[MTGO, STORY] 'Unicorns Hecatomb'.

/ article in construction. /

/ ... of how a wicked, meddling mage plans to do hecatomb sacrifice of the most innocent of magical animals. /

[MTGO, STORY] Elephant Grass.

/ article in construction. /

/ ... opponent's deck (probably): GLENN JONES'S ENCHANTRESS. /


... of how Attentus' mind and spirit were touched by Enchantress' beauty and charm, of how he retreated from duel and started to turn from enmity to friendships.

[MTGO, STORY] Weatherlight.

/ article in construction. /


... a part of 'Vault Guardians' Deck,

... a tribute to Hannah Nydahl, Lama Ole Nydahl's wife - who guided Buddhism to Greatness in the Modern West, when she lived.

... Buddhism and Church are - by Lama Ole Nydahl's words - two boats that travel by each other for a while, then depart to different destinations.


... 'Vault Guardians' Deck contains most holy ideas from a Buddhist perspective - there's Enligtenment, Meditation, Pondering, Pacifism, Tutoring, Monks and more. White Magick of Light, Blue Magick of Mind, a little of Red Flames of Love, a little of Green Holistic Wisdom and Nature. No Black Magick in this deck. But what makes magick black? It's most importantly intentions.


... in this tale monks and soldiers should travel on board of the sky ship 'Weatherlight', find ancient artifacts, spells and clues that will grant Attentus and Liliana the power of 'Paradoxical Storm'.


   

[MTGO, STORY] Attuning Destinies.

As Attentus & Liliana arrived at a Destinies Door, it turned out to be grass-overgrown glade, with trees, gently warmed by sun, shadows dancing a little.

Time-flow was different from the moonlit place they left, obviously.

Stone Doorway in midst of the forest-opening was dormant and closed. They had to find a way to activate it.

Attentus went closer and touched the Doorway, tracing finger along it's lines, trying to find some writings or runes that would hint them at Doorway's functioning.

Then sudden light emerged from the cracks and from around the Doors ... and a booming, ethereal voice could be heard from around.

'State nature of beings to attune with'.

Attentus looked at Liliana, suprised.

'Human Planeswalkers, for now' - she mindfully seized the opportunity with a wicked smile, and came to Attentus' side - but letting him stand in front of the door first.

'Let the Human Planeswalkers face their destiny, keys of Reality that will lead them to Power' - booming voice announced.

Door's surface became a vortex of energy, then turned out to be mirror-like. In this mirror Attentus could see Liliana Vess, black-and-silver-robed woman with black hair to her neck, with a spellbook under her right arm, with the Black Lotus flower in her hair.

'Women to be blamed for all ... It's You!' - he looked at her with a smile, she was laughing as well - 'That Black Lotus suits You as well, i mean Water Lilly is a flower that resemble Lotus ...',

She became more serious but still smiling, yet she nodded to the doors - 'Look at the Mirror, perhaps there's more'.

After a while this image waned, and more women appeared - their necromancer friends of black, red and blue magic - Dominika, Marlene, Nienna, Alice, Hannah, Isabelle, ... and many other. Then Time Vault appeared in Mirror, and four small keys materialized at Door's foundation.

'Take the Voltaic Keys, these will come useful with Time Vault' - booming voice told them - 'For i, Nyth, have plans for you both'.

Attentus suprised pocketed the keys.

'Now it's her turn' - booming voice was slightly impatient.

Attentus stepped aside, and Liliana took her place in front of the Doors.

Images that did appear in front of Liliana wre: Attentus, Pyotr - Dominika's Assassin friend, Mark the Serene Master, Rafal the Painter and Amaranth, the Vampyr. She also saw magickal tools & spell-symbols, mostly of black, red & blue colours.





'Now begone' - booming voice said - 'My plans will be revealed to you later, when You reach the power of Paradoxical Storm, which will take you some time'.

Liliana hooked her arm under Attentus arm and pulled him to the portal, smiling, obviously in the good mood.

