 Malveaux photos (A) / (B) / (C) Baptism of Alexandria, 926 (A) / (B) / (C) / (D) Malveaux & Alexandria (A) / (B) Listening to Alexandria, 935 (A) / (B) / (C) The Wedding, 945 (A) / (B) The Confession, 945 (A) The Sacrifice, 945 (A) / (B) / (C) / (D) / (E) 949 GUE: Malveaux in sarcophagi (A) / (B) Malveaux implores the pilgrim (A) / (B) The Four vs. Lucien #1 (A) / (B) / (C) Tempting the pilgrim with poision (A) / (B) The Four vs. Lucien #2 (A) / (B) / (C) The Ceremony (lose game) (A) / (B) / (C) / (D) The Ceremony defeated (A) / (B) / (C) Malveaux's Copy of Yoruk's Book, 949 GUE |
Francois Malveaux was born in Port Foozle on Oracle 10, 900 GUE. He was one of the chief cornerstones in the establishment of the curse of the Forbidden Lands which would completely devastate much of the Eastlands in the 940s. This secret circle of outwardly respectable citizens were in reality rogue alchemists—the pious Bishop Francois Malveaux, the military hero General Thaddeus Kaine, the music conservatory mistress Madame Sophia Hamilton and respected asylum chief Dr. Erasmus Sartorius. The cult was in search of the goal of alchemy: the fifth element of the quintessence, the elixir of life, the philosopher’s stone which would bring to each one immorality. But unlike traditional alchemy which teaches that it is through the distillation of metals, that the elixir can be found—this cult practiced a twisted, deviant belief. They believed that this elixir could be created, only when the final element—a drop of the most purified, rarefied blood was distilled and spilled. To achieve their goal, they would create a woman. In the process, these four would release a vengeful force known as the Nemesis which tormented innocents throughout the Eastlands.
Francois Malveaux Elected Bishop (922 GUE)
Francois Malveaux was raised in a middle-class family. His performance in school was average, but only because he did not see a reason to put in the effort. However, Malveaux discovered he had a talent for manipulating people and, at the same time, he also discovered his taste for opulence and privilege. Still, due to his poor grades, his parents sent him to the Steppinthrax Monastery to become a monk in the Zorkastrian religion.
The Zorkastrian religion was empty to Malveaux, and he sought answers beyond it. One day, exploring the catacombs beneath the Monastery, he found the journal of Saint Yoruk, who had descended into hell and then returned. From this secret text, he wrote his Zork-wide best-selling book, “Revelation and Eternity,” which thousands in Zork credit for a resurgence of interest in (and financial contributions to) the Zorkastrian religion—although some jealous critics have said it was written with the help of a demon. The book caused enough of a stir to get Malveaux elected Bishop of Zork at Steppinthrax Monastery in 922. As the youngest in history to be invested in this second highest ecclesiastical office in Zork (about 22 years of age), the book was not enough to propel Bishop Malveaux into Zork's highest office—Grand Inquisitor. That same year, Sophia Hamilton, Thaddeus Kaine and Erasmus Sartorius all read Malveaux’s book. He additionally authored "The Brogmoid Fallacies" sometime between 900~923 GUE.
Malveaux Meets Sophia Hamilton (922 GUE)
During the year of 922, the powerful bishop of the fire-based Zorkastrian religion told Sophia Hamilton about alchemy. With the determination and patience to experiment with it, and the motivation to achieve its goal of eternal life, she would become a proficient and capable alchemist. Henceforth, she continued her alchemical studies in secret with Malveaux.
Malveaux's Sickness (922~3 GUE)
Living off tithes and indulgences, Malveaux knew that he was already damned; he would never rise above his current position or stature and attain to Grand Inquisitor. Worse still, he began to suffer from a horrible disfiguring disease. This disease is described in the book “Strange Diseases of the Great Underground Empire,” in an excerpt from Chapter Seven: Of Which There is No Cure:
If
the condition worsens—if the boils blacken, the fever climbs, and the
skin
begins to fester and puss, then the Alert Physic must keep a vigilant
watch for
the spreading of the tumors. If the tumors spread from one quarter of
the body
to another, then the disease can be diagnosed as systemic, which is to
say, the
Interior Cavern of the body is also riddled with growths various and
maligned.
If this is indeed the case, there is no cure. Upon desiccated human
flesh, the
well-working of the Physic can amount to no appeasement, and the…
Malvaeux attempted everything to cure his disease, powders and pills, pain-killers, injections, creams, herbs. He even was on Prozork. Although it appears that Erasmus Sartorius initially contacted Malveaux, the bishop’s search took him to inquire of the Doctor in regards to his sickness. Sartorius replied with this letter (922-05-07):
Dear Father,
I have investigated all the texts
I can and
researched extensively your disease. There is no known treatment. It
begins
with a simple lethargy, sometimes a small rash. It is a quiet disease.
It makes
no noise coming in and no noise going out.
Sartorius
Dear Father,
You must live with it. Accept the
life that
you have and accept the death that will come–for all of us—someday.
Perhaps you
would like to be included in my experimental work. If I am successful,
you will
be cured of every ailment you have ever suffered—there are certain
risks of
course.
Sartorius
Dear good doctor,
I find myself getting weaker and I find
I
have strange fevers which leave me sweating profusely. At nights, I
burn as if
on fire. I thought I would be ready for death. I have spent my life
preparing
for the afterlife. But in my heart I am not prepared. I am ready to do
experiments, risky as they may be. My mind is open.
Yours truly,
F. Malveaux
It is probable that Sartorius sought to test the waters before
revealing his controversial alchemical studies to the Bishop. For in
the following undated journal, the Doctor, having made a collection of
his father’s work, wrote about additional correspondences with Malveaux
and the desire to meet with him face-to-face:
Malveaux’s
book on revelation is bringing people back to the fire-cult by the
thousands, but I suspect there is more to the man than he lets on. The
notion
of fire-worship is close enough to the alchemical tenets of respect for
the
elements to make me suspicious. I was right to contact him. His reply
was
guarded, but he will open up should I pursue him further.
The
brochure goes on, but says little more of importance. The connections
at least
have become more clear. From Malveaux and the fire-worshippers of
today, there
is a direct line of succession back to Agrippa, Locksmoore, and perhaps
through
them even back to the ancient knowledge of Yoruk himself. I must go
there, and
learn the truth for myself.
After their first meeting, Malveaux wrote, suggesting a location
suitable for them to meet and discuss the powers of alchemy. What he
did not know was the Sartorius had already learned about this place:
Dear
Dr. Sartorius,
I
believe I have stumbled onto a place of power and magic. I believe it
was built
by Agrippa, an engineer of the time of Duncanthrax who built the great
underground highway. It appears that Agrippa shut off this temple,
using it for
his own rituals which I believe may have involved alchemy. I found the
map of
this place in the secret catacombs below this monastery. We must meet
there.
