Deacon strained against his bonds. The monsters that captured him left Hani’s head on the ground just below the platform he was kneeling on two hours ago. The only other person in this circular cell besides him was a hairless Dwarf. He was poking and prodding at Deacon’s bag on the table nearest the door. The Dwarf pulled one magical eyepiece after another out of a pouch on his hip. At some point he even pulled an adjustable tool out to measure the flap opening. All the while Deacon just hurled invectives at him.

“None of what you are saying matters, human. I’m free and you are the one trapped in the pain vice,” commented the Dwarf only half paying attention to Deacon.

“When I get out of here, I’m going ride your corpse down the longest flight of stairs I can find!” yelled Deacon.

“You’ll be going nowhere. Once the political game is concluded upstairs, you and everyone you know will most likely be dead at the hands of Hipag’s worshipers. Now what is this? An interior rune on your bag. That is not how dimensional storage is constructed with tier four Arcanum. Who created this? No matter, If I just remove this unknown character the bag should open up to –” the Dwarf’s voice cut off with a sizzle and pop sound.

Deacon’s head lifted to see a pile of ash on the ground where the Dwarf once stood. His bag was nowhere to be found and the table it was sitting on was now missing two legs. The heavy flat tabletop slowly slid against the wall until it hit the ground making a triangle shape. Then Deacon noticed he had several multicolored slate notifications vying for his attention.

‘Deacon, review the notifications,” said a straining Sun Wu in Deacon’s mind.

Your soul bond to Zageracks Bag has been broken. This has triggered a soul backlash and destroyed the material object that was the anchor for your storage.

New Class Ability Learned: Dimensional Warehouse- This is a dimensional storage location in a pocket dimension. It allows the user to store up to their level in cubic feet of space. Requirements: Level 55 Dimensional Mage class.

You do not meet the requirements for this ability.

Rule Breaker has activated.

Once Rule Breaker took effect, the world around Deacon shuddered. Dust fell from the ceiling and the open door frame cracked sending smaller cracks through the walls of the room. One of the runes embedded in the walls dimmed and went out.

‘Fantastic! Now I don’t have to fight against the language of creation to talk to you. Read the rest and let’s figure out how to get out of here,’ said a very excited Sun Wu.

Trailblazer has converted Dimensional Warehouse into Soul Cache.

New Class Ability Learned: Soul Cache- This is a dimensional storage location within oneself. It allows the user to store up to twice their level in cubic feet of space. Gear can be equipped directly onto the user from the space within. Food will not spoil and items within are protected from entropy. Effects are available anywhere said soul is touching. No cost.

Event released message: I knew you’d lose this bag one day. I hope your strange abilities can make this work. – Zageracks

If Deacon didn’t have enchanted needles piercing his arms and wasn’t being forced to kneel uncomfortably, he might have smiled. He did notice there was no growth on that ability. That was fine. The dragon was still helping him. Even in this most dire of situations. Deacon knew he couldn’t just give up and his mind refocused on what his future-self told him. Escape by your hands. He was having a hard time puzzling that one out. He felt around with his fingers on both sides of the planks of wood. There was nothing there but open air. There was a pool of blood spreading from Hani’s throat. It almost made Deacon sick to look at it. His friend’s life essence pooling on the ground. Then he noticed his right hands movement in the reflection. Just below his middle finger jutted a loose bolt. With his strength, he thought if he was standing, he could muscle the device holding him apart. On his knees however, he couldn’t bring enough force to bear. But the bolt was just beyond the tips of his fingers.

“What did I say to myself again? Escape by your hands. It’s too far. I can’t reach… I’m so stupid!” Deacon said in a moment of realization.

‘I think I’ve been telling you that since we met,’ commented Sun Wu.

“Not now, monkey man. I think I figured out the poorly worded clue I gave myself,” replied Deacon.

‘What are you talking about?’ asked Sun Wu.

That was interesting, thought Deacon. Sun Wu didn’t know about the visit from his older self. Was it this room or something future-Deacon was doing? He didn’t have time to speculate. He popped his dragon claws on his right hand. The black and green claws thrust out from his nail beds, and he heard a tink sound. Like something sharp hitting metal. The claws were a racial ability and not tied to his soul energy. The Dwarf called him a human earlier. Did they think he was still human, and his blood was green for some other reason? He then surmised that he couldn’t turn intangible because the enchanted needles were embedded in his flesh. Deacon began turning the bolt every so slowly before he heard voices coming from the hallway.

