《Board & Conquest: A Godly LitRPG》 Chapter 1: A Day in the Heavens The hunt had reached its climax. Brave Atalanta, princess of Arcadia, raised her silver bow under the pale moonlight. The hideous beast, a werewolf of monstrous size, glared at her with his pale red eyes. His black fur glistened with the blood of her slain companions and his fangs snapped at her with the strength to crush stones. Their corpses lay dispersed around them across the grassy battlefield alongside the remains of the monster¡¯s pack. Only the two of them remained. But Atalanta did not waver. Her goddess was watching. ¡°This is the end!¡± she shouted to the moon and the stars, her bow surging with divine power. An arrow of light formed in her hand and illuminated the night. ¡°For Arcadia!¡± Her aim was true, her arm steady with determination. But she felt her strength leave her the moment she let her arrow free. The light of her projectile dimmed through vile sorcery, its heavenly radiance diminished. Her arrow bounced off the monster¡¯s fur. The werewolf grabbed Atalanta by the leg before she knew how to react, then flung her around like a ragdoll. Her neck snapped against the ground, killing her instantly. So died Atalanta, Arcadian Princess: smashed to death by a roaring werewolf, who soon howled his victory to the heavens. All under the gods¡¯ watchful gaze.
Artemis has lost her last commander! Wepwawet wins the game!
Wepwawet ¡°Wepy¡± Pesedjet, the wolf-faced god of canines, journeys, and reconnaissance, smirked in triumph. His friend Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, stared at the game board in disbelief; her last unit was savagely mauled by his brave werewolf champion. Their friend Ganesha, who had observed the entire battle, looked at Artemis in disbelief. ¡°Did¡­ did you forget that Werewolves units can keep their true stats hidden until they enter battle?¡± Ganesha asked Artemis. ¡°No, I did not!¡± Artemis glared at the board with sharp eyes glowing like moonlight, her mind struggling to understand how Wepwawet snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. ¡°How?! My Silver Bow raised Atalanta¡¯s damage to twenty-four, twenty-nine with the Beastslayer bonus! You shouldn¡¯t have had enough mana left to summon a werewolf with greater defenses!¡± ¡°True, I did not.¡± Wepwawet pointed at space adjacent to his dear Akhet, Hound of Ramesses. ¡°Remember the Hidden Reinforcements Prophecy that I cast earlier? The one that lets me hide a unit from view until it enters battle or activates a Perk?¡± A miniature appeared on the assigned spot; a small magician with a scepter of twisted wood and a wolf¡¯s skull for a mask. ¡°A Shaman,¡± Artemis muttered to herself before facepalming in annoyance. ¡°Ugh, of course you used a Shaman. I hate those.¡± ¡°His Perks let him negate your unit¡¯s bonuses and invert them,¡± Wepwawet explained. ¡°And as you well know, my unit came with the Counterattack package.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I get it, you won this round.¡± Artemis pouted in her chair, her fingers scratching her long midnight hair in annoyance. Feathers fell off her silver moon diadem. ¡°But I¡¯m gonna trounce you next round!¡± ¡°I never agreed to a best-out-of-three contest!¡± Wepwawet replied with a chuckle. Artemis looked so cute when she was pissed off. ¡°What, are you afraid?¡± Artemis cracked her knuckles as if they were about to start a brawl, her eyes burning with a fierce competitive spirit. She just couldn¡¯t take a loss. ¡°You¡¯re scared I¡¯ll demolish you now that I won¡¯t hold back?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Wepwawet welcomed the challenge. ¡°Bring it!¡± The rest of the class around them were doing their own things while the two friends riled up each other. Watatsumi, Anansi and Sun Wukong were hard at work playing their own three-way B&C game. Wepwawet had no idea who was winning, but from the dragon roars shaking the walls, it wasn¡¯t Watatsumi. Pele, Ishtar, Axomamma, and Epona giggled about the latest divine fashion trend, while Hel lurked in the shadows by herself while typing on her godphone. Only their teacher, Miss Athena, hadn¡¯t arrived yet; alongside the transfer student that would replace Coyote after he flubbed last year¡¯s exams. The class had to have twelve students, for it was a very special year: the moment when they would finally be allowed to watch over a newborn world without their parent pantheons holding their hands or looking over their shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re too reliant on Artifacts, Arty,¡± Ganesha said, scratching his broken tusk with one hand and eating a croissant with the other. The white elephant-headed god of luck and wisdom always had a knack for post-game analysis, and for summoning pastries out of nowhere. ¡°It makes you predictable.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve added new Prophecies and Rituals!¡± Artemis protested as she reworked her deck for the next round. ¡°Hunter¡¯s Dream, Blood Hunt, even Apocalypse: The Everhunt!¡± ¡°But they¡¯re all focused on increasing your champions¡¯ stats or damaging my units,¡± Wepwawet replied. ¡°Plus, your chosen theme is rather¡­ predictable.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you predictable¡­¡± Artemis muttered under her breath. ¡°How about you come to my place tonight?¡± Ganesha suggested. ¡°I¡¯m holding a party, we could do a deck-building session then.¡± ¡°Again?¡± Artemis asked in disbelief. ¡°There¡¯s always a party or another at your place,¡± Wepwawet commented. ¡°How does your pantheon even sleep?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me like that!¡± Ganesha protested with an anxious look on his elephantine face. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault everybody wants a piece of me! When I turn down people¡¯s invitations, they show up at my house anyway! I¡¯ve almost no free time anymore!¡± That was the tragedy of Ganesha. He was the remover of obstacles, so he had never learned how to set boundaries. Wepwawet was about to suggest that he could simply tell people ¡®no¡¯ when the classroom¡¯s door opened. Everyone immediately returned to their seats as Miss Athena entered in her full goddess regalia, her breastplate, spear, and shield gleaming with divine light, her crimson hair flowing under her golden helmet. Though hardly a century older than her half-sister Artemis, Miss Athena had skipped many grades to become Mytholo High¡¯s youngest teacher. Her loyal owl familiar and the class¡¯ mascot Hooty remained perched on her shoulder. Horus walked into the room right after her. Wepwawet¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon recognizing his falcon-headed cousin, and the feeling was mutual. Horus¡¯ piercing eyes of shining sunlight immediately glared at Wepwawet, the scarred one on the left brighter than the other. The sheer mutual animosity in the air was palpable. Everyone in the class noticed it, though Miss Athena pretended not to. ¡°It is a pleasure to welcome you again, young gods of the House of Hope,¡± Athena greeted her students. ¡°As you can see, a new classmate will now replace Coyote during this final year. I ask you all to give him a warm welcome.¡± Wepwawet didn¡¯t say a word. For a goddess of wisdom, Miss Athena could be very thick sometimes. ¡°Horus, would you kindly introduce yourself?¡± Athena asked. The bird-headed stuck-up crossed his muscled arms and stared at the class as if he were better than all of them. ¡°My name is Horus Pesedjet, trueborn son of Isis and Osiris, heir to the throne of the Egyptian pantheon,¡± he said with aristocratic arrogance. ¡°I like winning and dislike defeat. My hobbies are hitting the gym, amateur detective work, and falconry. And my dream¡­¡± Horus focused on Wepwawet. ¡°My dream is to kill someone¡¯s dad!¡± ¡°Oh, screw you!¡± Wepwawet replied angrily. ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll send you back to your nest you little¨C¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Miss Athena said, quietly but firmly. She stomped the ground with the butt of her spear and the class immediately went silent. ¡°I understand your family¡¯s¡­ peculiar situation, but your animosity has no place within these walls.¡± Horus and Wepwawet closed their mouths and stuck to glaring at each other. Anansi raised three of his six arms, catching Miss Athena¡¯s attention. ¡°Yes, Anansi?¡± ¡°I thought we were only supposed to have one representative per pantheon per class, to avoid easy alliances?¡± Anansi asked, his eight eyes dividing their attention between Horus and Wepwawet with equal calculation. Wepwawet knew the spider-god was already scouting out the new competition. ¡°Why make an exception this year?¡± ¡°Wepwawet and Horus can thank their fathers for that,¡± said Miss Athena with a sigh. From her exhausted tone, she must have vigorously argued against the transfer. ¡°The Theology Board agreed to the transfer, since it is unlikely that these two will team up against everyone else. In fact, I strongly expect the opposite.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it,¡± Wepwawet muttered under his breath. He and cousin Horus didn¡¯t get along at all since he and his father Set feuded back on Earth. Athena pointed Horus at Coyote¡¯s unoccupied desk, which was conveniently on the opposite side of Wepwawet¡¯s own. ¡°He¡¯s so cool,¡± Wepwawet heard Pele mutter under her breath as Horus moved to his new seat, much to his annoyance. Miss Athena waited a moment, then calmly addressed the class. ¡°First of all, I would like to congratulate all of you young gods for making it to your final year here at Mytholo High. After so many decades, you are finally ready to manage a world of your own and graduate to independent deities.¡± The entire class held their breaths as Miss Athena waved her spear and summoned the illusion of a planetary sphere: the image of a new world with a single supermassive continent and a smaller island bathed in the glow of twin moons. The last feature immediately caught Artemis¡¯ interest. ¡°This is Elphion, a new planet whose inhabitants have only recently discovered magic and entered its iron age,¡± Miss Athena explained. ¡°Its people have no true gods of their own, and their world¡¯s mana is unstable; making it easy prey for the Titans. As such, you will be deployed there alongside the Pantheon System.¡± Wepwawet would be lying if he said he didn¡¯t find the task daunting. Being deployed on a newborn world meant starting at the bottom of the divine power ladder, with none of his family¡¯s resources nor enough followers to fuel his strongest Miracles; not to mention the danger of facing the titans¡¯ forces without backup. Nonetheless, he could hardly contain his excitement. ¡°So far, you have mostly experienced internships as part of your respective pantheons, where you enjoyed the guidance and protection of older deities,¡± Miss Athena stated. ¡°From tomorrow on, you will be on your own. Each of you shall be entrusted with a young civilization to guide you on the path to progress.¡± All these long years of learning how to shape mana to cast Miracles, how to mark mortal souls as champions, and how to lead mortals on the path to virtue would finally pay off. ¡°Our treaty with the Titanomachy movement means that the Titans will have to defeat you in B&C battles to invade the planet,¡± Miss Athena said gravely. ¡°Your role will thus be to train mortal Champions and lead them to battle during these Incursions. Eventually, the planet¡¯s mana will stabilize enough to produce a barrier capable of keeping the Titans at bay on its own.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Wepwawet would protect that world, and make his parents proud. ¡°Your Idols will represent your anchor to the material plane, and their destruction will result in both your banishment from the material plane and your failure; as will Elphion¡¯s destruction, of course,¡± Miss Athena concluded. ¡°Everyone who hasn¡¯t been banished from Elphion by the time the barrier forms will graduate and receive a grade based on their performance. Your ability to lead your civilization will heavily influence what professional opportunities will await you beyond those doors.¡± A polite way to say their parents and all the pantheons would judge the students¡¯ results. Better performing students would receive invitations from powerful divine fraternities like the Storm Gods Alliance or Earth Mothers United, which meant better access to good Miracles, worlds with greater populations, or even allies. Those who performed poorly would be passed over. Wepwawet exchanged a glare with Horus, which renewed his competitive spirit. No way he would allow that windshield-crapping bully to earn a better grade than him. ¡°To better align with Elphion¡¯s mana and ensure that you all enjoy equal opportunities, each of you will begin at the lowest possible divinity rank and with a standard beginner Miracles deck,¡± Miss Athena warned them. ¡°It will be up to you to harness better Miracles from your followers¡¯ faith and deeds.¡± Her answer drew groans from almost everyone, even though they had all been informed of this beforehand. A beginner¡¯s deck only contained weak Miracles like creating food and mediocre weapons for their followers. A far cry from what Wepwawet could achieve as part of the Egyptian pantheon. ¡°And this concludes our initial presentation,¡± Miss Athena finished. ¡°I will soon enact the ritual to manifest your first Idols to Elphion tomorrow, which will allow you to manifest there during class sessions. Are there any questions?¡± A sea of hands arose in response. ¡°Yes, Epona?¡± ¡°Do we get to pick our civilization, Miss Athena?¡± ¡°No, it will be assigned at random and you will discover it on arrival,¡± Miss Athena replied calmly, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. ¡°In fact, none of you would know where your fellow classmates¡¯ Idols are located nor which civilization they¡¯ll lead.¡± That took Wepwawet by surprise. Every piece of information he had received from fellow gods told him that students were allowed to pick their civilization. He knew Miss Athena often gave out unorthodox assignments, but this sounded highly unproductive. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best if we could form groups?¡± Wepwawet inquired. He, Ganesha, and Artemis were thick as thieves since childhood and could ensure their civilizations worked together. ¡°Which is the exact issue I wish to prevent. This setup should ensure that alliances and animosities are the result of geography and circumstances rather than personal preferences.¡± Miss Athena looked over each of her students. ¡°Your future existence as creator gods will require you to work with whom you may not share affinities with, and to put your worshipers¡¯ needs over your personal affinities.¡± Artemis stifled a laugh and then began to whisper in Wepwawet¡¯s ear. ¡°Imagine if you and Horus end up as neighbors.¡± ¡°Oh my gods,¡± Wepwawet grumbled. The very thought immediately crushed his enthusiasm about the assignment. ¡°That would suck.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so bad,¡± Ganesha whispered, albeit without too much sincerity. ¡°If the roles are assigned at random, maybe we¡¯ll end up near each other anyway?¡± ¡°We could conquer lands until we all border each other too,¡± Artemis suggested with a smile on her face. The thought of uniting the world in blood and friendship seemed to appeal to her. ¡°We¡¯ll hunt down the competition, expel them from the planet, and then carve up the prize between us.¡± ¡°I suggest we start with Horus¡¯ place,¡± Wepwawet replied until a glance from Miss Athena silenced their whispering. Miss Athena spent the day reviewing the rules and basics of managing a world. Besides the unusual random civilization setup, they were mostly what Wepwawet had prepared decades for: the students would recruit and train Champions from the population, organize their followers to harness their faith into Miracles, set up Altars on mana loci to spread their influence, and defend their world from the inevitable titan Incursion in the form of B&C battles. Being forced to start with beginner Miracles was a loss, but they would at least retain their unique Providence ability; news which caused Wepwawet to rejoice. He should be able to use his own special power to secure an early lead. He couldn¡¯t wait for tomorrow.
Dinner in Wepwawet¡¯s household always started the same way: in awkward silence. Of all of the godly realms that formed the Nexus of all reality, few matched the size of Duat, realm of the Egyptian pantheon. Located along the banks of the divine river Iteru, the various gods¡¯ compounds were usually surrounded by fertile lands inhabited by the reincarnated souls of their mortal followers. Set¡¯s black pyramid was an exception to the rule, for the lord of the desert preferred to drill his Champions in the hostile sands he ruled over. The storm god¡¯s halls were a quiet place filled with sphinxes, undead, assassins, and soldiers whom he prized as his servants. A large landscape window stood on one side of the dining hall and gave its occupants direct access to the river, alongside a private beach; the other side¡¯s wall housed the thousands of B&C trophies that Set accumulated during his legendary career. The storm god never failed to remind his son of his accomplishments. Wepwawet faced his lettuce salad without touching it, while his father devoured his own with immense appetite. Sha-faced Set always ate dinner dressed for war, since he had the tough job of assisting Grandpa Ra against the titan Apep each night; the old sun god wasn¡¯t the B&C player he used to be, and his archenemy never relented in his attempts to devour him. Set had never lost a match, though a few ties did result in the occasional eclipse. His new wife Astarte, an Assyrian goddess he had married after divorcing Wepwawet¡¯s mother, ate at her own pace on the other side of the table. She was a regal and radiant blue-eyed, raven-haired beauty, who had taken a liking to Egyptian gowns and jeweled serpents. In fact, she had come to love the culture so much that she changed her name from Anat after Set won her in a B&C battle with her ex-husband, Baal the Betrayer. She was, quite literally, a trophy wife. But Wepwawet liked her a lot. She had helped raise him after his parents¡¯ divorce, so he considered her like a second mom of sorts. ¡°Eat your lettuce, my son,¡± Set ordered Wepwawet while eating his own mouthful of food. ¡°It¡¯s good for your health. I prepared it myself.¡± ¡°Can we eat something else for once?¡± Wepwawet asked his father. He was sick of salads and vegetables. ¡°Like, I dunno, like ducks? Ducks taste nice.¡± His father wouldn¡¯t hear any of it. ¡°Most gods lack the willpower for hardcore veganism! Resisting the appeal of meat will strengthen your mind, and lettuce improves a man¡¯s virility! You must be strong to crush the seed of Osiris!¡± Wepwawet prepared to complain when his godphone beeped in his pocket. A quick glance showed he had received a message from his stepmother from across the table.
ASTARTE: Eat your salad, Wepwawet. ASTARTE: Your father feels insecure about his cooking.
And he had good reason to be. Even Aunt Neith knew how to operate a barbecue! Wepwawet reluctantly started tasting his dish, though he continued to complain. ¡°Brother Sobek always brings fish when he visits¡­¡± ¡°Wepwawet has a point,¡± Astarte said after finishing her own plate. ¡°Tomorrow is your son¡¯s first world assignment. We should celebrate the occasion with a special meal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because he¡¯ll have his first assignment tomorrow that I want him healthy and on edge,¡± Set argued before pointing his fork at his son. ¡°You don¡¯t know the Titans like I do, son. The treaty we signed with them will force your opponents to abide by the rules of Board & Conquest during their Incursions, but they will do everything to stack the battles in their favor beforehand. They¡¯ll try to kill your Champions and sabotage you from day one, day one!¡± ¡°I know, Dad, I¡¯m the god of reconnaissance,¡± Wepwawet complained. ¡°I was born prepared!¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll listen to your father,¡± Set advised his son. ¡°The key to raising your Champions is to be quick to punish, hard to please, and emotionally distant almost all the time. They have to feel that they must never take your affection for granted, and that praise always comes with strings attached.¡± ¡°So I must raise them like you raised me, Dad?¡± Wepwawet asked sarcastically. ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s how you forge a winner! My father raised me this way, and look at how far it got me!¡± Set waved a hand at his wall of trophies, as he always did once per dinner. ¡°Co-founder of the Storm Gods Alliance, rubbing shoulders with Zeus and Shiva! Best man to the Allfather himself! CEO of the most prestigious Godly Military Company on this side of the multiverse! Undefeated B&C champion of the entire Egyptian pantheon!¡± ¡°Near-undefeated,¡± Astarte teased her husband. ¡°On a technicality!¡± Set protested. Wepwawet knew very well which B&C contest his stepmother referred to, which cost his father his chance to sit on the pantheon¡¯s throne. ¡°Worry not, my son. I¡¯ve arranged a cram school program for you with the cream of the crop of B&C players. Between your superior lineage and their coaching, you will crush my bastard nephew, earn better grades than him, and become Grandpa Ra¡¯s new heir!¡± ¡°Wait, is that what it is all about?¡± Wepwawet asked in disbelief. ¡°Is that why you had cousin Horus transferred to my class?¡± ¡°Set, again with this contest?¡± Astarte rolled her eyes. ¡°I thought we were over this old dispute¡­¡± ¡°Never!¡± Set stomped the table with his fist, startling everyone. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than take orders from Osiris¡¯ bastard!¡± A tense silence settled on the hall, with Wepwawet and his stepmother exchanging awkward glances until Set calmed himself. ¡°Since the dawn of life, we of the Pesedjet clan have protected our corner of the multiverse from Titans, demons, and usurpers,¡± Set said. ¡°Grandpa Ra¡¯s health is declining, and it won¡¯t be long before he has to step aside and let another take up the pantheon¡¯s reins. Due to our last¡­ legal settlement¡­¡± The very word seemed to cause him physical pain. ¡°I have lost my chance and conceded the role of heir to my nephew.¡± ¡°I understand that, Father,¡± Wepwawet replied, having heard this story a thousand times already. ¡°But what does it have to do with me?¡± ¡°Because if he¡¯s not capable of leading one world to victory, how could your cousin protect the thousands under our jurisdiction?¡± Set didn¡¯t wait for his son¡¯s answer. ¡°If you earn better grades and prove yourself the better god, Horus¡¯ legitimacy will come into question and our house will finally recover its rightful place on the throne!¡± ¡°I, ugh¡­¡± Wepwawet suddenly felt a bit intimidated. He could almost feel the crushing weight of his father¡¯s expectations. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have what it takes to replace Grandpa Ra¡­¡± ¡°Of course you have what it takes, you¡¯re my son,¡± Set replied absentmindedly, which only worsened Wepwawet¡¯s mood. ¡°Anyway, back to the main issue: you¡¯ll have to be very strict with your new subjects. If you¡¯re too personal with them, they¡¯ll forget what you are and you¡¯ll grow soft. Always remember that they¡¯re cannon fodder born to die fighting the Titans, and nothing more.¡± Wepwawet clenched his jaw. Although Elphion would be his first world without his pantheon¡¯s supervision, he did manage a cult on Earth and recruited his first Champions there. Wepwawet had always been very friendly with his worshipers, even summoning an avatar to lead them in battle against human invaders or sharing post-battle drinks with them. Wepwawet understood Earth was a tutorial world long free of any Titan Incursions and where he enjoyed the protection, guidance, and resources of his pantheon¡­ but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to think of his Champions as expandable fodder like Father saw his own. ¡°Mom said we should treat our worshipers with respect and kindness,¡± Wepwawet muttered under his breath. ¡°Your mother?!¡± Set¡¯s crimson eyes blazed with anger. ¡°What could your mother teach you?! How to betray a man and crush his heart within her cold dead hands?! If so, then she¡¯s indeed an expert!¡± ¡°Psychological warfare is a valuable skill in Board & Conquest,¡± Astarte said lightly, before moving to soothe her husband¡¯s wounded ego. ¡°I am certain Wepwawet will make the right decisions to lead his followers.¡± ¡°I swear on Ra¡¯s ship, if his mother¡¯s coddling costs us the throne, I will¨C¡± Set was about to go on a tirade when a familiar war horn¡¯s call echoed outside, interrupting their dinner. The Mesektet, the great solar barque of Grandpa Ra¡ªhe was technically Wepwawet¡¯s great-great-grandfather, but everybody called him Grandpa Ra anyway¡ªhad come to pick Set up. The colossal golden ship, so large that it would take a human a full day to walk from the bow to the stern, gracefully glided upon the Iteru river thanks to the work of the hundreds of thousands of mortal Champions rowing the oars. Grandpa Ra rested on a great jeweled dais in its center, his sleep heralding the coming night and an imminent titan attack; an offensive which Wepwawet¡¯s father would have to repel. ¡°I will be back tomorrow to assess your first day¡¯s performance, my son,¡± Set said imperiously as he grabbed his eight precious Miracle decks and walked out of the hall to board the ship. ¡°Come back with better grades than your cousin, or not at all.¡± Wepwawet sank in his chair as the Mesektet departed with his father at the helm. He knew that Set always followed through with his threats. If his son didn¡¯t return home with good grades¡­ Astarte quickly noticed his unease and gave him a wink. ¡°I will go get the duck I kept in the oven.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you!¡± Wepwawet replied in immense relief. He immediately pushed back the salad. ¡°I can¡¯t take his food anymore!¡± ¡°I blame Shiva,¡± Astarte complained. ¡°Your father has become obsessed with his diet since the Lord of Yogis introduced him to veganism.¡± Wepwawet had to admit that the wolf in him felt a lot better after tasting a duck¡¯s leg rather than salad. His father¡¯s words did haunt him enough to lessen his appetite though, which his stepmother noticed. ¡°Do not take what your father said to heart either,¡± Astarte advised him. ¡°You know him. He was born grumpy.¡± ¡°But he said¨C¡± ¡°Your father says many things in the evening that he forgets by morning,¡± his stepmother replied with a chuckle. ¡°Try your best tomorrow and don¡¯t lose sleep over it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do great.¡± Wepwawet knew she was only trying to cheer him up, but he couldn¡¯t take his father¡¯s words lightly. He¡¯d been obsessed with ruling the Egyptian pantheon since the debacle with Horus all those centuries ago. If Wepwawet lagged behind his cousin, there would be consequences. ¡°Besides, his strategy is suboptimal to raise Champions,¡± Astarte said. ¡°Trust me: the best way to psyche up your followers is to shower them with love. They¡¯ll be so afraid of disappointing you that they¡¯ll fight to the death in your name. Be the father you never had with them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s, uh¡­¡± Wepwawet shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit manipulative?¡± ¡°That is how mortals feel appreciated,¡± Astarte insisted. ¡°Most of them live hollow and miserable lives. They need to feel that someone upstairs cares for them. You can¡¯t fathom how many people would die for a compliment.¡± Wepwawet kept his mouth shut. Was he willing to die to earn a compliment from Father? He didn¡¯t think so¡ªhe wasn¡¯t that desperate for affection¡ªbut his dad¡¯s opinion did matter to him, and he had no wish to disappoint him. Wepwawet guessed he would see how to treat Elphion¡¯s inhabitants once he actually arrived there. According to Miss Athena, it was a newborn world that had barely entered its iron age and was home to multiple intelligent species. Nothing unusual. How hard could it be to be a god there?
At the beginning, there was only the Nexus; the wellspring of creation. From its light arose the first worlds and the countless gods that would oversee them. The peace of the heavens only lasted a fortnight, for the souls and prayers of mortals are the heavens¡¯ currency. The Gods of Order waged a great war with the Titans of Chaos; one that devastated the very cosmos which both sides hoped to rule over. When the war threatened to undo the multiverse itself, the warring pantheons at last agreed to a truce. Their leaders of both factions gathered and hashed out a solution: divine conflicts would no longer be settled with direct violence. Instead, the heavens¡¯ greatest minds elaborated a game of prestige and profound tactical complexity; a game of skill and luck, as enjoyable as it was fair. Civilizations would become their pieces, and worlds their boards. They called this game¡­ Board & Conquest.
Chapter 2: The Arrival Narc was doomed. Victoire Fleuret was an optimistic woman, but the plumes of smoke obscuring the rising sun and the clamor of clashing steel echoing across the village did not inspire confidence. Her fellow militia members dragged a large number of wounded into the mine where most of the non-combatants had already taken refuge. Montfroid Peak loomed ominously behind her like an impenetrable wall that would allow no escape, its frozen peak gleaming in the sun. Her wererabbit squire, Filou, trembled like a leaf in the wind at her side, his tiny sword wavering in his gloved hands. While she was equally anxious, Victoire didn¡¯t allow herself to show fear; even when her werebear friend Lourson rushed to her position with his white fur tainted with blood spots and carrying a wounded wererat in his arms. ¡°The last barricade has fallen!¡± Lourson warned her with a heavy breath. His improvised breastplate¡ªa half-finished iron plate strapped to his chest¡ªhad a few obsidian shards stuck in it. ¡°They¡¯ve got a wyrm with them!¡± Victoire clenched her jaw. She had expected as much. Narc was a mining town with less than fifty inhabitants, most of whom had never held a weapon in their lives. They never stood a chance against a well-equipped and determined warband. ¡°W-what do we do, milady?¡± Filou asked her anxiously. ¡°Do we¡­ Do we run?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to run,¡± Victoire said, her hands tightening their grip on her spear and shield. ¡°We¡¯ll stand our ground, Filou.¡± ¡°Y-yes, milady!¡± Though he was only half a man¡¯s size, her squire showed twice the courage than most. ¡°I¡¯m with you!¡± ¡°Thank you, Filou.¡± Victoire nodded at Lourson next. ¡°Bring that poor sod inside the mine for treatment and join us. We may still be able to hold them here.¡± Her friend nodded and hastily retreated into the mine. The noise of heavy footsteps echoed across the stone pass leading to the village, followed by the smell of coal and fire. It didn¡¯t take long for the enemy to come into view. Victoire had never seen magmorians before today, let alone fought any. They made for intimidating foes with their fanged faces, stony horns, coal-like black skin leaking billowing black smoke, and the stream of flames rising from the back of their heads. She¡¯d heard a magmorian¡¯s life only ended with their inner fire, and perhaps she should put that tale to the test. She counted eight of them, each armed with obsidian maces and axes. Facing such a large group would have already been a doomed effort, and the roaring mass of scales at their back only crushed Victoire¡¯s hopes further. A thick, cart-sized black lizard with vicious yellow eyes and a maw large enough to bite a man in half crawled after the magmorians, its fiery saliva leaving trails of flame in its wake. Victoire could hear her squire¡¯s knees shaking at the mere sight of the creature. The largest of the magmorians stepped forward ahead of his group and hit the ground with his axe¡¯s shaft. ¡°By order of General Peridot, we claim this land by right of conquest in Lavaland¡¯s name!¡± he declared in the magmorian tongue. ¡°Throw down your weapons and bend the knee to your new masters!¡± Victoire spat at the ground, her saliva turning to steam from the heat soon after. ¡°Your tyrant of a master can stick his ambitions up his volcanic ass!¡± she replied in the invaders¡¯ native language. ¡°Nine or nine hundred, we won¡¯t let you through!¡± ¡°Would you rather die for these animals, human? As you wish.¡± The magmorian leader glanced at the wyrm at his back, his flaming eyes burning with a gleam of amusement. ¡°Our battle-pet has never tasted human flesh before.¡± The wyrm let out a bellowing hiss and crawled forward. The magmorians stepped aside to let it lunge at Victoire. She barely had time to pull a terrified Filou out of the way before a massive claw could tear them apart. The wyrm smashed the ground with such strength that it cracked. ¡°Filou, get a hold of yourself!¡± she shouted while raising her spear. The tip of her blade clashed with the creature¡¯s armor of scales but did little more than graze it. ¡°Filou!¡± Her squire was too frightened to move, so she had no other choice than to grab him under her shield arm to carry him away. The wyrm snapped its jaws at them in an attempt to eat them with savage hunger. Victoire was forced to take a step back after step back towards the mine shaft while waving her spear at the beast to keep it at bay. ¡°Ten ores it¡¯ll bite her head off!¡± she heard a magmorian jeer, his proposal laughed at by the other soldiers. It would have been easy for them to press their advantage, but they looked happy to simply watch the spectacle unfold. Enraged by their cruelty, Victoire dropped Filou behind a rock for his safety, stepped to the side to avoid a bite, and then plunged her spear into the beast¡¯s left eye. The wyrm let out a screech of pain as a stream of steaming yellow blood stained Victoire¡¯s blade, then briefly backed down. Victoire hoped she had intimidated the creature, until she saw its throat¡¯s scales brighten slightly. She barely had time to leap out of the way before the wyrm breathed a stream of fire at her. Flames licked her armor and cloak, nearly setting the latter on fire, but she quickly dashed forward in a surge of speed that took the wyrm aback. She focused on the shining outline of the beast¡¯s scales and plunged her spear straight in its gullet. The magmorians¡¯ laughter turned into shocked silence, and the wyrm¡¯s hisses into gargles. Victoire buried her weapon deep into the monster¡¯s flesh, the sheer heat hurting her through her gloves. She impaled the wyrm¡¯s throat inch by inch while steaming blood dripped onto the ground below. A shadow passed over her. Victoire looked over her shoulder just in time to see the magmorian leader attempt to strike her from behind with his obsidian axe, only for Filou to jump out of his hiding place and intercept him. Her squire¡¯s sword clashed with their enemy¡¯s weapon and pushed him back. Victoire swiftly drew her spear out of the wyrm¡¯s gullet, letting it collapse on the ground, and then thrust at the magmorian. The soldier was forced to retreat back to his shocked allies. ¡°She¡­ she killed it?¡± one magmorian asked upon seeing the wyrm agonizing in a steaming puddle of its own blood. ¡°Tch, so this dump had at least one good warrior.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, milady,¡± Filou apologized to Victoire, his voice heavy with guilt. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ deeply ashamed of myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Victoire reassured him after checking her spear, whose time in the wyrm¡¯s gullet had dulled the tip and damaged the shaft. She couldn¡¯t fault Filou for reacting this way in his first fight. ¡°You¡¯re braver than these cowards.¡± ¡°Big talk from future kindling,¡± the magmorian leader replied with a grunt. ¡°Soldiers, with me!¡± His men quickly recovered from their surprise and spread out to flank Victoire and Filou from all sides, only for a thundering roar coming from the mining shift to spook them. Lourson quickly emerged from the tunnel with a warhammer. ¡°Come forth, if you dare!¡± he said as he stepped up to his allies¡¯ side. ¡°Back to the flames with you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s still eight against three,¡± the magmorian leader argued back with arrogance, before changing his mind after giving Filou a contemptuous glance. ¡°Well, two and a half.¡± Victoire steadied her spear for the clash¡­ And then lightning struck the mountain. A thundering boom startled everyone present, whether friends or foes. A bright bolt coursed across the clear and empty sky to strike Montfroid Peak in a flash. Victoire watched on with amazement as the glacier on its top transformed before her eyes, its ice reshaping itself into a tall statue; one representing a man with a wolf¡¯s head overseeing the entire landscape, his hand raised at the horizon. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. What sorcery was that?
Being incarnated sucked! And of course, Wepwawet had been sent first. Miss Athena couldn¡¯t let the god of reconnaissance go second after all, so he had been the first to be volunteered for the honor of entering Elphion. He recalled stepping into the rune circle, followed by his divine consciousness being flung across the cosmos to its destination. It felt like being thrown into the void with an interdimensional slingshot! He vaguely remembered a vision of a celestial sphere, then following a mana leyline all the way to a focal point somewhere north of a big landmass, and then hitting a mountain at lightspeed. At least it wasn¡¯t a pyramid this time. His Idol formed around his essence soon after, shaping ancient ice into an eternal statue overseeing a vast land of snowy mountains. His Influence spread around his Idol in a five-kilometer radius, the extent of his reach from this particular mana locus. Wepwawet¡¯s consciousness swiftly expanded to cover the entire area with information flooding into his mind. He became intimately aware of his territory, sensing every icy river, every hill, every burning house, every cowering child crying inside the mine right below him¡­ Oh. Wepwawet looked through his Idol¡¯s eyes and received an impeccable view of a village burning right at the feet of his mountain. He had seen such scenes often enough in Egypt to guess the situation. He had just arrived, and bandits were already besieging his new land! As the god of reconnaissance, Wepwawet could find anything he wished to find within his Influence¡¯s limits. He only had to think of the responsible party for his attention to focus on a clashing group at the mountain¡¯s feet. A warband of eight, magma-like humanoids faced a trio composed of an anthropomorphic white bear, a gray hooded rabbit swordsman, and a human woman knight with a spear, shield, and light armor. The last one immediately caught Wepwawet¡¯s eye, and not only because she was the only human of the bunch. The girl looked around twenty, with short pale silver hair, sharp blue eyes, and the athletic build of an experienced warrior; a familiar aura of latent potential surrounded her.
Promotable [Commander] detected!