Malveaux
Sophia Meets Sartorius (924 GUE)
Malveaux, who had been collaborating with Sophia for approximately two years, decided that he would write to inform Sartorius that be believed she would be able to assist them in their endeavors (924-01-20):
Thank
you doctor.
You are truly a misunderstood genius. For the first time in many months
I have
hope of a life without pain. Knowing our need for further apprentices,
I spoke
to Madame Sophia of the Frigid River Branch Conservatory. I believe she
is the
perfect person to assist us in our quest.
Francois
Dear Sophia,
Dr.
Sartorius is a
brilliant man. This experiment will be the biggest breakthrough since
the
beginning of Zork. If you are still interested, make your way to the
Temple of
Agrippa. But—take great care, and do not speak of it. There are those
who
misunderstand Alchemy—those who would kill for our secrets, in their
search for
gold.
Father
Malveaux
You
are right. Dr.
Sartorius is a brilliant man. He is strange and he has that annoying
laugh, but
nonetheless I think his medical studies may be very valuable. Please
send me
any alchemical materials or notes that you have obtained.
Dear Erasmus,
I cannot sleep – the weight of invention pressed upon me. I
believe,
Doctor, that we have discovered a science – a philosophy – that will
relieve of
us of the binds of mortality and of our bodies. It is a science that
will
surely transform the world – Yoruk will praise this Great Work!
Francois
General Kaine Joins the Alchemists (924 GUE)
Although Sartorius’ doubts about uniting with Malveaux to find the quintessence were suppressed, it appears from the following letter (924-08-02), that Sartorius had not yet been convicted that Sophia was the third member to join their cabal:
Dear
Father,
I am
encouraged by
your zeal in finding the quintessence. I do not mean to be discouraging
but
alchemists, including my father, have searched for ages for the
philosopher’s
stone, the elixir of life with little success. I have come to see that
the
quintessence cannot be created by one person. There are four elements
we must
master, and four metals we must purify. Much as we have found each
other, we
must search out two others who have the will and courage to take on
this study.
S.
General Thaddeus Kaine was entrenched in a war against Sir Ellron and
the Enchanters' Guild. Refusing to give up his ambitions, he found his
answer to achieve ultimate power when his lover Sophia introduced him
to Malveaux and Sartorius. Kaine was sketpical at first. He saw it as
impractical and foolish, an overly spiritual belief for the weak. But
when he realized that the reward for the practice could mean eternal
life, riches, and power, he preserved and became an alchemist.
By
the end of that year, the four alchemists delved deep into the power of
dark alchemy. They learned that to finish their work and gain eternal
life—the ultimate transformation—they had to conceive and sacrifice a
virgin during an eclipse. She had to be born under the perfect
alignment of the spheres, raised and have her soul purified through the
power of music. A short undated journal entry of Sartorius’ details his
thoughts regarding this process:
The
quintessence can
only be obtained through blood. Pure blood. This person must be pure of
heart,
pure of spirit, conceived in purity, conceived when the sun and moon
are
aligned as one.
Sartorius Finds a Host (925 GUE)
At the beginning of 925 GUE, Sartorius, in his quest for creating the pure spirit, sought a host for the birth of their virgin from amongst his own patients at the Gray Mountains Asylum, Alexandria Wolfe. The Doctor wrote to Malveaux:
I
have found the perfect specimen. On the day of the solar eclipse we
will be
ready. Kaine has volunteered to assist in the conception.
Zoe was taken into the Surgical Theater with Sartorius and Malveaux on the 20th Level of the Asylum where she was placed on a treatment table.
Sartorius
in surgical garb puttered, setting up his equipment while Malveaux
looked on. Although Sartorius claimed that Kaine had volunteered to
assist in the conception, it does not appear that he was able to attend.
Zoe
weakly protested, grieved and convicted, “Please, I can’t. It’s…a sin.
It’s
wrong.”
Malveaux
was comforting. “Never. Your child will be conceived in purity.”
“How…?”
“Miraculously.
Divinely. And the child? Her destiny will be great.”
Zoe
began to clam as Malveaux’s words worked their soothing magic.
“Yes,”
he continued. “And your name will be blessed, for bringing this child
to the
Great Empire.”
Sartorius
turned towards the table, holding a syringe, prepared for the
artificial
insemination. Malveaux, barely able to repress a wince, spoke softly to
her,
“It’s time.”
Zoe
saw what was coming, but her trust in Malveaux was strong. Summoning up
her
courage, she laid down. Sartorius stepped forward with the nasty
syringe.
“Relax,
dear,” Sartorius spoke calmly and prepared for his injection into her
belly.
It is uncertain if Sartorius had sexual relations with Zoe Wolfe and impregnated her prior to the syringe injection, or if it was the medical techniques alone that injected some sort of purified sperm into an unfertilized egg already present. Regardless, Sartorius used a special technique to ensure that this child would be the perfect specimen for their alchemical ritual.
Birth of Alexandria Wolfe (925 GUE)
As the birth of the child of purity grew near, Sartorius contacted Malveaux reminding him of his task involving her upbringing. This letter was discovered in the Steppinthrax Monastery (925-05-15):
Dear
Malveaux,
As
we discussed, I will bring her to you one week after birth, with a
nurse who
will raise her through her early years. In this way her education in
purity and
religion will be insured. Do not underestimate the importance of your
task. Her
spiritual progress and the purification of her soul is essential to the
process. She will be a gift to all mankind.
Dr.
Sartorius
Soon after, the four alchemists stood together in the patient ward of the Gray Mountains Asylum:
Zoe
Wolfe lay on her side in a fetal position,
gazing with pure love at her newborn infant, who was on the bed in the
tiny
circle of space between her mother’s bent knees and arms. It was a
lovely
moment of bonding. Sartorius had a pair of bloody forceps in his hands.
Both he
and Sophia, in doctor’s garb, looked exhausted, but were really
gratified, for
they had obviously assisted in the birth. Kaine and Malveaux were
visitors/well-wishers.
“This
is the Genesis moment.” The pumped up
Sartorius made a giddy laugh. “Now I know how God felt.”
Sophia
laughed. She teased him, but with less of an
edge than usual. They had bonded through birthing this baby.
“Who’d
have dreamed Sartorius—the great man of
science—would get so excited over…” she finished dryly, “…a little
bitty
wrinkly baby.”
“Baby?
That’s not a baby. That’s a formula. The key
to unlocking the most hidden knowledge in the universe.”
And thus, Alexandria Wolfe was born under the perfect connection of stars and moon. Her mother, Zoe Wolfe, died in the asylum soon afterward under mysterious circumstances; it was later confirmed that Sartorius had murdered her.
