Co-Conspirator (Patreon)

Listen sugar, I believe in many things. I believe in the Creator; the one light that shines above them all. I believe in his son, the burning wrath that is Salamus. I believe in the Goddess, Angea, mother spirit of this world and I believe in the flow. The essence of mana that connects us all. I have other beliefs too, though. Other more, unpopular beliefs. Some are unpopular because they are inconvenient, but I know them to be true. Like the otherkin, creatures mutated or subverted by the misuse and perversion of mana. Others because the mere thought of them are frightening. Things like the secret histories kept from us by the Druids. Yeah, I believe in the so called ‘Druid Conspiracies’. I mean, c’mon, they’re ancient and all powerful. For an Order that has existed since before anyone was even recording anything, it’s awfully hard to believe we know so little about them. You have to be some kind of stupid not to suspect that what we know and what we don’t about them isn’t all cleverly manipulated. Maybe I just don’t trust any kinling with damn near unlimited knowledge and power; or maybe I’m one of the sane ones. I mean, they say the Druids gave the Eternian’s the power of ascension. They made immortals, immortal! Shit... if that’s true, what exactly are they, right?

Anyway, my name is Megogo Asherah, Dame of Lioncourt, First Knight of Port Holden and a conspirator of the Sacred Order of Raven Knights. I’m kind of a big deal. I’ve done a lot of interesting things and I’ve earned a lot of fancy titles and accolades. Presently I serve as the Master at Arms for the Orders Keep in Bast; the ‘Raven’s Nest’. It’s the first keep in the order and one of five in all of Theria. So yeah, it’s a real big honor to be part of the conspiracy.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Conspiracy? What conspiracy could she be a part of? Is the Order sinister? Are we plotting to overthrow the crown? Are we responsible for the pyre fly phenomena? Of course not. Though it’s always funny to see the look on people’s faces when one of us refers to ‘the conspiracy’. It’s just not what you think.

Quick lesson, the Queen of Hearts; Alanzia de Lioncourt repurposed the order after the baptism. She made us the defenders from the extraordinary and supernatural that we are today. But the lady must have thought she was exceptionally clever. She really wanted to stick to the whole Raven theme. So as a group of Raven’s are called a conspiracy, so too are the officers of the Raven Knights. So when I refer to a conspirator, I’m mostly referring to my colleagues. Every new Raven learns this the first day, so since it’s our first time talking, you get to learn it too. Trust me, it only gets confusing when we’re dealing with an actual conspiracy. But that is what this is all about really. A conspiracy. A ‘Druid Conspiracy’.

You see, I’ve held the position of Master at Arms for quite some time now. About ten years in fact. I’m terminal at Knight’s Lieutenant. It’s not a punishment and I’m not being overlooked. Nothing so unfair. Simply put, I love being Master at Arms and a promotion would take that away from me. Right now, I’m only really ever called out to the field when the situation requires my experience or expertise. Primarily, I get to train the younger Raven’s in the finer points of being a Knight of the Order. I enjoy the job. I get to be teacher, disciplinarian and law woman. I coordinate with the both the local City Watch and the Knights of Lioncourt. I even have authority in local law enforcement matters over the Crown Guard if something magical or occult is involved. Pretty nifty right? I been doing it for almost a decade now and I’m damn good at it. I’m what you would call a seasoned vet. But don’t dare call me old. I may have served as part of the Order since I was twenty-two, but I’m only thirty-two years young.

The thing is, the City Watchmen here in Bast are pretty good at their job too and it's really rare I have to police any of my Ravens. Even the young ones understand the duty we all carry. Given that we’re all bound by oaths in magic, sworn in the ancient tongue; you don’t get too many rabble rousers. So... sometimes when I’m not instructing or teaching, I’m incredibly bored. Sure there’s training and combat... but nothing that really challenges the mind, y’know? So a hobby a few of us have is conspiracy theories. Now wait, don’t you go judging me. I’m not one of those weirdos who believes that we were all forged from clay or that there are spirits watching us from above. That’s just foolish. Everyone knows spirits cannot survive in this existence anyway, just revenants and shades; echoes of people. Not really them. No, I believe in the Druid Conspiracies though, because at least they make sense.

