Consilium's+Gate

As I stepped out of the post office, I chanced upon witnessing the most magnificent sunset. The Phoenix Sun contrasting the norm lit up the sky in a burnt swirl of color like no other. A smirk crawled upon my face as I realized that such a beautiful sight wouldn't be seen for hundreds of years. Despite recent tragic events, I was quite the lucky man.

Quickly realizing the time, I sped to the Federal Bank of Eodrith and managed to make it before closing time. I only withdrew a few hundred sterlings, but yet, the pouch I received them in weighed much more. The teller that waited on me gave me a nod and a quick sweep of the hands, no doubt meaning that I should discover what is inside at a private place. I had only started out the door when a loud "bang" came from behind me. The teller had been shot by a man in a dark green coat with the collar popped, covering his face. A word formed on the lips of the teller as she breathlessly said, "Run." The menacing figure spun around, his eyes burrowing into mine.

Frozen in fear to the very ground I stood upon, I gathered as much courage as possible and said,

"Good day."

I strode out the double doors of the bank and didn't look back. As soon as I turned the corner, I started sprinting home. Where was all the traffic? Literally no sound could be heard besides the pounding of my heart and my sharp breath intakes. I stopped into a mechanic's garage to catch my breath and relax my mind. Voices in my head were heatedly debating whether or not that had just happened. But what //did// happen? The lady had only given me my money- of course, the bag! Inside were my sterlings, a note, and a small capsule of sorts.

The note read,

//The Wise Three and the Disciple,// //A task will be given,// //Look to the skies, use your wit,// //Some are not who they say they are.//

As much as I loved riddles and philosophy, I didn't have time for this. Should I press on to home, or would that put Mother in danger? Or if I didn't go, what if the man was aware of where I lived and she was still in danger? I removed a brass cube out of my pocket and fiddled with it. It was a sort of puzzle cube that always had a new challenge when it was completed. My father gave it to me when I was young, and I never understood how he managed the unique modification. Nevertheless, it had always kept my mind moving and calm when I felt a surge of emotion. I completed the puzzle in a few seconds and decided it was best to go home.

I had nearly hailed a cabbie before I realized that the city was inactive. Instead, I used a few coins and purchased a small ball from the shop. The owner wasn't there of course, but I felt the need to pay regardless. I pressed the button in the middle of the ball and set in down on the street. The ball split in two and a dozen or so rods expanded from it. I lifted the blessed contraption up and bent the horizontal rods in a seat like fashion. I sat on the makeshift chair and the ball in-cased me in a sort of bubble. The halves of the ball remaining on the ground rolled me to my destination; my mother. As I approached our apartment, I noticed the lights were on in my engineering room. This was the only light I've seen in the entire city.

I burst inside only to find my mother missing, along with a power failure. As I rushed to my study, I noticed a greenish glow coming from inside.

"It couldn't be..." I breathed.

The machine that my father and I had built was activated! It must have been the reason for the power outage, and maybe the reason for the disappearance of everybody. I remembered that the power switch was faulty, but I failed to understand how it could sustain itself. I paced around the machine contemplating every and all possibilities, when I noticed it; a burlap sack on my desk. Did I dare to venture inside the package? I had always been the less adventurous type. However, it could bear explanation to today's rather puzzling occurrences. Inside was beige envelope decorated with foreign designs and a golden seal depicting a design of a running fox. I rolled my eyes as my hands massaged my temples. What could //he// possibly want?

//My friends,//

//I hope this missive finds you all as well as maybe expected. I know that many of your regions are suffering right now, with plagues and illnesses, famines and disease. This has not gone unnoticed, nor is it confined to only your region. You are not alone.//

My mind began racing, but I read on.

//The time has come for us to meet again, friends. You may not be surprised to know that I have been making contacts in all the regions of Pyrosium for some time now. In fact, my family has been doing this for generation upon generation, back to the beginning of our world.//

//But now, the time of the Great Prophecy is upon us. It is imperative that we meet together to discuss this and that we set aside regional differences and animosity in order to confront the evil which besets Pyrosium.//

//You must now find the Lost Gates in your land. Look for them in hidden places or in plain sight. There may be legends of these Gates or rumors of them. They may appear broken and disused or new and clean. They may be guarded by the stuff of nightmares. They may appear to be unguarded. Regardless, you must find them and then find the way to enter them. This you must puzzle out for yourselves, but come soon. We have little time to waste.//

//I await you at the Forum.//

//The Fox//

Assembling some sort of council, is he? No doubt a carbon copy; he didn't even have the decency to personally write each one. Just then I noticed a post-script.

//P.S. Consilium, I understand you are angry with me, but I press you to attend the meeting. After a conversation, we shall discuss further advances.I assure you that everyone in Eodrith is safe..for now. Inside the box are some necessities, and a gift; an apology if you will.//

As heartfelt as that apology was, I don't think I could forgive him so easily. Watching my father die before me as I stood helplessly is forever burnt into my mind. I can still feel The Fox's hands holding me back. I turned back towards the machine and studied it closely. How was it that it was activated? A small, but noticeable enough noise was coming inside. I leaned back on the desk trying to make sense of it as I fiddled with my cube, but it was just a low-pitched humming.