All three had the making of future champions, but the woman was in a league of her own. Father always said that a deity should make a good impression by lording over their power to would-be worshipers. Since gods couldn¡¯t manifest without a hefty cost on mortal worlds, the best Wepwawet could do was project a gigantic illusion of his face onto the clouds above. He then addressed his future and awed worshipers with a well-rehearsed speech. ¡°I am Wepwawet, son of Set and Nephthys! I am the Opener of the Ways and Protector of the Kind, the Wolf-Lord of the Necropolis! I¡¯m a god!¡± Only then did Wepwawet remember to add a softer element to his presentation. ¡°And more than that, I can be your god!¡± His words echoed across the lands and mountains, and were met with silence. The woman was the first to react by pointing her spear at the magma people. ¡°Okay, smite them then!¡± she said. ¡°Smite them, o mighty smiter!¡± ¡°W-wait!¡± one of the magmatic monsters protested, far too late. Well, since she asked nicely¡­ Wepwawet searched through his deck for the right Miracle. [Raincloud] nay¡­ [Skill: Longstrider]... ah!
Smite Rank 1 Ritual Smite a single target within your realm of Influence with a weak blast of [Mythic] power.
That would do. His power wove a bolt of energy from raw ether and smote the biggest of the magmatic men with it. The blast fell upon the monster from above and then vaporized him in an instant. Naught remained other than a pile of ash. The other monsters stood still for a second, and then ran for their lives. Having been summoned to this planet with a hefty mana reserve, Wepwawet decided to indulge a bit; if only so that they would spread word of his awesome power and thus entice new worshipers. He blasted two more while they fled screaming into the snowy plains beyond the village and let the rest disperse. ¡°They, they¡¯re fleeing!¡± rejoiced the rabbit swordsman as he began to leap in excitement. ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡­¡± the bear muttered in astonishment. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle!¡± The human knight alone didn¡¯t utter a word. She simply looked at her fleeing foes with a mix of astonishment and concern. Wepwawet guessed she hadn¡¯t expected him to actually smite their enemies. Remembering his stepmother¡¯s words about the value of earning his followers¡¯ affection, Wepwawet followed this display of power with one of mercy. He quickly cast another Miracle and summoned a small rain cloud over the burning village. It was a weak first-rank ritual, a far cry from the awe-inspiring storms he could conjure back in Egypt, but the drizzle extinguished the flames consuming the houses easily enough. That¡¯s done. Wepwawet turned his attention to the trio next. From their aura, the rabbit swordsman was a rank one fighter and the other two rank two, though the woman had accrued enough experience to be promoted to the next one. Let¡¯s see her stats more closely¡­ An invisible screen appeared over the human knight and gave Wepwawet pause.
Name Victoire Fleuret, Blade of Winter
Type Humanoid
Rank Commander 2+
Class Snowheart 2 (Fighter/Spellcaster)
Faction Unclaimed
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
16 16 16 18
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
16 16 18 16
Accuracy +17 Evasion +16
Innate Perk: Outlander
Take no penalties from Terrain effects.
Weaponmaster 1 Leadership 1
All Weapon Artifacts equipped inflict +2 Damage. Grants a +2 Damage bonus to all allies within range and reduces damage taken by 2.
What¡­ What was this? Where was the Might? The Defense? The Range, the Movement, and the extra lives? Wepwawet had trained so long to use the Board & Conquest standard system that he knew it inside and out, yet he had never seen this interface before. None of the godly systems used stats like Skill or Agility anymore nowadays. He couldn¡¯t see any form of health points either. That¡¯s odd. Wepwawet focused on sending a telepathic message to his teacher to inform her of this new development. Miss Athena? Has there been a new update?
Your connection to the Nexus is offline.
Come again? That was highly unusual. Messages should easily travel back to Mytholo High. Had something gone wrong with the incarnation rite or the Pantheon System¡¯s implantation? Worry and unease started to settle in Wepwawet¡¯s mind. He attempted to pull himself back to the Nexus. He knew he wasn¡¯t supposed to do that until class concluded and certainly not right after incarnating into a new world, but he had come to trust his instincts. What would it cost him to check? He tried to pull his consciousness away from Elphion and to return to the highest of heavens¡­ only to find his spirit bound to his Idol.
Your connection to the Nexus is offline.
Wepwawet stared at the message for a moment, and then tried again, twice, thrice. Each time his consciousness refused to leave the confines of his new territory. An invisible barrier stood between him and the heavens from which he came. The reality of his current situation fully dawned upon him. He¡­ He was stuck! Chapter 3: First Steps After returning to the village and counting their losses, Victoire thought this battle could have been far worse. The magmorians had burned a few houses to ashes and damaged others, but most remained standing. The miraculous rain had extinguished the flames early enough. Marron had unfortunately perished from a blow to the head, but both Bernard and Guillaume would see their wounds treated by Alpine and Mistouffe. The massacre Victoire feared hadn¡¯t come to pass and the people had been allowed to return to their home. Most had spent the better part of the hour staring up at their savior. Victoire looked up to Montfroid Peak. The so-called wolf-god who had saved Narc from utter destruction no longer projected his face on the clouds, but his statue continued to loom over the region from its icy throne. Many of the village¡¯s werelings were busy prostrating themselves in prayer before it, and the rest argued over what its apparition meant for them. Victoire herself wasn¡¯t sure what to make of this. The Glarmes had raised her in the Sacred Source¡¯s faith, but she had left both her order and god behind long ago. Neither had she seen the Source blast a magmorian dead when asked to do so. This entity was altogether different from a silent and invisible deity; a tangible power whose existence was impossible to refute. ¡°Milady, do you think he¡­¡± Filou cleared his throat. ¡°That he could be Grand-Loup himself?¡± ¡°Grand-Loup?¡± Victoire asked, having heard a few villagers mention that name during their prayers. The werelings¡¯ faith remained foreign to her. ¡°The wolf god of war and winter,¡± Filou answered with a fearful look at the statue. ¡°My¡­ my mother used to say Grand-Loup would eat me if I disobeyed her.¡± ¡°He called himself Wepwawet, son of Set and Nephthys.¡± Whoever those were. ¡°But he¡¯s called himself a god and wolf-lord, so maybe people simply forgot his true name?¡± ¡°D-do you think he¡¯ll be mad about it?¡± The sound of a door opening behind them caused Filou to bolt to the side in panic. ¡°Ah!¡± Victoire turned her head to look at Narc¡¯s inn. Its owner Alpine, a tall and thick weregoat matron, walked out of it with sweat dripping down her white fur and black horns. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry Filou,¡± she apologized with a kind and soothing voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to startle you.¡± ¡°So?¡± Victoire asked. As the town¡¯s only healer, she had been in charge of treating the wounded. ¡°Bernard and Guillaume will live,¡± Alpine confirmed. ¡°Thank goodness Mistouffe kept a stash of healing herbs for emergencies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Victoire said with a lighter heart. She was especially happy for Guillaume. His wife had just given birth, and now his daughter would have a chance to grow up with a father. ¡°That was a close call.¡± ¡°There wouldn¡¯t have been a call at all without you two¡­ and Grand-Loup.¡± Alpine joined her hands and looked up at the statue. ¡°Has he spoken to you again?¡± ¡°He has been silent for the past hour,¡± Victoire replied. She had no idea if the ¡®god¡¯ would address them again. For all she knew, saving Narc had been a one-time miracle. ¡°We should work to rebuild and reinforce the walls in the meantime. The magmorians might have more raiders in the area.¡± ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll come back, milady?¡± Filou asked in utter disbelief. ¡°After that crushing defeat?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t want to take the risk.¡± Victoire¡¯s jaw clenched in frustration. ¡°I¡¯d heard they had already taken over other mining sites and villages to the south, but if they¡¯re willing to send scouts so far north then it¡¯s only a matter of time before they expand into the region. Even Roynimalia might be in danger.¡± Was that the reason why this Wepwawet arrived? He did call himself the Protector of the Kind, and the way his statue pointed south reminded her of a vigil watching for the enemy. What could such a powerful and wise entity be thinking about right now?
This was bad, bad, bad! After spending the last hour trying to contact the Nexus through all possible channels and checking all System settings, Wepwawet was forced to concede defeat. He was now trapped in the world of Elphion without any form of backup or way to contact the heavens. Worst of all, if his Idol was destroyed while he lacked a connection to the Nexus then it might take centuries for his godly essence to find its way back and reform there. Someone sabotaged his incarnation, maybe even the entire System¡¯s implementation. Could it have been those tricksters Anansi and Sun Wukong? Or that bastard Horus? It would have been their style and a good way to penalize the competition, but Wepwawet doubted any of them had the insider knowledge required to do that. None of them would risk Miss Athena¡¯s wrath upon discovery. Wepwawet could think of a more likely and far more dangerous culprit. This is the titans¡¯ doing. The more Wepwawet thought about it, the more he grew convinced of it. His father had warned him that they would do everything they could to stack the deck in their favor. They were playing for keeps. Am I the only one affected? Or are Ganesha and Artemis in the same boat? Wepwawet needed to find a way to contact his friends, but his current situation and set of Miracles greatly limited his options. His fellow gods could be half a world away for all he knew; not to mention that his mission hadn¡¯t changed. Wepwawet still had a duty to protect this world and guide his assigned civilization to greatness, especially since the titans would likely try to capitalize on his temporary weakness. He could already hear prayers sent his way, though these people called him ¡®Grand-Loup¡¯ instead. It didn¡¯t surprise him much. Mortals had a pathological need to believe in something or someone, whether it was money, gods, or even science. When no real god would answer their prayers, they simply invented imaginary ones. New gods were usually sent to civilizations adapted to their personality or culture. Considering almost all his new worshipers appeared to belong to a species of anthropomorphic animal besieged by southern invaders, he had the feeling he would fit right in. At least my godly interface works normally, Wepwawet thought as he opened it and checked his resources. Let¡¯s check and see if anything has changed since I arrived.
Name Wepwawet Pesedjet
Pantheon Elphion
Portfolio Canines, Journeys, Reconnaissance.
Altars Worshipers
1 21
Mana Champions
27/99 0/40
Providence: Opener of the Ways
You can locate anything you wish to find within your realm of Influence.
Deck 30/30
Smite (x3) Boost Champion (x3) Protect Champion (x3)
Rank 1 Ritual Rank 1 Ritual Rank 1 Prophecy
Smite a single target with a weak blast of Mythic power. Temporarily increase one of your Champion¡¯s damage by +3 for one minute. If one of your Champions is attacked: Temporarily increase a Champion¡¯s resistance to damage by +3 for one minute.
Sacred Weapon (x3) Sacred Beast (x3) Sacred Food (x3)
Rank 1 Artifact Rank 1 Ritual Rank 1 Ritual
Create a D quality sacred weapon. Conjure a rank 1 sacred animal loyal to you. Conjures a basket of sacred food. Stolen novel; please report.
Skill: Longstrider I (x3) Skill: Translation (x3) Raincloud (x3)
Rank 1 Revelation Rank 1 Revelation Rank 1 Ritual
Teaches a Champion the Longstrider I Passive Skill: increases a Champion¡¯s AGI by +2. Teaches a Champion the Translation Passive Skill: allows the target to understand and speak any language. Conjure a small rain cloud over an area for three minutes.
Barricade Kit (x3)
Rank 1 Animism
Conjures a weak wooden barricade on a designated spot.
Wepwawet did notice a small change in his Miracles: namely, Longstrider I was supposed to raise a unit¡¯s Movement instead of their Agility. His cards had already begun adapting to this new System. The standard sucked, but at least Wepwawet would be able to use any of them at will outside of an official Board & Conquest challenge. Unless¡­ Having already used Smite three times today, Wepwawet attempted to use it a fourth time on a desolate spot outside the village. His magic refused to materialize, confirming his suspicions.
You can only use a given Miracle card once per day.
Curses, I wasted all three Smite cards on mooks! Wepwawet doubted the magmorians would come back within the day after their crushing defeat, but he would have to use his offensive miracles with parsimony from now on to fend off surprise attacks. That restriction is new too. Wepwawet felt like a player starting a new game on hard mode with an inaccurate manual. Wepwawet reviewed his old lessons. His idol sat atop a leyline and should provide him with a point of mana every day or so, but the amount of energy he could draw from it varied depending on the number of worshipers within its influence. Less than ten believers would hardly give him a paltry bonus point a day; eleven to fifty would provide two; and so on. Most importantly, they had to be true worshipers. People had to do more than recognize Wepwawet¡¯s existence; they had to have faith in his power enough to offer prayers, pay tribute, or fulfill group rituals such as mass. It didn¡¯t matter whether or not they expected a reward in return for these acts, or whether a person venerated more than one deity at once. Only sincerity, zeal, and earnestness mattered. Wepwawet sensed forty-five souls within his new village, but less than half counted as worshipers. Were they¡­ doubting him? Wepwawet anxiously eavesdropped on his people to hear what they had to say about him. He only did that because he wanted to be a better god to them of course, and not because of a sudden sense of nagging insecurity. ¡°I imagined Grand-Loup to be¡­ fiercer, I suppose?¡± ¡°Filou exaggerated everything. That wererabbit is afraid of his own shadow.¡± ¡°Oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods he¡¯s going to eat us raw and steal our women!¡± ¡°I tell you, that whole giant statue thing¡­ he¡¯s compensating for something. He reeks of daddy issues.¡± W-Who said that?! Who dared to say that?! Wepwawet immediately identified the slanderous bastard, one vile anthropomorphic penguin called Marcel. His very name oozed blasphemy! You¡¯ve made a powerful enemy today! Half this village doubted his divinity or weren¡¯t entirely sold on his protection yet. Wepwawet would need to impress and convert them. No good general could win a war with soldiers low on morale. A wiser god than Wepwawet would have likely waited for his new congregation to exit the mine before summoning the rain clouds to extinguish the flames. He didn¡¯t regret saving these people¡¯s homes, but he would have to choose his next miracles wisely. Each of them cost as much mana as their rank, and while standard cards were all Rank 1, he would struggle to quickly replenish his reserve. Wepwawet was considering how to proceed when a set of System notifications filled his mind.
New Quest: The Heavenly Pack I Recruit your first Champion. Reward: Ritual Miracle.
New Quest: Proselytism I Convert at least 100 worshipers. Reward: Doctrine Miracle. New Quest: Land of the Faithful I Build a new Altar atop a mana leyline. Reward: Animism Miracle. New Quest: Magic Hoarder Fill up your entire mana reserve. Reward: Prophecy Miracle. New Quest: A Town of Plenty Restore Narc to its former glory and more. Reward: Revelation Miracle. New Quest: Relic Hunt I Acquire and bless a unique relic of cultural significance. Reward: Artifact Miracle.
Those were the beginner System quests Miss Athena taught his class about. Fulfilling any of them would grant him a new Miracle and would open the path to more quests. None of them would solve his connection issues, but at least he would start building up resources. Ever the methodical god of scouts¡ªand scouting¡ªWepwawet began to gather information. His unique Opener of the Ways ability let him find whatever he was looking for within his Influence¡¯s radius. Few mortals had the potential to become a god¡¯s Champion, and fewer could become his even more precious Commanders. Wepwawet sensed five candidates for the former within the village¡ªa surprisingly high amount for such a tiny village¡ªbut only the human Victoire possessed the latter¡¯s mettle. More impressively, he also detected a relic that could let him fulfill the appropriate quest deep within the mines beneath him. I¡¯m starting to see why I was summoned here of all places. Being aware of everything within his realm of Influence allowed Wepwawet to both listen to its inhabitants¡¯ conversations and observe the region from all angles. It has a lot of potential. The village of Narc was located at the foot of Montfroid Peak, the mountain on which his Idol had taken form. Cliffs on each side of town made it easy to defend with the proper fortifications, and its people had a local mine for coal and iron. Tunnels below the village connected it to a waterway that led directly to a northern sea, allowing fishermen to haul back troves of catches each day and serve as an emergency escape route. The whole place sat right on top of a geothermal source too, and it was close to a dense forest to the northeast that could be plundered for timber. Having already assisted Egyptian pharaohs in countless military ventures, Wepwawet quickly formed a plan to turn this village into an impenetrable fortress and its inhabitants into a serviceable fighting force. It would require a hefty starting mana investment, but time was of the essence. He recalled his old Mortal Marketing courses, rehearsed a speech in his head, and then projected his face again among the clouds. ¡°People of Narc!¡± Wepwawet shouted across the village with his voice booming like his father¡¯s thunder. ¡°Heed my words!¡± He immediately sensed the attention of all of Narc¡¯s inhabitants turning his way. Even those within houses immediately reached out for the windows to look up at his divine manifestation ¡°I am Wepwawet, god of this land, whom some of you call Grand-Loup!¡± Wepwawet didn¡¯t feel too good about cultural appropriation, but he would work with whatever material he had. ¡°I have heard your prayers for help and answered them, but know that the enemies who attacked were but a taste of the trials to come! A great evil will soon descend upon this world!¡± He heard shocked gasps and sensed the panic in his worshipers¡¯ hearts. Wepwawet would have preferred to start his tenure with kinder words, but if the titans had managed to sabotage the incarnation rite, then he had no time to waste. Besides, his Mortal Marketing teachers told him that the best way to unite mortals was to provide them with an existential threat. ¡°Fear not, for I offer you my protection and guidance in these dark times!¡± Wepwawet reassured them. ¡°Follow my words and you shall do more than survive; you shall prosper! All I ask in return is your faith and service!¡± His worshipper count immediately surged up as most of Narc¡¯s people joined their hands in prayer or outright bowed to his statue. Wepwawet was delighted upon sensing everyone¡¯s faith; only those too young to understand the concept of gods didn¡¯t send any. ¡°All of those willing to put in the work, gather in the village¡¯s center!¡± he ordered. ¡°I also summon the mortals Victoire, Filou, Lourson, Alpine, and Mistouffe to stand before me!¡± Nothing better than a quest between good and evil to raise morale!
Victoire couldn¡¯t remember the last time all of Narc gathered in one spot. Everybody had answered the god¡¯s call. Everybody. The villagers even brought their bandaged wounded and newborns to the town¡¯s center. Seeing this Wepwawet¡¯s face manifesting in the sky in a wild display of sorcery had quieted people¡¯s doubts; doubly so since he was apparently their god Grand-Loup incarnate. Victoire would have lied if hearing the entity call out her name hadn¡¯t filled her with unease. She and the other ¡®chosen¡¯ stood in a line in front of everyone else, with poor Filou shaking in dread. Lourson and Alpine waited in solemn silence, while Mistouffe¡¯s whiskers trembled with excitement. Victoire had an inkling as to why the god summoned them. Three of them helped fend off the magmorians, and Alpine had experience as a healer. But Mistouffe¡­ Mistouffe was the werecat daughter of the village¡¯s only shopkeepers. She was hardly any taller than Filou and half Victoire¡¯s size, with striped white fur, well-groomed black hair, and curious yellow eyes. She had never wielded a weapon in her entire life and only aspired to become a traveling merchant. She did have the foresight to stockpile remedies for tough times, which saved lives today, but otherwise had few successes to her name. What could this Wepwawet have in mind for her? Victoire straightened up when the god¡¯s cloudy visage looked down upon them. She could feel him observing her, knowing her, peering into her very soul. ¡°Thank you for your trust, citizens of Narc!¡± the god said with a voice booming like thunder. ¡°To celebrate our covenant, I will give you a trifold gift of food, weapons, and protection!¡± Blue lightning struck the ground from nowhere, and all of Narc held its breath in shock and surprise. Victoire blinked in astonishment when her eyes acclimated to the sudden flash. Three things now stood before her: an exquisitely crafted spear made of a pearly white metal she had never seen; a grey wolf with shining eyes and covered in golden markings; and at least forty pounds of a strange, leafy plant she didn¡¯t recognize. If seeing the god control the sky hadn¡¯t convinced Narc¡¯s inhabitants of his power, watching him create matter from nothing certainly did so. A chorus of shouts and gasps followed his display of magic, with Victoire herself stunned into silence. No mage, no matter how powerful, could do anything so spectacular. He was the real deal. ¡°What is this plant?¡± Alpine muttered under her breath. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this¡­¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Wepwawet marked a short, solemn pause. ¡°Lettuce.¡± Victoire could have sworn that the god sounded strangely disappointed. Her attention was more drawn to the wolf, who calmly sat in the snow with an eerie calm foreign to any normal animal, and the strange spear. She could almost taste the power radiating from it. ¡°Lettuce is a hardy plant, fit for steadfast people such as you all!¡± Wepwawet declared. ¡°This spirit-wolf, the first of many, shall assist in defending your village! And my sacred spear¡­¡± The god¡¯s visage focused on Victoire specifically, forcing her to straighten up. ¡°Shall be yours to wield, Victoire Fleuret, as a reward for your bravery!¡± ¡°Me?¡± Victoire asked, dumbfounded. A god offered her a holy weapon? ¡°Sir, I¡­ surely there is someone else more qualified¡­¡± She heard Lourson¡¯s bellowing laugh. ¡°Do you see any other wyrmslayer here, Victoire?¡± ¡°T¡¯was a close call!¡± she protested. Had Filou not provided assistance, it would have cost her her life too. ¡°But you still made it,¡± Lourson insisted. ¡°You helped defend Narc with your life, though as a human nothing forced you to.¡± ¡°He¡¯s right, milady,¡± Filou added with a firm nod. Victoire¡¯s squire was easy to intimidate, but he never lacked courage when it came to defending the honor of others. ¡°Even Grand-Loup recognized your bravery!¡± ¡°You have the heart of a god¡¯s Champion, Victoire, alongside the four people behind you,¡± the great Wepwawet declared. ¡°Will you languish in false modesty, or rise to the occasion? The choice is yours.¡± So pushed, Victoire had no excuse to back down. She seized the spear to the tune of her fellow villagers¡¯ applause and raised it high to the sky. The strange otherworldly metal felt warm to the touch and incredibly light. ¡°I thank you for your gift, Lord Wepwawet,¡± Victoire replied tactfully. She had no idea how to address a god, so she settled on showing him the respect owed to one¡¯s superior. ¡°What do you expect of me?¡± ¡°To fight and lead,¡± the god replied. ¡°A great calamity will soon befall this land, and it will be up to you and others like you to protect the innocent from death and disaster. Should you accept this duty and your responsibilities towards me, I shall bless you with the power to defend the faithful.¡± Victoire hardly hesitated. She had been looking for a purpose all her life, even before she left the Glarmes. She thought defending the Source would be her higher calling until she grew sick of her order¡¯s isolationism. There were so many people in need across the frozen wastes. Settling in Narc had given her a home, but it didn¡¯t lessen the lingering feeling of aimlessness. Protecting the innocent was a cause that called out to her. To hear that a god had chosen her for the task of defending others, to put her weapon into the service of the greater good, quickened her pulse. How could anyone in their right mind refuse? ¡°I accept this task with great humility, Lord Wepwawet,¡± Victoire replied with a knee in the snow. ¡°I shall do my best to live up to your expectations.¡± ¡°I know you shall!¡± The eyes of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s statue glowed in the distance, and a stream of blue light soon enveloped Victoire. ¡°Arise, my Champion!¡± Then she felt the power. To Victoire, it seemed as if a bolt of lightning suddenly coursed through every inch of her flesh and bones. A gentle, dry warmth enveloped her and filled her with energy that reached all the way to her very soul. Her veins burned with vitality. She sensed Lord Wepwawet¡¯s overwhelming presence peering over her shoulder like a guardian spirit bound to her life, both judging and supporting her. She had touched the very essence of magic. Her spear suddenly glowed too. Its tip began to radiate a white mist and an unnatural frost. Its blade swirled with the very breath of winter, its mere sight drawing gasps and whispers from the wereling crowd behind Victoire. ¡°What¡­¡± Victoire muttered under her breath. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°You have been imbued with a divine gift, Victoire Fleuret!¡± Lord Wepwawet declared, his voice echoing both outside and within Victoire¡¯s own head. ¡°Rise, Blade of Winter!¡± Chapter 4: Day of the Champions
Lettuce. Of course Wepwawet¡¯s ¡®sacred food¡¯ would be lettuce. His father force-fed it to him for so long that it stained his very divinity! At least he had retained the wolf and spear as his trademark animal and weapon. Lettuce could thrive in cold climates with the proper care and Narc¡¯s inhabitants seemed happy to have free food at the very least, so it wasn¡¯t an entire waste of mana.
Wepwawet swiftly followed through by claiming Victoire Fleuret as his first Champion and Commander. Adopting a Champion didn¡¯t cost anything besides the mortal¡¯s consent, but increasing her rank from two to three did force him to spend a point of mana. His power flowed into her and unlocked more of her slumbering potential.
Victoire Fleuret has ranked up in Snowheart! +3 STR, +3 AGI, +3 VIT, +4 SKI, +3 MAG, +3 INT, +4 CHA, +3 LCK! She gained the Frost Infusion Perk! Frost Infusion: Can empower their weapon with the power of Frost for five minutes and gain a chance equal to LCK/2 to inflict the Freeze ailment on successful damage.
Oh? Why did Victoire¡¯s Skill and Charisma increase more than the others? Wepwawet quickly checked her chosen class.
Snowheart: Fighter/Spellcaster. A monster slayer adept at leading troops in the heart of winter; excels in both battle and leadership. Strength (B), Agility (B), Vitality (B), Skill (A), Magic (B), Intelligence (B), Charisma (A), Luck (B).
So each class had specific stat growth rates. B meant a three point increase, and A was four. Wepwawet noticed that her Accuracy and Evasion rose up too, but he didn¡¯t quite understand how and why yet. Since the System failed to mention either¡¯s increase, then their rating probably depended on other factors. He noticed that Victoire also had access to two other classes, Vanguard and Paladin. Both knight-like, with the latter having a heavy focus on faith. He wondered what kind of background she had. A wonderful victory jingle interrupted his thoughts, followed by a System message and a Miracle Card representing Victoire kneeling in the snow.
Quest: The Heavenly Pack I, completed! You¡¯ve earned the Oath of Winter Ritual Miracle! Oath of Winter Rank 2 Ritual Imbue a Champion¡¯s weapons with the Frost element for five minutes. Every two additional points of mana spent lets you empower another Champion, to a maximum of six.
Excellent! Considering the magmorians appeared to be made of fire, the Raincloud Miracle and frost used together should give his soldiers an edg¨C His blue screen suddenly turned red with a screeching noise.
Warning: you have exceeded your full deck¡¯s capacity. You must discard an existing Miracle to add this one.
What? But what would happen to the discarded card?
The discarded Miracle will be lost.
Miss Athena wasn¡¯t kidding about teaching us resource management! Discarding his cards wasn¡¯t truly a problem for now, since the starting deck included three copies of rather terrible Miracles, but Wepwawet would need to grow more selective over time. For now, he discarded one copy of Translation. It was a very niche Miracle meant to empower foreign missionaries, and he doubted he would need to ever cast it more than once per day. Wepwawet switched the two Miracles. He sensed Oath of Winter¡¯s power integrate within his essence to become part of his very divinity. As a god associated with desert lands, absorbing the card felt like eating ice cream, both strange and pleasing. Miss Athena had warned him that he would grow to acclimate to this new world. Wepwawet wondered how long it would take for his portfolio to change when a new message swiftly replaced the last.
New Quest: The Heavenly Pack II Recruit ten Champions. Reward: Ritual Miracle.
So the quests followed a specific progression. Wepwawet assumed the rewards would match the increasing difficulty. But that was a long-term problem and he had more pressing matters to deal with. ¡°Rise, Blade of Winter,¡± Wepwawet told Victoire. ¡°With your brave heart and my power on your side, you will protect the good people of Narc from danger. You are now in charge of coordinating this place¡¯s defenses.¡± The human lowered her head in deep respect. ¡°I shall do my best to live up to your trust.¡± Aww, mortals were so cute in their modesty sometimes. Wepwawet was already growing fond of this one. ¡°Mistouffe, Lourson, Alpine, and Filou, I extend the same offer to you,¡± he informed his other would-be Champions. ¡°The four of you possess extraordinary potential. You have been chosen!¡± ¡°Me?!¡± Both the wererabbit and werecat among them shouted at the same time; the first with dread and shock, the latter with giddiness. ¡°Good grief, I think I¡¯m way over my head,¡± Alpine the weregoat said, ¡°but I¡¯ll do anything I can to help.¡± As for the werebear, he took the news with placid acceptance. ¡°Alright. Whatever you ask.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± the werecat could hardly contain her excitement. ¡°I want magic powers too!¡± Only Filou the wererabbit showed any reluctance. ¡°My lord, with all due respect, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m not worthy of that honor¡­¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± Wepwawet asked. He had overseen enough armies on behalf of his pantheon to recognize this one as the ¡®timid young recruit¡¯ type of mortal. Those usually needed a bit of encouragement until they gained any self-confidence. ¡°During my first battle, I¡­ I froze up in fear like a coward.¡± The poor critter lowered his head in shame. ¡°Without milady¡¯s help, I would have been slain where I stood.¡± ¡°And without your intervention, a magmorian would have buried his axe in my skull,¡± Victoire replied with a kind smile. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short, Filou. You pulled through in the end.¡± The wererabbit¡¯s reluctance amused Wepwawet. ¡°So you have the courage to argue with a god, but not to fight for others?¡± His question took the wererabbit aback. ¡°I, ugh¡­¡± he gulped. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend you, I swear¨C¡± ¡°Have faith in the god who has faith in you!¡± Wepwawet cut in. ¡°Trust me, you''ve got this!¡± Okay, it sounded way more dignified in his head, but it did give the wererabbit pause. Victoire delivered the coup de grace soon after. ¡°I need you at my side, Filou,¡± she said. ¡°Let us serve together, for Narc and everyone.¡± ¡°Y-yes, milady.¡± Filou cleared his throat and knelt in the snow. ¡°It shall be an honor to serve, Lord Gr¨CLord Wepwawet!¡± ¡°It¡¯s settled, then,¡± Wepwawet declared. ¡°I expect great things from you all.¡± Wepwawet bathed all of them in his mana before the rest of the village. None of these four could rank up yet, unlike Victoire, but claiming them as his Champions would let him power them up with the appropriate Miracles.
Name Filou, Brave Heart
Type Humanoid/Beast
Rank 1
Class Wererabbit 1 (Monster)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk/Dig
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
5 18 4 13
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
3 9 6 11
Accuracy +12 Evasion +14
Innate Perk: Late Bloomer
Gains +1 to all stats when ranking up.
Nimble
Immune to Paralysis.
Name Lourson, Loyal Anvil Stolen novel; please report.
Type Humanoid/Beast
Rank 2
Class Werebear 1 (Monster), Blacksmith 1 (Crafter)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk/Swim
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
28 20 26 17
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
2 12 9 6
Accuracy +11 Evasion +13
Innate Perk: Beauty Sleep
Recovers from all physical ailments after napping.
Guts Metalworker I
Grants +10 STR when afflicted with a physical ailment. Can craft metal items up to quality E.
Name Alpine, Devoted Innkeeper
Type Humanoid/Beast
Rank 2
Class Weregoat 1 (Monster), Barkeep 1 (Crafter)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
13 9 17 14
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
8 14 14 16
Accuracy +15 Evasion +12
Innate Perk: Hardy
Chances of being affected by an ailment are cut in half.
All-Terrain I Brewery I
Cannot be slowed down by Terrain effects. Can brew concoction consumables up to quality E.
Name Mistouffe, Intrepid Cat
Type Humanoid/Beast
Rank 1
Class Werecat 1 (Monster)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
1 14 2 12
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
4 9 8 13
Accuracy +12 Evasion +13
Innate Perk: Seven Lives
Enemies cannot inflict critical hits on you.
Pawsome Landing I
Fall damage is halved.
Wepwawet quickly reviewed his Champions. Lourson was pretty much what Wepwawet expected from an anthropomorphic bear: a fur-tank on legs. Nonetheless, it was his blacksmith skills that would likely prove the most useful for now. Mistouffe was the complete opposite; fast, quick to dodge, and fragile. Alpine the weregoat¡¯s knowledge of basic concoctions and healing poultices made her too valuable to risk in the field, since nobody else in Narc had any knowledge of treating wounds. Wepwawet would have preferred a magical healer, but he would play with the cards given to him. As for the wererabbit¡­ his incredible Late Bloomer ability would inevitably make up for his pitiful stats over time. That one had a lot of potential. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different,¡± Mistouffe complained. ¡°Where¡¯s the magic?¡± You¡¯ll need a lot more experience first, Wepwawet thought, though he had another play in mind for that one. ¡°Then I shall bestow upon you the gifts of speed and tongues!¡± Revelation Miracles allowed a god to permanently imbue a Champion with new abilities, and he had two in reserves. Wepwawet cast both of them on the werecat, his magic striking her like a lightning bolt and infusing her soul with new power.
Mistouffe has learned the Translation and Longstrider I Perks! Translation: can understand and speak any language. Longstrider I: grants +2 AGI.
Wepwawet noticed that Mistouffe¡¯s Evasion had risen by one point too, which meant Agility influenced that stat¡­ he kept that fact in mind for later. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Mistouffe hopped on her feet, her new power slightly hastening her movements. ¡°It¡¯s true, I feel quicker now!¡± ¡°Your battles will be waged with words, not swords.¡± Wepwawet didn¡¯t think she had what it took to wield those anyway. ¡°You must share what happened here, Mistouffe, to all the settlements you can reach; our covenant, the magmorians¡¯ treacherous attack, and the calamity to come. Invite everyone willing to see this land prosper to visit Narc. You will also keep your ears open for any useful information. I see far, but not everywhere.¡± Wepwawet followed through by casting his two remaining Sacred Beast Miracles. A second and third spirit-wolf appeared next to the first, much to the mortals¡¯ amazement. Creatures conjured through Miracles were direct emanations of a god¡¯s mana and thus unable to become Champions or worshipers, nor could they rank up. Otherwise, they didn¡¯t need to eat or drink, nor did they come with an expiration date. Sacred Beasts weren¡¯t unique creatures either, so Wepwawet could afford to summon new ones each day once the card limit renewed itself. Compared to most higher-rank Miracles, which usually focused on calling unique creatures that couldn¡¯t be duplicated, this quantity provided a quality of its own. Having them hunt and scout on the village¡¯s behalf would let him assign villagers to other tasks. ¡°One of these holy beasts shall be your protector and proof of your words,¡± Wepwawet said. ¡°It will shield you from danger and assist you on your journey.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Mistouffe nodded so fast that even Wepwawet¡¯s divine senses struggled to follow her chin. ¡°You can count on me, wolf-boss!¡± Wepwawet liked the title, so he let it pass this time. ¡°I have many tasks for the rest of you,¡± he said. ¡°The magmorians will likely return soon and you¡¯ll need to prepare yourselves for battle. The heavens help those who help themselves, so no slackers!¡± Wepwawet¡¯s plan to develop Narc revolved around five pillars: securing long-term logistics, building fortifications and infrastructure, producing equipment, training its people, and laying the foundations of a strong economic backbone. There was no time to waste.
