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Chapter Text

Oisin woke up feeling terrible. He felt like he could sleep for a week, his chest felt like it had been split open (which he knew it had), and his brain was shell shocked from his newly rage free state.

That wasn't to say Oisin didn't know what was going on in fact he knew quite well what he did. It horrified him. He had felt so just when he was doing it, so brave and noble. He had also felt angry. Anger was like a well worn sweater for Oisin comfortable and easy to slip into. He had always ignored it, always thought that maybe if he just had some self control he could get rid of it.

He remembered everything he did so clearly and when he looked over the memories in his mind he knew they were his. He saw them through his eyes and remembered how everything had felt, but now he felt so far away from it.

He saw how weak he was how weak Oisin was. Unable to refuse an offer because he was afraid. For most of Oisin's life he remembered being afraid, afraid of his great-great-great-great-great Grandmother, afraid of his cousins, and afraid that deep down he was just like them. In the end he was right.

Oisin felt like a mimic, a monster in the shape of a weak little dragonborn luring people in before he bit down.

He would think he didn't feel like himself but in truth he had never felt like himself, so what was there to not feel like.

Oisin was drawn back to the world as he heard groaning from the Rat Grinders around him.

His friends who he would give anything to help. He made a decision.

It was best for them and him.

They didn't have to worry about a dangerous, pathetic dragonborn who was to weak to help them and he didn't have to ever be himself again. He could spend the rest of his life happily making magic items and writing spells never worrying about who Oisin was or what he did. Content to lose himself in his work.

Using power he didn't earn he pulled on the fabric of magic and shifted his position in space.

He found himself in a large cavern, one he knew very well. Pilled up all around him were mountains of gold, jewels, and magic items. The entire Hakinvar Clan fortune. 

There was no light in the cave as it was deep underground and dragons had no need for light. Sadly he did.

Casting dancing lights he almost blinded himself with the reflection off the coins. Millions maybe billions of perfectly polished gold and platinum coins.

Piles of them as tall as buildings and as wide as rivers it was reminded him of the great dunes of the Red Waste vast and endless.

The hoards of all his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents pilled around him stretching farther than Oisin he could see. The hoards of hundreds of young, adult, and ancient dragons stood around him some having died centuries before his birth others more recently.

He held no sympathy for his family not because he hated them (even in death they still frightened him so much he could never hate them) but because they had entered a fight and lost.

Dragons held no sympathy for the defeated, no remorse for the slain, and no mercy for the subjugated.

He remembered the words he had always been told as a child. Recalling them as he looked at the hoard he now had possession of.

Oisin He had always know the Hakinvar Clan was rich.

He had been coming to the hoard room since childhood. But when you sit down and start trying to stuff your entire families treasure in a bag of holding you realise just how much it actually is.

The gold and platinum alone was more than all the richest adventurers in Solace had combined. This is not counting the multiple sets of art from famous painters and sculptors said to have been lost centuries ago or the magical gems as large as his head.

Oisin He was still marveling at a massive pile of magical swords when he bumped into a pile of gold he hadn't got to and revealed a gilded box.

It's lid was engraved with a what looked like two wizards holding out their hands as they used magic to shape and mold a planet.

Inside he found two rings both identical. As he saw them he felt his heart roaring in his ears.

The world was spinning out of control.

How could he have found this just lying around inside his ancestors hoard?

How could he be the one who had found it?

He had been handed the power to rewrite the cosmos and it was sitting under a pile of gold in a forgotten corner of his ancestors cave.

As he slowly lifted the golden ring with three immaculate diamonds resting on top he realised he had absolutely no idea what to do with it.

Chapter Text

Adaine was feeling drained.

It felt like the world was rocketing forward nonstop. She went from partying at Seacaster Manor to fighting dragons in the sky during a massive storm to saving the world from an egomaniacal barbarian and his band of corrupted kids.

In other words Adaine was having a day.

Standing in front of Agueforts wrecked gym as the sun rose behind them illuminating the absolute havoc wrought on Elmvile Adaine couldn't have been happier.

The Bad Kids did it again, stopped the bad guys, saved the world, and looked badass while they did it.

The Rat Grinders (or would they be the High Five Heroes with Lucy back?) had been slowly trickling out of the gym. Ruben coming out first, with absolutely no memory of what happened, followed by Mary Ann who Gorgug definitely had a crush (she shipped it), and Ivy coming out last.

Adaine must of missed Oisin which was fine by her, she absolutely despised him.

Even if he had been corrupted by the shatter star he had clearly had the most control out of all the Rat Grinders. He had enough to come up with a complex plan and humiliate her, so clearly he must have been more willing then the others.

Definitely

Adaine was sure of it. 

Adaine found herself idly pacing in front of the school kicking up the already very disturb dirt.Jawbone had called all the Rat Grinders into his office to have a conversation with them about what happened (much to the protests of Ivy for some reason), so now the Bad Kids were waiting to hear from Jawbone.

Adaine was deep in thought about all the arcane tattoos running across Oisin's body (for purely academic reasons of course) when suddenly she was startled back to reality when Riz spoke.

"So where do you guys think Oisin was?"

Startled and having not been completely cognizant of her suroundings Adaine suddenly yelped and being startled said "I wasn't thinking about Oisin!"

She suddenly felt herself flush a deeper red than Fig's skin as Riz gave her a confused look.

"s-sorry" she stuttered out "I was wondering that too. Just ended up deep in thought about spell and stuff."

 Fig snorted when she said that "yeah, sure "spells"" Fig said with the largest air quotes possible

"Okay, anyways did any of you guys see Oisin leave the gym?" Riz asked. He had a look on his face he only ever got when he was deep in his own head investigating something.

"No, but I'm sure Adaine would have!" Kristen said as she higfived Fig and started making kissy faces at her.

Adaine could have casted fireball with the heat radiating from her face.

"Maybe Ankarna didn't bring him back like with Kipper Lily." Fabian remarked.

At that thought Adaine felt a pang shout through her heart.

Of anger of course.

It was definitely anger that was the only option. Because of course someone as horrible as Oisin would be just as evil as Kipper Lily and not be brought back.

There was no way he was redeemable.

She was brought out of her 100% anger filled thoughts. By Kristen shaking her head.

"Nope, Ankarna said she brought him back too." Kristen said matter of factly.

"Look" Fabian said "I'm just as invested in Adaine getting her kisses in as anyone else, but should she really do it with Oisin!" 

"Of course she should" Fig yelled back  "Oisins hot as fuck and now that we fixed him and the other Rat Grinders Adaine deserves a piece of that." 

"What the hell guys!" Adaine sputtered "I'm not interested in Oisin at all and to answer Riz's question no I didn't see him leave!" Adaine swore she was about to combust with how red she was. 

"None of you would have seen him leave" a new voice suddenly said.

Turning around they saw Ivy approaching from the school. 

"How do you know that?" Riz said defensively "Also, shouldn't you be in a counseling session?"

"We've got bigger fish to fry than that, darling." Ivy said coolly "I just woke up from a rage filled hellscape and can't seem to find my best friend. Thats pretty concerning." 

"When I woke up after being brought back he was nowhere to be found." 

"I heard you were a PI. You willing to take my case?"

 Riz lit up at that. "Of course I will. I was already going to investigate, but you're right I should make a clue board. Quick, Fabian do you still have the red yarn?" 

"Why wouldn't I the Ball? Of course I have it!" Fabian said grandiosely pulling out a large ball of red yarn he had clumped in his pocket.

"Do you just carry that around?" Gorgug asked confused, but Riz blew past him going right up to Ivy saying

"So, before we start investigating tell me every you can about Oisin. Stuff we might not know."

"Okay" Ivy said slowly clearly racking her brain "So, Oisin was really into magical item and spell creation. Like really into it."

Adaine remember the spell he made to carve runes into ping pong balls. It was evil but remarkably good spell work.

"He would spend hours of the day working leather, carving wood, banging metal into shape, blowing glass, and practicing calligraphy. All so he could make anything he wanted and imbue magic into. He only ever went to Aguefort because he needed to become stronger to make better items."

"Why did he love it so much?" Riz asked

"Oisin has always struggled a lot with self worth." Ivy said sadly

Adaine could relate to that, coming from a family who always told her she was useless and couldn't do anything right. That she was a disappointment because of things beyond her control.

"For this next part you might need so context" Ivy said sighing

"blue dragons raise kids in a unique way. They watch over the clutch of eggs till they hatch and then leave. Whichever wyrmling eats the others and proves they are the strongest is accepted back into the family." 

Suddenly Kristen gasped and said "are you saying Oisin hatched from an egg?"

Ivy gave Kristen what can only be described as a flabbergasted look and then continued "Oisin's parents left the second he was born. He was instead raised by his grandmother." 

"If you can call leaving a child alone in a house with unseen servants and only every talking to them to scold them raising them." Ivy scoffed

Adaines parents certainly had.

"Anyway when Oisin was little he wasn't very strong. He thought that if was able to prove he was useful his parents would come back instead of just believing me when I said they were deadbeats."

Ivy looked like she was far away as she told them this. As if she was reliving old arguments her and Oisin had had. 

