Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 09

Silvertree Chronicles Book Nine, The New Era, (Enhanced Edition)

Synopsis: Charlus's brush with death took him from the shadows and into the light; when he wished to be seen. He eventually added the Daughter of Butterfly as his fourth wife, Violet Silvertree.

***Inspired by multiple fantasy environments. Not endorsed by any of them. © EmotionalStorm August 2020. This story cannot be transferred to any other site besides Literotica.com without the prior authorizations in writing from the author and EmotionalStorm must be credited for this work.

Author's Note: For those who have not read my bio, please note I write as a form of therapy for a Traumatic Brain Injury. I know the English majors will probably encounter issues that annoy them. If these are your focus, instead of the story itself, then this is not the story for you. I am not and will never be a professional writer.

I do it to tell the story, for those who wish to read them. I originally submitted this story back in September of 2018. I have worked to try and improve my writing style while struggling with this issue. I have added some editing software and written a few other stories. Now I am revising and editing this earlier work to try and bring it up to a higher standard from what I have managed to learn over the last few years.

Prologue

Trilia had 31 children, and 1 who died that was stillborn. Rose had 28 and Primrose had 27. Violet had 12 before dying in childbirth herself. Of 98 children born alive, Charlus was forced to put to the sword 6 of them for corruption. That weighed heavily on him. 33 remained to support the house while the 59 others went on to form or married into other houses.

Over the next 643 years, the house grew into the largest house in the Elven Kingdom. The sword taking the lives of another 373 family members, further down the line in his branch or in other branches. All before hitting the capacity to make the trust insolvent. 37,935 family members who remained. Spawning over 43,000 new houses along the way. Over half of which failed. Charlus died at the age of 731.

It was at the reading of the will for Charlus Silvertree that the sword made its way into a new wielder's hand. The 'will' specifically stated that the sword could be assumed ONLY by one of the 4 youngest eligible adult Silvertree house members from his line. Varus'Nor revealed the final relevant clause of Jarronus Silvertree's years earlier and was incorporated into Charlus's will to finally be revealed.

Septa 15th 9286

Mercian Silvertree was one of the few surviving or remaining members from Violet Silvertree, the Arcane Archer Ranger Gestalt from the human champion of Mystra known as Butterfly. Butterfly lived well into her 80's and died off the field at home while working as an instructor at the Academy. Many from Violet's line had formed into various new houses or married into other houses.

The fact she was a champion to a human god was never widely known. She had been predicted to die years earlier to Asmodeus's champion that Charlus had faced down. Another champion never got close enough to her in her lifetime to directly oppose her.

Yet she gave Mystra several heirs to take up the mantle in the future and played a significant role in molding them in the right forms of magic. For that blessing, Mystra was pleased with Charlus's intervention. She had blessed his wedding to Violet even by ensuring she had enhanced magical genetics for her future children to inherit.

Mercian had a hard time sleeping that evening. He missed his elder Charlus, having never met Violet in life. Charlus always managed to find time for family, even as his mother Hermina worked to start an enchanting business in a saturated market of enchanters.

Having lost his father 20 years earlier during one of the many border skirmishes. He found himself walking in the Palace district and looked up at the Overwatch system. Charlus was next to him in this dream. Was this a vision of the future or the past he did not know.

But these words were spoken to him. "When the time comes, the blue eyes of our ancestors will reveal the location of the Knights legacy. Your legacy. The answers lie there."

---

King Goldeagle's day started in turmoil as there was a breakdown of communication around the world, particularly being reported in Dragon lands, that nobody seemed to be able to answer. He sent for Charlus who had retired years earlier due to failing health to try and gain answers.

Instead, he was informed of his passing. Three days later after his funeral, the King had those in attendance who were specifically called out in his will. His 20 surviving children still in the Silvertree Family and the 4 youngest adult children within his own branches.

King Goldeagle was in the Fourth-floor conference room given the number of attendees that were listed as being required for his will reading required the larger room. He looked around as he walked in, "We keep these things informal. I will jump right into this as I am dealing with a few crises at the moment.

Charlus's 'will' expressly called out that only those here should be in attendance for his will reading. I am thankful he kept it small and not all 37,000+ House members as I would have required the front lawn if that was the case."

A few of the Elders in attendance chucked at that comment. He cracked the seal on the will and opened it up.

"To my family all of my love. With the dissolution of hereditary titles, which I was in favor of, I can dispense with naming an heir to that horrid thing. I proved in my life, with hard work, those titles could and should be earned and not inherited.

By those who truly did not seek them and worked for the betterment of the elven people and not for the sake of power alone or for personal agendas not related to the Elven people. The eldest in the family will become the Patron of the house as is customary and he has known of this for some time now.

I will also inform you that Jarronus Silvertree's final will clause was given to me when the family trust became insolvent. Day-to-day security will be paid for from my own holdings. There is more than one would expect.

Think of all the times I got attacked over the years. Once the trust became insolvent, all restrictions on the blade wielders account, and Patron's account, formally Duke's account, became obsolete. The Sword's special purpose to eliminate corruption in regards to owning businesses have been removed and known for over 2 centuries.

