Ramath-lehi – Tria Quarter

The afternoon was humid and brimming with foreboding as the Council of Twelve assembled within the Council Chamber. The members had received notice just a few marks earlier that their monthly meeting was still on schedule and was to be attended as planned. Now the Council found themselves seated around a familiar low black stone table, held up by four thick and very sturdy decorated legs. The legs of the table tapered off into dangerous claws that curled at the knuckle and rested upon the dark gray marble floor. The table had always been an item that was often associated with the Council. Its dark black surface was so polished that it gleamed and mirrored back the reflections of all those who looked into it. Rumor had it that the table itself was enchanted. Though even if it was, no one knew the secret to unlocking its hidden powers. The table also bore several engraved family names and their crests, each one having played a significant role in Ramathian history. The room itself was dimly lit, contrasting the bright probing sunshine outside. The temperature within the room was also much lower that the sweltering heat that was making up the blunt of the afternoon. Typical weather for the Tria quarter.

No noise drifted in from the outer world. The immense chamber walls and the heavy deep purple drapery that adorned them cut off all sound from either leaving or entering the chamber. So far only ten members of the Council of Twelve were present. As of yet, there had still been no sign of Zamfir and Karryasa Grader. The Arch Magos and Magosai seemed to be taking their time in making an appearance at the meeting. It was just assumed that they were dealing with several last minute preparations.

The waiting members busied themselves, talking amongst one another, telling jokes, asking about family, commenting on the weather, all in all, just attempting to converse casually. In fact, everyone was fairly edgy about the items that were to be addressed at this meeting. The Dragyn twins in particular. Lorax and Draco Dragyn, known more widely on Ramath-lehi as “The Terrible Twosome” were quietly dreading the Grader’s words. Today the fate of a world would be decided. Although the pair seemed jovial and in good spirits as they talked to the other council members, it was only a façade. Each was anxiously awaiting the results of this meeting.

As if summoned by some unheard cue, a faint jangling sound made all eyes, big and small, snap to the front of the room. The source of the sound was Karryasa Grader’s necklace. A feared emblem of the Grader’s reign. The necklace itself was assumed to be made out of the fore-claws of the powerful and now exiled (assumed dead), Iversia Seneca. One of Karryasa’s rivals whom she had defeated and had taken the claws as her own prize. Whether or not this was true, the very sound of those claws jangling was enough to intimidate even some of the bravest and strongest of hearts. Karryasa stared back at the others, her clear orange eye looked over all that was assembled before her, while the filmed over one seemed to gaze off into nothingness. Zamfir’s figure stood near her like some bulky henchman, ready to attack any that dare threaten his mate’s safety. How Zamfir and Karryasa had slipped into the room without anyone noticing was unknown. Especially with Karryasa’s hindering limp. Such a thing was to be overlooked and forgotten however. These kinds of things happened all the time. If the Graders wished to be seen, they were, if they wanted to pass by unnoticed, then they simply made it so. Zamfir’s aqua tail-flame flickered violently in the sparse light of the Council Chamber. His yellow-orange eyes seemed to glow as he looked to Karryasa. The Chamber room was relatively silent now. Only the expertly trained ear could pick up the faint sounds of breathing and heartbeats.
“Nice of you all to make it.” Karryasa said at last, breaking the silence. Her words were smooth and sincere. However, the calmness in her voice failed to register in the rest of the pendragons. For the most part they were antsy and anxious to hear the results of this meeting. Assassin Avrum in particular was looking exceptionally irritated. He twirled a small knife in his hands, a slightly disgusted look plastered upon his face. Assassin’s kinked flame-less tail flicked to and fro, twisting about in the air in an impatient dance. Things were happening too slowly for him. Tired of waiting and being kept in suspense, Assassin slammed his fist down onto the table, the handle of his knife bashing against the black surface. The sound faintly echoed about the room as Assassin rose his voice. “Listen! I’ve got a blind ma on Earth, and it’s not like she’s gonna be able to actually see those soulsuckers coming! I want to know what’s being done, and I want to know now!” The urgency in Assassin’s voice seemed to phase everyone in the room. Everyone except the Grader’s of course. A low murmur swept about the crowd.

