A great evil stirs in the Imperial archipelago of Attria as insidious machinations conspire against the fragile security of Tamriel, but an ancient and powerful order stands as a bastion of hope whose vigil has long-defended against the rising darkness.The Order of the Amaranthine Ring is a loyal and cunning brotherhood of brave men and women who would see the evil beings and artifacts of the world banished from the surface of Tamriel at any cost. At its heart is a proud and colorful assortment of courageous warriors and adventurers, conversant mages and scholars, and guileful assassins, thieves, and spies, all of whom have taken oaths to lend their skills to a cause greater than themselves.
The Order of the Amaranthine Ring is an 18+ RP guild with a deep, detailed story, rich in lore and intrigue. We welcome members who wish to immerse themselves and engage in long-term, over-arching plot lines that form the backbone of our guild's story. We further welcome narratives that our members wish to tell, fostering an environment where individual characters may grow and creativity is nurtured and can flourish.
N O T E:
- Afflicted characters are welcome, but we are not a monster haven.
Mission
The Order is sworn to locate and either eradicate or safe-keep dangerous persons, entities, or artifacts throughout Tamriel. Its ultimate goal no matter where it has established itself in the world is to discover a way to defeat its greatest enemy being held prisoner in Attria.
Loyalties & Affiliations
As a whole, the Order is an independent entity wherever it establishes itself on a local level. While it was founded in Attria in the past, most of the Order is not beholden to Attria's laws, nor does it swear fealty to Attria's lord. The exception is for members who join the Order of the Firecrown, which is Attria's private branch of the greater Order. The Order does not involve itself in the Banners War, nor does it bend a knee to any one ruler. It is led by men and women from within, keeping its political views neutral. It has alliances with several organizations throughout Tamriel, both legal and illicit.
N O T E: The only exception in loyalty to Attria is in our optional sub-order, the Order of the Fire Crown.
Values
The Order has always been an organization built on the premise of doing whatever is required to fulfill its mission in ridding Tamriel of evil, including dabbling in illicit activity. While the outside world sees the Order as an establishment of mercenaries, mages, and reliquarians, there is a deeper undercurrent happening behind the scenes. Black markets and criminal refuges sanctioned and run by the Order fill its coffers to aid it in its success and fund its missions.
Walk Your Own Path
Gaze into the Mirror of Eyldra to see into the soul and find your place within the Order's ranks. We utilize a faction system, with two main factions, comprised of two sub-factions. In addition, we have a sub-order, the Order of the Fire Crown, that is unique to Attria for those seeking an even more specialized route.
Immerse Yourself in Story
Delve into deep and engaging storylines that strive to fully immerse you in the lore and world we have created. Our over-arching guild plot is designed to extend over several seasons, offering roleplay opportunities for both the near and distant future.
A Place For All
Characters with an interest in the following would do well within our guild:
Espionage, intrigue, smuggling, thievery, assassination work
Magic, history, antiquities, combat, adventure, exploration, Daedrology
We also have opportunities for the everyday citizen who wish to fill in civilian employment positions. Examples include cooks, stablehands, etc.
Roleplay Opportunities
Engage in roleplay with your fellow guildmates in multiple ways both in-game and in Discord.We have an active job board with a wide variety of tasks and quests available to our members. These quests may be one-off, stand-alone events, or they may also be main plot related. Many of our jobs provide IC rewards, and even promotion points to help you advance your character within the ranks of the Order.
We offer multiple opportunities for roleplay each week. Whether it is a guild plot event, a casual evening at one of our many taverns or housing locations, there is something for everyone.
S U N D A Y S
♦ Guild plot events often fall on this day in the evenings. Engage in the story and play your part in its progression!M O N D A Y S
♦ Casual / Social nights in which you may engage with and get to know your fellow guild mates. Sometimes evolve into outings and quests!T H U R S D A Y S
♦ Every 1st Thursday of the month is an IC guild meeting where members meet to discuss important business or promote their members.
♦ Casual / Social nights in which you may engage with and get to know your fellow guild mates. Sometimes evolve into outings and quests!S A T U R D A Y S
♦ Reserved for guild plots or social events in the mornings/early afternoons.W E E K L Y
♦ Job events as they appear on our faction job boards often take place throughout the week. Random other RPs occur as well. We also sometimes host PVE events for just hanging out and having fun in game doing in-game things like helping each other with IA, dungeons, GPs, etc.M O N T H L Y
♦ Once a month, we host greater RP events open to the public, such as our Black Market events. We also have holidays unique to Attria that are celebrated throughout the Order. Monthly meetings are also held, in which members are recognized for their accomplishments and deeds, and promotions are granted.
