The three men were struck by the sheer desolation of their surroundings. Age and decrepitness seeped from every pitted corner and cracked wall. All of that paled to the horror of what lay before them down the corridor as Wren sent off a pseudo-sprite of light above him. The corpse of a man hung, pinned to the wall behind him with various different weapons of eldritch design.

The mental voice of Hiidan rung within the minds of the three, “Welcome to my personal hells. Worry not, I am alive. For centuries I have forgotten to count I have been this way. I have drifted to the very edge of unrecoverable insanity and back again many times and the things I have learned there will make me more than I ever was before, once I am free, but today you are my guests and we are here for joyous purpose in spite of my plight. And it does please me greatly to spite it. So if it please you, disregard my poor state as you are able and make yourselves at home. I will be the first to admit there is not much 'home' to be had here.”

Wren walked up first for a closer look, “Damn pops, you still look better than me on some of my worst benders but not by much.”

Shit! What do you say to someone like this? Lame attempts at humor aside, I honestly don't see how it's possible he's alive. I can feel it though.

“Enough ogling me, damn brat! If you make me blush it might actually kill me!” Hiidan chuckled before continuing, “I hope you've brought some refreshments, son. I'm afraid anything I may have had would be long past use.”

Who am I to deny a little creature comfort to him. It's a little macabre but if I was in his situation I doubt I would have survived much less long for a little touch of family ritual.

Wren brought out his spectral servant with an air aspect to start dusting and freshening the area up. A hoarse cry of anguish issued from Hiidan's mental voice that stopped Wren in his tracks.

Apologetically Hiidan said, “Please continue. It's better this way. I had long looked upon the outlines of those who freed me of the first two implements of my torture and captivity and wondered at their identity. Ephyra's efforts had already distorted their outlines before she joined them but please keep their dust. Make a stone out of it to sit at my feet. When I am free I will take it and make of it an implement of my own. It has powerful symbolism. Have a care not to touch the spiked chain that lay there, nor the two implements in the corner to my left. It should go without saying that touching the ones still impaled upon me would be a grievous error.”

With a minor adjustment, Wren had the spacious cell and surrounding area cleared of dust and circulated with fresh air. To appease his paternal successor, he even created a dusky diamond-like stone which he affixed to a thin, super compressed white gold chain before laying it at Hiidan's feet, careful not to touch the spiked chain that was laying there. Lacking the futon that was still laying by the pond, he unrolled a couple of ground sheets and a blanket before setting out an impromptu picnic. Despite the incredibly odd and surreal feeling of it all, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves a little more than Wren had thought possible. He even dripped a thimble full of wine into Hiidan's withered and desiccated mouth after a toast between the fathers.

What the hell did this turn into!? Fuck it. I guess if we're gonna go through the motions we might as well go all the way. YOLO!

After all the fun had been sucked dry from the bizarre reception, Hiidan said, “I suppose it's time to get to it. It's likely our sons would like better scenery than this place can provide for whatever private festivities I can remember enjoying during such a time as this. That being the case...”

A small flash of weak light from around Hiidan's chest area preceded the floating of three small boxes and three small pill bottles. Each of Hiidan's guests received one of the boxes but Sable didn't receive a bottle whereas Wren was left holding two and his intuition was warning that what was coming would likely not be something he enjoyed.

Hiidan mentally coughed for attention before he explained, “The boxes hold a bonding gift. I was once a craftsman of renown before this disgrace. The one you hold, Little Black, is a bit special as I consider it a dowry. My son may be the one who wears the pants but yours is the one who has balls. My apologies... Spears may thrust where my son points but yours actually holds one.”

Sable swallowed harshly to keep from wasting the wine he had just taken before looking at Wren with a bit of schadenfreude.

I've learned two things today; Pop's pretty cool when he's not being an asshole and troll face is universal. Also, though I'm not certain, I think that even though Sable likes me he doesn't think much of me. Of course, I did let his son get captured and took almost two weeks to figure out he was gone. I should be thankful he doesn't hate my guts.

