In Dreams… part 1

Extracts from the Personal Diary of Gloriana Pinarii

A man said something. I jumped, rattling the chains that shackled me to the wall. His calm voice in this noisome, complete darkness was as much of a shock as the shouting, crying and screaming questions that are all I have heard for… in reality I think it is little over a day but it feels like weeks. Everything has happened so fast since they captured our ship, turning my travel from a pleasant cruise to the worst nightmare.

The poor child Friday who is confined here with me has already endured weeks here and her mind is breaking. From the little that she has said, her ordeal started with the slaughter of her parents by the Moonbeasts followed by her own death and then continued suffering here. At least my family is safe from them, and I can live the last days of my life as befits the Heir of the Pinarii Family.

The man spoke again, saying something like ‘Where are we? Who is here?’, and I realised that several men and women had somehow appeared in our cell. He sounded almost as uncertain as we were when we first encountered our bestial captors. I knew of the Moonbeasts by reputation, of course. The way in which they attacked and captured us on Captain Yanez’s caravel matched what I knew, but the depravities I have seen since are beyond description. They inflict pain and torment without reason or ending.

The scent of flowers and cleanliness came from these people, overlaying the foetid stench of our cell. They talked into the darkness, uncertain of where they were and what to do. I hoped that they would be our deliverance and spoke to them, then illuminated the cell from my small store of magic. Amongst their odd accoutrements the four people had a lantern but were surprisingly inept at lighting it. Urging them to haste, and to free us, I rapidly lit the lantern so that we now had blessed light in the cell.

And then I could clearly hear a Moonbeast approaching. I almost pleaded like a slave for release from the shackles so I could face my death fighting like a noble of Etruria. The thought of escape thwarted was too much to bear. Wonderfully, unlike their slow comprehension of our situation in the cell, they immediately leapt into effective action against the Moonbeast. One attacked while a second took the unseeing beast’s keys and began to release us as her companions killed it. From this moment I was deeply in their debt. There was not time for formal introductions but fortunately I was able to take charge of the situation. They were willing to take my orders, which was an important factor in our ultimate escape.

Although I wished to immediately flee from this tower, I could not in all conscience abandon my fellow captives. At my urging, we went up the tower staircase and then down again, releasing people from cells as we went. Many were in a very poor state, physically, mentally or both; a total of 17 people, just 1 in 3 combat effective. I recognised none from the ship but others had suffered at the Moonbeast’s hands for weeks.

As we reached the base of the tower, the stench of Moonbeast became stronger and we heard the heart-rending cries of a man in torment. We could see a red glow from a brazier. Two of my rescuers ran in and I followed, quickly taking in the scene.

The bestial creatures were using the guard-room as a torture chamber. Captain Yanez was stretched on a hurdle, there were metal rods heating in the brazier and one Moonbeast was holding a glowing bar to Yanez’ skin. Two other Moonbeasts stood nearby, the tentacles on their faces writhing as he screamed. At this sight, one of my rescuers pushed past and launched a reckless, but spirited, attack on them. A second man followed.

I could not hesitate any longer and scanned the room for a weapon. At that moment one of the beasts began to paw at weapons on a table in the room, and laid hands on my duelling pistols. My rapier was nearby and I swiftly picked up the hilt and pulled the blade from its scabbard. It easily came free and I briefly thanked this result of careful cleaning after each use. I joined in the attack on the foul creatures.

Surprisingly, my rescuers now showed a lack of both fighting skills and effective weapons, although they made up for this with improvisation. The more able-bodied among those we had released also rushed to take up weapons, undoubtedly impelled by the same hope for revenge that was driving me. Aided by one of the women, I killed a Moonbeast while my fellow captives chopped another to pieces. Their bones felt more like wood to my rapier and their flesh like rubber and mushroom. Had I been able to feed them into a bonfire I would have been even more satisfied, but there was no time for this.

My armour was in this room and I hurried to put it on and retrieve my weapons. I abandoned my other possessions in the rush to escape. All the able-spirited captives also found weapons and then we ran to release everyone else from the other 3 towers in this building. We were eventually a group of 22 people, but only 7 were able to fight, armed with a mixture of cleavers, daggers, torture implements and one halberd. Our four rescuers were fit and willing to fight but were also handicapped with improvised weapons. I had my rapier and pistols and Yanez his scimitar, but he was sorely injured by the Moonbeasts. He was the only member of the caravel’s crew amongst us, and we hoped that the others were still alive. To escape completely, we needed a ship and a trained crew.