The Order of the Amaranthine Ring has gone by many names over the centuries, most lost to time and memory, but its purpose has never faltered. First founded on the Imperial archipelago of Attria to abolish a great evil from Tamriel, the Order attracted men, mer, and beastfolk from all walks of life, both legal, and illegal, to maintain its devoted mission in hunting down dark entities and artifacts by any means necessary. Its influence spread across the known world, putting down roots in every land.In the light, the Order's public face of honorable members swore knightly oaths to root out evil through justice and valor. Its scholars gleaned wisdom and weaved spells to combat darkness where it could be found, while its warriors cut down Tamriel's most fearsome enemies and protected the innocent from harm.However, unbeknownst to the general public, the Order hosted illicit dealings in the shadows to fill the Order's coffers and further the efforts of its mission.Its secretive, underground agents utilized subterfuge and guile to gain intelligence on vile beings or artifacts of note, while its fences hosted a vast and profitable black market behind the scenes. This illicit market lined the Order's pockets with wealth, as well as rooted out and contained the most dangerous of goods to ensure they did not fall into the wrong hands.The golden age of the Order came to a quick and violent close when a cruel betrayal occurred from within the upper echelons, and brought the organization to its knees. Following these events, the Order became shattered and broken before falling into obscurity.Now, the dark secrets the Order strove to keep contained threaten Tamriel once again, and the brotherhood must come out of the shadows to fulfill its forgotten oaths.Now, with new evils climbing out from the darkness, the Order has risen back into the light from the ashes to take on a new name: The Order of the Amaranthine Ring. This new Order is determined to succeed where its predecessor failed, by any means necessary. Its ranks have re-opened, its purpose re-kindled, to perform its mighty duty in defending against the great evils that threaten Tamriel.
♦ The Order of the Amaranthine Ring is an 18+ heavy role-play guild, and we strive to maintain an organic role-playing atmosphere for our members. The Order has locations across Tamriel, and despite its main headquarters being located on an Imperial island, enjoys full autonomy that keeps it distant from the political woes of Tamriel. The neutral views of the governing family of Attria has ensured the Order remains as neutral as possible. ♦ Our guild is a high-quality community, dedicated to fostering the creativity and expression of role-players and storytellers, and we invite and welcome mature members into our ranks. Our narrative is driven by the creative minds of our members, as well as guild main plot lines. We strive to maintain a lore-friendly atmosphere where individual characters may grow and express creative liberties to help nurture our role-play environment. We encourage our members to create RP experiences, host their own events within the guild, and create plots for their characters whenever they feel the desire. There is only as much RP as our members make! ♦ We welcome every race, regardless of their past Banner affiliations. ♦ We are LGBTQ+ friendly! We do NOT discriminate in our guild, and that goes for characters, too. Respect is the name of the game for us, and we take that respect VERY seriously! ♦ The Order itself is an independent entity and is NOT governed by the Attrian noble family. It is not an extension of its government except for the Order of the Fire Crown, which is a sub-order of the Amaranthine Ring operated on the main island of Attria. This sub-order contains Attria's private military, the Ashheart Vanguard, and the Death Tenders, who are specilized priests of Arkay. All other Order chapters operate in their respective locations on a local level, and are not sworn to Attria's ruling lord, but, rather to the Order's cause -- finding, securing, and eradicating evil from Tamriel, and finding a way to destroy the dragon, Yolsilkron. All order members are still expected to follow the laws of Attria and respect the noble family when visiting or working on the main island or its archipelago.
Tamrielic Mainland
Our guild is a Tamriel-wide guild, with chapters in nearly every region, much like the Fighters or Mages guild. These chapters are secret locations, known only to Order members, and include strongholds, safehouses, artifact vaults, and even businesses. Some notable locations include a castle and vault in Skyrim's Jerall Mountains, a tavern owned and operated by the Order in the Rift by the name of the Nightrose Tavern, and many more.
attria
The Order was founded in and has a chapter out of an Imperial archipelago known as Attria. This chain of islands is located 200 miles south-west of The Gold Coast.Attria is a neutral province with its own ruling family of lords, House Ascentros, has a unique, rich culture and history, and is a living, breathing environment our guild has worked hard to create and maintain. It is independent from Cyrodiil and holds no allegiance to any current alliance. It is a wealthy province that deals in trade and commerce, and boasts a booming tourist industry.
The Order of the Amaranthine Ring has two main parent factions that are available to you and your character(s). You may choose to be in either faction, or both at once, depending on what you desire for your character, and what you envision for them. Within the parent factions are sub-factions that can further align with your character's unique talents or interests.Besides these main parent factions operated in the main Order, there is also a sub-order known as the Order of the Firecrown, which operates on the main island of Attia. This sub-order is completely optional and you may elect to have your character join it if they so choose.
