Episode 2: The Unseen

The Land That Never Was and Never Will Be stood silent. This is all but expected when your inhabitants cannot possibly exist; however this was the case of the impossible being completely possible. They are the Unseen, beings of pure conscious who can only exist within their own realm because existing elsewhere would tear holes in the fabric of everything that is and as such only considered straying outside when they perceived that it was time of need for all the universe. Their time to shine was coming.

Needless to say that while the Goddess of Deception and God of Virtue, Mallory and Jacob respectively, walked through the citadel of the Unseen they were puzzled by their presence. Having originally been Artificial Causality Weapons of their respective titles they were quickly handed the titles and powers of their former masters soon after they passed for reasons never explained to them.

Because they are important to this tale some time will be taken to describe the two Gods. First off they both looked as one would expect a God to look like how ever they had not reached the point yet where one would immediately recognize them as Gods. At this point differences end.

Mallory, being the Goddess of Deception, fulfilled her duties of deceiving exceptionally well to the point where even the sleaziest politicians would be put to shame. Her eyes were a sham, while they appeared to pierce a person's soul they did no such thing but trick one into thinking that they were being read every second while in reality she had no such idea of what her opponent thought. She also schemed quite a bit to the extent of addiction and indeed had she not been born a Weapon she could have been a great planner, general or writer.

Jacob had no shams. His eyes spoke clearly for him and instead melted the hearts he looked at and allowed all virtue to flow through a person. It is often that sometimes in life you meet a person who could do that very thing to you specifically and it was caused by Jacob's interference. Having been around a long time he knew that the Unseen were unseen for a reason and wondered why they would make them selves seen. Being the God of Virtue he was bound to be truthful unless other wise necessary which is why Mallory was with him as she was a pathological liar.

The capitol building of the Unseen was as elegant and majestic as it was the day it was completed. The reason for that was because time did not pass in a place that should not exist and there forth all things were as to the Unseen one moment. Sometimes they bothered to sense where in this moment they were at but others they just allowed it all to go by becoming, in a sense, the universe it self. Because of this the long, elegant marble walls with gold lining the halls was never affected by the ravages of time. Never was there rust or oxidation or erosion affecting anything they made and so they made elegant things by willing such elegant things to exist as places that shouldn't exist can only be kept by sheer will power and as such it is possible to will entire beings and things into existence as well.

Mallory and Jacob slowly made their way into the chambers in which the Unseen awaited them. Not many of the Unseen were there, only about fifty or so, which accounted for only some of the most important Unseen. They sat around a large round table where seats were added as necessary and on this occasion there happened to be two empty seats which were meant for Mallory and Jacob. While the two appreciated the large room and fancy designs decorating the halls of old warriors who gave their will for the Unseen to survive one Unseen stood up.

He was clearly older then the rest of the Unseen with a far more defined face and eyes which spoke of years of experience beyond what any being can possibly imagine. Like all Unseen to Gods he appeared as an Almost Person while to most people he appeared as an Almost God. To both he was somewhere in between but never could any one pin their fingers on what was off about them.

His name was Voltac and he was the leader of all Unseen and so when he spoke everyone listened in such a way people listen to Head of States or beings like Zeuss except with more respect than fear of either of those creatures.

“Brothers, in the name of the great Tomeulo welcome. I am sure you are curious as to why the Unseen wished to see two Gods with out Artificial Causality Weapons”

“Yes we are quite curious” said Jacob

“Of course you are” said Voltac “but before we answer that for you we would like to ask how you've enjoyed our capitol building as it is our pride and joy.”

“I like it however it seems-” said Jacob before Mallory cut him off.

“To be honest it is an amazing capitol” said Mallory. She didn't want Jacob letting on to the fact that something still felt off about the place. Jacob looked at her disapprovingly.

“I am glad to see you think that way” said Voltac “It is great to see another appreciator of art work. Now to answer your question the walls are thinning. The universe is going to slowly start to fade and ultimately become impossible.”

“But if you are already in an impossible place then why do you care?” asked Jacob.

“We perceive our selves in the universe and there forth the Unseen shall be shall be effected when the Universe ends.” said Voltac

“Then why do you not stop perceiving your self in the universe?” asked Mallory.

“It is not that easy to do. The idea of the universe is so well cemented in our heads that to drop that idea would be impossible for the Unseen. It is also not just a matter of just the Unseen forgetting the universe but the universe forgetting the Unseen as the reason we exist is because we will ourselves however the reason we don't perish in the process is because all else wills us into existence unknowingly. Normally we can't leave here but now with the walls thinning we can exist anywhere in full form and so I'd like to introduce you two to two of our own, Trilas and Rulec. They shall be your Artificial Causality Weapons for the time being while they hunt for the key to the survival of the universe.” said Voltac while he signaled Trilas and Rulec to get up and meet their new, temporary masters. The four of them walked out of the building.