Now if I’m gonna tell you this story, I’m gonna tell it all. Not just the bullet points but the whole night. Everything is important. It’s what they call... uh... context. Some of what I’d done may not make sense unless y’know the little details. Gotta protect my honor y’know. It may get a bit provocative, but they’re no cubs here right? Good.

So it all started after I accepted my commission within the Order. I had been out celebrating at one of the local bars with a couple of my fellows, Malia and Hardek. They were light weights. After an hour the two of them were wasted and all over each other. Malia was the sheltered daughter of some Duke and Hardek’s father was of the clergy. Two high strung, spoiled little cubs who barely knew what their own sex smelled like. A little drink and they were about to find out. It had me thinking about where I would lay my head that night. Watching two inexperienced lovers fall all over themselves in a drunken attempt at intimacy, has a punitive effect on a gal. I was horny okay. Don’t act like we don’t all feel that way sometimes. I hadn’t actually thought about sex in a while I’ll have you know. Not since my husband was killed back in Port Holden. I’ll admit that my dedication to joining the Order and moving to the capitol had a lot do with his death and the events surrounding it, but that’s not the story I wanna tell today. Or ever... lets just worry about that night in the bar, okay?

Anyway, after my companions abandoned me to go fuck somewhere private. I spent my time drowning my boredom in drink. I knocked back a few pints of firebreather before I laid eyes upon a mature chimpanzee. I almost spit my drink. You don’t see them very often, monkeys I mean. Sure, they exist. They aren’t like otherkin or anything. People know they aren’t rumors or myths. Can’t compare a merlion to a monkey. It’s just you don’t get to see them very often, as no one really knows where they come from anymore. I read that long ago theirs was the ‘great empire’. They once held trade routes that reached from the continent of Astria all the way to Theria and beyond. It’s one of the few antediluvian legends everyone agrees upon. Once the Pridelands were lousy with them, before the baptism of fire. Their people fought hard and made themselves a nuisance to the lizardkin. It was like the scaley’s special mission to wipe em out during the genocide.  Now, you barely ever see them at all.

This particular monkey was named Kofi... something. Gi... zen... ga? Something like that. One of those weird oldy names. A lot of the people in the central province have names like that. I’m guessing that’s where his family’s from. He never spoke much about himself. To this day I don’t know where he's from or what he actually does. Still, he was cute. I’m not the kind of traditional gal that only goes for other felines. I’m certainly not like those damn old biddies who think we should all stick to our own kind. Bah, where’s the fun in that. Besides, sometimes the best part of life is variety and I hadn’t had any of that in about year. 

I watched him for a little while, observing him in the reflection of the steel pitcher on the counter. It was perfectly polished, I could make him out well enough. I didn’t want to be caught gawking or anything. That’s unbecoming of a lady. He had long black hair, neat black fur and a clean hairless face. That’s always the interesting thing about monkeys, their furless faces. His was a narrow face, with a stout chin and strong jawline. His brow was prominent and lips thick and wide. With a flat nose and large nostrils, he looked scholarly hunched over that book, with those thin glasses on his face. Through them, I could see his eyes. Not well... I’d originally thought them blue, but they turned out to be grey. And though I originally thought him lanky, he turned out to be rather fit. But what caught my attention the most was what he was doing and what he wasn’t.

Unlike the other men in the bar quietly ogling me side-eyed; all of them interested, but afraid of the uniform; Kofi paid me no attention. He barely paid anyone any attention. Not even Gertie. And she’s half the reason anyone even comes to this dive anyway. Full bodied, big breasted and well spoken. She’s quite the heifer. Her and her sisters run this bar and serve a dairy alcoholic drink called the Dizzy Cow, which is how the place got it’s name. Back then, she was barely eighteen, but carried herself in a way that enticed men to lust after her, but also encouraged them to treat her with respect. A tall task for anyone, especially a kid. She was used to getting tips and touches from the bar's patrons and seemed frustrated by the lack of attention Kofi was giving her. I’ll admit, I had entertained the idea that Kofi was gay before I spoke to him because of that. Gertie had been flirting a bit more than usual as she brought him drinks. It was so noticeable that the other patrons seemed jealous. Kofi paid her no mind and only seemed to be interested in his book. I remember seeing the look of sheer disappointment on her face as she pranced back behind the bar to fill another order. I giggled when I heard her share with her sister the same thought I had had, ‘I think he’s gay,’ she shrugged. I wasn’t so sure.