Honor Branch
The Honor Branch faction is the legitimate face of the Order of the Amaranthine Ring. They are the knights, scholars, priests, mages, relic hunters, business owners, and everyday folk who make the Order run on the legal side of the law. For most in Tamriel, this faction is with whom they associate the Order of the Amaranthine Ring.
Nightshade Branch
The Nightshade Branch is the illegitimate faction of the Order of the Amaranthine Ring, running its underground workings. They are the assassins, thieves, spies, smugglers, fences, and black market dealers in the shadows, turning an illicit profit to line the Order's coffers. They are the eyes and ears of the Order, the keepers of whispered secrets, navigating the shadows.
Honor Branch Subfactions
The Swords
The Sword subfaction of the Honor Branch are the fighters and defenders of the Order. They are the warriors, battle mages, and paladins who value bravery, strength, and integrity.
Leadership
The Commander - Anteas Shorn
Seneschal
Hierarchy
Knight
Journeyman
Liegeman
Initiate
The Feathers
The Feather subfaction of the Honor Branch are the scholars, relic hunters, and mages of the Order, who value knowledge, wisdom, and history.
Leadership
The Maj'ian
Seneschal
Hierarchy
Reliquarian
Journeyman
Liegeman
Initiate
Nightshade Branch Subfactions
The Eyes
The Eye subfaction of the Nightshade Branch are the eyes and ears of the Order. They are the spies, intel gatherers, and inquisitors who value cunning, discretion, and deception.
Leadership
The Gatekeeper - Sebastian Oathhand
Accomplice
Hierarchy
Agent
Operative
Rook
Initiate
The Keys
The Key subfaction of the Nightshade Branch are the thieves, smugglers, and fences of the Order. They value the arts of speechcraft and sneak, and have a keen eye for valuables.
Leadership
The Keymaster - Rosalind
Accomplice
Hierarchy
Thief
Operative
Rook
Initiate
The Shroud
The Shroud subfaction of the Nightshade Branch are the assassins of the Order. They eliminate dangerous targets and criminals, as well as threats to the Order's security. They hold themselves to a strict moral code, however, swearing to never kill the innocent.
Leadership
The Wraith - Tavaerra
Executor
Hierarchy
Deathsman
Operative
Rook
Initiate
The Order of the Fire Crown
The Order of the Fire Crown is an OPTIONAL sub-order of the Amaranthine Ring. This sub-order operates out of Attria and is governed by the noble family. All who join this sub-order swear fealty to Attria's ruling lord and operate as an arm of the Attrian government. If you want your character to be more involved in Attria's goings-on, you may opt to have your character join its ranks.
The Ashheart Vanguard
The Ashheart Vanguard are the elite bodyguards of the Attrian nobility. They act as a secret agency that protect not only the ruling family, but also the Foci and their mages. They are also the prison guards of Mount Ilkron, keeping Yolsilkron, the "Great Evil," dragon, trapped within its fiery bowels, unbeknownst to the greater Attrian population.
Leadership
The Commander - Lord Reikos Tavaerra
Lieutenant
Hierarchy
Knight
Footman
Squire
Initiate
The Order of Death Tenders
Sacred but shunned members of Attrian society, Death Tenders play a vital role in the well-being of the entire archipelago. They protect and sanctify the many crypts that dot the islands, as well as prepare and bless the recently deceased in what is, arguably, the most vital duty of any citizen.
Leadership
The Matron
Hierarchy
Guardian
Keeper
Tender
Innocent
N O T E: The pre-requisite for becoming a Death Tender is that your character must have recently died, and has been resurrected by the Death Tender Matron. This branch of the sub-order is very specific and is a great option for players who are comfortable with their character's temporary death and being resurrected for a religious reason under Arkay. DEATH TENDERS ARE NOT UNDEAD. Attria is unique in that souls do not leave a body for several days, allowing for true ressurection, and NOT re-animation.
The administration reserves the right to make changes to the Rules and/or Code of Conduct at ANY TIME. Changes that are made go into effect immediately and members will be told to read the changes made.
Last Updated: 07/22/2025
Code of Conduct
General
We are a mature role-playing guild, and as such, we expect our members to be 18+. We deal with and do not shy away from mature themes and scenarios.
Probationary Period: All members are put on a 2-week probationary period upon joining the Order of the Amaranthine Ring. This allows officers to evaluate new members to ensure they are the right fit for our guild. Admins evaluate behavior, role play styles, and how well members are adhering to the code of conduct.
Roleplay
Please consider the environment of what the Order represents. The integrity of our theme, aesthetic, and role-play values is important for us to maintain. We want and encourage our players to write stories and run events, so long as they remain true to the principles and theme of the Order.
When we are meeting with other guilds, members are expected to be on their best behavior and be mature. You are representing our guild!
Behaving in a way that contradicts our Code of Conduct during social RP events is grounds for immediate expulsion from the guild.