And like that, Victoire found herself in charge of Narc¡¯s defenses. The village never had a governing structure, nor needed one due to its small population; its people simply handled matters through casual conversations and the occasional gathering. She didn¡¯t feel entirely confident about this duty, but tried her best to look confident for the sake of everyone else. Lord Wepwawet warned them of the magmorians¡¯ inevitable return and distributed tasks to everyone. Some didn¡¯t change much from people¡¯s usual occupations, with fishermen like Laurent and old G¨¦raud being sent to gather game, Lourson forging new equipment, and Alpine tending to their wounded and stockpiling food for emergencies. Others were assigned new jobs like digging wells in specific spots or gathering wood under wolf escort to build more fortifications. Poor Marcel in particular had been given a grueling tunneling task in the mines. Victoire questioned the wisdom of assigning that task to a werepenguin of all people, but her new god worked in mysterious ways. After gathering builders at the village¡¯s entrance, Lord Wepwawet shaped a small wooden wall from nothing to replace their old makeshift fortifications. This new one was adorned with spikes whose purpose was likely to stop cavalry. ¡°Follow that design and dig ditches,¡± Lord Wepwawet ordered. ¡°Ditches are a good defense¡¯s backbone. Dig trenches, raise some earth on our side of the divide, then put the wall on top of that. You¡¯ll have to build two layers.¡± ¡°Two? With spikes on top of the ditches?¡± Toni the mason asked. Victoire had been taught the basics of fortifications during her time among the Glarmes, but most villagers never built anything more complex than a palisade. ¡°Sir, with all due respect, isn¡¯t that a little excessive?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Victoire replied. ¡°The magmorians brought a wyrm last time and it smashed through barricades like a ram. By digging ditches in front of the new walls and raising up the latter, the magmorians will have to fill the trenches up first to reach the walls at all; a time during which they¡¯ll be exposed to our spears and arrows.¡± Victoire sensed her god¡¯s inquisitive gaze on her. ¡°Quite astute, Victoire. Where did you learn such things?¡± He didn¡¯t know? So even gods weren¡¯t all-seeing. ¡°I once served in a military order called the Glarmes, my lord,¡± she replied. ¡°I learned how to hold a fort during that time.¡± ¡°You were taught well,¡± Lord Wepwawet complimented her before turning his gaze back to Toni. ¡°Do you wish for these magmorians to cut their way through your home like a knife through butter, mortal?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Toni cleared his throat in embarrassment. ¡°No, sir, ¡®course not. It¡¯s just that my house was burned during the attack, so¡­¡± ¡°There will be time to rebuild it after we ensure it¡¯ll never be burned again,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied sternly. ¡°Until then, I ask that you put your community first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for Alpine to host you until we can repair your house,¡± Victoire promised the mason. ¡°You have my word.¡± With the matter settled, one of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolves soon traced a line in the earth with his paw as per its god¡¯s instructions to show the fortifications'' layout. Any enemy trying to invade such a place would bleed for every inch of progress. Finally, the task of training everyone for battle fell to Victoire. She requested at least two hours of a day¡¯s worth of drilling for each villager capable of wielding a weapon, which her new god consented to. ¡°I leave it to you to organize everybody¡¯s schedule and watch duties,¡± Lord Wepwawet told her. ¡°I can see far and wide, but chance favors the prepared mind!¡± Odd. Victoire could have sworn that the last part sounded like the quote of another rather than the god¡¯s own words. ¡°As you wish, Lord Wepwawet,¡± she said without raising the issue. ¡°May I suggest we focus our efforts on spears and bows? Lourson will have an easier time forging arrowheads and spearheads, and the magmorians raiders also appeared to favor melee combat. Exploiting the terrain would let us strike them from a safe distance.¡± ¡°I see you have a tactician¡¯s instincts, Victoire,¡± the deity complimented her. ¡°I agree. Both these weapons lend themselves well to hunting too, so we¡¯ll kill two birds with one stone.¡± Something bothered her about Lord Wepwawet. He was truly powerful and undoubtedly talented, but he sounded less confident than Victoire would expect from an ancient deity. Like he had to prove himself somehow. Maybe she was simply imagining things. She doubted a mortal like her could ever fully understand an entity capable of creating life from nothing. With her new task at hand, Victoire moved to say goodbye to Mistouffe. The werecat was busy being embraced into her mother¡¯s tight hug while her father and wolf companion watched. ¡°Mom¡­ you¡¯re choking me¡­¡± Mistouffe complained. Victoire noticed that she carried a travel bag that looked almost too big for her. ¡°Please let me go¡­¡± ¡°Oh darling¡­¡± Her poor mother reluctantly released her hold on her daughter. ¡°I know this task came from Grand-Loup himself, but I can¡¯t help but worry for you¡­¡± ¡°She already accompanied me on many trips across the snowlands,¡± her husband reassured her. ¡°She knows the wilderness like the back of her paw.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, Mom,¡± Mistouffe insisted with a wide smirk. ¡°I was gonna go leave to become an itinerant merchant one day anyway, and I¡¯ve got a god on my side now!¡± Her mother let out a sigh. ¡°Alright, but swear to me that you¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°I swear on all my paws!¡± Mistouffe giddily replied. ¡°Thanks, Ma. Thanks, Pa.¡± ¡°Your daughter will achieve wonders one day,¡± Victoire said upon joining the conversation. ¡°I have an additional task for you, Mistouffe, if you feel up to it.¡± ¡°Of course, Vicky!¡± she replied without hesitation. The nickname brought a chuckle from Victoire. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Have you visited the trading post near the Boisblanc forest?¡± Victoire asked, earning herself a nod of assent. ¡°A human by the name of Kale regularly visits it for supplies. I would like you to deliver him a letter if you find him there.¡± ¡°Sure, it¡¯s on my itinerary.¡± Mistouffe gave her an inquisitive look. ¡°Is he a member of the Glarmes?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve¡­ departed the order under less than ideal circumstances, but Lord-Commander Raymond might be persuaded to send us help to fend off the magmorians.¡± Especially if some of my suspicions about him are correct. ¡°It costs us nothing to contact them.¡± She could only pray someone would listen before the magmorians returned. Chapter 5: The Test
As Wepwawet suspected, he received three mana points each day at dawn: one from the mana leyline itself and two from his worshipers¡¯ faith. A paltry amount, but not one that he would be able to increase for the foreseeable future. He spent them summoning more spirit-wolves to bolster Narc¡¯s defenses and hunting parties, then three more on his copies of the Protect Champion Prophecy Miracle. Prophecies differed from other Miracles in that they required specific conditions after being cast to activate; they were traps and insurance, to put it simply. Protect Champion would allow him to reduce the damage one of his chosen would take when attacked. His current mana recovery rate would let him compensate for the investment in a day¡¯s time. Moreover, while a god could only cast most Miracles within his realm of Influence, those targeting their Champions ignored distance. His Prophecy cards would protect his worshipers when required and remain inactive until then. At least nobody seems like they¡¯ll be needing it anytime soon, Wepwawet thought. His spirit-wolf scouts hadn¡¯t noticed any magmorians lurking around, the village¡¯s repairs advanced at a good pace, and Mistouffe looked like she was doing well on her own. A god could perceive everything in their Champions¡¯ surroundings, including seeing through their eyes and listening through their ears. Wepwawet only had to focus a moment to locate Mistouffe. Of course, he only spied on her to ensure her safety. He wasn¡¯t worried about her misrepresenting him to his future worshipers at all! He found her busy singing his praises in a nearby village¡¯s tavern. ¡°--and then Grand-Loup created a mountain of food for us!¡± she said to a mesmerized audience. ¡°There was a big lightning bolt that could startle the blind, and then, I kid you not, a whole mountain¡¯s worth of fresh food stood right in front of us! Then he said with a voice like thunder: ¡®Take, eat; this is my body!¡¯¡± Okay¡­ Wepwawet didn¡¯t remember the pile of lettuce being that high, nor saying that last part, but the werelings in attendance seemed torn between disbelief and curiosity. He even noticed a young human woman and a werewolf in the crowd listening with gleams of interest in their eyes. Mistouffe¡¯s words should entice at least a few of them to visit Narc. Wepwawet made a note of taking ¡®inspiration¡¯ from some of her lines. They were too good to pass up! Come to think of it, almost every mortal he had seen so far seemed to belong to a race of anthropomorphic animals called werelings. Narc included bears, rabbits, goats, cats, and even a penguin. Humans seemed extremely rare around these parts. Maybe it¡¯s time I learn more about this land. Wepwawet used his Opener of the Ways providence to guide him towards someone who could enlighten him: an old, grey-feathered wereowl called Thibeau living in an isolated house perched on one of Narc¡¯s cliffs. To his surprise, he found him and Victoire talking around a table with what appeared to be a map of the region between them. ¡°So you can¡¯t tell me anything about the magmorians¡¯ battle tactics?¡± Victoire asked with a frown. ¡°The truth is that they never needed to wage a proper war to begin with,¡± the wereowl replied. ¡°Lavaland is an inhospitable wasteland of ashes and fire unsuitable for farming. The few creatures that can survive there besides the magmorians themselves are wyrms, dragons, kobolds, and the occasional goat. Magmorians are also immune to demonic conversion, so not even the Zoramesh Empire has any incentive to attack them. Who would fight for a place they can¡¯t exploit?¡± ¡°So they¡¯re attacking us to grab more resources?¡± ¡°Unlikely,¡± Thibeau replied. ¡°Their volcanoes¡¯ mineral bounties enrich the magmorians through the southern trade and they only require magma to feed themselves. Verglane has nothing which they don¡¯t already have, besides snow.¡± ¡°Which makes their northern raids all the more baffling.¡± Victoire stroked her chin. ¡°What are their weaknesses then? Do they have any vulnerabilities of note? Their bodies look tougher than stone.¡± ¡°A magmorian¡¯s life ends when their inner flame is extinguished,¡± Thibeau replied. ¡°Dousing one with water could work, and extreme cold would certainly weaken them. I do not believe it is a coincidence that they¡¯ve started raiding us during spring. Our winters would be too hard on them.¡± Frost and water? Wepwawet could think of a few Miracles that would provide plenty of those. He was very tempted to manifest himself in the room and question these two, but his father always said that a god asking questions about basic world facts would only diminish himself in the eyes of his followers. ¡®It¡¯s better to stay silent and look knowledgeable than to admit ignorance and remove all doubts!¡¯ his dad always said. ¡®Never admit weakness to the mortals, or they¡¯ll lose all respect for you!¡¯ Unwilling to ruin his godly image on his third day of work, Wepwawet settled on reading the map. Since he could perceive anything within his realm of Influence and instantly understood all languages, he had an easy time analyzing it. The map was obviously incomplete, since these mortals had yet to explore their entire world, but comparing it to Wepwawet¡¯s memory of the planet¡¯s landmass when he first arrived let him roughly figure out his location: a frontier land to the north called Verglane, bordered by nations called Lavaland and Stalheim to the south. Verglane. So that¡¯s this country¡¯s name, if I can even call it a country. The map only showed the western half of the vast icy expanse Wepwawet remembered before incarnating. My civilization. The map roughly put Narc at the northwesternmost point of the land, with a large city called Roynimalia to the southeast. He also noted a few places that could serve as focal points for mana leylines. He would need to secure one of those after completing Narc¡¯s fortifications. Another Altar would let him expand his Influence further besides increasing his daily mana yield. Moreover, his classmates had probably been assigned to guide Lavaland and Stalheim too. Wepwawet hoped that Artemis or Ganesha would lead one of those, but he had the gut feeling he wouldn¡¯t be so lucky¡­ A sudden flow of prayers and exclamations in the town center drew him out of his thoughts. ¡°Water!¡± he heard his worshipers shout loud enough to wake the dead. ¡°Warm water!¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Wepwawet turned his attention there to find his weregoat diggers retreating from a pit of their own creation near Alpine¡¯s inn. True to their words, hot mineral water sprung from below the earth, much to the amazement of nearby villagers. ¡°Behold!¡± Wepwawet announced to everyone upon materializing his face over the rising steam. He better claim responsibility quickly to strengthen his worshipers¡¯ faith. ¡°My gift of water!¡± It didn¡¯t take long for all of Narc¡¯s population to gather around the spot. A small spring¡¯s worth of hot mineral water soon filled up in front of them, with the heat strong enough to melt snow around its borders. A few werelings dared to touch its surface, only to back away in surprise at the heat. ¡°Water that boils by itself?¡± Lourson wondered after putting a paw into it. Unlike most of his fellow werelings, he did not back away. ¡°Now that¡¯s a surprise.¡± ¡°Oh my, this is wonderful!¡± Alpine rejoiced. ¡°Right next to my inn too!¡± ¡°This is like the Source¡­¡± Victoire muttered under her breath. She looked almost transfixed by the sight for some reason. ¡°But that¡¯s¡­ that should be impossible¡­¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible for a god!¡± Wepwawet boasted, mostly for the sake of his worshipers¡¯ morale. His stepmother did encourage him to shower them with love. ¡°These waters will keep you warm, improve your health, feed your crops, and protect you from danger!¡± ¡°Danger?¡± The word woke Victoire from her trance, her tactical mind kicking in. ¡°I see¡­ this could prove a most fearsome defense against the magmorians.¡± ¡°Indeed, and that¡¯s why you must keep digging!¡± Wepwawet encouraged his followers. ¡°I have a surprise in mind for any foolish invader.¡± They wouldn¡¯t know what hit them.
Later that night¡­
Jasper was pleasantly surprised. It had been weeks since he left Lavaland with his troops, and every piece of scenery in this dreary northern land boiled down to one word: snow, snow, snow! How could these barbarians find that cold moisty stuff pleasant? But finally, finally, he had found a worthy landmark! He watched the statue of exquisitely sculpted ice glimmer in the moonlight from atop a hill alongside his troops. None of them properly appreciated its beauty, but Jasper? Jasper¡¯s soul-flame burned with passion! ¡°That¡¯s the place, chief!¡± one of his scouts said. The poor soldier had watched three of his fellow magmorians soldiers heinously perish in this place. ¡°We just asked them if we could coexist in peaceful oppression, and they dared to fight back!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let them get away with this, chief!¡± another soldier added. ¡°Don¡¯t worry boys, we¡¯re storming the place,¡± Jasper reassured them before turning his fiery attention to their local guide. ¡°Can that ice-wolf see us from here?¡± The witch shook her head. ¡°His attention covers a radius close to three of your miles. We are outside his range.¡± Three miles? Oddly accurate. Jasper observed the woman more closely. He hadn¡¯t spent enough time with humans to tell whether long purple hair and emerald eyes were common features among that tribe, but her golden robes and diadem looked more precious than what the richest of their merchants could afford. Her staff bore a golden disc on its top which radiated more magic than Jasper had ever felt back home. Who is this witch? She had simply shown up out of thin air at Jasper¡¯s camp to offer her help with conquering the region. He had of course been suspicious, but she had provided extensive and accurate information about the land, alongside detailed intel on the so-called ¡®Wepwawet¡¯ magician. Oh, and she also gave Jasper a magical sword. That definitively warmed her up to him. ¡°The statue is the source of his power, and he has few soldiers at his command,¡± she told Jasper. ¡°If you fight your way to the mountain, all you will have to do is melt down the glacier. The spawn of that bastard Set is still weak and deprived of proper support, so he won¡¯t be able to strike all of you down at once if you spread out your troops. You can pull through with light casualties.¡± ¡°Light casualties?!¡± one soldier choked. ¡°Set?¡± Jasper asked, his flame burning with suspicion. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Nobody that matters,¡± the witch replied before hitting the ground with her staff. ¡°All you have to do is destroy that statue and that wolf won¡¯t bite you again.¡± ¡°All that we have to do?¡± Jasper growled and drew the very burning scimitar she gifted him. ¡°You think you can just tell us whom to attack and then scamper off¨C¡± She vanished in a flash of purple light. Jasper and his men stared at the empty spot where she used to stand a minute ago, then looked around to find her completely gone. ¡°Magicians,¡± Jasper grumbled in annoyance. ¡°What¡­ what was that, chief?¡± one of his scouts asked. ¡°C-can Vizier Malachite do that too, chief? Should we look for her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Jasper would bet that this deceitful worm was already out of reach. ¡°This doesn¡¯t change anything. That giant statue won¡¯t move anywhere.¡± And he thanked the Eternal Flame for it! The lava in his veins burned in anticipation at the idea of claiming it for his love! Jasper looked down on his men below the hill, all eighty of them. Most were magmorians who had followed him since leaving Lavaland and a handful of trained magma wyrms, but he had even incorporated kobold slingers into his ranks to deal with archers. His superior, General Peridot, had called them their homeland¡¯s ¡®very, very special forces¡¯; and they would live up to this title! ¡°Soldiers!¡± he called out to them with his thundering voice. ¡°I have an announcement to make!¡± His men all straightened up and stared at him. The weight of their expectations would have crushed any other commander, but Jasper was a bold and brave soul! ¡°Tomorrow¡­ tomorrow¡­¡± He raised his sword at his future mountain of a wedding gift. ¡°I will offer this wolf-statue to Princess Topaz and ask her to marry me!¡± A chorus of cheers and supportive cries echoed his bold declaration. This kind reaction from his men only inflamed Jasper¡¯s passion further! ¡°A great battle awaits us, but fear not, for the brightest of flame burns within our hearts! An inferno called love!¡± Jasper put a hand on his stone chest. ¡°Love for our wonderful home of Lavaland! Love for our magnanimous sovereign, Fire Sultan Onyx! Love for his beautiful daughter, Princess Topaz, and her equally graceful sisters! And more than that, love for you, my beloved soldiers, who have marched with me from day one! Your courage shines brighter than a volcano¡¯s heart!¡± ¡°Oh chief! Oh chief!¡± One of his men cried tears of lava at his kind words, and more soon followed. ¡°You¡¯re making me all pyroclastic inside!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jasper replied, his eyes struggling to hold back magma tears of his own. How lucky he was to have been blessed with such supportive companions! ¡°Heat up your flames! For tonight, we march onward to victo¨C¡± A wolf howl echoed in the night. The sudden interruption briefly caused Jasper to lose his momentum, but he quickly focused back on the speech. ¡°For tonight, we m¨C¡± A second wolf howled in the distance, joining its horrible voice to the first. ¡°Tonight, we march¨C¡± A third wolf¡¯s howl interrupted Jasper and he suddenly failed to remember his chosen words. He snarled in rage and glared at the icy wasteland separating his soldiers from their future prize. He couldn¡¯t see the animals, but they wouldn¡¯t stop disturbing him anyway! ¡°Are you going to shut up?!¡± Jasper shouted out to them. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of the speech of a¡­ lifetime¡­¡± Wolves¡­ wolves howling in the night one after another¡­ in a land protected by a giant ice-wolf statue¡­ Uh oh. ¡°They¡¯re sounding the alarm!¡± Jasper roared in panic as he bolted down the hill, his men quickly hurrying up after him. ¡°Onward!¡± No beast would deny him his glory!
Wepwawet wasn¡¯t too surprised when he saw a large group of magmorians rushing straight for Narc. They had skillfully used a hill to mask their advance before they entered his Influence¡¯s range. Wepwawet had of course noticed that peculiar geography detail the moment he took a good look at his surroundings and posted spirit-wolf scouts nearby. He had to give it to the magmorians, few would be bold enough to try sneaking on the god of military reconnaissance. I hope somebody picked up that phone, because I called it. Wepwawet knew that the System sabotage would mean an imminent attack. It made sense to strike him and his classmates quickly before any of them could gather too many resources or reestablish a connection with the Nexus. I hope the others will be prepared too. He would rather have had more time, but the die was cast. A blue screen appeared to confirm it.
Battle Quest: Cold Shower of Love. Stop the magmorian raid by routing Jasper, Shield of Topaz, and his troops. Reward: Ritual Miracle.
Challenge accepted. Chapter 6: Cold Shower
Victoire knew it the moment Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolves woke her up, long before her god warned her that almost a hundred enemy soldiers were moving toward the village with the intent to raze it. She had barely had time to give its people rudimentary lessons on how to hold a bow and wield a spear, and some wounded militia members hadn¡¯t even recovered from their last battle. Her paltry force would disintegrate at first contact with the enemy. ¡°This is all we have?¡± Victoire asked upon examining the underwhelming amount of spears and arrows at their disposal. There was barely enough to equip half her ¡®troops,¡¯ if she could call her militia that. ¡°It¡¯s the most I could forge on my own,¡± Lourson replied with a sad sigh. ¡°I am truly sorry.¡± ¡°It will have to do,¡± Lord Wepwawet said through a shimmering projection of his lupine spirit overseeing Narc. ¡°Everyone who cannot hold a spear or bow, grab a pot, an urn, whatever container that can hold water, then follow the archers onto the cliffs!¡± Victoire¡¯s jaw clenched at the implications. ¡°I suppose that if you ordered us to take battle positions, Lord Wepwawet, then it means that you cannot smite them all?¡± ¡°I will smite those I can when the time is right,¡± her god replied, which was an elegant way to say no. ¡°But worry not. Follow my orders, fight well, and Narc will prevail.¡± He¡¯s not as almighty as he pretends to be, Victoire thought. She had had that gnawing suspicion for a while, which she supposed made sense. Her new god wouldn¡¯t need to train them for battle if could solve all their problems on his own. Let¡¯s hope he¡¯s wise and mighty enough at least. We¡¯re in too deep to flee now. The silver lining was that the early alarm allowed Narc to close their new gates and forced the enemy into a maddened march to cover the distance separating them from the village. This ought to exhaust them and give the defenders a slight edge, though not enough to make up for the disparity in numbers, experience, and equipment. It was a struggle for Victoire to stay hopeful even inside her own head. ¡°Victoire, Filou, Lourson, I shall bestow upon you the same gift of speed I gave Mistouffe and imbue your weapons with the kiss of winter,¡± Lord Wepwawet declared. ¡°Take the best and quickest spearsmen to help you hold the outer walls.¡± ¡°Our ditches and defenses won¡¯t hold long against their wyrms,¡± Victoire warned. ¡°The wyrms won¡¯t be a problem,¡± her god said with a confidence that took Victoire aback. ¡°Their slingers will prove more threatening. From my experience, those hit hard and true. You must hold out until our archers can take them out, alongside soldiers trying to climb the village¡¯s cliffs.¡± Filou, ever the loyal squire, nodded with nervous resolve. ¡°We¡¯ll hold the barricades with our lives, Lord Wepwawet!¡± ¡°What? No!¡± Lord Wepwawet waved his hands at them in protest. ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± His response took everyone aback, least of all Victoire herself. ¡°You don¡¯t want to stop them at the gates, Lord Wepwawet?¡± ¡°No!¡± her god replied to her utter confusion. ¡°All you have to do is buy time! When it looks like they¡¯re going to break through or if it gets too tough, you retreat back to the second layer of fortifications!¡± ¡°And¡­ when they threaten to break that one?¡± Lourson asked calmly. ¡°What happens next?¡± Lord Wepwawet glanced at the village¡¯s new hot water source, his grey lips stretching to reveal the rows of sharp canine fangs hiding beneath them. Victoire had never seen a wolf grin like that before, not even a wereling. It was quite the frightening sight.
The village was in their sight when rain suddenly began to fall. Clouds formed out of nowhere to obscure the rising dawn and pour water on Jasper¡¯s brave troops. The air was so cold that it turned to hail before it hit his body. The witch said his magic sword would protect him from the wolf-mage¡¯s sorcery, and she had spoken true; the half-frozen droplets bounced off an invisible force shielding him from danger. However, that protection did not extend to Jasper¡¯s soldiers. ¡°Chief, it hurts!¡± one of his magmorians swordsmen complained as he shielded his life-flame with his hand. The rain turned to steam on his stoneskin, blackening it and slowing him down. Water was rare in Lavaland and very much feared. The heavens might as well be raining poison on the magmorians, forcing them to raise shields to protect themselves. At least the magma wyrms and kobolds had blood instead of fire in their veins, though they still found the rainfall unsettling nonetheless. Worse, the steam their own bodies produced dimmed their visibility. Jasper could barely see a great wall of wood flanked by two sets of rocky cliffs. The witch instructed him that this corridor led directly to the village. He could hardly see any further, but he would have bet his life-flame that the defenders had put archers on a higher ground. ¡°Follow my voice!¡± Jasper shouted at his warband¡¯s forefront. A leader did not ask his men anything that he wasn¡¯t willing to do himself. ¡°Best climbers up the cliffs! Slingers, cover us¨C¡± A lightning bolt struck the muddy ground in front of Jasper, and a spirit arose from the smoke. The magmorian stopped dead in his tracks. A phantasmal, translucent mirage of a wolf-faced humanoid floated in front of the magmorian army, his arms crossed, his expression colder than ice. Jasper immediately recognized the entity as the statue¡¯s likeness. ¡°Begone, magmorians!¡± he said with a thundering voice carried by the rain. ¡°You face Wepwawet, god of this land! This place is under my protection!¡± ¡°Our Eternal Flame shines brighter!¡± Jasper raised his scimitar in defiance. ¡°You frighten me not, mage! Behold this sword! It protects me from your sorcery!¡± The wolf-mage studied the weapon for a moment, his eyes briefly squinting in frustration. ¡°Who gave you that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Jasper swung his blade at the phantom. ¡°But I¡¯ll deliver it to you right now!¡± His sword phased through the mage as if he wasn¡¯t even here, inviting his mocking laughter. ¡°All I will say is this,¡± the wolf-mage said with a grin full of sharp fangs. ¡°If you dare to persevere in your madness, I¡¯ll flush you out of my land like mere trash. You¡¯ll find death with each step.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Jasper burned with anger, but froze upon noticing a startling detail. These barbarians had dug a deep ditch in front of their walls and at the foot of their cliffs; a rift which the rainclouds slowly filled up one drop at a time. ¡°He¡¯s trying to delay us until their moats overflow and block us!¡± Jasper shouted to his troops before charging. ¡°Onwards!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you,¡± the wolf-mage said with a shrug as he vanished in a puff of smoke. Jasper and his soldiers rushed at the defensive wall to smash their way through it, while the fastest magmorians among them began to climb the cliffs bare-handed. Their claws dug into the stone with a strong grip, only to be suddenly pushed down by streams of water or falling pots. Jasper saw figures atop the cliffs hidden by the rain and his troops¡¯ own steam. A hail of arrows swiftly followed, their tips bouncing off his strong skin and the wyrms¡¯ scales. His ranged troops answered the volley with stones and javelins. Almost all of them either missed or failed to reach the clifftops. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything through the steam, chief!¡± a kobold slinger complained. An arrow hit his throat on the spot a second later, the archer having roughly pinpointed his position from voice alone. Jasper grit his stone teeth in rage at his soldier¡¯s death. He had begun this fight in love¡¯s name, but he would finish it for vengeance¡¯s sake! He quickly stepped into the ditch below the defensive wall. The wyrms behind abruptly stopped their charge upon noticing sharp stakes at their feet, throwing their riders into a knee-deep moat or causing the soldiers behind them to stumble. Walking into the waters felt like wading through poison to Jasper, but he persevered. He had barely reached the wall when he saw a human female peek over it, a silver spear in hand. She thrust her weapon at Jasper¡¯s skull with the intent to kill. He managed to raise his shield to deflect the blow at the last second, the weapon¡¯s cold tip instead piercing deep into his left shoulder. And it hurt. It hurt so much! A terrible cold flowed through his burning veins and filled them with ice. His entire left arm became numb as lava no longer flowed through it. A blow to the face would have extinguished his life-flame in an instant. Jasper roared, pulled back his wounded arm, and answered with a swing of his burning scimitar. The woman retreated behind the fortification for safety, while his sword sliced into the wooden wall. The weapon¡¯s flames would have set it on fire without the rain, but it at least left a deep cut. His soldiers rushed forward to hack at the fortification with obsidian and stone axes, wading through steamy waters with faces twisted in pain. Werecreatures rose from behind the wall to repel them with spears. Some of the weapons swirled with searing cold that let them pierce through magmorian skin with ease. Jasper watched with horror as one of his men was struck in the chest and collapsed dead into the rising moat. My poor soldiers! Once he had married Princess Topaz, he would give every fallen ally a king¡¯s funeral. Damn these barbarians! These cowards would rather strike from behind their walls than face us in the mud! Unwilling to let more of his men die, Jasper protected a fellow soldier from a spear thrust with his shield. His left hand wouldn¡¯t move, yet he did not despair. A single kiss from his beloved princess would set it ablaze again! His soldiers hacked at the wall the best they could while the defenders¡¯ spears forced them to retreat now and then, slowing them down. Slingers attempted to cover their comrades as best they could with suppression fire, but low visibility and arrows caused them to miss more often than not. Their enemies were protected by magic too. Jasper saw a slung stone that would have busted anybody else¡¯s skull bounce off a shining shield protecting a werebear spearman¡¯s head. Nonetheless, the magmorians didn¡¯t give up, and their leader least of all! Jasper struck the wall with all his strength until his scimitar carved out a small opening. His axemen slowly opened a breach on their side too. Eventually, the defenders vanished behind the walls and didn¡¯t strike again. ¡°They¡¯re fleeing!¡± Jasper shouted, his voice louder than the downpour. He and fellow magmorians rammed the fortification with all their might. It eventually collapsed into a breach through which Jasper stepped first. ¡°Victory awaits!¡± A gauntlet of muddy ditches and water-filled trap holes leading to another set of wooden walls awaited them on the other side. Its defenders had likely vanished behind the second set of fortifications in an attempt to slow down their advance. Just one more charge, Jasper told himself. The witch¡¯s intel showed that the village and slopes ascending to the nearby cliffs should be right behind that last line of defense. These savages would fold the moment they lost the benefit of the high ground. All for you, my beloved! His inflaming passion gave him the strength to advance. He waded through the mud, walked around the overflowing pits, leaped over moats, and powered through the stupid downpour. His soldiers slowly followed after him and filled the cliff-flanked corridor with their numbers. The sheer steam their bodies produced from the rain clouded the sky above. At long last, Jasper finally reached the final set of fortifications. He stuck it with his scimitar with a roar, challenging any spearman to strike him again. None did. Jasper paused for a second, half expecting a surprise attack or an arrow to the face. None came. The deep cut he carved into the wooden wall went unpunished. Water leaked through it though. Something¡¯s wrong. An ominous feeling sank deep in Jasper¡¯s fiery gut. Something¡¯s wrong. He turned around to stare at the cliff-flanked corridor behind him. His men had rushed to fill it with their wyrms and struggled to avoid the defensive holes and traps. Their numbers clogged the area. Their position allowed Jasper to notice a worrying detail. The corridor was a slope. Each ditch had been subtly built one step taller than the next, like an ascending staircase; a process that started with the first fortification. His soldiers¡¯ own steam had prevented Jasper from identifying the trick earlier. Terror and doubt overcame Jasper. He turned his focus back on the fortification and noticed water leaking through its thin cracks and his own cut; far too much for dripping rain alone. Only then did he finally realize the cruel snare he led his warband into. ¡°It¡¯s a dam!¡± Jasper shouted in horror as he desperately attempted to warn his troops. ¡°Run! Ru¨C¡± A bolt of lightning smote the wall, shattering it. The dam burst open and a torrent of water swallowed Jasper.
Wepwawet watched his trap flushing the magmorians away with no small amount of satisfaction. A devastating tide of water hit the Lavaland soldiers with immense strength. The flow propelled them back into the trap holes and ditches, snuffed out their flames, and drowned their wyrms. A poor few kobolds attempt to leap onto the nearby cliffs to avoid the flood, only to be carried away like the others. Victoire and the others observed the slaughter from above with a mix of awe, relief, and pity. Drowning was a cruel death, but Wepwawet did give the magmorians a chance to walk away. ¡°You thought you could beat a god of war at his own game, mortals?!¡± Wepwawet boasted from the clouds above. ¡°I¡¯ve been winning battles since the first dynasty!¡± The plan had been as simple as it had been devastating: use his Raincloud Miracles to cause the hot spring source to overflow, hold it behind the second set of fortifications¨Chastily reinforced into a dam with his Barricade Kit Miracle¨Cand then unleash it on their enemies once it reached critical mass. Instead of taking cover behind the walls as the enemy thought, Victoire and the others had instead used prepared ladders to ascend to the cliffs before pulling them up after them; a manipulation cleverly hidden by the steam produced by the magmorians¡¯ own bodies. Soldiers fought wars, but engineers won them. Of course, the plan had come at the cost of flooding most of Narc¡¯s buildings along with the magmorians. Wepwawet considered it a small price to pay for sparing his worshipers from a massacre. Homes could be rebuilt, not lives. I hope the titan that sent this fool is watching, Wepwawet thought as he trailed Jasper. The current had caused the magmorian leader to let go of his weapon while both were washed away. Let¡¯s observe that sword more closely.
Flamefang Category: Weapon (Sword) Quality: B Bonus: + 12 STR Accuracy: + 8 AV Weight: 8 Effect 1: Lesser Miracle Immunity (2 Spots): The user is unaffected by Miracles of Rank 3 or lower unless they wish to be. Effect 2: Flaming Weapon: Inflicts Fire damage. This divine assassination weapon has saved countless Champions a fortune in torch budget.