We looked out from the building and saw the scene on the dockside. A black galley was moored at one pier with a group of Moonbeasts and Men of Leng near it. They were trying to get a rhinoceros in a cage on to a cart pulled by two large six-legged camels. Unfortunately the black galleys are propelled by oarsmen, and so there was no point in commandeering it.

However, not only was the caravel at another pier but its crew was being herded across the dockyard by more of the Moonbeasts and their willing Leng slaves. I quickly decided on a swift attack to rescue the crew and sail away in the caravel. The obvious tactics were to split the able-bodied into two groups, one to protect the injured and the other, led by myself, to free the crew.

Yanez had some skill with magic and volunteered that he could create a diversion by enraging the rhino and breaking the bars of its cage. He put this into action, and I ran with my group to release the crew. As soon as they realised what was happening, the seamen turned on their captors and we slaughtered all the foul creatures then ran for the ship.

I acted as rear-guard and this almost ended in disaster since the enraged rhino was now loose on the dock-side and made directly for me. I slipped and fell and then tried to dodge its thundering hooves. Unluckily I did not get out of its way, and the full weight of its changing bulk came down on one of my legs. I heard the crack as a bone broke, despite the protection of my armour. Fortunately for me it then changed direction and charged at the Moonbeasts from the black galley that had now realised that something was happening near the caravel.

The sailors were gallant enough to stop, turn, and help me to the ship. Then they rushed to get it underway. I was conscious enough to see that one Moonbeast on the dockside was nearing our caravel and drew on my magical skill to cause him harm. I wracked him with pain and blisters but he had already managed to launch a magical attack on one of our rescuers. The mind of the noble berserker, Al-Ek, was quite overthrown and he was in a raving state for hours, although he eventually recovered fully.

We sailed for several days as Yanez steered for the Low Seas, keeping careful watch for any black galley. In that time I began to know my rescuers and fellow captives and to recover from my injury.

One of our rescuers, El-Liza, revealed herself as a learned doctor and was able to tend my leg. The small bone at the back of the calf was fractured. She applied salves and bandages and, to my great relief, assured me that it would heal cleanly with time. She tried to aid the physical hurts of all the captives, even those of the meanest sort, showing greater consideration than many of her caste. Another rescuer, Sinn-Djinn, had great skill as a watchman and spent much of the voyage in the crow’s nest.

I talked with the four of them. They were particularly attentive to Friday. I realised that they were on a quest to find three kinsmen, including her, who had been stolen by the Moonbeasts. They had strange, foreign names even odder than hers that I never managed to master.

Although pleased with their first success, they were very concerned at the way Friday’s spirit had been broken by the creatures. The land they talked about, and some of the words they used, was so strange that I gradually began to think that they were Dreamers. Few of them travel to Etruria but I have, of course, heard about them. It was very interesting to listen to people who were literally from another world, and this explained many of their strange attitudes. I did what I could to aid the recovery of my leg, but to be truthful, although sharp pain soon went, it ached constantly and did not allow me to move easily.

Finally, we reached recognisable land south of Sarkomand and put in to the city of Celaphais. I had never been here before and the slender sky-blue marble of its buildings was truly breathtaking. Our arrival was the start of joyful reunions, as well as tears, as we met the families and friends of some of those who had survived the Moonbeasts, but had to tell others that their husband or son had been fortunate to have a swift death. I had lost all my possessions, of course, but Captain Yanez and some of the families were willing to aid me in gratitude for my help in releasing them. I was finally able to get some new clothes, a tunic and stola that were at least reasonably suitable for someone from my Family, if not for the Heir.

After two days Yanez, the Dreamers and I were invited to an audience with King Kuranes, the sovereign of Celaphais. We were welcomed at a lavish feast and then asked to attend a private audience. By now I was able to walk fairly easily, although not for long distances.

It turned out that the King was also a Dreamer, and originally from the land of Friday, El-Liza, Sinn-Djinn and their kin. They talked about their country and the travellers told the King of their quest. As befitted a noble ruler, he had gifts for us all in addition to the benefits to our mental well-being from being in this healthy place.

He offered Friday a place at his court as a lady of distinction until she had fully recovered from her ordeal. Of course, Celaphais is timeless and she would remain a young girl if she stayed, but it would give her time to recover and she could then to travel to gain experience of the world. I received a back and breast plate of much better workmanship than my current armour and would provide greater protection.