"Yeah but that's were his love of making shit comes from eventually he gave up on his folks but continued doing it for the love of it." Ivy said suddenly back to normal

"Okay, Fabian add that all to the board. Is there anything else Ivy." Riz said he was clearly excited to get to work on something new even after they just resolved the previous mystery. He was positively shaking and had some how pulled a cup of coffee out of nowhere.

"Hmmm, I remember talking a lot about rage with him. This is all before we were shatter starred though and was mostly about how his family kept getting mad at him because he wouldn't go crazy feral and kill people." Ivy said clearly trying to think of anything else.

"Oh" Ivy suddenly jumped up "There is one thing we talked about a lot but I'm not sure I should tell you guys."

Riz looked up from a massive cork board he had somehow gotten when he was in the middle of Agueforts lawn "Every piece of information is relevant to this case it is paramount you tell us every thing."

Ivy looked away saying "I'm just not sure if this is relevant to the investigation."

Adaine sighed, she knew it was probably something Oisin told her not to talk about but if he had it was most likely extremely important to his sudden disappearance. "You need to tell us everything if you want our help." She said matter of factly

"Okay might as well" Ivy said sighing once again

In the corner of Adaine's eye she swore she saw Ivy smirk for a second

Then over dramatically sighing Ivy broke into a shit eating grin and said "Every since freshman year Oisin has had a massive crush on Adaine. 

Adaine this Adaine that. 

Oh my god Ivy Adaine's new jacket makes her eyes so beautiful. 

Writing Adaines name over and over again in a notebook and drawing hearts around them. Real lovesick stuff." 

Adaine felt her face go completely pink as she rushed to cast misty step to extract herself from the situation. She wasn't fast enough to escape Fig

Chapter Text

It took centuries of study and practice to become a level 20 wizard, a person capable of placing new stars into the cosmos and reshaping reality, Oisin had gained the power of a level 20 wizard in a few months of killing monsters in the woods.

He had the ability to call meteors to the earth, peer into the future, and pull things from other planes of reality. 

He had all the power all the ability, but none of the knowledge.

Oisin had always valued knowledge. It was the one thing no one could steal from you.

The world could rob you blind, tear you apart, and make you a slave against your will but it could never tear you away from what you had learned. 

Even spells that made someone dumber than a door nail weren't permanent.

He felt it in his very soul

Burning through him faster and hotter than any rage

The want

The NEED

He had resigned himself to spend decades researching and learning. Trying to even get a fraction of the knowledge someone of his power should have.

But here it was

Resting on his finger

The secret to the universe

The way to make everything right. To turn back the clock

Before Porter,

Before Shatter Stars,

Before Rage

To fix himself so he wasn't so broken

Oisin had planned it all out. How he would make everything back to how it was before, but first he had to take the first step. 

One of the three diamonds on top of the ring went opaque as he took the plunge.

Riz prided himself on his work, his efficiency, and most of all is unrelenting determination to never give up on a case. He always pushed till he solved it, persevered and cracked it wide open. 

Never giving up.

Always getting more clues and seeing what he could find.

Riz's PI office didn't have a single cold case.

He always solved the crime. He always shined the light of truth into the darkest corners. He always cracked the case.

Even when he couldn't do anything about it he still found out at least what happened. 

Oisin case was possible the clodest case in existence. It was driving him insane.

It couldn't have been a kidnapping there was no struggle, no ransom, and no person who had a motive to kidnap him.

Oisin was almost certainly alive but no divination could find him.

All signs pointed to Oisin having woken up from the Shatter Star and just leaving.

But that couldn't be the explanation. It made no sense. 

Why leave after waking up from cured of the Shatter Stars? 

What about his friends and belongings all of which were in Elmvile? 

What about his house and all of his magical item making supplies which he was obsessed with?

Oisin had absolutely no reason to just up and leave.

Every lead Riz had came up short. His house has not been entered since before Seacaster Manor was launched into the sky which meant he was never back there after the battle. 

Even after three weeks the cops had not seen anyone remotely similar to Oisin after he put out a missing persons report and when Riz examined the scene of the disappearance it was remarkably disappointing. 

Riz had just finished removing Adaine from Figs grasp a good 20 minutes after her escape attempt because he need a wizard to help him examine the gym.

Heading inside it was still completely destroyed just as they had left it after defeating Porter except now there wasn't the lava blood of a goddess running under their feet. 

Riz started looking for clues, finding the exact spot were each of the Rat Grinders had been laying based on which areas were the least covered in ash.

He remembered calling out to Adaine to do dectet magic and remembered having to snap her out of her thoughts a few times because she kept going glassy eyed and then blushing.

Riz was one of the few Bad Kids who wasn't particularly interested in "getting their kisses in" as Fabian put it and had thought Adaine was the same.

He had never seen her so completely flustered over something or in this case someone.

Riz wasn't particularly interested in it and didn't want to push Adaine to hard so he just decided to ignore it and focus on work.

The detect magic couldn't find anything useful mostly because an hour earlier they were standing inside the body of a resurrecting god as they fought and cast spells. It wasn't a lack of magic. More a saturation of it.

In the end Riz concluded Oisin had gotten up and then somehow had been teleported out as there were not footprints left in the ash near where Oisin had been laying.

It had been a complete bust and the following weeks treated Riz no better. The case was dead in the water and Riz was considering just saying the Oisin Ordeal was a cold case.

He would have done that a few days ago with such a supreme lack of evidence but he couldn't bear to do that to Ivy or any of the former Rat Grinders who now went by the High Five Heroes again.

The past weeks had been terrible for them. From missing large chunks of their memory to having most other Aguefort students hate them because of their Shattered Starred selves it wasn't going the best for them. Even with the Bad Kids defending them a lot of students still held contempt for them. Some even after having their shit kicked in by Fig.

Ivy especially, without Oisin Ivy was quieter, not as quick to hit back with a comeback or a snappy remark. Whenever the Bad Kids went to visit her and the other High Five Heroes she was always hanging around in Oisin's room in Ruben's house or fiddling with something he had made. She seemed semi normal when she was with Aelwyn the two becoming fast friends bonding over both of them being redeemed villains with a quick wit but she always carrying around a lot of sadness.

She was constantly asking Riz for updates on the case and asking what she could do to help. Sadly Riz could rarely give her much.
The other High Five Heroes weren't holding up very well either. Ruben had no memory of anything that happened when he was rage starred and was struggling with dissociation. Completely disconnecting from himself at certain triggers. He had once told Riz it felt like he watching himself go through life, like everything happening was happening to someone he was watching through a crystal. Mary Ann seemed to be doing okay but Riz was never really sure what was going on with her; though her and Gorgug had started dating. Lucy was clearly distraught over Oisin missing, throwing herself into working on her and Kristen's new pantheon. Anytime he was brought up she would start silently crying and excuse herself from the room. The one time her and Riz talked about it she had told him how worried she as for him and how she was so scared by the fact they had no idea where he was. She and him had been close and while Oisin was Ivy's best friend who Oisin told everything to Lucy had always been the group mom. Watching out for them whenever they need something or someone. She felt terrible that she couldn't do anything to help (and honestly Riz felt the same). 

So he couldn't just give up. He couldn't just say there were no leads and no clues. He couldn't admit he had absolutely nothing to work with.

He had to keep trying for the sake of the High Five Heroes, for the sake of Oisin, for his sake.

Thats why he was currently banging his head against his office desk hyped up on 5 cups of coffee at 4 in the morning on a Monday.

He got up to pace around the room and examine he meager clue board for the 30th time. It was as it had been a minute ago overflowing with information none of which was useful.

Sure Riz had theories about what happened to Oisin.

A vengeful Jace that had somehow survived teleporting him away.

A somehow still rage starred Oisin waking up and leaving to plot his vengance.

Or even a magical blip in space and time somehow snatching him away.

Riz had many theories but none of them were even remotely backed by evidence. 

Still deep in thought Riz was startled back to reality as he heard a knock on the door of his office.

Staring through the peephole on the door he was great by a very annoyed looking Sklonda Gukgak.

Slowly opening the door Riz carefully said "Hey mom, whats up?"

Sighing and stepping inside his mom started talking.

"Riz its 4 in the morning and the Bad Kids are worried about you because you haven't answered any texts or calls in the last 24 hours." 

"Well I've been busy working I can't find anything for this case, and I shut my crystal down to focus" 

"Riz you haven't been home in the last 48 hours how long have you been up kiddo?"

"I've slept" he said defensively "I took a 30 minute power nap 14 hours ago." 

"That doesn't matter though I really need to solve this case. Its super important."

"I know kiddo but sometimes a case goes cold and there's nothing you can do. You just have to wait for the possibility of more clues showing up and if they never do you have to live with it. Sorry kiddo but you shouldn't kill yourself trying to do the impossible, you've solved some difficult cases before Riz but this one has almost none evidence. There's no point in trying to magic clues and connections into existence. Come on kiddo lets head home."

He hung his head his ears flattening against his skull. He knew there was nothing he could do. There was no point to pursue the case when he had no evidence and no leads but it just felt some much like giving up.

Finally he sighed and whispered out. "...Okay mom. I don't think there is anything more I can do."

They walked out of his office Riz locking the door behind him. He had some difficult conversations tomorrow.