Be mindful and respectful of the unwritten etiquette rules of RP. We pride ourselves on quality role play. No god-modding, metagaming, etc. Pay attention and keep posts flowing. All parties must agree to scenes that may impact said parties.
The Order of the Amaranthine Ring is NOT an ERP guild. That being said, we are a mature guild with mature themes. Please keep NSFW RP in private chats.
Our guild revolves around natural, organic role play. That means is that your character is free to do whatever they like in a scenario, but keep in mind that there are consequences for IC actions.
Monster Policy
Vampires and werewolves are welcome, but plase ensure you respect the IC views of other characters and play your afflicted characters with tact. There are IC consequences for being afflicted, or being found to be afflicted. Tamriel as a whole is distrustful or even hateful of afflicted persons, so keep that in mind when RPing such a character. Be careful with whom your character shares information of their affliction. Not all characters in the Order are tolerant. We are not a monster haven guild.
Alt Policy
The Order of the Amaranthine Ring is an alt-friendly guild. You are welcome to bring your alts into the guild! We do not care how many alts you bring, or if you have a "main." We want you to play any character you feel like RPing on any given day.
Participation Policy
We understand people have real lives to live and other rp guilds to attend, but if a member hasn't been active for an extensive length of time, they will be removed. This is not a ban. If anyone wishes to return once they have the time to better join us in rp, they can at any time.
General Rules
Must be 18+ to join the Order of the Amaranthine Ring.
Discord is required.
Be respectful! This is our most important rule. Harassment as well as hateful and bigoted ideologies and language have ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE here. We’re all ESO players and we’re supposed to be having fun. Keep that garbage out of our Discord.
Avoid hot topics, such as politics and religious discussion in our chats both in-game and in Discord.
Avoid abusive language of any kind in our in-game guild chats and our Discord chats.
Minor offenses against any of our rules or the COD will result in up to two warnings. A third warning may result in expulsion from the guild. Major offenses may result in the immediate expulsion from the guild. Banned members CANNOT reapply for membership.
Discord Rules
When using voice chat be mindful of others. Try to keep your speaking volume at a reasonable level and mute your mics if there is a lot of background noise going on around you.
Please do not intentionally spam our channels! Keep topic relevant, but don’t intentionally post multiple things in a row and cause people’s Discords to blow up their computers and / or phones. Normal back-and-forth conversation is fine.
Use the appropriate channels. Whether posting memes, a selfie, your art, an IC letter, or you just to chat with your friends, do it in the right channel. All channels are properly labeled and have clear explanations on what they are for.
Change your nickname! Please change your nickname to that of your character(s) so it's easy to find you.
DO NOT Post NSFW content in our channels (unless it is art). This does not include artwork you may be working on. Just keep it in the art channel and use a spoiler if it's NSFW. But NSFW memes, posts, or internet images do not belong on our channels. Many people do not find sexual jokes, memes, or content funny.
Be respectful of voice chat channels. Please be aware of voice chat channels and be respectful of them. Roleplay channels are for people actively roleplaying and grouped. Dungeon channels are for people actively running a dungeon and grouped. If you are not actively roleplaying or dungeoning with a group that is making use of the roleplay or dungeon channels, please be respectful by not joining the channel that is in use. Please use the Gravevine channels for general voice chat.
The Order of the Amaranthine Ring has a unique, in-character leveling system that strives to provide your character(s) with meaningful role-play trials that showcase their uniqueness, as well as their growing loyalty toward the Order. Upon joining the Order, your character will be brought before an ancient relic of the brotherhood, the Mirror of Eyldra, which will look into the heart of your character and reveal one or more of the faction and subfaction symbols of the Order, which will help establish their place as a member of the Order of the Amaranthine Ring.Following the ritual of the Mirror, members will be go through a set of three trials, known as Tridiums. These trials are presented to your character(s) in which they must face such personal challenges as personal weaknesses and strengths, among others.When characters complete a Tridium trial, they are then given permission to craft items unique to them that becomes a part of their official uniforms. They are also presented with one of three bands of a ring that will become their official Order ring.
The founding of the Order of the Amaranthine Ring is steeped in conquering a horrendous evil that once threatened all of Tamriel. That evil was never truly destroyed, a bane upon the Order to this day, a danger they are determined to defeat.
The Great Evil
Yolsilkron
Fifty years before the Alessian Slave Rebellion began in Cyrodiil, the Attrian Archipelago was ruled over by the Ayleids, and had an extensive slave population. It was a thriving kingdom, and was a hub of wealth and trade, boasting a strategic position near the mainland where ships full of goods and slaves found business in its bustling harbors. It was considered a jewel by its neighboring kingdoms. It was the envy of all.But paradise still has its demons.
