Snake Charmer Saga Favor of the Magi

Chapter One: Dark Tidings

By Richard LeBlanc

In a series of warded caverns and tunnels deep below the city of Eco - a battle unlike anything that could be imagined was underway. The walls and roof shook as powers unleashed threatened to destroy everything and everyone.

Here stood the Regent and his council.

Before them a set of glowing ethereal doors pulsed as though someone of thing was attempting to bust loose.

"He is getting impatient," the Regent remarked - focusing his power at the door - protecting the ward that kept the seal in tact.

"He knows that time is his enemy," one of the other Tremere elders remarked.

"Time is not only his enemy - it is ours. His power is growing and ours is not. If we do not get the back up the elders promised - the ward will shatter and he will be free," the Regent stated seriously.

"The elders know this," one of the others added. Screams - the kind that could not come from anything human - echoed from behind the warded doors.

"They confuse me at times. They know the gravity of the situation yet deal with it as though it is a matter of politics. If he escapes," The Regent began.

"They know - they know the consequences should he escape. Believe me - we all do. But - they said - another matter came up," one of the others interrupted. The Regent blinked as he looked over at the one that had spoken.

"Please tell me that I did not hear that," he requested.

"They said that - the earliest that aid could arrive - was - a week," he added. The Regent muttered a curse to himself.

"We barely have the resources to keep this - thing - detained for three days. They want us to hold the wall for a week? The ward will shatter - it will escape and - they don't seem to care," the Regent muttered. Beyond the warded door - they could hear laughter.

"They will not let that happen - if the ward fails - the chantry will fall - and the clan will not be long after. They have invested too much in this city to allow it to evaporate into the ether in such a fashion," one reassured.

"By action or inaction a deed can occur. The elders - told us to not involve the prince or her circle in this matter - that this matter is to be kept within the clan. Such is a sentence of death," The Regent stated grimly.

"People are approaching the wall!" one of the council exclaimed.

"Formation!" the Regent called out as they stepped to the side. The Tremere Regent did several gestures. The door magically changed color. They watched as four neonates passed through the magical door as though it was an illusion.

The others watched as the burned - badly wounded vampires staggered and fell to the ground. Three looked close to death's door - the other - looked as though she wished death had already taken her.

"Are there any others?" The Regent asked loudly.

"The gate is being rushed," one of the council declared.

"We are all that survived," she strained. The Regent closed his eyes and shook his head. Those four that just returned were part of a party of fifteen.

"They are almost at the gate!" another called out. The Regent shook his head - moved his hand at the glowing doors. The ethereal doors reverted to the greenish hue they had moments before.

A loud hissing noise sounded as something on the other side collided with the warded doors. Screams - inhuman screams sounded until the inhuman forms were flung from the warded area.

"Hold the gate," the Regent ordered. The others stepped forward and focused their power into the ward. The regent sighed as he stepped away from the archway. He looked down at the bodies of the three Tremere already in deep torpor. "How bad is it getting?" he asked quietly. The only remaining neonate forced herself to sit up.

"There were more of them," she muttered.

"How many?" he asked.

"We thought the area was cleared - you said," she strained to say as pain stabbed at her.

"It was cleared - two days ago - they shouldn't have had enough," he muttered.

"We tried to hold position - but - there were too many. They forced us back," she said as her eyes drifted in and out of focus. "The screams - they were deafening," she muttered as she began rambling incoherently. The Regent slowly got up and shook his head.

"It is getting worse. He is summoning more minions than we are killing," The Regent muttered shaking his head. "If they were forced from - the chamber we had cleared days before," he began but stopped. "Is there another arch? Can the ritual be performed further back?" he asked seriously.

"An arch would have to be made from scratch - the process would take at least four days," one of the council stated.

"Can it be done without drawing attention to our depleting numbers?" he asked. A moment of silence followed the question. He lowered his eyes and shook his head. "Never mind. Send word to Palaseen - I want to know - what is going on in the city - and how much manpower we can spare," he stated

"We could buy some time by embracing what retainers we have left," one of the council suggested. The Regent sighed as he nodded. "I will go topside and do the deed myself - the idea is mine - so too shall the burden and responsibility of the act," he concluded as he bowed politely and hurried away.

"We have to hold the wall for a week," The Regent stated as he got up. As he did - they could hear the dark forces preparing to charge the warded gate. "By Tremere and the blood that flows through his veins - we will not let this vile creature escape and bring ruin to his name," he stated seriously as they returned their efforts on keeping the warded door intact.

To Be Continued...