Divine. So it was indeed an assassination attempt by a godly foe. Wepwawet would ensure his worshipers would preserve that weapon for further study later. The war had only begun, but it was always good to open it with a victory. Chapter 7: A Mess of Ice and Fire
Victoire walked among the flooded remains of Narc¡¯s fortifications with her fellow militia members and Lord Wepwawet¡¯s spirit-wolves. The water level had lowered low enough for her to step over magmorian corpses and slain wyrms. Small, red lizardlike creatures roughly around a wererabbit¡¯s size¡ªwhom she assumed were those so-called ¡®kobolds¡¯¡ªwere among the victims too, having been crushed by the dam¡¯s collapse or drowned. Better them than us, I guess, Victoire thought. Her god¡¯s spiritual projection oversaw the devastation from above. She couldn¡¯t deny that his plan, however brutal, had worked perfectly. Without him, it would be our corpses filling these ditches. ¡°I¡¯ve found the magic sword, milady!¡± Filou proudly raised a burning scimitar to the sky and nearly stumbled from the weight. The sword was longer than he was tall. ¡°Good,¡± Victoire answered. ¡°Now, let¡¯s find its wielder¨C¡± She heard a kobold choke on the ground to her left and immediately drew her spear. The reptilian creature coughed up water, which caused Alpine to immediately check on him. ¡°I can save this one,¡± Alpine informed Victoire with a hit of concern. ¡°If I treat his wounds now.¡± ¡°Have you gone mad?!¡± a militia member replied angrily. ¡°He and his fellows tried to kill us all barely an hour ago! I say we should finish that bastard off while we can!¡± ¡°No, treat that one,¡± Lord Wepwawet declared from above. ¡°A greater foe sent those soldiers after us and I wish to investigate.¡± Victoire nodded in assent. ¡°We should secure a few prisoners for questioning. Other magmorian warbands might lurk around in the region.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Alpine sighed in relief and then took the kobold into her arms. ¡°I can¡¯t resolve myself to watch someone suffer before my eyes, even an enemy.¡± Howls echoed ahead, causing Victoire and the others to check on its source. Lourson and a few spirit-wolves had gone ahead to check the first fortification layer¡¯s ruins, and now surrounded a handful of wounded magmorians and kobolds who had survived the flood. Most of them could barely stand, with the former¡¯s flames threatening to fade out from water exposure and the latter having lost their slings to the torrent. The magmorian leader¡ªa crimson, horned stone humanoid a head taller than his fellows¡ªwas among them, struggling not to collapse with a hand pressed against his chest. He nonetheless shielded his wounded soldiers and glared threateningly at the spirit-wolves surrounding them. His eyes flickered with anger upon seeing Filou carry his sword. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Victoire declared. Ice coated her spear the moment the thought crossed her mind. Her god¡¯s power dwelling within her empowered her weapon with winter¡¯s strength. ¡°Your resilience is commendable, but it won¡¯t save you again if you try anything.¡± ¡°You maniacs¡­¡± the magmorian leader rasped through his flaming teeth. Their glow was a pale shadow of the blaze that animated him during the battle. Surviving the water trap had come at a cost. ¡°To flood your own home to take us out¡­ pure madness¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to protect my followers, Jasper of Lavaland,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied without guilt or regret. ¡°I warned you not to fight us and gave you a chance to step away. You have no one to blame but yourself.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes, I see that now.¡± The so-called Jasper lowered his head in shame. ¡°I¡­ I accept defeat.¡± Lourson squinted in skepticism, his hand gripping his hammer. ¡°So you¡¯ll surrender?¡± The magmorian nodded slowly. ¡°All I ask in return¡­ is that you spare my remaining men. Their only vice was loyalty, for following their foolish captain to their death.¡± ¡°Chief¨C¡± one of his soldiers opened his mouth, but his superior didn¡¯t let him finish. ¡°Shut up. I led you to defeat, and I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± The magmorian leader shook his head. His kind¡¯s stone faces didn¡¯t look too expressive, but Victoire easily saw his sorrow and remorse. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t have listened to that witch¡­ she tricked us into a doomed fight.¡± ¡°Why are you people even here?¡± Victoire asked. The question had bothered her for a while. ¡°Why invade Verglane at all?¡± ¡°Because my heart burns with a flame called love,¡± Jasper replied with genuine passion. ¡°There¡¯s a woman I desire¡­ a princess shaped by our Fire Sultan¡¯s own hand. I thought that if I could claim a glorious prize worthy of her, then¡­ then my proposal would impress her.¡± ¡°You attacked my followers to impress a woman?¡± Lord Wepwawet scoffed in disdain. ¡°I expected a better motive than pale glory.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no worthier cause than love!¡± Jasper retorted with a defiant glare. ¡°I do not regret fighting in its name¡­ only that my foolishness cost my men their lives.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t add up,¡± Victoire said. This magmorian might have been a foolish glory hound, but it didn¡¯t explain the broader Lavaland raids. ¡°Your people have invaded Verglane long before Lord Wepwawet appeared to guide us. What glory can there be in attacking us?¡± ¡°Our country is over¡­¡± Jasper struggled to find the right word for a second. ¡°Overpopulous.¡± ¡°Overpopulated?¡± Filou corrected him. ¡°Yes,¡± Jasper confirmed. ¡°We¡¯re overpopulated, so Fire Sultan Onyx ordered us to find and seize more magma chambers. All those in Lavaland are already crowded.¡± ¡°Magma chambers?¡± Lourson exchanged glances with the others, but not even Victoire knew anything about those. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Underground pockets of lava,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied with a pensive look. ¡°Now that I¡¯m checking, there¡¯s one beneath this very mountain.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel the fire in your waters?¡± Jasper asked. ¡°The flame stirring under the mountain, waiting to explode?¡± Victoire blinked at the implications. ¡°Montfroid Peak is a volcano?¡± ¡°A sleeping one, which won¡¯t wake up under my purview,¡± Lord Wepwawet reassured her. ¡°I do wonder why you choose to attack my land in particular, however. Surely there were richer and warmer countries to assault in the south.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The magmorian leader growled at the wolf-god. ¡°Do you think Fire Sultan Onyx is stupid? We trade with southern lands, and you don¡¯t go to war with your customers!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go to war at all!¡± Victoire sneered with contempt at this thoughtless brute. ¡°You could have simply asked to settle under our mountain and we would have welcomed you¡­ but instead of negotiating and compromising, you choose to take.¡± Jasper looked at her in silence. Victoire could tell he and his kind hadn¡¯t even considered a peaceful approach. They simply thought that they could walk all over Verglane by force without consequences. Violence came easy to them. And if he spoke the truth about the magmorians¡¯ expansion¡­ then all of Verglane would soon descend into war.
Wepwawet accepted Jasper¡¯s surrender, and the Second Raid on Narc finally came to an end.
Battle Quest: Cold Shower of Love has been completed! You¡¯ve gained the Geyser Tribute Ritual!
Geyser Tribute Rank 4 Ritual You can cause a hundred-foot tall boiling geyser to violently erupt from any surface, inflicting medium Water and Fire damage to everyone affected. The chosen surface must have a radius of at least five feet for the Miracle to trigger.
Filou, Brave Heart has earned enough experience to rank up!
Wepwawet allowed himself a small sigh of relief at the notification before discarding a Longstrider I copy for his new Miracle. He had been wondering why the quest didn¡¯t complete upon wiping out the magmorians and feared a second wave¡¯s attack. Thankfully, the delay was simply the result of Jasper¡¯s survival. At least he didn¡¯t have to slaughter them all to complete the objective. The new Miracle looked highly useful too, both offensively and defensively! It felt nice to obtain something stronger than Smite! Wepwawet had his followers restrain their captives and confiscate their weapons. The magmorians¡¯ obsidian weapons paled in quality compared to metal ones and the slings would require a lot of training to be effective, but better bad equipment than none. He would also interrogate his prisoners to learn more about this ¡®witch¡¯ who masterminded the attack. Wepwawet would bet half his mana that she was a titan agent. Why choose a foolhardy commander like Jasper to take him out? A wiser planner would have prepared longer, unless¡­ unless they were unrelated to the magmorian military and Jasper had been the only catspaw available. If they¡¯re really searching for magma chambers, then the Lavaland military is probably stretched thin across Verglane looking for them, Wepwawet thought. The region¡¯s map he examined in Thibeau¡¯s home showed that his village was far away from Lavaland¡¯s frontier. Jasper¡¯s warband was probably the only one sent so far up north for reconnaissance. Wepwawet had been lucky that this moron was the best the titans could send after him, and hoped that his teammates fared as well as he did. Their enemies might have struck them too with better troops. He could only hope the titans either failed to locate their Idols or couldn¡¯t muster enough forces to assault them. The magma chamber¡¯s presence made another attack on Narc inevitable, but Wepwawet¡¯s gut told him he had bought himself some time. It would take a while for Jasper¡¯s superior to learn of his defeat and even longer to muster a counterattack, if they even bothered with one. This ¡®General Peridot¡¯ might choose to focus on easier targets after losing a hundred men for nothing. Wepwawet wondered if a few magmorians would be open to a peaceful solution. If they truly suffered from overpopulation and their military was stretched thin, some might be willing to serve in return for settling his mountain¡¯s magma chamber. It wasn¡¯t like he had any use for it, and a true god did not discriminate. It would be a question for another day, however. He doubted his worshipers would easily forgive the people who tried to kill them, and all magmorians so far acted with hostile intentions. He knew too little about their culture to make that call yet. For now, Wepwawet would focus on rebuilding the village better than before. The flood had damaged the few houses that survived the first raid besides those built on the cliffs themselves. He had always planned to rearrange Narc¡¯s layout to turn it into a fortress town and put that plan into practice soon. First of all, Wepwawet checked if Filou could rank up in a useful class for that purpose.
Filou, Brave Heart can rank up in the Wererabbit or Squire Classes. Wererabbit: Monster. A frail and willy rabbit whose speed and luck help them avoid danger. Strength (C), Agility (S), Vitality (E), Skill (A), Magic (D), Intelligence (C), Charisma (C), Luck (A). Squire: Fighter. An apprentice with the potential to grow into a mighty knight one day. Strength (C), Agility (C), Vitality (C), Skill (C), Magic (C), Intelligence (C), Charisma (C), Luck (C).
Nothing that can help with construction, but interesting either way. Squire sounded like a jack-of-all-trades with potential, and Wererabbit like a class focusing on evasion. On one hand, the former might evolve into a stronger knight over time, but on the other hand, a good dodge tank could work wonders too¡­ Should he go with a specialist or a generalist? His father always said that a Champion served as a piece of their god¡¯s strategy. ¡°A tool for every task!¡± he used to all but shout in his son¡¯s ear. ¡°You were born to win, and mortals are born to serve!¡± By contrast, Miss Athena always advocated fostering a Champion¡¯s innate talents. ¡°There is no right or wrong path, but some mortals take longer to find their own without guidance.¡± Argh, too many mixed signals! After hesitating for many, many minutes, Wepwawet figured he should just ask Filou himself. That way he would both look open to his supporters¡¯ suggestions and he wouldn¡¯t have to blame himself if he screwed up! Wepwawet manifested his spirit next to Filou as he struggled to practice a swing with Jasper¡¯s scimitar. He tried his best to play it cool, but only managed to look clumsily cute. ¡°Filou!¡± Wepwawet said, causing the easily startled wererabbit to nearly fall onto his back in surprise. ¡°You have performed well today, and I shall bless you with greater power for your valor.¡± ¡°Lord Wepwawet?¡± Filou hastily planted the scimitar in the muddy earth to better kneel. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m honored by this gift, though I do not think I excelled today¡­¡± ¡°Nonsense. I¡¯ve watched your deeds in battle, and you did not falter once when facing the enemy.¡± The frost boost Wepwawet empowered him with certainly helped, but the young wererabbit had shown great courage nonetheless. ¡°Two paths await ahead of you: the path of the beast, and that of the knight. Which one would you rather take?¡± Filou pondered his question for a moment, then nodded to himself. ¡°All I seek is to be a good squire to Milady and serve her to the best of my abilities, Lord Wepwawet.¡± Squire it was then! Wepwawet imbued Filou with his mana and a knight¡¯s radiance.
Filou has ranked up in Squire! +3 STR, +3 AGI, +3 VIT, +3 SKI, +3 MAG, +3 INT, +3 CHA, +3 LCK! He gained the Warrior Student I Perk! Warrior Student I: All melee Weapon Artifacts equipped inflict +1 Damage.
Same gains all across the board, Wepwawet observed. Since Filou¡¯s innate perk grants him an additional stat on each rank-up, then C in a stat brings two points. This confirmed Wepwawet¡¯s assessment that each letter added a certain amount of points to a given stat. By that logic, E brought no stat point, D brought one, C two, and so on until S, which should grant a maximum of five; assuming there was no higher-ranking letter to be found. ¡°I feel so much stronger already, my lord,¡± Filou said upon grabbing the scimitar. His newfound strength points gains let him shoulder the weapon¡¯s weight more easily, and his Perk helped him swing it with much greater skill. ¡°I swear that I shall not disappoint you!¡± ¡°I know you won¡¯t,¡± Wepwawet reassured him, before his attention drifted elsewhere. He had sensed many new presences at the edge of his Influence. He turned his gaze east and saw a large group approaching from that direction. Wepwawet relaxed a bit; instead of another magmorian attack, he counted dozens of werelings, mostly werewolves, and even a handful of humans. A familiar werecat was at their helm, pointing a paw at his statue overlooking the region. Mistouffe had brought him new worshipers. Chapter 8: Immigration Policy When Lord Wepwawet sent out Mistouffe to preach to other communities, Victoire thought that the werecat would struggle to convince a handful of people. A story about a god gracing a small village like Narc sounded like an unbelievable tale. She certainly didn¡¯t expect her to return with a group larger than all of Narc¡¯s population combined! ¡°I told you I¡¯d succeed!¡± Mistouffe boasted once Narc¡¯s delegation arrived to greet the newcomers outside the town. ¡°Told you!¡± ¡°You most certainly did,¡± Victoire replied as she surveyed these new pilgrims. Over half of them were werewolves bearing a white paw mark on their chests which she recognized as the Snowstep Tribe¡¯s emblem, but the group also included werebears, werecats, wereowls, and even a handful of humans. Most of them came with bags filled with food and belongings, weapons, or beasts of burden. ¡°This is quite the heteroclite group you gathered.¡± ¡°Oh yes!¡± Mistouffe smiled ear to ear, having taken the remark for a compliment. ¡°I visited every tavern for miles! Everybody listened when I talked about the free food!¡± Victoire struggled to keep a straight face. ¡°The ¡®free food?¡¯¡± ¡°The magical lettuce!¡± Mistouffe said, confirming Victoire¡¯s fear. ¡°Goreville brought his whole tribe to see Grand-Loup, but everybody else came to try out his cooking!¡± These people are settlers, Victoire thought grimly. Quite a few of them observed the corpses of dead wyrms and fortification debris with wariness. They probably expected a safer place with plenty of food to welcome them with. A handful of these visitors stood out from the rest: a grey-furred werewolf with a blue cloak bearing the Snowstep¡¯s emblem and carrying a steel sword; a young human woman with long red hair woven in a tress, a bow, and bearing the famous Roynimalia¡¯s white ranger outfit; and a female silver werefox. The latter¡¯s presence surprised Victoire the most. Werefoxes were the closest in appearance to humans thanks to their innate shapeshifting abilities, and this one was no exception. She appeared as an elegant young lady with pale skin, grey eyes, a mane of silver hair falling on the side of her shoulder, and white robes that seemed to meld with the snow. She also carried a strange metal fan inscribed with odd symbols. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the werefox added with a charming smile and singing voice. ¡°Has my beauty left you speechless?¡± ¡°I¡¯m simply surprised to see a werefox around these parts,¡± Victoire replied before cutting straight to business. ¡°My apologies for the mess. As you can see, we¡¯ve recently fended off a magmorian assault.¡± ¡°Quite brilliantly too, from what I see,¡± the werewolf said, his lips stretching to reveal his fangs. ¡°Can¡¯t believe I missed such a thrilling battle.¡± Stick around, and you might have your wish. Victoire had the magmorian and kobold prisoners chained up in one of the mines under close surveillance. The guards could easily cause a tunnel collapse and bury Jasper¡¯s crew alive if they tried anything. It was a brutal countermeasure, but she wasn¡¯t willing to take any risks. At least they said there weren¡¯t any other magmorian groups for many miles. Lord Wepwawet chose this moment to manifest his humanoid spirit above the crowd. His appearance was accompanied by gasps, shock, murmurs, and prayers. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡­¡± the young archer muttered her breath, while the werefox stared at the divine manifestation in awe. ¡°Ah! So the werecat spoke true!¡± The werewolf leader immediately knelt before the apparition, with his entire pack imitating him soon after. ¡°This is Grand-Loup himself!¡± ¡°Greetings, children of Verglane!¡± Lord Wepwawet replied as his spirit extended his arms. ¡°I am Wepwawet, god of this land, whom some of you have called Grand-Loup! I am your god, and I welcome you to my abode!¡± The werewolves all howled together in response, their voices so strong as to wake the dead. Their leader immediately offered the god his sword in a show of fealty. ¡°I¡¯m Goreville, leader of the Snowstep Tribe!¡± he declared with lupine pride. ¡°All our life we¡¯ve hunted in your name! Allow us to serve you in truth!¡± Lord Wepwawet graciously accepted the proposal. ¡°Today your faith is rewarded, Goreville. I sense a Champion¡¯s heart in you, and in your companions Viviane and Renarde too.¡± The young archer blinked in surprise. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a god, Viviane,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied with a shrug. ¡°What did you expect?¡± ¡°Well, you got me there¡­¡± The young woman chuckled. ¡°Viviane sounds a bit pompous though, so my friends call me Vivi. I¡¯m a scout and ranger from Roynimalia¡¯s Lionsguard.¡± ¡°You have a good eye, Lord Wepwawet,¡± the werefox added with a polite bow. ¡°I am blessed that the first god I meet is such a handsome one.¡± ¡°My, thank you mortal,¡± Victoire¡¯s god replied with a hint of vanity in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m happy to live up to the tales.¡± Victoire resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She should have figured that a god with such power would have an ego to match. ¡°A Roynimalian ranger, you said?¡± she asked Viviane. ¡°Were you trailing the magmorians?¡± The archer nodded in confirmation. ¡°My boss sent me to look for signs of their activities. I was investigating local sightings when I crossed paths with Mistouffe.¡± ¡°About time you fence-sitters started paying attention,¡± Goreville complained with a bestial grunt. ¡°The magmorians have been raiding us since the season¡¯s start.¡± ¡°And their attacks will only worsen,¡± Victoire said. ¡°We have captured prisoners and learned about their motives. We¡¯ll be happy to share our information with Roynimalia.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Lord Wepwawet agreed with a voice booming like thunder. ¡°This land will soon face a great calamity for which you must all prepare for. I call the faithful and all would-be heroes to fight under my banner!¡± His demand was met with shouts and war cries from most of the werelings, with none louder than Goreville¡¯s. Meanwhile, the werefox¡¯s eyes lit up with calculating interest and Viviane scratched her crimson braid in embarrassment. ¡°Oh, thank you¡­¡± the archer said with a sheepish smile. ¡°Mmm¡­ this is embarrassing, but I¡¯m kind of expected to return to Roynimalia to give my report¡­¡± Goreville choked. ¡°You¡¯re refusing a divine mission?¡± ¡°No, no¡­¡± Viviane cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s just very sudden¡­¡± Lord Wepwawet took it in stride. ¡°Go forth and carry the word of my coming to your people, Viviane, and bear my gifts proudly. I have faith that your journey will bring you back to me in time.¡± Renarde raised her fan and hid her mouth behind it, her eyes blinking charmingly at the deity. ¡°It would be a pleasure to serve such an esteemed deity, Lord Wepwawet. Nonetheless, would you listen to a selfish prayer of mine?¡± Lord Wepwawet¡¯s lupine ears rose slightly. ¡°I will always listen to my worshipers, but I may not grant all requests.¡± ¡°Of course, and very wise of you,¡± Renarde replied with a tone sweeter than honey. ¡°I¡¯ve been told by your werecat emissary that you granted her the gift of speaking and understanding all tongues.¡± ¡°What, you didn¡¯t believe me?¡± Mistouffe protested in outrage. ¡°I read your stupid formula!¡± ¡°I believed you,¡± the werefox replied kindly. ¡°I simply asked if your master would mind sharing this gift.¡± Your master, Victoire noticed with wariness. This one works for herself alone. Her god¡¯s squinting eyes told her that he had noticed that too, but decided to play along. ¡°That gift is in my power to grant, but power comes with duties.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Renarde replied. ¡°I would be pleased if you would consider sharing this blessing with me. I swear you will find no greater devotee than me.¡± ¡°Then it is settled. I shall welcome the three of you as my Champions, and you shall guide the faithful on my behalf!¡± While her god blessed his new worshipers with his holy light, Victoire turned to Mistouffe. ¡°Did you find Kale?¡± ¡°I did!¡± Mistouffe nodded happily. ¡°I shared your message too!¡± Victoire scowled. ¡°And?¡± ¡°And that¡¯s all.¡± Mistouffe played with her whiskers. ¡°He looked super embarrassed and said he would share the word back home, whatever that meant.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Victoire sighed. She had expected as much. ¡°Let¡¯s hope Lord Raymond will listen then.¡± If a war with Lavaland was to happen, Verglane would need the Glarmes¡¯ strength in the battle to come. Victoire could only pray that her former comrades would hear her message and take the field on their side. If not¡­ if not, she would have to confront them herself.
And so, Narc began to acquire new inhabitants rather than bleeding them. Wepwawet welcomed the Snowstep Tribe and other pilgrims into Narc, then quickly put them to work at both repairing the town and improving it according to his specifications. They had thankfully come with enough tents to host everyone, and enough workers that everyone could contribute. Wepwawet was especially pleased by his three new Champions.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Name Goreville, Werewolf Warchief
Type Humanoid/Beast
Rank Commander 3
Class Werewolf 2 (Monster), Vanguard 1 (Fighter)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
19 19 18 16
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
12 11 19 16
Accuracy +16 Evasion +17
Innate Perk: Silverfur
Takes -3 damage from attacks, but is vulnerable to Silver.
Darksight I Moongift I
Can see through darkness and shadows without penalties. +2 to all physical stats (STR/AGI/VIT/SKI) when exposed to moonlight.
Melee Master I
All melee Weapon Artifacts equipped inflict +2 Damage.
Name Viviane Coeurdelion, Lionhearted Archer
Type Humanoid
Rank 2
Class Ranger 2 (Rogue)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
13 17 9 20
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
7 11 7 14
Accuracy +17 Evasion +15
Innate Perk: Lionheart
Immune to Terror.
Long-Range Master I Trapster I
All ranged Weapon Artifacts equipped inflict +2 Damage. Can craft traps up to quality E.
Name Renarde, Cunning Courtesan
Type Humanoid/Beast
Rank 3
Class Werefox 1 (Monster), Bard 2 (Rogue/Spellcaster)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
11 13 11 13
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
20 16 24 10
Accuracy +11 Evasion +11
Innate Perk: Fox Magic
Can learn Witchcraft and Performance spells of ranks equal to or below their Champion Rank.
Glamour I Spell: Bardic Song I
Can disguise yourself as any Beast or Humanoid creature of equal size. Rank 1 Performance, INT 8 required. Can sing a magical song empowering one stat by +4 for all allies capable of hearing it.
Musical Duelist I Translation
Swords, Daggers, Fans, and Musical Artifacts equipped inflict +2 Damage. Can understand and speak any language.
Not only were they all good recruits, but Goreville was a Commander to boot! You could never have too many of those! Sure, Viviane would soon depart back to Roynimalia to make her report, but he had the feeling she would come back soon. He also welcomed the opportunity to observe that distant city through her eyes. Any intel he could gather would come in handy, and diplomatic contacts might eventually lead to trade or military alliances. The more settlements he could gather under his wing, the better, and he would need to unite the region at one point or another if he hoped to fend off the magmorian invasion. Renarde bothered Wepwawet a little more. He wasn¡¯t blinded enough by her compliments¡ªhowever much he appreciated them¡ªto see the opportunism hidden behind them. He had quickly detected the scrolls she carried under her robes, all written in an ancient tongue unlike those spoken by Verglane¡¯s locals, and guessed the reason behind her demand for a translation blessing. Her service and faith were purely transactional. Wepwawet could live with that. All armies had mercenaries among their numbers, and he couldn¡¯t exactly spit on a mage. He had more to offer than any mortals, and as one of his Champions, he would sense any potential betrayal coming. I¡¯ll need to be careful about the settlers too, Wepwawet thought. Beyond the risk of titan spies using the opportunity to infiltrate Narc, an influx of newcomers would inevitably lead to social tensions; doubly so since the new settlers mostly belonged to tribes with an identity distinct from Narc¡¯s original locals. I should open up a school, or think about governance¨C
Ping!
A screen message showed up unexpectedly, much to Wepwawet¡¯s surprise.
Quest: Proselytism I, completed! You earned the One Pack to Bind Them All Doctrine Miracle! One Pack to Bind Them All Rank 4 Doctrine All your Champions and worshippers gain +2 STR/VIT within your realm of Influence. Maintenance cost: 1.
Wow! Unexpected, but welcome! Doctrines were permanent Miracles that remained constantly active when cast until disabled. However, they also came with a maintenance cost that Wepwawet would have to pay each day to keep them active. The benefits of One Pack to Bind Them All more than compensated for the mana price, so Wepwawet traded it for a copy of Protect Champion and quickly activated it. The boost would be so subtle that he doubted most would notice, yet it should provide incremental benefits. That¡¯s odd though, Wepwawet thought. The quest required a hundred worshipers to complete, and Narc houses a little over forty of them. And the new group is pushing fifty. Where does the discrepancy come from? Wepwawet used his Opener of the Ways ability to check on his worshippers. He listened to their prayers, only to find himself surprised when he sensed a few coming from improvised cells located deep within the mines. Some of the magmorian prisoners had started to believe. Chapter 9: The Wolf Commandments Victoire struggled with a growing distaste for werewolves. When Alpine fetched her this morning to settle a dispute, she already knew their kind would be involved. Victoire wasn¡¯t too surprised to find three werewolves bound to chairs when she arrived, with Lourson looking over them rather than handling the forge as he was supposed to be doing. From the prisoners¡¯ bruises and the werebear¡¯s angry scowl, the former had managed to piss off the latter fiercely. ¡°What happened this time?¡± Victoire asked with sincere annoyance. She had been forced to delay her inspection of the mine to deal with this mess. ¡°We were denied our bathing time!¡± a werewolf protested. ¡°We¡¯ve spent the entire night scouting the wilderness! We deserve a bath break!¡± ¡°I told those three that the hot spring was occupied for the next thirty minutes and that they would have the next shift,¡± Alpine said with a hint of anger in her voice; something rare enough from the kind weregoat to be noted. ¡°But they tried to muscle their way in anyway, and a fight broke out when the previous occupants refused to leave. Lourson had to intervene before the brawl turned ugly.¡± This is getting out of hand. It had been a week since Jasper¡¯s warband attacked Narc and Goreville¡¯s group arrived, and a steady stream of settlers continuously flowed into Narc since then from all across the region. Tribes eager to enjoy Lord Wepwawet¡¯s protection flocked to the village like moths to a flame, and they had yet to learn how to get along. We need to lay down the law before things escalate. ¡°You should have waited for your turn,¡± Victoire told the werewolves. She hadn''t found the time to try out the hot spring yet herself. ¡°Nobody gets special treatment here.¡± One of the werewolves bared his fangs at her. ¡°Then why does our god look like us, and not like you?¡± ¡°And why did he put me in charge then instead of you?¡± Victoire retorted. She had heard that argument often enough to grow sick of it. ¡°The rules are the same for everyone. Deal with it.¡± They didn¡¯t listen. ¡°A human can¡¯t judge us!¡± one of the werewolves protested. ¡°We¡¯ll only answer to Goreville!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± a voice called out from the inn¡¯s threshold. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take over from here.¡± Victoire peeked over her shoulder to find Goreville walking into the inn. The werewolf packmaster looked about as frustrated as she was. ¡°You¡¯re talking back to one of Grand-Loup¡¯s chosen, Bertrand.¡± If the trio expected any sympathy from their leader, he didn¡¯t show them any. ¡°How do you think your actions reflect on our pack? You¡¯re shaming all Snowsteps.¡± ¡°But chief¨C¡± Goreville didn¡¯t let his men finish. ¡°Enough! Assaulting fellow followers of Grand-Loup is no different from attacking packmates! You¡¯re on double chore duty till the end of the week!¡± The three troublemakers looked ready to protest, but their leader¡¯s mere glare cowed them into silence. They lowered their heads in quiet submission. ¡°Forgive them,¡± Goreville told Victoire and the others. ¡°I¡¯ll chastise them sharply and teach them respect. You have my word.¡± ¡°If only they were the only ones causing trouble,¡± Victoire replied with annoyance. ¡°This is the third fight werewolves have started this week, always with the same pattern.¡± ¡°Your people just keep trying to put others down,¡± Alpine complained. ¡°This is getting tiresome.¡± Goreville shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand me, anybody who can fight magmorians has my respect, whether they¡¯ve got fur, horns, skin, or talons¡­ but Grand-Loup did create us werewolves in his image and sent wolves to guide his flock. My kind clearly have a special place in his heart.¡± Lourson squinted at him. ¡°Then why did Lord Wepwawet first show himself to us rather than your tribe?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall Lord Wepwawet affording werewolves any special privilege either,¡± Victoire pointed out. Her god was more concerned with interrogating the magmorian prisoners and directing the architectural works around the village than intervening in disputes, having trusted her and Goreville to handle them. Goreville snorted. ¡°Grand-Loup showed up because you couldn¡¯t defend yourselves, unlike us. The magmorians wouldn¡¯t have attacked you if you had a good pack to shield you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t patronize us, wolf.¡± Lourson¡¯s lips curled to reveal his fangs. ¡°My teeth and claws cut deeper than yours.¡± Goreville growled in response, with Alpine immediately stepping between him and Lourson before yet another fight could break out. ¡°Enough!¡± she complained once at her wits¡¯ end. ¡°How about we just ask Grand-Loup instead of fighting? He¡¯s not going anywhere!¡± ¡°The both of you, back off,¡± Victoire said with a sharp tone that broke no disagreement. Lourson followed through, and Goreville stopped growling soon after. ¡°Alpine is right, I will take this matter to Lord Wepwawet and ask him to settle it.¡± ¡°Fine by me,¡± Goreville said as he nodded in agreement and took his grumbling packmates away for punishment. ¡°I¡¯m sure Grand-Loup will make the hierarchy clear for all.¡± Alpine glared at the werewolves on their way out. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that one,¡± she complained to Victoire. ¡°Do you truly think Grand-Loup favors werewolves over everyone else?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Victoire replied bluntly. ¡°Look at the people he selected to become his Champions. How many werewolves can you count among us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not enough that Goreville¡¯s band sees it,¡± Lourson said. ¡°They have to hear it too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see to it that Lord Wepwawet makes his thoughts clear,¡± Victoire promised. If he has any thoughts on the matter at all, that is... ¡°Until then, call me if anything happens again.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Alpine smiled sweetly. ¡°I¡¯m still holding on to your hot spring shift, by the way.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask you to push it another day,¡± Victoire replied with a sigh. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll find the time soon.¡± Leaving Alpine to manage the inn and Lourson to his forge, Victoire walked through Narc on her way to the mine. It astonished her just how quickly the place had changed in the last few days. They¡¯d successfully drained the excess water, fixed up the walls, and built new barracks up on the cliffs. The influx of new settlers forced them to build houses for groups rather than individuals, with lower areas used for farming. It would take time to adapt the latter to their new population. They would likely be facing food shortages without Lord Wepwawet¡¯s gift of lettuce and spirit-wolves. On the other hand, more people meant more hands to work with. The newcomer groups included wereowls, werecats, werebears, werebulls, and even a handful of humans; many of whom excelled in physical labor or brought skills they could put to good use. Construction advanced at a much quicker pace than expected. Viviane also promised to bring assistance from Roynimalia once she returned from there. Now, if we could all pull our weight instead of slacking off¡­ Victoire thought with annoyance once she heard a song coming from the quarry. Like that one. As she expected, she found Renarde busy singing a song to Marcel and the other miners digging deep into the mountain¡¯s base. The werepenguin¡¯s crew worked with feverish zeal which neatly contrasted with their werefox overseer, who happily danced atop a rock with her fan. Victoire wasn¡¯t too much of a fan of the spectacle, but the miners seemed to appreciate it. ¡°Victoire, how good to see you!¡± Renarde stopped and gracefully leaping off the rock the moment she saw her superior. ¡°I would be delighted if you would watch my next performance!¡± ¡°I would rather see you dig,¡± Victoire replied curtly. Renarde had a gift for avoiding all physical tasks and chores. ¡°Ah, Victoire, such a lovely winter rose you make with your razor-sharp barbs.¡± Renarde dusted snow off her robe. ¡°I will tell you that Lord Wepwawet himself asked me to sing for these poor fellows and ease their burden. Music energizes the soul and the body.¡± ¡°She can serenade us anytime!¡± a miner shouted, all of his comrades whistling at once. ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± Renarde waved at them with her fan and a foxy grin which Victoire knew to be utterly insincere. ¡°I love you all too!¡± ¡°And I¡¯m sure their newfound productivity compensates for your inactivity?¡± Victoire asked sharply. ¡°No one denies that your magical songs bolster our workers¡¯ strength and morale, but you always use them as an excuse to skip your chores. Everyone should do their part.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I don¡¯t skip, I delegate,¡± Renarde protested. ¡°My fans are all so happy to work in my place, and I don¡¯t have the heart to refuse them!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± Victoire crossed her arms in annoyance. Something about that woman just rubbed her the wrong way. ¡°Why are you even here, Renarde?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± The werefox giggled and hid her mouth behind her fan. ¡°Would you believe me if I said I was on an archeological tour?¡± Victoire frowned in confusion. ¡°An archeological tour?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never wondered why your god¡ªI mean, our god¡ªasked Marcel and his fellows to dig so deep into the mountain? What do you think these people are unearthing?¡± No, she hadn¡¯t. Victoire figured that Lord Wepwawet was looking for ore veins to exploit, but Renarde¡¯s smug smirk made her wonder. ¡°You''ve never asked,¡± Renarde guessed. She searched under her robes and brought out a tattered scroll hidden within. ¡°Let me enlighten you then: this scroll, which I found in an ancient tomb and which Lord Wepwawet allowed me to translate, was written in a language unknown to us.¡± ¡°An ancient tomb?¡± The very concept took Victoire aback. ¡°How ancient?¡± ¡°If I had to make a guess¡­¡± Renarde put the scroll back into her robes. ¡°Older than recorded history.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Victoire argued. ¡°Verglane was sparsely habited until the Glarmes discovered the Source a little over a century ago.¡± ¡°And yet it is said that Grand-Loup has been watching these lands since times immemorial.¡± Renarde played with her fan. ¡°If you ask me, he buried something beneath this mountain long before any men or wereling settled it, and I¡¯m dying to learn what!¡± Victoire pondered the matter when Lord Wepwawet¡¯s spiritual projection materialized to her side, startling the miners. ¡°Ah, Victoire, there you are!¡± he said with a jovial tone. The god sounded like he was in an excellent mood today. ¡°How¡¯s the mining going?¡± ¡°Right on schedule, my lord,¡± Victoire immediately replied with a deep bow. She shouldn¡¯t have let her curiosity waylay her. ¡°As you can see, we¡¯re near the depth you asked us to reach for.¡± ¡°My humble contribution certainly helped,¡± Renarde said obsequiously. ¡°Fantastic! Keep up the good work everyone!¡± Lord Wepwawet nodded to himself, but Victoire could tell he was only barely paying attention. Something else consumed his thoughts. ¡°Anyway, Victoire, I need to have a talk with you one-on-one! I¡¯ve got a very special mission for you, you¡¯ll love it!¡± ¡°A special mission?¡± Renarde¡¯s head perked up in impish curiosity. ¡°Could I join it?¡± ¡°Maybe!¡± Lord Wepwawet snapped his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s the volunteering spirit I like to see!¡± He¡¯s in a really good mood today, Victoire thought. A pity she didn¡¯t share it. ¡°My lord, I must discuss a grave matter with you first.¡± Lord Wepwawet stared at her in the eyes, his mood suddenly deflating. ¡°You¡¯re referring to this morning¡¯s brawl, I presume?¡± ¡°And two others,¡± Victoire confirmed. The fact that the god knew about the incident and yet didn¡¯t intervene bothered her. He can see what happens within our walls, but he can¡¯t appear everywhere at once either¡­ or chooses not to. ¡°The werewolves in particular constantly challenge others for dominance. We should solve this issue before it spirals out of control.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Lord Wepwawet considered the matter for a moment before agreeing to her request. ¡°Follow me, Victoire. We¡¯ll discuss it on our way up.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Victoire walked after her god¡¯s projection as he led her to the path ascending up the cliffs. She could feel Renarde¡¯s gaze trailing after them. She would bet half her belongings that she would try to finagle information about the god¡¯s plans sooner or later. ¡°I thought I was quite clear about our hierarchy,¡± Lord Wepwawet said. ¡°Commanders like you and Goreville answer directly to me, then come my Champions, then an assembly of officers and tribe heads, then everybody else. Sounds simple enough." ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± The two of them eventually made their way to the eastern cliffside which faced the Boisblanc Forest. A seemingly endless sea of pines, spruces, birches, and wild grass stretched the horizon. ¡°I fear other tensions among the settlers will only multiply. We¡¯ll soon reach over three hundred people according to Mistouffe, and many of the tribes and wereling clans migrating to Narc weren¡¯t always on good terms with each other before coming here. It¡¯s only a matter of time before more incidents crop up.¡± ¡°Mmmm¡­¡± Lord Wepwawet crossed his arms and stared at the sun, his wolfish visage deep in thought. ¡°Maybe I should set commandments like Moses¡­¡± ¡°Mooses?¡± Victoire raised an eyebrow. ¡°The deer have commandments?¡± ¡°Uh, it¡¯s, it¡¯s complicated!¡± Lord Wepwawet replied as he straightened his posture. He once again tried to look more impressive, which only told Victoire that he wasn¡¯t that confident in the first place. ¡°I shall answer your prayer for help and put an end to these disputes among the faithful today.¡± ¡°We would all appreciate your guidance,¡± Victoire replied, though she had a gut feeling it wouldn¡¯t turn out well. ¡°And I¡¯ll provide!¡± Lord Wepwawet¡¯s projection coughed and pointed a finger at the Boisblanc expanse. ¡°Anyway, I want you to prepare an expedition east into this forest. You must claim a sacred site and build something there.¡± A sacred site? Victoire couldn¡¯t think of any place that would fit that description, but Boisblanc covered a lot of ground. ¡°Build what, my lord?¡± ¡°My!¡± Lord Wepwawet laughed. ¡°You¡¯re going to build your god¡¯s first altar!¡±
It was good to start a day with four points of mana, even if Wepwawet had to sacrifice one to keep One Pack to Bind Them All running and another to produce more food for his followers. Wepwawet¡¯s Mortal Management classes stressed the need to free worshipers from the burden of producing food and water they needed to function. Most mortals had to work all day simply to feed themselves, which prevented them from specializing in better-value jobs like smithing. Nonetheless, Victoire was right. Wepwawet had been so busy with helping the village¡¯s reconstruction and logistics to ensure its inhabitants would all have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies that he didn¡¯t address social cohesion and governance issues. Interrogating the magmorian prisoners and figuring out what to do with them had taken most of his time too. Jasper had stubbornly refused to say anything about General Peridot¡¯s forces so far, though he didn¡¯t show the same loyalty for the sorceress who sent him at Narc. A purple-haired witch didn¡¯t ring any bell, but her ability to teleport worried Wepwawet. That ability was usually reserved for powerful mages or the result of a Miracle; and titans shouldn¡¯t be able to use the latter outside of a proper Incursion challenge, where they challenged a world¡¯s gods and Champions. Either the titans managed to recruit some high-ranked Champions of their own before the gods even reached Elphion, or something trickier was afoot. Wepwawet needed to find a way to contact the Nexus as soon as possible. Hence the expedition project. If I can seize another altar, my godmind will shine brighter from the mana excess, Wepwawet thought. It will make me more noticeable to other deities, including Miss Athena. The titans¡¯ agents already know my location, so I don¡¯t have much to lose. The plan would let him reestablish contact with the rest of his classmates and the Nexus at best, and let him complete a quest at worst. Wepwawet had thus spent the better part of the week examining the mana leyline on which his mountain stood and trying to identify a similar locus nearby. And he had finally located one! That discovery had put Wepwawet in an excellent mood. The mana locus wasn¡¯t that far away from Narc, and all he had to do was to send a Commander to claim the spot. He was only a few miles away from contacting Miss Athena! Preparing the expedition would take time, especially since Wepwawet¡¯s Influence didn¡¯t extend beyond his Idol¡¯s range. This would prevent him from assisting his Champions with most of his Miracles, not to mention leaving Narc with fewer defenders. I should be able to afford to send a small recon force soon, Wepwawet figured as he turned his attention to Narc. The village¡¯s repair and growth advanced at a quick pace. So quick, in fact, that he wasn¡¯t too surprised when a new System notification showed up in front of him.