Seeking to have Alexandria brought up in the Steppinthrax Monastery to be raised in an environment where her purity and progress could be carefully monitored and controlled, Malveaux feared that he would not be allowed to house her in the exclusively male institution. Thus he fabricated a plausible tale that, as a baby, she had been left on the local monastery’s doorstep, the illegitimate daughter of a peasant, and contacted the Grand Inquisitor. In an undated rough draft of a letter found in the Monastery, Malveaux sought to ensure that permission would be granted to raise her beneath his oppressive oversight:
The
Monastery has in its spirit of generosity and good will accepted the
responsibility of raising a small child, an orphan, who were it not for
us
would be left to die and rot. I hope this meets with the Inquisitor’s
approval.
In an undated letter found in the Monastery, the Grand Inquisitor wrote back to Malveaux:
I
was much moved by your tale of the orphan child. As a result, in a
spirit of
good will, I have agreed to grant your request. You may take this baby
and raise
her until she reaches maturity.
Yoruk be with you,
The Grand Inquisitor
The Baptism of Alexandria (926 GUE)
Malveaux, having been given the authority to house Alexandria at the Steppinthrax Monastery, invited the remainder of the cabal to participate in the infant’s baptism ceremony in 926:
The
four alchemists, dressed in their
priestly gear, surrounded a stone basin in a semi-circle. Malveaux held
the
baby Alexandria, who was wrapped in a silver cloth, in the air above
the basin.
Malveaux rose the wrapped infant into the beam of light coming down
from above.
He whispered a line from a magical text and tossed a small bit of
powder into
the bowl. The flames briefly flared up. He then lowered the baby into
the flame
for a second.
In
turn, each of them spoke a line from the following demonic chant:
“Endless fire which passeth through all
things.
Cleanse soul through flame.
Protect the innocent and perfect the healing
stone.
Let this spirit be washed and whitened by the
Philosophic Fire.
Alexandria was then carefully raised by Malveaux as an orphan, with a focus on ensuring her purity, singing music of the spheres to ensure that Alexandria would be cleansed. It was certain that she was born with a musical gift. From the age of three, as she grew under the loving, yet controlling hand of Bishop Francois Malveaux, Alexandria would have a genius for melody. Strong-willed, defiant, and iconoclastic, she would learn to play the violin. What Malveaux did not expect was that he would grow to love Alexandria as his own child.
Decision to Bring Alexandria to the Frigid River Branch Conservatory (c. 935 GUE)
At the age of 10, Alexandria was thin, waif like, with unsettling eyes and pale skin. Her primary focus had been upon her violin performance and strict morality. Her innocence over the course of her childhood is depicted in the following undated diary entries:
Dear
Diary,
I
wonder where my mommy is. All I have left of her is this locket. Father
says if
I am good, I will get to see her one day in heaven.
And in another undated entry, she wrote about the six notes of the Harmony of the Spheres:
Sometimes
I hear these in my head. Father says they are divine.
Now that Alexandria was reaching a mature age, the Grand Inquisitor believed that it was inappropriate for a woman to be dwelling amongst the ascetic order at Steppinthrax. Thus he wrote this undated letter to Malveaux:
I
have been tolerant of the abomination of a young girl in a monastery
only
because of your pleas and assurances that she is receiving a strong
moral
upbringing. It has been called to my attention, that now being a woman,
she has
become a distraction and a potential temptress to the other monks. She
must
leave at once.
Seeking an alternative placement for Alexandria, so that she would not topple out of the oversight of the alchemists, Malveaux sought to have her transferred to the Frigid River Branch Conservatory and the watchful eye of Sophia Hamilton. The Bishop wrote this undated letter to the headmistress:
The
Grand Inquisitor has commanded that I remove Alexandria from the
monastery.
With her talent for music, I think it would be good for me to transfer
her to
your conservatory.
Although it appears there was a missing correspondence between Malveaux and Sophia, a letter shows her favorable reply (935-01-16):
Dearest
Malveaux,
I am
delighted by
Alexandria’s progress. I think that your use of puzzles to sharpen her
mind and
spirit is working beautifully. And already, I can see promise in her
music. I
will be saving a seat for her in the conservatory.
Yours
truly,
Sophia.
Upon Sophia’s approval, Malveaux informed the Grand Inquisitor that arrangements had been made to send her elsewhere. He sent the following undated reply to the Bishop:
As
Alexandria has grown into a young woman and a talented musician, you
will be
sending her to the conservatory for her training and education.
Father Malveaux had not anticipated that he would grow to treat Alexandria as his own daughter. On a certain day after sharing with her that she would be leaving the Monastery, he listened to her perform a violin piece in her bedroom:
Reposed
in a lush velvet chair, he watched her play, concentrating deeply on
the music
before her, “Harmony of the Spheres Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.”
His
long, healthy, well-groomed tresses framed a plump face; he was a
pampered man.
A huge ruby ring glittered on his manicured hand. There was a harsh
look on his
soft face, contrasting sharply with the soothing music of the strings.
When
Alexandria noticed his disturbance, she ceased suddenly and with
concern asked,
“Father?”
Trying
to put on a façade of peace, Malveaux smiled benignly at her and
replied, “Your
music was lovely, Alexandria. Like the harmony of the spheres.” He
opened an
arm, inviting her to come to him.
While
heeding his beckons, she sat on his knee, setting aside her violin,
“Then why
does it make you so unhappy?”
He
placed on arm around the precious child, drawing her close and
smoothing her
shining hair. He looks into her eyes while she smoothed his hair. “I
was
thinking how much I am going to miss it…” A world of regret, pain, and
guilt
flickered for a nanosecond in his eyes, and then it was gone. “…when
you’ve
gone.”
“Why
can’t you visit me at the Conservatory?” she asked, looking sorrowful.
He
shook off the mood. “I can.”
“And,”
there was a grin, “since I’m never getting married…”
“Oh.”
His smile broadened. “You’re sure you destiny is a nunnery?”
Alexandria
smiled back and nodded confidently. “I can come back here and play for
you. Until
you’re old and feeble and totally deaf. Forever and ever.”
Malveaux
tapped her on the nose, and then seeing that distant thing in his
mind’s eye,
lost his smile. “Amen, my child.”
But it would be approximately two years before the Frigid River Branch Conservatory would be Alexandria’s new home.
Alexandria Enrolled at the Frigid River Branch Conservatory (937~940)
Having kept Alexandria at the Monastery for two years after the Grand Inquisitor demanded that she depart, the time finally arrived for Malveaux to send her away. A letter composed by Malveaux (937-10-15):
Dear
Sophia-
The
time has come. I think you will be proud of me when you see her. She is
a
charming brilliant child—and I have grown to care for little Alexandria
as if
her parenting were my only office.