'Our friends are keys to our Power' - she said as the portal closed behind them.

'Yes, we have to care or we'll wither and die' - Attentus added.

They hugged each other for a while, then sat by a still-burning fire of the plateau they used to open the portal.

...

Later they contacted Nienna in their minds, and offered her to protect their keys - both voltaic keys as well as secrets that lead them there. Nienna was the Elven Guardian of the Keys, anyway. Keys to Reality were her favourite. She took the offer, and extended proper spells - and they exchanged gossip for a while.

For the months to come, they could feel strength from their each other's presence, as well.

[MTGO, STORY] Search for the Doors of Destinies.

After their warm-night sleep at kobolds' inn heathfires, Attentus & Liliana decided they will do as Kobolds ask.

They needed coin, and kobolds offered such reward. Besides, they could use them as cost-efficient allies for lesser tasks, and the Shivan Dragon-relation could be rekindled as well.

Liliana reached for a pouch at her belt, gathered some bones she kept there and cast a Skeletal Scrying spell.

'Spirits of the Ancient Past, i consult You. May the secrets you keep be revealed, i seek the counsel about Door of Destinies' - she incantated in a sinister song-like voice as she rose her hands, letting the bones slip past her fingers. She threw the remaining bones, placed a black candle in front of her and lit as an offering, then entered the meditative trance-state, surrounded by bones and dust.

Other times when she did that, she told Attentus that she's experiencing ancient-old chants in her head, praises to old gods sang by dead. The spirits flew by and were attracted to her until ones with answers appeared. If there were such, of course.

This time such meditation took her shorter than usual, mere twenty of minutes about.

With eyes closed, she spoke in a hushed, sinister voice to those nearby.

'Doors of Destinies can be reached from anywhere, seek the moonrise at dusk, follow the spirit bridge. Speak the name of a Dragon Guardian, Nyth and offer him something worthwhile. if he'pleased, Spirit Bridge will manifest in Reality, and ways will open'.

Shaking a little she let spirits depart, then opened her eyes, snuffed out candle, gathered cast bones to her pouch and rested in Attentus' arms.

Skeletal skrying took it's toll on her, drained her life force - so she had to do it in moderation, using minimal amount of power to achieve her tasks. This time, thankfully, not much of it was neccessary.

'What do you think of that?' - She asked looking at him, still shaking a little in his arms from the spell-damage.

'We might need to ponder about details of the spirit bridge's meaning, otherwise it's clear. It has to be related with Doors and that Dragon, for sure' - Attentus thoughtfully answered to her in a quiet voice.

'i'll consult our friend Dominika on that, she's quite well-versed in the Dragon Lore, and has excellent skrying abilities as well' - Liliana offered.

Dominika was old colleague of Liliana Vess when they studied in the Necromancer Academy back at their home plane, and Lily often borrowed Attentus to her as a husband-in-mind, for some whiles as a joke. During these times Dominika guarded Attentus, so Liliana could pursue other tasks.

Telepathic meeting was arranged, they gossipped for a while. Spirit bridge was indeed a way of thinking what to offer Nyth, something related to the creatures meant to visit the Doors, something that will bind their services to Dragon a little.

After some more of chit-chat and fairly-informal salutations, telepathic meeting was concluded.

Wise kobold was informed by a messenger, and Attentus left with Lilliana the Kher Keep. They had to find a proper place to form a spirit bridge, and day could prove to be barely enough.

They considered finding a glade, traditional place for reaching to the Moonlight - but they were in the mountains. If Doors could be reached from anywhere, they decided to find a high plateau in the mountains instead.

In a few hours of search, they found such, a little away from the Dragonskull Summit - otherwise Nyth could feel challenged by other Dragon's presence.

They lit the fire, and composed a spirit-bridge offering, considering the great kobold tribe in it.