I asked Gertie what the scholar was drinking and she surprised me with, Vesperian Black.

‘Holy shit!’ I said outloud. Gertie agreed with me. Now if you don’t drink or aren’t incredibly frivolous with your money, you may not know the big deal about Vesperian Black. Vesperian liquor is always the best and it is always very expensive. Vesperian Black is made off somewhere on one of the Vesperian Islands by the ‘Black Sisters’. It’s a very hard liquor that is made in the sister’s monasteries there. It’s name both a reference to the color and the label, not the sisters or so I’m told. One bottle is worth a five gold kellings. That’s enough to buy yourself an enchanted sword. Undeterred I laid down ten gold kellings and got two glasses. Gretie smiled knowingly at me, wanting very much to tell me her thoughts on his sexuality. But I was younger then and very confident in myself. I figured, maybe the chimp preferred a little more feline in his life. 

I walked over and sat down without asking permission. I like the direct approach and I feel like people only have the options you give them. I gave him no option to refuse my company. 

‘What yah reading handsome.’ I asked taking a sip of my drink. I tried to be all casual about it, y’know, all high society. But that shit burned like fire. It took amazing discipline not to cough and gag. I thought firebreather was bad. My second sip wasn’t as terrible. I was ready, but he certainly noticed my initial discomfort. He looked up at me boredly. Seems he got a lot attention from the ladies. Up close I could tell then that he was definitely well off. His clothes were of fine tailoring and of beautiful patterns. He carried a small staff that was ornate and of great craftsmanship. It rested against the table, blocked from view of most of the room by his body. I hadn’t seen it from my spot on the bar. The guy had coin, a lot of it. Only rich guys and nobles carried around dueling canes like that. 

‘Listen...’ he began, gearing up to shove me off like he probably had a hundred gold diggers before. But he stopped a moment when he actually got a good look at me. Not my beautiful face and my supple breasts, though he was looking in that general direction. No, he finally got a good look at the uniform and the color drained from his face.

‘And what business does a Raven Knight have with me?’ he asked cautiously. I’ll admit even though I picked up on his change of mood, I wasn’t fully aware of how suspicious it was at the time. I had been drinking for the better part of an hour honey. I just wasn’t all there.

I sighed and took another sip, pushing the other one over towards him.

‘Are you gay?’ I asked bluntly. This took him by surprise.

‘It’s okay if you’re gay, I’ll saunter back over to the bar as defeated as poor Gertie... but something tells me you’re not. Call it a hunch.’ He looked confused for a moment and then his attention switched over to the bar where Gertie immediately turned her head to pretend that she wasn’t watching. He smiled then. His guard dropping a bit as he looked back at me.

‘I see, I didn’t take to the beautiful barmaid; so I must be gay.’ he laughed. I shrugged. If he was gay or not, he was awfully cute. I was gonna take my shot. I can have just as much fun with gay guy as I can with a straight one. Just different fun. This time he took a sip of his drink, before returning to his book.

‘No my lady, I’m not gay. Just not interested.’ he replied. I wasn’t deterred.

‘In the barmaid or a woman's company in general.’ I put that certain inflection in my voice. That bit of tone that always lets a guy know, ‘Hey idiot, I’m interested in you.’ He looked up intrigued.

‘Depends on the company I guess.’ He replied. I nodded to his book and asked what he was reading. His answer changed a lot in my life.

Turns out he was reading a book called; ‘The Lost Histories of the World’. Was the third or fourth volume. I can’t remember. It was an old, hand written book that looked like it was made on some kind of parchment I had never seen. He told me it was one of several that had been written a long time ago, sometime after the great flood. That was actually very interesting. Not a lot of material from the forgotten ages. Even more curious, is that the book wasn’t written in the ancient language. It was written in Old Therian and even I could understand most of it. The book told a tale of something called ‘Machina’. Machina were apparently constructs that were powered by lightning. The book says that these constructs were able to do many different tasks and were once woven into buildings, clothing, beastless transportation and every other part of society in the way magic is used today, but on a much grander scale. You could flip one switch and lightning would shoot through a building and illuminate orbs, lighting it up so it could be seen for miles. There was even flying machina or so the book said. 

