The Black Tower

In the deep gray of early morning, the boxy shape of Madame Naoki’s great carriage rolls down the road towards The Black Tower. The rhythmic clopping of the miniature horse drawing the carriage is joined both by the metallic friction noises of its wheels on the ground, and the first morning songs of the mockingbird, perched in some far-off tree.

Stan, the carriage driver sits in his seat on the forefront of the carriage, swaying side to side with the natural contours of the road. Raising a hand to cover his mouth, he yawns. Why did this have to be so early? He adjusts the fit of his new uniform absently- a double breasted pea coat. The garment itself is a deep black, with columns of shining silver buttons stretching down the front, almost like stars. The deep purple logo of The Midnight Sun is emblazoned on his right lapel, providing the moon for the night sky. But the thing is, the shoulders don’t sit quite right. Stan’s shoulders are rather narrow, and the shoulder pads are tending to slide off one side or the other- too large for him. He’ll have to see about having it properly tailored when they got back.

Within the body of the carriage, Jax- the similarly clad other half of the carriage team, pushes open the top hatch. Stepping up the ladder, he raises the upper half of his body through the opening, and uses a spyglass to gaze ahead at their destination. What an impressive building, he muses. He pans upwards to view the top of the structure through the limited field of view afforded by the skyglass, and notices the newly installed runic matrix sitting atop the structure. As a Midnight Sun Operative, he is privy to the quiet relationships between The Midnight Sun, The Black Tower, and The Red Sisterhood. He thinks back to the approximation of the device’s power related to him during the early morning briefing, and shudders a bit at the sheer power of the thing. After taking a moment to train the spyglass around at the landscape as it rolls past, ensuring that they weren't being followed or observed, he ducks back down into the carriage, locking the hatch behind him and appreciating his choice of allegiance a bit more deeply than before.

The carriage continues its journey across the plains up to the gatehouse of the main gate, rolling to a stop before the moat. Quiet codewords are exchanged between the gatehouse guard and Stan. The guard was expecting their approach, and after confirming the identity and status of the carriage, he sends word for the drawbridge to be lowered.

With the metallic clanking of the great metal chains across the moat, it is done, the end of the drawbridge coming to rest neatly in its groove in the ground. With a nod and a salute, the gate guard indicates that the carriage is clear to proceed.

With a returned salute and a whipping of the reigns, Stan and the great carriage continue across the drawbridge, the reinforced wooden planks creaking as the great steel carriage rolls across. However, the drawbridge holds, and as soon as the carriage is across, it draws back up with another great metallic racket of chains.

The unnatural strength of the miniature pony continues to draw the carriage forward into The Black Tower compound towards the titular Tower.

Madame Naoki leaps carefully from the door of the carriage, disregarding the ladder. The peplum of her jacket flutters a bit with the jump, but settles back into place quickly. Her outfit matches that of Stan and Jax, but is, obviously, a women's outfit, and has some additional accessories to indicate her station as the leader. A rich black military peplum jacket, with the same Midnight Sun logo emblazoned on the right lapel. A small handful of silver buttons hold the jacket shut over her purple turtleneck, and a pair of silver epaulets sit on the jacket’s shoulders.

Standing upright, she looks around. Hm. That would be The Black Tower. Seeing the monolithic structure towering up into the sky inspires a decidedly positive feeling in Naoki. A feeling of “Look at that. What a massive and powerful thing that I made.” An inspiring feeling, a feeling of confidence, and satisfaction, seeing the extent of her influence given form, and knowing that the whole compound is at her command.

Smoothing her peplum, she brings her gaze back downward. The early morning sun is just beginning to rise, illuminating the sky to the east with a warm orange glow that glints slightly off the polished metal armor of the carriage.

“... Well this is The Black Tower, Skarlet.”

Naoki waves her hand toward the tower, stretching up into the sky just behind them.