Hiidan sobered up and got back to business, thinking at everyone, “The pill that Little Gray holds is a medicine that will put him into a trance-like sleep that will cleanse and correct damaged parts of himself inside out. Wren you might identify it as a genetic stabilizer and detoxification microbiological agent. The Chinese would simply call it a marrow cleansing dan of the highest order.

“The ones you hold, son, are false samsara pills. Though they are a medication of astronomical rarity, they are primarily used by directors who want to inflict the highest non-lethal punishments on prized subordinates. They will be necessary to hold your astral shell together for the processing of cursed items far beyond your ability to endure presently.”

Wren's eyebrows rose into his hairline as he said, “Imma do what now!?”

Hiidan looked at Wren ominously as he thought, “I wanted to use them to help me recover but I need a bit of a jump-start to get the next one out. Since it's going to hurt like the hells, I'll make sure you are rewarded for your efforts. Since we're going to need the help of your bonded and his father, I'll make sure they get something out of the deal too. Let me give you three the break down.”

A window appeared in the air that looked like a pyramid with the bottom facing out.

Hiidan's Curse Processing and Guest Gifting Plan

Step One: Son takes false samsara pill while chosen 'bonded to be' takes D.O.E marrow cleansing pill

Step Two: Wait till pills are in effect then have son start processing first removed artifact.

Step Three: Third guest moves son to next artifact once first is neutralized and feeds the second false samsara pill when needed.

Step Four: Activate string when needed

Step Five: Third guest moves son to third artifact

Step Six: Work on void sealer artifact and wait for son to recover

Wren said, “What is the string?”

Hiidan thought, “An item that works like an artificial bond but needs to be tied to two people before it's activation period is over which stimulates the forming of a real one that's pretty much as good as they get. As for it's origin, I'll give you a hint. It's a rather magnificent shade of red. It's most important aspect is that it can temporarily connect the activator to two other people for a time which will let me take in what the two of you can't handle.

“Your spirit will be optimally tempered early enough in your path that you won't experience trauma from soul pain because you're not sensitive enough to feel it that well yet. Little Gray will be tempered in body and spirit in a way that will leave no discomfort at all. He'll even be primed for a very rewarding first time 'sharing' for both of you. Most importantly, you both will have a seamless and strong bond. Take a moment to get a backup of any memory that is only in your brain or you might lose it.”

After dithering for a bit and being prompted by Hiidan to 'grow a pair', Wren took the first pill as Grimalkin laid down after taking his. The last thing he could remember, as he sent his void chomping down on the chained spike, was Hiidan intimating to Sable that Wren could always take a girl form if he didn't live up to potential and give the two grandchildren. He didn't even have time to curse Hiidan in his head as his whole being was wrapped in an agony so intense, he couldn't really say he felt anything at all.

***

Unlike the last time he melted the outside parts of his brain, this time he clicked on all at once. Inner mind processed the dangers of partial awakening and since he wasn't in any immediate danger there was no need to. As he looked around he realized he was back in the comfort of the larger guest bed in the pavilion, curled around Grimalkin. Judging by the juvenile hickeys all over himself and a vague sense of emptiness in his balls, Grimalkin must have been enjoying his time with Wren's vegetative form.

Well, it doesn't smell musty in here so it must have been pretty tame. If it had gotten that fun while I was checked out I might have gotten seriously bent out of shape... Time for a little revenge.

Before he'd gotten much further than getting Grimalkin worked up, a thrum of fear and anger pulsed through his connection with Jaden and Lilly. The adrenaline shot that hit him almost took his breath away as he jumped out of bed. A film of inky substance sprang out from the center of his chest and back before solidifying into a helmeted suit that seemed far more substantial than the one he had worn before. All of which he would have been very keen to find out about if he wasn't phasing out of the realm into world-side with unrivaled urgency.

Upon arrival, Wren was already making a dash to Lilly who had a broken spear tip lodged in her chest and various sized splinters in her throat and shoulder. Her life was fading fast by the time Wren reached her. As he reached down to start the healing he was stopped by a slap of psychic images and thoughts.