I had heard of machina before. Who hasn’t. I mean we have machina today. Constructs and devices that run on mana that help make our lives easier. But apparently true machina requires none of that. I didn’t know if I believed him or his book at first, but I was interested in it. We drank and talked for hours about the book and the ideas that it had. What stood out the most is that the book warned of Druids. Kofi said that the Druids wanted to destroy these books and all like them, they wanted to destroy any record of the time before the flood. He was very passionate about it. Kofi was the one who introduced me to the druid conspiracies. Though I’ll admit at that point I was hardly paying attention.

More than a little wasted, I grabbed Kofi’s book and began to leave the bar. My sudden action startled him at first, but the mischievous look on my face must have told him I wasn’t being rude. I wanted him to follow me and I knew he’d follow his precious book. He got the hint and grabbed his stuff and we left the bar, but not before I shot a triumphant look to Gertie. She gave me a mock bow mouthing, ‘You slut,’. I stuck out my tongue at her. She’d hear all about my exploits later. I always keep Gertie apprised of my escapades.

We were barely out of the bar before I tackled him. We almost fell over, me not as graceful as a good knight ought to be. I kissed him hard, making damn sure he knew what I was on about. I’ll give him credit, he only froze up for a second before wrapping his arms around me. We’d have done it right there in the street, but Bast’s a busy city, with a bustling night life. I’m a kinky gal when I want to be, but not just then. Why give the audience a show if you’re not getting paid for it; and if you’re getting paid for it... you’re a whore. I like sex, but a whore I am not. So I’d like to say I got my shit together and gracefully lead my monkey man to the nearest inn... but that part is a blur.

What I do remember is the sex. Oh the sex. I burst into the room and immediately pinned Kofi to the bed. It took quite a while of me struggling to get out of my uniform before I realized I was likely smothering him to death with my breast. ‘Oh I’m sorry, sugar!’ I apologized as I lifted him to me. He was a little blue in the face but he smiled anyway. I get real apologetic when I’m drunk. But that’s what I always liked about Kofi. He wasn’t put off, he just smiled and took my girls in hand. He told me they were massive and he was sure they were the best he’d ever seen. Damn right! I wanted to ask if they were better than Gertie’s and almost did, but that would have sounded insecure. Instead I asked if he just planned to play with them all night or did he want a taste. I thought I sounded sexy and sultry, but later found out I was slurring every other word. Still, he took the hint and plopped one of my breast in his mouth.

The night was already late, but we enjoyed each other's company for at least an hour. He was a good lover, experienced and attentive. It definitely wasn’t his first romp. He touched me like a man that didn’t expect to ever see me again. When he sucked my nipples and caressed my breast, he didn’t hold back. He wasn’t tentative, he wasn’t thinking about what we would do the next day. He enjoyed the moment and so did I. I let him have his way and I was not disappointed. I ended up doing quite a few things that I find incredibly sexy... I let him straddle my chest and fuck my tits. His dick was much longer and thicker than I thought. I was able to kiss his head whenever the pink crown of cock peeked up from between my breasts. I let him stand above me and use my face like a fuck hole. He was pretty rough with it, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed gripping his buttocks in my hands, as he thrust himself back and forth over my tongue. The feel of a meaty cock in my mouth is one of the tiny pleasures of my life. I don’t understand women who don’t enjoy the control of sucking a dick. Even with him up there, gripping the wall and thrusting like a mad monkey; I still had control. Sucking and flicking my tongue, I could feel his body shake and jitter whenever I hit the perfect spot. When he came, I was able to swallow it all without a problem. Gulping it down and dealing with the bitter taste. I’m not a fan of the taste of cum, I’m a fan of the reaction swallowing it like a champ gets. The thought of the act is sexier and more motivating than any displeasure from the bitterness. It’s almost enough for me to cum, though I’ll admit that I had lost focus on his butt and was touching myself through the last of it. 

When he decided to take me, he wasn’t gentle. Not that I don’t like a little tenderness, but I enjoy when a man is being a man; as long as he knows I’m letting him be a man. I don’t like to be dominated. No, not my thing. I like a man to take charge sometimes. There’s a difference.