Al-Ek and Sinn-Djinn also received war-like gifts: a superb mail hauberk that the King had used himself and a cross-bow, respectively. Bar-Bara received a crystal store for magical power. The learned doctor El-Liza received a strange gift, a beautiful ivory satin dress, and she looked superb in it. However, it had a strange effect on some of the men present in the room. They became consumed with such barely contained lust for her that to my mind made the dress a dangerous gift to receive. However, she seemed very content to have it.

The King had heard of my pistols and asked me to demonstrate them to him. He pronounced himself delighted by them, and I naturally offered him one. Magnanimously, he told me that I that should retain both since my need was greater than his, and he would obtain his own.

During my days in Celaphais, I thought about what I should do next, and the certainty grew in me that I should aid the Dreamers who had come to my rescue. Without them, I would now be dead, or worse, at the hands of the Moonbeasts. The alternative was to continue on my idle travels alone. When I heard that they were to travel to the city of Zakarion and then my home town of Alba Longa on their quest, I knew that Fate was signalling that I should accompany them. Zakarion is famed across the world for its auguries and was somewhere I had hoped to visit. A day or so later, Yanez said that his ship was repaired and ready to leave and I left Celaphais on it with them.

We arrived at Zakarion after a few uneventful days at sea. The buildings in this city were faced with abalone and mother-of-pearl so that it glittered in the sunlight from far out at sea. Indeed, the streets were almost too bright on the eyes.

The Dreamers had been advised to take an augury from Ahmed the Seer. He pondered over weasel guts and then told them that they should seek the soul of Is-Abel Karl-Ton in the Temple of the Hornéd God in Dylath-Leen, a city of fell repute. They also consulted the Sage at the Palace of the Lore Masters. What he told them was a tale from my people’s history and something that I knew a little about but certainly nothing like the account I heard in the Dreamer’s company.

He told them about the ruined city of Thorinopolis on the lower slopes of Mount Thorin which now marks our northern border. This region has been contested and the story was from when Thorinopolis was still inhabited and not part of Etruria…

A dragon arrived in the city and demanded a tribute of gold and virgins. The craven citizens agreed to this demand, with the condition that it should help them in their battles with Etruria. With its unnatural aid, Thorinopolis was able to hold its own against our gallant troops who had to withstand the flaming breath of the dragon.

A sorcerer in Thorinopolis had an idea to create five bronze pillars infused with a dweomer that allowed someone chained to the pillar to be continually regenerated to feed the dragon. In this way the city condemned its criminals to a useful fate.

However, the citizens were finally undone by this dastardly scheme. The dragon talked to other dragons, and first its mate and family arrived for the city’s generous bounty of inexhaustible food, and then more dragons arrived. The city became unable to supply enough gold and no-longer chained anyone to the pillars. In revenge, the dragons turned on their benefactors and ravaged the city and countryside. The survivors fled as refugees to Alba Longa where we generously allowed them to live despite their earlier perfidy. Now the dragons still stalk the ruins and Mount Thorin, and the keys to the pillars are all lost or maybe taken by the refugees to Alba Longa.

The Sage told the Dreamers that the boy they sought was chained to one of these pillars and they would need a guide to find it. They did not think this would be so difficult, despite the dragons, until they were reminded that Mt Thorin is exceptionally large, indeed 5 miles high. The Sage advised a further consultation with Ahmed the Seer. From a steaming mess of dog guts, Ahmed deduced that we wanted the easternmost pillar and that the key to it was somewhere in Alba Longa. Therefore we next journeyed to my home, and I must say that every step towards my familiar home lightened my spirits even though I had left it willingly to travel and learn about the world.

There are, of course, regular caravans to Alba Longa from all the major cities of the continent, so we had no difficulty in joining one. The journey took several days. Marcus the caravan master recognised that we were not simply passengers but people who could aid if the caravan ran into trouble. During the journey we rode in a covered wagon at the front of the caravan or walked. El-Liza continued to help me with my leg, advising special exercises, so I spent some of the time walking and the rest travelling in the wagon.

Of course, I was in the wagon when we were ambushed. They chose a good place, where we had to pass under an overhang and thus all the wagons had to keep to the same line. Someone spotted movement on the rock and then arrows came in and the bandits rushed the caravan.

In the following confusion it became apparent that an arrow had struck Sinn-Djinn. For a moment I hesitated, unsure whether to stay in the wagon or trust my healing leg. Then I saw men wearing mail shirts heading for the horses of our wagon. We were at the head of the caravan, if they immobilised us the other wagons would be unable to pass and become sitting targets. I got down and ran (as well as I could) to reach the men. As with all fights, it rapidly became a confused and blurred event, only dimly recollected by those who survived. We were fortunately able to see off the bandits, at relatively little cost to ourselves, and continue on our way.