About an hour of pleasant conversation and constellation storytelling had went by when Rohn had walked up to the pair and asked where Wren was. Lilly had responded that Wren was recovering from the day in her and Jaden's realm and would be back in the morning. All would have been well except Rohn had left a message with them to tell Wren that he was regretful for his actions earlier in the day and wished to have a private conversation with Wren upon the new day. This had prompted Jaden to ask what the regretful action had been. Being told the matter was a private concern between Rohn and Wren would have also lead to an uneventful, if slightly more irritating, ending if Rohn had not added a query as to why Jaden might be so concerned about Wren's private affairs.

As the interactions between the two nominal brothers intensified, Lilly interjected that the situation forming would displease Wren which had the two calming down to some degree before Rohn suggested mollifying their instincts with a spar. Apparently Rohn also suffered from some form of pursuit instinct that wasn't so much individually selective as it was 'edgy' for what he was interested in and since he was pursuing Wren seriously, he had not taken 'comfort' to ease that edge.

Despite Lilly's growing apprehension, the two went at it. It was friendly enough at first but it devolved into an all out brawl to Rohn's unexpected taunting. Despite this neither had any real intent to do permanent harm but in a moment of unexpected equipment failure, as the two brothers had not realized how much stronger they had grown, Lilly was struck with a broken spear tip and splinters.

Oddly enough, an intuition of Lilly's had her frozen to take the damage instead of dodging out of the way. An inner voice was telling her everything would be fine. Her children would be fine and her birthing would be easier this way... Before dissolving into verdant green motes that transported to Jaden and Lilly's shared realm, she sent a message out to the three.

Lilly's mental voice rang, “I'm going to spend some time getting to know my roots, * giggle * I don't know about you boys but dropping a child off branches like a fruit sounds a lot more fun than the old fashion way... Jaden love, keep my phone safe from Wren and get on with your boys... Little Gray, if they get on really well and I'm not able, make sure to save me pictures... Wren, keep my Jaden out of trouble. Um, at least keep him alive.

Seeing Jaden still head cocked, Wren assumed that they were sharing some private messages.

“One who has awakened her rebirth lineage. One who has grasped the power of distant ancestors and a latent ****/**** mutt, all revolving around an unaffiliated Maelstrom born. I smell high intrigue,” said an unknown gravelly voice that carried a hint of high pitches behind it.

Rohn said, “Yes, honored ancestor. This is Wren.”

Shadows coalesced to open a portal that released a faint amount of sulfuric gas. The figure that stepped through was just shy of seven feet tall, wearing attire eerily similar to Europe's Empire period. His features were hidden within gloaming aura.

“Then say your peace and lets be away. If you cannot convince, balance your heart against the consequences then take or leave but we must be away,” said the unknown man.

Rohn took a deep breath and then said, “Wren, I had wanted to give you more time but I am not permitted the luxury. Will you come with me?” the bitter tone of his voice showing Rohn's knowledge of the answer without it needing to be said.

Wren tried to show a bit of sympathy that was hard to feel in the moment as he said, “For many reasons no but none of them come from hate. Whatever this is, I wish you well.”

Rohn stood still for a moment, a battle warring in his head, then said, “I do not have the heart to force him, honored ancestor.”

You don't have the fucking ability to force me but thanks for not making this ugly.

The unknown man paused in his way back to the portal after Rohn had entered. He locked on to Grimalkin and began pacing towards him. Wren stepped in his way, full Eremita, the embodiment not feeling so big on him now but lots of room to grow. Grimalkin responded too but what shocked Wren was the similarities between the power of the man in front of him and Grimalkin's own.

The man stopped as he said, “You are a worthy successor to myself, much better growing potential than my eldest son. Come with me.”

Grimalkin immediately responded to the negative.

The man casually batted Wren out of the way, sending him into a tree that snapped his spine.

The man responded with, “That was not a request. That was an orde-”

The man was interrupted by an unfolding of space that managed to claim most of the man's shoulder before he dodged out of the way.

“So you are already under someone's tutelage, a pity,” The man said as he dived through the closing portal.

Seeing that the call mark was strangely quiet and unresponsive without order, Wren dismissed it as he focused on fixing his broken back. He was quickly joined by Grimalkin and a slightly slower to respond Jaden. The suit had dispersed all the extra force evenly so the only area affected was Wren's lower back which was well on it way to repair. After seeing that Wren wasn't in immediate danger, Jaden entered his realm with an over the shoulder comment to call on him if needed.

