Chapter One: Outbreak

"Some knowledge is not meant for the untested child." Nareem said gently before heaving a sigh,"The simple truth is that we don't know when our order was founded. What we do know was that it was founded when magic was last in the world. There is much to explain regarding our founding and now is not the time for such a lengthy tale. In brief, there was a time when mages became overcome with arrogance at their power and entered heaven itself and sought to challenge the gods themselves.

What happened to those mages is unknown to us but what is known is that Tinel, the Archmage of Heaven, came to his most powerful followers on the earthly planes and these five archmages founded the Order of the Golden Key. This great council of mages, led by the five, set limitations and laws for the use of magic. Over time, as magic left the world, the Order's power waned and as we did, we turned to preserve and safekeeping relics of the past. With magic gone, we began to focus on more mundane power but now by with magic returning to the world we are ready to assume our most sacred duty once more."

As she spoke, Nareem seemed to become more animated, particularly when speaking of the return magic. When she had finished speaking, she crossed to Margaret and pulled her into a deep hug and whispered in her ear softly so that no one else in the room could hear.

"I know your pain, better than you can imagine. Now that you have come to us, we will have time to speak further. There is something I would discuss with you but now is not the time."
Seeing that Nareem was occupied, Elizabeth turned to Halion.

"We don't know any more than you do." she responded with a sour look on her face as though the fact irked her greatly,"Whatever this illness is, it isn't natural but is unaffected by healing that we have access to. It is something we must unravel though. If this illness intensifies or starts to spread...." she broke off looking uneasy at the thought.

As you stood there and the conversation flowed around you, your mind was drawn back to the site of the fire and the strange symbols you found there. That was it! It had been a ritual to start whatever this was. If additional rituals were performed, this would go from bad to worse.