Ethagon

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It was hard finding a book about daevite magic, even in the Library, that supposedly contained every book in existence. Sometimes Chadwell wondered why his master didn't ask his ancestors about this stuff, it shouldn't be a problem for the well of knowledge they were. But it was not his place to question Sir Centerpiece, at least not until they were brothers.

Their search started early. By noon, they already had sorted out 13 books for later research. Hopefully, after that bunch, there would be enough context to figure out the rest of the rites. They didn't even know what resource the spell needed.

Shortly thereafter, his master turned his ears in the air. "We're being summoned. The Family requires our presence." So they had to interrupt their work.

Chadwell wasn't too disrupted by this. After all, the Family didn't meet that often in bigger gatherings - he could only imagine this to be about his blood brother ceremony. He didn't expect it to come so soon, but it would be more than a welcome surprise. Finally, he would be taught The Families unique magic that connected The Familie's living with their ancestors. Just thinking of the knowledge he could gain from them and the spiritual existence that followed afterward was exiting. Chadwell hummed on the way to Three Portlands Courtrooms.

The Courtroom wasn't really a courtroom, or at least it was a long time since it was used as such. Previously the Courtroom had been part of the Three Portlands city center. But it was left adrift in exchange for a more modern building. It was now public property, but nobody bothered using it. This and its rich history made it the perfect place for the Family that existed throughout the ages.

Chadwell didn't spend much time in these parts of Three Portlands. The most he saw of the city was his master's mansion and sometimes the banks he operated here, with most being in The Familie's possession. Debtors could be pretty helpful in working out rituals, after all.

The first thing Chadwell noticed were the tapestries covering all insignias of Portland-officials. Along with the tapestries, old and arbitrary household items were distributed across the room with seemingly no pattern. Some of them were even written on, but as with the tapestries, he could not decipher the symbols.

The hall of the courtroom could seat more than two hundred people. About a dozen were there. Chadwell could identify three Family heads. There were a few others he knew from business trips to ensure they kept supporting the Centerpieces or invest in his master's banks, but those were nothing more than offshoots of the real Family, so his master had told him.

The Head of Family Reposer, who looked like a ghost, despite representing a ghost hunter family.
Lord von Weitschatten, a high esteemed customer of Marshall, Carter & Dark, and a member of the anomalous nobility of Europe.
And Lady Centerpiece, standing in the judge's place, the one who connected all.

Although these dozen people were all Chadwell could see, he knew that every seat was filled. And all those ancient empty chairs seemed to look at his master's entrance as Lady Centerpiece spoke:

"Sir Victor Centerpiece, you are late to your own trial."

Trial? How could his master be on trial? This couldn't be part of the ceremony, could it? Caught up with his thoughts, it took Chadwell a bit before he responded. "My Lord gives his apologies. We were caught up in navigating the ways. These can be very taxing as we all know." Chadwell was always Victor's voice. His master was a man of few words. He just stood there in a calm position.

Von Weitschatten hrumphed. "Can we begin now?"

He waited shortly for a response. When none came, he started with a rehearsed voice. "Lady Centerpiece, I bring before you a son who has lost his way."

"I thank you for his return, but tell me, where was he found?"

"Your son was found in the world of the written word, searching for knowledge that is teánoku."

"Those are serious claims. Now the Centerpieces will judge their own." With that sentence, Lady Centerpiece glared at von Weitschatten, ready for a fight.

A small smile broke through von Weitschatten's facade "Of course the Centerpieces will judge this internally. This is a trial without prejudice and as such forbids outside interference." Von Weitschatten sat down.

Relieved, Lady Centerpiece continued. "Victor, can you confirm these claims? What were you researching?"

Chadwell saw his time to jump in.
"A daevite ritual of the most potent kind: Once enacted, the past can be changed."

Chadwell saw the surprise on the faces of the living. It seems daevite magic was truly forgotten. Non the less, Lady Centerpiece remained unimpressed:
"And instead of asking your elders, you pursued the world of the written word. Is this the truth, Victor?"

Chadwell didn't know the answer, but a simple nod of his master saved him.

Lady Centerpiece shook her head.
"If you couldn't ask your elders, I can only assume that the ritual you are seeking is teánoku?"

Again, that word. His master hadn't taught Chadwell much about the daevite language, but teánoku should translate as forgotten. Or forbidden.
"This was not the case. The Wanderer's Library is simply well informed and should therefore always be considered as a source for good research."

"Oh." Von Weitschatten spoke to Chadwell in the tone that Chadwell only used for dim-witted brats. "I don't believe you understand how this works. You should know, our well of knowledge is the reason you want to join us. If knowledge doesn't come from new discoveries, then the Family knew it at some point. Therefore anything in that library of yours, we are either aware of or that knowledge is teánoku."

Chadwell nodded.
"I am aware. But the Family only ever existed on the edge of the Daevite Empire. A ritual that can rewrite the course of history would have been restricted to the highest authorities or otherwise it would have been rediscovered long ago."