The sword will still compel the wielder to go after corruption when identified. However, by now the house should be large enough with a corruption-free base that they watch after each other. There are 4 of my heirs in attendance who happens to be the youngest of the adults.

One of whom will become the new wielder of the blade. That wielder will be led to the sword that nobody has been able to locate by my design. One last mystery for my family to resolve. One final Enigma. Most of the things I created in my life pales in comparison to my children and my family; my greatest achievement.

The defense systems around the Kingdom and the Kingdom's Overwatch system are my next great achievements. This will and testament will be only a few weeks old at most. Many things will become clear. To the King, my apologies for the chaos you are left with.

I was under divine direction during my enchanting efforts. Everything I built that had highly complex encryption will have stopped working within days of my death. The crystals I built for the dragons in this case. This was not a plan to sew chaos, though it will likely have that consequence.

When the gods granted me the ability to craft my understanding of encryption into devices, they were all set with a contingency; a two-part contingency held under a draconic-non-detection crafted into them. The survival of the 4-part Alliance formed the backbone of the Knights as part 1 of that contingency. The second part dealt with my being alive.

As the Alliance fell into an unsustainable state over 50 years ago. That contingency was already met. If you are reading this then my death has occurred. The communication crystals, dragon workstation crystals, and diamonds in the sky used for global monitoring by the Dragons Overwatch have failed. All of them destroyed in fact.

This was by the direction of Corellon Larethian and Bahamut in regard to keeping the Alliance together. They both saw the need and this as the means to pull it back together if it ever failed. As you know the Metallic dragons withdrew from the alliance first.

Against the direct advice of their God Bahamut, which you did not know. I was informed to add that fact to my will. Something Bahamut foresaw happening with his own kind or his own followers if you will. Followed by the dwarves after the human kingdom dissolved itself after becoming insolvent, yet again.

Those with titles moved off to establish new Kingdoms were likely the plans of human gods, it is hard to say and I was not advised upon that. Several are out there that formed from that kingdom but they moved further away. The dragons cut off the Knights Overwatch from accessing Dragon's Overwatch immediately upon leaving the Alliance.

Suspecting that I was the only one who could duplicate their network. Not what Majisa had in mind when her son took over after her death. I still say her death was extremely suspicious and likely the result of nefarious activity in Dragon Lands.

What they like to call, 'Dragon Business.' In this they were shortsighted. I always had a contingency when I turned over control of this system to them. The means to recreate this system does exist but can only be done with cooperation.

Metallic Dragons, Dwarves, elves, and humans. Like the forge which was deactivated when the Dwarves withdrew from the Alliance; something the dwarves could not correct without asking for our help and admitting a problem existed.

Which they refused to do; let alone acknowledge that the forge was shut off and inaccessible to all member races including themselves. Remember, even at my age I could get in and shut it down. Accessible only by the blade wielder. The King is reading this wondering why I would do this.

He has to remember that sword at his side is like the one that has been by mine for almost 700 years. A creation of Corellon Larethian first. A promise to the elven people to protect them. The defense systems and Kingdom Overwatch are still functional.

I ensured they were re-enchanted before stepping off the field for those that had both enchanters who died. They did not use the same complex encryption I used elsewhere. They did not contain the contingency or non-detection to hide it. They still protect the elven people.

At least before the expansion as we did not build into the new areas, even though I had recommended it. Sorry your Majesty, but you rejected my advice in that matter and that was short-sighted of you.

Your grandmother should have better prepared you for listening to a champion's advice in matters as it will likely bite you in the ass if I had to guess. I suggest you think strongly about that when the next champion surfaces.

I suspect other enchanters will one day be able to do that, but not likely in your lifetime. This is a guess on my part, but an educated one on the history of champions. Bahamut stated that if his people turned from him that mythic spells would be cut off from them, and US.

The books with it would show those spells had slowly disappeared over the last 2-3 days. I recreated the books without any of the necromancy spells and stored them away for this eventuality by divine direction. Even if they had the books.

Until they learn them again from an elven caster, another teacher, they would be useless to them. Not necessarily an enchanter. That would depend on the will of the gods. To balance the field mythic spells are not accessible to the elven mages who can cast them.

Not until the Silvertree House Moon Blade is reclaimed. They would need to get them from the master books I created yet again. My estate goes in its entirety, from my personal gear, control of the main family home including the library, armory, and all expansions, and my bank accounts for the new wielder of the Moon Blade.

The Gods stopped talking with me centuries ago. My path set and having done what was asked of me. I had exceeded their expectations. A new champion will be named. If my request is granted it will not follow the blade, but again...that is not guaranteed.

The library wing is sealed as you will discover and my personal gear is inside in the far corner of the armory. As I moved into isolation I stored it all away and locked it down to just the Blade Wielder.

This will only surprise the 4 young adults at the table, one of whom is the next wielder and one will likely become the next Champion. The goal and mission I have for the Blade Wielder and the Champion will be to get the Alliance reestablished. What the Gods decide for each of you, is another matter altogether.

Charlus Silvertree, Duke and Knight Protector of the Elven People."