Her music is unschooled, but I
hear in
it—somewhere—the harmony of the spheres. It is there for you to
distill. I
expect much work, and great things from the both of you.
Fondly,
Malveaux.
In 938, at the age of 13, Alexandria was brought to the Conservatory. An early undated letter which Alexandria addressed to Malveaux:
Dear
father, I am enjoying my time here. Sophia seems to have taken a liking
to me
and treats me very well. I am composing much music, although my
teachers say it
is extreme and too unconventional for their taste. I find it is the
only way I
am able to play. Take care of yourself and do not worry about me.
An undated letter to Malveaux from Sophia:
Alexandria
is doing well. She is not particularly well liked and appears to be
somewhat of
a loner. She is stubborn and her music is wild and eccentric. We are
trying to
tone her down. How did she get like this? What did you do to her while
she was
at the monastery? Maybe it is part of the process.
An undated letter in 939, from Sophia to Malveaux:
Dearest
Malveaux,
You
will be glad to know Alexandria is flourishing here. She has a gift, of
that I
am certain. I have given her books on the Harmony of the Spheres and I
believe
she hears the notes in her dreams. Such a queer little thing; I see how
she has
won your heart, old monk.
This is a difficult process. At
times I am
uncertain—I don’t know how hard to push—but I will not let you down.
Such
strange parents we make.
Sophia
Alexandria’s Perturbation (941~2 GUE)
Alexandria engaged in several public violin recitals. She composed this letter to Malveaux:
Dear
Father,
I
miss you. Madame Sophia seems to be paying much attention to me. She
believes
that in my soul, I possess the very power of music, and with practice I
will
find the precious notes which are the “Harmony of the Spheres.” I’m not
so
sure. Everyone believes my music is strange. Do you think me strange? I
know I
am lonely.
Always
missing you,
Alexandria
She also wrote to Malveaux on a separate occasion her perturbing dreams:
I
can’t sleep anymore. I hear music in my dreams. In my dreams, I see
water
spilling out of pipes and tidal waves sucking me down. In my bones, I
feel that
something wrong is going on. Are you alight? I am worried about you.
Have you
been seeing Dr. Sartorius? I hope his treatments are working. Please
write and
let me know that everything is fine.
Alexandria Meets Lucien Kaine (943 GUE)
Following her Oracle 15, 943 performance of “Harmony of the Spheres” she met Lucien Kaine, who lit a flame that illuminated the empty spaces in her life. But not all as well. The infuriated Sophia saw that Lucien was an intervention into their smooth plan. She had to keep them apart, because if they came together, all the alchemists’ years of possessive preservation of Alexandria’s purity would disappear in an instant. Sophia urged Kaine to keep his son away from Alexandria.
At the same time, Alexandria joyfully contacted Malveaux (943-05-01):
Dear
father,
I’ve
met someone and for the first time in months I feel optimistic about
the
future. I sleep. I dream. His name is Lucien Kaine, and he is the one
person, except
for you, who seems to understand my music. When around him I don’t have
to
apologize for who I am or what I believe. I’ve finally found my kindred
spirit,
as you always promised I would.
Be
happy for me!
your
Alexandria.
Although the four alchemists feared that the untamed Lucien would despoil their virgin of purity, they delved even deeper into their dark arts, drawing nearer to solving the mystery of the quintessence.
A letter from Malveaux to Sartorius:
Sartorius-
I
have recently come into possession of a most unusual relic, a mirror
know among
Zorkastrians as the Implementor’s Eye. Like an ancient seerstone, it
alters the
words of the faithful to illuminate hidden truths. Hopefully, it will
expedite
my attempts to refine the alchemical essence of Iron. Perhaps Yoruk
takes pity
on this old, sickly monk, and sends help at last.
-Malveaux
A letter from Sartorius to Malveaux:
Malveaux,
I
am familiar with the old school of alchemy although not much remains on
it.
They believed that pure love was the 5th element and only
the pure
of heart could evil distill it. My father and I have refuted that
naïve, albeit
charming, philosophy. Read this-
S.
A dream of Malveaux, as related in his personal journal:
Last
night I dreamt of a nightmarish ride through the impoverished classes.
The
dream haunts me. I am dazed by the dirt and sheer noise. My coach trips
over
and the crowd closes in on me life an Egg, crushing me like the grip of
Earth.
Their spit burns me like the Fire of emotion. Despair fills me—and
then—Air.
Sweet, sweet Air clears away the crowds. Is this a sign of my fallen
state, or
simply my Work?
The Alchemists Fear Lucien (944 GUE)
It appears that Sophia and Kaine tried to restrain Lucien and Alexandria’s relationship without informing the other alchemists (at least Malveaux). When their interactions were discovered by him, the disturbed Malveaux wrote to Sophia (944-03-02):
Dearest
Madame,
I
have much unsettling news. It has come to my attention that Lucien
Kaine, with
his troubled, rebellious spirit, his slacker morals—and his strange
disposition—has been bothering Alexandria. Under your own roof. Madame!
I fear
she knows little of the ways of men—who are not monks, that is.
Please—you
should know better than I—Alexandria needs to study and perfect her art.
Father
Malveaux
In the meantime, Thaddeus Kaine diligently and ferociously tried numerous ventures to force his son Lucien away from Alexandria, but the romance between the two lovers intensified, such as is seen in this undated letter:
Lucien,
I
love you. Have I written you that today? I’m distracted and playing
quite
horribly. I have been having nightmares again, the same ones. My father
is
performing some Zorkastrian fire ritual, and the flames leap up, higher
and
higher, until they devour him. He screams in pain but I cannot move.
Then the
sky grows dark and I cannot see the sun. I don’t know what it means. I
know I
worry as his illness worsens. Come tonight. I am afraid.
Alexandria
The Concerns About Lucien and Alexandria Deepen (944 GUE)
The following letter is jus tone of Malveaux's attempts to encourage Alexandria to keep away from Lucien and cleave to purity (944-09-01). It is likely in reply to a lost correspondence sent by Alexandria to Malveaux detailing her frustrations at Sophia’s attempts to keep her away from Lucien.
My
dear girl,
Please
do not be upset. Madame Sophia wants only the best for you. You will
always be
my child, my only family. But you must always remember that you are one
of
those people for whom life has chosen a special destiny. We all believe
in your
magical talent. Be pure of heart and spirit, and I shall always be
your
loving father
In an undated letter found at the Steppinthrax Monastery, Sophia wrote to Malveaux:
Malveaux;
Our
plans may be falling apart. Alexandria has, I believe, fallen in love
with
Lucien; you remember, Kaine’s son. Nothing we do seems to have any
impact on
them; as if they were under some strange spell. You must put a stop to
it. She
has come so far with her music. Act quickly, or it will all have been
for
nothing…
Sophia
The undated reply from Malveaux to Sophia:
I
have done what I can. I have explained to her the significance of her
virtue
and why Lucien Kaine with his troubled youth, his questionable morals,
and his
strange disposition is not right for her. I can’t do much more.