As he turned me over, I lifted my ass and swished my tail. Gave him a show of that thick bubble butt of mine. I was proud of it. Round, pretty, not too big; but definitely big enough. I worked hard to get in shape, y’know. Worked the glutes and did many squats. Not to impress men mind you, but in general. Being impressive is just a nice little added bonus. I love putting it on them when they’re behind me. Waiting for them to level themselves and get the head in just enough to where I know I can just push back. The little yelp is just fun and well... I get off on it.

Oh my lord sugar, he and I fucked for the better part of that hour. I can still remember his hands on my hips trying to hold on for dear life. I about backed him off the bed at one point and he pulled me up by my shoulders trying to hang on. I felt like one of them bucking mares putting a young colts through his paces. Yeah, they got ritual for that in Stallios. Before you can be stallion you gotta learn to run and ride. Kofi knew how to ride. But I was still gonna make him earn it. 

Eventually he got me down on my back and with my legs up in the air it was apparent that he had had enough my wilding on him. He gave me a feverish grin as he pounded that pussy and gripped me at the back of the knees. His cock wasn’t the biggest or best I’d ever had, but he sure knew how to work it. I came a couple of times. A small one at first and then a really big one. I’d like to say I rode the waves all the way to the end and we laid together staring at each other in the moonlight, but nah, that shit didn’t happen. Drunk people don’t fall asleep gracefully after sex. Especially good sex. I don’t know about you, but I pass the fuck out. The only thing I stared into that night was complete blackness.

One thing I teach new Ravens is that you never want to get so drunk that you lose your faculties. No one in the order can be a drunkard or an alcoholic. A Raven Knight’s equipment is both powerful and valuable. You must always be mindful of that when you lay your head down. I now teach that as it was taught to me. Though I’ll admit that night I had not well represented the lesson. I had been in standard uniform dress, so not my full gear set; but even still my kit had value. At the time I carried a Mana Blade, signature weapon for a Raven Knight. My uniform itself also carried a stone or two as well within it’s armor and belt. Enchantments that aided me on the battlefield. Items that any unscrupulous fool might wish to steal. My instructor would have been pissed if he had found out some thief in the night was able to enter my bed chamber and rifle through my things without me waking. 

No I did not awake when the thief came through the window. I did not awake when the thief went through my things. I did not awaken when he went through Kofi’s things. What awoke me was the jerk of the bed as he pressed down on it to loom over Kofi. I awoke slowly, but was immediately struck by something heavy. A billy or a sap. It hurt like hell. The assailant whipped it across my face and I saw light for a few moments. I’m tough girl, but even I took a tumble off the bed after that. I hit the ground and made the conscious decision not to move right away. 

‘A thief, not a killer,’ I thought through the pain. He had me dead to rights. A blade would have ended me. So he wanted something, but not from me. On the ground I could see my kit in the light of the moon, what he wanted was not something of mine.

‘Where is it!?’ he snarled. I could hear Kofi gasp as he pressed against him. I didn’t know if he had a knife to Kofi’s throat or if he was strangling him with the sap. All I knew is that I had to play it safe for the moment. This guy had the upper hand. Though I could rise and overpower him after my head stopped vibrating, I knew if he had knife to Kofi that he could end him before I could do anything to stop it. Instead of panicking and doing something stupid, I waited for the best opportunity to act. That’s also something I teach my young ravens. You’ve got to know when to strike. Too soon or too late and the whole game is up. 

‘Where is the book Kofi!?’ he asked him again. This time I could hear his accent clearly. He was definitely Valdinian. I first suspected he was most likely a snow leopard or a bear. They were the most common races in Valdis. My ego took a small hit when I found out the assailant was a damn binturong. Dirty little bearcats. That corney smell they all have is unmistakable. It ain’t bad... just distinct. The ‘Bitches of Valdis’ folks call them. Most of them are low lives and bottom feeders. Second class citizens who do whatever, whenever to get by. I know that’s terrible to think. I don’t normally like to generalize an entire race, but binturong’s tend to be skeezy by nature. Even before the baptism it was said that their culture had very little in the way of scrupuls. Now as a servant race to the leopards of Valdis; the binturong are the go to thug for all kinds of dastardly work. I’d fought many of them in the Valdinian siege of Pandorica. I’ll admit to having some prejudice. They’re dirty fighters without honor. It was my prejudice that fueled my indignity at being floored by the little shit. I know, ‘a true knight understands that the character of a kinling, not his race or culture defines him.’ Adelheim the Just said that. I teach it too. It’s a lesson you gotta keep teaching yourself. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you forget.