We finally entered the well-remembered streets of Alba Longa and reached my Family’s house. I had not expected to be so pleased to be back in familiar surroundings, able to wear my own clothes again, use my own possessions and mix with people I knew. It was such a joyous reunion with my parents, brothers and sisters who had not expected to see me for many months.

When I explained about the Dreamers, and my debt to them, Father opened all the resources of our House to them. In hindsight, what happened in the next few hours was unfortunate and totally avoidable, although it had the benefit of speeding the Dreamers on their quest.

My Mother hastily had the servants and slaves prepare a welcome feast in the Dreamers’ honour for the evening. El-Liza chose to wear King Celaphais’ gift to the meal, and my Father was immediately struck by her, like a young man with his first love. It was painful to see, and an insult to my Mother to fawn on another woman in front of her. If I had had time to advise El-Lisa gently, to whom I owed a blood debt for her care of my leg, perhaps this faux pas could have been avoided. As it was, the meal ended early and the row between my parents could be heard across the villa and probably by common passers-by. In all conscience, I could not be angry with El-Liza, although I still cannot understand why the King gave her such a double-edged gift.

The next morning, Mother came to my chamber and said that she had sent my brothers and all the male servants away and that she wanted the Dreamers to leave as soon as possible. However, she was aware of the Family’s debt, and would not be dishonoured by casting them out.

She asked me how we could aid them with their quest. I could tell that she was torn between duty and anger. I did not say that El-Liza’s effect on Father was due to magic rather than innate, because that would have simply opened up the question of whether El-Liza wanted to steal him from Mother. Instead, I explained that they needed a contact among the refugees from Thorinopolis to obtain a magical brass key and as a guide to travel through its ruins to Mt. Thorin.

Mother listened to me as if this was the most natural thing in the world, and then went to arrange what she could. I knew that I had to stay with the Dreamers until the end of their quest so started to pack since we would obviously leave soon. I was able to send the servants to obtain replacements for all those little things that make the difference between travelling, and travelling in comfort.

We left on zebras the next day. Two of the Dreamers had never learnt to ride, so we made slow progress. I had ridden since childhood so had a relaxing journey across land that was initially familiar but finally reached the unknown.

We were accompanied by Mailissa, a toothless, uncouth, crone who claimed to be a survivor of the destruction of Thorinopolis. Father had found her and he is usually a good judge of men – and women. She claimed to know dragon lore. They only came out at night, she said, to feast on captives chained to the pillars or on any unwary traveller. She said that the captives regenerated slowly during the day, so we would have to release the Dreamers’ kinsman at dusk and then hide from the dragons until daybreak.

Apparently the easternmost pillar is nearest to Thorinopolis, which was good news for us in that we could hide in its ruins. The dragons would be fell foes if we had to fight them. Their skin is like rock so they are hard to wound. However, they fear light. Fortunately, I can cast the Seraph’s Glory, which would give them pause. Hearing this, Bar-Bara generously offered me the use of the crystal given to her by King Kuranes because it is a store of power. The selflessness of these people, who sometimes do acts of great kindness or generosity without apparent thought of reward, almost overwhelmed me.

We eventually entered the remains of the city, which had obviously once been both large and noble. For fear of the dragons much of the stone has been left, although most of the buildings had fallen in. Mailissa fortunately found a small hall that was still substantially intact where we and the zebras could hide.

The pillar was a mile away and a thousand feet up the mountain. We went to see it in daylight and it took an hour to reach it. The pillar was twice the height of a man and as we neared it we saw that a boy was shackled to its base. The pillar itself was coated with verdigris and marked with symbols. He lay with his flesh hanging off and entrails strewn around. El-Liza immediately went to tend him and said that he was alive although he should be dead since his chest was torn open. Mailissa said that once the sun had dipped behind the mountains and we were in shadow, he would have fully regenerated and that was the moment to release him.

We waited, and I could hardly watch the unnatural spectacle as his injuries reversed and he became physically whole. It brought back the most vivid and unpleasant memories of the Moonbeast’s city. Once the boy was able to make sounds it became obvious that his trials had driven him mad. I think it would have taken unimaginable strength of mind to survive being ripped apart day after day without end. As the shadow of night fell over us, one of the Dreamers put the key to the lock and it opened, releasing the boy.