“… to open that portal. They’ll be at it for hours as they stir that cauldron with his blood and hair in it. Now we just need to send the platform up for the grand finale,” said Efimeo as he walked into the room alongside someone Deacon didn’t know.

This new person wore robes and stood about five feet seven inches. They had rings on every finger and the symbol of Hipag emblazoned across the front of his outfit. His boots stepped into the room and then stepped back avoiding Hani’s blood.

“What’s wrong? Spooked by a little blood?” teased Efimeo.

“No. These boots were expensive, and I’d rather not have them covered in blood. Now the lift rune is on the far side. That one with the slash through it,” pointed the robed man.

‘Quit fiddling with the bolt. He’ll see you. You should wait until they leave to continue,’ said Sun Wu.

“What happened to the table? Where is that blasted Dwarf? If he ran off with my new bag, I’ll be peeling his skin off for a week!” complained Efimeo before slapping his hand on the rune and stomping back out the door irate.

Deacon slowly began to rotate before being lifted up. In the position they had him in, he couldn’t turn his head up to see where he was going but he was slowly being lifted into some kind of shaft and he could hear arguing voices from far above him.

Typhus entered the chambers of the Stone council. All five boxes had representation today to hear the young Bloodbeards explanation of the events surrounding the attack at the Monument to the Fallen and his revelations about the centuries old war.

Above the boxes was a horseshoe shaped amphitheater that separated the proceedings below with glass. The amphitheater was there for the public to watch their government at work. The best seats near the glass itself were held for guests of the five main families. This is where Ralph, Sophie, and Tantus were seated. They had been let in past the guards into the Bloodbeard section.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help with the battle. My teacher said I was way behind in my reading, so I was locked up in the library. We didn’t even get the region notification on Alva Tuul,” explained Tantus.

“It’s ok Tantus. You didn’t happen to see Amanda anywhere in your travels, did you?” asked Ralph.

“No. I didn’t. I’m really worried about her,” answered Tantus.

“I’ve got an ongoing quest for information about her with the local guild. There were some sightings of her in the east section of town during the battle yesterday. I haven’t had the chance to follow up,” interjected Sophie.

“Hang on, I think Typhus is about to say something,” Ralph said gesturing for them to be quiet.

Below the viewing chamber Typhus Bloodbeard stepped up to the lectern. House Hascavir’s box included Atlanta Hascavir, Sovereign of her house. Her Daughter Venita and her retainers. House Smitehammer had Magrumin’s son and several other members of that house. Magrumin was not in attendance. House Jinkbon’s Sovering Erlick Jinkbon was there with his adolescent son. It seemed his son was half Deep Dweller half gnome. The Tuskaxe box held Grimbor Tuskaxe, their sovereign, along with Jared Tuskaxe and both twins. Finally, the Bloodbeards sported Kestus Bloodbeard, leader of that house. Seated behind him were Daskus covered up with multiple bandages and robes, as well as Julia Jinkbon the Gnome mage that followed him at the climax of the battle.

Ralph took notice that the further down the pecking order of the boxes, the less the number seats were available. There was some grumbling from the crowd around them as Daskus appeared, but it was quickly snuffed out when Typhus began talking.

“Gathered sovereigns of the five houses of the deep. I, Typhus Bloodbeard, have come to give sworn testimony for the things I’ve seen,” stated Typhus.

“Explain yourself, Bloodbeard. What was the cause of that scuffle at our beloved memorial? Why do the golems of our ancestors lay broken on the ground?” sneered Atlanta.

“Mind your tone Atlanta, these are official proceedings,” complained Kestus.

“I’m simply trying to determine what role your son had to play in defacing a national monument. That is all,” relayed Atlanta.

“Sovereigns, please. Let young master Typhus tell of the events first. Then you can bicker amongst yourselves,” complained Grimbor Tuskaxe.

“It’s a travesty that the fifth ranked house would talk to me in such a manner to begin these proceedings. Let the record show the disrespect House Bloodbeard shows at the onset,” said Atlanta before waiving away Grimbor’s words.

“If I may honored Sovereigns. The goblins have been planning this for awhile with the help of priests of Hipag. I have brought along some of their flags as well as the plans from a summoner we encountered far to the west of here,” said Typhus maintain as professional a demeanor as possible.

The flag standards from the battle and the evidence from the reclaimed church of Mantarok were passed between booths. Each booth being given their time with the items. The Smitehammers refused to let the flags anywhere near them.

