EldritchOne — Roleplayer Guild

(Part one of a two parter by Tai, Mono and Me, enjoy!)

The Innkeeper was in a good mood that night. Despite the improvised surgery and the news from Pathfinder, the bar was filled with customers. And best of all was that Lens had already paid in full before retiring to her room! And in pure gold backed by the Manehatten Bank! It's the best kind of cash. And the money paid could cover far more than the drinks and rooms rented by the Doctor! he thought, smiling gleefully at the great profit.

Leaving the restaurant, the owner headed down a side hall near the restrooms. Another customer had too much ale and expelled his dinner all over the floor. The poor bartenders and barmaids needed more rags, buckets, and whatever could keep the place clean. It was quite a party. Though, I wonder why Ms. Lens and her party decided to go out? They seemed to be enjoying the festivities as anypony else. The Innkeeper tried the handle.

But the door would not open. "What the-" he said. He began to jiggle the doorknob again, but it didn't move very far. He pulled the handle as far as he could. Nothing - the door might as well been rusted shut...

Scarlet’s ears perked, she heard some sort of grunting and exertion nearby. Raising her head to look she noticed the innkeeper… trying to break into his own door?

That was… strange; strange enough to warrant investigation. Pushing herself up she hobbled slightly over to him, asking in bewilderment, “What exactly, are you doing?”

“Well,” he grunted once more as he pushed “, the blasted door is stuck, and I need to get into it!” He slammed a hoof onto the door, and huffed in frustration.

She looked to him, then the door, then back at him. “How important is it that the door still be a door?” she asked innocently.

“I don’t care if it becomes firewood, I’m getting in here if its the last thing I do!” The Innkeeper was quite the determined type.

She stepped in a little closer, “Stand back if you don’t mind, maybe off to the side a little? I’m going to remove the obstacle for you.” While her tone still radiated nothing but pure innocence and willingness to help, the smirk on her face told otherwise.

Grumpily the stallion complied with her request. “Fine, sure. You’ll probably have no better luck-”

Grabbing the edges of the door, and the hinges in particular with her magic, Scarlet gave a little grunt and ripped the door from the frame. “Where do you want this?” she asked politely, little smirk still playing at the edges of her lips.

His eyes still wide in shock, the innkeeper was silent for several seconds. When he finally closed his mouth and regained some wits, he said “Um, er just leave it to the side next to the frame. Thanks?”

With a little mock bow, she set the door to the side as he’d requested. “Sooo…” peering inside the room, “what have we here…?”

Looking inside, the janitor's closet the pair were shocked by what they found. In the corner was a red unicorn tied up and gagged. Her eyes were glazed over, as if having drunk too much alcohol. But the captive's face was emotionless, pale and almost turning into a sickly green. “What in the world?”, muttered the owner.

Stepping in as well, Scarlet’s eyes narrowed, “That’s not good.” she muttered, kneeling down to look into the other unicorn’s eyes. “Hello? Can you hear and understand me? Blink twice if you can and are able.”

But instead of blinking, the unicorn began move her mouth despite the gag. The owner trotted over and began to untie the bonds. Once the rag was out of her mouth, Southwatcher repeated what she said. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes....”

Scarlet shook her head, “This is, honestly, beyond me. I’ve never studied potions or… whatever this is.” She pursed her lips, “I’m going to assume you’re saying yes to me… can you tell me what happened to you?”

The unicorn arms were limp, and the only visible action was her turning to face Scarlet right in the eyes. “I was eating a meal of hay and oats before Doctor Lens, Steel Hammer, Lightwing, and I were to go complete the exchange with The Noxferus. It was about an hour before I was to go back to the room. While refreshing myself in the restroom, I felt a sharp pain to my side. Turning I noticed a syringe being held by a unicorn I have never meet before.

“Whatever was in the syringe, I found myself becoming lightheaded and exhausted. At the attacker’s suggestion, we left the restroom and entered this maintenance room. I was questioned at length about what I was going to do tonight, who we were to meet, and where. I answered immediately, for reasons I don’t understand. Once done, the attacker took my clothing, bound me, did something to the door, and left. That was several hours ago, and I have been sitting here until you found me.”

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed further, “Who’s this Noxferus? What did the unicorn look like?” she glanced to the innkeeper, “You’ll be able to take care of her, right?”

However, the Innkeeper looked confused and deep in thought. “But it can’t be,” he said.