“Surely you’ve seen it from Isra. Pretty distinctive building. Like I mentioned on the ride over, Grandma runs the place. It’s a proxy organization of ours dedicated to ‘keeping the peace’ or something specious like that. The point is that it’s a legitimate front behind which we can have military forces and installations. It would be a bit strange if The Midnight Sun started installing barracks out back and mounted a massive runic weapon on the roof. I’m here to run a sort of inspection, to make sure everything is running smoothly and to my liking. I allowed Grandma to do most of the setup work herself, and though I don’t doubt her ability, there are probably some things that could be improved upon. There always are.”

Naoki leans up against one of the carriage wheels and crosses her arms over her chest. She absently begins tracing the Midnight Sun logo on her jacket with her left index finger.

“Of course not, go ahead. You can share with me whatever you like, and it seems like we have some time to spend before someone comes out to meet us. What’s on your mind?”

“Uhm. Hmm.” Madame Naoki puts a hand to her chin, and begins to think, turning to glance sidelong at Skarlet. There she is, bashfully looking at her feet, with her cute little parasol and red dress, as well as the worst possible problem. As the gears of her mind begin to spin, Naoki finds herself overcome with pity for Skarlet as she begins to think through the problem. To be so young, and to be saddled with such an insurmountable and terrible curse.

She begins to empathize, thinking ahead, imagining a hypothetical future in which she is beset by the same curse. The world changing around her in fast-forward. Funerals. Funeral after funeral after funeral, caskets slamming shut on everyone she’s ever known… Kate, Artemis…

Wait. Artemis. Artemis has the same problem! Oh my god.

A sharp intake of breath, Naoki bites her tongue as she turns the other way to look at Artemis. Or, more accurately, the back of Artemis’ head, as she gazes upwards at the tower, likely using her sight to study the rune patterns present on the tower’s surface.

Has Artemis ever thought about this? … She probably has, but hasn’t said anything. … Why? To spare her the guilt? …

No. No, that’s not how Artemis thinks. Artemis hasn’t said anything because she already has the solution. She has the solution a dozen times over, placed in strategic positions on her body. She has the solution in the sole of her shoe. She has the solution in a spring loaded deployment system in her sleeve, she has the solution in the small of her back, and hidden in her brassiere. Artemis is fully capable and willing to terminate the problem when it inevitably arises.

Dammit, Skarlet. These are not the sorts of uplifting thoughts I’d like to start my morning with.

Naoki swallows, and removes small bit of debris from her eye, attempting to repress this sudden wave of emotion. She again finds herself thankful for the time she spent training to suppress her emotions. It would hardly do for her to start sobbing when asked for advice. With a few deep breaths and some mental calming techniques, the feeling is passed. Passed from the conscious, to that little place in the back of her mind where all of those repressed emotions sit bottled, to better allow her to act in the present, unhindered.

Naoki briefly contemplates sharing Artemis’ macabre solution with Skarlet, but decides against it. Skarlet is too young to be considering such things. She’ll come to the same conclusion herself, eventually, Naoki thinks, in an uncharacteristically grim thought.

Realizing how long she’s spent in contemplation, Naoki takes another deep breath, nods, and begins.

“... Yeah. That’s a problem that you’ve got, isn’t it. I’ll try to offer what advice I can. Keep in mind that I don’t have any personal experience in this sort of thing- only recently having gotten into a serious relationship myself, and you might consider asking someone who shares your issue, of which I’m sure there are many. … Though, I would caution you against taking relationship advice from Mr. Ulciscor. I have nothing against him, but I don’t think he’s really the right person to ask about this sort of thing.”

Naoki turns to face Skarlet, and establishes eye contact as she begins to properly impart her advice.

“I apologize, but I’m not going to sugarcoat this for you. It isn’t my nature to make light of large problems. And yours is a very large problem, likely the most large and terrible problem anyone will ever consider or be faced with. Whatever course of action you decide to take, there won’t be an end, and you’ll likely be left highly dissatisfied with your immortality and the world as a whole. Let me say this just once before I begin, and know that I speak with the utmost sincerity when I do. I feel sorry for you. Though I feel bad to ruin your mood in this way, you will, over the course of your lifetime, likely be in for many times more sorrow, guilt, and negative feelings than I will ever experience. And in knowing this, I genuinely pity you and your immortality, and wouldn’t wish the same upon anyone else. I wish I could do more to help you, or provide a perfect solution, but I don’t believe that one exists. So instead, let that be said, and let me try to give what suggestions and assistance I can.”

