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[Isk]

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The crimes William committed warranted an especially gruesome punishment. The judges had agreed to issue a branding and when Hugh suggested during the Regency meeting that Isk himself should design the brand there was no other man the Magnate thought more suitable to help him in this endeavour than the lord of the Zog Cabal. As the Magnate sat back in his throne within the Magincia Cultural Centre he could not help but to nod to Cear’s every word. The necromantic symbol of Bane which comprised of two shields side by side upon which was a skull and upturned hand would make up the image on the brand. The Ilshenar native through subtle hints and bare suggestions convinced Isk to an incursion into the shattered land in order to obtain a suitable bone which could withstand the awesome heat that as Isk put it “would burn the brand so deep it would stain William’s soul”

Thus at the designated time a few days after that fateful meeting Cear Dallben, Xandria and Nightshade appeared in Magincia to take the Magnate and his son, Athlon, into the layer of an ancient wyrm. With Cear in the lead of the group the assembled party adorned itself in wet clothes so that the heat of their destination would not impede them. The creature as it turned out resided in a cave within a volcano close to the shrine of Honor. With the use of teleportation scrolls the adventuring troupe made their way into the beast’s lair. After dispatching some of the wyrm’s minions the battle was on to defeat the massive creature and tear from it a bone suitable to fashion a brand form.



While Nightshade and Xandria cast the necessary protective and offensive spells the air was thick with sulfur and heat. The wyrm often alternated who it lunged against; at first choosing Cear as its prey but swiftly moving between Isk and his son. In the last moments of the battle when the dreaded creature paralysed from combat let out a breath of flame against Athlon’s shield the combined assault from Athlon and Cear brought the beast down. No sooner was the creature defeated that its mate appeared on the scene and in the confusion that followed the leader of the Zog Cabal cut through the slain creature’s thick hide to get at the dragon’s femur. The thick long bone would soon become a dangerous brand. “We need to leave NOW!” Isk bellowed as the hunting party kept the new arrival at bay. Within moments their horses were at full galop as the party rode hard to exit the cave.

“To a forge” Isk stated. “I need to carve the brand”

Cear nodded and spoke in an excited tone “I know just the place. Blackrock” The other cultists looked at each other for a moment before the means to enter that secretive place was provided.

And so surrounded by cultists and with the attention of his son upon him the Magnate pressed the end of the femur into the forge to test how well the dragon bone could store heat. As minutes turned Isk removed the bone and adjusted it to hold it upright with his knees as he carved the dreaded symbol of bane onto the top of it. As Athlon’s attention turned to the dart board and the sound of projectiles hitting wood mixed with the rough sounds of chiselling the Magnate placed his art into the forge once again warming up the device for its task.

“It is finished” Isk stated as wet cloth was given to him. Removing it from the forge for the second time Isk dropped the dragon bone brand onto the floor. The heat had already burned into the leather of his gloves and though Nightshade was kind enough to offer a salve the Magnate’s attention was far removed from the pain that came with holding the dread instrument of justice.

“We need to go to the Garden Freehold. William should be there awaiting his sentence. When we arrive I shall give you the brand, as promised.” Isk turned to Cear as he spoke to the cultist “But first you spoke of placing a curse upon the brand?” Isk’s tone was one of recollection and when Cear nodded he formed a smile beneath his mask. “Good then. My part in this work of art is finished now you can add your touch to its construction”

Cear silently approached as the Magnate stepped over the brand and made room. Curses and magic were strange to him, his wife had been a practitioner of curses as they came with her gypsy heritage but Isk had never managed to pick up on or even understand how such things worked. Not knowing what to expect the porcelain masked Magnate was late to cover his eyes as Cear sent an exploding force of fire down upon the femur made brand. “The curse” he spoke between lines of wisp-speech “Will cause him great sickness and calamities later on in life” Turning to stare at Isk through his bonemasked face Cear picked up the brand from the ground and handed it to Isk who upon receiving it was surprised at how much it had cooled.

“The fire and curse are trapped within the brand, they will be released when it touches William’s skin” Cear stated flatly. “Now we are ready to punish him”

* * * * * * * * * * *

The five of them appeared within the Freehold. Fanning around Isk the company greeted Hugh who appeared at the teleporter. “Have you sent for William?” Isk asked as he ran his envy green eyes around the first floor. The strange display of monster statues seemed to suit the mood as Isk turned the sinister brand in his hands.

“He is on his way” Hugh answered as his eyes trailed to Cear but before further words could be spoken the sound of a gate opening behind them turned everyone’s attention to the incoming presence of Sosaria’s criminal; William. “T-there he be” Hugh said as he gestured William to come closer.

As William approached Isk looked the man over. “You best kneel and bite on to something for this...” he looked down at the brand and gave it another twirl “this... will hurt enough to sting at your soul” William only shook his head in response and with a grin beneath his mask Isk handed the brand to Cear in violation of the sentence he himself wrote. Isk knew that a representative of the Regency should press the hot brand into this sinner’s skin but Cear, Isk knew, was far more sadistic and as the Magnate read the gaze between William and Cear he realized his choice in allowing Cear to carry out the sentence was correct. Stepping back towards his son Isk whispered “Those two have a history”

Watching wide eyed both father and son took in the sight of Cear grasping for William’s bare hand and pressing the sinister brand into Will’s palm. Blood and flesh sizzled and fell onto the circle of power beneath them.




With force the cultist brought William to his knees and keeping eye contact William’s spirit broke. He screamed, William raged and shouted out his pain and Cear undistracted pressed the heat down into the centre just before the bone like a skilled surgeon.
Within moments William’s wife arrived to hold her man and as tears and pain mixed in their eyes the Magnate and the cultists smiled.