Chaldean Chronicles: Cadence of the Lostgrail
✅ - Mage Ascension / 〚🏙｜greater-london
London. Soon to be the Hub of an Empire which would forever leave its mark on the world from its domination on every single continent. That great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained.
But that glory from the future is now made manifest, now. No longer is London some backwater trading point, filled with old roman buildings and rotting structures made by peasants on the verge of collaspe. No. Now it is a bustling city, the center of the Lord-Patriarchs' Empire within an Empire. A strange mixture of Islamic and Victorian architecture clash together as sturdy buildings rise alongside clean paved streets.
The streets are filled with traders and pilgrims that have come from all over the isle to pray to the ascendant Patriarch and hope that he may bless them with health and of gold.
They will never see him. For he has occupied himself within the Clock Tower.
A towering pillar of bronze and juttering gothic stone that spiraled into the air, gargoyles staring down at him with their watchful gazes and jaws wide open shooting upwards to seemingly lunatic heights. It's massive Clockface showed the time to the entire landscape, it's hands perpetually stopped one minute to midnight. All around it replicated in the mish-mash of Gothic and late Victorian is a massive wing that extends outwards housing no doubt the vast research institutes the association is known for.
On the streets Knights in golden trimmed armour patrol the alleys for malcontents and those who would interfere with His rule while on the rooftops race the Brozne Archers who watch the entire city from their perches hundreds of feet from the ground.
The rayshift point brings all who take it to just outside of the gates of the Clock Tower into a busy street market.
All who enter are asked to wear a golden necklace to identify themselves to others.
So enter as you may, you might find in these dark streets more then you bargained for.
At the edge of London Gil could sense there was a territory and with his great gifted sight he knew that there was a low wall that surrounded the entire city with guards that often patrolled it.
At the wall gate there was a massive clamouring as Guards rushed to the parapets with crossbows and billhooks. A dozen arrows and a duo of ballista were pointed downwards.
"Name and purpose!" a haughty Captain in silver armour shouted from the top, "What say you?""And what proof do you have you are of Chaldea!?" the Captain shouted down, "We've had spies before and we'll have them far from now. Just because you decide to show up with gold doesn't mean you belong to Chaldea.""Fancy trick!" the Captain became red-faced, clearly infuriated that his attempt to be the 'Alpha-Male' had been ruined in the front of his men. Many of whom had amused grins on their faces at this whole thing.
"You may come in, but you get this through your head, you cheap cuckhold alley-pisser, you, you're under my watch when in my Lord's city. So I see you even step one thing out of line I'll have a thousand men ramming their spears up through your arsehold where the Clock-Gods of Scrying can't see! And she can see anything that happens on this continent so that should tell you enough, bloody whore-arse." he puffed his chest up to the point his armour creaked from the expansion, though it was already at its limit beforehand. He seemed proud of himself after that rant but his men mostly rolled their eyes at him. (edited)
"That's right, keep walking and keep your head down. Next thing I'll have is to let the Lord of Curses place a Rune of Instant Death on your head if I see you out of line! Hell maybe I'll even have a siege engine sent where you live!" the Captain shouted at the top of his voice, "You two men! Watch him!"
A pair of Knights with halberds quickly walked out to escort Gilgamesh to the London branch of the Clock Tower, "Sorry about that, sir," one of the men whispered, "He's not normally like that. He's loud and boisterous, but he hasn't been this obscene before. We're not even supposed to be stationed at the gate but some order came up and had us shifted here at the last moment. Please, accept the Golden Patriarch's apology on my behalf. I am sure he had his intentions."
"He often says twice with only one declaration," the other Guard spoke, "Everything he does I am sure has its reason... even if sometimes it is vulgar like Sir Kay there. It has a reason and I doubt it's just intimidation. The fact you are in our heartland provides enough."
The other Guard reached inside a coin and brought a coin on a silver chain up, "Please, sir, we have to ask you to wear this. As a source of being able for others in this city to recognize that you are a valued guest of our Lord."They would bring Gilgamesh to the Clock Tower, it's titular namesake staring down at the two, it's hand always one minute it midnight.
The doors would slam open as if smashed by a battering ram. Inhumanly tall guards in Pure Silver armour presented lances as the two Guards escorted Gilgamesh in.
"Spearmasters," the Guard explained, "The best that we have. Nothing that the other Lord's have can compare to ours. Not even the blessed Angels from the north can hope to hold their ground against them. I'm sure even Servants would struggle against a trained group of them."
There was an elevator at the end of the hallway that was held open for the trio.Tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down.
Thirty kilometers down.
Gilgamesh could sense the sheer mana and mystery from the age of the gods surrounding him as they got deeper. The reverse side.
He caught glimpses of mining operations, vast caverns and underground worker towns.
Graveyards.
Before the elevator reached the bottom.
There was a vast room carved out. The mystery here was almost at toxic levels that if the Guards stepped out the elevator they would almost be damned to die a painful death. At the center of the room was a low pit with carved stairs that lead to a center that was filled with water. At the edge of it, the water-light reflecting off his mask was Nazaire Sourd silently observing the slight changes in the liquid.
In the shadows at the edge of the room, Gilgamesh would be aware of a figure clouded in robes and shadow looking over all of it with their arms crossed.
Gilgamesh's foresight detected that a spell was about to be cast.
I had wanted you to come here. There is a Lord that sees all. Hears all. I must take precautions against her. Riddles I must speak.
"Now that I have shown you of the true extent of my power," *Sourd said after as if he hadn't sent that message, *"Be aware Chaldea is the junior in this alliance.
The Lords are no aware of my servant. I did not give you gold. I gave you a weapon to use. Use as seen fit.
"Ah, I can sense your mind is one of a red sea, eager to prove itself and already having done so," he continued, stepping away from the pool and gesturing with his staff. The Gold bar floated up on its down, hovering there between the two, "But this is my business with Chaldea. There is no insult meant for you, King of Heroes.""Then you should have advertised it as such."When you have a Lord that sees and hear all, you must resort to subterfuge. A message behind the message if you will. I had my Captain attempt to inform you."My Lands are entirely safe from the enemies eyes. If you have not managed to secure your own land as I have, then what are you doing?"
"I represent Chaldea, as they are mine."No. Not even your territory is safe. A letter could be read by her. We are only barely covered by the reverse side and this ruse.
"Then do you approach me as Chaldea?""No mere Lord is capable of piercing my Veil. You must be conceited to think otherwise."You underestimate her to a dangerous degree. A very, very dangerous degree. She is aware of what happens within your lands, I have been told such. They are aware of my alliance with Chaldea, I had told them much. But I played a deception and informed them this was an alliance of deception, to trap all of you.
"Then you will understand that sometimes as King, you must present your abilities before even your allies. The Sword of Damascus does not hold only above my foes. It was less of a threat and more of a presentation.""I am Grand Caster for a reason."
"Then know this, 'Lord'. Threats or Presentation, I will snuff out all danger to my lands."
"If any of you wish to try to invade them then I will welcome you in kind."
"That is a message from the King of Heroes to all of the Lords."
They do not come with mere unwashed masses but siege engines. But I am sure given how confident you are, that you will not require my assistance then.
"Very well. This conversation is done. You have my permission to leave with your head on your shoulder."
They would be allowed to leave the city.