~When Mystics Fight, No One Wins~ (Private)

[Hsin]

Paranoia, by popular definition, implied delusions of grandeur. The Imperial government professed utter obedience to the tenants of Law and Order, principles generally forbidding the underhand and the unethical. Outspoken critics and troublesome politicians more often attracted the cold embrace of iron chains than the assassin’s blade. Assassinations conducted by blade or poison simply attracted undue interest and uncomfortable questions. Or, at least, so thought a great many citizens of the crumbling Empire. The former Imperial Exchequer placed little faith in popular wisdom. The Council of the Crown was not filled with emotionless automations of logic and reason, but rather normal mortals filled with ambition and greed. Whist Hsin had long ago divested himself of their friendship, the former minister still retained a significant store of well-honed suspicion. Duncan’s brief response initiated a cascade of activity across the cold plains of the Administrate of Arium. The Golden Scale Inn and Tavern had been selected some months in advance, and only now duly approached by the supposed servants of a long-dead Narim nobleman to reserve the largest suite. Agents of the Dark Chrysanthemum permeated the immediate environs; their cold, attentive stares studying the clientele as they entered the premises. A cook from Chaan Ve’N’malise labored in the kitchen alongside the establishment’s own cook to produce a meal untainted by poisons and other undesirable additives.

Hsin Zhou arrived a candlemark before their appointed meeting to inspect the premises. The mystic walked quickly around the kitchen and the common rooms before ascending the steps to the second floor. Black silk swirled around the Kemite’s diminutive form; a midnight kimono enshrouding his form and the small collection of weapons hidden upon his body. His long dark hair had been woven into a long braid. Arcane spells permeated the master’s physical form gifting the caster with enhanced mental acuity and speed alike. The most important layer amidst nearly half a dozen spells was a modified field of Invisibility designed to interfere with the senses of another mage. It was a simple invention, one no doubt designed by generations upon generations of paranoid mystics; a simple statement of ‘not Arcana’ slipped deep beneath the conscious level to interfere with the inherent sixth sense carried by all beings.

Thin fingers ensconced in black silk gloves idly fingered the black jade of Mièmèngmèi. Another portion of the Kemite’s mind watched the street in front the establishment through Kite’s utterly black, pupil-less eyes. She would recognize the good Mister Sythe’s scent before leading the other retired Minister up to the suite. And then, as they said, the fun could start.

[Duncan Sythe]

If Duncan's protections were any less diverse and multi-layered than those of the former Imperial Money Counting person... then he'd obviously missed a trick somewhere along the last several Patterns of Mystic warfare. Given that they weren't, he hadn't really missed much. That little snatch of ego merely a matter of his continued existence.

Since he was alive, he therefore considered himself competent.

Thus the only difference between himself and Hsin was...well, there was no difference. Duncan wore the same Invisibility atop all his other spells and had an Illusion of himself, precise in every detail – down to the smell – due to his familiarity with copying himself, walking ahead of himself in a black cloak with the same appearance as Duncan Sythe in his time as Imperial Mage.

This figure paused outside the entrance to the tavern and waited as Duncan expanded his senses and detected no ready traps. But of course he would not if they were well laid, thus he pushed the door open and let the illusion step inside with him.

[Hsin]

Kite wrinkled her nose at the smell of old soup. The hunting apparition sniffed at the dank Vortex air, turning her head back and forth before setting her sights upon the scar-ridden face of Master Duncan Sythe. Eyes crafted from pure darkness studied the ex-Minister’s face carefully as she compared the vision to the imparted memories from her master. Now, what had the master said? The Kemite girl seemed suddenly lost in thought. ”Sirrah,” she spoke slowly as she tugged gently at the passing visitor’s sleeve. ”He’s waiting upstairs on the…one…two…three…third floor.” She turned and quickly skipped through the tavern, leading the illusionary stranger through the nondescript door.

True to form, Hsin rose to his feet and performed a stately half-bow in Duncan’s direction. A Kemite servant in a long, crimson dress simultaneously poured a glass of wine at a seat on the short table opposite the host. Whether the Imperial Exchequer graced the establishment with his physical presence remained happily ambiguous. It was entirely possible for both Masters to maintain illusionary forms and consume illusionary forms. The physical niceties hardly bothered the former Imperial Exchequer. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Master Sythe.” His voice had changed little since Alleria prime, still infuriatingly soft and polite regardless of location or situation. ”How is Milo doing? I left Alleria too quickly to bid him farewell properly.”