Oisin had always loved plans. Plans meant you had concrete control. That as long as you stuck to the plan and executed it perfectly everything would turn out fine. Plans trumped fear they got rid of uncertainty made it so everything would be okay as long as you stuck to it.

 
Oisin had made the perfect plan before he had made his first wish. Get the knowledge of a 20th level wizard and then use the remaining wishes and newfound knowledge to make everything like it used to be. 

When Oisin first made the wish it felt like his head would explode. The pain of having millennias of knowledge and experience enter his mind, but afterwards it had felt sublime.

Secrets of arcane knowledge hidden from even the most powerful minds, spells and rituals so complex they would drive a weaker caster insane, and the knowledge and ability to rewrite the web of fate. 

As Oisin went to complete his plan he suddenly felt a voice in his head, its words long and coiling like it was wrapping around his brain.

It was his voice of course it had to be.

No other voice would be in his head. After reaching that conclusion Oisin listened intently as it (he?) asked a question.

Why?  

What did he mean, why. He knew why he had to go through with the plan it was the only way to go back to before to make everything how it was before.

Do you really want that?  He asked.

To go back to when you were weak? To go back to when  you were pathetic? To go back to when you were Oisin?  

No of course he didn't want that.

It was bad before. It can be better now all you have to do is make it. You never have to be Oisin again. You could conquer the world make nations and even gods kneel before you.

But he didn't want that he wanted to quietly make magic items and spells living a content life.

At least try out your power. Make something spectacular and powerful something no other wizard could make before you start filling out boring requests for boring adventurers. An artifact that could change the cosmos.

Yes, that's a good idea he thought. Something to test out his new found knowledge and power. To test his limits.

Oisin had to get to work.

Chapter Text

Oisin was a powerful caster, even before the rage star and power leveling. He had always picked up on wizardry remarkable quick. He had never been particularly ambitious always hoping for a quiet life where he could practice magic peacefully. 

But now he felt the fire of ambition burning in him. Scorching his soul and consuming his mind.

What's the point of being a great wizard when you don't do anything with it.

When you have so much power why not have some fun?

So Oisin was thinking of a plan currently. He would shake the very foundations of reality prove that he could make something spectacular. Show all of the cosmos just how powerful a wizard he was.

After a short period writing the proper rituals and preparing the correct spells Oisin's plan was ready to be completed.

He had spent the last month trekking across the cosmos, gather the proper materials for his magnum opus. With this achievement he would bury Oisin forever and become someone better, someone who had never betrayed the world in the way he had. 

He looked down at the material in front of him.

Elemental air, fire, water, and earth, along with the very magic of the feywild. The elements of the prime material plane needed for the ritual. 

They had been the easiest to gather on his quest as they are closest to the mortal worlds but planar travel in general is dangerous and difficult. 

For what Oisin wanted to make he need to go to ever plane and gather a small piece of them for the ritual. It was a difficult journey and almost killed him many times, yet here he was.

Stone from Mt. Celestia, blood of chosen warriors from Ysgard and Acheron, water from the river Oceanus of the upper planes and the River Styxs of the lower, dust from the grey waste, the winds of madness of Pandemonium trapped in a bottle, a devil of the nine hellscape trapped inside a glowing ruby, a demon of the abyss imprisoned in a stone figurine, a cog from a Modrone of Mechanus, and many trinkets and bobbles from across the planes.

All of these things gathered together made up the very structure of existence. A tiny piece of all of reality gathered together to be used in his greatest achievment.

That was why he was here in this moment standing on a floating platform in Limbo the plane of pure chaos. All around him raw magic surged through the air. In the distance he saw a portal open to another plane as ruins of a castle spilled out of it crashing into another island. Oisin had felt powerful before especially when he first gained the knowledge he was supposed to have, but never like in this moment. It was said that in limbo simply the will of someone inside it can shape the realm itself. That was exactly why he was here. 
Laying out the material for the ritual he pushed with all his magical power. Slowly the raw magic around him was funnelled into the center of the ritual circle. As Oisin chanted the verbal components to the ritual, the materials he had gather started to turn to dust as the raw magic of Limbo coalesced into a large crook. There was still one finale step though.

Making something of such extreme power requires a wizard to have some way to limit it; to make it so it is not to powerful to be contained by the wizards own magic. Most did this by giving their creation charges that could be used up and had to regenerate over a period of time. 

Oisin was creating something that was supposed to shake the foundations of the universe. Something so powerful it was spoken about in legend; how was he to do that when he had to limits its magic. So he found a work around. Oaths have power. Paladins swear them and get divine abilities. Instead of binding the magic of his creation he would bind himself.

The only issue is that oaths need a witness which he did not have. He had to act quickly before the gathered magic dissipated and he had to start over. With no clue of what to do an idea hit him suddenly. 

Use the ring. Make all the gods and all the powers of the universe watch your moment of triumph.

Of course. He could use the ring to make all the most powerful beings in the universe bear witness to his success. Quickly activating the ring he watched as another of the three diamonds on top went opaque.

Suddenly he felt the eyes of cosmos watching him. Boring through his soul he felt the attention of all the gods, all the demon lords, all the archdevils, all the arch fey, and any being of extreme power in the planes.

Standing strong he made his oath.

"I swear to all the powers watching me in this moment, by my very existence, and to the very foundation of magic itself that I will never use the item I am creating if I have to ability to make what is needed or wanted with my own vast ability. If I break this oath may I be damned to the worst torments imaginable and my very existence torn to shreds." 

As he finished the oath he felt the magic in front of him grow stronger and stronger until in a flash of primordial chaos a crook made of shimmering quicksilver took its place. It looked as if it was constantly flowing and shifting but somehow maintained the shape of a crook.

Grabbing Oisin delighted in his success. He had done it. Made an artifact so power its abilities for creation were only limited to the users own imagination. Oisin honestly didn't care to ever use it though, he found much more enjoyment in the creation of things himself than just willing them into existence. He had done this more as a way to try out and learn more about his newfound power on the quest to make it. Using it as a way to prove he was worth something that he mattered.

Happily holding it he realised he had yet to name it. Wizards most often named their creations after themselves, so in keeping to tradition he named to after his new identity the person he newly was. Couryn's Crook of Creation.

Fig woke up sweating after a really weird dream.

Some weirdo in a cloak was standing on a platform with this crazy chaos going on behind him as he swore this weird ass oath and then created some kind of staff that kinda looked like Kristen's except silver.

She had none idea why her subconscious had cooked that up for her dream or what she had been thinking about that in any way might have caused that.

In the end it was just a weird dream though so she just tried to close her eyes and get some more rest.

Chapter Text

The Red Waste stretched for miles and miles cover a large portion of Spyre. Its deep red dunes and barren rock formations gave it the appearance of an alien world, so different from rolling farms and cities of Solace or verdant forests of Fallinel. In the Red Waste the sun beat down on the world like Sol had a personal vendetta against all life there and its only inhabitants were dragon clans and bandit camps once united under Kalvaxus.

Oisin was currently marching across the Red Waste's endless dunes having found himself there after exiting a portal in the quasi-elemental plane of dust. His new crook in hand Oisin was walking his way to the Baronies to start his life as a quiet magic item maker. Supplying all the greatest adventures with high quality equipment. 

On his trek Oisin hands my heard the crackling of magic right in front of him an incoming teleport. Hurriedly stashing his crook in a demi plane he watched as a man in a far to purple suit pop into the space in front of him.

Arthur Aguefort

"Why hello Oisin, if it isn't my favorite dragonborn wizard. Funny seeing you here!"

Frustration growing within him Oisin growled out "My names not Oisin!"

"Oh yes, so sorry about that Couryn right? Anyway seems you have come into the possession of an extremely powerful magic item and I was just wonder if you'd hand it over"

"Why in the Nine Hells would I give you my new creation." He exclaimed

"Well you see Couryn a while back I imprisoned Kalvaxus and made him make me tea, oh and also be vice principal, but the tea is what matters here. You see Kalvaxus would always make the best tea but there was one issue. He was my mortal enemy and kept poisoning me. After his defeat I tried everything I could but was never able to find and make the tea he was using. I believe with you crook of creation I can finally get myself that tea again."

"That sucks for you because you're not getting an artifact that can make anything conceivable just to make tea."

"The I'm afraid I will have to declare you truant and send an unstoppable automaton force after you. It will make living a peaceful live very difficult."

"I'm afraid you can't do that principle Aguefort. After my grandmothers death there was no one to renew my education visa for solace I'm the Red Waste's truancy problem now. Sadly it has no official government." 

"Hmm yes quite the predicament I find myself in, and then I realize oh wait I'm Arthur Fucking Aguefort. I can just send the automatons anyway, so why not just hand over the crook now."

"Ah but your forgetting one thing the Council of Chosen explicitly bans sending complex arcanotech outside of Solace outside of war times. Unless you want funding for you school cut you won't lift a finger."

At this Aguefort lost his usually look of manic insanity and seemed deep in thought

Finally sighing he spoke again "Its seems you are correct Mr. Couryn. You have beaten me at my own game, but know this I will get that crook and by extension my tea by any means necessary. You have made a very powerful person very intrigued. Know this even if it take me a thousand lifetimes, even if it takes me an elves life, and even if it takes me till the end of all existence I will get that crook." 

Nodding as Aguefort teleported away Oisin whispered "Good luck."