Trilas and Rulec were both young Unseen and as such to one who is not an Unseen there were hardly any physical differences. Being Unseen they were of strong will and they only thing that was different to them was that their eyes did not shine with experience and wisdom but rather pure, untouched knowledge. Trilas was a warrior and skilled in combat assigned to Mallory while Rulec was more of a diplomat and while he could fight if needed he preferred to be diplomatic about things. The two of them more fully explained the situation to Mallory and Jacob and at this time it became apparent that the two alone could easily crush many Gods and Goddesses. Their quest would be littered with the appearance of one who misunderstood the Unseen and had prepared for war against them and this they made sure to tell Jacob and Mallory. As you could guess this person was Maximus and neither the Unseen wished him bad fortune but rather to talk with him and make him an ally. As you could have guessed that was harder then either of them thought.

However at the same time this happened the most radical member of the council, Winser, approached Voltac.

“Sir may I ask a question freely?” asked Winser

“Of course you may brother for did not Tomeulo will that all our kind have freedom to speak to each other and let our thoughts be known?” said Voltac

“Indeed he did because by all accounts he was an honorable man. But I was thinking, what if the universe was destroyed?”

“No need to worry, Winser my brother and friend, for only our best team this on this case. Soon we will have the power to save all that is.”

“But what if we don't? We can't keep fooling ourselves Voltac something will go wrong!”

“Have faith brother for your brothers are searching!”

“But Voltac we can feel it coming, you and I. We can feel the end approaching! Now what if we took advantage-”

“Don't want to hear it Winser”

“Brother think of the glory that could come to Tomeulo's name if we re seeded the universe as the Unseen verse”

“That's enough from you!” and with that Voltac left leaving Winser with the new drive. The drive to change the face of the universe.

Episode 1: A Beginning

The night was broken by mountains rising in the distance as the moon broke through a cloud. It was a brisk Saturday night that would soon turn into a turmoil full Sunday morning. Despite being high in the mountains neither of the young man who were walking into the mountains on this evening could see any stars despite the fact that there was only a little cloud cover and the moon was a crescent moon late in its waning stage. Being unaccustomed to the mountains neither the man, named Darrell and Sal, thought anything of the darkness which seemed to have fallen upon the silent and peaceful mountains. In only a few hours the darkness would be the only thing either of them could think about.

Earlier that week they had met, never having met before that fateful day, due to a post card which told them to go to a cemetery out on an island near New York City where the sender would communicate to them a message. Before describing the events that took place in that cemetery it is first important to describe the man themselves.

Darrell was a young man of good looks and charms. He never had any trouble with any ladies except when they would never leave him alone; which happened surprisingly often. Darrell was a bit of a survivor having persevered through rumors and what such about him that came with him trying to reach the big time as an actor. He was also quite agreeable and in no way confrontational; he would much rather sit with you and discuss the issue rather then fight with you.

Sal was not much different the Darrell. He was of the same good looks and charms. He did from time to time have girl trouble how ever he allowed him self to bounce back. All that met him knew him for his humor which was always characterized by a long joke that would leave everyone nearby cracking up. He was not a cynical man and like Darrell was an actor albeit with slightly different tastes as he was also a musician of some talent and skill.

The fateful events that brought them together was simple; they had received a post card from no sender (for their address was the only address on the postcard which was unstamped) and the post card read:

You are to meet me at the enclosed location at the enclosed time. You will not be late; this I know. I hope to see you soon.

Signed,

Me.

Neither of them knew someone named “me” and had gone to investigate. Once they arrived there, both on time, they saw a man of an almost angelic light who radiated warmness. He wore only light colors that gave him almost a divine feel and owned a stare that warmed one's soul and melted evil from one's heart almost like a how a fire shall melt ice except faster then even that. This man of an almost divine and grandfather like quality gave the two young man a deep soulful and began speaking to them in a gentle yet authoritative voice:

“You have many questions, this I know. And I apologize for being unable to give you all the answers at this moment. What I can tell you is that I am me and I am my self and therefore what stands before you is fact and not fiction. You may call me Sam. You may wonder why a grave yard and the answer is simple: It is the start of a journey that will begin at the end of the journey of others. Darrell I wish you to be a new hero. This is your sword” he said as he handed the surprised Darrell a sword, “And you Sal are not forgotten. You shall be a trickster, may your thoughts and jokes leave despair upon your enemy. I apologize, my time here grows short. Before I leave I must tell you, there are others like you. You must find them quick for what is is fading into what should not be. From the darkness the evil is coming. Head to the mountains of just north of here, your sense will tell you where. You shall find another there” he said as he slowly faded leaving the two completely awestruck. It took a day for them to absorb all of the information. Another day for them to make sense that it was all real from the fact that Darrell still had his sword and yet another day to prepare for their trip. In all three days had past from when they had met in a place of what has been so they may begin what is to be. When they left on Wednesday they had no idea what to expect from their trip. By Sunday morning they had reached a small village in a valley having not endured many hardships but instead were quite hungry and yearning for some sleep after walking all night so they stopped into a local inn.