During this time, the tallest and most majestic of all of Attria's mountains, named Al Adabal, "High Diamond," a symbol of beauty and steadfastness, erupted. No one on Attria suspected that their beautiful mountain was, in fact, a volcano. A crucible of smoke and fire roared out of its gaping maw, and then the true horror emerged.A black dragon burst forth out of the earth, bringing down a rain of flames and ash. As he flew overhead, he began to devour the souls of the living, ripping them from their bodies. The corpses of the fallen then rose from the dead, ravaging the islands in the archipelago and bringing the souls of more dead to their new, dark master.Yolsilkron had claimed Attria as his own, and both men and mer became his slaves. Year after year, the living were led by the dead to face their fate. None were spared the dragon's insatiable hunger.
The Adabal Order
While the dragon's reign over Attria strangled the life out of its people, a rebellion was forming. The former Ayleid king of Attria, Thaeliennar, formed a tentative alliance with one with whom the men showed allegiance and trust, a man called Quintus Ascentros.The two leaders met in secret on several occasions, planning a way in which they could defeat Yolsilkron. From these meetings, trust formed between them, and the Adabal Order was formed to take down their oppressive dragon overlord. The order conspired and plotted for nearly a year before coming up with a plan.
Intelligence gatherers gleaned knowledge that Yolsilkron was no ordinary dragon with simple necromantic abilities. He had risen above such trivial magic and achieved lichdom, and without a guarantee of his demise, the order fashioned a trap for him, instead.It was decided that the dragon's own fire and blood would be used against him to create a powerful prison that could restrain him until a way could be found in which he could be properly and truly destroyed. The agreed upon prison location would be the very mountain the dragon had originally appeared from, and a trap was set.Five braziers were laid out across the foot of the volcano, but Thaeliennar knew that their enemy may yet be too powerful to contain. And so it was that the idea of bonding mages together to cast a more powerful binding spell came into existence. Three great mages would sacrifice their power so that three more mages could draw from their magicka. A focus of magicka. A Focus of Attria.On the eve of their assault on Yolsilkron's palace in the mountain, the three Foci surrendered their magicka to their three chosen companions, binding themselves together to capture Yolsilkron's fire during the battle. The fire was then channeled into the braziers, springing the trap, and ensnaring the dragon with his own magic. In a final display of power, Thaeliennar reversed time on the mountain, which came up around the dragon to imprison him in its bowels.Unfortunately, this victory had come at a great cost. The three Foci were forever unable to access their magicka, and one of which was Thaeliennar's own son.The victory also came with little room for celebration. The time spell, Thaeliennar argued, while powerful, would not last forever. Time would continue to tick forward, and the spell would weaken with each passing day. It would only be a matter of time before the enchantment on the mountain shattered completely and Yolsilkron would be free to rampage across Attria again. He warned that the five fires holding the spell in place would dim and then snuff out over time, but there was something they could do to reignite them.A steady supply of souls fed to the fires was necessary for the flames to last as long as possible, and so a darker undertaking became the order's next task. Thaeliennar presented the order with a mystical flower that he said could bind souls to the flames and feed them. The only downside was that it only worked on the souls of the freshly departed, and not that of the living.The first Death Tenders were raised using a potion created with the magical flowers, their souls tied to the fires that held the dragon prisoner. They took up the grim task of sacrificing more and more of themselves in order to keep the flames burning, but they also were assigned another grisly task. Although imprisoned, Yolsilkron was still affecting Attria, his necromantic magic raising the dead in an effort to amass an army to free him. It was the burden of the Death Tenders to ensure that the dead were consecrated, rendering their corpses free from Yolsilkron's corruption. Their final sacrifice would come when the inevitable finally came to pass one hundred years later.Yolsikron began to break free as the spells upon his prison continued to weaken, until, at last, the volcano stirred once more. His shackles began to break as the mighty dragon stormed out of his earthy prison. It was then that the last cog in Thaeliennar's master plan came into play -- the Death Tenders sacrificed all that remained of their souls to keep one brazier alive while all the others grew dim. The Foci and their mages then used the last brazier to light the other four, resetting the time spell and once again imprisoning Yolsilkron in the mountain.
The Aftermath
In the 2nd Era, the events of the Adabal Order have been mostly forgotten. The general population of Attria does not recall the truth of the "Great Evil" that lives in their mountain. Many believe it to simply be a violent volcano, and nothing more, something that explodes, like clockwork, every hundred to two-hundred years.Like the mountain and its evil, the Adabal Order fell into obscurity after Thaeliennar ultimately fell prey to the dragon's dark magic in his desperate attempt to find a way to reverse his son's sacrifice and restore his magicka to him. It left him vulnerable to the dragon's whispers, eventually corrupting his mind with false, yet sublime promises should Thaeliennar assist Yolsilkron in escaping the volcano. Swayed by the oaths given, Thaeliennar studied Yolsilkron's magic and turned himself into a lich in order to achieve the magical power required to undo his own spells on the dragon's prison.Quintus caught wind of Thaeliennar's betrayal and led their brotherhood against him. They slayed Thaeliennar and the humans continued their revolt against the Ayleids, deeming them no longer trustworthy. They chased the Ayleids out of Attria, claiming the archipelago for themselves and freeing any remaining human slaves.