It took 13 days of travel to reach the Baronies and then another week to find his desired location for his wizard tower. It was a small forest glade outside of a tiny hamlet in the backwaters of the Baronies. Completely isolated and alone. Using a Ninth level slot he cast Galdur's Tower and erected his ideal wizard tower. He would have to make the entrance empty room into a store front and there other empty layer into a workshop but it would work for now. By casting this spell every day for a year he could make it permanent and he had the time and resources so why not.

Oisin had always thought of conjugation as the summons school of magic. It very much was don't get him wrong but with all this knowledge he realized there was so much more he could do. With the flick of his wrist he could build a castle. With a thought he could cast almost any spell in existence with a single utterance of Wish. 

He was gonna finally be happy in this new life.

Oisin realized he need to secure his magnum opus. He came to this discovery after the nonstop harassment he was receiving from Aguefort. For all his talk of waiting centuries to get his hands on his crook Aguefort was remarkably impatient and lacked any tact. Barely had any plan, most of the time it just consisted of him breaking into Oisin's wizard tower and trying to find it. 

Oisin had even got of sick of it after around a month and tried to just hand it over but Aguefort just refused it stating "Now this is a matter of pride my dear dear Oisin. I must rob it from you in a most adventurous way." Frankly it was just annoying to wake up with no food because Aguefort ate everything in his tower when he broke in the night before.

Oisin was going to make sure his creation was safe hoping it would discourage Agueforts behavior and buy him some peace. So he made a vault warded it to hell and then placed a small piece of paper inside which held the name of his demiplane.

This stopped any possible thefts of it unless they broke into his vault and could cast demiplane, which was unlikely. Other than Arthur annoying him Oisin's life was going great.

He was making magic items for high level adventurers in the Baronies and spent most of his time either making commissions or controlling the construct that ran his store front.

That didn't mean everying was smooth sailing. The first week in the Baronies a beholder kept trying to capture him and lock him up in some cage as a magic item making pet. It infuriated Oisin someone trying to make him some puppet they can use. 

It reminded him to much of his past. 

So Oisin retaliated. He spent weeks carving a stone statue of the Beholder and then found a massive immaculate clear diamond.
He then preceded to cast imprisonment on the Beholder shrink him down and trap him in the gem stating he would only be released when the last star went out in the universe.

Oisin wasn't necessarily cruel that often, but he enjoyed watching the Beholder skulk around his cell occasionally shaking him like a snow globe so he spun upside down.

Over all it was a nice quiet life.

Chapter Text

Adaine was having a good day so far. She was pretty sure she had aced her Creative Uses for Cantrips test and had spent the rest of the day studying for the impending finals. 

The Bad Kids and High Five Heroes had agreed to meet up the night with Fig and Ayda at Fabian's place for a movie night and hangout. Making her way from her dorms on campus of Bastion City University she headed down to the building were Fabian had bought a loft. 
Coming inside it was clear the party had already started, her being the last to arrive. Fig was splayed across Ayda on the couch, Gorgug and Mary Ann were on a beanbag together, Fabian was in the kitchen getting everyone drinks, Ivy and Lucy were talking with Kristen as she did pull ups, Ruben was flipping through channels pitching movies to watch to the group, and Riz presumably around somewhere. Over all the scene she walked in on was sweet, if a little chaotic.

Suddenly from behind she heard "Hey Adaine, welcome to party." Turning around incredibly quick she saw Riz casually leaning against the wall next to the door.

"Dammit Riz, when did you get there." 

"Sneaky right? I've been practicing for my Rogue finals all week."

sighing she said "That's great Riz but you don't have to practice while we're trying to hang out. Even I put aside studying for a bit so I could come watch a movie with you guys."

Rolling his eye Riz said "Fine I'll just relax the rest of the night. Come on in were trying to pick a movie." 

As Adaine entered Fabian's loft she heard a large shout from the kitchen as Fabian exclaimed 

"Ah Adaine glad you could make it! Sorry for the last minute notice I just felt it was the right time for an impromptu hangout."

"Its cool Fabian. I know you probably lonely with Mazey out of the country."

Sputtering Fabian said "Nonsense I just wanted to hang out with my friends. Come in come in I was just getting everyone drinks." 

As Riz went to sit down Adaine followed him into the kitchen to get herself something to eat while they watched the movie and Fig got up from her position on top of Ayda to follow them.

"Hey Adaine good to see you. Its been a second since I could visit from hell but I'm ready for movie night. Anyway how's Junior year at Bastion City University been treating you."

"You know I've been doing well Fig. Classes are downright easy compared to the stuff we've done." She said as she grabbed of chips. Its wasn't a lie either, classes had been ridiculously easy with all the practical battle experience she had. She had plenty of money for supplies from quests the Bad Kids went on and her job as the oracle, so she was good in that part. Overall thing were going well.
"Yes we've all been fairing quite well in school" Fabian chimed in "there is one issue of dire importance we have to discuss though." He said dramatically

"Adaine has yet to get her kisses in."

Fig gasped dramatically exaggerating looking shocked and Adaine could feel her ears go red.

"I just haven't had time to date with everything going on." She said defensively

"I don't know Adaine. I haven't seen you even look interested in anyone no matter what parties I drag you to."

"I'm just not trying to date right now."

"Maybe its because of the lack of dragonborn in Bastion City." Fig chirped "I can hook you up if you want Adaine. I mean we know one person she was crazy into."

Adaine felt herself blanch "You probably shouldn't mention him unless you want Ivy to go into a depressive spiral or Riz to spend the next seven hours explaining how he is sure there is one clue he missed pulling the whole thing together."

"Look Adaine. All I'm saying is if you ever want to hook up I can hook you up. Its fine to have a type." Fig said a coy smile plastered across her face.

Luckily Adaine was saved from further embarrassment by a call from Riz that they had chosen a movie.

Heading back into the main living room Adaine plopped right down onto a bean bag as Riz started up a very old looking spy thriller that she had no idea how got chosen. 

Midway through the movie, when the main character a half elf rogue was being dangled over a pit of deadly magic modified water camels, Adaine heard the strange magic crackling of an incoming teleport when suddenly Arthur Aguefort was standing directly in front of them all. 

Sitting up from the couch Ayda gave him a dirty look before saying "Father why do you happen to be interrupting my quality time with my paramour and her friends."

"Ah dear Ayda you see I am her with a grave news and require the best adventures. So I went to my favorite alums THE BAD KIDS, oh and I guess the High Five Heroes are here too."

Ivy shot him a dirty look before he continued. 

"Anyway I need all you great adventurers to go on a quest of extreme importance. We have little time and he already knows you're coming."

Standing up Riz said "Aguefort were all in college, well except Fig, but we can't just run off on an adventure for you." 

"College smallege my dear the Ball. This is a quest of ENORMOUS PROPORTIONS I need the best adventurers I can to achieve my goals."

Adaine finally got up herself "Aguefort we have finals to study for and school to go to we can't just ditch to go on a quest. Also you aren't our principle we don't have to listen to you."

"Hmm quite true Ms. O'Shaughnessy but I am mother fucking Arthur Aguefort a wizard of extreme power and many resources." He look down at his crystal for a moment before smiling broadly and saying "You all no longer need to worry about studying for finals. Now your final grade and overall grade for the year will be based entirely on your performance on this quest!"

"WHAT!" Adaine felt like she was going to faint suddenly she heard a ding on her crystal as she received an email from BCU 

You have opted into alternative grading for your Junior year at BCU

Your end of year grade will be based 100% off your completion of a quest for Arthur Aguefort.

Have a wonderful quest!

Her head was spinning. All the work she had done. All her studying for nothing. Every single aced test meant nothing because Arthur Aguefort just showed up and somehow made her entire year be graded around a quest he needed done.

"THIS IS SOME SERIOUS BULLSHIT!" Ivy looked absolutely livid her face was completely red and she looked like she was reaching for her bow.

"Oh, please spare me Ms. Embra school is boring as shit and teaches you nothing this is an opportunity to do some real questing."

"Don't you run a highschool?" Gorgug asked

"Yes and its classes are boring as fuck. I attended it once pretending to be a student and I almost got detention after killing another student who pushed me. Luckily after I threatened to cut Gilear's tongue out he let me off with a warning."

Riz spoke upafter looking deep in thought for a second "So we have no choice but to accept if we want to continue college?"

"Astute observation Mr. Gukgak. Its my way or the highway!"

Sighing Lucy got up from her beanbag and said "I've discussed it with the High Five Heroes and were in."

"If I'm being honest I don't really give a shit." Aguefort responded

"What the fuck Aguefort." Kristen yelled

"There just kinda boring, adventurers need to be unhinged maniacs meanwhile they're all going to therapy. The only one of those fucks I respect is Oisin. Now that's a real wizard. Instantly escapes the entirety of Solace the second he wakes up, finds strange and powerful magic, and instantly starts abusing it while running into strange and wacky hijinks."

"WAIT ONE SECOND YOU ALZHEIMERS RIDDLED DIPSHIT YOU KNOW WHERE OISIN IS?" Ivy looked livid tears streamed down here face and Lucy had her in a full body hold to stop her from trying to kill Aguefort.