Quest: A Town of Plenty, completed! You¡¯ve earned the Skill: Masterworker Rank 3 Revelation Miracle! Skill: Masterworker Rank 3 Revelation Teaches a Champion the Masterworker Passive Perk: Increase the maximum item quality that a Champion can craft by one step (maximum A).
Oh, what an incredible option! He would have to assign that perk to Alpine and Lourson as soon as he could spend the appropriate mana!
New Quest: A Town of Prospects Transform Narc into a town capable of supporting over a thousand inhabitants. Reward: Revelation Miracle.
Well, that one might arrive quickly with their current immigration rate. He definitely should provide laws for his people before the population increased any further, but which ones? Wepwawet didn¡¯t intervene too much in the recent disputes because he wasn¡¯t sure what to say himself. He didn¡¯t need to start from scratch back during his Egypt internship, and his classes warned him that unclear godly tenets would drive his worshipers to purges or infighting. Miss Athena warned him that wars had started over one misinterpreted word. And if he misspoke and then had to clarify things, then he would look like an indecisive fool in front of his flock! Should I tell them that they shouldn¡¯t discriminate between their fellow worshipers? But then that would imply I¡¯m okay with oppressing non-believers, which never ends well. The more Wepwawet considered what to say, the more nervous and unsure he grew. What if I tell them to love their neighbors and they start an orgy? That happened to Brother Anubis when he had to raise his own civilization, so I can¡¯t exclude that risk! And if I say they¡¯re all equal in rights and duties, then they¡¯ll question my Champions¡¯ authority! This decision tree had too many branches! Calm down, Wepwawet, you don¡¯t have to tell them everything right away. You just have to focus on governance and social cohesion now. Wepwawet briefly meditated to anchor himself, then steeled his mind. If Yahweh could fit everything onto two tablets, then you can do it too! His mind made up, Wepwawet manifested his face on the clouds above the village and spoke with a voice louder than thunder. ¡°People of Narc and Verglane, heed my words! Your god has an announcement to make!¡± Hundreds of eyes suddenly turned to the heavens, suddenly filling Wepwawet with overbearing tension. Too late to turn back. ¡°Although I come to you bearing the face of a wolf, I see all of Verglane¡¯s people as my pack, equal in rights and duties!¡± Wepwawet declared. ¡°Their race and origins do not matter to me, only their faith, character, and merit! I will always honor a brave wererabbit over a craven werewolf, or the hardworking over the lazy!¡± ¡°What, really?¡± He could already hear the voices of his worshipers rising in surprise, disbelief, or joy. ¡°Wait, so even werepenguins have rights?¡± ¡°Should serve those werewolves bullies just right!¡± ¡°I will welcome all those willing to follow my law to my flock and treat them fairly, regardless of where they come from!¡± Wepwawet said before laying the seeds of future policies. ¡°Even a magmorian will be welcomed into my pack and enjoy my protection should he change his way and obey Verglane¡¯s laws! Anyone can join our community, so long as their faith is genuine!¡± He could already tell that one would be controversial enough, but it was a required step towards achieving peace with Lavaland in the long run; if such a thing was even possible. ¡°Obey the hierarchy I gave you, but treat each other with respect and help your fellow believer,¡± Wepwawet finished. ¡°You are all one pack, one flock! Do not fight or wage war on one another, and settle your differences with reason or your superior¡¯s guidance! Only together will we be prosperous!¡± There, that should be clear enough. Straight and to the point. No way his worshipers would start trouble over such simple rules, right? Chapter 10: Preach, Brother! The day began so well! Not only had no new brawls erupted since yesterday¡¯s masterful speech, but his followers had all shown a renewed surge of purpose and energy! Enough so that Marcel¡¯s group finally unearthed that hidden relic Wepwawet had been looking for! ¡°What an incredible find,¡± Renarde whispered in awe, the glow of her lantern showing frescos of giant wolves facing a black moon in the sky. The chamber¡¯s stark chill¡ªeven more intense than the outside frost¡ªdidn¡¯t bother her in the slightest. ¡°This changes so much¡­¡± The tomb under the mountain was a masterpiece of stonework, with chiseled columns supporting a ceiling nearly twenty feet high and walls covered in ancient carvings. Wepwawet himself had to use a Smite Miracle to blast the outer doors open once the miners unearthed it. The rectangular-shaped chamber led into a dusty throne room in which sat an ancient werewolf¡¯s skeleton. A tarnished golden torc necklace adorned with a skull design with sapphire eyes hung around the ancient corpse¡¯s neck. Wepwawet had long been aware of the tomb since his Influence stretched for miles around his Idol, but he never found the time to study it closely until now. His spirit wandered around the room and he took in all the information he could gather. This chamber was at least centuries old, if not more. While Wepwawet could understand all texts and languages, the tomb only had frescos and carved murals to tell its story. Almost all of them represented a band of werelings led by a great wolf facing one of Elphion¡¯s moons, around which flew vague winged shapes that reminded Wepwawet of a mix between a bat and a bug. He had the suspicion that they represented an ancient war of some kind. This guy must have been a werewolf king of some kind, Wepwawet figured as he observed the corpse, whose soul had long since returned to this world¡¯s mana to reincarnate. Most of his attention focused on the torc around the corpse¡¯s neck. His divine power resonated with the relic. I can bless it into an Artifact of my faith. Wepwawet felt somewhat uncomfortable about doing that. Part of his duties back in Egypt involved guiding the souls of the dead to their rightful resting place, and both his mother and half-brothers were funerary deities who taught him to respect the deceased. Taking the goods of the departed never sat well with him. Nonetheless, Wepwawet¡¯s duties to his living followers outweighed those he held for the dead. He couldn¡¯t afford to turn down any advantage he could seize. I¡¯ll return the torc to you once we¡¯re done, you have my word, Lord Wepwawet promised the corpse before blessing the torc with his mana. The divine resonance immediately restored the torc¡¯s luster back to its gleaming gilded glory. Its sapphire eyes shone with an otherworldly gleam.
Quest: Relic Hunt I, completed! You¡¯ve earned the Torc of Grand-Loup Rank 7 Artifact Miracle! Torc of Grand-Loup. Rank 7 Artifact Unique. Conjures the Torc of Grand-Loup (Quality A) at a designated spot.
This was his first unique Miracle and his highest-ranked one yet. A god could only have one copy of those, so no duplication was possible; casting the Artifact Miracle would only let him repair the object should it be damaged or destroyed. Wepwawet guessed he could always switch it out with a copy of his Sacred Weapon Miracle since Lourson would soon learn how to produce gear of a similar quality, though he would need to see the torc¡¯s stats first. Half of the ancient relics found in ancient tombs were either cursed or haunted nowadays; and he wasn¡¯t counting the occasional mimic in disguise. A new notification suddenly popped up before Wepwawet¡¯s eyes.
New Quest: Relic Hunt II Acquire and bless a unique relic of cultural significance. Reward: Artifact Miracle.
Interesting. The new quest was identical to the previous one, unlike the others which all increased in difficulty. Wepwawet guessed that it would renew itself each time he found a unique object to turn into an Artifact of his faith. Wait, wait, it¡¯s called the Torc of Grand-Loup? Wepwawet focused on the Artifact and quickly read its stats.
Torc of Grand-Loup Type: Accessory (Necklace) Quality: A Weight: 1 Restriction: Only Beast-Type Champions can use this item¡¯s powers. Frost Resistance (two spots): Grants Resistance to Frost. Battlerage (two spots): Once per day, a wereling can tap into the torc¡¯s power to enter a battlerage. They gain the benefits of the [Berserk] ailment for five minutes, but retain their senses and do not attack their allies. A hero¡¯s last legacy and a fraudster¡¯s worst nightmare. Its true power dwells deeper still, waiting for the return of its ancient enemies to be awakened.
Wepwawet¡¯s heart would have skipped a beat in his chest, if he had either in his spirit-form. Pieces of the puzzle soon fell into place once he stared at the ancient skeleton. Here sat the actual Grand-Loup. He hadn¡¯t been a god or even a spirit, just a mortal chieftain whose life¡¯s tales had probably been greatly exaggerated after his demise. Nonetheless, the term ¡®hero¡¯ on the item¡¯s description attested to his true character. His people clearly respected him a lot for building such a magnificent tomb to house his bones. That¡¯s why I was summoned to this mountain, Wepwawet realized. Of course an ancient werewolf hero¡¯s tomb would serve as a place of power for a deity of military reconnaissance, canines, and post-mortem journeys! I knew there was a reason why I appeared in the middle of nowhere! Besides the fact that discovering Grand-Loup¡¯s remains might cause doubts to spread among his faithful, the torc¡¯s warning of the return of an ¡®ancient enemy¡¯ bothered Wepwawet greatly. It couldn¡¯t mean the titans¡ªno mortal could hope to fend them off without a god¡¯s help¡ªbut the magmorians never invaded Verglane in the far past either. He had the nagging feeling he wouldn¡¯t like this mystery¡¯s answer. ¡°Who is this, Your Divinity?¡± Renarde asked Wepwawet¡¯s spirit, startling him. ¡°A former Champion of yours?¡± ¡°That¡¯s, uh¡­¡± Wepwawet quickly tried to think of a lie that would both let him save face and honor Grand-Loup¡¯s memory, before deciding to play along with Renarde¡¯s assumptions. ¡°Yes, he was! My very first Champion, who took up my name to strike fear in his enemies¡¯ hearts!¡± ¡°Fascinating.¡± Renarde stroked her chin and studied the corpse, much to Wepwawet¡¯s relief. The archeological discovery fascinated the werefox too much for her to question his story. ¡°How long has he been buried here?¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Since centuries past,¡± Wepwawet replied. His classes always stressed the importance of staying vague about time in general to better awe mortals. ¡°This is his resting place, and this torc a treasure left behind to guide future generations of chosen in the fight to come. We shall return this gift to him and seal back up the tomb once peace returns to this land.¡± Now he just had to find the right Champion to wield his new relic...
Lourson studied his new work with great satisfaction. The heater-shaped iron shield felt so lightweight in his hand that he could easily carry dozens of them. It was larger than a buckler, but not too cumbersome either. He had even taken a moment to carve Lord Wepwawet¡¯s face on its surface so that incoming foes would see the wolf god¡¯s glaring at them in battle. Lourson¡¯s smithing had greatly improved since Lord Wepwawet blessed him and Alpine with a ¡®masterworker¡¯s inspiration.¡¯ He had an easier time shaping metal, his intuition had sharpened tenfold, and new forms simply came to mind on their own. Lourson used to be limited to bucklers and simple weapons beforehand, but he had successfully experimented with more complex designs; including an iron crossbow he was particularly proud of. His improved productivity also let him finally take an apprentice under his wing, something he had been looking forward to for a while. His new werebull assistant Larmure, a white calf half his size, hammered down a spearhead in the back of the forge. The lad learned quickly. Maybe I should think of adopting a cub of my own, Lourson thought as he handed the shield to his current customer, a weregoat adventurer eager to supplement his mace. The werebear had no particular interest in romance, but Larmure¡¯s presence awoke paternal feelings that gnawed at him. I¡¯ve been putting it off for far too long. ¡°Here you go,¡± Lourson told his customer. ¡°Is it to your liking?¡± ¡°It¡¯s perfect!¡± The adventurer grabbed the shield with ease. Their hardy kind always looked weaker than they truly were. ¡°It¡¯s nice to deal with a werebear who won¡¯t eat me.¡± ¡°That was how we ran things in Narc even before you all showed up,¡± Lourson replied with a shrug. He always favored fish anyway, so their god¡¯s dietary decree didn¡¯t impact him much. ¡°T¡¯was a place founded by adventurers, exiles, and tribal castaways.¡± Lourson had been one of the mountain¡¯s original settlers back when they first discovered iron ore veins here over thirty years ago. The werebear had been forced to teach himself smithing to build and repair the miners¡¯ tools; a post he had come to take pride in. Many people had come and gone since, but Lourson always remained. ¡°This must be why Lord Wepwawet blessed this place ahead of all others,¡± the adventurer replied. ¡°I pray your shield will protect me when I bring the light of the true faith to my tribe.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going home to preach?¡± It didn¡¯t surprise Lourson much. Lord Wepwawet¡¯s message of unifying all of Verglane¡¯s people into one pack of equals had found a particular resonance among the weaker herbivore werelings, who were used to being preyed upon. Many messengers had already left to spread the god¡¯s word across the land. The weregoat nodded with enthusiasm. ¡°What Lord Wepwawet said: only together will we be prosperous. It¡¯s conditional.¡± ¡°Seems obvious to me.¡± Lourson didn¡¯t particularly find Lord Wepwawet¡¯s speech all that inspiring personally, but it clearly struck a chord with many. The idea that all tribes could coexist together and have their individual valor recognized by a god appealed to Verglane¡¯s splintered people. ¡°This nation will only prosper once we¡¯re all one pack, one flock!¡± the weregoat shouted so loudly that a startled Larmure nearly hammered his fingers by accident. ¡°We¡¯ve got to spread the true faith to all werelings tribes across the land and convert the nonbelievers!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s what Lord Wepwawet meant,¡± Lourson replied with skepticism. The werebear didn¡¯t consider himself an expert on faith matters, but he was almost certain Lord Wepwawet mostly wished to put an end to the constant tensions in their growing community. ¡°I don¡¯t recall an order to go convert everyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s expected of us,¡± the weregoat insisted. ¡°We¡¯ll spread the faith all the way to Roynimalia and beyond!¡± ¡°With a mace?¡± A terrible feeling washed over Lourson. ¡°Only to defend ourselves from nonbelievers and barbarians who would deny the truth,¡± the adventurer insisted. ¡°Our peaceful words will be backed with steel!¡± ¡°If you go around treating people like barbarians, then they¡¯ll act barbarous to you,¡± Lourson insisted. He had to calm down the fool¡¯s ardors before he picked a fight he couldn¡¯t win. ¡°All you¡¯ll do is get yourself killed and sully Lord Wepwawet¡¯s good name.¡± ¡°Uh? Really?¡± The adventurer scratched the back of his horns. ¡°Surely Lord Wepwawet will protect his faithful from harm!¡± ¡°He won¡¯t protect you from yourself,¡± Lourson replied. Having witnessed Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wonders since the first day, he was acutely aware that their god, while powerful, was neither omniscient nor omnipotent. ¡°If you insist on preaching, go meet Mistouffe. She¡¯s due to start a new conversion tour soon and she has a way with words. You¡¯ll learn a lot from her.¡± ¡°True¡­ and blessed Mistouffe would certainly welcome a bodyguard during her dangerous trip!¡± The weregoat thankfully took Lourson¡¯s advice. ¡°Wish me luck, Brother Bear.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lourson replied with laconism. He watched the adventurer leave the forge, only for Victoire and Filou to walk in right after. ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°Greetings, my friend,¡± Victoire said. ¡°Was that another would-be preacher on their way out?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lourson confirmed. From the frown on his colleague¡¯s face, she didn¡¯t have a high opinion of those. ¡°Trouble?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell.¡± Victoire let out a sigh. ¡°On one hand, we¡¯ve had no more troublemakers causing issues for a while, but on the other hand¡­ I have the feeling that they¡¯ll just start trouble elsewhere instead.¡± ¡°T¡¯was inevitable,¡± Lourson said with a shrug. He had seen that pattern repeat many times during his many years spent on this frozen earth. ¡°You can speak one word, but a hundred ears will hear it a different way; doubly so when they only listen to what they want to hear.¡± ¡°I thought Lord Wepwawet¡¯s speech was loud and clear,¡± Filou argued, his fist tightening with the enthusiasm that only an impressionable youth could muster. ¡°It was a message of love, peace, and duty! My ears are still tingling from it!¡± ¡°The speech was¡­ fine,¡± Victoire replied with an embarrassed tone that implied otherwise. Her eyes darted away in a desperate search for another subject to talk about, and thankfully spotted Larmure forging at the back. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, who¡¯s this young werebull? So many new faces to keep track of nowadays.¡± ¡°His name¡¯s Larmure,¡± Lourson replied. ¡°A good lad. His parents are both smiths, but are too busy building their new house to train him themselves.¡± The young calf nodded shyly at their visitors. ¡°M¡¯ning, m¡¯lady, m¡¯lord.¡± ¡°No need for such courtesies with us,¡± Victoire replied with a warm smile. ¡°I hope Lourson doesn¡¯t work you too hard.¡± ¡°I¡¯m easier on my apprentice than you are with yours,¡± Lourson mused. He could see the bruises on Filou¡¯s face. ¡°How¡¯s training going, lad?¡± ¡°Milady does not go easy on me for sure, but I¡¯m improving by leaps and bounds,¡± Filou boasted. He unsheathed the burning scimitar, with young Larmure gasping upon seeing the sword catch fire on its own. The wererabbit miraculously managed to swing it without stumbling. ¡°See?!¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Lourson crossed his arms and studied the sheath. ¡°I wonder why the flames quell themselves once the blade slides inside a sheath. That is¡­ neat.¡± ¡°I would avoid showing that weapon to Renarde if I were you, Filou, lest she take it off your hands to find out,¡± Victoire said. Her gaze lingered on the crossbow prototype Lourson crafted earlier. ¡°Impressive work.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still experimenting with the quarrels¡¯ shape,¡± Lourson warned her. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t use it in the field yet.¡± ¡°Take your time,¡± Victoire reassured him. ¡°Bows are cheaper and quicker to produce, but crossbows trump them in range, power, and accuracy. Forming a group of crossbowmen would help bolster our defenses.¡± Lourson¡¯s head perked slightly. A werebear¡¯s nose was the strongest of all werelings, so he had no issues picking up on Goreville¡¯s musk. Sure enough, the werewolf soon walked into the forge with his sword in hand. His eyes squinted at Victoire¡¯s silver spear and Filou¡¯s flaming scimitar; his own weapon looked rather feeble when compared to these magical wonders. ¡°Greetings,¡± the werewolf said politely. ¡°I was looking for you, Victoire.¡± ¡°I could tell,¡± Victoire replied. Much like Lourson, she likely had a good idea of what the werewolf was about to ask of her. ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± ¡°Lord Grand-Loup said that we shouldn¡¯t fight or wage war on one another, and that we should settle our differences with reason,¡± Goreville said. ¡°Nonetheless, we¡¯re still allowed to spar.¡± ¡°Yes, we are.¡± Victoire tensed up, her silver spear gleaming in her hand. ¡°You wish to challenge me to a friendly duel?¡± Goreville nodded sharply. ¡°Grand-Loup said he¡¯ll value people¡¯s abilities and merits over their race. That silver spear you wield is proof of his favor and that he put you in charge. I know I should take my god at his word¨C¡± ¡°But you want to test my strength yourself.¡± Victoire pondered his offer for a moment before nodding in agreement. ¡°I accept on one condition.¡± Goreville raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you werewolves grow stronger under the moon, so we¡¯ll spar at night.¡± Goreville remained silent for a moment as his mind processed what his ears told him, then exploded into a howling laughter. ¡°You want to fight me at my best?!¡± ¡°I want to beat you at your best,¡± Victoire replied with a thin smile. ¡°Meet at the training ground at nightfall." ¡°I like your spirit!¡± Goreville smirked, his smile sharper than any blade. ¡°Don¡¯t come crying once you lose!¡± The werewolf left the forge with much enthusiasm immediately after. Lourson guessed he was already off to prepare himself for tonight¡¯s duel. He¡¯s got potential and something to prove, the werebear thought. He had the intuition that Goreville''s heart was in the right place beneath all his bravado. He¡¯ll go far once he learns humility¡­ one way or another. ¡°A-Are you certain, milady?¡± Filou asked, his voice wavering. ¡°Fighting a werewolf chieftain at night is¡­ ill-advised.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve faced worse,¡± Victoire replied with confidence. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s the only way he and his followers will understand how to live with others: if we beat them by their own rules.¡± Chapter 11: Night Festival Wepwawet believed in treating prisoners well. In his experience, yesterday¡¯s enemies could become tomorrow¡¯s allies depending on circumstances. The magmorians¡¯ decision to invade his lands to solve their overpopulation issue, while short-sighted and deplorable, was somewhat understandable and minor in the grand scheme of things. Wepwawet¡¯s mission was to help Elphion prepare to fend off the titans first and foremost; a task which mortal conflicts interfered with. Therefore, he would rather find a diplomatic solution to the magmorian raids and thought he had found one in Jasper. The raider and his crew¡¯s survivors had been model prisoners since their capture, besides refusing to give up any information on their superiors¡¯ plans. They hadn¡¯t made any effort to break out of their makeshift cells in the mines¡ªa set of barricades Wepwawet summoned to enclose a tunnel turned into an improvised detention center¡ªalthough they could have easily tried. Wepwawet had kept a close eye on them in case the magmorians and their kobold allies were simply biding their time, but he had come to the conclusion that the thought of a prison riot hadn¡¯t even crossed their leader¡¯s mind. Jasper was the rarest kind of fool: both loyal and true to his word. Wepwawet had promised he would ensure the safety of the magmorian¡¯s crew if he surrendered, and so he did. The end. I guess that¡¯s why he has the potential to become a Champion in the first place, Wepwawet thought. His scimitar¡¯s power wouldn¡¯t have worked for a common mortal. A few of his followers sent prayers my way, and I¡¯ve laid the groundwork for peaceful coexistence with my people. Let¡¯s give diplomacy a go. Wepwawet materialized his spirit in the magmorians¡¯ prison tunnel, startling a handful of kobolds. Jasper, who had been sitting in a corner, simply raised his head under the glow of a torch. He had grown used to the deity visiting them at inopportune times. ¡°Our jailer comes again,¡± Jasper said with a grunt. ¡°How do you and that witch teleport around, wolf-lord?¡± ¡°Do you ask a bird how it flies, mortal?¡± Wepwawet crossed his arms. ¡°I did not come for questions today, Jasper.¡± ¡°To mock us then?¡± Was that how mortals saw him? Someone insecure enough to bully prisoners so he could feel better about himself? The only person Wepwawet had anything to prove to was his dad and no one else! ¡°Some of you have prayed to me, and I¡¯ve decided to answer,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied. Jasper glared at a handful of his kobold followers, who meekly looked down in shame. ¡°Do not be ashamed! I¡¯m the god of these lands, but I can be your god too!¡± Jasper glared at him in response, his eyes burning with a blasphemous kind of courage. ¡°If you expect us to bow to you, then you¡¯re gravely mistaken! We¡¯ll only answer to our beloved Fire Sultan Onyx!¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have to betray your country, or even fight mine,¡± Wepwawet replied. Or at least, he hoped so. ¡°Here is my offer, Jasper of Lavaland: I¡¯ll let you and your men return home with the solemn oath that you will carry a message from me to both your leader and population.¡± Jasper¡¯s head perked up in surprise. ¡°A message?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Wepwawet marked a short pause for drama¡¯s sake before continuing. ¡°Should some of you magmorians agree to become citizens of Verglane and obey its laws, I would be willing to allow them to peacefully settle in our magma chamber.¡± Gasps spread around the tunnel, none louder than Jasper¡¯s own. ¡°Is this a joke?¡± ¡°Are you serious, Lord Wepwawet?¡± a kobold asked in disbelief, and his commanding officer was too shocked to admonish him for showing respect to an enemy deity. ¡°You bet I am! I¡¯ll welcome anybody willing to join my flock, even magmorians, and it¡¯s not like we can even use the magma chamber anyway!¡± Wepwawet nodded to himself. ¡°If you magmorians are genuine in your desire to solve your overpopulation issue and not mere raiders fighting under a pretense to conquer territory, then this should settle our territorial dispute easily enough! We¡¯ll welcome all law-abiding citizens as our own and take the burden off your nation!¡± ¡°That would be treason!¡± Jasper retorted angrily. ¡°You would have us magmorians renounce our vows to our homeland and sultan for, for¡­¡± He spat lava at Wepwawet¡¯s feet. ¡°For a roof over our heads?!¡± His father Set would have likely smote Jasper where he stood for this disrespect, but Wepwawet needed him alive too much to indulge in such a thing. Hence he answered his aggression with calm and reason. ¡°So you do fight for greed and conquest rather for your people¡¯s wellbeing, Jasper of Lavaland? Do you want more of your people to die for nothing?¡± The last sentence caused Jasper to wince as if he had been slapped. His guilt remained plain to see. ¡°You can¡¯t expect to walk into our lands and conquer them without consequences,¡± Wepwawet warned him. ¡°You¡¯ve experienced for yourself what a true war between us would mean for your people. I am offering them a chance to settle peacefully, for a price; one paid in homages and vows rather than lives.¡± ¡°Your people will never accept us,¡± Jasper replied grimly. ¡°Not after we attacked them.¡± ¡°They certainly won¡¯t if you keep attacking, that¡¯s for sure, and I agree that peace will be difficult,¡± Wepwawet conceded. ¡°But I am offering your people a chance to try. What would it cost you?¡± This proposal was a win-win scenario in Wepwawet¡¯s mind. Either the likes of this General Peridot and Fire Sultan Onyx would at least be forced to pretend to be willing to negotiate a peaceful solution, which will give Wepwawet time to prepare, or they would reveal Lavaland¡¯s actions as a naked power grab for its soldiers and Verglane¡¯s civilians alike; and if the magmorians were smart enough to take the deal, then he would avoid a war entirely. Yes, incorporating magmorian settlers would cause issues due to clashing cultural identities and past resentment, but Wepwawet was confident he could smooth things over time. The Egyptian Empire wasn¡¯t built in a day! The magmorians would have to be really stupid to say no, and even Jasper seemed to understand this as he pondered Wepwawet¡¯s offer. He reminded the god of a bear tempted to ransack a beehive, struggling between the fear of being stung and the urge to claim that sweet honey¡­ ¡°An oath¡­¡± Jasper observed Wepwawet for a moment in an attempt to assess him. ¡°What guarantees do you have that we won¡¯t go against our word the moment we¡¯re out of your grasp?¡± ¡°Then you will only add the shame of oath-breaking to your name, on top of that of losing your men in a pointless battle you were tricked into waging by a third party,¡± Wepwawet replied calmly. ¡°You¡¯ve shown honor when surrendering to spare your men. I will thus give you a chance to redeem yourself by serving as peace¡¯s messenger.¡± And if the carrot wasn¡¯t enough, then Wepwawet would use the stick. His spirit leaned over the magmorian with eyes shining with mana. ¡°However, beware that you¡¯ll also learn first-hand the punishment of angering a god should you prove deceitful!¡± Wepwawet warned him with a thunderous voice that shook the very earth around them. ¡°Mark my words, Jasper of Lavaland: should your people insist on attacking mine after I extended them an olive branch, then I won¡¯t show them any mercy either!¡± Jasper leaned back against the mine wall, being too proud to show fear but not foolish enough to ignore the obvious threat. ¡°I¡­¡± he cleared his throat, exhaling smoke. ¡°I have one question.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± This aroused Wepwawet¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Which one?¡± Jasper hesitated a moment before daring to speak up. ¡°What¡¯s an olive branch?¡± A long and unbearably embarrassing silence followed. Wepwawet stared at Jasper dead in the eyes, trying to figure out whether or not the magmorian was messing with him¡­ only to realize that no, he was genuinely clueless. Did olives even exist in this world? ¡°It¡¯s a metaphor,¡± Wepwawet replied simply, hoping to stop the embarrassing conversation right there and now. Unfortunately, this only confused Jasper further. ¡°A metaphor for what?¡± ¡°For peace and reconciliation.¡± ¡°What does a branch have to do with either?¡± Jasper asked in disbelief. ¡°Trees live to burn!¡± ¡°Are you questioning a god¡¯s wisdom, mortal?!¡± Wepwawet snapped in annoyance. What did his teachers say to avoid embarrassing mortal inquiries? Ah yes, being cryptic. ¡°Meditate on this lesson, for redemption will be within your grasp the day you understand it!¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Red¡­ redemption?¡± The very word seemed to give Jasper pause. ¡°I could regain my honor?¡± ¡°Of course you can,¡± Wepwawet insisted while suppressing a sigh of relief. The magmorian, thankfully, looked too deep into his thoughts to question him further. He had managed to save face! ¡°So will you take my offer, Jasper of Lavaland?¡± Jasper glanced at his troops, then nodded in assent. ¡°I shall deliver your message, Wolf-Lord. I cannot guarantee my people will listen, but¡­ you have my word.¡± Perfect! Now all Wepwawet had to do was send a proper escort to ensure they followed through with their promise. Goreville would do, as the werewolf knew the surrounding land like the back of his paw and should prove worthy of the newly discovered relic. Wepwawet turned his divine attention away from the cave and towards Goreville, who should be sparring with Victoire at this hour. He was fine with his followers settling their differences with friendly competition, especially since it helped them train. He expected to find the two having a private match in the spirit of camaraderie¡­ Instead, he found half of Narc gathered in its newly made central plaza, jeering and shouting as Victoire¡¯s spear clashed with Goreville¡¯s sword. W-What were they doing?! You couldn¡¯t leave mortals unattended for five minutes!