“I don’t think that not loving someone is a realistic option. I don’t think it’s possible to completely close yourself off in that way that was recommended to you. Since you’ve already dipped your feet in, and tasted what love is, you’re not going to be able to stop. It’s addictive in that way. You’re going to get lonley eventually. Even if you can break up with Francesco now, you’re going to wish that you hadn’t. You’re going to long for someone to hold you in the same way he has, to look into your eyes with that same passion. You’re going to want someone to hug, someone to miss when they’re not there, someone who will make you feel happy and safe, just by being present…”

“Hehem.” Naoki clears her throat, and reapplies a touch of professionalism to her tone.

“Unless that vampirism has been kind enough to change the very core of your being, your basic nature, first as a human, you’re going to love again. Even if you can get over Francesco now, even if you can detach yourself and live alone for a while, it’s going to come back. In a year, in ten years, in ten hundred years. Eventually, you’re going to get lonely, and want someone. Love isn’t something you can opt out of now that you’re in.”

“No, you’ve got to find a way around your issue. One option, though I’m not sure if it would suit you, would be to live a sort of nomadic love life. Stick with Francesco for a while, a handful of years- ten or twenty or so, and then leave him. Remember him fondly, and find someone new and young to take his place. Continue the cycle indefinitely, and never stick around long enough to see the person age and die. If you decide to do it like that, you’ll be spared some of the negative feelings of being present for their death. However, those feelings might set in later, worse, when you look back, a thousand years from now, and realize that Francesco is dead, and has been for hundreds of years. There will be someone new, yes, but in those in between periods, and when thinking about the past, it’s going to be rough.”

“Another option might be to find or create someone with the same problem, and, in being two of a kind, make it not a problem for either of you. I’m not particularly well versed in how exactly vampirism spreads, but in theory, you could just bite Francesco- or do whatever it is you do, and then he’d be a vampire too, right? Or use some other method to make him immortal. In this magical world of today, I’m sure there are plenty of ways you could go about it, and it wouldn’t really matter which one, as long as he doesn’t die. However you do it, problem solved, Francesco lives forever with you.”

“Or at least, problem reduced. You’d still run into problems down the line when other people die. You can’t really bite everyone that you care about, and maintain the same circle of friends forever. Because then they would all be faced with the same problem you’re currently faced with, where all of the other people that aren’t immortal die. Just as an example, through which I mean to imply nothing, me. I’m going to die. This is a fact, and one that I’m fine with. I wouldn’t like to be immortal. Because if I were, them I’d be faced with your same terrible problem, but with Kate, and essentially everyone else at The Sun; I care about a lot of people. What some might see as the greatest gift, I see as the greatest curse, immortality. I would hate you for it eternally.”

She stops, aware of the words coming out of her mouth. She had far overstepped the realm of polite advice, had allowed her feelings to taint the discussion.

“But my point is that it’s hardly a realistic possibility, to make everyone you care about immortal. Attempting that would just breed a lot of negative emotions and resentment with a much larger group of people. No, if you’re going to need to keep your list of people you care about as short as you can, to spare yourself as much heartache as possible.”

“And to get around the rest of it, it would probably be best to find somewhere to live that’s secluded, some place out in the country, where you don’t have to watch townsfolk live and die, cities, nations, empires... civilizations rise and fall.”

“The largest issue with that would be that you would probably get very bored very quickly. But what’s a little boredom, relative to the alternative? Not the worst problem to have, if you ask me. Find some books to read, dedicate yourself to the advancement of science, the production or art, or some other noble goal with which to occupy your time. Try to make the best of what you have.”

Naoki ends her speech there, on a positive note, but finds her professionalism cracking. She turns on her heel to face away from Skarlet, and begins to take more deep breaths to maintain composure.