"What? Of course I know where Oisin is I'm Arthur motherfucking Aguefort as I've said. We've actually had quite a few encounters over the last few years, but that has hardly anything to do with this quest."

Riz looked like he was a thousand miles away piecing together the puzzle that was Oisin's disappearance before snapping back to reality. "Arthur where the hell is Oisin?"

"How about we strike a deal. Clearly you all need some more motivation to go on this quest than just getting kicked out of college and I would expect nothing less from The Bad Kids. So, if you complete the quest I give you I will tell you where Oisin is against his wishes. Deal?"

Looking around the room it was clear to Adaine Riz wouldn't make a choice for the group but desperately wanted this. Nodding to her friends Adaine made a choice "We're in."

"Excellent, what you all are after is Couryn's Crook of Creation an incredible powerful magic artifact created by arch wizard Couryn of the Baronies. He has spent the last 4 years in the Baronies in a heavily secured wizard tower making and selling magic items. He is incredibly wealthy and incredibly dangerous your goal is to find his wizard tower and steal his Crook of Creation giving it to me."
"This will be dangerous as Couryn will have many wards and might even hire other adventurers to defend him. Be prepared. With that little quest given I must say toodles I have an appointment with the last Phoenix."

Ayda grimaced as he teleported away with a flourish. Sighing Riz said "Well we have a lot of work to do, I have to update my board on Oisin and start researching this Couryn. Everyone lets get some sleep we have a lot to do."

2 weeks ago...

"And thats checkmate Arthur."

"You know Couryn for all my 500 years of experience I can never seem to beat you at this strange game. Why can't we do something normal like create monsters and make them fight to the death."

"Because I never play a game I can't win Arthur."

"But your already playing it my dear Couryn. All these encounters and all the wards on you tower may stop me from getting to your crook, but this time I'm gonna play the big guns. I'm playing to win now Couryn."

"Is that so, and how do you plan to win?"

"Well it can't hurt to give a little advanced warning, make it more interesting. I'm sending in the best adventuring party Aguefort Adventuring party has ever produced. The Bad Kids. You know as well as anyone you won't win against them."

"Maybe I won't. Maybe I will. I will be prepared though. For all the Bad Kids chaos, teamwork, and strategy they have a flaw. For every one in a million stupid decision the make that changes the tides of the quest they make one hundred they do nothing but slow them down. For all their quest they've never really fought other adventurers, the battle with the Rat Grinders was a joke they had no cohesion and their wizard was useless."

"You know you can't prevent what's coming Oisin."

"We'll see Aguefort, I have every piece still on the board; you just have a queen. Will that be enough to win the game?"

"I believe so. Especially when the queen can flip the board upside down."

"Its gonna be a good game Arthur. But I have to retire to my shop. See you never again, hopefully."

"You know you'll never be rid of me."

As Aguefort left Oisin thought about how he was gonna make this more interesting and get out without being recognized. For all the big talk Oisin made he knew he was gonna lose the crook at the end of the day. He was fine with that. He just didn't want to lose Couryn with it.

Chapter Text

13 days before the Bad Kids are assigned the quest...

Penny loved her friends, the Seven were family to her especially when she didn't want to deal with her siblings. After getting their GED they decided to not bother with college and gain experience through adventuring and accepting quests. So far that was going great, they got to head all around Spyre slaying monster and looting dungeons. Currently they were all on some downtime between jobs and decided to hang out at Skullcleaver. Her dad was their sponsor after all.

They were all relaxing around Katja's enormous room. Penny calmly doing party accounting as Sam tried to convince Katja to change her decor.

"Look Katja I know you don't care about how your room looks because you basically live in the stables but you need to update from when you were a little kid. I mean girl the walls are bright pink."

"I just don't see why I would bother. I spend no time in here." Katja responded

"What if you've got a hot date and you wanna bring them to your room to slam down big style and they get weirded out by your room."
"Why would you bring someone to your room to hook up? There are so many more intimate locations."

Sam sighed "I'm not gonna ask what you think is an " intimate " location."

"Cool it guys. Your really harshing my high." Danielle said from a beanbag in the corner

"Anyway" she said turning back to Zelda "I just feel we need to take more activist quests ya know. Like we been just killing monsters and destroying dungeons when we could be making a real difference."

Cutting in Antiope remarked "Yelle as much as I want to topple governments as the next person that's a job for a little more than seven adventurers. I mean we would be curb stomped."

"Yeah but we can do smaller things like blow up pipelines and stop encroachment on nature. We should be out there freeing our brethren." 

In the other corner of the room Ostentatia was busy working on the website for her jewelry business seemingly having trouble with the layout and cursing to high heaven. Penny would help her out later after she was done filing the groups spending records.

She was almost done filling out section c subsection g4 when her crystal started ringing checking it she saw an unknown number. Usually she would just not answer thinking to was a scam but she had just gotten the latest scam blocker and it was saying it wasn't a scam call. Her curiosity peaked further when she realized it was using the Thistlespring satellite to transmit the signal which meant it was someone outside of Solace who knew it existed. After the third ring Penny answered making a signal to her party and putting it on speaker.

A moments silence and then

"Why hello there Ms. Luckstone I was wondering when you'd pick up." The voice on the other side was deep reverberating like the air right after you hear thunder. 

"Who the hell are you!" Ostentatia said indignantly

"Ahh, the entirety of the Seven is here then I assume? That makes things very convenient for me."

That sounded ominous Penny had absolutely zero clue what was going on.

"What do yo mean by that?" Antiope said suddenly looking around the entirety of Kajta's room checking for oncoming threats.

A short laugh came from the other side of the crystal "Sorry, my apologies Antiope Jones I didn't mean to threaten you in anyway. I'm simply looking for a great band of adventurers. I heard you're some of the best."

"Hell yeah we're the best!" Sam exclaimed

"Good. Here's the deal. I need protection for another band of adventurers. I think you know them. The Bad Kids and also the remaining High Five Heroes."

"If The Bad Kids are coming after you you must be a pretty bad dude." Penny said "I mean usually the just fight people ending the world. Sorry to tell you we don't work for the baddies."

It would also be really weird for Zelda to fight Gorgug, they hadn't really talked since they broke up. Zelda didn't really want a boyfriend who she could never see since he was adventuring, but apparently had seen him at bar in Bastion City and tried to hook up. Apparently it hadn't gone well.

"No I can assure you nothing of that sort. They are coming after me because they want to rob me blind for Arthur Aguefort. They're just trying to beat the shit out my and steal my belongings, not very heroic."

Rolling her eyes Ostentatia said "Look dumbass that's 10 high level adventures 6 of which are The Bad Kids. It'd be stupid to take the job."

"I can assure you you won't be alone a number of very powerful adventurers will have aligned goals as you. I can't force you to do anything but this job will pay 25,000 gold each even if you fail. Think on it. Contact me if you want the job."

He hung up after that

The room was completely silent. 25,000 gold pieces each was a lot of money, more than they had been paid for any other job. Sure they had a sponsor who would give them all the money they needed for adventuring but its nice to have your own money. Something they could spend without a thought on if they were using it properly. Money they had complete control over.

Finally speaking up Ostentatia murmured "I could upgrade my jewelry business with that kinda dough."

"I could put each my siblings through college with that much money." Penny said

Katja was deep in thought finally muttering "Maybe we should ask my dad."

"What?"

"I'm just saying he was an adventurer for a very long time. Maybe he'll know if we should accept."

Zelda spoke up from the corner of the room "Good idea Kajta. He is our sponsor and a seasoned adventurer, maybe he'll know if its a good idea.

Carl Cleaver and Katja's uncle Gelgador sat across from Penny at the dinner table. Apparently he was in Elmvile to talk to Arthur Aguefort and decided to stop by. 

"So you kids said you had a quest opportunity. "

"Yeah dad, so some suspicious man called us from an unknown number and offered to pay us 25,000 thousand gold each if we helped fight off 10 high level adventurers trying to rob him."

"10 high level adventurers is quite the task how would you even pull it off?"

Antiope cut in saying "He said we wouldn't be fighting alone on the quest. He gave off real sinister vibes but also 25,000 thousand gold each.

"Well do you kids have any other info on the quest or the quest giver."

"The adventurers we would be fighting are The Bad Kids and the remaining High Five Heroes he said they were stealing something from him for Arthur Aguefort." At saying that Belts for suddenly perked up.

"Well children I think I have deciphered who this mystery quest giver is. Couryn of the Fractured Star a wizard of tremendous magical power an one of the greatest craftsmen of our time. Around four years ago he created his Magnum Opus Couryn's Crook of Creation an item of pure magical creation only bound the material plane by an oath he swore before the very cosmos."

"What does some crusty wizards staff have to do with this quest." Ostentatia remarked 

"I'm getting to that. After its creation Arthur Aguefort tried to steal it from him and swore he would have it one day. Over the next four years Arthur has tried and failed countless times to get it from him and win the bet but always failed. I'm almost certain this is Couryn trying to remain in possession of his magic crook."

"So if you know him do you think he's trust worthy." Asked Sam

"I've never met him personally, no one but Aguefort has I think.From what I know he is certainly not dishonest or sinister. He is also fabulously wealthy."

Looking at the six other women Sam speaks up saying "What do you think ladies? Wanna make a lot of fucking money!"
"HELL YEAH!"