Sharp claws hit her silver spear and sent sparks flying in all directions. The blow nearly forced Victoire back, but she quickly pivoted and thrust her weapon at Goreville. The werewolf chieftain swiftly dodged with inhuman agility, his muscles rippling with the power granted to him by the faint moonlight above. He tried to move to the side to flank and engage her in close combat. Victoire saw it coming and forced him back with a swing of her spear. He¡¯s stronger than I am and we¡¯re about equal in speed, but I¡¯ve more experience, Victoire thought as her rival circled her in an attempt to find an opening. The moonlight granted Goreville a noticeable surge in his physical skills and his warrior instincts showed, but she could tell he never trained as intensively as she did. We¡¯re evenly matched. Now if only she could focus without all the shouting! ¡°Kick her ass, Goreville!¡± A crowd of werewolves howled together all at once. ¡°Crush her!¡± ¡°Victoire!¡± Other werelings shouted back so loudly that Renarde¡¯s ¡®ambiance song¡¯ was now barely audible. ¡°Victoire, Victoire, Victoire!¡± Even Filou, who could never stand up for himself, found a new source of courage to defend her honor. ¡°Don¡¯t give up, Milady!¡± he shouted even louder than the werewolves, raising a banner with her name badly painted on it from atop Lourson¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Make him swallow his sword!¡± The crowd gathered to observe the fight now formed a thick ring around the fighters, jeering or praising their chosen Champions. Coins changed hands in the blink of an eye, alcohol flowed, and Victoire was already sick of it all. One witness, Victoire thought in annoyance. We said one witness each, no more. How did it come to this? She only had a vague idea. It first started with the elders of Goreville¡¯s pack coming to witness their chieftain¡¯s fight as per tradition, which encouraged Filou to go around town and gather a handful of supporters for Victoire, which in turn caused Mistouffe to hear about the event and then tell everyone¡ªbefore promptly selling food and drinks to the audience, of course¡ªand then things completely spiraled out of control from there. ¡°This is getting tiresome,¡± Victoire complained while looking for an opening. Goreville let out a sigh. He shared her annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said before grinning ear to ear, his fangs shining in the moonlight. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to finish this quickly then.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Victoire decided to cut to the chase and call upon the power of ice Lord Wepwawet granted her. Cold winds swirled around her spear. ¡°Come at me, if you dare.¡± He did. Goreville lunged for her throat in a startling dash of speed that took Victoire aback. The werewolf closed the gap between them in an instant, his sword singing as its steel cut through the air. He¡¯s faster! Victoire pulled back and quickly adjusted her position. The wolf bastard tried to lull her into a false sense of security by going easy on her earlier. Cunning! They agreed on ending the spar at first blood, so Victoire guessed Goreville would try to strike at her exposed areas first: namely her head and throat. Hence she wagered everything on moving back her upper body while thrusting her spear forward to throw him off his aim. Her gambit paid off. Goreville¡¯s sword narrowly missed her cheek, while her spear pushed against his chest. The werewolf quickly stepped to the left in an attempt to dodge¡­ Only for Victoire¡¯s spear to veer off there at the last second. Goreville¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°A fei¨C¡± Victoire¡¯s spear grazed his shoulder and covered him in ice. Victoire had found through her training that her newfound magic could often erupt into a burst of frost, and so it did tonight. Swirling winds encased Goreville in a thin layer of ice that paralyzed him in place and turned him into a living statue. The werewolf barely had time to blink before the process utterly consumed him. Gasps and cheers spread across the crowd from the fighters¡¯ respective supporters. The werewolves stared in disbelief at their defeated chieftain while Filou and Victoire¡¯s allies shouted her name to the sky. After taking a second to catch her breath, Victoire hit Goreville¡¯s face with her spear¡¯s shaft and broke the ice before he could suffocate. The werewolf gasped for air upon freeing his head, then immediately glanced at his shoulder. A thick drop of blood remained frozen there as proof of his defeat. ¡°You fought well,¡± Victoire congratulated him. Few warriors managed to push her in a one-on-one duel. Goreville grunted in defeat. Victoire could see that a part of him wished to continue the fight, but his warrior¡¯s pride wouldn¡¯t let him break his word. ¡°My best wasn¡¯t good enough.¡± ¡°I was trained to fight since I could walk, and enjoy divine gifts,¡± Victoire replied before breaking the rest of the ice with her spear. Goreville quickly freed himself, though his imposing confidence was gone. ¡°It could have gone either way.¡± ¡°No, it couldn¡¯t have. If you could already match me in battle while the moonlight blessed me with its strength, then you¡¯re simply better.¡± Goreville growled in anger, most of it targeted at himself. ¡°It¡¯s a new feeling, defeat¡­ I do not like it.¡± A rush of pity coursed through Victoire. She saw the way Goreville¡¯s werewolf followers exchanged glances between themselves. A leader so shamed in front of his troops would face contestation. She couldn¡¯t find it in herself to rejoice over this outcome. Victoire tensed up upon sensing hostility from Goreville¡¯s followers. A few of the werewolves glared at her and pointed at her enchanted spear. She could already tell that they were accusing her of cheating. She tightened her grip on her weapon as younger werewolves pushed their fellow supporters aside in an attempt to reach her and Goreville¡­ A bolt of lightning struck the arena, startling everyone. The towering figure of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s spirit materialized in between the duelists. ¡°There is no shame in defeat, Goreville,¡± he said with his arms crossed. ¡°Only in failure to learn from it.¡± ¡°My lord?¡± Goreville immediately bent the knee, as did Victoire. ¡°Were¡­ were you watching?¡± ¡°I was. I am pleased with both of your performances.¡± Lord Wepwawet turned a severe gaze at the crowd. ¡°And less so with everyone else!¡± His sharp rebuke silenced everyone, with most werelings kneeling in response. The deity¡¯s gaze first settled on Goreville¡¯s followers, none of whom dared to meet his eyes. ¡°Snowsteps, do not look down on a warrior who fought for your honor! Especially one who dared to face the sting of silver which you all fear!¡± Lord Wepwawet then turned to Victoire¡¯s supporters to shame them next. ¡°And the rest of you should not rejoice either! Goreville is as much your defender as any other Champion, and I shall prove it here with this!¡± He waved his shimmering hand at Goreville, and a most exquisite relic appeared around the werewolf¡¯s neck: a brilliant golden torc with sapphire eyes shining brighter than the stars. Victoire was no mage, yet she sensed the power radiating from the treasure nonetheless. ¡°This torc belonged to a great werewolf hero whom I allowed to use my name long ago,¡± Lord Wepwapwet declared. ¡°I entrust you with it, Goreville, just as I offered a sacred weapon to Victoire.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Goreville choked in surprise and began to stammer, gazing at the relic in shock. ¡°Lord Wepwawet, I¡­ I am not worthy of this gift. I have doubted your word by challenging your chosen prophet.¡± ¡°And will you doubt my choice again by denying this gift?¡± Lord Wepwawet countered with an amused smile. ¡°I clearly have more faith in you than you have in me!¡± ¡°No, I¡­¡± Goreville choked in embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that¡­¡± ¡°Just take the gift,¡± Victoire said bluntly. ¡°Don¡¯t you see now? You never had anything to prove.¡± Goreville finally, finally realized he always had his god¡¯s approval as much as Victoire herself; and that them being equal in his eyes did not diminish him either. The werewolf lowered his head in penance and immediately apologized. ¡°Forgive me for doubting you, Lord Wepwawet,¡± he said. ¡°You too, Victoire. You are a true warrior and worthy of respect.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Lord Wepwawet nodded to himself and raised his hands to the sky. ¡°I declare this night to be the Holy Day of Friendship! Feast as friends and comrades upon my sacred food!¡± The god summoned a rain of lettuce upon his followers, who all rejoiced as one people; much to Victoire¡¯s relief. Everything ended well.
Phew, crisis averted! They had come this close to a riot. By the time the match concluded, Wepwawet had noticed a few werewolves in the crowd whispering to themselves that Victoire¡¯s ice magic was cheating and were preparing to contest the result by force. He had been reminded too many times about the dangers of sports-related conflicts not to intervene. That was why gods were forbidden from introducing football to primitive civilizations. It never ended well. The lettuce rain cost Wepwawet some mana, but it brought peace for a time and reinforced his image as a fair ruler. He would then follow through by sending Goreville on his first official mission tomorrow to escort Jasper and his men in one fell stroke. Wepwawet was busy congratulating himself for his masterstroke when a system notification showed up out of nowhere.
You have declared the 21st of April LCE (Local Calendar Equivalent) as your first Festival. You can select up to three Festivals spread out across the year, each of them set in stone; during these celebrations, your daily mana yield and what you receive from sacrifices will be doubled for 24 hours. New Quest: Holy Days, Holidays! Choose three dates to serve as your Festivals. Reward: Doctrine Miracle.
Oh? Oh, that was new! Holy days never had any special power in the standard system and Wepy¡¯s teachers mostly suggested adding them for social reasons. He wouldn¡¯t spit on more mana¡­ Wait. Wait, did the notification say sacrifices?
Living beings sacrificed at your Idol and Altars will grant you a point of mana based on the sacrifice¡¯s Rank (minimum 0). Mindless creatures or entities summoned by Miracles do not provide anything.
Oh. Oh, well¡­ Well that¡¯s good to know, I suppose. Wepwawet had no intention of following through with it though. Sacrificing his followers wasn¡¯t even an option in his mind, and doing that to his enemies would send a very bad message. The temporary mana boost he could expect wouldn¡¯t make up for the sheer loathing and fear his religion would inspire in everyone else. Finally, the likes of chickens and most animals had no Rank to speak of, so they wouldn¡¯t bring him anything. His followers should thank the gods that he wasn¡¯t born an Aztec. Chapter 12: The Expedition Viviane returned from Roynimalia with a new influx of settlers two days after the near-disastrous spar. Wepwawet immediately noticed the difference from his previous visitors. Narc¡¯s newcomers usually came from local tribes or villages with little more than the shirts on their back. Most were farmers, laborers, or warriors. The group from Roynimalia was a more diverse lot. It included werecat merchants, weresheep weavers, a werepenguin jeweler, and even a handful of wererats, which Wepwawet had not seen before. Wepwawet noted a common trend with werelings too. Most of them descended from mammals with the noticeable exception of the werepenguins and wereowls, the rarest of the lot. Did they have amphibian and reptilian cousins further south under warmer temperatures? Viviane also brought a new potential champion: a purple-feathered female wereowl dressed in elegant, noble-like garb and carrying a scepter suffused with mana. From her attire and commanding presence, she was likely a Roynimalian ambassador of some kind. Perfect timing, Wepwawet thought. Goreville had been preparing to escort Jasper back to the magmorian general Peridot further south to deliver his message. I could turn this into an official diplomatic mission. Moreover, the influx of newcomers finally let him reach over five hundred believers. His daily mana would increase to six with over five hundred followers near his Idol: one from the mana leyline, and five from the people. He had finally reached an amount where he could expect to slowly replenish his full reserves so long as he cast his miracles conservatively. Most importantly, he had finally completed the associated quest!
Quest: Proselytism II, completed! You¡¯ve earned the Animal Kingdom Doctrine Miracle. Animal Kingdom Tier 5 Doctrine Unintelligent (INT ¡Ü 3) Beast Type creatures of Rank 5 and below within your realm of Influence are automatically Charmed. These creatures will obey your orders to the best of their ability and understanding, but the effect immediately ends once they leave your Influence¡¯s border. Maintenance cost: 1. New Quest: Proselytism III Convert over 1,000 worshipers. Reward: Doctrine Miracle.
Aha, excellent! Wepwawet immediately traded the doctrine for another copy of Longstrider, since he had already provided that blessing to most of his Champions over the last few days, and immediately cast it. His power spread for miles around his mountain in a single pulse. Werelings were smart enough to outright ignore the Doctrine, but Wepwawet immediately sensed countless animals in the area falling under his sway: sheep, hounds, pikas, moles, birds, wolves, and even a set of foxes. All of them had no Rank nor abilities to speak of, yet Wepwawet sensed they would follow any order he gave. The Doctrine affects every beast within my Influence, so if I had my followers drag an unruly animal inside, it would immediately become my servant. The more Wepwawet considered his options, the more excited he became. I see a lot of potential here! Maybe he could nab a few beasts for Artemis once they met again? It had been a while since Wepwawet last saw his friends and he was sorely missing them. Let¡¯s hope the altar plan will work, Wepwawet thought as he materialized his spirit in front of the new settlers to greet them. The awes and gasps that welcomed him never got old. ¡°Greetings, Viviane,¡± he said upon facing her and her wereowl ally. The latter studied him with rapturous attention. ¡°I see you¡¯ve brought quite a few friends!¡± ¡°Yup!¡± Viviane replied with a chuckle. ¡°Your Godliness caused quite the stir in Roynimalia! You were the talk of town for days!¡± ¡°I can hardly believe my eyes!¡± the wereowl said with a trembling voice brimming with excitement. Wepwawet quickly glimpsed at her stats and name. ¡°Is this a magical projection of some kind? I can feel your presence all across the region.¡± ¡°Quite sharp, Sagesse,¡± Wepwawet replied, causing the wereowl to gasp in surprise. That trick never failed to impress. ¡°My true form would be incomprehensible for mortals, hence why I choose to appear to you this way. My true gaze watches over this land from high above.¡± ¡°How high above? From the stars?¡± Sagesse immediately began to pester Wepwawet by barraging him with more questions. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity. ¡°Do you have a physical body, or are you an emanation of magic itself? Are there more of you out there? How long have you¨C¡± ¡°Whoa, slow down!¡± Wepwawet cut in. He could already tell she would be the nosy, inquisitive type of mage. Those couldn¡¯t keep their noses out of trouble. ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to answer all divine mysteries in a single conversation!¡± ¡°Oh, my apologies!¡± Sagesse dusted off her clothes in embarrassment. ¡°Where are my manners? I got so carried away I even forgot to introduce myself!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Sagesse for you, Your Godliness.¡± Viviane chuckled and swiftly introduced her friend. ¡°Sagesse is a member of Roynimalia¡¯s ruling council. My boss sent her as an ambassador for Narc.¡± ¡°It would be my pleasure to help tighten the bonds between our cities, Lord Wepwawet,¡± Sagesse said with a sharp nod. ¡°I hope that we can find a solution to the magmorian problem together and present a unified front.¡± ¡°We share the same wish,¡± Wepwawet replied before extending a hand to her. ¡°I was actually about to send a diplomatic mission to the magmorian leadership in order to assess their intentions. I would like you to join it, if you don¡¯t mind. In return, I shall bless you like I did with Viviane.¡± ¡°A blessing? What kind? Will you infuse me with magic, or¨C¡± Sagesse caught herself before she could lose herself in another bombardment of questions. ¡°It would be my pleasure on both counts!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I like to hear!¡± Wepwawet immediately followed through with his blessing, bathing Sagesse in his holy light and claiming her as his newest Champion. He was now only one count short of completing another quest! Steady progress! Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Name Sagesse, Scholarly Ambassador
Type Humanoid/Avian
Rank 3
Class Wereowl 1 (Monster), Numerologist 2 (Spellcaster)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk/Fly
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
8 15 8 12
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
25 21 20 16
Accuracy +14+4 Evasion +16 (15)
Innate Perk: Owl Wisdom
Can learn Thaumaturgy, Astromancy, and Arithmancy spells of ranks equal or below your character rank.
Owlsight Improved Calculation
Can see through darkness and shadows without penalties; grants +4 Accuracy. All number variables benefiting you (such as experience split, Accuracy/Evasion, damage inflicted) are rounded up rather than down.
Spell Extension Spell: Level 2 Slow
The range and duration of your spells is doubled. Tier II Arithmancy. Inflicts the [Slow] ailment on all foes with a Rank with a multiple of 2 within a ten meters radius, ignoring evasion; enemies with uneven levels are unaffected.
A numerologist? Wepwawet knew of this class, which mostly revolved around manipulating system stats and numeral variables. The Improved Calculation Perk in particular aroused his curiosity. Her Evasion is marked as sixteen, with the fifteen next to it likely being her stat when the variable isn¡¯t rounded up. Wepwawet quickly ran the calculations in his head and compared these results with his previous observations. This confirms it then. Accuracy is Skill and Luck divided by two and Evasion is the sum of Agility and Luck halved, both are rounded down. Were there other variables he wasn¡¯t aware of? He had yet to see any hint of Health Points or the equivalent in this world. Either the System didn¡¯t calculate those or hid them from his interface. This warranted further investigation in the future. ¡°How strange,¡± Sagesse noted. ¡°I feel your presence within my very soul.¡± ¡°So long as you remain faithful, I shall always watch over you and guide your steps,¡± Wepwawet promised before recalling something. ¡°By the way, Viviane, are you familiar with Boisblanc?¡± ¡°I know that forest like the back of my hand,¡± Viviane replied proudly. ¡°Why do you ask, Your Godliness?¡± ¡°I need to secure a sacred site there in order to restore this land¡¯s blessings.¡± And contact the Nexus while he was at it. ¡°Unfortunately, my sight is shrouded. Would you know of a location that would fit this description?¡± ¡°A sacred site?¡± Viviane blinked. ¡°You mean the Icefall?¡± ¡°The Icefall?¡± The mere name aroused Wepwawet¡¯s curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The Icefall is an immense frozen waterfall deep inside the Boisblanc Forest,¡± Sagesse explained. ¡°Wereling druids used this place for magical rites a long time ago¡­ until they were chased away, that is.¡± Now that sounded like a place that could serve as a suitable altar, though Wepwawet could tell seizing it wouldn¡¯t be so easy. ¡°Chased away?¡± he asked. ¡°By whom?¡± Viviane scowled darkly. ¡°A demoness.¡±
Victoire reviewed her expedition team one last time. Considering the danger ahead and the risk of leaving Narc unattended for too long, she elected to bring only a small elite task force favoring speed over numbers. Viviane had agreed to serve as their guide, while Filou and Renarde would provide additional support. A pack of six of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolves would further escort them into the forest. Victoire hoped this would be enough. Goreville and the Roynimalia ambassador Sagesse would escort their magmorian prisoners to the south as part of a diplomatic mission, leaving Lourson, Mistouffe, and Alpine to protect Narc in their absence. The town should have enough soldiers¡ªnot to mention Lord Wepwawet¡¯s own divine power¡ªto protect itself from any attack, but Victoire loathed leaving it unattended for too long. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you asked me to join this mission, Victoire,¡± Renarde the werefox noted as Mistouffe and Alpine distributed supplies to the group, from food to poultice for their wounds. The bard only chose to bring her scrolls and fan herself. ¡°I thought you distrusted me.¡± ¡°I still do,¡± Victoire replied bluntly. ¡°Nonetheless, we¡¯re about to confront a mage. I thought it best to fight fire with fire.¡± ¡°So you do have faith in my skills, if not my person.¡± Renarde chuckled in amusement. ¡°My dear, I¡¯m touched. I will be sure to live up to your expectations.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Renarde.¡± Victoire examined a glass vial that Alpine handed her. A murky, orange substance glowing like fire swirled within it. ¡°Is this the ¡®alchemical fire¡¯ you¡¯ve been working on?¡± Alpine confirmed it with a nod. ¡°Be very careful with it. The substance will burn as soon as it is exposed to air. Not even water will smother it, so you will need earth or sand for that.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll treat these weapons with care, you have my word,¡± Victoire promised. Alpine had been experimenting with new brews since Lord Wepwawet blessed her and Lourson with newfound inspiration. She managed to create five of these alchemical fire vials, alongside a handful of healing poultices for their wounds. ¡°We¡¯re ready to leave at your command, Milady,¡± Filou said with a pack of supplies on his back. ¡°The Icefall is two days away from Narc, three if we take our time,¡± Viviane warned them. ¡°I¡¯ve never approached it too closely though, so I can¡¯t say what awaits us there.¡± ¡°Do you have any information on the demon?¡± Victoire inquired. She knew little about demons besides the usual tales. Their kind ruled the Zoramesh Empire to the far south beyond Lavaland, reproduced by converting others into more of their kind by infecting them with their blood, and could wield powerful sorcery. ¡°Not much,¡± Viviane confessed. ¡°She kicked out the local druid circle decades ago and hasn¡¯t moved since, so most rangers stay clear of her territory. Those who wander too close there are never seen again.¡± ¡°Whatever sorcery she wields will bend before Lord Wepwawet¡¯s holy protection,¡± Filou said, only for his confidence to waver. ¡°I-I mean, it has to, right?¡± Victoire shook her head. ¡°Lord Wepwawet warned me that he could offer little direct support until we consecrated the site and restored its blessing. We will have to trust in our skills until then.¡± And it would have to prove sufficient. Chapter 13: The Challenger The forest was cold and quiet. Victoire had often visited the Boisblanc Forest for hunts or to trade with Roynimalia back when she worked with the Glarmes Order, but she could never get used to the place¡¯s quietness. Rows after rows of spruces, larches, and pines surrounded her crew from all sides, their snow-covered leaves smothering all sound¡­ except of course for Renarde¡¯s music. ¡°The fox went out on a chilly night,¡± she sang, her melodious voice carrying across the tundra. Their spirit-wolf escort had taken to howling and barking in tune with her like a fanged orchestra. ¡°He prayed to the moon to give him light, for many a mile to go that night¨C¡± ¡°Shush!¡± Viviane cut in. The redheaded ranger walked at the forefront of their formation with her bow drawn, and she had grown warier and warier the further they advanced. ¡°Quiet!¡± Renarde stopped, but the werefox bard didn¡¯t hide her displeasure. ¡°Viviane, my dear, I recall you asking for a song to help quicken our pace.¡± ¡°Yes, before we reached the demoness¡¯ territory,¡± Viviane replied angrily. "Do you want to alert her to our presence?¡± ¡°You can resume your song another time, Renarde,¡± Victoire said. ¡°Fine, fine¡­¡± Renarde grew quiet, much to the spirit-wolves¡¯ sorrow. ¡°I still say we would have an easier time talking things through with our host rather than sneaking into her home like thieves.¡± Viviane didn¡¯t look convinced. ¡°Many have tried diplomacy before you. They either fled with their tails between their legs or never returned.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not taking any chances,¡± Victoire confirmed as she turned to Filou. Her wererabbit squire kept both his ears open for any suspicious sound. ¡°Do you hear anything?¡± ¡°N-no, milady.¡± Her squire quivered in place. ¡°I don¡¯t hear anything besides the wind, n-not even birds. That¡¯s, uh¡­ that¡¯s not normal at all. I don¡¯t like it.¡± Victoire¡¯s jaw clenched. Even the quietest forests housed a hidden treasure trove of life, from small rodents to birds and other creatures. Neither she nor Viviane detected any trace of their presence in the still and lifeless snow. Nothing had disturbed in years. Either the demoness frightened them all away from her territory or danger loomed; likely both. Moreover, Lord Wepwawet had warned her that the few spirit-wolves he sent beforehand to scout the area on his behalf were slaughtered before he could see anything. An invisible foe was determined to pluck out her god¡¯s eyes and prevent him from seeing anything. ¡°Stay on your guard,¡± Victoire warned her allies. ¡°Each of you, check your bottles of alchemical fire and healing poultices.¡± ¡°Again?¡± Renarde complained as she opened her bag and confirmed everything was in place. Even the spirit-wolves looked at the bags on their backs, though they only carried food. ¡°I have them, happy?¡± ¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± Victoire replied. Her gut told her a dangerous battle awaited them just around the corner. ¡°Let us proceed.¡± Their advance slowed to a crawl as Victoire favored caution over speed. Viviane guided them through the forest and towards an ancient lake¡¯s shores. A marvelous sight awaited them there. A great cliff over a hundred feet high stood ahead of them like an internal rock overseeing the forest. A waterfall clearly used to plunge from there into a chasm below once, only for the waters to freeze solid. Instead, a colossal column of ice now extended from the tip of the cliff to a frozen lake¡¯s surface. It glittered in the sunlight like a translucent jewel, while a two-story wooden hut surrounded by an osseous fence dominated the region from high above. Whereas Filou and Renarde both gasped at the site¡¯s beauty, Victoire¡¯s gaze lingered on the frozen pillar. Dark spots stood out from the gleaming surface. Her eyes squinted until she noticed great shapes trapped inside the ice. Had the waters caught a handful of beasts before they turned into an icy prison? It didn¡¯t take her long to notice something off with the icicles near the cliff¡¯s base as well. They were too large to be natural, and their insides too dark. Victoire squinted at them until she began to notice the outline of arms, legs, and swords¡­ A chill traveled down her spine. She counted a good dozen of them spread across the lake¡¯s shores. ¡°M-Milady, are those¡­¡± Filou gulped in horror and swiftly drew his burning scimitar. He had guessed what they were looking at. ¡°Are those people?¡± ¡°I guess we now know what happened to the demoness¡¯ victims,¡± Renarde said, her voice now lower and heavier. ¡°I usually like statues, but these are an exception. I would rather avoid their fate.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Victoire said with a grim scowl on her face. The foul fiend placed her victims here as a warning for would-be intruders. ¡°We should try to free them once we¡¯re done here.¡± Lord Wepwawet told her that she would recognize the sacred site immediately, and she thought she did. Her gaze worked its way up to the pillar until she noticed a fount of evanescent, bluish energy at the summit right next to the hut. ¡°Do you see that?¡± she asked her teammates, her spear pointing at the fountain of magic. ¡°I do¡­¡± Viviane muttered in surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing that the few times I scouted this area.¡± ¡°What a peculiar phenomenon¡­¡± Renarde observed with undying curiosity. ¡°It appears to be a fount of magical energy rising from the land itself. I assume that is why the fiend claimed this area in particular.¡± ¡°Lord Wepwawet warned me that only Goreville and I could consecrate this spot,¡± Victoire said, her eyes assessing the area. ¡°We¡¯ll need to reach the summit without alerting the demoness to our presence.¡± Viviane pointed her bow at the lake¡¯s left side. A narrow staircase of stone and ice was carved onto the cliff and reached all the way to the summit. ¡°Walking across the lake and climbing that path is the quickest way to reach the top, but the monster will spot us immediately.¡± Renarde scoffed. ¡°Do what you wish, my dear, but I would rather cheer from the sidelines if you try that.¡± ¡°Is there another path?¡± Victoire inquired. ¡°What if we stay in the woods and circle the cliff?" ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Viviane considered it a moment. ¡°I haven¡¯t ever gotten this close before, so I can¡¯t say.¡± Victoire heard Filou gasp behind her, followed by the wolves¡¯ howls. ¡°Milady, behi¨C¡± Victoire¡¯s head snapped to the side just in time to see a lightning bolt surging at her. She didn¡¯t react in time to dodge it, but her squire proved quicker. Filou leaped in front of her in a dash of speed and courage. He took the bolt in Victoire¡¯s place, but the electricity slid off him and his burning weapon. Filou landed harmlessly on the snow, his eyes alight with determination. Their attacker¡ªa purple-haired human woman in an expensive, priestly white garb¡ªstood hardly a few feet away from the group, her disc-topped staff pointed at Victoire. How could she sneak up on them so close undetected?! ¡°You¡¯ve turned my own weapon against me?!¡± the stranger cursed with a scowl of frustration. ¡°How shameful!¡± Victoire answered by lunging at the stranger with her spear in an instant and aimed straight for their heart. The woman disappeared in a flash of purple light, with Victoire¡¯s weapon hitting only air. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. How did she¡­ Victoire¡¯s eyes widened as she looked around and spotted the woman atop the waterfall. Teleportation? Now that she had a good look at their assailant, Victoire quickly realized that she matched Jasper¡¯s description of the one that led him to Narc; including the ability to vanish at will. ¡°Is it the demoness?!¡± Victoire inquired as her allies readied themselves for battle. ¡°No!¡± Viviane drew an arrow and aimed upward. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this mage!¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to do, Wepwawet!¡± the witch shouted from atop the waterfall, her staff radiating light. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to contact the Nexus!¡± An invisible pulse of power spread across the sky, and the earth shuddered in its wake. ¡°I challenge you to a duel!¡± The witch¡¯s words echoed into the distance and tore the world apart. A powerful quake shook the Boisblanc Forest with such strength that it nearly threw Victoire and the others off their feet. She could only stare in shock and surprise as a great barrier of light reaching all the way to the sky arose around the icefall cliff, the frozen lake, and parts of the woods. It encircled the entire area inside a rectangular prison in the blink of an eye. The rest of the world vanished. As far as Victoire¡¯s eyes could see, everything outside the barrier simply disappeared. The sun, the clouds, the horizon¡­ everything collapsed into nothingness. A featureless white void swallowed everything and surrounded them from all sides. ¡°M-milady¡­¡± Filou¡¯s knees shook so loudly that they put the tremors to shame. ¡°W-what¡¯s going on?!¡± Renarde didn¡¯t bother asking anything. She simply squealed in panic. ¡°It¡¯s the end of the world!¡± ¡°Calm down!¡± Viviane shouted, her own voice trembling while the spirit-wolves howled as one. ¡°Calm down!¡± Victoire herself was too spooked to say anything. A great and colossal figure had loomed over the barrier beyond the Icefall; an immense cosmic shadow greater than any mountain she had ever seen, vaguely feminine and yet unrecognizable, with hands that could crush all of Narc under their palms. Its size and power were so unfathomable that a terrible despair seized Victoire¡¯s heart. Only now did she realize how small she was. That dread didn¡¯t last too long, however. A familiar and comfortable presence enveloped her soul, soothing her fears. ¡®Everything will be alright,¡¯ it whispered to her heart without using any words. ¡®For I am here!¡¯ Another shadow arose on the other side of the barrier, right behind Victoire¡¯s group. She already knew its nature before she even looked. The figure behind Victoire¡¯s team matched the shadow in its size and immensity, but where the other was blurry and indistinct, this one was both clearly identifiable and familiar. Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolf-face gazed at his followers from high above with concern and determination. Her god watched over them, with five cards in his hand.
Wepwawet had been observing the expedition through his spirit-wolves¡¯ and Champions¡¯ senses when the dreaded notification popped up in front of him.
???? has challenged you to a Board & Conquest god battle!
He had prepared for this all his life, but it still felt unpleasant. His essence was drawn out of his Idol and sucked into the void between worlds, between reality and illusion. His spirit loomed over a colossal board carved from Elphion¡¯s very crust and split from the rest of the planet by an impenetrable mana barrier. No one could get in and nobody could get out until the battle concluded. Time itself was suspended. The board had been split away from reality and trapped between two ticks of the clock. Hours could pass within this enclosed space without outsiders noticing anything. His opponent and challenger¡¯s essence loomed on the other side of the board, cloaked in shadows that Wepwawet¡¯s senses could not pierce. It seemed vaguely feminine, but such things meant little to deities.
Victory Condition: The enemy Commander is slain. Losing Condition: Your Commander is slain. Reward: ???? is banished from Elphion; ????¡¯s rarest, highest Rank card; new Boisblanc Forest Altar. Loss Penalty: You are banished from Elphion; death of all engaged Champions; loss of your rarest, highest Rank card.
Wepwawet¡¯s jaw clenched in rage as he read the text. Challenging him was one thing, but putting his followers¡¯ lives on the line was another! And why would he have to put up with these penalties?! Both gods had to agree on the victory conditions in a standard battle last time he checked!
You are being challenged by a higher-ranked deity. You cannot turn down this battle.
Wepwawet blinked at the notification, then immediately glanced down at the board and focused on that purple-haired witch atop the waterfall until he gleaned her stats. What he saw quickly confirmed his suspicions.
Name Shuyet, The Goddess¡¯s Shadow
Type Artificial/Angel
Rank Commander 4
Class Divine Vessel 4 (Monster/Spellcaster)
Faction ????
Movement Walk/Teleport
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
14 18 26 18
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
30 0 26 18
Accuracy +18 Evasion +18
Innate Perk: Animated Idol
Counts as its deity¡¯s Idol for the purpose of casting Miracles. Projects the deity¡¯s Influence within a ten-meter radius. Cannot claim Altars nor produce mana.
Empty Vessel
Immune to all Ailments; cannot learn Perks nor increase Intelligence.
That mystery witch was a puppet! It¡¯s not a titan. Titan Incursions battles followed very specific rules, and Wepwawet would have expected a lot more collateral damage if he faced one. This is another god, but not one of my classmates either. They wouldn¡¯t require a puppet to manifest here in this world. His opponent was an intruder. More than that, they were a higher-ranked deity blatantly violating all the Pantheons¡¯ rules about engagement! ¡°Shuyet is an Egyptian name!¡± Wepwawet growled as he put two and two together. Jasper had mentioned that the witch who sent him to attack Narc called Wepwawet ¡®Set¡¯s bastard.¡¯ Only a handful of gods would dare to insult his father like that! ¡°You¡¯re from my Pantheon, aren¡¯t you?! You¡¯re working with Horus!¡± His mysterious challenger didn¡¯t answer him. Wepwawet sensed his Miracles taken away from him and shuffled into a face-down deck. A floating clock materialized at the edge of his vision, no doubt to signify either the number of turns or time it would take for him to draw. ¡°Who are you?!¡± Wepwawet demanded with a voice louder than thunder. ¡°Show your true face, coward!¡± ¡°You will never know,¡± the shadow replied, her voice reverberating until it became unrecognizable. ¡°Now draw.¡± Five Miracle cards flew out of the deck and into Wepwawet¡¯s hands. This was it; his first actual Board & Conquest duel on the world of Elphion, with the lives of his followers and his own future on the line. However, Wepwawet did not despair. He could read between the lines. If his mystery enemy was desperate enough to stop him from claiming an Altar to risk her own banishment, then Wepwawet¡¯s hunch was right: seizing this new mana leyline would let him contact the heavens for support. She had to beat him now or never. ¡°Game on, coward!¡± Wepwawet declared as he drew his sixth card and opened hostilities. ¡°Let¡¯s duel!¡± Chapter 14: Mummys Call
Board & Conquest variants played across infinity, but only two bound the gods as part of their legal framework: Godly Battles, and Titan Incursions.
Once the battle started, both sides began with the mana amount which they collected from their civilization before the match; an amount which they could only replenish by using Miracles or very specific circumstances. Both gods would also command the Champions which they had on the board before its apparition, but could summon more within their realm of Influence by sacrificing mana from their reserve equal to their Rank; Influence whose range radiated from whatever Altars they had built on the board before its apparition or that one of their Commanders managed to seize. Additionally, a deity could only cast Miracles within that same realm of Influence... unless that card specifically applied to a Player or was used to target one of the deity¡¯s own Champions, since these blessed souls always counted as within the deity¡¯s realm of Influence. Once the match started, both deities¡¯ Miracle decks would be shuffled and each side would begin with a hand of five cards taken from it. Under normal circumstances, each player drew a new random card from their deck, played their turn by casting their Miracles and commanding their Champions, before finally passing the baton to their opponent; however, this world¡¯s strange system immediately informed Wepwawet that he wouldn¡¯t receive the benefit of time to think things through.
Battles will take place in real-time; each player may draw a new card after a one minute countdown.