Decision to Marry (945 GUE)
Lucien began to suspect that there was something greater going on with his father than he first thought. Judging from the nature of a few correspondences between Alexandria and Lucien, the two lovers began to understand that some sort of conspiracy or scheme was going on behind their backs that was deeper than either of them would have anticipated.
Alexandria later wrote to Malveayx regarding her decision to marry Lucien (945-05-22):
Father,
You
are the only one I can confide in. The girls here are gossipy and
jealous. They
think I am strange—and I must say, I agree. I don’t fit in here. I have
tried
over and over to play the sappy and boring music they find fitting. I
have
tried to be sweet, I have tried to care—but I don’t. There is something
strange
going on and I have to get out of here. It is best. Lucien wants to
marry me.
And I want to marry him. Please understand that this is right for me. I
know
that you will. We will come to you at the next full moon. Marry us and
give us
your blessing for the future. I know your concern for “purity of the
spirit”
but remember, not all of us are destined to marry Yoruk and live in a
Monastery.
A.
Almost immediately after, Alexandria wrote to Lucien. This letter was discovered at Castle Irondune:
You
are right. Something is going on. We must leave. I wrote Father,
telling him
everything and asking him to marry us. Father will miss me, but he’ll
understand. We will escape to the Westlands. I’m not frightened,
Lucien; I know
everything will be all right, if I am with you. Does that sound
childish? I’ve
never felt more a woman—and I am, as always,
your Alexandria
The Alchemists Respond (945 GUE)
In an undated letter found in the Monastery, Kaine wrote to Malveaux:
While
there is no cause to be alarmed, I do believe that Lucien may be
planning to
elope with Alexandria. He left me a note alluding to his leaving and he
has
been suspicious as of late.
Sartorius, Kaine and Sophia gathered with Malveaux in his office at the Steppinthrax Monastery:
The
Bishop stood between the others who occupied three of the four chairs.
He took
a letter from the copious sleeve of his robe and laid it on the table.
“Our
worst fears have come true,” Malveaux stated. “They’ve asked me to
marry them.
They intend to leave.”
There
was an exchange of alarmed looks from the others.
“No,
she cannot leave,” Sartorius protested, “absolutely not.”
Sophia
had angry concern. “Leave? What are you talking about?”
Kaine
directed his words to her, “Don’t act so surprised. It’s all taking
place under
your roof. You can’t pretend you didn’t know about it.”
She
spoke through gritted teeth, “I tried to guide her, Kaine. I can’t run
her
life. If she wants to spend time with Lucien, let her. But marriage,
Malveaux?
Surely you didn’t encourage them.”
Malveaux
spoke as though he had a dark secret, “But I did.” Despair creased over
his
face even further. Once Kaine had left, Malveaux continued, “I tell you
he’s
watching everything we do. I can sense it. He’s dangerous – and he’ll
do
anything he can to get what he wants. Our only hope of survival is to
give him
our secret.”
Sartorius
was wrathful, “Have you gone mad?!”
“I
don’t want to die,” Malveaux replied, remorseful.
“We
can’t give in to him,” Sophia stated.
Malveaux
shouted back, content, “He’s insane!”
“We
must be strong,” Sophia comforted. “We can’t give in to this, this Nemesis.”
It appears from both the above conference and the following letter, that Lucien took his own initiative to investigate more of the scheme that was transpiring around him. While the precise date of Lucien’s “haunting the asylum” and “threaten[ing]” of Sartorius is not known, it may have happened during one of his scheduled treatments. This letter was discovered at the Gray Mountains Asylum (945-06-17):
Dr.
Sartorius,
I
understand you are still perfecting the science of the ritual, but we
must act
now; if we do not, the quintessence will slip through our fingers. I
know he
has threatened even you, haunting the asylum. Patience has its place
and so does
action. During the next solar eclipse we must make our move. Our work
must be
completed at the Temple of the Ancients. Write and I will arrange to
meet you
there.
Soon,
Doctor.
Sophia
A letter discovered at the Frigid River Branch Conservatory, in response to the above:
Madame
Sophia,
I
have much to prepare. I don’t think you understand the intricacies of
this
philosophy. This is not cooking, this is science. This is the true
mystery of
life. Nonetheless, you are right—we cannot wait any longer. We must
take a
risk. Meet me at the Temple of Agrippa. I will summon the others. What
has
begun must take its course. It is our only chance—before we are
destroyed—
Sartorius
Thus fearing that they would not be able to keep Lucien from sullying Alexandria, the Circle of four met at the Temple of Agrippa to accelerate the schedule for Alexandria’s sacrifice to coincide with an upcoming partial eclipse.
The Wedding of Lucien and Alexandria (945 GUE)
Adamantly refusing to heed the warnings of Sophia, Alexandria travelled to the Steppinthrax Monastery to elope with Lucien. An anonymous letter was hastily written and delivered to Thaddeus Kaine, hoping that it would do something to prevent the anticipated union:
Your
son will try to elope with A tonight. Come to St. Yoruk’s at once!
Leaving the note in his bedroom, Kaine hasted for the Monastery with two of his armed soldiers.
That night, Malveaux stood with Alexandria and Lucien in the cathedral of the Monastery, unaware fully of the conspiracy transpiring around them.
Besides
the three, the room was bare of occupants. The couple’s beaming faces
glistened
with love for one another. Neither was dressed in anything expensive
for the
wedding—both suits proclaimed casual formality and nothing of glamour.
Lucien was
in his normal garments, while the black dress and flowers of Alexandria
reflected the haste with which their plans were made, as well as her
strange
imagination. Malveaux gripped a holy book in one hand.
Alexandria
had a moment of intimacy with Malveaux, while Lucien waited at the
altar. She
teased him, much like when she was but a young girl. “Today you’re my
father
and my priest. You have to give me away, and then you have to marry me.”
Malveaux
seemed distracted as though his mind was possessed by other things and
that she
was a little annoying. “Alexandria, your mind is always working…”
She
kissed his cheek and then joined Lucien. He grasped her left hand with
both of
his.
“This
is an extraordinary day,” Alexandria spoke, radiantly jubilant.
“As
befits my extraordinary child.” Malveaux took his place before the two
at the
front of the cathedral. Then, opening his book, he continued, “Now…
It’s time
for us to begin. Under the fire of Yoruk...”
Suddenly
the doors burst open. The shout of Thaddeus Kaine reverberated
throughout the
vast cathedral. “No, I think actually it’s time for all this to finally
end.”