Lady Centerpiece took up the floor again.
"Even if these rites are not teánoku, why did you seek them, Victor?"

This was a question more in Chadwell's comfort zone.
"To right the wrongs that were done to the Family: The attack on the Family house by those thugs from Chicago, losing our influence in Hy-Brasil, being nothing more than collateral damage of the last occult war. Are these not events that diminished the Family? Events that we'd like to see changed?"

"If you suggest we engage in conflicts of the past, I could have told you, Victor, that your efforts were in vain: The Family will always stay out of warfare, such was the will of the first Centerpiece. We won't stand against her."

"But can you not see? The opportunity-"

"I will hear no more-"

"The Family could lead the anomalous community and not be trampled by it."

Lady Centerpiece left out a sigh. "Those who rewrite history are doomed to destroy it. It is not something we will dwell in."

Chadwell had no way of convincing her like this.

"But maybe we should." The Head of Reposer stood up, now seeming a bit more alive than before, but with eyes still unfocused. "The Reposers are always keen to gift the parted, and what better gift than to extinguish those incidents that should have never happened."

Lady Centerpiece raised an eyebrow.
"And we should break our elder's rules for that? Is this really a Reposer's request?"

Lord Reposer almost jumped out of his seat.
"How can you even suggest-" He took a deep breath before continuing. "The Reposer always honor the laws of the parted, but more importantly, we honor the parted themselves. And if the current trail of events continues, there will be nobody left to honor the parted in just three generations. Clearly it is necessary to cleanse the problem in the past. Although my family's focus is on their duties, do not think the Reposer don't notice how Sir Victor Centerpiece has helped to expand the Familie's influence in the past, despite his walking on a knifes edge."

Lady Centerpiece wanted to riposte something but was interrupted by von Weitschatten.
"Since the Reposers are so keen on interrupting, would I remind everyone that this is a Centerpiece's trial? And surely the Centerpieces are aware that you do not commit a crime only for the law to adjust to it, as other members of this court just suggested?"

Chadwell couldn't back down now, although it got more and more difficult to argue against laws he hadn't been aware of an hour ago.
"So is it a crime then, to expand our knowledge with this daevite rituals; rituals we did not possess prior; rituals that would elevate the Family to new hights?"

Chadwell could see agreement in the Reposer's dead eyes while von Weitschatten's face remained in expressionless disapproval. Lady Centerpiece watched as other members of the Family were in discussion. Chadwell just wanted this to be over. This was not how he had imagined his first Family-gathering.

"I've had enough", growled something behind Chadwell's neck.

The whole room went silent.

As Chadwell flinched from the sound, the maw of a ghostly lion came into his view. The maw, big enough to swallow him and his master in one go, was accompanied by cold blue eyes, older than any chairs in the room, and a white fur seemingly reflecting light that wasn't there. A light that felt more real than anything Chadwell had ever experienced. And the lion spoke:

"The living may have moved away from my roots, but I remain daevite. These hexes, you speak of Outsider, you call them grand, but I was the one who buried them. You think, Outsider, you can help my descendants, but do you know the cost of the rites?

"I-"

"Of course, you do not. How could you, if what you seek is teánoku? For the daeva, that engaged in such spells, ancestors were just another resource to be consumed. They dared to destroy their ancestral guardians to disturb history's natural flow. At least the curse took the foolish caster's life together with the existence of their elders. And? Do you still believe this hex would serve my descendants well, Outsider?"

So the rites were indeed forbidden. Now that Chadwell, and the rest of the court, were aware the only thing he should focus on was damage control. Appealing to his master's good intentions and all he had done for the Family was probably the best course of action.

But when he tried to speak, he was unable to.

"You have forfeited your voice before this court."

Chadwell tried to speak up once more and failed once again. The fact that he could not speak, felt as natural as apples falling to the ground.

With that, the white lion turned away and stepped into the very last row to again become one with the chairs, only stopping before Lady Centerpiece. "My Intrusion was just, but this case belongs to the living." And with her nod, the lion was gone.

She turned back to Victor.
"Will you add anything to your defense, Victor?"

His master looked her in the eyes. A few seconds passed before he spoke.
"Everything I have done was in service to the Family. That is all."

No, that was not enough. Victor should have said more for his defense. Panic increased with Chadwell's inability to act.

"Very well." Lady Centerpiece addressed the others. "Our son has made his vision clear; now let us hear the elders' advice."

Everyone turned around to face the chairs, but Chadwell could only hear the living listen. The answers were beyond his reach.

The next hour consisted of these unheard answers and the occasional nod of a Family member, although most appeared to be in a kind of trance. This would have been the perfect opportunity to ask his master about a further strategy, were it not for his master being part of this unheard conversation and his own enforced silence. So all Chadwell could do was wait.


















Finally, the silence was broken by Lady Centerpiece. She bowed her head with everyone else as she spoke: "Maixe Hueka."

"Maixe Hueka" repeated the rest.

The hall settled down, now concentrating on the trial again. Lady Centerpiece remained standing.
"Now that we have received ancestral wisdom, our son's judgment can be just."