With Thaelinnar's betrayal and death, the order collapsed, and concerns arose in regards to what should be done with the body of the Ayleid lich-king, especially when they were unable to locate his phylactery and destroy it. Octavius and the remaining order members decided that the only thing they could do was ensure Thaeliennar would never be able to resurrect himself. His body was severed and scattered to all the corners of Tamriel.Today, the Adabal Order has become something new. They call themselves the Order of the Amaranthine Ring, and while the rest of Attria and Tamriel has forgotten the horrors of the past, they have not. They, along with other surviving branches of the Adabal Order, are desperate to finally, and completely, slay Yolsilkron while keeping his existence a secret from the rest of the world in hopes that he never, truly, breaks free.The new Order has old branches within it, however. The Ashheart Vanguard, the secret service and personal bodyguards of the Attrian nobility, are what remain of the original Order, and keep watch over Yolsilkron's prison, now named Mount Ilkron after their insidious prisoner.
Caspian pushed a few papers across his desk and leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh. It seemed his work was never done anymore, and with the Order’s resurgence in full swing, and recruitment steadily climbing, he had a feeling there would be far more work ahead of him.“That was the sigh of someone ready for a break,” Anteas’ voice said as the man entered Caspian’s private office.The tall Imperial approached Caspian’s desk and leaned his hip against it with a smile.Caspian smirked up at him and stretched his arms above his head.“I don’t get breaks anymore, remember?” he said. “Someone has to run this place.”Anteas clicked his tongue and shook his head, his dark dreadlocks sweeping over his broad shoulders.“Don’t try to take all of this on by yourself,” he said. “You have help, you know. Me, Sebastian, Rosalind, The Maj’ian. Not to mention your cousins on that lovely island of theirs. You will burn yourself out if you don’t lean on us. That’s what we’re here for.”Caspian sighed again and scratched at an odd grain of wood on the arm of his chair.“I keep forgetting what it’s like to rely on other people,” he admitted. “It’s just been me relying on myself for… well… ever.”Anteas laughed and pushed himself up off the desk.“You’ll have to learn to rely on your support, Cas,” he told him. “You have a great network of people here, myself included, ready to help you.”Caspian smiled at him and stood from the desk, arching his back a little to get it to crack.“Gods, Sebastian warned me you were like this,” he smirked at him.“Like what?” Anteas asked, stilting his brows.“Fatherly,” Caspian chuckled, coming around the desk to lightly punch the other man’s arm. “Between you and Art, I’ll be fathered to death.”“Not a bad problem to have,” Anteas shrugged with a grin.Caspian opened his mouth to quip back a teasing retort, but was silenced as another figure rushed into the frame of his office door.Rosalind’s amber eyes were wide as she cleared her throat and waved her fingers at the two men.“Sorry to interrupt, darlings, but there’s been a development downstairs that I think you need to see,” she said.Caspian’s brows furrowed as he glanced up at Anteas and then started for the door.“Is it the Heart?” he asked, dreading the answer.“No,” she said, easing Caspian’s fears, before fueling them again. “Well, I mean, yes. Sort of.”Caspian squinted at her as the three made their way down the hallway.“What do you mean?” Anteas asked. “Is it, or isn’t it that monstrosity in the bowels of this castle?”“It’s a complicated answer,” Rosalind admitted as they descended the stairs to the main level of the castle, and then cut across the entryway to the grand library. “But the short of it is I was studying those veins growing off of it. I noticed they seem to be… pulsating.”Caspian moved to the library’s fireplace, reaching up to tap on the Ayleid switch built into the mantlepiece. The grinding of stone accompanied the sudden drop of a bookcase, revealing the hidden passage that led into the underbelly of the castle. A slow, rhythmic thumping echoed from the depths.“It is a heart,” Anteas reminded her as Rosalind led the way down.“Well, yes, darling, I know,” Rosalind said, waving a hand at him. “But what concerned me was that while I was watching one particular vein pulse with the beat of the Heart, I saw it get larger.”Caspian sucked in a tight breath as they reached the icy lower level that would take them into the frozen chamber imprisoning the Order’s most dangerous artifact.“That is concerning,” Anteas slowly agreed.“It means it’s still growing,” Caspian murmured, stepping foot into the chamber.The Heart’s thunderous beating reverberated off the frozen walls, the ice imprisoning it flaring red with each thump. The sound made Caspian’s jaw clench. Deep red crystal veins sprawled out of the ice like reaching fingers, stretching out into the surrounding walls and disappearing from sight. Caspian did note that there were a few new ones since last he was down here, adding credibility to Rosalind’s concerns.“Yes, well, while that was the worrying bit, I found that the vein itself had pushed itself into this wall here,” Rosalind explained as she separated herself from the men and approached the glacial wall nearest the Heart’s prison cell. “I took a closer look and realized that there is an opening back there. I think it’s a passage.”Caspian tilted his head and he followed her to take a look for himself. The glacial wall did, indeed, look cracked, and a large, glowing vein pulsed through it. He lowered himself down and peeked through the crevice the vein had made and a cool wind touched his face. It smelled old and stale.“This castle is rather ancient,” Anteas commented as he turned his gaze away from the Heart. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t riddled with passages like this. I’m sure there are many places hidden below it. The question is, where does this one go?”Caspian straightened and tossed his golden hair out of his eyes as he grinned up at them.“I think we should rally the Order and find out.”