'Great Nyth, the Dragon-Guardian of the Destinies Doors ... we call upon You. May the Great Kobold Tribe of Kher Keep in the Dragonskull serve You and Your kind once again. We ask You to open the bridge to the Doors so we can reach, so the alliance might be forged for now, and for future ... as it was in the past' - they chanted standing at opposing sides of the fire under the rising moon, and rose arms upwards. Chant was repeated by them three times in the unison, then they added some of the juniper wood to the fire to raise smoke and scent high.

The portal appeared next to them, shining light from beyond which a gateway of stone could be seen.





They corrected their uniforms, gathered their equipment and entered the portal lettting the fire still burn.

Dragon himself, didn't appear this time.

[MTGO, STORY] Kobold Cultists of the Dragonskull Summit.

After fleeing from the Elven Woods, Attentus & Liliana Vess embarked for the mountains.

Scavenging food from scarce shrubs, hunting for occasional birds or other animals they reached the Dragonskull Summit - officially their property, but largely undiscovered.

Attentus encouraged Liliana to 'broaden the horizons', and she took that offer cautiously but warmly.

Aside from sightseeing & exploration, they wished to pay a visit to the Shivan Dragon they used to summon & bargain with long ago.

Travelling for weeks, they passed marshes & mountains ... and closed to the Summit ... when by an accident Liliana noticed a cave opening at the side of the mountain.

'Let's rest there for a while, my legs hurt already too much, and night is approaching soon anyway' - she complained gently to Attentus.

'Alright, but let's be cautious - there might be bears or other animals inside'.

They set a torch alight, and approached cautiously.

Opening was dark ... but they saw a light flickering deep inside.

'Civilization?' Attentus told this in this snide-joke tone.

'Let's hope it's not too primitive for our tastes', Liliana replied sharply to his manners.

They went in slowly, with torches in one hand, and daggers in another.

They noticed rails, for mining carts reaching in ... and approached further.

'Who goesssss ?!?' - high pitched, wary tone welcomed them from inside.

'We are just travellers, seeking shelter from the night. We didn't foresee the civilization there. And who are You?' - Attentus this time was more polite.

'We are the Great Kobold Tribe of the Dragonskull!. If you came to rest & trade, your goods and services might be welcome! Come inside!' - Kobold was excited for no apparent reason.

With their guide leading, they marched through the mines, attracting vary glances of the hard-working kobolds at the metal & crystal veins. Then they entered the Halls, something similar to Ancient City, with Statues, Cobwebs, and occasinal torch stands.

'This is our Kher Keep, i'll lead you to an Inn. Do not make troubles! We have warrens with weapons here, and more!' - He explained in his fast, excited, high-pitched & hissy voice.

Inn was nothing more than some roofs & campfires with roasted food, some bear rugs and beer kegs placed in open.

'So what do you have to offer? Gold? Gems? Weapons?' - He asked them before they approached innkeeper.

'We travelled far, seeking for Ancient Magick. We can make Your tribe stronger by our Secrets, Artifacts & Powers' - Liliana used her seductive, hushed, slightly hissy voice that mimicked Kobold tongues.

'Artifacts! Lore! - i'll inform our Wisefolk, you wait here and eat!' - He told and ran off.

Attentus & Liliana enjoyed the roasted meat & watered down beer in moderation, despite their hunger. Manners required them to do so.

After meal & drink they were cuddling each other by the fire, speaking softly of the private matters .... then a kobold that looked like Old Shaman appeared.

'Do you know of Planeswalking?' - he started openly.

'Yes ... ' Attentus looked at him and told cautiously, as Liliana held his hand.

'You must lead us to the Ancient Doors of Destinies, so we can be strong again. For that we will pay handsomely. And do not think of causing trouble, or we'll awaken the Dragon' - his voice was cautious, excited and menacing for a hissing, raspy kobolds.

'We can agree to terms' - Attentus carried the conversation - 'And we wish to parley with Shivan Dragon'.

'Dragon is sleeping, didn't you hear?!? - After You show us something promising we'll wake her!'

