114 - The Lost Sun Society Pt. 2 [Cherno] (Patreon)

Most of them lacked any edge, exuding the aura of high-level enthusiasts and geeks. The Lost Sun Society decisively leaned on the side of a glorified clubhouse rather than a true occult society; that didn’t discredit it as a place for gathering intel, and it certainly made it easier for Krahe. She nonetheless disliked it, simply due to how hokey the occult facade felt in its discordance with what was truly behind the veil.

It felt like walking into a historical orthodox church, only to be met by stage lights and a plastic-faced prosperity preacher behind the pulpit.

“I, Zachariah Ahmadi, who carry the burden of Speaker, shall now receive the Members’ votes and render up my judgment as to whether or not Brunhilde Krahe shall be accepted into our midst.”

With one gesture, dozens of yellow talismans flew out from the sleeves of his robe, hovering before each of the members. Going by the reaction this got, it was new. It also immediately confirmed that the Speaker was her contact. Murmurs of the Talisman Mistress abounded, while a steady trickle of the papers was sent flying back to Zachariah, as one by one the members simply touched the papers and sent tiny wisps of thauma into them. They arrayed in a wall in front of him, then, once all were gathered, Zachariah crossed his hands. With a bombastic gesture of throwing his arms wide, he sent them into a swirling, indistinguishable mass, which, after a few moments, separated into two distinct groups. From Krahe’s perspective, the left-hand group was three-and-a-half to four times larger than the right-hand one.

“A more contentious vote than I had expected, but I understand why some of our esteemed Members may be hesitant to admit a late-stage anathemist into our ranks. For this reason, I would like to make it clear that anathemism alone is not a disqualifying factor… It is the deleterious effects it often has on the practitioner’s ability to function within our Society without breaching its other rules.”

Another gesture, and the papers all retreated inside his sleeves.

“If anyone wishes to protest the results of this vote, this is your opportunity to do so.”

Unsurprisingly, given the vote results, someone did. A lanky saurian with an appearance on the “humanoid dinosaur” side. It was a woman, going by the voice. By her robes, proximity to Zachariah, and the small wave of murmurs, she seemed to be a respected, higher-ranked member. She managed to pick out the objector’s first name as well: Sorayah.

“Regardless of whether or not she is a capable occultist, and regardless of whatever magical means she uses to animate her arm, the advanced stage of Ms. Brunhilde’s anathemic poisoning cannot be ignored. It is known that once the carbonization reaches an anathemist’s face, she only has a short and painful few months to live. Many among our number have seen what lengths anathemists go to in these final months, and though I loath to deny a desperate soul the hope which the Lost Sun Society may seem to offer, I must raise my most severe objection for the good of us all.”

While the lizard-woman talked, Krahe raised her hand, rolling her wrist and carrying out various hand exercises while explicitly not channeling an iota of magic, as a way to make it abundantly clear that she wasn’t suffering from any such deleterious effects. This earned her a handful of venomous glares, and another handful of either envious ones.

“For the record, I do not suffer from any of the effects of acute or chronic anathema poisoning.”

“Surely, you cannot expect us to believe such claims at face value,” another individual cut in. Male. Pale, soft-voiced and baby-faced. It was a fair point.

“Surely, in this society of the occult, individuals with abnormal constitutions are both known and present - the fact that the Speaker uses the works of Talisman Mistress Yao Fu is proof enough.”

Another wave of murmurs came: “Yao Fu?... Is that her name?... How would she know?”

Zachariah’s expression changed at that, a brief moment of surprise flashing over his features, while Sorayah’s face soured.

“I do not see how the Talisman Mistress, whatever her actual name is, plays into this. Are you just trying to distract from your own state?”

“What state? Perfect health?” Krahe laughed. She turned her attention to the Speaker, approaching him, pointedly ignoring Sorayah. “I wish to make it abundantly clear that I neither care for nor intend to participate in whatever clique politics Sorayah is so obviously concerned with. This, in itself, ought to placate her with the knowledge that I am too busy with matters of my own to attempt ousting her from whatever position she holds within this Society. There are only two reasons for me to join your Lost Sun Society: The first is advancement of my occultism, and though I’m sure that those of a higher rank in the Society have easier access to its resources, I would rather contend with the beasts of Jas’raba than power-playing snakes. As for the second… It is the search for a Tarnished Jade Flower. ”

Tarnished Jade Flower; it was a phrase from one of Nozar’s contacts who had done business with Yao. It was, supposedly, the phrase she had given when asked how she might be contacted for further business. The man had used it as payment, and Nozar, in turn, demanded payment for it as well - this being a second phial of Class 3 Pain Suppressant.

“You have made your point. As I have already mentioned, the practice of anathemism alone is not grounds for rejection, and besides carbodermatism, itself a comorbidity, you do not appear to exhibit any of the acute symptoms of late-stage anathema poisoning…”

Zachariah stumbled through a bramble of his own words for another twenty seconds, for whose entire span Sorayah stared daggers into Krahe… And Krahe kept her gaze on Zachariah. At last, he finished: “...henceforth, Brunhilde Krahe, thou may count thyself among the ranks of the Lost Sun Society. There yet remain some matters of ritual to deal with in private before you become a true member, and I shall contact you regarding them within the next two hours. For the time being, explore our facilities and library. I trust that you will find its contents second to none besides the greater agencies, the restricted sections of the Twin Churches’ Temple of Records, and perhaps some private collections.”