The Vampire
Nightmares.There had been a time when she had feared them, but, looking back, they had led her to her purpose.That had been so long ago. So very long ago. One thousand years is a long time.Nightmares that came now were welcome, because they were not nightmares -- not for her. They were a vision of what was to come, and it was glorious.She awoke to the darkness, a smile on her red lips. She reached up to touch a speck of dried blood that flaked away at the slightest brush of a claw-like fingernail. She chuckled as she drew herself out of the lavish bed she had fallen asleep in the night before and turned to gaze down at the lord that still lay upon it.She combed her nails through his golden hair, moving them away from his wide, unblinking eyes.She smiled and did him the favor of closing his lids.A knock came on the door to the chamber and she sighed. She had hoped she would have a moment or two longer to revel in this moment, but that would have to wait.She robed herself and opened the door, expecting one of the lord's servants, but, instead, she found one of her own.Rhast was a tall man, an imposing figure, but he bowed his head in submission to her. "My lady, we must talk," he said.She sighed and moved aside. "Yes, we must. Did they accept my invitation?"The man stepped inside and glanced at the bed before shaking his head. "I do not know, but it was presented."She laughed and sat at a nearby table, crossing one leg delicately over the other."They will accept," she said as she tapped her nail on the tabletop. "One way or another, they will accept."He frowned at her."What of the experiments?" she asked."A success," he said. "The veins of the Heart are doing what you predicted they would do."Her smile felt cold on her lips. "Proceed. Find more crystalized veins. Begin harvesting them. We will need them for what is to come.""Yes, Mistress. Everything seems to be going according to plan.""It is. I have also spoken to a new partner," she said. "He was chosen, like myself. He has ambition, and he has access to other things we need. He is a good ally to have on our side. The Master has chosen well in him.""As he did with you," he said.She laughed. "Soon, we will have every ally we could want or need. Let the little Amaranthine Order continue to do our work for us. We are already two steps ahead of them."He bowed his head.She sighed and stood from the table. "Let us leave this place. I have what I came for."
He smirked and the two vanished into a thick mist, just in time for the door to the chamber to open. The screams would live in her forever, as they always did.Let them scream. Let them fear her, even if they did not know who she was yet.They will.
Betrayal in Attria
Taloneus walked the same path from the vineyards of Tear Lake north into Attria City nearly every day, guiding his mule and cart heavy-laden with wine-filled amphorae. The road was long and tiring. Summer had settled over the great island of Attria, bathing the landscape in a dry, oppressive heat. The songs of cicadas rang out from the towering cypress trees lining the roadway. Golden hills stood where green ones had only two short months earlier.At least there was a breeze coming in from the east from the sea.He mopped his brow with a wet cloth and then tied it around his forehead.“Should have left earlier this morning,” he said to his mule, then patted her side. “Right, Laka? That’s what we get for drinking so much last night. Missed the rooster crow.”Laka’s nose simply twitched. Then her ears flopped before standing on end.“The cicadas are loud,” Taloneus agreed with a smile. “They’ll die down once we — ”Taloneus frowned as Laka came to a complete stop in the middle of the road, her ears swiveling and nose twitching this way and that.“Laka, come on, girl,” Taloneus huffed, reaching out to take hold of her bridle. He gave it a good tug. “It’s too hot for you to stop now. Only a little longer, then we’ll be in the city and you can rest up.”Laka didn’t move.Taloneus’ mouth became a thin line as he grabbed the bridle with both hands and tugged again.“Laka.”Laka let out a cry and started to back up, dragging him along with her.“Hey!” Taloneus yelped, stumbling along and trying to dig his heels into the dirt road. “What in the world has gotten into you?”Laka tried to turn around, but the cart strapped to her sides made it impossible. It jostled the cart, nearly tipping the amphorae out into the dirt.“Laka!” Taloneus cried, but then he tensed.A foul odor hit his nose with the next gust of sea breeze. It had a sweet smell to it, but an unpleasant one. It smelled like something rotting.Another breath nearly had him gagging. The pungency made his eyes sting. He reached up and grabbed his nose, his eyes darting along the blistering landscape for any sign of the wretched aroma.The constant buzz of cicada song lulled, but another buzzing filled the void.Flies.They swarmed ahead in a grey cloud, around and above something lying in the middle of the road.