The Three Dark Angels

Date: Sextilis 11, Year 2027 of the Second Age
Templar: Grid 96W , 4S
4:41 PM, Local time
5 Years ago


The Outlands: How and why does the Outlands exist?
A study of the Outlands by Dr. Mark Ingram
2006, Montanian University publishing


The Outlands, perhaps one of the most unique and puzzling societies to have ever existed in Magicka's history, has caused many to ask the question, how is it stable as it is today? How has such a society survived the tests of time, when many have not?
As it is understood, the Outlands, simply and crudely put, is a lawless society of outcasts and criminals where they will not be prosecuted by the Magi government. A confederate of crime lord families, if you will. The idea of the Outlands was first proposed by MaHandis Delores, known as Wiseman 3 at the time, and in short, the idea put forth that due to the powerful criminal element and the Magi's inability to confront it head it on without risking major casualties and even civil war, it was better to yield to them in an unconventional manner.
MaHandis proposed that these elements would be given their own land to live, which the Magi would help construct, and here, in their designated territory, they would be allowed to live their lives completely free of Magi law and jurisdiction, and would only be required to interact with the Magi on an economic level. In return, these elements would not harass the Magi, and while in official Magi territory, they will be obligated to obey the standing laws of the Magi.
In short, MaHandis was offering the opposition the option to secede and form their own state separate from the Magi government.
But why go through so much trouble and with such a radical proposition? In the history of the Tech world, no criminal element has ever been truly powerful enough to force a standing government to yield to them, and especially would never allow them to secede and form their own state.
However, in the Magi world, the rules of life in general are different. Magic is power, but it is more than just physical strengths or the power of the elements that can be wielded. It is also powerful on all levels of Magi society, ranging from social power to political power.
(The sole exception in this case is the Wisemen, who are chosen by random select individuals among the populace, and in a manner that follows the same basic steps and principals as a criminal trial, these individuals choose the Wisemen. The individuals become the jury, and each candidate (which requires recommendations from two of the current Wisemen) must present a convincing argument, a period of time which can last for weeks or even months, which is then closed up with a final live debate and questioning by the jurors. The jurors then decide by vote the candidate who becomes the next Wiseman.)
With magic, if it is powerful enough, one could challenge the entirety of the Magi world, along with our own. For example, a Magi terrorist would be able to easily walk into a theater, stadium, any such location completely unarmed, and on a moment's notice, could go hostile and cause immense destruction and death before the individual would be brought down.
It would be just as easy for such an individual to stand near an airport and destroy commercial aircraft as they approach or take off. And this is just one of many examples. If this kind of terrorism existed in our world, it would truly breed an unparalleled form of chaos.
This was the case in the year 520 when MaHandis Delores when he first proposed the idea of creating the Outlands. He understood that with the power the 'families' which they were faced with at the time were close the matching the power of the Dragoons, since these 'families' were also the elites of the Magi world at the time. This was the first and only time in Magi history that non Wisemen were able to actively debate with and negotiate with the Wisemen in person, rather than done through the normal relay channels that such a process would go through.
After ten months of heated debates, including some very close moments where a civil war would have broken out, an agreement was finally reached and construction of the Outlands began. As promised, the Magi helped build and pay for the construction of the first city, the capitol of the Outlands, Juniper, and is the only city that the Magi would officially help construct and pay for.
In 536 Juniper was completed, and the Outlands was officially established, and it's history can be described as almost chaotic. A brutal society where killing was openly allowed and even accepted, the Outlands would go through a number of extreme moments in it's long history.
The entire society, in effect, has collapsed four known times in it's history. First in 582, then in 942, then in 1367, and the last time in 1688. Each collapse, however, has lead to a reconstruction, and in each reconstruction, strangely enough, the society became less and less extreme and more 'lawful' if one could call it that.
Instead of written rules, there are unspoken rules. First, as long as you don't cross someone or aren't indebted to someone, you would left completely unharmed, except for a smaller element of common criminals just like in any other city, Tech or Magi.
Another unspoken rule concerning this particular element is if you have the power to defend yourself, then you are completely free to do so, even if you kill the offending individual in the process. However, if you do not, don't expect anyone to help you, not unless you want to be indebted to them. And one does not want to be indebted to an Outlander, much as one would not want to be indebted to a major crime lord.
Although such rules do exist to a degree, they are also easily broken, though it is not as commonplace as one might think. Families at war with one another still conduct business with each other, critical business which allows their society to function. Certain locations are left alone, such as places of worship, certain agreed convenience stores, local bars, and other agreed locations.
In my research for this book, I personally have traveled to Juniper, curious to study this strange social element which has survived the tests of time.
(Of course, it wouldn't be noted in this book the pain that Mark had gone through just to journey to the Outlands. First, he had to fly from Montania on a ten plus hour flight with three relay stops all the way to the southern nation of Atlantis, and along with Xerxes, is the only door to the Magi world, since travel across the Lost Desert or the Sea of Chaos was near impossible. But Xerxes' ports were on the northern side of the Pangaea, while the Outlands were on the south side of the Pangaea, so he had been forced to travel to the more distant nation of Atlantis. This was followed by a several day trip on water in a not so comforting boat ride where he was brought to Nekropolis, and that was followed by a several week horse carriage out to the Outlands as a Magi ambassador, something that the Outlanders were willing to allow. Thankfully, they had been decent hosts, but Mark had never felt truly comfortable during his stay in the Outlands. He found himself always looking over his shoulders constantly, unsure of what he would find at times, a habit which continues to this day. Never again would he feel so mortal in his life except on his deathbed.)
During my stay in the Outlands, I have made a number of observations of the unique manners in how this society operates, and how, despite the seemingly open field for disaster, the Outlands remains a rather stable state of it's own, completely free from any written law or 'official' government. In the end however, I was unable to answer a satisfactory answer of the question of why it works. I can only present my findings, and it is up to you, the reader, to decide what the answer is...