Turning,
the couple spied Lucien’s father marching into the room, flanked by two
Irondune soldiers. They walked briskly towards the front. Kaine
gestured and
the two soldiers apprehended the befuddled Lucien, who could only reply
almost
stunned, “What are you doing?”
“You’re
being arrested,” Kaine returned coldly, and disturbingly placid.
“For
what?”
As
the two soldiers dragged Lucien before his father, wide-eyed Alexandria
protested hysterical, “Leave him alone!”
Without
much of a struggle, Lucien broke free from the soldiers and adamantly
stated,
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Kaine
wordlessly retaliated with a strong slap across Lucien’s face. The two
soldiers
again restrained Lucien and ushered him forcibly towards the doorway.
Alexandria
shouted, “Please, stop!! Leave him alone. Lucien!!” Dauntless, she
tried to run
after Lucien, but Kaine blocked her with his big body. She stared
directly into
the eyes of the stringent, ill-tempered man and straightforwardly
asked, “Why
are you doing this?”
Countering
with an icy, unsympathetic stare that pierced the depths of her soul,
Kaine set
his back to her and tromped down the hallway without explanation.
Turning
around, Alexandria yelled, “Father, help me!” But Malveaux had
vanished.
Desperately she looked around the room. Confused and betrayed, she
could barely
force the words past her numbing lips, “Father!?”
Final Preparations (945 GUE)
With Lucien firmly out of the way, imprisoned within the Irondune dungeon, the four alchemists hastily finalized their plans for Alexandria’s sacrifice. Sophia composed letters to at least two of the alchemists. The first, to Sartorius:
We
will meet during the solar eclipse at the Temple of Agrippa.
And the second to Kaine:
I
think there is only one solution to this mess. We must expedite the
process. It
cannot wait. The next eclipse will be in three day’s time. This is our
only
chance. Do what you must. It cannot wait.
–S
Kaine’s favorable reply to Sophia:
Ellron
is at my gates, threatening to destroy the little power I have left.
You are
right—we must act now.
Before stating Malveaux’s reply, two undated correspondences between the Bishop and Doctor show the state of Malveaux’s sickness and the urgency he would display when writing Sophia. The first, from Sartorius to Malveaux:
Based
on all that, I can see you are in some kind of remission. This is a
devious,
dexterous diseased. It is smarter than we know. But the players are
smarter.
Trust in all we have done, trust in the prima material. Eternal life
will be
ours.
And another from Sartorius:
X-ray
results reveal that the disease is beginning to spread again. The time
of the
Great Experiment is nearly upon us. Keep up your hopes.
Thus when Malveaux wrote his reply to Sophia, the further development of his disease is clearly manifested:
I
have spoken to Dr. Sartorius, and we are both ready. My fevers are
worse, and
now I constantly burn. I have very little time left, and I am ready to
begin my
leap of faith.
Sometime prior to Sartorius’ final departure for the Temple of Agrippa, this undated letter, which was discovered at the Gray Mountains Asylum, was sent to the Doctor:
Good
Doctor,
Since
your cure, my son has kept something of his Magic Eye. He still sees
things
that cannot be seen, and for a fortnight he has wept for you day and
night. He
begged me to write you a warning.
There is a great evil
waiting for you. You
will soon be dead, he cries, the Asylum destroyed, your great work
unfinished.
He fears powers have been disturbed, and the innocent will pay. Good
luck,
Doctor. May Yoruk be with you.
—S.J.M.
The Confession
The precise date of this event is unknown, though it appears to correlate with Malveaux’s writhing convictions against the upcoming sacrifice of Alexandria. This it seems appropriate to place the Bishop’s night of confession here, where he sat in his room in the Steppinthrax Monastery, holding in his hand a medallion.
The
only light came from the oil lamp which casted a warm glow on his face,
the
medallion, and the photograph of Alexandria.
“A
lifetime for some…” He smiled sadly. “A lifetime fashioning a desperate
hope,
immortality.” His smile gave way to a grimace of emotional pain. He
ripped off
the medallion with a guttural cry and threw it at the floor. “I can’t!
Not at
this cost! Hell is better!” He was beat and desperate. “But… I can
still pray
for forgiveness.”
He
put a hand on a carved chair to steady himself, then lowered himself to
his
knees, shut his eyes and muttered incoherently for a few beats. “Pardon
my
sins. Avarice, sloth, envy, lust…” His urgent look gave way to blank
despair as
he realized how numerous were his sins, how profound his fall. His eyes
opened.
“…deceit, greed, gluttony, unnatural desires, impure thoughts,
stealing…” He gazed
at some inner vision of hell. He knew his resolve was beaten. Still
kneeling,
he reached for the medallion. It was too late to turn back. He rose.
Sounding
like he was still talking to God, he concluded. “Forgive me.”
And thus the alchemists set out to abduct Alexandria and bring her to the Temple of Agrippa to be sacrificed. Her body was useless; it was her spirit that they required. In the meantime, Lucien escaped from the Irondune prison and made his way for the Temple.
THE SACRIFICE (945 GUE)
The
alchemists, dressed in their ceremonial attire, gathered in the dome
room of
the Temple of Agrippa to invoke the Great Eclipse. Sophia restrained
Alexandria, who violently struggled to gain her freedom. Sartorius
forced a
bowl to her lips, steam swirling out of the liquid. She drank and her
eyes
instantly began to droop.
The
four alchemists placed Alexandria upon the altar in the center of the
temple;
an altar which they had personally constructed. She was sitting up, but
only
with the help of Sartorius and Kaine. Sophia made a last brush stroke
through
her dark hair, then set down the brush to take a white veil, which she
placed
over the head of their virgin sacrifice.
Alexandria’s
cloth-covered body was lowered upon the altar. She was sleeping
peacefully. Kaine
held the alchemy book. All gathered around the altar, with their hands
outstretched over her body, except for Malveaux, who raised a
sacrificial
dagger into the air. He began to chant,
“No
generation without corruption.
No
life without death.
The
blackness of putrefaction
Must
precede the whiteness,
As
night precedes day.”
Then
the four alchemists in unison chanted, “Natura, Anima, Spirit of
Perfection.
Purify, Cleanse, Transmute these metals into the Philosopher’s Stone.”
Sophia
closed her eyes, swaying to the sound. The intensity increased.
Sartorius waved
his hands above the altar symbols. The symbols began to spin. The knife
of
Malveaux lifted higher. It hovered for a beat above Alexandria.
Beyond
them, at the top of the stairs leading to the altar, Lucien suddenly
rushed
into the room, crying out, “No!”
But
was too late, for Malveaux drove the dagger into Alexandria, taking the
life of
the young woman. She convulsed. The culmination of their dark ritual
was
finished, and they knew they would soon become immortal creatures.