Artemis listens to the conversation intently. She might have been able to phrase it more delicately, perhaps, but her words ring true. It's probably better in the long run, anyhow, to not sugarcoat things. A little heartbreak now could save a lot later on. She realizes what she just said, and chuckles internally. Heh. Might be true with heartbreak, but certainly not with Heartbreak.

She frowns a little at Skarlet's response. That naivete and optimism will save her or kill her. The more stock you put in your dreams, the harder it hits when they shatter.

Naoki's reaction to the conversation perturbs Artemis. Displays of emotion were rare from the other woman, at least in public. The topic must have struck deep indeed, for her reaction to be visible. Naoki hadn't brought it up before, but it was obvious that it weighed on her. They would have to talk about that later.

 

Upon hearing that Naoki and her party had arrived, Inspector Zurt would make his way from his office to the towers entrance where they waited. His metallic tentacles clicking on the stones as he made his way over to them. He had been waiting to meet this Naoki, apparently she was funding the tower and Grandma had seemed quite fond of her. She wasn’t quite what he had expected, far younger and having cat ears seemed a bit odd to him. Still, he wasn’t going to question whoever was giving the tower money.

“A pleasure to meet you Madam Naoki, I’ve been looking forward to your visit ever since I heard you were going to be stopping by,” This was a lie of course, as Zurt didn’t particularly feel anything, but he did have fairly decent manners in his estimation.

He would continue, his voice a grating and metallic sounding one.

“I will be giving you a tour of the facilities before taking you to Grandma, there are a number of things you will most likely be interested in seeing here. I’m afraid only you and your bodyguard will be allowed to accompany me though, some parts of this area are restricted.”

Assuming Naoki and Artemis agree, he will lead them to one of the magical lifts and it will descend down into the depths of the tower. The others in the party would be escorted to a waiting room and offered food and drink.

Zurt would turn to Naoki in the lift, looking her up and down with his beady eyes.

“I think you will find the workshop most interesting madam…”

Zurt would eye Naoki in consideration, clicking his talons together before responding.

“Very well, she may come with you as she has the needed paperwork. As long as she doesn’t speak of this to others, there won’t be a problem…”

Zurt would motion for them to follow him and without further ado, headed towards one of the lifts. The scribes would glance up as the party made their way to the lifts, most looking at Madam Naoki. They didn’t often see one as pretty as her in there, infact, all the woman looked pretty good in their estimations…

The lift was sizable, but the others still might feel uncomfortably close to Zurt considering his rather disturbing form. The mage in the lift would bow to the guest and nod curtly as Zurt told him what level to go with. Within moments, the lift would begin its downward descent. After about a minute or so of travel downward, at what felt like a fairly fast speed, the lift would slow to a halt.

The gate of the lift would be opened and Zurt would lead them out into a bridge of sorts. The bridge was in a massive room, ceilings at least 100 feet high if not higher. On either side, they could look down to see various dwarves and dwarven mages working. From weapons to what appeared to be magical devices, the workshop was packed with bustling workers and a variety of machines at work.

The smoke from the various fires was being sucked out through vents in the ceiling, most likely via a magic spell. The bridge the party and Zurt reside on is about 50 feet in the air, giving them a good look around at all the action going on below.

“This is the workshop, in here, we are capable of creating basically anything one would need. Of course, it is geared towards war and defensive equipment. Still, we have a rather excellent furniture shop and make a number of experimental magical devices for personal convenience. Any of such devices we find as a success will be sent to you personally Madam.”

Zurt would then wait for any questions about the area before continuing on the tour.

The carriage is met by two of Raiko's mages, who escort it to the Red Sisterhood workshop. The massive carriage fits inside the doors easily, given the workshop's original occupant.

Inside, Raiko supervises the installation of a device on top of the carriage. A squat, compact thing encased in black metal, all angles and hard lines, its appearance matches that of the carriage. Three hexagonal apertures in a triangular pattern on one end and double vertical handles on the other are the only distinguishing features of the device. It is attached to the top of the carriage, on the existing mount point, via a folding arm.