Aegis had been trying all week, but it was to no avail. All week he had been convincing himself that he shouldn't do this, that the idea was ridiculous. In fact, he had specifically come up with the idea just to reject it outright. Yet here he was, about to do it.

That girl...she just wouldn't go away. Somehow, that face...those eyes...just...her...everything about her spoke to him in ways he could not control or contain. And now he was about to begin his hunt for her. He had to find her. It was easily the most wasteful quest he could ever take, but it was one that a very strong part of him demanded that he attempt. Even if he never found her again, and the chances of even finding her in the first place was remote at best, it didn't matter.

He had to make the attempt. The prospect of finding her was just too great for him to ignore, no matter how slim the chance. It was worth that chance, and Aegis did not know why. He did, yet he didn't. He knew that at nineteen years of age he had desires, physical impulses, and so on. He had sat down with both Azreal and Angelus for these specific topics and how to avoid them, prevent them from taking control and doing unnecessary things like what Aegis was about to do.

Yet all of that preparation still didn't compare to what the real thing was, what having this kind of attraction was really like. Aegis had been running all of these speeches in his mind over and over, and it was like he was speaking to a brick wall of himself.

Aegis emerged from his bedroom, ready to venture into the evening. He knew where to start, at least. Even if she was not a regular of the place they had gone to last week, one of the others most likely was, and Aegis had taken the time to remember their faces very carefully, the faces of those who, if Aegis was correct, where the ones who caused that girl to wear that face of death and emptiness. The ones who he...no, he didn't know the full situation yet. Who they were and what their relationship to the girl was, he didn't know that yet, so there was no reason to start jumping to rash conclusions.

Aegis walked past Angelus, who was in the living room and playing cards with himself with a cup on the table near his cards, which was half full and very dark. Azreal was at work.

"Yo! Where you off to?" Angelus asked, seeing Aegis walking towards the front door.

"Out." Aegis answered as he opened the door.

"Out? What the fuck does that mean?"

"Exactly what it means. I'm going out, and I'll be back later."

"Are you going out on another crusade mission again!?" Aegis heard Angelus call out as he closed the door behind him. Aegis cracked a smile in that ironically, Angelus had guessed correctly. Yes, he was out on another crusade, a very foolish and stupid crusade, a mission which he shouldn't even bother himself with.

With that thought he set out to his destination. On the bright side, the warm summer air still was still hanging around even as the sun was beginning to set.



Since Aegis had gotten here somewhat early, for the sun hadn't even fully set yet, Maloney's was not as crowded as it was when Aegis saw it last week. In fact, when compared to last week, it was empty.

A few small crowds were scattered about on the tables or playing games, and a few individuals scattered in a small space at the bar, and that was it. The entire establishment was easy to see, and Aegis was now properly able to appreciate it's size, which was more impressive than Aegis would have expected.

But, none of them were any of the four that Aegis was searching for, so, he made his way to the bar and sat down in a somewhat isolated spot, and proceeded to order his dinner, waiting out his time here.

When he had finished eating, the crowd had multiplied in that short time, and Aegis faithfully and carefully watched the door, scanning each face as it came in. But now, with the place getting more and more crowded, it was becoming difficult to see the door.

At the same time, now that it was more crowded, he could also relocate and not look suspicious. Aegis ordered a beer for himself, and once he got it he moved away from the bar and to one of the tables at the end of the building that had a straight view to the door that was less likely to be blocked by the incoming crowds.

Time dragged on as he waited, his eyes drifting between the glass before him, which he was drinking very slowly, and the door which was directly in front of him, carefully watching each face as it entered. As he did so, he chided himself on the fact that he was even out here in the first place, wasting his time with a needless obsession. She was just a girl, and he was just nineteen year old male acting on base instincts, the ultimate desire to reproduce, and nothing more.

As Aegis thought about it, he wondered if that was all of it. Maybe there was another hidden answer right underneath all of that. It was also true that for most of his life to this point, he had been alone as he raised Angelus and Azreal to this point. Because of that and the strain of the times, Aegis had virtually no time to spare for himself. He was always with or doing something for Azreal or Angelus. But now, with them growing up and spending more time at work and the three of them, in a way, slowly drifting apart, Aegis wondered if that was the reason. That now, with his responsibilities slowly fading away, he was looking for something new to be responsible for.