“May we have a room” asked Darrell

“Do you have the money” asked the inn keeper, a rough looking man who appeared to have been through a lot.

“Do you have the discounts?” asked Sal, staring him straight in the eye expecting a laugh.

“Ten percent off for gentleman like you” said the inn keeper. While they had not noticed it at this point when they looked back they saw he seemed a little bit off as if he had been hypnotized.

“We'll take it” said Darrell as he handed over the money and noticed that they were getting low on cash. How ever he figured it would be a problem for later; sleep would be needed to find the other which he had heard of. They went to sleep at 7 in the morning and awoke at 12 in the afternoon. During their three days of preparation Darrell had learned how to work the sword and was know able to conceal it easily by putting the blade it self within the hilt; a concept he did not fully understand. What they did not think of at the time was that from a lone window in an abandoned factory sitting on a silent and dark corner was a beast watching and learning them.

It was around two that day that the screaming began from the factory puzzling many as the doors were locked and no one had been in there many years since it last operated. Sal and Darrell decided the best course of action was to investigate. They went through a broken window silently as the rest of the town lay gently waiting on the other side of the factory for the police officer who was several towns away and contending with three fallen trees to arrive on scene. The best estimate on arrival time was at five that evening. They slowly walked around the old, dark factory being careful to not disturb rats when Sal asked something.

“Do we even know why we're here?”

“Because we were asked to be here.” said Darrell

“By some weird man we never met before”

“Glad to see I'm not the only one” said some one else in the dark armor of a knight. His face was not visible as he wore his visor down however his chain mailed glistened in the thin light. At his side he held the hilt of his sword which he slowly raised and out of it came a beam of light that zoomed past Darrell and Sal. “That is not good” he said.

“And who are you?” asked Darrell and Sal at the same time

“Maximus. Oh and a being embodied as shadows is behind you. I recommend you watch out”.

Suddenly the shadows began to twist and turn behind them slowly into the shape of a person.

“Stop” said Sal and while it slowed it did not stop. “Stop” he said once more in a stronger voice and this time it stopped as Darrell unleashed a blast of anger with his sword among the being. Soon it stopped affecting it.

“One second” said Maximus as the light from his sword formed into a sharped edged blade which he used to cut into the being. “It adapts to fighting styles and then becomes immune to them. Oh, will you shut up!” he yelled over its cries of pain.

“I am the last of my kind, help” it pleaded

“No you are not, there are many more of you. I saw them.” said Maximus

“But it is coming. From the darkness of what should never be it shall come and we will die”

“Is that why everything acts this way. Because the end is coming and you don't care anymore about others. Well guess what; I am the end and I will meet your tribe and let them fear me”. Said Maximus

“You shall die. Burn, burn, BURN” it screamed as it faded into the nothing.

“What happened to it” asked Sal.

“It died” said Maximus

“But what was it?” said Darrell

“A disembodied being which took for through a shadow. It's not dead per say but it won't bother us again. Now if you don't mind I'll explain what I am. I am the Templar, my task is to find The Weapon. And yours?” said Maximus

“What weapon?” asked Darrell

“Just 'The Weapon'” said Maximus

“Well we were told to seek” said Sal

“And what do you do” asked Maximus as he closely examined Sal, “mind powers?”

“Trickster”

“Close enough. And you?”

“I'm a hero-I think” said Darrell and at these words the Templar bowed before Darrell and begged for good blessings.

“Yes good blessings to you but we were wondering what to do know” said Darrell

“Your names?” asked Maximus

“I'm Sal and he's Darrell” said Sal

“Follow your sense and you will find something” said Maximus. “I apologize but here I part.”

And so he left. Shortly after he left the man returned to their room, collected their supplies and went to the south west of their location. They left at four o clock. At five o clock the police arrived and found no sign of struggle and was utterly confused for their was a scream but no screamer. The village would eventually write it off as an oddity and never connect the three strangers.

But unseen to the strangers was another stranger who lurked in the darkness and watched. And as darkness began to slowly fall he walked away to his next destination knowing soon sides would be picked and the first great battle of what may be the Last Great War would begin shortly.