Was gonna post last night, but had some problems in reality. Doing better now, so here's your update.
The woodcrafter survived his brutal beating but he refused to speak up to what happened. The only witness was Highmax's aide, Dastot, but he too refused to speak up. But no one expected it to happen again, as a mangled up and beaten body was found of a fishery worker. His skull caved in and his body was littered with bruises. But again, none spoke up on the circumstances of his death. When asked what he knew, Dastot refused. Lord Lemonpie decided to take matters into his own hands to solve this mystery. Although he could no longer hear the call of the gods, he believed it was his duty to find out who was killing these poor souls. Taking Arx with him, Lord Lemonpie decided that they would get nothing from his mouth, but Dastot was more reclusive about his writings. Lord Lemonpie figured that he knew something, but he wouldn't speak up about it.
Dastot's hands shook almost violently as he tried to drink his wine. No amount of alcohol would work this time. He had his own personal study now. While the other scholars kept to the main library, discussing reproduction and contemplating diseases (Note: That actually happened. Scholars did both at the same time, but I lost the image of it), Dastot had the burden of a thousand lifetimes on his shoulders. The people could see it. Everyone could. But he spoke nothing of it. He followed Highmax around, always writing. When he wasn't, he was in his study. He barely went to sleep, as seen by the bags under his eyes. Dastot leaned in to sip his drink only for his shaky hand to spill it over his clothes. Dastot threw his mug at the nearby door and shouted in blind fury, collapsing to his knees and gripping his head. That's when he felt a hand on his back.
"You're troubled. Tell me, Dastot, for the sake of all of Necrothreat: what happened?"
Dastot looked up at the crippled Lord Lemonpie, held up by Arx and his staff. "I... I cannot tell you..." Dastot crawled frantically to the nearest wall and curled up. "I must keep this to myself..." Arx spoke up. "If you're afraid of Apiks, you don't have to worry anymor-" Dastot jolted up in a flash and pointed towards the door. "AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I CANNOT SAY. APIKS IS STILL SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT." The two forumites looked confused. "But Highmax has taken control. How do you-" Dastot pointed to his written pages, hand shaking violently at this point. "I have seen what is happening around us. Apiks has seen it too. And that is why those two forumites were battered." Lord Lemonpie let go of Arx and crawled over to the forumite and grabbed his arm to pull the forumite closer.
"Dastot. Tell us. What is happening? Why should we still be afraid of Apiks?"
Dastot pulled out his chair and helped the crippled preist into the seat and then pulled out some papers written with clear haste. "Apiks has seen that Highmax only cares for war. Apiks has taken this opportunity to use the magic he has to bend people to his will. He is angered Highmax is undoing his wishes. The melting of the chainsaws, using the forges to make old, conventional weapons, and using the bones apiks needed to make more weapons and bolts.
But haven't you noticed something strange? Apiks hasn't been around. No one has seen him during all this... Let me read you it, so that way you will know what I saw..."
14th of Obsidian, 562There was something off going on. People seemed to haul strange bags and boxes to some locked room with blank expressions on their faces, only to walk out confused of where they were. I asked Highmax if he knew what was behind there, and he said that it didn't concern him. I took time to peek inside when Highmax was sleeping and was greeted with horror. Corpses, bones, and all manner of body parts strewn across the floor, piled high to the tall ceiling above my head. I saw amidst it, a masterly ornate throne made of stone and skulls with a figure sitting atop of it, wearing a crown of bone. Apiks smiled at me as his head brought up. Something was eminating from him, but I couldn't tell. I saw someone walk in behind me and dump a bag nearby, revealing the corpse of Oddom, a marksmite that had fallen two months prior. Her body was half decomposed, with maggots eating her flesh.
"I welcome you to my throne room, Dastot. Did Highmax tell you about this? Or was your curiosity calling you here? Just before the production of crowns was ended by that insufferable Dwarfy, I managed to create one last crown of bone before they were all destroyed. It isn't as powerful as the one that was taken from me, but this one works perfectly." He took off the masterwork crown as a dark aura surrounded it. "I have achieved a level of power that can surpass anyone, thanks to the bones you see around you." He put the crown back on and stood up. "If you're wondering why I didn't use this power against Highmax in our duel, I needed an opportunity for the rebellious minds to feel safe; to feel like I cannot hurt them. But as you see, I can bend them to my will so easily now." One more forumite came in and then proceeded to kneel before Apiks, that blank face staring into emptiness before leaving again. "Highmax never bothered to remove me from this place. He does not see me as a threat anymore. But I plan to remove that champion soon enough. I already have gained control of the moderator and his lackey. Those two who were beaten? Got the justice they deserved. They refused my orders. Now run along. Tell Highmax. I will be here waiting for him."
Dastot face was white by now. Arx broke the silence that filled the room as he finished. "But did you tell him?" Dastot nodded. "I did. But he still told me he isn't afraid. He told me that it is the least of his worries..." Lord Lemonpie spoke up. "Highmax must have something that he isn't telling us of. You know everything there is to know about him. What could he possibly have to defeat apiks?" Dastot shuffled through his notes and pulled out a crumpled up piece of paper. "The only thing I have is retelling of the magic he possessed. It was Blue against his comrade's White and Red magic. But unlike elder magic like the power of white was, or having been cursed with it, Highmax's magic was learned. He studied rigorously through old tomes of magic he had. But magic I read of in the old tales are different then they are now. And I have yet to see Highmax use any magic. He's only used brute force. And I have not seem him study magic since he's been here. I don't know if something is missing of his to be able to cast spells or if he is unable to do so anymore. My guess is the latter. I hope Highmax has something up his sleeve, because if he thinks that Apiks isn't a threat, we're all going to be slaves before long..."
Not much longer after the meeting, a panicked shriek was heard down below. "A FORGOTTEN BEAST HAS SHOWED! RUN!"
Highmax ran down first, but he waited at the gates to the caverns. Dastot, waterskin full of wine dangling from his mouth as he grabbed his inkpen and such, mumbled something to the Guardian. "What are you waiting for?" Highmax either didn't understand him with his mouth full of wine or he ignored Dastot. He stood there and watched and then pointed. "He's just... Sitting there... In the water." Dastot saw the bubbles and saw the single large eye. But it did not move. Strange white fluid flowed around him, but the spider remained still. "I'll stand here and wait for him to strike. Rally the rest of the troops."
Highmax stared down the beast and the beast looked back. But neither moved. Hours later, Dastot returned, and neither had moved an inch. Highmax spoke up. "I think he's stuck. Have someone watch him, but be careful." The spider stayed firm, but unmoving, and so did the scout watching the spider.
The warm air was chilled on the later days of Obsidian. Many gathered to watch, all mournful. The masterwork coffin was carried by Arx, Rogue and several others as they carried the Queen of Masons to her final resting place. Lord Lemonpie gave her the final sendoff with a blessing from the gods as her body was committed to the stone around her. There wasn't much to place her, but in a place where people stood to admire the strange building crafted underground, so too would they come now to honor their sign of hope. Many wept as the coffin was placed in the tomb. Dastot looked at Highmax, who's battle worn face showed little sympathy. "Is something wrong, Highmax?" Dastot asked meekly. Highmax shook his head before turning to leave.
"She was a necessary loss."