopping to the ground in thick pitch black blobs. It was draped in this blackness, with no discernible face or features. Its shape only faintly resembled that of a human's. It turned to seemingly look at Scirae.

She knew this was an abomination of the Night. Dangling the Amulet of Chimes around her neck, Rae steadied herself.

The wind stilled around the two, causing the stillness to ring in her ears. A low growl erupted from the tar-creature and the ground rumbled in response. Tendrils of tar spiraled out from it, some striking the ground and some spiking out to Rae. she rolled out of the way on the rough pavement and emptied her being. The familiar burn of Light filled her soul and she created a sphere of light in her hands. The insides of the abomination had a soft glow to it, but Rae was interrupted by a tendril.

Two hit her full on, breaking the orb and leaving deep gashes on her stomach. She flew back, the Night giving her space. Standing, Light covered her hands and she stuck them to the wounds. It didn't heal completely, but the warmth filled it and she immediately felt better.

Three more tentacles slashed at Rae, but she sidestepped the first two and grabbed a hold of the third. For a split second, the Light and Darkness clashed, but her Faith won out, dispersing the tentacle immediately. Again and again, tendril after tendril struck Scirae, forcing her back.

She could not keep this defense up forever. She was never her strongest by herself. Together with someone she could keep herself and her ally healed while also imbuing Light in her enemies. Alone, the concentration needed for both healing and fighting, defending and attacking, was too much.

The black monstrosity inched closer. Tendrils slashed at her, and the only thing she could keep up were Light on her hands. She blocked what she could, but more and more gashes appeared on her body.

She was weakening. The Light was leaving her soul, her body.

If I die, it will still be in the Light.

She closed her eyes and let the last bit of Light she had left fill the vast emptiness, and waited. And waited. But the last tendril never hit.

Scirae frowned. Something was wrong. No, not wrong. Off She opened her eyes, and immediately had to shield them from Light. From... Light? A soft high pitch note floated through the air.

As Rae's eyes adjusted to the Light, she noticed the abomination with strands of Light coiled around it, piercing through it. The strands seemed to flow with the note. Rae turned to the source of the song and cried in joy. Murana Sindra, the High Priestess of the Church of Chimes, was standing tall, holding a high note. Light seemed to emanate from her. She vaguely noticed two figures behind her. Survivors! Scirae thought gleefully.

She no longer cared about the monster behind her. Everything was all right, even for just this moment. She hobbled over to the High Priestess. "My Lady. You are Awake."

She nodded affirmation, but still held that note. Someone behind her, a man, said, "let's get to the Church of Chimes. The High Priestess will follow right behind."

Murana Sindra|Outside|

Murasin sat by the door. Her breathing slow and easy. Her legs were crossed loosely and her eyes were closed. Around her, a soft sphere of light had come to life, glowing gently in the oppressive dusk.

Et facta est una omnium. Invenio, invenire, committere.

The glyphs on Murasin's arms shone with a similar light.

Nobis et protege nos protegat. Includere, inquit, serva.

Murasin lifted her head and sang into the night, her voice high and clear. She did not sing words, for words were not needed. Murasin wove magic across the night, tendrils of light that sought allies within the Night's embrace. However, she did not have much time. Murasin was positive the Night had taken notice of her efforts. Already she could feel an abomination lurking closer, it's blasphemous soul leaking hatred and loathing.

Et facta est una omnium. Invenio, invenire, committere.

The glyphs became her song, echoing into the darkness. A high quivering note teetering on the edge of breaking before dropping back down and reaching up once more.

A resounding "thump" ended Murasin's trance. Instantly, her eyes snapped open to glare into the Night. Another "thump" echoed off in the distance. Slowly, Murasin stood, arms out at her sides, awaiting her opponent.

tap, tap, tap, tap...

Another set of footsteps joined the heavy stride of the abomination. A set that almost sounded human. Murasin dared not venture away from the Church lest it was a trap. Instead, she stared into the darkness, waiting for whatever it was the hid itself to appear.

tap, tap, tap, tap...

Suddenly, a man appeared from the black mist. Murasin's eyes widened in surprise.

She knew the man.

Murasin sprinted forwards, rolling her sleeves up. She sang a sharp piercing note into at the darkness behind the man. Instantly, the Night recoiled, reeling against the magical strike.

"Play Your flute! Get up and play!"

The man nodded. Lux nodded. Murasin dashed forwards, arms out. She hit another even higher note, sending a deadly charm into the darkness. The black fog was blown away, revealing a twisted abomination. Murasin gagged. What had once been a priest was now twisted and bloated to monstrous proportions. His body was pitch black and covered in disgusting matted hair. His face was a mix of scaly hide and darkened flesh. The thing howled and charged the two Songsters.

Retro! Eia! Fugiat! Vade!

Lux fell back and lifted his flute to his mouth, playing a deadly tune. Murasin sang low, harmonizing with Lux's flute. The song mounted into a crescendo as the abomination tried to lumber forwards, then exploded outwards, sinking into the abomination's flesh and tearing it apart.

Lux heaved a sigh of relief. Murasin simply glared into the night. There was silence between the two.

"What are you doing here? I thought I had gotten rid of you for good."

Lux chuckled a bit.

"It's great to see you to. To answer your question, I came back because I found what I was looking for....to an extent."

Murasin just sniffed and turned away. There was silence once more.

"Murasin. What happened?"

The High priestess sighed, the tension leaving her for the first time.

"The Bells never rang. I fear we have been forsaken."

Lux said nothing.

The two retreated to the doors of the church. Murasin remained standing while her partner sat, moving his flute near to his mouth and playing a light little hymn. Soon, more footsteps echoed through the night. Murasin moved forwards to greet the newcomers. Some were injured. She did her best to heal their wounds as she escorted them back to the church.

"Is the monster gone? Has it been defeated?"

Murasin nodded. The girl, who she recognized as Kathleen, smiled and allowed herself to be led to the doors of the Church. The High Priestess blessed all of them, then turned and walked back out towards the Night, sitting cross legged and chanting into the darkness.

Et facta est una omnium. Invenio, invenire, committere.

More would come. She would protect them all.