The fucked up situations tend to be like lightning strikes around here. Can't I get any slow creep or 'Army of A' in the distance kind?

“Little Gray, I'm officially fucking done with this place. Ready to move on?” Wren said between hisses.

Grimalkin replied, “I'm ready when you are.”

Two women were standing nearby once Wren had finished putting his spine back together. Deciding to get the jump on whatever this was, Wren said, “Liita and Bress, right? To what do I owe the honor?” Wren's voice dripping annoyance.

Liita stepped forward and said, “No offense meant. It seems like a bad moment for such things but Lilly has promised us transport with you to the new seaside home. There are others as well. We had come to await her instruction but bore witness to a tragedy instead. We are at a loss on what to do now as some of us have broken ties to family and tradition to accompany you. We will either have no place to return or one greatly diminished.

For one petty moment, Wren wanted to tell them just how much he cared about their collective circumstances before his Super-conscious kicked his Id in the nuts. Wren requested Jaden, who had nearly spent a whole day realm-side, to help him deal with this. Jaden's puffy eyes, streaked cheeks and dirt caked shorts gave Wren a pretty decent story of what he'd been up to.

I would say, 'Dude, she's sleeping not dead,” but it's far more likely he's beating himself up over how he was partly responsible for her being hurt to begin with.

While tidying Jaden up with a little void and water power, Wren brought him abreast of the situation.

“Of course we will honor Lilly's promise,” Jaden said without preamble.

Dude, I hope you have someone hiding in your ass right now because I'd hate to think you're dragging me into something without even asking.

Jaden turned to Wren and Grimalkin and said, “As the ones closest to her heart, as she is to ours, it's only right as she would do the same for you. You know this.”

Fuck your emotional blackmail... Shit. Fine.

“Alright but we are taking the express route and they're riding in your realm on low time dilation. Mine's not stable enough for company yet... What's Troy and Sable up to?” Wren said.

Jaden answered, “Sable has agreed to guard Lilly's tree until we get to seaside and Troy left hours ago for world-side. You haven't seen him?”

As dawn broke and people started getting in to the swing of the day, the Grand teacher found Wren as he was asking around about Troy.

The old man said, “I've heard that you are searching for your friend? There is no need. He is heading toward the place you call safe-zone to use the obelisk. His destination is a distant city on the Sangral Continent by the name of Kajrya. He said there might be a possibility that you would miss his note in the guest room and as he was in a hurry for the free transport and a chance to clear his head of things he requested I inform you or Lilly if it seemed you did not know. As for why I know, he was gathering information from our woefully outdated maps.”

Oh, for the luva... Retrieve log.

Optional Mission: Kajrya infiltrator extermination- a group of parasitic spiritual entities have targeted key figures in the infrastructure of Kajrya. Free obelisk transport and bonus 100 achievement points for participants who have telepathy, spiritual sight and spiritual purification abilities.

Rewards:

100 achievement points for confirmed eradication of parasites [note: this is a planetary wide open reward for the next eleven months.]

variable rewards based on performance in high activity zones

variable rewards based on benefit for native inhabitants in high activity zones

variable demerits and penalties for harmful consequences to native inhabitants [IE: killing two non-possessed natives to eliminate a possessed one will gain zero achievement points and will gain an additional -10 per killed native]

Sweet mother of spandex wearing elderly, I actually have 200 points from this... That means those tick men could be anywhere! I gotta get to Glaucous to warn him.

Wren rushed back to Jaden. Jaden had already transported the people into his realm.

“We gotta get in there, Jaden... tell your SYSTEM interface to retrieve log. From now on do that every so often because if an update or notification catches you in transit it bounces.” Wren said as Jaden took Wren and Grimalkin realm-side.

Wren hit the ground running to the grove as Jaden raced past him. He arrived to see Jaden wrestling with Sable as the older man reached out to touch the trunk of a yearling tree that had not been there before. Two dismembered bodies coated the area into a nightmare scene. Sable went slack as a blurry shadow rushed into the tree.