Southwatcher continued. “The Noxferus is a brilliant scientist who has been living under various aliases and conducting research into mechanical and biological medicine and the occult. He has succeeded to some extent. The Scholarship has been seeking him out for the purpose of both recruitment and to trade for ‘The Marvels Of Science.’

“As for the unicorn that attacked me… probably female, mid-20, Purple mane, yellow fur.”

Scarlet scowled, “She sounds familiar… bit too familiar for my liking. Where are Lens and the others?” she asked urgently.

“They left some hours ago,” said the Innkeeper before Southwatcher could reply. “Paid for everything, and told me they were going out. She-” he pointed a hoof at the unicorn. “-was with them, Doctor Lens and the others.” Then the unicorn spoke, revealing the location and time of the meeting.

Scarlet flashed a look at the innkeeper, one that said without words ‘She’d better have a soft mattress underneath her by the time I’m back or so help me...’
With that she bolted from the building, throwing an anesthetic spell over her leg.
…

After Amaretto had left him with his new possession, and after agreeing to the current terms, Scalpel had some time to purview the document he had been given by the rustic stallion. The majority of it as he had assumed, was gibberish and foolish nonsense, but he learnt enough from the pages to enhance his summoning magic, and also the spells for redirecting the currents of magic for the oncoming ritual. Already he felt the machine god turn and twist inside his head in revelry, for the time would soon be upon them.

The hours faded quickly, the light of day giving way to noon and the stars. Soon it was time for the meeting with Dr Len’s, with the moon hanging heavily in the night sky, half formed and gibbous in the darkness which engulfed the outside world. He had decided not to change from his advanced scientific armour, instead retaining it in order to meddle with the forces he would be dealing with tonight, as well as protection against any sudden treachery by the opposing party during the deal.

About an hour before the decided time of meeting, Scalpel, cloaked in heavy black and gold silk scarf and hood made his way out of the Inner Sanctum, flanked by Tsan and Lambda in heavy battle regalia and armed with cybernetic talons from which they held massive two handed swords.

“All forces are ready and prepared my Lord Father” Tsan stated matter-of-factly, “Should the night turn against us, the forces for your protection will be available in a matter of seconds upon your signal.”

Scalpel nodded, face shrouded by a heavy hood and facial wrappings below the eyes, “Has the area been cleared of vermin?”

Lambda replied this time, “The First Squadron reports that after multiple sweeps all local vermin have been eradicated from the area, the sacrifices have also been relocated in advance to the centre of the Monolith, as instructed.”

Scalpel nodded appreciatively, “Good, we will need them this night…”

With that the group fell into silence, passing through the great underground network of tunnels that surrounded the local area and towards the Monolith, and the great ritual that awaited them. Behind them the hammering and pounding of steel continued, the sleepless factory ever working in preparation for the great war of their time, tireless workers of flesh and metal grinding ever onwards for the future.

The time would soon be upon them.

The Monolith was not one single structure, or at least it was in the sense that it all contributed to the design of a great ritual ground. Over a hundred titanic standing stones covered in crude writing of prehistoric ancient times -when the Earth and equine kind had been young and wild and had worshipped things undreamt of in this modern era- brooded and towered in this ancient place.

These stones towered above even the tallest trees in the forest by at least ten meters, and would have stood taller if not for the worrying away by the hooves of time upon their primordial structure. A few had fallen to the ground in cataclysmic storms, others were broken and malformed by the decay of ages, still others were consumed by moss and lichen for the carvings to be almost unreadable. However, all the stones encircled almost seamlessly the massive spherical centre stone which Scalpel now stood before.

The thing was ancient, perhaps even more ancient and timeless than the Neolithic stonework which surrounded it, and abnormally smooth and free of decay. From what he could tell it was some sort of unknown form of black granite, which had been moved here by great effort from lands far, far distant from this one, a titanic effort for a seemingly worthless piece of stone. When the people of those unknown epochs had brought it here, they had eased it into a great stone cusp, long since buried beneath the grass and roots of trees, until it had settle midway in, half hidden, half revealed.

This sphere, as large as a meteorite was no normal rock or ceremonial centrepiece.

It was the masterpiece of the lost primeval cults of Pre-Equestria.

Across its surface ran a script… no, not quite a script, a form esoteric and primordial hieroglyphs, and a tongue unspoken for eons, and unknown for thousands of years. When the gods had come to this world, they had wiped out all knowledge pertaining this ancient language and left the great ritual stones to slumber and waste away as they had burned and slaughtered their cultists with righteous fury. But the slumber of the Old Gods was restless, and with the right words these stones would sing a symphony of eldritch wonder once again… the Stones would sing this night!