Chadwell breathed in.

"The case is clear in its severity; As Sir Victor Centerpiece unknowingly attempted to revive knowledge that is teánoku, he and all his servants will be banned from engaging with the World of the written word. Furthermore…"

Chadwell was relieved and he could see his master was as well. A ban from the Library would be a setback, but nothing that couldn't be worked around. Either way, Chadwell found this trial to be a valuable experience for the future.

"I would agree, had this been Victor's first strike", interrupted Lord von Weitschatten's calculated voice, "and for an insult to our elders' eldest, nothing less than complete exile comes to mind. Surely not even your own children are exempt from traditions?"

"I must agree with Weitschatten." A slight of wild fury could be seen in the Reposer's eyes. "Those rites seem to serve a most nefarious purpose. The Reposer's will not stand behind anyone who dares to sacrifice the parted."

Von Weitschatten left out a quick laugh.
"We all know the Reposers just parrot our elders, but it is still the elders' opinion. It should be obvious to any Family head to what kind of punishment their advice should lead.

Lady Centerpiece seemed a bit shocked, or maybe angry, but it was only a moment. And Chadwell could have sworn to see a wrinkled hand on her shoulder calm her down before she responded: "You look at this the wrong way. The ancestors advise us. It was always in their will that we make our own decisions."

Von Weitschatten shook his head.
"I know it is. It is also their will to not favour one over another. And Sir Victor Centerpiece has strode away from the right path more than once and he was perfectly aware that what he seeked was likely teánoku. But I apologize for my interruption, I am sure the Centerpiece will judge in fairness."

Lady Centerpiece left out a small sigh.
"I was hoping for Victor to finally come to his senses, but this trial has shown me that my son is long gone."

She paused briefly.
"Sir Victor Centerpiece will be released from the Family. Will you resist the ceremony?"

While Chadwell was still processing this quick turn of events, his master slowly nodded. But Chadwell knew him for too long, he could see his hand trembling in rage and the shock of disbelieve in his posture.

"At least you're going out with dignity. Bring the chalice."

Chadwell could not understand how this could have happened. It made no sense to exile someone, who worked so hard on the Family. Was it something he said?

A chalice was standing before Victor. Chadwell was sure it wasn't there before, but its placement seemed as right as the absence of his voice.

Another ritualistic silence befell the hall, this time extending even to the chairs. The only ones allowed to talk were his master and his judge, Lady Centerpiece.

"For the sin of elevating yourself above your ancestors, Sir Victor Centerpiece can no longer bear to stand for the Family."

In front of the chalice was a rusty old tool made out of spiked rings.

"Sir Victor Centerpiece, do you truly desire to leave the Family?"

"With every drop of blood in me."

Even in this situation, Chadwell did not miss the gravity in his master's quiet voice.

"Then let this blood return to the lineage it belongs to, Maixe Hueka."

"Maixe Huega." A slight of disappointment went over Lady Centerpiece's eyes.

"Let us give a parting gift for our beloved son,"

Chadwell would have noticed the fruits on the side of the chalice if he didn't felt so lost in this place. It was like a wall was put between him and whatever ritual they made.

"For the living."

Victor stretched his left arm into the tool and blood poured out.

"For the dead."

Victor stretched his right arm into the tool and blood poured out.

"All blood belongs to the Family."

Chadwell could not bear to watch, as the blood left his master and flooded the chalice. More blood flowed out than a human body could hold. Instead, he looked at the Family leaders of which only Lady Centerpiece showed regret, the other ones just stone monoliths.

As the blood flooded the chalice, it began to evaporate, being drawn to the seats where it truly belonged.

Bit by bit every member of the Family turned their backs to Victor and the chairs seemed just like chairs again.

Sir Victor without-name was now on Chadwell's side of the wall. He stood up and tumbled a bit before Chadwell could support his master. He offered him some of the fruit to replenish his master's strength, but he declined.

Together they left the Courtroom behind them.

Chadwell assumed his master would now search shelter in his bank, the ones that now were still his. He enjoyed his work. There, he was in control.

"If you leave with me, you will never be one of them."

"So be it. They can keep their knowledge, if they insist in forgetting half of it. I won't leave you, Sir Cent-"

"That name was stripped from me."

"What will your name be then, Sire?"
His master shortly thought about it.

"Kneverbeen. For that is what the rites will promise."

Maixe Huega = Here are the Spirits in Old Daevite.

The Family Trial comment:

Naveil, Flopmind, chaucer345

Kneverbeen Abandoned comment:

A sequel to this Chaos Insurgency document

All thanks go to my critters and people that helped to get this to fruition:

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Orientation-EX comment:

This is my attempt at making a Foundation department for a very niche gap. All thanks go to my critters and people who looked over this: UraniumEmpireUraniumEmpire, fairydoctorfairydoctor, chiifuchiifu, PopsioakPopsioak, Comrade WaldoComrade Waldo, CaptainCold KaraKattKaraKatt, IhpIhp and at least one other person I forgot.

Footnotes