Wren struggled for a moment, trying to figure out how to enter dream state before seeing a dark muted flashed followed by a screeching sound issue from the crown of the tree. A single blossom issued a faint but familiar signature of void power. The blossom dimmed and brightened a couple of times before showing signs of withering as Wren reached out to bolster the blossom's void power, not certain if trying to heal it directly would benefit the parasite or not.

In mere moments the blossom issued forth a sweet scent as a trace, so small it could be missed as a figment of imagination, of triumph issued from it. That emotion was quickly followed by a much stronger one of panic from the main tree towards Wren. He cut off the assistance.

Yeah, the one life is on it's way so it's safe but there are two more that'll be axed if that heartwood loses it's curse completely.

As it was, this last battle had reduced the curse's lifespan to about a decade or so by Wren's figures. Since his SE and LE totals were sitting at close to 70% each, he slowly fed a gentled blend of the two into the tree until it felt comfortable and saturated at an averaged loss of nearly 5% each. He finished by starting to enrich the soil but he quickly figured out that pure EE enrichment was more beneficial so he slowly emptied half a tank down. A feeling of relief and gratitude issued out from tree Lilly as she focused on expanding to nurture her blossom better and prepare for the other two.

Unsure if Lilly could hear him or not, he said, “Careful now, or you'll get stretch marks.”

A casually falling leaf poked stem first into the eye of a currently visorless Wren. He cursed as he wondered if he would ever know if it was coincidence or revenge. He certainly wasn't tempted to try again.

Wren in no nonsense mode said, “Sable, report.”

In his tackled spot on the ground, carefully staying muscle slack least Jaden snap his neck, Sable said, “Unidentified male 1, approached with offered refreshment. After being denied, unidentified male 1 still continued to approach. This one gave single warning of lethal force before carrying out elimination when unidentified male 1 did not stop. Less than one hundred breaths later, unidentified male 2 approached at sprinting pace. This one immediately moved to eliminate. This one was successful but does not remember else wise till awakening pinned by realm master Jaden.”

After sweeping him with SE, Wren gave Jaden a gentle pat to get him to let go of Sable then said, “I hate using commands but it was efficient. Sorry, Elder Black.”

Sable predictably replied, “Apologies unnecessary. It was efficient.”

Wren pondered on the problem for a moment before he said, “The cause was possession. There is no doubt. Elder Black, in your experience what course of action would you recommend to take care of this... loss and safely check the rest without alarming them?”

Sable said, “I've only dealt with a similar situation once. Eldest Grimshadow sent us to eliminate a potentially possessed Gloomweave man. After elimination, Eldest Grimshadow issued a proclamation for foaming mouth sickness and had everyone screened. Two other cases of possession were determined as they were secretly handed over to branch Night members.”

Wren said, “Why foaming mouth sickness?”

Sable replied, “It's particularly contagious to those with strong batkin bloodlines which is centered among the purple sash. It is a painful death with no known cure. Those affected become crazed within hours of infection.”

With a particularly disgusted look, Wren used void power to remove all the gory evidence and moved to the group of milling people close to the pavilion.

Wren cleared his throat and said. “Two of your number approached the forbidden zone where I just came from. Strong protective enchantments failed to recognize them and they have unfortunately lost their lives. For everyone's safety please stay away from the woods. To ensure that this tragedy doesn't happen again you will all be temporarily marked by myself with a guest aura. Any who are missed by my mark will be released back into the encampment so please line up to receive a mark. This is voluntary and may be avoided by requesting release.”

Wren scanned the remaining crowd and only the widowed woman of one of the dead men requested to be released as she broke into wailing tears upon the discovery. She was clear. There was a woman and a young man in his late teens comforting her as Wren finished up the inspection. In a surprising turn of events, Sable offered her 'comfort' which she accepted. As Sable turned to Wren the young man also requested to join the comforting which Sable was put into a hard place to refuse as the young man was one of the dead men's lovers as well, not a son, and judging by the hungry look in his eyes the young man was not a vegetarian. The slightly shaken Sable requested a privacy curtain from Wren which was promptly given. Sable marched to the futon by the pond with the courage of a suicide soldier.

That's cold Sable, hitting on the widow of the man you killed, but it appears the universe is fair. I hope little dude rips you a new one.