“Probably a dead jackal or skeever,” he grunted. “I’ll get it off the road and we can get moving, okay?”He left his still-panicking mule to approach the corpse. As he drew near, dread began to gnaw at his belly. This thing was too large to be a jackal or skeever. What appeared to have been black fur now looked suspiciously like a cloak or tunic.Taloneus startled as the cicadas started their screaming again.He sniffed and rubbed his hands down his own shirt as he reached the body. He grabbed for his nose again as the overwhelming stench of death assaulted his senses.The dark cloak covered the corpse, hiding its face.Taloneus steeled himself and reached down to pull it away.A shrill cry escaped him as his gaze met the empty eye sockets of the bloated body. Its mouth was agape in an eternal scream.Taloneus stumbled back, falling onto his ass. He continued to scramble away, not quite getting his feet under him until he neared his mule and cart. “Oh, gods!”Laka was growing more agitated by his own panic, rearing and kicking at the cart in attempt to break free.“Laka, calm, girl, calm!” Taloneus pleaded, reaching up to try and soothe her, but his own hands were shaking to the point of uselessness.Laka reared away from him, and with one more kick, she knocked the cart over, spilling wine across the road.Taloneus barely had a chance to scramble back before she was off, racing back the way they had come. He leaned forward, grabbing his knees, then heaved vomit onto the dirt. That dread was cold and heavy within him.Shuffling drew his attention back toward the corpse, that fear now solidifying into ice.The corpse was moving.It sat up in a grotesque mimicry of natural movement, limbs too heavy, uncooperative. It somehow bumbled itself onto its unsteady feet. Its head slowly turned in Taloneus’ direction, then it reached out a hand and stumbled toward him.Taloneus screamed, turning to race after Laka, but instead, he ran into the solid chest of another person. He fell back onto the road, winded, then stared up at the figure hovering over him.The man stood garbed in a white robe, head hooded and masked. He was tall, far taller than Taloneus.“Are you crazy, we have to get out of here!” Taloneus cried, scrambling back to his feet. “That body was not concecrated it’s — ”The white robed figure reached up and removed the hood from its head, revealing a man with dark eyes and dark hair. He had the broad and chiseled features that only one family in Attria had.But, it couldn’t be.“Lord Octavius…?” Taloneus whispered, then his trembling began anew. “No, you are dead! Lord Lyre slayed you with his own sword. Traitor!”Octavius’ cold eyes studied Taloneus, then they strayed to the shambling corpse that continued to draw near. The corner of his mouth moved upward ever so slightly, chilling Taloneus further.“Say it again,” he said, returning his gaze to Taloneus as he groveled on the ground.Taloneus’ brows drew together. Say what again?“Call me a traitor,” Octavius said.Taloneus trembled, but he somehow found the strength to square his shoulders. “This is your doing. Traitor!”Octavius’ faint smirk remained as he turned away to look out onto the landscape surrounding them.Taloneus’ ragged breaths began to hurt as he frantically glanced out into the golden hills.The tall grass shifted, rippling the fields like waves on the sea.Dark forms rose out of the brush. One, two… a dozen… more.Taloneus screamed as the first corpse finally reached him, its stiff fingers grabbing a hold of his tunic. He tried to shrug it off, to flee, but he had nowhere to go.
The merchant’s final screams filled the fields… and then there was silence.Octavius watched with cold indifference, then stepped over the wine-soaked mud to reach the newly made corpse. The other undead shuffled away from his approach.“She will be pleased,” a dark voice said from behind him.“She will have her army, as promised,” Octavius said, barely stealing a glance back at the red-eyed man looming in the only shadow of a juniper tree nearby. “Tell her it grows every day. Soon, she will have what she requires.”The vampire dipped his head.“Tell her I expect her end of the bargain to be honored,” Octavius said as he pulled his hood back over his head. “Attria is mine. Its throne, mine. She can have whatever else she wants. But when this is over, this land belongs to me.”The vampire smiled. “Of course. She is a woman of her word.”Octavius spared only one last glance at the vampire before he started walking toward the city. He left the corpses in the care of the shadowed man, no longer interested in them.His concerns lay elsewhere, and there was much planning still left to do.