Having forgotten it, thoroughly and a little bit in my ego; I decided I would wait for Kofi to answer the little shit and then attack. People’s focus pulls in when they are listening to someone they are interrogating. They’re paying attention for signs of deception. The masked bearcat asked Kofi a third time and Kofi responded with anger. He told the bearcat that he didn’t care about the ‘Keepers’ and that they were just as bad as the Druids. Kofi told the guy to go fuck himself and to go back to his masters and tell them they could fuck themselves too. The binturong didn’t get a chance to respond. I knew the insult would take all of his focus. With his sap raised in the air ready to strike Kofi in retaliation he wasn’t prepared for my attack. I pounced on his scruffy ass like one of the ferals of old; teeth bared, claws out and roaring. I could see his beady black eyes get big and his brow raise in shock as I slammed into him. 

I’ll give him this. The little bastard was tougher than I thought. I tackled him to the ground with my pounce and then immediately tossed his ass into the wall. He took it well, rising up to meet me. He got to take in my full majesty in the moonlight. Had to be a pants shitting sight to see me there, grinning evilly, standing naked and unafraid. I’m an intimidating figure when I want to be.

‘I’ve got the book.’ I shouted.’ C’mon boy... TAKE IT FROM ME!’ I was really feeling myself. I wanted nothing more than for him to rush up and try me. I’d put down dozens just like him in the war, one more wasn’t going to be a problem. He looked around the room. Trying to find the book. Instead he got to see my uniform on the floor, now better illuminated in the moonlight. His eyes darted back to me and then back to Kofi.

‘Fuck...?’ he muttered.

I’d like to say I kicked his ass. That I held him down and made him spill his guts. Made him tell me who he was and what he wanted, but that didn’t happen. Before I could get my hands on the little bastard, Kofi stopped me. I was sure as hell gonna protest, but I didn’t know what was going on, so I played along. Kofi knew something of the guy. If not who he was, but where he came from and what he was about. He asked the guy why he’d attacked him and why getting the book back was so important. I found out that there were several copies of the book, each rewritten by people called; ‘Keepers’. I found out that they copied from a master book and used excellent illustrations to recreate the books. The one Kofi carried was one of the original recreations from long ago. From what I was hearing, Kofi had taken it to study legally. The two were apart of the same order it seemed. Kofi was a bit confused on why he was attacked and demanded an answer. That’s when calm, collected Kofi got the first shock of the night.

‘It’s the only one left that we know of. The council suspected you had been compromised or corrupted. That you betrayed us... the Athenaeum in Valdis has been destroyed!’ the bearcat cried. Kofi looked like someone gave him swift kick in the good ol’ boys. I didn’t know what an Athenaeum was, but I ain’t stupid. I can infer. Was a library or archive of some kind. Keepers keep records and Kofi was a scholar. Didn’t need a lot explanation or exposition to come up with that bit of brilliant deduction. Whatever the Keepers and Kofi did was secret. Had something to do with antediluvian histories and maybe Kofi walking round with that book of his got the wrong kind of attention for his buddies back home. See, I’m actually quite brilliant when I want to be. Not all tits and ass this gal. My brain’s my best asset. Even if I’m a little knickered.

Most of what I thought was confirmed, but I got a shock myself when the binturong; whose name turned out to be Gillford of all things, told us who had destroyed their... uh... ‘Athenaeum’. God that’s a mouth full. Suppose they can’t call it the Library... might get the mages all in a huff. Anyway, Kofi had made several arguments, refuting Gil’s claims. But the bearcat was insistent. In his hysteria, Kofi let slip a lot of things about the Keepers. They were a secret,  ancient group themselves, they could fight and they had once been the agents of the Druids. So they were powerful in their own right. I found out later that the Raven Knights are well aware of the Keepers, but do not pursue them for one reason or another. The most important being that at any given moment, a Druid could be gunning for them. Gil said that a single Druid came and destroyed the Athenaeum and all the Keepers who stood against her.

‘Sorry sugar, you’re cute... but not cute enough to get involved in that.’ I said bluntly upon hearing that. Druids, no fucking thank you.