All in all, Wepwawet started in an extremely complicated position. He had only twenty-nine mana points to cast Miracles with; he had no Idol or Altar to project his Influence on the Board, so he couldn¡¯t summon new reinforcements like Goreville nor cast Miracles unless he targeted his own Champions with them; and he was fighting with a deck made of beginner Miracles and the cards he picked that lacked synergy. So the only thing that could possibly happen to Wepwawet in this dire situation occurred. He bricked. He bricked hard! It took all of Wepwawet¡¯s willpower not to crumble in defeat once he saw his disastrous starting hand: Geyser Tribute, Animal Kingdom, Sacred Food, Protect Champion, and Skill: Masterworker. His sixth card, Barricade Kit, only furthered his agony. Half of these cards would have been useful in a vacuum¡­ if he had any Influence range that allowed him to cast them! Without an Idol or Altar on the board of his own, Wepwawet couldn¡¯t use them to support his followers! The only Miracle he could play was the Protect Champion Prophecy to reduce the damage one of his units would receive in a pinch, but that was it! The board¡¯s state was just as awful! His challenger more or less set it at the smallest possible legal size, a small rectangle covering a small shard of the forest behind his units, the frozen lake, and the Icefall¡¯s cliff. His Champions had no space to retreat behind them, nor any way to get around the cliff except by climbing it or taking its stairs. They were boxed in, with no way forward besides a frozen lake and a thirty-meters tall wall of ice and stone. This is bad! This is so bad! Wepwawet fought back the urge to bite his nails and focus. Calm down! You¡¯re Wepwawet, son of Set and Nephthys! You can¡¯t show weakness, ever! The only silver lining was that the battle didn¡¯t cancel his already active Miracles. Five of his spirit-wolves were trapped within the board when it appeared and didn¡¯t vanish, while Victoire still carried her sacred spear. This surprised Wepwawet. It would have been child¡¯s play for his opponent to request all existing effects to be canceled as a battle condition and thus deny Wepwawet his resources. The only reason he could fathom for such a choice was that his enemy cast Miracles to prepare the field ahead of time and didn¡¯t want to lose her assets, since a B&C battle¡¯s rules applied to both sides equally. I¡¯ve got to stall for time until I can draw something useful, Wepwawet thought as he obsessively checked the draw countdown. He hoped his Champions could survive until then. ¡°I pay one mana to place a Prophecy,¡± Wepwawet announced as he cast the Miracle. Its nature was meant to be secret until its conditions were met, but his foe easily guessed it nonetheless. ¡°Protect Champion, isn¡¯t it?¡± the mystery goddess asked dismissively. ¡°I bet that¡¯s the only Miracle you can play right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve drawn my best hand!¡± Wepwawet lied through his teeth. Thankfully, gods spoke in the elder speech of the heavens when addressing one another, a tongue which no mortals could understand. The heavens set that rule after too many existential crises among their worshipers during matches. ¡°I¡¯m just prolonging your suffering!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± the enemy deity replied, his bluff falling flat. She soon played a card of her own. ¡°I pay six mana to cast Twin Miracles. This lets me cast the same Miracle twice; though I must still pay its cost.¡± The veiled goddess¡¯ magic radiated from her living idol of a puppet and seized two shapes trapped in the Icefall. ¡°I play Mummy¡¯s Call twice to revive two corpses on the board as mindless undead under my control.¡±
The frozen waterfall cracked from the inside. Victoire barely had time to blink before two colossal shapes emerged from the ice in a mighty explosion; both equally horrifying. The first resembled one of the great mammoths that often migrated across Verglane, but decayed and rotten. Half its skull was exposed for all to see, and purple fumes steamed from its diseased flesh. It quickly trampled over frozen statues of people underfoot as it broke free and let out a howl that chilled her to the soul, its steps cracking the icy lake¡¯s surface beneath it. The second monster was a skeleton the size of a house. The ancient fossil had lost all flesh unlike its comrade, its bones now a pale shade of blue. Victoire guessed it belonged to a giant cat or lion once, though this one possessed two prominent fangs longer than spears and sharper than swords. It glared at the living with two pale lights glowing inside its empty skull. Many soldiers would have frozen in fear at the sight of such creatures, especially after the catastrophic event that preceded their arrival, but Victoire had waged enough battles to react immediately. The questions overwhelming her mind would have to wait until after they survived this. Doubt had no place in a fight to the death. ¡®You can win this!¡¯ She felt her god whisper the words in the back of her skull. Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolf familiars immediately ran across the lake to strike back at their enemies. ¡®I¡¯m with you!¡¯ ¡°Spread out!¡± Victoire ordered immediately. She fearlessly charged across the ice with her spear, her steps quicker than the wind. ¡°Filou, with me! Renarde, grant us speed!¡± ¡°Y-yes, Milady!¡± Filou replied upon rushing after her. Viviane drew her bow and Renarde immediately began to sing, her voice hesitant yet steady. Her notes imbued Victoire with the weightlessness of feathers and let her run across the frozen lake without issue. Filou nearly stumbled on the ice after her¡ªwhile a few of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolves outright slipped¡ªbut managed to regain his footing. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The undead mammoth¡¯s size and weight caused the ice to crumble beneath it, the monster collapsing into the cold water below. It was still large enough for the upper half of its body to remain above the surface and continue its advance at a slower pace. The skeletal tiger proved far more agile and adept at navigating the difficult terrain. It crossed the lake¡¯s length in a burst of speed, met Victoire halfway across it and then lunged at her with inhuman ferocity. Victoire¡¯s silver spear trembled and glimmered within her hands as it clashed with razor-sharp fangs. Her weapon glowered with holy light upon touching the creature, its tip cracking bones. The shock of the collision sent Victoire a few feet backward due to the blowback, with the undead tiger immediately following through with a swipe of its paw. Victoire barely managed to dodge the strike by leaping to the side. The monster¡¯s claw shattered the ice on which she stood a second ago, sending shards and water flying in all directions. One blow will tear me in half, Victoire realized with a scowl. Lord Wepwawet¡¯s wolves were swarming the half-sunken mammoth by leaping and biting at its rotten hide, but the monster slew one with a single hit of its tusks. The spirit-animal vanished in a shower of light immediately before its corpse hit the ground. They¡¯re strong. Filou quickly joined her and leaped at the tiger¡¯s ankle with his burning scimitar. The flames licked the bones deep enough to sear it black. One of Viviane¡¯s arrows struck the undead beast in the skull, allowing Victoire an opening to follow through with a second stab. Lord Wepwawet continued to provide encouragement, even as he fought a battle of his own. Victoire¡¯s god and whatever horrifying, unholy shadow that witch had called forth faced one another, barking words of power she could not understand and drawing what appeared to be cards of light from nothingness. Victoire guessed that these images were her mind¡¯s attempt to rationalize the awe-inspiring cosmic display of magic unfolding in the heavens above. ¡°Quartz Wall!¡± the witch shouted from atop the Icefall at the same time the shadow watching over her drew a card the size of a mountain. Iridescent light swirled around the undead skeleton, and Victoire¡¯s spear glided off its bones when she tried to strike it for the third time. A translucent, rainbow-colored barrier of light shielded the undead¡¯s body. It looked paper-thin, hardly noticeable, and yet proved strong and flexible enough to repel Victoire¡¯s spear and Filou¡¯s scimitar. They struck again and again with mounting panic, only for the creature¡¯s defense to prove impenetrable. I can¡¯t damage it! Victoire stepped back to avoid the tiger¡¯s jaws closing on her chest. Why? Why wasn¡¯t her god crushing the beast under his palm? Lord Wepwawet¨C ¡®Focus on defense, Victoire,¡¯ her god answered. Victoire could sense his rising frustration through their mental link. ¡®Viviane, shoot that witch!¡¯ Victoire¡¯s heart skipped a beat in her chest. Not only was her god as clueless as she was, but he couldn¡¯t help her either. An explosion rocked the cliff above. Victoire caught a glimpse of the witch launching a fireball from her staff at the stairs leading up to the summit, with the impact blasting half of it away in a shower of rock and ice. She¡¯s destroying the path! Victoire cursed in her mind. That cowardly witch would observe the battle from a position of safety atop the cliff while her thralls did the dirty work. What a craven foe, to send the dead to fight in her place¡­ Following Lord Wepwawet¡¯s orders, Viviane sniped the witch from below. One of her arrows surged across the air and struck the witch in the chest. The mage didn¡¯t bleed, but she did grunt in pain and stepped aside to dodge a second projectile aiming for her throat. In response, the witch waved her staff and unleashed a mighty fireball downwards at Viviane and Renarde. The two managed to spread out and escape before the projectile hit the ground, its fire incinerating trees and turning snow into steam. This wasn¡¯t going well.
Three minutes had now passed, and each draw was worse than the last! Wepwawet growled at his newfound Sacred Weapon. That was better than nothing, but nowhere near enough in this current situation. This Miracle could only manifest holy spears, and none of his Champions used those besides Victoire. He at least managed to gain a Smite on his previous draw so he could now assist his Champions offensively should they manage to seize the mana locus atop the cliff¡­ a tall order when they now had to climb it while avoiding monsters below and projectiles above. A god could split their attention many ways, so Wepwawet had done his best to direct his followers in battle while stalling for time¡­ but he now realized fighting defensively was a mistake. His opponent simply had the better deck, and each minute gave her another chance to draw a better Miracle to cast. ¡°Another dead draw, is it?¡± his mysterious opponent taunted him before pouring salt on his wounds. ¡°I pay five mana to cast the Mana Drought Doctrine. Now each of us will have to pay an additional three mana each time we cast a Miracle.¡± ¡°Both of us?¡± Wepwawet gasped in disbelief. ¡°Your false Idol can¡¯t generate mana! You¡¯ll be shooting yourself in the foot!¡± ¡°You are as short-sighted as your brother-killing father,¡± his foe replied dismissively, the insult earning her a glare from Wepwawet. ¡°You have less mana than I do, and I have no need for this puppet beyond this battle.¡± Damn it, she¡¯s right. Wepwawet started this fight with less than thirty mana points. Her Doctrine would drain his resources quicker than her own. Every Miracle counts. Worse, his Champions weren¡¯t faring too well. Victoire, Viviane, and Filou struggled to keep the Skeletal Smilodon at bay, while the spirit-wolves he sent to harass the zombie mammoth were rotting before his eyes. The foul fumes rising from the undead creature sapped their very strength.
Zombie Mammoth¡¯s Putrid Miasma has Poisoned your Sacred Beasts!
The silver lining was that the undead monsters struggled as much as his Champions to move on the icy lake. Only Victoire managed to walk across it unimpeded thanks to her Innate Perk letting her ignore difficult terrain¡¯s penalties. Her sacred spear inflicted bonus damage to undead too, but not enough to bypass the enchanted Quartz Wall Miracle now shielding the smilodon. It was only a matter of time before the beast got a lucky shot in and slew her. I have thirty seconds left before she draws again, Wepwawet thought as he glared at his enemy. I need to act now before our position gets any worse. Wepwawet quickly observed the battlefield in the hope of finding an unconventional solution to the problem. The only quick way to reach the top of the cliff was to climb the stairway, and Shuyet destroyed that one with a Fireball earlier. He couldn¡¯t find any other easy path to the summit. He did notice a barrier surrounding the strange hut at the Icefall¡¯s top, however; one which pointed inward. A seal. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t cancel existing Miracles, Wepwawet guessed as he glared at his mysterious foe. She must have trapped the demoness inside her home earlier to prevent her from interfering. Wepwawet could easily cancel that trap if he could claim the leyline as his Altar, but he would have to somehow propel Victoire upward hundreds of feet first! Shuyet would snipe her with a Smite or Fireball the moment she tried to climb the cliff the normal way. Ten seconds before the next draw¡­ Wepwawet¡¯s eyes widened as a new plan crossed his head. Wait¡­ I have a way to reach the top of the waterfall! It would be risky, but less dangerous than having Victoire climb to the top on her own. Timing will be everything¡­ Wepwawet quickly communicated orders to his Champions through telepathy. ¡®Victoire, get to the cliff¡¯s foot, I¡¯ll send you directly to the witch! The rest of you, cover her! Renarde, sing a song of endurance!¡¯ Victoire didn¡¯t hesitate. She immediately disengaged from the smilodon to rush towards the cliff¡¯s foot. The undead lunged after her, but Filou bravely leaped in the way. His scimitar clashed with the beast¡¯s saber-shaped fangs, while Viviane nailed one of its empty eye sockets with an arrow. It hardly did more than slow down the creature, and that was enough. Victoire reached the cliff¡¯s base right as the mystery goddess finished her draw. No time to waste! ¡°I¡¯m casting Geyser Tribute,¡± Wepwawet said immediately. His foe¡¯s awful Mana Drought immediately tapped more of his precious energy, but he powered through. ¡°You cannot use that Miracle without Influence, fool,¡± the mystery goddess replied. She hung onto her new card in her sneering arrogance, which gave Wepy the opening he needed. ¡°You¡¯re wrong!¡± Wepwawet taunted her back before triggering his Protect Champion Prophecy to strengthen Victoire¡¯s defenses. ¡°I can still cast Miracles at my Champions!¡± ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Victoire,¡¯ he apologized to his Commander through their mental link as water boiled beneath her feet, ¡®this will hurt.¡¯
The ice exploded under her, and then she flew. Victoire barely had time to look down when she heard the crack. Hot, boiling water surged from below and hit her from beneath with such violence that it propelled her into the sky. Victoire sensed Lord Wepwawet¡¯s magic shield her body from the worst of the blast, but the protection didn¡¯t completely protect her. Searing water drenched her clothes and burned her skin. ¡®I¡¯m so sorry,¡¯ Lord Wepwawet apologized in her skull. He sounded genuinely ashamed, but resolute. ¡®That¡¯s the best I can do.¡¯ Victoire grit her teeth in pain and rage, only for her eyes to widen as the water pushed her upwards. The colossal geyser surging beneath her was propelling her upward towards the cliff¡¯s summit. She powered through the agony and tightened her grip on her spear. Her god had answered her prayers and had given her an opening. The geyser finally propelled Victoire to the summit, right in front of the witch. The latter¡¯s eyes widened in genuine shock as she found herself face-to-face with her enemy. Victoire landed on her foe, spear first. Chapter 15: Clean Slate Victoire¡¯s spear struck snow. The witch had teleported out of her strike¡¯s way, just as Victoire expected her to. She vanished and reappeared a few feet away closer to that strange hut atop the cliff. That didn¡¯t matter all that much to her though, because her god¡¯s plan had succeeded. Victoire had touched the fountain of magic atop the cliff. She immediately sensed a change in the air the moment she landed there. Divine power similar to the one radiating from Lord Wepwawet¡¯s statue in Narc expanded outward, causing snow to swirl and dance around her. ¡°No!¡± the witch shouted, too late to make a difference. The top of the Icefall swiftly reshaped itself through magic whose power Victoire couldn¡¯t even begin to understand. A wolfish altar grew from the ice into a smaller copy of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s statue in Narc, its eyes shining with power. Victoire sensed her god¡¯s presence spread outward like a wave from this new altar until it encompassed the entire region. ¡®Finally!¡¯ Victoire heard Lord Wepwawet rejoice in triumph in the back of her mind. ¡®Tend to your wounds, Victoire! I¡¯ll deal with this myself!¡¯ Victoire¡¯s burns were so painful she had no other choice than to obey, even if she wished nothing more than to return to the fight and help her allies. It already took all of her strength not to collapse to her knees, and she had to bite her own tongue to swallow a grunt of pain. Lord Wepwawet immediately smote the witch the way he did with the magmorians at Narc¡­ or so Victoire thought at first. The bolt of power instead struck a spot right behind the enemy. The sound of glass shattering resonated across the area, a translucent barrier surrounding the hut collapsing in an instant. The demoness of Icefall immediately stepped out in response. Victoire barely caught a glimpse of a womanly figure waving a skull-topped staff at the witch, with ice immediately surging from below the latter. The enemy teleported away once again, this time to the lake below. She had been forced on the defensive for the first time since the battle began. ¡°Oh my¡­ this is quite the epic wizardry going on here,¡± the demoness said with a lovely voice that nonetheless chilled Victoire to the bone. ¡°My sorcery sense is tingling like never before!¡± Victoire took a better look at her savior, an ageless woman of immense beauty with long hair the color of winter¡¯s ice, purple irises without pupils, and skin paler than snow. She dressed far too lightly for the weather, with a black corset and white dress that showcased her fine curves. A pair of black, curved horns protruded from both sides of her head above curved ears. A black skull stood atop her obsidian staff. The woman almost managed to seem human, but the way she smiled at Victoire upon noticing her told the warrior otherwise. Her smirk had the sharpness of a dagger and her eyes flickered with a whimsical kind of cruelty. She stroked her chin with a velvet glove that was more expensive than all of Victoire¡¯s clothes put together. ¡°What a lovely girl you are,¡± said the demoness with a light chuckle. ¡°It seems I have you to thank for my freedom.¡± Victoire nodded sharply, her grip on her spear tightening. She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to lower her guard around a demoness, but Lord Wepwawet wouldn¡¯t have freed her without a reason. ¡°We share a common enemy.¡± ¡°I suppose we do, indeed.¡± The demoness glanced at the frozen lake far beneath them. Filou and the others were still struggling with the undead monsters, which had slaughtered the last of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s spirits-wolves by now. The witch herself had taken to riding the undead mammoth into battle. ¡°Are those your allies below?¡± Victoire clenched her teeth and prayed she was halfway reasonable. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you may rest and let me handle it from now on. Let it not be said that Wintresse of Shadazar proved ungrateful in her hour of need.¡± The demoness waved her scepter. ¡°See you soon.¡± She teleported away in a flash of blue light, the same way the enemy did. Following her god¡¯s command, Victoire opened her supply pouch to grab one of Alpine¡¯s healing poultices and apply it to her burns. Her fate was now in Lord Wepwawet¡¯s hands.
How good it felt to cast Miracles again! Wepwawet¡¯s Altar didn¡¯t provide him any mana, but it did project his Influence across the entire board. There was now no place on the battlefield safe from his magic. Nonetheless, he couldn¡¯t afford to play carelessly with Mana Drought still in play and less than twenty mana points left. The Shuyet puppet had teleported atop the mammoth after all of his spirit-wolves had perished from its poisonous miasma, relying on her artificial immunity to all ailments to survive it. Meanwhile, the skeletal smilodon was rushing across the lake to strike at Viviane and Renarde with Filou hot on its tail. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Wepwawet drew a new copy of Smite, but didn¡¯t cast it. He knew it wouldn''t be powerful enough to breach the Quartz Wall protecting the smilodon. He instead used Barricade Kit, the very first card he drew during this unfair duel, to summon a wooden wall right between Renarde and the smilodon the moment the latter lunged at the werefox bard. The creature hit the obstacle face first, its skull going through the barricade and leaving its neck halfway stuck. The beast raged as it tried to free itself to no avail. Filou was almost within reach of the creature when Wintresse materialized behind the smilodon first. She waved her staff at the creature and cast a spell of foul sorcery. Ice rose from below the undead and swiftly encased it in a coffin of the frozen substance. Unexpected, but welcome! The mystery goddess growled in annoyance at the loss of her main attacker and quickly summoned another. ¡°I play Coming of the Faceless Sphinx!¡± she said, her own Mana Drought increasing her sorcery¡¯s cost. ¡°I can summon a Rank 4 Sphinx directly onto the board!¡± A small portal in space opened above the Shuyet puppet, and a winged lion with purple fur and a mirror for a face emerged from it. The beast immediately flew upward towards the Icefall¡¯s summit, magic rippling from its wings. Its mistress probably wished to kill Victoire quickly in order to end the battle here and now. Sphinxes came in multiple forms, and from what Wepwawet could tell, this one was a Rank 4 creature with relatively high intelligence; too high for him to control with Animal Kingdom at least. Wait¡­ Wepwawet quickly checked the zombie mammoth¡¯s stats and resisted the urge to smile to himself. She made a huge blunder! He knew how to win this! ¡®Viviane, shoot down the witch,¡¯ he ordered. ¡®Renarde, sing us a song of skill and precision!¡¯ ¡°What?¡± he heard Viviane complain through the telepathic bond. She had the sphinx in her line of fire. ¡°But your godliness, the flyer will reach Victoire¨C¡± ¡®Do as I say!¡¯ he insisted. Viviane grit her teeth, yet obeyed the order. She moved her bow from targeting the sphinx just as it continued its ascent towards Victoire and instead aimed for the Shuyet puppet. Her arrow surged across the battlefield, its precision further sharpened by Renarde¡¯s bardic performance. The Shuyet puppet reacted exactly as Wepwawet expected: by teleporting out of the arrow¡¯s path and reappearing right next to her mammoth. She no doubt wished to keep the monster close to protect herself in case Wintresse teleported in her vicinity, and that caution would prove disastrous. Wepwawet had her right where he wanted her to be. He immediately triggered his trap. ¡°I cast the Animal Kingdom Doctrine!¡± ¡°What?¡± His choice took the enemy goddess aback. She probably expected him to smite her puppet rather than pay a costly Doctrine removing nearly half of his mana reserve. ¡°Why?¡± Wepwawet smirked. He sensed his Doctrine blanket the entire board, failing to affect the sphinx and yet taking hold of another creature. ¡°Because an undead zombie mammoth from ancient times¡­¡± The creature now lunged forward at its former mistress. ¡°Is still a beast!¡± The mammoth gored the Shuyet puppet from behind. The creature¡¯s tusk impaled the puppet through the throat and head, the blow shattering both into porcelain pieces. The animated Idol¡¯s artificial nature became clear for all to see as her body exploded into woven scrolls drawn with hieroglyphs and golem pieces. Magic rippled from her corpse across the shuddering board. The undead mammoth immediately collapsed into the lake¡¯s icy waters, the power animating its body fading away, while the sphinx dissipated into purple particles a second before it reached Victoire atop the Icefall. A sweet system notification appeared in front of Wepwawet, much to his roaring joy and his foe¡¯s dumbfounded silence.
???? has lost her Commander! ???? has lost the battle!
¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Ever the humble winner, Wepwawet kindly gave his enemy the finger; with both hands. ¡°I¡¯ve shredded you! I¡¯ve shredded you!¡± ¡°How?!¡± the mysterious goddess all but choked in outrage and humiliation. ¡°How could a junior god beat me at B&C?!¡± ¡°And you know what that means?¡± Wepwawet grinned ear to ear as he saw a large rift in space tear itself open behind his faceless foe. ¡°You¡¯re out! Out!¡± The mysterious goddess barely had time to look over her shoulder before her essence was brutally flung through the rift. Her entire existence was expelled from Elphion itself and back to the Nexus of Reality in an instant, leaving Wepwawet alone to oversee the board and collect his winnings.
Penalty: ???? is banished from Elphion and surrendered the Mummy¡¯s Call Miracle card to you! Mummy¡¯s Call Rank 8 Ritual Revives a dead creature¡¯s corpse within your realm of Influence as a mindless Undead under your control. Cannot raise Commanders.
¡°Yes, yes! Who¡¯s a winner?! Who¡¯s a winner?!¡± Wepwawet raised his hands and proceeded to dance in place, completely heedless to how his followers looked at him. ¡°Who shits on villains and flush them through the toilet?! That¡¯s me! That¡¯s Wepy!¡± He had won his first Godly Battle, and it wouldn¡¯t be the last!
Lord Wepwawet raised two fingers and banished the enemy back to the darkness. Victoire herself had frozen in fear and thought her last moment had come when a faceless, winged feline ascended the Icefall and nearly swept her off the summit with its paw, but she quickly realized she should have had more faith. That foul creature faded away before it could even touch her. Lord Wepwawet began a strange series of moves, swinging his hips and raising his fists upward. Victoire assumed it was some sort of ritual meant to banish whatever cosmic horror he had been confronting in the heavens above¡­ ¡­ No. No, her god was just acting silly. She could tell. Ridiculousness was a language that transcended all barriers. Whatever her god was doing didn¡¯t concern Victoire. She could feel his exaltation through their telepathic bond, and that meant they had won the day. The end. Victoire allowed herself a sigh of relief and took a look at the battlefield to check on her friends below¡­ only for her joy to turn to horror. She saw the truth. Victoire had an unbeatable view of the battleground from atop the cliff. She could see the barrier of light enclosing them inside its rectangular borders, the way Lord Wepwawet loomed over the area, and the position of her allies and foes. All these disparate elements suddenly formed a coherent picture which Victoire¡¯s mind struggled to process. This¡­ A deep and terrible existential dread seized Victoire¡¯s heart as she finally saw this prison for what it truly was. This cannot be¡­ This¡­ This was a board. The world was a board! Chapter 16: Tutorials End
With the battle over, the world soon returned to normal. The barrier surrounding the board collapsed into nothingness and returned the Icefall area back to Elphion. A burst of mana surged from Wepwawet¡¯s newly conquered altar, both granting him a burst of nine mana points and blanketing most of the forest in his Influence. A barrage of notifications followed.
Victoire Fleuret, Blade of Winter, Filou, Brave Heart, Viviane Coeurdelion, Lionhearted Archer; and Renarde, Cunning Courtesan can now Rank-Up! You have claimed Boisblanc Forest¡¯s Altar! An Altar projects your Influence in a five kilometer radius and lets you gain mana from the leyline and followers within its range, though unlike an Idol, its destruction won¡¯t banish you from Elphion. Your Champions and followers can now teleport from your Idol to your Altar and vice-versa at will, should you allow it. Quest: Land of the Faithful I, completed! You¡¯ve earned the Wolf House Rank 7 Animism Miracle! Wolf House Rank 7 Animism Summons a watchtower of eternal ice on a designated spot. The watchtower ignores Frost damage but takes twice as much from Fire; additionally, Beast-type creatures have their Beastslayer weakness negated while inside the watchtower. New Quest: Land of the Faithful II Build a total of five Altars atop mana leylines. Reward: Animism Miracle.
Sweet, sweet victory! Not only had he claimed a new source of mana and a powerful Miracle, but the teleportation bridge between his Idol and Altar would let him project troops further east! Maybe even let him build up a new settlement! Wepwawet projected his spirit from the Altar and swiftly observed his followers, both atop and below the cliff. Filou, Renarde, and Viviane were all glaring at the demoness Wintresse, who assessed them with cautious wariness. The tension in the air was palpable between the two sides, but neither of them appeared ready to make the first move. Wepwawet quickly decided to intervene before another brawl could break out. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, all of you!¡± He congratulated them with a voice that carried all the way across the Boisblanc Forest. His presence reassured Filou, Renarde, and Viviane enough for them to clap and shout in relief at their hard-won victory. The demoness Wintresse didn¡¯t say a word and instead studied Wepwawet¡¯s spirit with a calculating gaze. ¡°Especially you, Victoire! You are the bravest among the brave!¡± Victoire didn¡¯t answer. Taken aback by her silence, Wepwawet turned to face his first and greatest Champion. Her fair face was covered in burns barely treated with healing poultice and that would take a while to fully heal. Her pale, hollow eyes stared at Wepwawet with what could pass for puzzled horror and confusion. ¡°Victoire? Are you well?¡± Wepwawet cursed himself for his stupid question. Of course she wasn¡¯t alright, he had inflicted those burns on her himself. Of course she would resent him for it! ¡°I¡¯m, uh, I¡¯m sorry for the geyser stunt. I had no other way to send you atop the cliff quickly. I swear I¡¯ll make it up to you!¡± Victoire matched his gaze for a moment, her expression just as hollow as before, but she nodded slightly in assent. ¡°This is¡­ this is nothing, Lord Wepwawet. I am¡­ pleased we won.¡± She¡¯s scared of me, but she¡¯s too polite to say it. Wepwawet should find a way to apologize to her. He didn¡¯t want Victoire to think he was one of those cruel gods who treated their followers badly. The Aztecs and Incans give us a bad enough rep already! Quickly figuring out what to do, Wepwawet traded a copy of Skill: Translation and Barricade Kit for his two newest Miracles, then cast Wolf House at the base of the cliff next to the icefall. A huge watchtower of ice immediately surged up from the lake¡¯s shore at his command, much to his followers¡¯ astonishment. The fortress had arrows slits on all sides, crenellated battlements topped with wolf-faces, and a single lockable door at the base as its only entrance and exit. The fortress was a bit over twelve meters high, or forty feet, so it remained much smaller than the cliff¡­ but it reached up high enough to connect with the upper parts of the stairway which the Shuyet puppet hadn¡¯t damaged. His followers could continue their ascension this way. ¡°Climb up!¡± Wepwawet informed his Champions. ¡°Victoire needs medical attention immediately! And bring me the witch¡¯s corpse while you¡¯re at it!¡± Filou, ever the loyal squire, immediately bolted into the tower and climbed its icy stairs. Viviane and Renarde went to recover the Shuyet puppet¡¯s remains, both pausing upon seeing the artificial parts that made it up, and then followed soon after by climbing the Wolf House and then the stairway along the cliffside. As for the demoness Wintresse, she simply teleported inside her hut without a word. Wepwawet¡¯s Influence let him observe her within the walls, but she only seemed to browse through shelves of potions rather than prepare any mischief. He would smite her where she stood if she tried anything. ¡°Milady!¡± Filou immediately rushed to Victoire¡¯s side after climbing all the way to the clifftop, his nimble limbs carrying him forward at phenomenal speed. He swiftly sat next to her and opened his own supply pouch. ¡°Hold still, I¡¯ve got you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Filou,¡± Victoire replied with a tone that implied otherwise. She looked at the watchtower at the cliff¡¯s base and then back at Wepwawet. ¡°Could you¡­ do that from the start?¡± ¡°I¡¯m, uh, I¡¯m recovering more of my lost powers with each new Altar you claim in my name,¡± Wepwawet replied. It wasn¡¯t technically a lie¡ªthe might he wielded right now paled compared to what his true divine self could command¡ªbut he could sense Victoire¡¯s skepticism. Is she doubting me? Viviane and Renarde reached the clifftop next and dropped the Shuyet¡¯s remains at Wepwawet¡¯s feet. The puppet had taken heavy damage from her own creature, but the remains should allow Wepy to figure out its origins. Victoire¡¯s gaze turned at the corpse, her eyes widening upon seeing the gears and scrolls making up her frame. ¡°She was a machine?¡± Victoire asked in disbelief. ¡°That foul witch was a conduit for an evil force to manifest in this world,¡± Wepwawet replied. And I¡¯ve got the feeling she¡¯ll come back somehow. ¡°We¡¯ve banished it from our land, but more foes will come.¡± ¡°Your Godliness, what¡­ what we saw¡­¡± Viviane paled and trembled at the mere memory of their battle. ¡°That shadow, was that¡­ was it real?¡± ¡°You have witnessed a sign of the coming darkness,¡± Wepwawet replied evasively. That battle had been nothing like a Titan Incursion, but he figured he should mentally prepare his followers for it. ¡°You have seen a glimpse of the battles to come. There will be others.¡± ¡°R-really?¡± All of Filou¡¯s courage deserted him. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± ¡°So that was real¡­¡± Viviane shook her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°I-I need a moment to¡­ to process it.¡± Renarde took the news better than her teammates, though Wepwawet could see the wariness in her eyes when she assessed his projection. ¡°I assume that giant form was your true self, Lord Wepwawet? And that the figure before us is only a mirage?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wepwawet confirmed. ¡°A god is like a hurricane. I cannot fully manifest in this land without ravaging it, hence why I stick to providing guidance and limited assistance in this form.¡± ¡°I, for one, am thankful for it.¡± Renarde shook her head in quiet acceptance. Wepwawet had the feeling that she respected him a lot more now. ¡°I never imagined that I would be serving a real god.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Wepwawet choked. ¡°You didn¡¯t think I was a real god before?¡± ¡°No, of course n¨C¡± Renarde cleared her throat in embarrassment. ¡°I mean, yes, but I¡­ I didn¡¯t understand.¡± She¡­ she had doubted him! Renarde had doubted his divinity from the start! Wepwawet was still reeling from that shocking revelation when the demoness at last exited her hut. She tossed a small vial full of red liquid to Victoire, who caught it in mid-flight. Viviane immediately drew her bow and Filou his sword. ¡°That is a healing potion I took with me from Shadazar,¡± the demoness said, while blatantly ignoring the weapons pointed at her; though she seemed quite amused by Filou. ¡°It will be far more effective than your paltry poultices.¡± Viviane glared at her. ¡°You think we¡¯ll take a demoness¡¯ gift?¡± ¡°A demoness? Do I look like a savage monster to you?¡± Wintresse scoffed in amusement. ¡°I¡¯m a changeling, not a full-blooded fiend.¡± ¡°A changeling?¡± Renarde seemed to recognize the word. ¡°One of the dark elves from the south?¡± She doesn¡¯t look like a dark elf to me, Wepwawet thought. In his experience, dark elves were usually backstabbing, shadow-skinned subterranean dwellers with very weird kinks. He always figured they¡¯d be paler than their surface cousins from their lack of exposure to sunlight, but magic found strange ways to express itself. ¡°What¡¯s a changeling?¡± Viviane asked, to Wepwawet¡¯s relief; he wouldn¡¯t have to utter that question himself and look like a fool. ¡°They¡¯re elves from the Kingdom of Timberan who mated with demons to rejuvenate their waning bloodline, an act for which they were promptly banished,¡± Renarde explained. ¡°They then founded the enchanted land of Shadazar to the far south, where nightmares go to die.¡± Wintresse chuckled. ¡°We¡¯re not that bad.¡± ¡°The living statues below say otherwise,¡± Viviane retorted. Wintresse put a hand on her waist and held her gaze. ¡°If warriors broke into your home uninvited, wouldn¡¯t you defend yourself too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your home!¡± Viviane complained. ¡°You stole it from its previous occupants!¡± ¡°And since they lacked the strength to protect their home, they didn¡¯t deserve it in the first place.¡± Victoire scoffed. ¡°Then I suppose we deserve this place more than you do, since you couldn¡¯t defend it from that witch.¡± ¡°Touch¨¦,¡± Wintresse replied with a small laugh, before bowing at Wepwawet. ¡°I¡¯m not foolish enough to pick a fight with a creature ten thousand times my size. Consider my gift a proof of my goodwill.¡± Wepwawet studied the liquid within vial and quickly confirmed that it was indeed a C-Quality healing potion without any side effects. ¡°She speaks the truth,¡± he informed his Champions. ¡°This liquid is safe to drink.¡± Victoire hesitated a moment, then drank the potion. Her burns disappeared the moment she finished the vial. ¡°See?¡± Wintresse asked. ¡°I¡¯m useful, am I not?¡± ¡°What would a dark elf be doing so far north?¡± Wepwawet asked with some suspicion. ¡°Oh, nothing too important. My fianc¨¦ cheated on me, so I killed him and put his skull on my staff. Alas, he was unfortunately one of our queen¡¯s distant cousins. I¡¯m laying low for a century or two until she forgets about me.¡± Wintresse gently caressed her staff¡¯s skull. Wepwawet could have sworn he heard it groan in response. ¡°I guess you can say I¡¯m on an extended holiday.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Y-you murdered your own fianc¨¦?¡± Filou asked, his voice shaking in horror. The woman¡¯s casual ruthlessness unnerved everyone, even Wepwawet himself. ¡°After he cheated on me, my dear plushie. Do the sacred bonds of marriage mean nothing in this land? I would say I¡¯ve shown immense restraint by not killing the woman he cheated on me with too.¡± Wintresse waved the matter away and matched Wepwawet¡¯s gaze. ¡°Since you have claimed this spot by right of conquest and are clearly in charge, I suppose you wouldn¡¯t have a job opening for an enchantress such as I?¡± Victoire scoffed at her blatant opportunism. ¡°Your kind does not waste time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a practical gal. When a giant and almighty entity starts laying down the law in the land, you do not fight back; you ride that wave all the way to the summit.¡± Wintresse smiled at Wepwawet, her teeth pristine reminding him of a hungry shark. ¡°So what shall it be? I can make it worth your while.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. Wepwawet sensed the soul of a powerful Rank Four Champion within her, and more than that, she had the rare potential to become a Commander. She had plenty of skills that Wepwawet needed. However, the question of her troublesome personality remained. Whether a mortal was good or evil had no influence on their ability to become a Champion. A vile and cruel dark lord had as much right to this honor as a brave paladin by virtue of their exceptional strength and will. Wepwawet could tell that Wintresse was a black-hearted fiend whose personality clashed with those of his other Champions. He briefly weighed whether or not her skills would compensate for the issues she might cause, before deciding it was worth a shot. His father Set had recruited quite a few villains into his troops because Titans threatened everyone at the end of the day; and Wepwawet was too short on troops to be picky. ¡°Alright,¡± he said after some consideration. ¡°You¡¯re in, with a few conditions.¡± ¡°What?¡± Viviane all but choked in outrage. ¡°But Your Godliness, she turned innocents to ice!¡± ¡°Yes, hence the conditions.¡± Wepwawet raised two fingers for emphasis. ¡°First of all, you¡¯ll free the people you entombed in ice.¡± ¡°Must I?¡± Wintresse sighed. ¡°Fine, fine, I will do it. It is not like they could harm me even if they tried.¡± ¡°And second, you better be a team player from now on,¡± Wepwawet said. He had no idea how dark elves behaved on Elphion, but if they were anything like those on other worlds then trouble always followed in their wake. ¡°We¡¯re all one big happy family. No team-killing, no betrayals, no schemes to raise your position, and no back-alley assassinations.¡± Wintresse¡¯s smile faded away. ¡°I hate the lack of professional respect that this remark implies.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, either you follow through or earn yourself a one-way ticket to smite-town,¡± Wepwawet replied bluntly. ¡°I¡¯ll welcome anyone inside my pack regardless of their origins, but everyone must follow my orders in return.¡± ¡°The strong do as they wish and the weak suffer as they must,¡± Wintresse complained with a sigh. ¡°As you wish. I shall try to¡­ behave.¡± Wepwawet¡¯s Champions clearly didn¡¯t like the idea of fighting alongside a half-demon, but they didn¡¯t contest his choice either. He swiftly blessed Wintresse with his grace, both claiming her as his follower and completing another quest.