Around the midway base of the sphere, great metal bars hung, and from these new chains hung, and upon those chains were dozens of silent black bagged prisoners for the ritual. They came from the basest sort of scum he had encountered, and if not for their usefulness here he would have made them into his servants long ago, but the Old Gods needed sacrifice, or the old magic would not work. Some of the more recent texts suggested the use of virgins and equines of pure heart, but he knew from experience the gods had never been so picky with their visceral delights.

Scalpel waited patiently for Lens amidst the shadows of these cyclopean acts of masonry and religion, to each side of him stood his lieutenants, watching the darkness of the Monolith with keen eyes, preparing for the Scholars arrival.

The Sky was clear this night, and above them, away from the bustle of the cities the stars bloomed in beautiful majesty… the stars were right for the ritual of this hour.

From before him, between two great pillars of stone, he heard the rustling of hoof steps drawing near, and before long identifiable figures appeared in the gloom.

He smiled dangerously beneath the opulent fabrics, a wild and deadly smile of a madstallion and a genius…

“So it begins…”

Lens slowly lead the group towards Scalpel and his entourage, near the titanic stones. The four noted the bags surrounding the center hemisphere, but didn’t take too much note. After all, they all worked with Director Prancer on similar projects. Lens wondered if Nocturne was among the hooded ponies accompanying the Noxferus, or if the rather mannerful Tsan was there. In any case, the Scholars treaded carefully as not to misinterpret their intentions.

“The Noxferus will be watching, and we must not do anything that would lead to any misunderstandings,” Lens said during their earlier debriefing in their room. “Otherwise, none of us will see the morning.” As such, they prepared their introductions - every movement, every facial expression, every word was calculated.

Once they were close enough to Scalpel, the group stopped. Lens bowed down respectfully and then looked into the other Doctor’s eyes. “Greetings, Master. We have come to the appointed time and place as you specified,” she said.

The central figure of the group advanced towards her, giving a short curt nod in response to her greeting. Speaking through a deep and resonant tone enhanced by magic he replied, his face a hidden in shadow, but with aspect familiar enough to be recognised as the Doctor.

“So Dr Lens, at last this moment has arrived. I have been waiting patiently for this book you have to offer me and I hope you have not disappointed me.” with a flurry of dark magic, a tome suddenly emerged to the side of the tall figure, The Marvels of Science as he had promised.

“Now your part Dr Lens, show me the Prophecies…”

Lens could not help but be pleased by Scalpel’s cleverness. He had taken precautions to hide his appearance from the others, thus maintaining anonymity. Lens also felt the warmth that she out of all the Scholars, she would have the sole honor to work with the scientist. As instructed, she lifted the Prophecies from Lightwing’s back using her telekinesis and floated it to her side. She waited for further instructions.

Even within the folds of the heavy hood and the distance between them, Scalpel could not hold himself back from letting out an audible gasp of delight at the heavy black leather bound volume that Lens held before his eyes. Even from here he could sense the olden magic which coursed through the words, the words which had been spoken in the dark before the dawn of time, by the other things. “Yesss…” He hissed between teeth clenched in excitement “Most excellent… Allow me, if you will, to examine it more closely…”

Resisting the urge to send the book as quickly to Scalpel, Lens floated the book slowly and gently as if were a newborn. Lightwing would probably objected, worried that the other party may run off before handing the other tome. But the strange ponies guarding the Noxferus made him hold his tongue. The Prophecies floated in the air as Lens waited for a pony to take the text. “You may study the text to verify authenticity,” Lens said.

As if holding a child, Scalpel grasped the book lightly in his magic, for a moment he was paralysed as he held it in front of him, before reaching up a tremulous hoof and caressing the binding like a father reaching for his child. Cautiously, agonisingly, he opened the book with a slight flicker of magic, the pages lazily passing until the first page appeared, revealing the words.

The book was genuine.

Emotion wracked his voice as he whispered to himself, almost insanely as he studied and read the text. “This is it… theses are the words of which my dreams have told… and ‘He’ knows them…” Beneath the hood, almost unnoticeable amidst the darkness, a pulse dark of purple light bloomed momentarily and then faded. Almost entirely distracted, he levitated the other tome towards Lens, barely registering their existence anymore, almost entirely enraptured by the book and what words he read there.