“Patience.” Zamfir’s calm gaze rested upon Assassin. He wasn’t angry. Not in the slightest. It took more than a random outburst to disturb his cool.

“But Magos, I must know…” Assassin growled, then fell back into his seat, slipping his knife quietly out of sight. Just as he was putting away the knife, Assassin jerked hard to the left as he was jabbed sharply in the ribs by Talis Adamaint. Talis was known for his superiority over machina technology… and his odd quirks. Not to mention his fetishes for the colours purple, orange, pink, and lime green. Assassin shot Talis a cold glare. Talis returned the glare with a playful, almost amicable smile.

“Now, who here does not know what is going on?” Asked Karryasa, looking about the room. Talis slowly rose his left hand, a sly grin planted upon his face. Of course, he knew exactly what was going on. He had been one of the first pendragons to know. All he wanted to do was cause trouble, and so far he was succeeding. Karryasa let out an exasperated sigh as she saw Talis’ raised hand. Yet, she decided to humour him.

“Talis, what occurs roughly ever seven years?” She asked, looking at Talis fixedly. Talis appeared to think this over heavily for a moment.

“Assassin here takes a bath?” He guessed after a while, a wicked smirk traced upon his thin black lips. Not only did this earn him a hint of a smile from Karryasa; it also bought him a hard backhand smack from Assassin. Talis lay sprawled on the floor, fairly uninjured, as a weak childish laugh bubbled out of him. Karryasa, ignoring Talis now, addressed the rest of the council.

“Rapine invasions occur in spans of about seven years.” Karryasa said, looking to Zamfir for a brief moment. It became apparent that the two of them were speaking telepathically back and forth. About what – the others could only guess.

“Rapine? Oh, really? I hadn’t heard.” Talis said sarcastically, pulling himself up off the floor as he did so. Karryasa ignored him completely and continued talking, her voice slightly louder than before.

“Every seven years the rapine come out of hiding to feast upon the souls of all things living. For those whose souls are devoured… All hope is annihilated. The souls stolen by the rapine are ripped out of the life and death cycle and pushed into the White Void, never to find their final resting-place in Fronima.” Karryasa paused here, as if remembering something. Something troubling. “We’ve received word that the rapine’s next target is Earth…It was inevitable. A planet so full of life and energy would attract them like a notie to adventure. So this has been expected for quite some time. We need to decide what our next course of action is, if any.”

“Why not just blow the planet up?” Talis said offhandedly.

“No!” Lorax and Draco cried out in unison, their voices slightly shrill. Zamfir lifted a paw, motioning for the two of them to be quiet. Once they had settled somewhat, he spoke.

“The thought of destroying Earth had occurred to us – but if you recall, all weapons of such devastation were ordered to be put to rest. None exist. None should exist, and none surely should be in development.” Zamfir said, looking pointedly at Talis. Talis shrunk away from the table as Zamfir continued. “No. Destroying Earth is not an option.”

“But it would deal such a hard blow to the rapine…” Talis murmured; though his comment was lost in the loud chatter that had suddenly arisen.

“From a scientific perspective, it would be quite a pity and a great loss to lose Earth. I’ve visited the planet several times while doing biological research…It would be a waste to see such a large learning asset become obsolete.” The speaker was Ramix Sun, a respected healer and teacher whose lineage could be traced so far back that it was astounding. The two Dragyn’s were nodding eagerly.

“Earth was Thanos’ and Sari’s legacy. We need to protect it. For the sake of keeping their memory” Voiced Lorax. Thanos and Sari Dragyn were Lorax and Draco’s long since deceased parents and the previous Magos and Magosai before the reign of the Graders.

Tags: Draco, Karryasa, Lorax, Ramath-lehi, Ramix, Talis, Zamfir