Adaine the other Bad Kids and the High Five Heroes were currently in her dorm researching Couryn before they went on the quest. They didn't find much. He was a powerful wizard and crafter who made magic items and spells for adventurers in the Baronies which meant he had no adress since the Baronies were so backwards and loose in general. The name of his headquarters was The Fractured Star hence why he was called of The Fractured Star but no-one knew where it was. Worst of all the one person who knew more about Couryn than anyone else alive refused to give them more information when he was the one who assigned the quest. Riz was ripping his hair out trying to get information.

"I just don't get it Adaine how does a crazy powerful wizard just pop up out of nowhere four years ago. No record of adventuring, no party, and no history behind anything surrounding him."

"Maybe he's from a different world in the material plane and decided to come here." Adaine suggested

"Maybe but that doesn't explain his relationship with Aguefort, how do they know each other? I even asked the Lower Planes Reconnaissance Task Force if they detected any spells that could do that four years ago and they had nothing. Hell they had nothing on Couryn at all."

"The Ball you need to stop worrying, why can't we just go to the Baronies and search around until we find him if he's so famous he shouldn't be that hard to find."

"Fabian we need to be prepared and ready for this quest he's an incredibly powerful" Riz was talking when his crystal suddenly started going off.

"Huh, its Penny."

"Put it on speaker the Ball."

Answering the call and putting it on speaker the cheerful voice of Penny Luckstone spilled out.

"Hey Rizzy long time no talk just calling to let you know we took this quest from a wizard to make sure you guys don't rob him. He's paying a lot and we just wanted some action so here we are. I felt bad about doing it though since its gets in the way of your quest so to give you a little help you can listen in on our briefing."

Riz looked completely slack jawed he was about to respond when a deep reverberating voice sounded from the crystal.

"Hello the Seven I am Couryn your employer for this quest. The goal is simple stop the Bad Kids and High Five Heroes from getting a hold of my Crook of Creation. You are free yo use any means necessary but don't have to kill them just get them to back off. On completion or failure you will receive 25,000 gold each but if you succeed you will be granted a 25,000 gold bonus each."

Adaine gasped. That was an absurd amount of money it could pay for her college 100 times over and still have spare to buy components and gear. 

Continuing to talk Couryn said "Another thing I would like to say to contextualize my next action is that this is not about the Crook of Creation, I couldn't care less about it and have never even used it. This is a matter of principle to spite Arthur Aguefort. So excuse me as I cast a spell."

Suddenly Adaine could see a cloaked figure in her mind. Long dark wizard robes made of leather and emblazoned with gold. She knew this was Couryn. Suddenly he was speaking again expect this time no longer through a crystal with low quality speakers and bad reception. His voice boomed like thunder humming like static before lighting. 

"Hello all adventurers and powers at be in all of Spyre. I am Couryn of the Fractured Star and I offer a prize. To spite Arthur Aguefort I make this promise. Whoever stops the Bad Kids and High Five Heroes from stealing my Crook of Creation shall have it them selves. The unbound power of creation at their very fingertips. Good luck to all who wish to earn cosmic power."

Suddenly Adaine was back in her body. The room was silent.

"What the fuck was that?" Ivy asked bewildered

"I think a wizard just put a hit on us." Ruben responded

Suddenly a very worried looking Riz spoke up "Ummm guys we are in the dorms of a college filled with powerful adventurers and we have a bounty that the reward to is infinite power. We need to fucking move it."

Adaine was kicked out of her stupor by his words quickly moving to pack everything she could before they had to split.

As the two parties rushed to leave they heard the sounds of an uncountable number of adventurers moving quickly down the halls.

Chapter Text

It was pandemonium in the halls of Bastion City University as the Bad Kids and High Five Heroes burst out of Adaine's dorm room. The message from Couryn had reached the ears of every single adventurer, government official, criminal, and other even remotely powerful person. Luckily Adaine had the dorm closest to the building fire escape.

Adaine could tell they only had a few seconds before they were beset with other adventurers. Already hearing the clanging of armor and shouting voices getting louder from behind them. 

"What's the plan!" Ivy shouted as she gracefully weaved between their friends to pull up next to Adaine.

"I'm trying to figure that out myself. Our best chance right now is just booking it and escaping our pursuers." Adaine replied through quick breaths.

While Adaine did love to get her hands dirty from time to time she was no where near as fit as the martial of the group and not particularly well sorted for sprinting down a fire escape.

Suddenly she heard a loud bang and a string of very explicit goblin curses as Riz was hit by bullet fired by the first person to make to the hallway the had just been running through. A rogue like Riz if she remebered correctly.

Turning around mid stride Adaine cast wall of force to slow down the faster rogues and monks of the group chasing them. It was quite fun to watch a number of her acquaintances slam face first into a wall as it suddenly materialized into the hallway. 

Still running the Adaine caught up with her party dimension dooring to the bottom of the fire escape with Lucy (who stayed behind to make sure she didn't get hurt) as she heard the verbal component of disintegrate shatter her wall of force.

Still in full sprint she followed her party as they ran to were Gorgug had parked the Hangvan. Fabian and Gorgug barreling through a group of fighters who had just left Efficient Action Surge 101 leaving them splayed out on the pavement. 

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ruben and Fig simultaneously shatter a massive wall of stone trying to stop their sprint as Kristen ran through with Riz on her back who was clearly not enjoying being carried.

Suddenly the future flashes before her eyes. She saw a enchantment wizard hit her with dominate person and failing to resist. Quickly choosing a different future Adaine felt the spell wash over her and then fizzle out.

Furious she proceeded to launch a viscous cone of cold at the group behind her. Suddenly she heard a loud crash as Ruben's unconscious body slammed into a nearby car a massive barbarian standing a few feet away.

Before Adaine could react an arcane arrow flew past her landing firmly in middle of the barbarian's crotch. With a loud yelp of pain definitely unexpected from a goliath his size he buckled over and before he had time to right himself Fabian slammed Frandrangor's pummel on the back of his head. 

Over the chaos she heard yell "We're never gonna be able to fight through our entire university. Grab Ruben and make to back to the van as fast as possible."

Scooping Ruben under one arm Lucy was booking it towards the van misty stepping away from a fighter she was currently fending off Adaine helped Riz provide cover fire for their escaping friends. 

Running beside Riz she watches as wizard throws out an erupting earth spell. Riz reaches out and pulls on the magic as he casts it, wrenching it out of the mans hands and into his then proceeding to throw it back at the group chasing them.

As the earth beside and behind her burst upward Riz and her deftly avoid the destruction running right up behind the Hangvan.

Already inside Fig pushes the back doors open and pulls them both in.

After shouting that their all inside to Gorgug in the drivers seat he proceeded to peel out.

Adaine stood at the back of the Hangvan placing wards and shields as she bashed aside incoming spells.

After a half-hour or so of pursuit it seemed like the other students had given up, leaving them to be pursued instead by the Bastion City Police as they went unreasonable speeds through city streets.

Racing towards the city limit Adaine could feel the day catching up, flinging spell after spell draining her energy. Behind them the city was in shambles from the chase. Broken signs, pipes, cars, and even buildings collapsed and destroyed in their wake as they tried to shake the police.

As they neared the city limit Adaine heard a call from the front of the van. Looking out the windshield she realized the issue. Blocking every path out of the city were armed vehicles and strike teams from the COC (Council of Chosen).

"Shit!" 

"Adaine any ideas. We're about to slam into that blockade." Exclaimed Gorgug

"Fuck I don't know. Mabye... No." She scowled to herself for a moment before she was hit with inspiration.

"Okay. I can't teleport us past that blockade or anything but I still have a ninth level spell. Maybe if we have me and Fig or Ruben cast fly on everyone we can try and lift the van over the blockade."

"Why not just cast fly on the Hangvan."

"Its an object I can't. Telekinesis wouldn't work either since the Hangvan is too heavy. Get us going as fast a possible so we maintain some forward momentum in the air. 1.2.3. NOW!"

As Adaine cast the spell she could see her friends tense. Then as it hit them they burst into action straining to carry the weight of the Hangvan even with 10 people.

As Adaine strained to push the upward she saw them lift of the ground just enough to clear the armored cars and rocket forward over them slamming back down into the road on the over side.

Gorgug quickly got back behind the wheel as Adaine dropped the spell spreading toward away from the shock COC strike teams. 
"Fucking Hells that was difficult." Ivy said as they sped away.

"Told you guys getting buff would come in handy." Kristen remarked proudly

Fabian walked over to Gorgug placing a hand on his shoulder from behind.

"Dude your suspension is gonna be so fucked."

Gorgug just groaned in response.

With the adrenaline wearing off Adaine finally noticed how cramped the van was with 10 people.

Quickly casting magnificent mansion in the van Adaine was able to finally able to relax as Gorgug took the first shift driving with Riz as look out.

Sitting around the large dining table Adaine shaped the remaining space in the mansion into a sleeping area, lounge, and bathroom. Invisible servants flitting about doing her bidding.

She was relaxing after dinner with the High Five Heroes and Bad Kids who weren't on watch or drive duty when suddenly a breaking news story silenced their program. About to turn it off Adaine was surprised to suddenly see Arthur Aguefort holding the camera with one hand will his over was holding a gun pointed at people presumably out of frame.