[Duncan Sythe]

“Milo is well enough, under the circumstances.”

The Illusion said. As above the streets of Vortex met two of the more prominent Mystics in the Empire. Although, true to form, very few people knew they even existed. Duncan had followed as indicated, keeping his Illusion close to avoid too much confusion when it came to doors. When he'd entered he had responded to the Kemite's formal bow with a tip of his head, tilting the non existent hat in Hsin's direction before he started to speak, Duncan meanwhile waiting just to one side of the door.

“I believe he is sorely missing you after your retirement and of course there are numerous problems in the air...”

The Illusion shrugged.

“The Imperial Army being the most significant of course, given its prominence in maintaining the authority of the Imperial State. He's a man in an unlucky place trying to do his best. It does though remain to be seen whether the Empire will survived despite his efforts.”

Duncan said nothing of his own. Whilst he would of course rather not have the Empire fall into bickering mini-wars he'd arrange it as cleanly as possible if it became obvious things were going to go that way come Aeternia or high water.

“You had reasons for resigning of course...”

It was neither a question nor particularly not one. The man had been an acknowledged mage of some kind when Duncan had met him and he'd never quite worked out what kind. Of course the pair of them had Illusions active which showed them precisely how they'd been when they last met...so he gained no further information about Hsin at present but when someone who had risen to an office of the Imperial Government resigned?

Well, there were usually reasons and when the person was a Mage it made them doubly interesting. Not that he was necessarily here for that specifically, his last meeting with Hsin had been brief and he suspected they both harboured the same concealed curiosity about each other's aims.

[Hsin]

“I had my reasons,” murmured Hsin in a voice heavily infused with mirthful ambivalence. Thin fingers encased in silk gloves slowly steeped themselves before his thin chest. His resignation letter cited illness to justify his sudden departure. Neither Duncan nor Milo realized the existence of an undead spirit named Hana and the empty corpse she inhabited. Their love bordered upon the insane and the obscene. At best, it raised questions regarding the Minister of Finance’s continued sanity. At worst, the Kemite deserved death for the kidnapping of an innocent from Frigid Peak. Evil? Perhaps, but a reasonable evil. ”There were always problems. Aramil solved nothing with his fortune. The budget has always been fragile, and I fear the repercussions of certain defeats.”

Hsin pursed his lips for a moment, as if suddenly deep in thought. ”The Imperial Legions?” A slow smile spread across the Kemite’s face. ”Sixty five crowns of every hundred crowns collected funds the Ministry of War. The crowns in the coffers were intended to re-equip the classis with arcane cannons. There is a foundry in Nexus Prime, and one in Sil’rosia. The latter was owned by the last Minister of War. Curious, no?” A light shrug. ”But the money was never spent, and Minister Gil’dae resigned following the debacle in Imperia.”

”Zerdagria, Imperia, Narim, and Paxia,” counted off Hsin. ”The losses in property and taxes sums to billions of crowns to speak nothing of the cost of rebuilding. But I believe you’re interested more in the latter than the former.” His voice suddenly lost its ambivalence and gentleness; morphing into a colder sound heavy with distain. ”The Kemite people used to believe their generals deserved the same fate as their troops. It’s the least Sheng Kaldres could do. Four thousand slain, twenty seven thousand wounded, seven thousand missing. For what?”

The question hung in the air for a long moment. Hsin’s expression remained utterly inscrutable, but his voice suddenly seemed tinged with sorrow. ”Do you know many innocents died in Narim and Paxia, Mr. Sythe?”

[Duncan Sythe]

“Too many, I've seen the ruins if not the bodies. Zerdargia was no different thanks to the Church and its insanity.”

Replied Duncan with equal frankness, his own disdain matching Hsin's easily. Acumin, Diana, Zerdargia. He may not have seen Paxia or Narim but he knew the mould, he knew the idiocy of the men in charge.

“Let's say I am in accord when it comes to the ignorance of fools, unfortunately though the Empire right now is the Legion, its the only thing keeping the provinces in line even though I dare say that recent events have lowered their opinion of the might of the Imperial Sword just a fraction.”

Duncan twisted his eyebrows and head in an expression of casual irrelevance, the provinces were still in line, for now. Arium because Nexus probably still feared Vortex and the rest because they still had legions at the doors. But given Hsin had brought up the name he would ask more before going on. As well as he knew Kaldres had commanded the chaos he was unsure as to the precise nature of his failure.