“Take the ‘Marvels’ Dr Lens, you have earned them as is your right. I accept this exchange, and offer up my copy for you and your colleagues to verify as authentic… You have done me a great service this night.” With that he went back to studying the pages in agonising detail, the only movement being Tsan and Lambda as they moved closer to their Master, leaning on their swords as they peered over his shoulder.

Taking the Marvels of Science, Lens entered into something akin to a trance and opened the book. Quickly and effectively she analyzed the cover, the materials used, the writing, the script, the formulas that her grandfather sought. And in the back of her mind, those calculations formed a understanding of the universe - of dimensions beyond the senses of ponies, of other universes parallel yet different. And the ability to warp space and time… and to prevent it from happening. It was indeed the very book they looked for, the one that held the key that could provide the ultimate defense. Some tears flowed down her face, eyes full of joy.

“Yes, Noxferus, this is indeed the text we seek. Thank you, my gr- The Director will not forget your service,” she said and set the book back on Lightwing’s back. The pegasus let out a visible sigh, finally relaxed that the exchange went without incident. He shuddered at the thought of going hoof to hoof with the Noxferus’ guards. Hopefully, I will never have the chance to, he thought.

With the book levitating before him, Scalpel turned to the great granite Sphere behind him, musing and muttering as he did so. “Where is it… where… ah. Here it is. Yes, most excellent.” turning momentarily to look behind him once more, his cold blue eyes glinting in the moonlight, he finally addressed them directly again, “You may leave now if you will, but know that your organisation is in my good graces. The dawn of the Silver Era is upon us, the first light breaches the night this hour, and We-” his eyes pulsed once more, this time more noticeably “Are its harbinger.”

flickering through the pages once more he settled on one near the center of the book, eyeing up the secret diagrams, words and signs… when he spoke again he sound far, far away from this meeting, in the land of dreams and nightmares, “They whispered to me in the dark, they were my only companions in the pit, when the power failed and the elements fell corrupt… now it is time to complete what was broken.”

“Leave if you will, or stay good Dr Lens, and bathe in the glory of the new dawn, the stars are right and the gate is open.”

Again it took all Len’s will not to jump up like a giddy schoolgirl. She was willing to stay and see the ritual. What knowledge could be gained, she did not know. What mattered was that the Noxferus would know, and he would be able to use it for his project.

In contrast, Lightwing was less impressed. I thought he was more of a scientist than some occultist? It turns out he’s another wantabe with delusions of grandeur. Eh, whatever, I have to get back to Manehatten.

As the Scholars had been analysing him with varying degrees of credulity, The Doctor and his companions had been moving. from the folds of his cloak Tsan brought forth a black orb. The Corona Star, the heart of a dead titan of the skies, was given to Scalpel and levitated before him in his grip. He searched the pages for the signs, and found them, with a nod Lambda passed a long sharp object, indistinguishable from a distance, but on closer inspection was the horn of a sea god. He nodded ecstatically, his activities shrouded from onlookers,

“We shall begin.”

Lens smiled that the Noxferus was pleased with the results. Hammer and Lightwing were a looked a bit bored with the obviously delusional researcher , and wanted to get back to the inn. They were still tired from the journey and looked forward to a nice bed. Soutwatcher seemed uninterested in the whole affair.

"Well, Lens, let's get going," muttered Lightwing.

"Go on ahead, I…" she began to blush. "…I'd like to witness this ritual." She turned around and bowed towards Scalpel. "Thank you for the great honor. Alas, my peers must head back to Manehatten, but I am-"

She went silent, her face became contorted and paled, and she slumped to the ground. In her back was syringe, glowing purple from the aura of Unicorn magic. Steel and Lightwing looked back at Southwatcher, her own horn glowing. But it was not the crimson that was typical of their companion.

"Southy, what in the world-" said Steel. He was interrupted as a large rock had slammed into his side at great force. Lightwing gasped as the Earth Pony glowed red and tossed into the darkness. Before the pegasus could react the stone rose again, and at high velocity slammed right between Lightwing's eyes. Gore flowed from the wound and Lightwing collapsed.

Suddenly, the visage of Southwatcher faded as the Glamour spell wore off. Casting off the cloak of the Scholarship, the infiltrator shot a ball of light into the air. And above their position a bright light glowed above them. Under her short violet mane, the fluorescent yellow face grinned without mirth. Soon the area was surrounded by agents of the Inquisition as they teleported to the site.

"In the name of Archmagister Twilight Sparkle and the Inquisition, you are under arrest. Lay down your arms now."

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Nephren-Ka Was Here Bruh.

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