//Open the box.//

I didn't even have a key and the box was sealed shut. How in blazes was I supposed to open it? I re-read the note I received from the bank teller and played with the brass capsule. It had a sort of groove around it, like something was encased by it. I picked up my screwdriver and ran it through the groove and to my luck, it popped open! A spiraled drill flipped out, I stuck it into the box and twisted. The box opened right up! Inside was this lever and a chain tethered to box itself. I attached the lever to the main transistor and threw it down. Some surge of power could be felt beneath my feet as the majestic beast roared to life. A smile crept across my face while I noticed the lights turn on outside. I soon packed a satchel covering the basics, but also with my screwdriver, goggles, and bank pouch. I gathered the seemingly endless chain and took a deep breath. The last time I entered this machine... No.. I musn't dwell on it any longer. The door swung open and I hesitantly stepped inside.

The noise was more pronounced and sounded like a voice, calling out for help. It was faint, but more understandable than before. There was almost a familiar ring to it..

Green light flooded the now sealed chamber as I ignited the engines. I felt the same disgusting feeling as before; like my organs were being churned together to form one. I exited the machine soon after it started, only to find I was back in Fyriah. The desolate place was as bleak and detrimental as before, only to be coupled with feelings of animosity. This time though, I was vast cave of sorts with water falling though a circular hole in the ceiling. I scoured the island trying to find, well, anything. However, the wasteland was as dead as before. All I could feel was malice for The Fox. Was this some sort of diseased game? "Apologizing" only to send me back to the same infuriating hell-pit where I watched my father be murdered by the-

"Of course!" I exclaimed.

I felt the same scared feeling as before when I saw the same man in the bank. He is filled with the unmistakable malevolence of this place, and I'm sure that he was behind the murder. I've nothing but resented The Fox up until now; he honestly couldn't save my father. As powerful as he was, that man couldn't be stopped. What a wonderful epiphany I had! The Fox didn't so much as apologize as he made me understand it all! Though a tinge of regret and resentment still reside, I feel as though I can accept his aid, with reservations of course; he's still a stranger. Without haste, I returned to that damned contraption only to see that it was missing. In its stead were three statues; all holding tomes bearing crests of Ancient Rithundun. A inscription below them read,

//We are the Brothers Three; the most knowledgeable of all.// //In mortal tongue, our names are Truth, Deception, and Capricious.// //You have three questions to identify us by, but none more.// //Apply our titles and you shall have our favor.//

Common enough sense; one tells only the truth, one only lies, and one is completely random. The first move must be to find the one who is not random, leaving only True or False.

I approached the second statue and asked, "If I asked you if the first statue was Capricious, would you say 'yes'?"

The word '//No//' was fed into my mind. I then approached the first statue.

"If I asked you if you were Deception, would you say yes?"

Again, //No// burrowed into my skull.

I asked the same statue, "If I asked you if the the second statue Capricious, would you say yes?"

This time //Yes// could be heard.

"Alright." I said as I turned my attention to the third statue. "You are Capricious, the middle one is Truth, and the first is Deception."

The tome the middle statue was holding fell and a voice rang out "Take this book with you and may it serve you well." The statues then crumbled, bringing the rest of the cave with it. Boulders fell from the ceiling, almost crushing me. Luckily, I leaped out of the way in time. I saw my machine at the exit of the cave, but before I could reach it, the man in the dark green coat stepped in front of me. This time, I wouldn't have it.

"Move." I growled.

He simply stood there. I didn't have time for this.

"Now."

Again, he was as stoic as before. This was infuriating; the man who killed my father was about to kill me. If anything, I would slaughter him. I took a step back, stunned as these were the first real violent thoughts I've ever had. It must be the island getting to me. However, I felt a presence in my recently obtained book. I opened it and out came sorts of astral pillars that held the rocks falling above us. We stood there staring above in unison, amazed at what was happening. Then I saw he was frozen in space and time; my safe passage out!

I sprinted to machine, running for my life when I noticed that the green glow had been replaced with a bluish tint. Strange, but it didn't matter; I entered anyways and the voice was clear now.

"Leave the machine and go back to the pillars. I beg you, son, heed my warning."

"Excuse me, what?" I asked. "What is this, who are you?"

"You know my identity, as I have known you my whole life."

I was astonished.

"...No, Father?"

"Son, do not dwell on my death. All things must come to an end, and everything has a reason. Go, The Fox is awaiting your arrival. Be wary, though. Some detest your magic."

"What magic? I am hardly brilliant, I have no powers!"

"You have the capacity to know all, as you are omnipotent technopath. Use the book you recieved, as it is the source of knowledge and transport. Quickly; leave before my life forces fades!"

"Father! There are so many answers I need!"

The blue glow vanished.

"Father.."