"Hello Bad Kids. I have just broken into and hijacked this News Station in hopes of sending you a message. It has come to my attention I forgot to give you Couryn's location. He should be somewhere nearby a village named Vambere in the Baronies. We don't have much time as the Solace and Fallinel governments are already sending strike teams to apprehend you. Make sure to lay low or if you can't do that at least kill anyone who tries to stop you." Suddenly pausing he seems to be about to turn off the broadcast when suddenly.

"One more thing before I go. Couryn if your watching this. You may have flipped the board but you have made one fatal mistake." He smiled an insane grin before finishing "and that was thinking I was every playing chess."

Adaine stood up from the couch so suddenly she felt like she had vertigo before yelling out towards the front of the van.

"Hey Riz. We got a location!"

Chapter Text

The desert dunes stretch out over the horizon in great waves of red sand, rising into stiff peaks and then falling away. Adaine's eye felt like they were choked with dust, like at any moment they could turn to dust themselves and spill out of her face. Her entire body was on fire, the rays of the sun were tiny little devils doing a tap routine across her body. She could feel the blood sluggishly aching its way through every vein in her body. She was standing uprichain

Or was she sitting? Or laying down? Was she even blinking? 

The world came into sharp focus, a screw being slammed into place with a massive hammer. In her vision was a massive wall of iron. It glowed red hot in the heat of the desert and rising above the wall from behind it was a iron spire. It shot up through the landscape, a sword piercing the heart of the sky. 

Standing adjacent to and on top of the walls were thousands of gleaming sets of armor. Runes dancing across the surface binding flaming beings of elemental chaos in their chains. The legion of them stood at attention causally watching the sprawling desert with the cold calculating gaze of a carrion bird.

As she finally got adjusted to her surroundings the vision faded away.

It was replaced by a more domestic scene.

She was sitting on the floor with a map (gameboard?) of a Fallinel city small pieces placed on top of it. To her side was Fig and Riz their emotions hard to make out but presence undoubtable. Unlike the desert she was warm and calm a feeling of contentedness suffused her entire being. Casting her eyes across the board her breath caught in her throat.

Golden eyes with piercing black pupils.

A large blue body covered in arcane tattoos and a face that even in this dream like state made Adaine feel like she was floating.
He looked completely clam casually smirking as he wrote something down on a piece of paper. 

She wanted to pummel him until he couldn't move the muscles in his face and (against her best judgment and own will) wanted to kiss him until her lips were sore. (What the fuck was wrong with her she barely knew him?)

As soon as she saw him the vision suddenly changed.

She was staring in a throne room of some kind.

Large imposing walls lined with torches reached upward into a pointed ceiling. In the center of the large room was a massive throne. She would've said that it was made of gold but the second she blinked it was shifting cycling through ever material imaginable. Ruby, emerald, platinum, silver, sapphire, all of these flashed across its surface. Staring at it felt like she was observing creation itself. Like she was seeing the primordial chaos that was shaped into reality.

There was a figure in front of the throne that looked unconscious. His form hard to make out but he had what looked like large wings spanning from his back.

Further Infront of him Oisin stood his lips pressed into a thin line. In his out stretched arm was an arcanotech pistol which he had pointed at the unconscious figure.

As she turned around to view the scene her vision morphed once again only giving her a brief glimpse of the event.

Before the switch between visions had been a smooth slide. A peaceful transition.

Now it felt violent and disconcerting. Where before she was peaceful gliding from one piece of the future to the next she was now falling. Smashing through panes of glass along the way.

She was back in the Aguefort gymnasium or more accurately outside it.

Her body was on fire from exertion and her heart was beating so fast from adrenalin she felt like she was about to throw up.
She felt small and scared and helpless.

Panic was overwhelming all her senses. She wanted to breakdown and cry. Inside the gym she heard sounds of fighting. Of dying. Her friends fighting without her because she was to much of a coward to help. To much of failure to actually contribute. Pathetic and broken in the face of an actual challenge.

As she dryheaved against the walls outside the gym she was suddenly falling again.

This time she was in the sky. No longer scared or afraid or pathetic. She was a bad ass dragon killer shooting them out of the sky like nobody's business. She was Adaine O'Shaughnessy and she was competent and strong and..... No matter how accomplished she was or how smart she thought she was or however many things she's done she's still a failure. She was still a naive idiot. Once again failing completely to do exactly what she was supposed to, seeing a problem before it happened.

She was falling again.

And again.

And again

And again.

And again.

And again. 

And eventually the visions blurred together.

An endless web of fate she was the fly caught in.

She couldn't see the designs the spider laid out just small strings hooked into a larger tapestry that she knew for a fact would lead to her complete destruction.

Then she was drowning. Water filled her lungs burning as she desperately clawed for area. Every muscles in her body rising in a crescendo of torture as she died. How couldn't she have seen it coming. How could she have forgotten to prepare water breathing? 

Must not be a very good Oracle.

Adaine had never been very good at anything in her entire existence. That wasn't a very big leap.

The edges of her vision were going dark.

Must not be a very good Oracle.

Her ears were ringing. Bells pounding inside her skull.

Must not be a very good Oracle.

Her fingers were numb.

Must not be a very good Oracle.

The world around her turning from a bright cerulean to a pale gray.

Must not be a very good Oracle.

The water in her lungs was lava. Each beat of her heart was like trying to move a mountain.

Must not be a very good Oracle.

The pain in her body reached a blinding crescendo. She was pushing against a wall of glass. It was trying to suffocate her. Trying to keep her from seeing something.

She slammed against it with everything she had.

It shattered.

She was in the Hangvan passenger seat. Suddenly they ran over a thin line of metals barbs and the wheels of the van where torn to shreds. Surprised and disoriented a band of adventurers easily ambushed them easily.

Suddenly torn from sleep Adaine woke up covered in sweat and panicking inside the Magnificent Mansion she had conjured. Reacting as quickly as she could she instantly messaged Gorgug with one word "SWERVE". Racing through the halls struggled to put on armor as she screamed for the High Five Heroes and the rest of the Bad Kids to get up.

Bursting through the extra dimensional door that lead into the back of the Hangvan she was thrown to the side as Gorgug turned the wheel as hard as he could. Riz (the other person on watch) was grabbing the side of his seat as hard as he could a pained expression on his face asthe van came dangerously close to flipping. 

Broken out of his daze Riz suddenly look at Adaine.

Adaine what going on? Why did you message Gorgug to swerve?"

Still panting from sprinting so fast (I really need to work on my constitution) Adaine said "I   had    vision." She fruitless searched for more breath but she was completely winded from the sudden spike in adrenaline. 

Rushing out from the portal to the magnificent mansion a very bleary eyed and tired looking group that made up the rest of their party formed up inside of the back of the Hangvan.

"Whats going on? Who was yelling to get up at 3 am?" Fabian rasped as he stepped forward.

About to answer Adaine opened her mouth before being interrupted as Gorgug suddenly yelled "Ambush!" 

Pushing out of the back of the Hangvan the assembled party looked as an adventuring party of 6 sprang out of the tress about 12 meter down the road. The Hangvan had been dangerously close to falling into their trap.

Adaine really wasn't in the mood to deal with a whole fight. Especially when they 4 entire people on them. Raising the sword of sight Adaine spoke the verbal components to sunburst as she carried out the motions of the spell. Suddenly a flash of brilliant light engulfed the six adventurers. She casually pulled on the strings of fate to make sure every single member of the party failed to shield their eyes in time. When the light had vanished where once 6 people stood there was now 6 bleach white skeletons.

"I honestly thought they were gonna be stronger than that." Adaine said impassively. She was far to tired to give a shit about this encounter.

"Well when you have a nation wide manhunt on your hands you don't always get the best and the brightest." Riz said casually.

"Yeah but you assume that if they some how set up a trap for us they would have some competency." Ivy added in.

"Doesn't really matter." Remarked Fabian "Well if that's all I need my beauty sleep." Turning back into the van he walked off to bed along with everyone but Riz, Gorgug, and Adaine.

"We should probably loot the bodies." Riz said

"I'm gonna clear the spikes in the road." Said Gorgug "You guys got that tho."

Walking over to the skeletons Adaine grabbed the remaining items. The groups pouch of gold, a magical sword one of them had (wasn't particularly powerful enchantment but nice to grab), the wizards spell book which had nothing Adaine could use its highest level spell being fourth, and most interesting of all each one of them carried a strange amulet.

It was shaped like an eye with a line through it hanging on a simple silver chain, it looked enchanted. Adaine raised her hand and cast identify. 

"Ah yes, this has been another use of the identify spell. This is an amulet of anti-precognition special mass produced by the Council of Chosen to stop the precognition of one Adaine Abernant the Eleven Oracle and given to any adventurers taking up the quest to stop the Bad Kids."

Gods fucking damn it of course the government of Solace would special produce magic items with the express purpose of fucking her over. Why wouldn't they.

Already completely over this entire fucking quest Adaine tiredly trudged back into the van and face planted into her bed.
She could already tell this was gonna be a long quest.