It all hit me then. His talk of druid conspiracies. His knowledge of ancient legends and lore. Shit not many scholars knew or even believed. Hell the very concept of ancient machina is seen as preposterous to most learned men. But whatever the Keepers are involved with got them a personal visit from a Druid. I’ve never seen a Druid in action. But I’ve been to the Keep in Bast. I’ve seen the Knight’s Arcanus and felt the scar in the flow that the Druids represent. Like wild mana gone absolutely ape shit. No, no, no... a thousands times no. I got up, got my shit and was about to leave stark ass naked, but Kofi stopped me.

‘You are in no danger,’ he said softly. The look on his would be assailant face said otherwise. I wish could say I was smart. That I walked away, but I didn’t. Curious cats y’know. 

Kofi claims that the old world was destroyed by a war of power. Something that was created to bring peace and order. He also claims that machina, magic, mana and all the disciplines of power we have in the world are only a fraction of what was before. That there is a secret history to the world and that the Druids primary goal is to keep that history from us for some reason. The Keepers used to work for them, gathering and cataloguing knowledge and strange occurrences. Finding old artifacts and bringing them to the Druids. But the druids never shared this knowledge with the world, they just hid it. The Keepers never knew why and eventually broke of from them. Kofi said the Druids are more than they seem and that we can’t even fathom the control they actually have, the threat they represent. I know how powerful a Druid is. They fucking made the Eternians. Who doesn’t understand the power they wield? Apparently I didn’t, cause Kofi said that’s just the first sip of the nip. He asked me to be careful and said he’d keep in touch. I asked if he would be okay with Gil, but he didn’t believe the Valdinian was much a threat anymore. 

I left the Inn then, confused, worried, and intrigued. Kofi had opened my eyes to something I had never really suspected. Was he right? Were all these conspiracies about the Druids real? I could almost think so, but I wasn’t sure. However, as I made my way back to the Nest, I encountered a Druid for the first time. 

‘Hold there young Knight,’ a voice called from behind me. I turned and there she was. For someone who can sense the flow, feel mana... I have no idea how she got that close to me without me shitting myself. I could not see her face under her hood, but I knew what she was. The Druids don’t exactly hide what they are... they can’t. She wore that ornate hooded garb they all wear. It was beautifully crafted with black, gold and white cloths. The symbol of their order, the fist holding the torch was adorned on the front. She carried one of those ‘Black Staves of the Order’, like you read about in books. It looked thick and heavy, carved in an octagon and polished so it shined in the new day’s light. Writing in the ancient tongue adorned it in runes down each side and on either end was an orange globe that seemed to be trapped in roots that connected it to the staff. I got a real good look as she pointed it at me. My heart froze.

‘Fear not child, I mean you know harm. Yours is a noble order that keeps the flow; that serves the balance.’ she said. Let me be honest, it took several deep breaths for me to find my courage.

‘What is it you want of me?’ I asked trying to keep my voice from trembling. The Druid smiled and reached out to me. I flinched but did not stop her. If she wished me dead, then dead I’d be.

‘So lovely, so beautiful... I’ve heard great things about you Megogo. Your line has done great things.’ she said. She then did something rather strange. She removed her hood and showed me her face. I was... astounded. I could barely speak. She was... young looking. Like, very young. No more than fifteen or sixteen. She was a white tiger. She had a round face and big, bright, violet eyes like irises. Her muzzle was small and cute, and she smelled of lilac. Her hair was gorgeous, the color of indigo and curly. It flowed down to the mid of her back. She was adorable. I wanted to reach out and pinch her... but I dare not. I could still feel her. I still knew what she was; a scar in the flow.

She surprised me then. Hugging me. She hugged me tight like a child hugs a mother. 

‘You are burdened with incredible purpose,’ she began.

‘Dame Megogo, you and your order are the legacy of Bast.’ she invoked the name of the Kingdoms matriarch, the Druid Bast who founded Lioncourt and gave rise to the original Raven Knights. It’s a legend we all know well. It’s something I’ve taught in introduction each time we get a new batch of hopefuls. To hear a Druid say it added weight and legitimacy to it. They were immortal, they would know. I wanted to speak. To ask her questions. What did she want? Why was she here? What was this incredible purpose I had? Was it me specifically or the Raven Knights? I’d like to say I stood up to her. That I was a woman! No, a true knight.  That I showed my mettle and demanded answers. To be treated with the respect I deserved. But I did not. Honey you gotta understand that I felt powerless under the weight of her presence. I just stood there and listened to what she had to say.