The girl...and that look...it was something he could relate to, something very difficult to find. When it came to most people, they were normal in the fact that they had a home and family, that they had a childhood, and thus are able to see the world through vastly different eyes than Aegis. For a long time, they had no home, and were forced to give up their childhood to survive, especially Aegis. He had strived to give up as much as he could to allow the other two to have something resembling a normal childhood, to give them as normal of a life as he possibly could. It was difficult to try and relate to someone who has not carried the heavy burdens of life yet, which was just about everyone at his age.

But that girl...that look...those eyes...he could relate to it. He knew what it was like to wear that look of despair, and what it means. Most of all, such a beautiful and seemingly gentle creature should never have to wear such an expression, one that sapped her beauty the way that it did.

Maybe it wasn't all teenage libido that brought him out here tonight, but it still didn't change that, like a fool, here he was. And things would only get worse, and it did, in the form of four confident women who were sure they could penetrate any ice wall, including the one Aegis possessed. No such luck for them, and they were gone as quickly as they had arrived. Aegis didn't say anything to draw negative attention, but he also made it clear that he was here on business, and not fun.

At long last, about halfway into the deep night, Aegis finally found a familiar face, the same man who had been sitting across from the girl when Aegis had seen them last week. Short brown hair, blue eyes, middle aged man starting to show the signs of aging. The 'target', as Aegis was now calling him, entered with three other individuals, none whom Aegis recognized.

As they made their way to the bar, Aegis stood, moving to a location to where he could more closely observe his target, both to listen to whatever conversations he has and to see how many drinks he takes. Aegis saw that there was an open barstool not too far down from the man, with no empty glasses, and Aegis took the opportunity while it was available and sat down.

"Do you want something sir?" The blonde haired blue eye man asked from behind the bar, who had spotted Aegis as he sat down. Aegis was impressed by how quick he had arrived, for he had been in mid conversation with his target and the others with him.

"Just a Heid please."

"Four money please."

Aegis pulled the change from his pocket and handed it over.

"Okay, one Heid coming right up." The bartender said as he went to work, and was back with Aegis' glass instantly.

"Here you go, enjoy."

Aegis nodded. "Thank you." He responded, and the bartender moved on. As Aegis sipped from his glass, he focused his senses on the rather loud conversation going on just a few stools down, though he was careful not to turn his head or keep his eyes in their direction for long periods of time. The target was currently speaking, who seemed to have quite a drop of arrogance in his voice.

"...so I says to him, 'look, you're a good kid, really, and I like you, but I gotta agree with the big man, he wants you out and so do I.' I then said 'listen, it's nothing personal, you're just an unlucky guy. A hazard waiting to happen, you've just fucked up too many times.' Now I know he's getting pissed, I can see it clear as day in his eyes, and he almost showed it but he kept his calm. I thought he was just being smart, that as angry as he was at us letting him go might have made him, because he really wanted to be part of the family, I thought that he was just controlling himself and keeping himself from doing something rash. Boy was I wrong."

"Anyway, he says to me, 'but sir, I want to be a part of the Tristan family, I'll do better in the future, I promise. I'll learn, I swear I'll do anything you ask me. I says 'no, I'm sorry. It just can't happen, especially after you leaked out that deal which got hijacked by the fucking Bernards. That was the last straw, you cost the boss more money than you're worth. That is the simple bottom line.' Now here he gets really flared up again, and again he does nothing. Instead he just bows, says 'I understand' and walks out. I figured that would be the end of it, that he'd at least have a little common sense, stays away, and just goes back home or something. Instead the fucker goes and appeals to the Bernard family, selling the information of us that he had in order to buy his way in to them"

"For weeks the Bernards harassed everything concerning our deals with Tristan because believe it or not, this retard actually knew a lot of valuable things that the Bernards were able to put together, I guess. But, go fucking figure around two months later..."

"The idiot makes a mistake again and you guys catch him." Another man finished, whom Aegis did not see speak.

"Bingo! Except it wasn't us who got him, but Tristan. And at this point, he was red hot pissed and we all already suspected Edward by this time. Personally, I think the Bernards set him up to be caught just to fuck with us and make us clean up our own mess before he ruined them."

One of the men whistled. "Tristan got him? The guy was fucked wasn't he?"

"Hold on, there's more. Now I hadn't been there when Tristan got started with him, who had confessed to everything by the time I got there. Anyway, I walk in, and one of Tristan's men was there waiting for me, and says Tristan wanted to show me something that I was gonna like. Now I didn't know at the time that they had gotten Edward, so I was scared shitless as the guy led me to the lower dungeons of the mansion. I walk into one of the rooms and Tristan is there with a few of his guys and Edward..."

"Hanging from the ceiling, wasn't he?" A third man spoke, sounding like he was ready to laugh.