Chapter Text

A/N Hello everyone I bring you this special authors note to ask a pressing question. I have planned out this story and that plan includes and ending. What I'm not sure of is how I want to end it so I want your feedback. Would you prefer a happy(er) ending or a sad(er) ending the story will still play out the same but the ending will have different emotional weights for the characters. What the comments on this say will not dictate which one I will chose but lend me inspiration and insight in my choice. Thank you all and 

Get in the comments!

An iron tower spiralling up wards. A luxurious throne gold and furs lining it light boucing off the ostentatious metal in sharp spikes. A scepter of silver a sapphire resting on top its swirling depths revealing magic beyond fathom. A blue a scaled hand gripped the base of the scepter the other resting impatiently on the armrest of the throne, rapping quietly against the metal. He was filled with filled with anticipation, he was so close!

Only an hour or so more and it would be complete.

Behind the throne hummed an arcane engine of enormous size. The air seemed to moving towards it the entire gravity of the room centered on it.

He slowly stood up and marched to the window. Rolling green fields stretched out from the base of his fortress, once occupied by his vast forces before they set upon the world now replaced by armies of every race.

The alliance had yet to break his walls and his summoned forces repelled them every attack.

He had expected better.

His plan would only work if the heroes were in the correct place when he set it off. Knowing this necessity he set explosives at the base of his walls.

Setting them off when the onager struck was child's play. The forces bearing the golden banner of the questers was first through the breach cutting a stead path towards his main sanctum. 

He had expected better.

Casually laying back on his thrown he watched as the main doors burst open. The wizard in yellow fired off a spell.

He laughed as it was sucked into his creation.

Charging forward the King of Aliern brandished his great sword. Metal flashed quicker than sight could track aiming to grievously maim him. It never connected.

Out of the shadows an arrow flew with deadly precision it immaculate craftsmanship and deft master lending to its supreme accuracy. It fell to the floor as if directed downward by a great hand moments after it was fired.

Lifting his hands to heaven the high priest of Lord Father Cyning called upon his master. The words fell on dead ears. 

Reaching out his hand still seated on his throne he reduced the rouge to ashes with a flick of his wrist his mantle of shadows flying into his creation. His power grew.

Carefully standing up as to not crease his robes he calmly walked towards the king who tried to strike him.

He saw the wizard fire out another spell the scintillating light pushed through the gravity of his creation but when it hit him had no effect.

He had expected better.

The king acted quickly swinging his great sword with fast deft strokes. The first one missed him completely catching only the echo left behind by the wind. The second was much the same but the third sheered a piece off his robes. Invigorated by the hit the king surged forward Stoke three more times only the final strike hit.

The king brought down his great sword swifter than what could even be perceived by the mortal eye scoring a deep cut across his arm holding the scepter.

Maybe this fight would offer him some modicum of enjoyment after all.

The high priest lifter his mace high into the air and out of it shot a vile green bolt of negative energy. the energy launch itself at him but he simply raised his scepter and destroyed it. Offering a prayer to his god the high priest rushed forward to stand beside the king.

As the priest did so he raised his scepter aloft and willed the raw magic inside it to unmake him just as he had done to his god.

The priest died afraid and in pain as his body was rendered nonexistent.

This fight was proving to be quite boring. He was very disappointed with what his world had to offer, but it didn't truly matter it would all be over soon.

Just as he was about to cast the king into eternal suffering and darkness a shadow darted out of the corner of his eye.
He was to slow.

The rouges plan had worked and a simulacrum provided adequate distraction. In an instant everything he had spent centuries cultivating started crashing down.

As the figure in black darted out of the shadows and grabbed his scepter he couldn't react in time. The rouge cried out in agony as violent power began to course through him, ripping apart his mortal frame.

He cried out as his scepter was taken; a destructive wave of lighting launching out of his maw slamming into the king, burning branches into his skin as the burning plasma alighted across it.

The rouge's body was steaming, water evaporating in his blood as the raw arcane energy sweeped through him. He called out to the wizard and then threw the scepter.

Catching it in his left hand the wizard in yellow started chanting. As he did so the flesh on his arm that was holding the scepter started to flake away leaving nothing but raw exposed bone still grasping the scepter.

As he heard the wizards chanting he felt it all start to slip away. He tried to act tried to do something but movement was impossible, his creation was going haywire behind him firing off sparks of wild magic.

This shouldn't no couldn't be possible. 

It was a trick of course, an illusion made by an unseen caster.

He could never lose he would never lose. Especially not to some week blooded alliance of "heroes".

He was the King of Creation. The lord of infinity. It was his rightful place to be at the helm of the universe.

He wasn't a god no he was better than gods. Better than the weak dull beings who thought themselves masters of all. He was supreme. The singular chosen focal point of creation. These people were all just extras to give him some to triumph over, the stage existed for him and only him.

The chanting reached a crescendo. "We cast you out of existence, past time, past reality, you are nothing more than a story at night. A tale from ages long past that never truly existed, we make you nothing!"

He would not accept this fate. Could not.

He felt it, a last remnant of power left in his creation. With a final act he created once more infusing them with as much power and strength as he could, they would be his legacy. Then in a great explosion his creation was destroyed and scattered them to the universe. Raw magic exploding and spewing outwards filling the the world once more.

Oisin woke up sore every muscle in his body clamoring against their continued movement. His throat was dry and scratchy feeling as if the burning sands of the Red Waste had been poured down it. His mind felt foggy, he was lost in a great humid fog no sensation available to him other than the pains of his body. He was absolutely drenched in sweat, which was concerning seeing as he was a reptile and had not sweat glands. Pulling himself out of his wizard towers bed he dragged himself across the floor to his bathroom, muscles to sore to even stand. Pulling himself up to the lip of the toilet he started dry heaving into it. Of course nothing came out, he hadn't had time to eat yesterday to much work to be done, only the acrid taste and accompanying burning of bile notified him of its presence in his mouth.

His body was shaking, he noticed, great tremors burst through him. He wanted to lay down and stop breathing, every breath reinvigorated the taste of bile on his tongue and the grating in his throat.

He was hadn't put on his glasses, the world in front of him a hazy mass of blobs and shapes. The larger outline definable but the details illegible.

There was a ringing in his skull he could have sworn wasn't present before. A clarion call of some kind but to what action he did not know.

His vision suddenly doubled up. He saw his own hand, blue and scaled but also a see through projection on top of the physical reality. Everything was a reflection of the real and physical but instead of tangible it was intangible.

Oisin couldn't take it

This was how he died

He wasn't surprised

He suspected it would be pathetic

A finale failure in a grand parade of foolishness and failure

The cherry on top of the life of Oisin Hakinvar

The completion that was the self fulfilling prophecy of himself

Destined to be a failure so he does everything he can to succeed and a result is a failure at everything. Instead of accepting he was nothing he tried to be better and who did that bring him to? Porter and Jace and maybe if he had just accepted he was horrible and despicable and worthless he never would have gotten so destroyed by failure. Because you can't fail if you never try, so what's the point when you know it gonna end in failure to bother trying.

Maybe somewhere in his mind he had always hoped their was room for Oisin, room for him to exist and be better, but Oisin was inherently a failure, inherently incompetent, inherently weak.

Oisin would just lay down on the bathroom floor and die. He was Couryn not some pathetic child but instead a powerful archmage. Pulling himself up with all his strength he stood upright, his muscles wailing at him all the way.

His blood was on fire he could feel each pump of his heart. 

Who's been holding you back this entire time?

Oisin

Even after becoming someone else Oisin still sticks to you like a leech, sucking everything you are away. You tried to move on and failed, you held out hope he was good enough when deep down you knew he would never be anything.

But you can't just forget who you were. Who you are! Its not possible.

That's the issue isn't it, can't move on from Oisin because no matter what name you call yourself you still feel like him.

How do you feel like anyone but yourself. How do I become someone else when I'm still Oisin. Its not possible.

Of course it's possible you blithering fool. You're still thinking like Oisin. You're Couryn an archmage of unparalleled power. You can just cut Oisin out. Make sure the cancer growing inside you is removed permanently.

He was correct of course. The memories and personality of Oisin held him back from truly being Couryn, they were responsible for his suffering, his misery. But how do you remove A part of yourself.

You Couryn hold more power than any wizard alive, all you have to do is pull on it. Force it to bend to you.

He could feel it under his skin bubbling up. It was magma under his flesh, acids in his veins.

Before he knew it words spilled out of his mouth and he was no longer standing in his bathroom but instead floating over a vast red desert. 

All his pain, all his energy, all his sorrow and confusion, and RAGE, worse than he ever felt under the control of Porter, poured out of him into a spell he didn't even know or realize he was casting.

From his body exploded raw magic arcing over the dunes like lighting the heat and power turning miles of desert around him into glass.
He could still feel it in him, simmering beneath the surface. The pain in his muscles, the soreness of his throat, and bleariness of his eyes all vanished. His mind was clear once more and he found himself standing naked in a massive crater of glass stretching beyond his sight.

He couldn't fathom how the Bad Kids and High Five Heroes had every even been a concern of his. He felt like he could wipe nations off the map with a flick of his hand. 

He was giddy with excitement. Soon it would be over, Oisin would be gone for good and never be able to hurt the people he carried about and he would be free to be finally happy.

All he had to do was write a spell powerful enough to remove his entire personality and replace it with something better. How hard could it be.