“My father even now convalesces after using a miracle of Mantarok to close the gap caused by a Berilith cyclops breaching the gate. There is no question that without young Bloodbeards early warning there would have been a tragedy and none of us would be gathered in these chambers today. I say we move on to the real question. Why did the regional notification only reach the edge of the city? Why are we not focused on that very important fact?” asked the first son of house Smitehammer.

There were murmurs throughout the chambers after that. Calls for a refocus of question came before Typhus attempted to calm the proceedings.

“Please allow me to explain everything I know in as much detail as you’ll allow,” pleaded Typhus.

The next twenty minutes resembled more of a question and answering session between Typhus and the gathered Stone Council. House Hascavir complained on no less than two occasions that the cause of all the turmoil was house Bloodbeards doing. Finally, they put it up to a vote.

“All who wish to exempt house Bloodbeard as the cause of the incident say aye,” called Atlanta Hascavir.

Houses Bloodbeard, Tuskaxe, and Smitehammer all said aye.

“All opposed?” asked Atlanta.

Only house Hascavir voted nay with house Jinkbon abstaining.

“The aye’s have it. The council will investigate alternate causes of the incident. Now this brings us to matter of the tapestry young Bloodbeard found while adventuring in the Griffin Kingdom. I notice you don’t have any artifacts or scroll cases with you today. Should I assume your report of an original tapestry depicting the events of the purge were false?” asked Atlanta.

“I in fact do have that tapestry,” said Typhus.

“Liar! We know you don’t have anything. You didn’t return to the city with a single scroll case,” yelled Venita Hascavir from her mother’s side.

This shocked all that were in attendance as she pushed her mother to the side and took her seat.

“What is the meaning of this Venita Hascavir?” asked Erlick Jinkbon with an expression of exertion on his face.

“We have a known liar on the stand and you’re all acting like this just a normal day. I say we sentence him on crimes of sedition and remove the Bloodbeards from the council once and for all,” answered Venita.

Sounds of shocks and gasps spread through the chamber before Kestus stood up in his box.

“These claims are unfounded, and you have no proof. I suggest you let the adults handle the business of state young Venita. You have much to learn from your mother,” Kestus said mockingly.

“I abdicate my position… to my daughter Venita,” said Atlanta almost coughing the words out.

“Recess!” called Grimbor Tuskaxe.

“Denied,” said Venita.

The whole time Typhus was untying his cloak and undoing the buttons on his shirt. Once his shirt came off it was clear to the people in the observation booth that he had a full length back tattoo of a scroll case. He reached behind his back with his right hand and the large scroll case peeled away from skin in two dimensions before filing up into a third. In Typhus’s hands he held a full size scroll case and began to unscrew the top.

“You had that on you the whole time! No wonder there was nothing in the confiscated scroll cases,” blurted out Venita.

“I see. So, it was your agents that kept stealing the cases. Let the recorded show that House Hascavir has confessed to stealing of public records. That will be a nice addition to todays docket,” sneered Typhus as he pulled the tapestry from the case.

“Send forth the Verifier of Record,” called Kestus Bloodbeard.

An older Deep Dweller with a white beard that trailed all the way down to his knees entered through a side passage. Typhus held the tapestry up with both arms spread so the elder could get a good look. His eyes roved over the two sides of the battle. One side had the standards of houses Tuskaxe, Bloodbeard, Jinkbon, all lead by Smitehammers. On the opposite side were the flags of several fallen houses including House Hascavir. That side included clans of Goblins and Orcs.

“Let the records show that that an ancient tapestry conflicts with known history. It has House Hascavir in league with the Dwarves not House Bloodbeard. I will cast a verification spell now,” calmly stated the Verifier of Record.

He waived one gnarled hand over the tapestry and images began to move. It played out the battle in real time on a four or five second loop. Within that loop the combined Houses of Deep Dwellers turned the tide of the battle and House Hascavir surrendered to the combined forces first. This severely weakened the opposition as the Hascavirs were marched off in chains.

“The woven tapestry is authentic. Only those created by our Verifier’s would react to that spell. I must review our archives and find the forgeries. I’ll take that young master Bloodbeard. You have done a good service for your people today,” commented the Verifier, before the tapestry rolled itself up like window shade and slid into the yawning sleave of the Verifier of Record.

“No! It’s not supposed to be like this!” yelled Venita, as her hand flowed across a console of runes that sloped into the Hascavir box.