Then he sat by Attentus & Liliana, and exchanged tales of Tribe's Past, when another Planeswalker led them ... they forgot her name. Now they formed Alliance with Dragon, who protected them for their mining services & other assistance. But the Tribe dreamt still about retaining former Glory, Dragon cared not.

Shaman explained that Doors of Destinies are places hidden & protected by old Magick, perhaps damaged by time. 'They can make even meekest very strong - so our fathers told' - he explained.

Then Attentus told them these and those of more colorful parts of their adventures, and revealed that they are allied with Vampyre Clan of nearby swamps, catacombs & castles.

'We shall see how it goes - You better find the Doors!' kobold insisted.

'As soon as we can. Caution is neccessary, and this takes time & effort'.

Nodding, kobold left them to sleep by fire, they decided they will plan what to do next, tomorrow.


 

[MTGO, STORY] Access & Discovery.

Interrogation & Release.

After a duel with a time-meddler, Liliana forced out formula from his defeated mind - formula that in proper conditions gave access to the Time Vault itself. They also took from him an artifact - the hourglass figurine made of powdered dragon scales & glass - that combined with formula & preparatory rites, could open the way to the Time Vault. Liliana learned that preparatory rites are difficult to convey in short time, but can be learned by studying the figurine.

They experimented for a while, and confirmed it can work - so after letting Vampyres feed, they let the defeated planeswalker free.

Attentus & Liliana believed in Reincarnation & Karma - so were against killing, and cautiously spared lives when possible - especially the lives of meaningful foes.

They still placed wards & precautions on his mind & soul, so enemy could not retaliate too quickly - meanwhile they would be far away, by their plan.

... as with most of magickal tools, using too much of power in too short time, or maitaining powers for extended periods of time caught too much of attention - of the more dangerous hostile forces of the Multiverse - so they let their access wane and left the area relying for a while on the more mundane means, as much as possible.


Access.

In different Dominaria's part they stopped to create conditions & gain the Time Vault access again - after weeks of skrying on statue, of thinking & meditation they did succeed - a mindstream-channel opened in reality, leading their consciousness to see the chamber guarding the Source - the Swirling Light phenomenon from which many of timestreams originated, affecting different beings & phenomena differently.

They meditated with that vision in mind, Liliana noticed first that different timestreams were interwoven, and linked to the consciousness streams of beings.

Attentus understood her lesson fairly quickly & well.

There were some rules by which those who gained access adhered.

Unless authorized otherwise, those accessing Time Vault had to invest some effort & time to gain time-advantage in a near future.

Liliana was all about breaking these rules as soon as possible, but Attentus persuaded her to gain basic understanding of the Time & it's mysteries at first. His arguments were that unskilled use of such tool would attract too much of unwanted attention to them. In his mind they should be patient & cautious - that way they would learn more in shorter amount of time, anyway.

They interacted with Arcane Machinery, accessed Source telepathically - learned protocols, commands, rules & theory of the Time Vault's functioning.

These theories were complex, but they started from basics - experimenting a little as well.


Discovery.

One of these experiments let Attentus discover a new power, a new spell - with enough of mana they could cast spells they would learn & prepare in future.

'A spell of Future Sight.' - he explained.
This power awakened & placed itself in their pentacles, silver arcane pentagram necklaces with Triple Moon Godess symbolism. It worked as spell-wisdom was granted to them by Moon Godess on the fly, without need to read the books or arrange a memory-refresh other way.

Liliana Vess was thrilled, yet her calm & cold demeanor did not show it - only determined, fascinated light in her eyes showed Attentus that she did care. She was gentle for Attentus in these moments of their triumph, yet pondering upon the possibilities it might unfold for them.

She never slipped such opportunity, Attentus was sure this time she won't either.

They decided to focus on this spell for a while, as it was a key to understanding many of Arcane Secrets, both within, as well as outside Time Vault's theoretical domain.