“Tell me of Mister Kaldres. I know the name but not his crimes in Paxia and information is notoriously thin on the ground. I have reason to be investigating the Legions already but additional information is always welcome.”

[Hsin]

While the former Minister of Arcana explained his thinking, a pair of Kemite women clad in long crimson robes stepped through a small door on the side of the suite. A narrow stairway connected the upper suite to the kitchens to facilitate service to the establishment’s valued guests. They were utterly identical in appearance, and disturbingly similar in behavior. Each sister carried a tray laden with hor’doeurves showcasing the produce produced in the nearby countryside. Most featured cheeses or mushrooms of some sort as an interesting commentary on the general climate. Hsin received a pot of tea brewed from the finest imported leaves. Duncan received a glass of exquisite crimson wine from an ancient and dusty bottle. “Narim, not Paxia,” corrected Hsin as he poured a cup of fragrant amber liquid for himself. “Mr. Kaldres held the rank of Provost. His duties included oversight of the Imperial forces stationed in Sheria. Anyone with a map could demonstrate the threat posed by Ire. I suppose you could say he encountered political difficulties in his appointment. A half-hearted excuse at best. I’m sure the families of the slain extend their understanding.”

”Narim fell in a single night,” murmured the Kemite as dark eyes gazed at Duncan over his cup of tea. ”I could orchestrate a similar feat, but only with a great many mages of significant caliber. The mages so responsible for mauling the Legions, it seems, arrived long after the sacking of Narim.” Hsin shrugged ever so slightly. ”The events surrounding the fall are confused at best. But a city falling in a night. That strikes me either as either willful dereliction or utter incompetence, to say nothing of the battle afterwards. Of Paxia, I know little. A spoiler attack, perhaps, or a faction in Vortex seizing the moment.”

”Yes. The Empire is the legion. Which is precisely why our mutual friend Milo must tread very carefully,” He stopped for a moment to sip his drink. ”The provinces pay their duties to the Imperial Treasury by the coercion of the legions and the threat of annihilation by their mages. A curious policy for an Empire professing care for their inhabitants.” A thin smile again graced his face. ”Jaedaxia proved the Legions still powerful. Imperia, Paxia, and Narim proved them defeated through arms, guile, and arcana. And, more importantly, utterly ambivalent towards protecting their charges.”

[Duncan Sythe]

“So an impasse.”

Duncan concluded simply. Having declined tea for obvious reasons although not out of any particular reason to offend the Kemite. It was interesting however to learn of the Narim attacks and a little of the Paxia ones he was so ignorant of. Thus now he shrugged and continued.

“Who will make the first move? That is entirely the question. Malice, Ire, the Vyssitichi communities. They are all still out there along with others. Now the Governors can also be counted as factions as it is possible that if one approached the Legions for a switch of employers they might even agree. Then the issue of mage annihilation may be unnecessary if the cities in question have their own mages.”

That of course was the worst cast scenario...albeit at the moment not much of one. If one province did break away then it would be hellish to reassert authority given the state of things after Paxia and Narim and with all the other factions at play. The perfect solution of course in such a situation was a domino card effect, one province grabbed up its legions, the rest followed and the Empire was left with Prime Province on its lonesome. Unfortunately Duncan doubted something like that would happen and the consequent rearrangement of law and order in all the new mini-states would be absolutely delightful to Jorel in particular.

And of course there was no saying exactly who or what kind of power arrangements might be made on the provincial level, one might think it was time to invade another...things could get extremely messy in a few patterns even if they did resolve peacefully in the beginning.

“Of course that doesn't cover the potential political shifts but dealing purely in terms of who will end up in a war with whom else... it all relies on the Athercrown and the gods.”

Said in a tone that indicated Duncan didn't particularly approve of either but figured that largely he wasn't going to have much of a say in the matter, only in the tidying up.

