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Septima Prologue

A magical start to the journey...

2022. June 16.

π‘†β„Žπ‘’ 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 π‘Ž 𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘š π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘˜π‘™π‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘š. 𝑃𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘‘π‘œπ‘€π‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ π‘ β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘œπ‘›π‘’ 𝑖𝑓 π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘, π‘€π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ 𝑙𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘¦, π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘’π‘  π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’; π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘šπ‘œπ‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘˜ 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑠𝑒𝑛. πΊπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘™π‘¦ π‘‘π‘œπ‘’π‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑖𝑑 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒π‘₯ π‘“π‘–π‘›π‘”π‘’π‘Ÿ, β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘œπ‘š 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑠 π‘‘π‘œ π‘“π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ž β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘¦ π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘™ π‘Žπ‘  π‘ β„Žπ‘’ 𝑖𝑠 π‘ π‘€π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘Ž π‘£π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ π‘’π‘šπ‘π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘  π‘π‘’π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘’π‘™π‘“ 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ž π‘€π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘’ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘’. 𝐼𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Ž 𝑀𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 π‘“π‘Žπ‘π‘’ π‘€π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘› 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒 π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘”π‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Ž π‘™π‘œπ‘›π‘” π‘”π‘œπ‘™π‘‘π‘’π‘› 𝑝𝑖𝑛 π‘Žπ‘‘π‘œπ‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘β„Ž 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑠 π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘œπ‘β„Ž 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘Ž π‘ π‘–π‘™π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘šπ‘œπ‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Ž 𝑠𝑒𝑛. π‘†π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘–π‘š 𝑖𝑠 π‘Ž π‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘π‘™π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘ , π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’-β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘ . β€œπΌ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘ π‘’π‘šπ‘šπ‘œπ‘›π‘’π‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘†π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘Žπ‘‘β„Ž 𝑖𝑠 π‘Žπ‘™π‘šπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘ π‘’π‘π‘œπ‘› 𝑒𝑠,” π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘–π‘”π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘π‘’π‘  π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ . β€œπ‘Œπ‘œπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘œπ‘π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘” 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑛𝑒π‘₯𝑑 π‘šπ‘œπ‘œπ‘›, π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π»π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€β€™π‘  π‘›π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘, 29 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦π‘  β„Žπ‘’π‘›π‘π‘’.”

Many Hallow’s moons had passed since the High Witch’s mark first appeared on her palm, the summons to attend the Witch’s Sabbath. She thought back to the ensuing journey that, with the aid of Aldo and his crystal, she made to Noctenburg, gathering other witches who also bore the mark of the crescent moon and sun to form Covens of the Elect. And now, the light of the last full moon before Hallow’s night spilling through the willow canopy falling on the circle of crystals, she must call to her those who will form the new 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬. Placing her hand on her brooch, a crescent moon set upon a sun disc, she begins the incantation of summons, a myriad of burning white runes radiating on the crystals.

Far to the south of the willow grove in a house on the edge of a forest, the sound of frantic knocking drags Dragomir’s from a stack of old maps he had been scanning for some mention of a place called Noctenburg. β€œAnd what do you mean by all this banging?”, he commands in a gruff tone, opening the door to find two women standing before him, one with patches of white punctuating her face. β€œYou must leave, now!”, she says, brushing past him into his home.
β€œDo I know you?”, he asks, directing the question to her companion as he closes the door behind her. She is dressed in the unmistakable garb of the Kallari, the nomadic people. Hanging around her neck he notices a small leather pouch that appears to give off a faint red glow. β€œWe have already met”, she replies, β€œwell, sort of.” Holding up her palm, Dragomir can make out a symbol consisting of a sun and a moon. β€œOf course,” he says in a quiet voice, remembering the guide Septima had pointed out in her message.
β€œWe don’t have time,” the other woman interjects, her tone short. β€œIt seems your spells fell short, executioner,” she adds, emphasising the last word. β€œThere’s a mob making its way here, eager for your head,” the irony evident in her voice.

Pondering the situation for a few moments, Dragomir abruptly disappears, returning a few moments later clutching a rucksack. From down the lane a raucous noise drifts closer.
β€œThere’s an old hunter’s cabin in the woods,” he says, grabbing his leather fur-lined cloak and leading them out the back of the house and into the forest lying not far behind.

A short while later, the sharp crack of wood being riven and then a crash sounds from behind them.

β€œMy name is Sen”, the young girl offers when they finally reach a small cabin. β€œI’m Serena,” her companion says, holding out her hand to him. β€œI’m sorry about before. I’m usually quite pleasant,” she adds, a hint of humour in her voice.

β€œWell, it seems you saved me an unfortunate end,” Dragomir replies, before adding β€œI’m Dragomir. You are to lead us to Noctenburg, if I remember well.” he says looking at Sen. β€œDo you know the way?”

β€œNot exactly,” Sen replies. β€œMy people say it is somewhere in the north.”

β€œSo how do you intend to be our guide if you don’t know the way?", Dragomir probes.

β€œThis is how I knew where to find you both,” Sen replies, removing a red crystal from the pouch around her neck.

Almost as soon as Septima’s symbol appeared on her palm, Sen began to notice strange white marks emerge on her crystal. At first they were nothing more than a dizzying array, but as she continued to observe them she noted a coherent pattern, the meaning of each rune becoming clearer: a face with pale white patches, a severe, goateed face and a bridge which she knew led to the town of Anduin.

β€œAnd what do you see now?”, Serena asks after Sen had explained how her crystal worked.

β€œA tall, scraggly boy with unruly black hair. The remains of an abandoned village that backs onto a white cliff.”

β€œThose are the cliffs of π‚πšπ₯𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰,” Dragomir exclaims. β€œThe village was destroyed by a fire. It’s not far from here, 3 and a half days’ walk at the most.”

β€œThen we best be on our way,” Serena says, standing. β€œBefore the townsfolk think to seek you here.”

Join Sen, Serena and Dragomir on their magical journey to Noctenburg and become a successor of Septima - we are going live on Kickstarter tomorrow at 18:00 CEST!