‘Do not concern yourself with the Keepers. Theirs is an order that seeks know what no one should know. Their carelessness could unbalance the future. Knowledge can be just as dangerous as elderian beast or powerful talisman in the wrong hands. I’m sure as a Raven Knight you understand. You defend the world from dangerous magics, creatures and extraordinary things that you can’t hope to understand. You are right to do so. We protect the world from the greatest power there is, knowledge and the misuse of knowledge. It can be just as deadly as anything you face out there in wilds.’ She released me then and smiled at me warmly. She looked like a kid.

‘I will make a covenant with you. The same we made with the Keepers long ago. Keep safe the knowledge that you hold and no harm will come to you. You will protect this world with your silence. But know that we will do whatever is necessary to protect the world. Sometimes that means destroying something that is utterly beautiful.’ Her tone didn’t change, but the threat was very apparent. Still, the tear in her eye was real. I didn’t know if she was thinking of having to kill me or having to have destroyed the Athenaeum, if she was indeed the same Druid. 

Now, I’ve said many times that I’m a smart gal. That I generally know what’s what. But we all got our ticks y’know and I don’t rightly like being threatened. Sure, it was round about and polite. But it was definitely a threat. Worse, I don’t like people threatening others. I’d only known Kofi for a few hours at that point and there I was ready to spit in the face of the all-powerful on his behalf. Don’t think I was sweet on him. I mean, he slings a mighty good dick, but no dick’s that good. It’s the principal if you can believe it. I like him as man. I like the way he carries himself and what he stands for. I’d later tell myself I barely knew the guy. He could’ve been a right asshole and I wouldn’t have known. I’d have been obliterated for nothing. That didn’t stop me from saying;

‘And what of the Keepers. You just going to kill them to keep what they know buried!?’ I tried to sound as menacing as I could, but I’m certain I sounded more like a dragon fly than a dragon.

The Druid took no offense, to my great relief. She put her hood back on and turned from me.

‘The Keepers will ‘keep’ their covenant with us. A shame they needed to be reminded of it. You ‘friend’ will not be harmed. You are free to continue your sexual liaison.’ She made a joke and she giggled. She seemed very normal for a moment. I wanted to ask how she knew about Kofi and I, but that was a stupid question. She was a Druid, what didn’t she know. I heard her walk off and around the corner, she did not disguise her retreat. I did not follow. I instead made my way quickly back to the Raven’s Nest and swore off drinking for some time.

Though I’ve never seen that Druid again or Gil, me and Kofi have kept in touch over the years. He’d show up randomly in the bar maybe once or twice a year and we’d talk about his conspiracies over a bit of Vesperian Black. Sometimes, we’d have a bit of fun. He inspired me to look into not just the Druid conspiracies, but other conspiracies as well. It became a small hobby of mine. He always said though, if anything ever happened to him, if their was ever a problem; he’d let me know. Our friendship and physical relationship went on for a long time. He was one of my favorite casual relationships. I never knew when he would show up, but I always welcomed his arrival. Now I’m afraid that it’s all over. And I’m scared for him.

I tell you this story because I need you to know how it started, cause I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t know what to do. Ten years have past and it’s all just been a hobby, but yesterday I was in the bar and Gertie walked up to me with a confused look on her face. She said a binturong had come into the bar a week before and gave her some coin. She was instructed to give me a package and buy me a glass of Vesperian Black. When I opened up the parcel, to my surprise it was one of Kofi’s books. Inside was a letter saying; ‘Be careful, they’ll be watching...’.

I haven’t heard from Kofi since. Gretie says the bearcat never showed his face back at the bar. I have not been able to figure out what’s happened or what has been going on. I don’t know who to speak to about this. I feel like I don’t know who to trust. I hid the book and I told no one. I now have my Ravenhawk watching my back at all times. I’m not an easily shaken woman, but this whole thing gives me the ‘hibbie jibbies’. Still, I have to do something; which means I have to tell someone. So I thought, I better write this down. What if I up and vanish like Kofi; stranger things happen every day. So this is to anyone whoever finds this journal and the book it is attached to. ‘Be careful, once you know; they’ll be watching you.’