We quickly dragged him down to the city and our hiding place. We saw one of the dragons in the distance as we hurried away. In the hall, El-Liza gave the boy a sleeping draft to calm him. We stayed quietly, even the old crone, without light or fire, hoping to escape notice by the dragons. However, at midnight there was the most fearful screech overhead – and I was suddenly elsewhere.

I was in the cover of a doorway a short distance outside the hall where the Dreamers still sheltered. Then, in a moment of amazing clarity, I realised that I was Belinda, sedated and strapped to a stretcher in an ambulance on my way to the Wilmarth Facility in England, and also Gloriana of Etruria. I was both these women, and had been both for many years although they had not met before now. Both seemed equally real but now was not the moment for philosophical debates. We knew that those thoughts were for a time when our friends’ lives were not in immediate danger. I had to return to the hall and do what I could to help them. As I started to move towards the hall, I saw a hunting horror/dragon, as I both named and recognised it. It was flying swiftly away with two people on its back.

The hall itself was besieged by the creatures. As I crept closer I could see my friends illuminated by the fire they had lit to keep the hunting horrors away from their shelter at the very back of the hall. Once I was nearer, I knew that Gloriana had to come to the fore since only she could cast the brilliant light that would drive the creatures away. By some feat of mind I managed to push Belinda away as Gloriana drew on her magical power so that the night blazed with supernaturally bright light. The dragons screamed and writhed away, and did not return before daybreak confined them to their lairs for many hours.

In the hall, the Dreamers welcomed my return after my unexpected departure. They told me that Mailissa had turned traitor and called a dragon to her and left on it, with Sinn-Djinn clinging on behind her. There was nothing for us to do except to depart in the daylight and travel back to Alba Longa and my family house as swiftly as possible.

The Dreamers discussed the fate of their friend intensely amongst themselves. Now that I knew I was Belinda, who was one of them, as well as Gloriana, I felt a greater kinship to them, and St John. Some of what they said and did was faintly familiar.

After we returned, it was obvious to me that my parents had had a very serious discussion and that my Father was looking for ways to make amends to my Mother. He immediately offered to host Giles until he recovered his wits. The boy’s youth was in his favour since he started to recover strength and sanity even before we left. Our destination was Dylath-Leen to meet another of the Dreamer’s kinsfolk, Isabel. Mother provided us with mounts and provisions that hastened us on our way. Although my parents had not expected me to return home for many months more, I think they were a little sad when I told them I was leaving after such a short visit to see this quest with the Dreamers to its end. Even so, they completely understood that I had to accompany them to redeem my debt.

It took us four days to reach Dylath-Leen. It was another place I had never visited, or wanted to visit. Their ideas of honour and decency are different from ours and I cannot respect them. I know that our King, Lucius T. Priscus, has had ideas of forming an alliance with Ulthar and then waging war against them. I would be proud to lead my Family’s cohorts in such a campaign. However, on this visit, I had to smother my unease and follow the lead of the Dreamers.

When we arrived at the Temple of the Hornéd God we were met as if they expected our arrival, and escorted to a chapel that the Dreamers had visited before. There, we joined in their worship of their un-natural four-armed deity, the Hornéd God. Eliza knew the correct responses and we all copied her. At the end, I could feel that we had indeed done something that brought us closer to an avatar of Nyarlathotep.

One of the Dreamers asked to see Isabel, who we’d learnt was a novice priestess. Two guards escorted her to us. Her appearance could not have been a greater contrast to Giles. She looked happy, fulfilled and in good health. Isabel told us that she now had everything she wanted as a result of arranging the sacrifices of Giles, Friday and Jerry, although his death had been a mistake.

She had made a pact with the Hornéd God that included vengeance against backsliding worshipers in her village. The only lack in her life was that she still wanted Jerry, her true love. The Hornéd God had told her he was willing to hand him over in return for four eggs from the Father of All Shantak Birds that could be found in the city of Inqunoc, the city of the Veiled King, reached after another sea voyage. She needed five heroes to do this for her, the first of whom had arrived yesterday.

This hero turned out to be St John, for whom much more time had passed than for us. He had learnt spells, including one to invoke the Hornéd God. The inhabitants of this temple were surprisingly deferential to him, and Isabel gave him a flag marked with the image of her god.

I did not understand why we agreed to obtain the eggs for this manipulative young priestess, but we are about to embark on a carrack, the ‘Cura delle Anima’ (Cure of Souls) captained by Nicolo Monteverdi. I can only hope that this voyage will be another uneventful one.