The King looked across, "This explains the multiple crises I am being contacted about. Now I have to figure out how to tell dragons that their system is destroyed by the demands of their own God."

The youngest of the four stood from the table, "You don't, Your Majesty. It falls to the new holder of the blade to deliver the message."

The King looked at him, "Murnian is it?"

He shook his head, "Mercian, Your Majesty."

He looked at the boy, "Are you the new wielder of the blade?"

Mercian looked at the King, "Possibly. If the dream I had is true, but I would need access to our Overwatch system to know for sure."

The King looked at him, "Why?"

Mercian looked at him, "There is something hidden in it that will get me the location of where the sword might be. Something he built into it but never activated because it would be picked up by the Dragon's Overwatch is my best guess. The question is to you, Your Majesty. Is this lead I may have worth investigating?"

He looked at the boy, "Anybody else has a place or thought on where to start?"

He looked around at the quiet room. The King sighed, "We shall see what you find."

New Beginnings

Mercian followed the King to his Audience chamber. He sealed the chamber and pulled a crystal, "Lucian, your presence is needed." The 'man' on the other end did not reply and a female elf appeared in the room. She looked over, "Your Majesty this is most irregular."

He nodded, "Take Mercian Silvertree up to Overwatch. He is searching for something that may have been hidden in the system by its creator. Something we may need now. Consider it an order."

She looked over, "Of course, Your Majesty. How much access does he have?"

King Goldeagle looked over, "If he finds something, teach him the controls to see if he can find what he is looking for." She sighed and nodded. She walked over to him and they were inside the sphere on the land outside.

6 guards immediately looked to jump into action until she raised a hand, "King's orders, Stand down."

They resumed their positions but watched him as she went over and unlocked 7 of 12 locks to get the door open. They walked inside and he saw the 3 consoles. All positions manned. He looked at her, "I need to look over the consoles."

She waved him forward and he walked into the middle of the room and looked around.

He watched them activating different gems to change the elevation or rotate the display. He looked at her, "This piece was added later correct?"

She nodded, "When he expanded what we could detect with it. He added those 3-dimensional displays."

Mercian asked, "Any of these gems that you do not use?"

She looked over, "On that console, we do not physically manipulate four of them. Two yellow tear-dropped shaped topazes and the two oval sapphires."

Mercian looked over the configuration and the two topazes looked like they formed the shape of a nose, it was centered between the other two other consoles. The ovals pointed down and slightly away from the other two consoles. He put his hands onto the two sapphires, one on either side of the topazes, and found they would turn outward.

He turned them until they went from straight up and down to sideways and just beyond that but not by much. They both lit up and aligned with the other two consoles. They made a face as the sapphires turned into bright blue eyes on this face.

The displays in the rooms suddenly had more information displayed upon them. Lucian walked over and looked at the information, "It is displaying abjuration magic. There is a lot of it in the city. But it is new. Do you know what you are looking for?"

Mercian sighed, "I am looking for something out of the ordinary that I can access."

She chuckled, "Come here this is one of our two-dimensional displays."

He walked up to it like he had worked it all of his life.

He pulled a crystal, "I am knocking."

The response came back, "The door is open."

He smiled, "Close the door. Change in plans."

He turned to her, "House Silvertree. Protected from entry, scrying, and teleportation. I had him drop teleportation to get a fix on that image signature. Something I could teleport into but is otherwise shielded."

She nodded her understanding of what he was doing. He went through and searched the city and then started searching underground. He stopped the display, "That is one of the caverns they found a dragon in long ago right? One of the neutrals?"

She nodded, "I believe you are correct. We have never monitored them for abjuration before. I cannot say if it is new. There are a few of them.

He nodded and looked at the others and went back. "I think that is where I need to go."

She nodded, "I do not know how much air is in that area."

He nodded, "If I am right, it will not matter. What happened to the Knights workstations when they got disconnected from the Dragon's network? I know Charlus owned them. Family knowledge he talked about often."

She looked at him, "I was not working Overwatch when that occurred. I do not know what Charlus did with them."

He pointed, "I am betting they are in that cavern. As I said, he owned them outright."

She looked at him, "Can you teleport into there?"

He nodded, "With a scroll. I have a few. Battle Sorcerer silver dragon blooded obviously."

She smiled, "I will take you down. Why does a battle sorcerer carry a bow and sword?"

He smiled, "I am also a Master ranger."

She nodded, "Interesting, I heard about your family being full of gestalts."

Mercian nodded, "Everyone in my generation is one. I believe it is true going back to before Charlus."

Lucian nodded, "He will be missed. Looks like he left us one last gift."

Mercian went to pull out a scroll and she held up a hand, "Outside and we have our procedures. I will take you down there. I am curious."

They walked outside and she signaled someone. Then they were inside a very dark cave. He brought a staff around from his bracelet. He lit up the crystal to give them light. The light reflected off the clear crystal quartz gemstones in the surrounding walls.

He held up his hand to signal her to follow him. He had them move over to the outer edge and they walked the length of it.

Mercian pointed over. "That looks like where they came in at previously. There are slight drag marks on the ground. Sorry, ranger tracking skills if you will. They disappear over there. They divide off. I am betting he has secure shelters in here."