[Hsin]

“Not an impasse,” objected Hsin with a soft laugh. The Kemite helped himself to the hor’doeurves with a noticeable preference for the stuffed mushroom and a marked aversion to cheese. It was tempting to explain such preference in the language of the subconscious mind. However, the truth was significantly simpler. His family generally avoided milk in its many manifestations. Fermented milk allowed to age in mold-filled cellars simply struck the Exchequer as mildly sickening. “I’ve known people who enjoy characterizing the Empire as a great see-saw, forever shifting back and forth between the opposite poles of order and chaos. I respectfully beg differ. The Empire is in a state of equilibrium with hundreds of factors affecting its continued survival. The nobles nervously watch Imperial power wane. The commoners watch their hard-earned money disappear to pay failing legions. There are the parties you’ve mentioned—Ire, Malice, Vortex and the like—and more besides. All it takes is a suitable event, or connection of events, to disturb the equilibrium.” A dry smile graced his lips. “There will be decades of change and, eventually, the Empire will settle into another equilibrium.”

”Ah. The Aethercrown.” The Kemite mystic seemed vaguely displeased by the artifact’s mere mention. ”Diana’s tool to ensure the Empire obeys her whim. But Audrey and Arabella ruled without its explicit blessings, and the Empress Fire before them. The latter cemented her position through might and power. They say, deep underground, the ruins of Aslangrad are still burning.”

”Of course, power is not inherently moral. It’s easy to speak of armies and trade, but mages present an irritating conundrum. Allow me to expound.” A black-gloved hand gestured vaguely in Duncan’s position. ”Suppose you and I represent cities of equal power, wealth, and size. The table is our battlefield. Our armies are evenly matched. We each have three masters. Enough to train a small cadre of mages. Oh, and reduce the opponent to dust and ashes.” Hsin paused to take a sip of his tea. ”The armies won’t march in full force. If they attack with all three masters, their opponent will simply parry their blows and destroy their home city. All other things being equal, the only hope for complete victory is the annihilation or assassination of the opponent’s masters. Otherwise, the only guarantee is mutual annihilation. But no one dreams of complete victory anymore. It’s been years since the Empire’s enforced its will properly upon a city.” Ironically, it was the city of Vortex that had been razed during the reign of Alexander Nighthawk. At a terrible cost to the coffers. ”What then for our cities? Proxy wars, small raids. A shift from immediate victory to a long, slow existence with the specter of destruction.”

”I make some assumptions of course. Each side must know perfectly well the motivations and movements of the foe. And, furthermore, they must behave perfectly logically. It’s merely an experiment in thought. However, it’s also a situation where the destruction of city and the slaughter of their inhabitants become rare. Not, as so recently, a regrettably common occurrence.”

Another small shrug. ”It’s a mere thought. Such a situation becomes all but impossible with the Legion’s size. Three hundred thousand troops and twenty masters. Speaking of masters. What do you intend to do now? Milo’s appointed a new Imperial Mage; one with a rather interesting view on running his ministry.”

[Duncan Sythe]

“Yes...the advantage of order is a lengthening of the lifespan of a typical Imperial citizen, not to mention the lack of wars and other such deadly activities.”

In regard to mages however, Duncan considered Hsin's thesis. Which was when it came down to it, accurate. The dilemma was that the legions were no longer the power they had once been, Duncan had perhaps merely clung feebly to the legions as a hope...but there was none, was there? The new Arcane order may have taken patterns to blossom into a deadly flower but it was now fully bloomed. Mages were the new Legion, where once manpower had held the answer, it lay in the hands of individuals capable of decimating the manpower with a single thought.

“That is of course where the Legions came in though...in avoiding such a situation, by having an overwhelming force of Mages loyal to a philosophy. The problem is they aren't a match for what's out there any longer, any more than Atl is. So your right, soon enough the cities will start recruiting their own defenses against Arcane threat.”

Duncan shook his head at Hsin and tilted his hand over, gloved brown leather palm uppermost.

“I intend to do nothing about the Adept though, now that you mention him. I met him and he may have bright ideas but he has no more of a Ministry to implement them with than I ever did.” A wry smile. “Not that I ever had bright ideas. Still. Until he really does anything there isn't much to say, a Mage Council is unlikely to have much effect on matters although it will be interesting to watch, don't you think?”

In his way asking Hsin's own opinion of the man. When it came down to it Duncan did not begrudge Atl his motivations, simply saw them as pre-fracture in their implementation. Goodly goodly honest and far too naïve. In a world where as Hsin rightly put it, the Legions were loosing out to independent mages and were no longer able to concentrate enough Arcane influence to defend themselves, let alone their assigned provinces, Atl's ideas of unifying academy teaching and discussing magic in council were well intentioned but not likely to produce an effect before the Empire crashed down around his ears.

Duncan's opinion anyway, he was just waiting for the last support to snap and the entire mess to tumble.