Just
at the moment when they were becoming empowered, the rage of the
warrior came
to the fore. The chagrinned Lucien, entangled by blind rage ran up to
the altar
and rushed for Malveaux. Easily overtaking the frail monk, he pushed
him
backward. The momentum threw Malveaux back toward the railing that
surrounded
the altar. He fell and was impaled on the shard finial of the banister.
Malveaux
gagged and gasped with the metal piercing entirely through his body.
Sartorius
tried to get away, but quickly spinning around, Lucien picked up a
candle and
flung it at him. Sartorius’ robe caught on fire, engulfing him in
flames. As he
burned, Lucien looked to the altar where Sophia was trying to complete
the
ceremony with Alexandria’s body. He approached her.
In
despair, Sophia muttered with fear, “No, please don’t! No.”
But
Lucien was not sedated. He reached both hands around her neck and
strangled her
beneath her punitive whining, “Noooooo!” Dead, he tossed her to the
floor.
Lucien
looked in anguish at Alexandria, who lay dead with the sacrificial
knife deep
in her chest. Then he looked up across the altar and saw his father
glowering
at him. Yanking the bloody dagger out of Alexandria’s chest, Lucien
turned to
face his father, who contemptuously stood his ground fearlessly placid.
Had
Lucien not been consumed by his terrible bombastic rage, he would have
noticed
that his father was eerily calm. They stared into each other’s eyes,
until Lucien
placed the knife upon his father’s throat for a moment, just as
Thaddeus Kaine
had dared him to do in their previous encounter. But his father did not
wince. He simply lifted his hands in the
air as if in
a state of worship, a martyr pleased to accept his death. And unlike
before,
Lucien stabbed deeply into the throat of his own father and he fell
dead.
Dropping
the knife, Lucien leapt upon the altar, crawling over the lifeless body
of his
beloved Alexandria, and sat over her. His eyes were glued to her and
already
filled with the haunted, hunted look of the Nemesis. He touched her
face, the
lifted up his hands to shield his own as though an invisible entity
were coming
down upon him. And he screamed, “NOOOO!” in a voice that was not his
own, but
hideously demonic—the primal yell of anguished filled the entire temple.
As a result of
the conflict, Lucien, initially a young innocent, was
transformed into the embittered, tortured dark force known as the
Nemesis at the moment he watched all those whom he had trusted plunge a
dagger into his lover’s heart. Though the ceremony was incomplete,
Alexandria’s spirit was dispersed throughout the temple and remained
trapped within.
Four huge glass
sarcophagi beneath the temple dome were created the
moment Lucien murdered the cabal. Because they had been in the midst of
a powerful alchemical ritual, when Lucien plunged the knife into each
of their hearts, their elements (fire, water, earth, air) consumed
them. The Nemesis, realizing that these elements might be important
instruments, ripped their elements essences out of their souls by
unknown magic and placed their souls in the four sarcophagi. Although
Lucien did not know at this time the significance of these substances,
he knew that they were powerful and held the key to some form of
eternal life. He knew they could prove useful in the future. Thus he
kept these elements alive and vibrant, but hidden throughout the temple
where he presumed no one could find them. Lucien was able to keep the
souls of the four alive in their bodies, while maintaining intense
torture for them in an “eternal hell.” Lucien also smashed the four’s
alchemical device and placed the different colored fragments of their
metals in another room of the temple to be studied. Lucien could
implement only two powers—keeping the body of his lover in stasis, and
trapped the souls of the dead cabal in their sarcophagi. Still, he was
unable to find the secret of the Philosopher’s Stone or the Elixir of
Life.
Several entries in Lucien's journal detail his workings with the
alchemists and their elements:
Last day of the Year of the Misuse, I’ve hidden the sources of their powers away from their control. Without them, they are unable to hold back the very elements they used to keep dominion over. (945-12-31)
I
live every day with the reminder of the horror I have inflicted on the
others.
Their crimes were great, and I had to be judge, jury and executioner.
Yet, they
do not succumb to my torture. Sartorius seems the weakest, but even
that
bastard will not break his silence. (undated)
Lucien was
killed by the Second Dungeon Master in 948. Confined as a spirit within
the
Temple of Agrippa, the Nemesis did not
cease to expand his knowledge of alchemy in order to resurrect both
himself and his beloved. He continued to inflict grievous tortures upon
the four.
From
their sarcophagi, they will tell me nothing: I have all but ripped
their
throats out, so that is to be expected. How many threats can you use
upon the
dead? It sickens me to live here, a Daemon trapped in a temple. But I
must
finish their work, and fuel my hate with the power of the Quintessence.
(948-11-06)
Now
that I have stolen the four elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—I have
hidden
them in this unholy temple, where they will never be found. I cannot
risk their
discovery, and have employed a great number of deadly lively
machinations to assure their seclusion. (949-02-22)
Some
small progress. I can now link each of my rotting alchemists with their
respective signs. Malveaux has mastered the element of fire—and has
made a
lucrative career of fire-worship along the way. Sartorius, my mad
Doctor, is
Air—precisely because it is largely this element that fills his pompous
brain.
Kaine must have chosen earth, because his head is filled with sod and
his soul
is consumed with earthly things. And Sophia, mistress of the Frigid
River
Conservatory is water—as befits the cold hag.
I have secreted their alchemical
elements
away in the temple, employing, as security, a complicated series of
machinations—the solutions to which I alone know. They will never be
able to
reclaim their powers, or their secret science. They will never be able
to
surpass the nefarious obstacle of the star field. They will rot;
unavenged IN
HELL…
Still, I find myself spending
endless hours
in the lab, with the shades drawn. My work with air has been
frustrating thus
far. I accept the irrefutable precept; that air has no color. I will
keep
working, alone in the dark until I find the best method of
purification. But
make no doubt I will possess the four elements and then the four
metals. I will
find the Quintessence, and forge the Eclipse. There is no hatred
stronger, no
power greater, than that which will be mine. (undated)
It
is more difficult to forge the four alchemical metals than I first
thought. I
have learned, through a painful process of trial and error, that it is
not safe
to keep the elements in their purified form. The four are not so stupid
as they
look; gaining access to their secret laboratories has been a labored
process. I
will go drag a hot poker down Malveaux’s rotting belly and see if he
cries out
something helpful. (949-05-15)
I
am tired of this game. I ransacked Sartorius’ laboratory today, and
while blood
flowed down the halls, I made little progress in my quest for his tin.
I am as
impatient as that stupid spy who thought any fistful of dirt, any drop
of water
– a spark from his fine Accardian cigar, or a mouthful of his foul
breath –
would constitute an element. I must return to my work with elemental
Air. As I
rise up to my lab and pass the twinkling star field, the blue reminds
me of
blue skies, a more peaceable time. But I can remember little of my life
before
the evil descended. Before my bloody rebirth. (949-08-25)
I
ransacked the Doctor’s Asylum today and while I was letting the blood
flow in
his halls, I found a revealing notebook. Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
Tin, Lead,
Copper and Iron. Four are hidden in the Temple. For are not. If I can
recover
them all, I can summon the Quintessence.
But finally it will be wasted
effort if I
cannot discover the fifth element. I have searched many books—but
philosophers
disagree as to the nature of that element. The strongest power in my
universe
is hatred and wrath. There is nothing that cannot be tortured into
existence,
of that, I am certain. (949-08-25)
A lone female pilgrim made their way to the Temple of Agrippa in 949, where the spirits of the fourl alchemists, Alexandria and Lucien were still trapped within the temple environment. Their interactions were limited. They were able to react to the pilgrim’s stimulation, but went off on their own dialogue course. The trapped spirits worked in this fashion because they were imprisoned in another dimension. Certain enchanted objects were able to invoke them, but they were not completely free. With horror, she learned that the souls of the four alchemists were entrapped in grotesque stone crypts in the temple dome room. When she first encountered the alchemists, they had almost no powers. They were trapped and tortured souls whose very spirits were being drained and sapped by Lucien. They claimed to have been entombed by a vengeful half-human creature they called the Nemesis. The four said that without her help, they would perish. She was their only chance of salvation. The pilgrim also learned that if she did not assist these trapped souls, she would suffer the same miserable fate. Each made enigmatic request in turn to search the temple for their alchemical element that would restore their strength so they could be freed from their suffering. Fire belonged to Malveaux, air to Sartorius, earth to Thaddeus Kaine, and water to Sophia. Afterward, the souls could only speak in gasps unless their life elements were brought to them.
To retrieve these elements, the pilgrim solved a series of puzzles within the Temple of Agrippa, enabling her to retrieve each of the four elements. As the each of the four elements was unearthed from their hiding places deep inside the dark recesses of the temple, each one was placed upon the temple alter where they became fused to it and could not be removed. In turn, the souls of the alchemists were temporarily revived. Each related a corrupted version of their story, donning the role of an innocent and staging the Nemesis to have been evil from the start. They also wore facades of regret and shed false tears of repentance for their acts of involving Lucien and Alexandria, which resulted in their murders at the hands of the Nemesis. Once all four were helped, the Nemesis awakened.
Dressed in a hooded robe that obscured, but did not hide his face, the Nemesis strangled Sartorius’ soul with a bolt of lighting before preparing to murder the pilgrim with a ball of fire from his fingertips. The alchemists marshaled their meager elemental powers and drove him away at the last minute, but he promised that he would return. The four captives told more of their distorted tale and implored her to travel to each of their homelands to forge the four powerful alchemical metals which would bring each of their souls to life and allow her to escape from the Nemesis’ clutches.
Their powers were still weak, and the souls of the alchemists dematerialized, leaving behind a sphere of pure gold. She use it to operate the temple orrery and transport herself to each of the four alchemists' "worlds." These were Steppinthrax Monastery, Gray Mountains Asylum, Castle Irondune, and the Frigid River Branch Conservatory. Each of the alchemists hid their practice of alchemical magic, Lucien and Alexandria’s forbidden love affair, and their larger conspiracy in a quest for eternal life. The metals were hidden from the Nemesis, and thus it took much effort for the pilgrim to discover and forge each character’s metal (a purified object that represented each of their contributions to the alchemical table).
In the process, she learned of the narrative that occurred in each of the abandoned environments through flashbacks and hallucinations. The spaces were surreal and strange, haunted by the still smoldering souls of the dead inhabitants and vibrant with memories of past events. When she touched certain powerful objects in each of the buildings, she released the energy and memories they contained. Sometimes these memories were forthright, but most were strange and disjointed, providing snippets of events she had to put together. She also heard audio hallucinations or fragments of conversations and events that took place long ago. Through these mechanisms, she was able to put together the past relationship of Alexandria and Lucien and the evil cabal.
After returning each metal, the alchemists felt as though they had been freed from debilitating torture of their earlier state. It was only after the pilgrim had found and transmuted each of the four purified metals and correctly arranged them on the temple altar, that the alchemists became enfleshed creatures will full alchemical powers. When she placed the fourth and final metal object upon the altar, she was flung backward as if she had been blown into the closest behind the altar. The doors slammed shut. When she opened the doors, she saw the four alchemists standing by the altar with their sarcophagi splintered and cracked apart.
Before her, hovering in space was a strangely luminescent liquid in a crystal vial. The four urged the pilgrim to quickly drink the so-called Elixir of Life, else they would all perish. Having experienced enough of the hallucinations within their homelands, and having unraveled the mysteries of the alchemical schemes, she already did not trust the four. When she refused to swallow the poison, they realized that she was not as stupid as they thought.
Hoping to repay Lucien with an even greater extreme of torture than he had permitted them to suffer, they summoned the Nemesis. He appeared, trapped in a glowing, alchemical force field. Lucien was enraged at what the pilgrim had done by resurrecting the four alchemists. Hoping that she may in fact be able to redeem herself, Lucien tossed a golden ring from his finger to her. As he did so, the pilgrim was thrown backward out of the temple dome room and into the cloister.
When she touched the ring, she received a hallucination of the death of Alexandria. All suspicions were thoroughly confirmed. The four souls that she thought were allies were really her enemies. Lucien, the Nemesis, was truly anguished. Dead was only a physical state, and like all metal in alchemy, may be transformed. The Circle had used this pilgrim in a last ditch effort to complete the ceremony Lucien interrupted so many years ago and made another try at eternal life. The eclipse that would be perfect for the sun and moon to join and their eternity to open drew near.
In the final confrontation between the evil alchemists, the pilgrim had to use everything she had learned about alchemy. Descending into an enormous subterranean world beneath the temple, she searched for Lucien’s and Alexandria’s metals of gold and silver. Using the proper techniques in unison with the mystical and archaic devices in the inner sanctum below, she forged the two metals into one—into the quintessence.
When she returned to the temple dome room, the alchemists were standing around the altar, chanting. The translucent, shimmering soul of Alexandria levitated above the altar’s center. As the eclipse drew towards its completion, the ceiling rent asunder and its shadowy form appeared in the sky above the altar space. At the moment that the eclipse formed, she tossed the quintessence towards the altar. In midair, a blast of light from above struck the infinity symbol and reflected into the four sarcophagi. The alchemists, realizing too late what she had done, screamed as they and their sarcophagi exploded in a blast of wind, fire, water, and earth. The process, with its permanent destruction of the four alchemists, in turn fully restored both Lucien and Alexandria to the flesh.