Name Wintresse, Diabolical Witch
Type Demon/Fairy
Rank Commander 4
Class Changeling 1 (Spellcaster/Monster), Diabolist 3 (Spellcaster)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk/Teleport
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
16 22 18 18
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
26 20 29 22
Accuracy +20 Evasion +22
Innate Perk: Changeling Magic
Can learn Thaumaturgy, Necromancy, Diabolism, Illusion, Conjuration, and Witchcraft spells equal to their character rank; but gains weakness to Metal and Mythic. Cannot learn spells with the Metal or Mythic descriptor.
Blood Pact I Spell: Ice Coffin
Can sacrifice a quarter of a willing target¡¯s maximum health (including yourself) to buff all their stats for five minutes. Requires physical contact. Rank III Thaumaturgy. Inflicts minor Frost damage on a target within a ten meters radius, with high chances to inflict the Freeze Ailment.
Spell: Shadow Shield Spell: Aqua Venom
Rank III Diabolism. Summons a shadowy shield around you, negating Critical Hits and inflicting Darkness damage to anyone striking you in melee for five minutes; however, also grants a weakness to Light for that duration. Rank III Witchcraft. Inflicts minor Water damage on a target within a ten meters radius, with high chances to inflict the Poison Ailment.
Quest: The Heavenly Pack II, completed! You¡¯ve earned the Oath of Spring Rank 4 Ritual! Oath of Spring Rank 4 Ritual Allows you to partly heal one of your Champions¡¯ injuries and toughen their skin like bark, halving non-magical damage for five minutes but granting them a weakness to Fire until the effect ends. Every two additional points of mana spent lets you heal another Champion, to a maximum of five.
New Quest: The Heavenly Pack III Recruit twenty Champions. Reward: Ritual Miracle.
¡°I¡¯ll be watching you,¡± Viviane warned Wintresse. ¡°Count on it.¡± ¡°Watch as much as you want, my dear,¡± Wintresse replied without a care in the world. ¡°Until then, perhaps you would like to rest inside my home? It has been a while since I¡¯ve had guests.¡± ¡°Fortify this area for now,¡± Wepwawet told his Champions. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Wepwawet dissipated his projection and focused on his new Altar. The device had strengthened his connection to this world¡¯s leylines, providing a burst of mana that strengthened his divine essence. He focused on the path that now connected this newfound fount of power to his Idol, draining the former to increase the latter¡¯s magical glow until it shone like a beacon in the dark. He advertised his presence to the heavens, hoping for his light to reach someone out there¡­
Ping!
All of Wepwawet¡¯s essence shivered with pleasure upon hearing this wonderful sound echo in his head, followed by a long-awaited message.
Your connection to the Nexus has been restored!
Yes! Yes! The time was up, and his enemies had missed their shot! Wepwawet immediately focused on the bond linking his Idol to the Nexus of Reality to find it partly restored. The incarnation process was finally, finally complete. A deity¡¯s godmind was its essence and Influence, a divine will more akin to phenomena like gravity than anything mortals could comprehend. It could generate multiple manifestations from physical avatars to divine objects or locations, and most importantly, exist in multiple places at once. The incarnation ritual tethered a deity to a planet until they harmonized with its mana, and once that ended, let them reconnect with the heavens from which they came. In short, a true god could multitask. Wepwawet sent his mind traveling back to the Nexus while keeping an eye on his Idol in Narc and Altar in Boisblanc Forest all at once, then tried to manifest an avatar back in Mytholo High¡¯s classroom. He sensed his power weakening the further away he moved from Elphion, as most of his essence remained tethered to it. This is wrong, Wepwawet thought. He would have clenched his teeth if he had a physical body. The connection is too weak! Elphion¡¯s system refused to let him go. It took all of Wepwawet¡¯s willpower to manifest an avatar back in his seat in the classroom, and even then he felt shriveled and weak. The body he inhabited lacked most of his divine spark and required all his attention to maintain. Nonetheless, he finally managed to return to his classroom. The mental shock strained him so much that he nearly puked on arrival like a mortal after a bad plane trip, but he managed to hold on; unlike Watatsumi, whose avatar crashed on his desk hard enough to break it. Time worked differently in the Nexus, so Wepwawet couldn¡¯t tell how long he and the others had spent trapped on Elphion, but he clearly hadn¡¯t been the only one encountering difficulties. He glanced around the room to see his fellow classmates struggling with their own avatars. Half of them looked sick, even that prick Horus, and the rest struggled with dizziness. Wepwawet¡¯s heart surged with hope upon seeing Ganesha and Artemis among them. They were all back, and most importantly, alive. ¡°I am so glad to see you all again,¡± Miss Athena said with obvious relief. Their teacher alone had lost none of her divine splendor. ¡°It seems everyone made it back safe and sound.¡± The entire class shouted and howled in relief over finally returning; or at least those in a good enough shape did. Wepwawet himself glanced at his friends with a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s so good to be back.¡± ¡°Wepy!¡± Artemis immediately hugged her friend. ¡°That was insane! Were you guys trapped for days too?!¡± ¡°Yes! And another god tried to break my Idol too!¡± Wepwawet turned to Ganesha, only to find his friend staring blankly into the void. His eyes looked devoid of life. ¡°Ganesha?¡± ¡°They¡­¡± Ganesha let out a sob. ¡°They tried to sell me¡­¡± Artemis choked in outrage. ¡°The titans?¡± ¡°My worshipers!¡± Ganesha covered his eyes to block out the tears. ¡°They saw my tusks and¡­ and they tried to sell the ivory!¡± ¡°Oh my gods¡­¡± Wepwawet said as he and Artemis immediately welcomed Ganesha into their group hug. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to hear that, man.¡± ¡°I was their god, and they tried to sell me,¡± Ganesha lamented in between sobs. ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by greedy savages¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?!¡± All eyes turned to Ishtar, whose body flickered in and out of reality. ¡°My avatar is fizzling out!¡± ¡°Mine too!¡± Sun Wukong complained, his form shifting between multiple transformations all at once. One second he was a monkey, and then a serpent the next. ¡°I swear this never happens to me!¡± Everyone shared their plight. Wepwawet himself struggled to maintain physical form, as all of his essence resisted the urge to return to Elphion. The connection remained far too fragile. ¡°Please calm down everyone.¡± Athena whistled, silencing everyone. ¡°I understand this must have been a harrowing experience, but we need to debrief and assess the damage. Please recount to me what happened on your side.¡± Once the young gods had calmed down, Miss Athena had them recount their experiences one after the other. As it turned out, everyone shared the same tale: they all successfully incarnated into their Idol only to be welcomed with an unknown System and a severed Nexus connection. Wepwawet also learned that he wasn¡¯t the only one whose Idol had been attacked¡ªArtemis had to fend off a monster¡¯s assault on her own and Sun Wukong smote a few bandits who went after his worshippers¡ªbut only his assailant outright challenged him to a B&C battle; news which greatly worried Miss Athena. ¡°It was a goddess from your own pantheon?¡± she asked with a frown. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°She set the duel¡¯s conditions without my authorization, so she was higher-ranked than me in our hierarchy,¡± Wepwawet replied with a nod before pointing a finger at Horus. ¡°I¡¯m sure she works with this jackass!¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± Horus rose from his seat in anger and pointed a finger back. ¡°As if I need help to put down a mutt like you!¡± ¡°Then why was I the only one challenged to a B&C battle?!¡± Wepwawet snapped back. ¡°Someone wanted to take me out on your behalf before I could report your violation!¡± ¡°We cannot rule out that this is a Titan plot of some kind, but the attack and the System¡¯s abnormalities do point to internal sabotage,¡± Miss Athena observed with a thoughtful expression on her fair face. ¡°An outside god interfering with a class project is a grave matter. I will investigate this thoroughly.¡± ¡°So, uhm¡­¡± Axomamma shyly raised her hand. ¡°Is the class project canceled?¡± Miss Athena shook her head with a heavy sigh. ¡°I am afraid not. The sabotaged System holds your divine essence bound to Elphion. Besides the fact that fully pulling you back from Elphion would leave the planet at the Titans¡¯ inexistent mercy, we have no guarantee that it will allow you to fully reform back at the Nexus. It might take you centuries to regain your power, if not longer.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re still trapped?¡± Artemis complained. Miss Athena nodded sadly and waved her hand, a system screen filled with runes materializing in front of her. ¡°I swear to you that the Board of Education and I will do everything in our power to rectify the situation as soon as possible. Until then, I ask all of you to please limit conflicts between each other to a minimum. The attack on Wepwawet may be the mere prelude to a larger offensive.¡± Wepwawet¡¯s heart sank in his chest. Miss Athena was right. If one intruder could send a puppet to project her influence on Elphion, why not more? The more Miss Athena read her screen, the deeper her scowl grew. ¡°As I feared¡­ There are twelve of you, yet my information records thirteen gods being active on Elphion. That is likely our saboteur.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Wepwawet replied. ¡°I banished the intruder! I saw her expulsion with my own eyes!¡± ¡°That mystery goddess did not incarnate, Wepwawet. She would not have required a living Idol as a lynchpin to manifest her Influence otherwise¡­¡± Miss Athena scowled. ¡°And there is only one party that would benefit from endangering all of you at once.¡± Wepwawet exchanged a worried glance with his teammates. All of them could read between the lines. A Titan infiltrator was active on Elphion. Chapter 17: Trade-Offs With the Nexus connection still unstable and straining their avatars, Miss Athena advised everyone to return to Elphion until she and the Board of Education managed to repair it. She also asked Wepwawet to provide her with a mental picture of the Shuyet¡¯s remains so she could analyze that footage and hopefully track down the responsible party. If someone could solve this mystery, it would be the goddess of wisdom. Wepwawet, Ganesha, and Artemis remained behind for a bit even after their classmates had all left; mostly to identify each others¡¯ locations and lift Ganesha¡¯s spirits. That proved to be the toughest part. ¡°C-can we switch worshipers?¡± Ganesha begged Wepwawet with tears in his eyes. ¡°Please?¡± ¡°Ganesha, I can¡¯t treat my followers like a commodity!¡± Wepwawet replied with unease. He had never seen his friend look so distraught before. His worshipers must have truly mistreated him to provoke that kind of reaction. ¡°Surely yours can¡¯t be that bad?¡± ¡°They are!¡± Ganesha insisted with a hollow gaze. ¡°They¡¯re obsessed with money! They have an entire caste system based on wealth running everything and haggle over my miracles! It¡¯s never enough for them!¡± ¡°Miss Athena said that we couldn¡¯t change nations,¡± Artemis pointed out. Ganesha¡¯s forehead immediately hit his desk in silent sorrow, causing his friends to pat him on the back. ¡°Hey, come on, don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Maybe our civilizations aren¡¯t too far apart and we can set up an immigration program,¡± Wepwawet consoled his friend. ¡°You think so?¡± Ganesha asked, his eyes lighting up with hope. ¡°Where¡¯s your civilization?¡± ¡°I rule an icy land called Verglane, north of the main continent.¡± The fact that neither of his friends appeared to recognize the name worried Wepwawet. ¡°What about yours?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m in the far east in a mountainous area,¡± Ganesha replied. ¡°My worshipers are huge by mortal standards, hill-sized huge. They call their land Megaloria.¡± ¡°I landed in the middle of a jungle to the south,¡± Artemis said while slouching on her chair. ¡°The beasties there don¡¯t even have a name for it. I¡¯ve been teaching them written language.¡± Somehow, Wepwawet didn¡¯t think a jungle would prosper right next to a frozen landscape like his own. Half a world might separate him from Artemis if she had landed in the far south. ¡°Do the names ¡®Stahlheim¡¯ and ¡®Lavaland¡¯ mean anything to you?¡± he asked his friends. ¡°Those are the nations bordering mine.¡± While Artemis shrugged her shoulders, Ganesha seemed to recognize one of those. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard the name Stalheim. My civilization trades with them.¡± Wepwawet searched his memory and recalled an important detail. ¡°My worshipers mentioned a few other places,¡± he said. ¡°Their world¡¯s demons come from the so-called ¡®Zoramesh Empire,¡¯ elves from the ¡®Kingdom of Timberan,¡¯ and dark elves from ¡®Shadazar.¡¯¡± ¡°Oh, oh, Timberan!¡± Ganesha nodded in recognition. ¡°Yes, we trade with them! They¡¯re on the other side of a small sea to the southwest!¡± Artemis also appeared to recognize one of these locations, but from her dark expression it wasn¡¯t for a good reason. ¡°By dark elves, do you mean elves with horns?" ¡°Yes!¡± Wepwawet confirmed. ¡°You¡¯ve encountered them?¡± ¡°Of course I did!¡± Artemis replied with a growl. ¡°Their raiders come from the north to colonize my patch! I had to help my followers repel a few pirate landing parties already!¡± Wepwawet crossed his arms and tried to form a mental map of their civilizations in his head. Renarde mentioned that the dark elves¡¯ land of Shadazar was located very far to the south. He didn¡¯t like the implications. ¡°If the dark elves invade from your northern border, then you¡¯re likely located on the supercontinent¡¯s southern point while I¡¯m established in the far north,¡± Wepwawet told Artemis, a frown spreading on his face. ¡°I think we¡¯re on the opposite sides of the world.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Artemis smiled ear to ear. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Wepwawet blinked in surprise. ¡°And why would it be?¡± ¡°Think, Wepy, think, this planet is a sphere!¡± Artemis replied with enthusiasm. ¡°If I send an expedition to the south, it will eventually loop back into the north and we can make contact!¡± While Wepwawet remained speechless out of embarrassment at his friend¡¯s insane proposal, Ganesha cleared his throat and tried to break the news kindly. ¡°That¡¯s, uh¡­ that¡¯s not how geography works, Arty.¡± ¡°Of course it works that way!¡± Artemis insisted. ¡°Sure there¡¯ll be some water between us, but my worshipers can cross those like champs!¡± ¡°Well, at least we could try to establish lines of communication,¡± Wepwawet said with a sigh. His friend never changed her mind once she had a stupid idea in her head. ¡°If only to trade.¡± Artemis nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Our civilizations will have a better chance to survive the others if we team up.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ganesha stroked his trunk. ¡°But Miss Athena said to keep hostilities to a minimum for now. I don¡¯t think the others will attack us anytime soon.¡± Artemis crossed her arms. ¡°That truce won¡¯t last long even if they manage to repair the connection, Ganesha. Trust me on that.¡± Wepy scowled. ¡°What makes you think that?" ¡°Think about it,¡± she replied. ¡°Civilizations with fewer resources have less chances to survive a Titan Incursion compared to a bountiful land, and they¡¯re not all equal. Who do you think the titans are going to target first?¡± ¡°The weak ones,¡± Wepwawet guessed, much to his dismay. Verglane¡¯s climate and sparse population made it an ideal target. ¡°Each nation must gain as much territory and resources as it can before the first Incursion begins to boost their followers¡¯ chances of survival.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I see it,¡± Artemis confirmed. ¡°Moreover, our pantheons all have grudges to settle and will push us to take out other classmates. Someone from your family already tried to take you out, Wepy. You think Horus will play nice because my big sister asked him to?¡± ¡°No,¡± Wepwawet replied. ¡°No, definitively not.¡± ¡°Plus there¡¯s the titan infiltrator to consider,¡± Ganesha said. ¡°If they¡¯ve incarnated on Elphion, then they must lead a civilization somewhere and won¡¯t abide by any truce.¡± True¡­ could the titan infiltrator be in charge of Lavaland? Were they the driving force behind the magmorians¡¯ aggression? Their raids started before Wepwawet even arrived on Elphion, but he couldn¡¯t discount the possibility that their saboteur benefitted from an early lead. And if not, the truce would only last until the Board of Education repaired the Nexus connection. Hostilities would immediately resume and intensify afterwards. Wepwawet should find which of his classmates, if any, led his direct neighbors. He had the feeling that would decide a lot going forward. ¡°Moreover,¡± Artemis said with a big wide grin. ¡°Meeting in Elphion would let us trade Miracles.¡± ¡°Oh, true!¡± Wepwawet replied, having forgotten that possibility. Their decks remained bound to Elphion¡¯s system¡ªsince many of their Miracles were native from there¡ªbut nothing would prevent the gods from exchanging cards on that world. ¡°We could polish our decks if we manage to link-up. That would require either having our Champions serve as intermediaries or create a zone where our Influence overlaps though.¡± ¡°Hence why I¡¯m going to send my best swimmer to you!¡± Artemis boasted. ¡°Just keep an eye on your northern coast, Wepy. You won¡¯t miss him!¡± ¡°Whoa, slow down!¡± Wepwawet tried to calm his overenthusiastic friend. ¡°I appreciate the sentiment, but you shouldn¡¯t send a Champion to cross half the world to reach me. They might die on the journey and you¡¯ll need their help more than I do.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still too early for me to trade Miracles too,¡± Ganesha said with a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I haven¡¯t yet replaced all my starting deck¡¯s cards and the Miracles I collected¡­¡± The elephant god shuddered. ¡°You won¡¯t like them.¡± ¡°Ugh, you boys are no fun,¡± Artemis complained, her avatar flickering in and out of existence. ¡°Anyway, gotta go!¡± Wepwawet too felt his connection waning, so he bade goodbye to his friends and returned to Elphion. Hardly a few hours had passed since he left, a time which his Champions had put to use to unfreeze Wintresse¡¯s victims while spirit-wolves who had the luck of being outside the board when the battle started scouted the forest for food. A camp had sprung up next to the witch¡¯s house, with dozens of mortals now slowly warming themselves next to bonfires after years of paralysis. Most were humans, but they also included a few werelings among their numbers; a host of would-be soldiers and heroes who tried and failed to take Wintresse out over the years. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Wepwawet checked this group¡¯s stats in case any of them had the potential to become Champions. None of them had the spark, but his Providence detected a suitable candidate nearby. The signal is coming from inside the Icefall¡­ Wepwawet focused his attention on it until he noticed a large shape trapped inside hundred-years old ice. A powerful creature remained trapped there in deep cryogenic hibernation. Wepwawet distinguished the outline of a mammoth, similar to the rotting creature which his mysterious enemy unleashed against his Champions earlier, but with a set of humanoid features like arms and legs. It was probably some ancient wereling. It¡¯ll take time to unfreeze that one, but its Rank seems high enough¡­ Wepwawet assessed the area and examined the layout of the land with his Influence. Icefall had a lot of potential as a fortress-town under proper management, and he required followers in the area to extract more mana from the leyline anyway. He also sensed multiple other potential Altars further north and east. However, guiding multiple communities required a lot more effort than managing one. Wepwawet was now at a point where he would have to start delegating tasks to his Champions and other mortals. Thankfully, the System appeared to agree and offered him an appropriate quest.
You have claimed two founts of mana. You can now empower Prayer spells for divine-based classes by designing the proper Obedience¡ªa daily ritual for mortals to prove their faith. Once you have selected an Obedience, that choice can no longer be changed. New Quest: Shepherd of Many Flocks I Design an Obedience ritual. Reward: You can fuel Prayer spells for divine classes such as Clerics, Oracles, and Paladins.
Most godly systems allowed for the creation of specific classes whose Perks drew their power from a deity. This allowed a god to spread their teachings and observe the world through their missionaries¡¯ eyes without constantly relying on their Champions. The Obedience requirement bothered Wepwawet. Should he go for a public ritual so his followers would be forced to advertise their allegiance? Or should he go for a subtler and simpler ordeal in case he wanted his priests to act in secret? Two new tasks open for each one I complete, Wepwawet thought as he put those questions on the backburner. He needed more time to figure this ritual out. I should attend to my current followers¡¯ needs before thinking about recruiting more. Wepwawet then manifested spirit back into the camp, much to the newly unfrozen men¡¯s surprise. ¡°Be not afraid, for I am Wepwawet, god of this land! Your god!¡± he boasted before turning to his Champions. ¡°How has it been?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve¡­ freed the captives, Lord Wepwawet,¡± Victoire said. She looked just as subdued as before, even after her wounds healed. Wepwawet decided he would need to have a chat with her on her own time. ¡°Most were thawed out without issue.¡± ¡°See?¡± Wintresse said, the mere sound of her voice chilling her former victims more than the frost. ¡°It wasn¡¯t so bad.¡± Viviane glared at her, but decided to move on. ¡°A few of these people should still have living families in Roynimalia, Your Godliness, but many of them have nowhere to go.¡± ¡°Then we will host them in Narc,¡± Wepwawet decided before pointing at his Altar. ¡°Viviane, would you kindly put a hand on my statue?¡± ¡°Uh, sure.¡± Viviane followed through and immediately disappeared in a flash of light, much to everyone¡¯s astonishment. Wepwawet observed his dumbfounded Champion teleport from his Altar back to his Idol¡¯s feet in Narc, and quickly materialized his spirit there to welcome her. ¡°Surprised?¡± he told Viviane, delighting in her bewilderment. ¡°This¡­ this is Narc?¡± The ranger stared at the sprawling town below the Idol, and then touched the latter again in her excitement. Wepwawet immediately teleported her back to Icefall in an instant. ¡°Awesome! No more backtracking!¡± ¡°I can transport anyone touching my statues to another across the land,¡± Wepwawet told his followers. ¡°Narc and Icefall are now a mere touch away from each other.¡± ¡°The town of Narc, you said?¡± Wintresse¡¯s eyes widened with fascination. Wepwawet doubted she ever teleported farther than a hundred meters. ¡°Incredible¡­ I know no displacement spell powerful enough to cover such a vast distance in a blink of an eye.¡± ¡°At this point, I am not sure if we can truly call Lord Wepwawet¡¯s achievements magic,¡± Renarde said. Wepwawet noticed that she uttered his name with a lot more respect since surviving her first B&C battle. ¡°These are not spells, but miracles.¡± ¡°You¡¯re damn right, and I shall dispense more miracles soon,¡± Wepwawet boasted. ¡°Victoire, Renarde, Filou, Viviane, your bravery in battle today entitles you all to a greater blessing. I shall imbue you with greater strength according to your preferences.¡± Renarde¡¯s head perked up with interest. ¡°I may choose my boon, Lord Wepwawet?¡± ¡°From a set of them,¡± Wepwawet confirmed after checking her stats. Renarde¡¯s stats granted her the largest array of available classes among his followers: Werefox, Bard, Witch, and Archeologist of all things. ¡°Your potential can take many forms, Renarde. You can take the path of the fox or that of song, both of which you already walk; or new ones, such as witchcraft and the pursuit of the past.¡± ¡°My, my¡­¡± Renarde chuckled to herself and hid her smile behind her fan. ¡°I knew I was special, my lord, but those are quite the many gifts you¡¯re offering. I feel spoiled.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Viviane asked with excitement. Teleporting across the world seemed to have renewed her enthusiasm. ¡°Which boons can I pick?¡± ¡°I see that two paths open to you, Viviane,¡± Wepwawet said after checking her stats. ¡°That of the ranger, on which you currently walk; or that of the sniper, mistress of the bow.¡± Viviane didn¡¯t take long to reach a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll stick with what I know, Your Godliness.¡± ¡°My answer has not changed either since last time, my lord,¡± Filou said with a firm nod. ¡°My only wish is to serve Milady to the best of my ability.¡± His words caused Victoire to look a bit embarrassed, doubly so when Wepwawet questioned her next. ¡°What about you, Victoire?¡± he asked his first and greatest Champion. ¡°Yours is the Snowheart¡¯s power, but I can also bless you with a holy warrior¡¯s strength or that of the vanguard.¡± Ranking her up in Paladin wouldn¡¯t yield too many results at the moment, since she wouldn¡¯t be able to access its Prayer-based Perks yet, but he couldn¡¯t see anybody else performing better in that role than Victoire. ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Victoire cleared her throat and looked away. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, Lord Wepwawet, I will need time to think this through.¡± Whoa, she¡¯s truly unwell. Wepwawet studied his first Champion for a moment before assenting to her wish. ¡°Take as much time as you need, Victoire,¡± he consoled her. ¡°There is wisdom in patience.¡± Or at least his mother always said that was the case. Victoire thanked Wepwawet with a wordless nod, with her silence clearly bothering her squire. He had picked up on her strange behavior too. By now, Renarde had finished considering his proposal. ¡°What would these paths entail for me, Lord Wepwawet?¡± she inquired. ¡°Would I wield magic rivaling that of our dear Wintresse here if I take the path of the witch?¡± Wintresse couldn¡¯t suppress her laughter. ¡°You are years if not centuries away from rivaling my sorcery, fox, though I applaud your moxie.¡± ¡°I cannot say what exact shape my gift will take,¡± Wepwawet conceded. Elphion¡¯s system didn¡¯t allow him to see what a class¡¯ next Perk would be. ¡°All I can say is that the fox path will let you tap into your kind¡¯s unique ancestral potential, while the others are skills open to others.¡± ¡°A potential unique to us foxes?¡± Renarde smiled ear to ear. ¡°How could I resist such a lure, Lord Wepwawet? The path of the fox I shall take then!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s decided,¡± Wepwawet replied with a nod. He extended a hand at his Champions and blessed everyone except Victoire with the light of a Rank-Up.
Filou has ranked up in Squire! +3 STR, +3 AGI, +3 VIT, +3 SKI, +3 MAG, +3 INT, +3 CHA, +3 LCK! He has gained the Man-At-Arm I Perk! Man-At-Arm I: You are adept at carrying heavy equipment; your total equipment¡¯s weight is reduced by 3 points. Viviane has ranked-up in Ranger! +2 STR, +4 AGI, +1 VIT, +5 SKI, +1 MAG, +2 INT, +4 LCK! She has gained the Favored Mark I Perk! Favored Mark I: Select a Type of enemy. Attacks made with weapons covered by your Long-Range Master Perk always inflict the appropriate Slayer supereffective effect on them (Selected Type: Elemental). Renarde has ranked-up in Werefox! +2 STR, +2 AGI, +3 VIT, +3 SKI, +3 MAG, +4 INT, +5 CHA, +1 LCK! She has gained the Nine-Tails Perk! Nine-Tails: You gain an additional tail per Werefox Rank (max 9) empowering you with magic and fortune. Each tail grants you +1 MAG and LCK.
Unfortunately, Wepwawet soon encountered the bane of all Champions when he tried to bless Renarde. The four-Perks slot syndrome!
Warning: A Champion can only learn four Perks beyond their innate one! Choose a Perk to be overwritten, or abandon Nine-Tails.
¡°Renarde, my power will come at a cost to you,¡± Wepwawet warned the werefox. ¡°I will have to remove my gift of tongues to bless you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Renarde stroked her chin in surprise. ¡°Why me alone?¡± ¡°Well¡­ the truth is that a mortal can only bear so much divine power without negative effects,¡± Wepwawet explained. All Systems approached the problem differently, but the four Perks limit was designed to enforce a certain competitive balance for Titan Incursions. Since titans could create monster servants from nothing, restricting all units¡¯ abilities prevented the enemy from escalating with ever more powerful horrors in return. ¡°I won¡¯t go into the boring esoteric details, but I cannot grant you more skills without removing others first. If my new power bothers you, I can at least switch it back to your old gift of tongues.¡± ¡°In other words, I am simply too good.¡± Renarde pondered the proposal and then folded her fan. ¡°Very well. I have already translated my scrolls anyway, and I¡¯m certain my lord¡¯s new power will trump that.¡± ¡°It will,¡± Wepwawet promised. He overwrote the Translation Perk¡ªwhich he could teach back to Renarde anyway another time¡ªwith the new one. Renarde¡¯s silvery tail immediately split in two in response, both shuddering with magic. ¡°Ooooh¡­¡± Renarde immediately stroked her new appendages. ¡°I feel power coursing through me.¡± ¡°A power that can change the body and the soul¡­¡± Wintresse muttered to herself before bowing to Wepwawet. ¡°What would it take for you to bless me with ever stronger sorcery, master?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll turn Icefall into a new fortified town, and I¡¯ll assign someone to manage its construction soon,¡± Wepwawet replied. He thought Goreville would probably appreciate this task and thrive in it. ¡°Since you¡¯ve overseen the area for years, Wintresse, I will have you advise my chosen representative. Work hard and you¡¯ll eventually be rewarded with your own fief.¡± Wintresse nodded. ¡°A simple enough task, should your choice of a commander prove wise enough to listen.¡± Wepwawet had little doubt about that. All was going well on this front so far, and he hoped that Goreville had found similar success in his own mission. He hadn¡¯t focused on the werewolf since the B&C battle and should check on him soon. Carrying a message to the magmorians and bringing Jasper back home couldn¡¯t have been that difficult, right? Chapter 18: Interlude: New God on the Block Jasper had left Citadel Sapphire a conqueror, and now returned to it filled with shame. General Peridot¡¯s incomplete fortress loomed over a plain of melting snow and black stone. It was only a modest castle by Lavaland¡¯s standards, with half its spires incomplete and hundreds of magmorian workers toiling to complete the outer wall, but it already boasted a certain majesty. A moat of magma dug from the earth¡¯s bowels formed a ring of fire around the structure, while its central tower offered Lavaland¡¯s army a wide view of the entire region. When Jasper left with his troops to raid up north, he expected to return to Citadel Sapphire with his people¡¯s acclaim, their wagons filled with loot and their magma hearts swelling with pride. Instead, only a paltry force of survivors followed him home in shared disgrace under the watch of werewolves guards and a wereowl ambassador. He had lost everything. His sword, his troops, even his honor. Would General Peridot take his life for his failure too? ¡°What is that?¡± Sagesse the wereowl asked, her voice heavy with indignation. ¡°What you bores in Roynimalia closed your eyes to,¡± Goreville replied with a growl. Unlike his fellow ambassador, the werewolf observed the fortress with the wary eye of a trained warrior. Jasper could tell he was already memorizing the citadel¡¯s defenses in case they had to assault it one day. ¡°The magmorians have been building this place up for months.¡± ¡°We work stone better than you werelings,¡± Jasper replied with pride. Citadel Sapphire had already grown a new tower since he departed it a month ago. ¡°I cannot believe that you magmorians would be so brazen as to build a fortress in our lands!¡± Sagesse complained. ¡°This is a dire violation of our sovereignty!¡± Jasper scoffed. ¡°And what will you do about it? Send us a sternly worded letter?" Sagesse glared at him. ¡°Do not tempt me, magmorian. I believe in words and diplomacy backed up with sharp talons.¡± ¡°Unlike you, Lord Wepwawet won¡¯t have to send more than one army to take out your base,¡± Goreville added. ¡°His mercy has its limits. Never forget that.¡± Jasper¡¯s heart surged with the flames of fury, but though he wanted nothing more than to reply that their so-called ¡®god¡¯ only overcame his troops by treachery, all excuses sounded hollow in his head. The fact was that he had lost and his men paid the price for it¡ªthe end. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Wepwawet¡¯s words either. He had said that Jasper would find redemption once he understood the olive branch metaphor, but nobody could tell him what an olive even was! The riddle was maddening! ¡°General Peridot is built from sharper stone than me,¡± Jasper warned as he spotted a magmorian patrol moving across the plain to intercept them. ¡°No man nor wereling can stand up to him.¡± ¡°We shall see about that,¡± Goreville replied sharply. A group of magmorian wyrm-riders soon arrived to encircle them with obsidian-tipped spears. The werewolves drew their weapons and barred their fangs in response, though Goreville calmed them with a single wave of his hand. ¡°Captain Jasper? Is that you?¡± the magmorian patrol¡¯s leader asked in disbelief upon recognizing him. ¡°Where are the rest of your troops?¡± ¡°We are all that remains,¡± Jasper replied, his shoulders crumbling in shame. ¡°These werelings are enemy ambassadors.¡± ¡°Angry ambassadors, I might add!¡± Sagesse said sharply before stomping the ground with her staff in impatience. ¡°I demand to see your leader immediately!¡± ¡°Big talk from a bird!¡± the magmorian leader replied with disdain. ¡°Methinks we should just roast you where you stand!¡± ¡°You would be a fool to try,¡± Goreville warned without raising his voice. He showed no fear, though the torc around his neck seemed to glow a little brighter in the face of incoming danger. ¡°We have come to speak with General Peridot, and we shall do so¡­ one way or another.¡± His iron-hard confidence took the magmorians aback long enough for Jasper to calm them down. ¡°These werelings have been escorting me back to Citadel Sapphire so that I may carry a message to our glorious general,¡± he said. ¡°Harming them would shame Lavaland¡¯s honor.¡± The riders exchanged glances for a brief moment, but thankfully listened to reason. ¡°We will take your word for it, Captain Jasper,¡± their leader said. ¡°But we will have to disarm them.¡± ¡°Bold of you to think losing our swords will weaken the pack of Grand-Loup himself,¡± Goreville mocked them before fearlessly surrendering his own weapon. ¡°Our fangs cut deeper than steel.¡± His example encouraged his followers to surrender their blades, and they soon traveled back to the citadel under heavy escort. Jasper¡¯s soldiers sighed in relief upon walking on the stone bridge looming over the citadel¡¯s lava. They were safely home once again. ¡°You have more pull than I thought for them to listen to you,¡± Goreville noted once they passed through the keep¡¯s gates. ¡°I had some influence,¡± Jasper replied. He had been his beloved Princess Topaz¡¯s personal shield for years before enrolling in the Verglane campaign to earn fame and glory in her name, but he knew his reputation would crumble once word of his defeat spread. His beloved Princess Topaz wouldn¡¯t even look at him again! General Peridot eschewed all luxury and decorations inside his keep, except the sapphires which gave the citadel its name. Workers had encrusted these gemstones¡ªfirst found buried in the quarry which served to supply the fortress¡¯ stones¡ªin most halls and corridors before using spells to light them up, thus casting most rooms in a pleasant blue glow. The group made its way to the keep¡¯s core, where they were forced to wait in a hall of stone. A winged kobold aide arrived soon after to greet them. ¡°General Peridot will hear the captain¡¯s report before meeting with the ambassadors,¡± he said. ¡°If you would please follow me, Captain Jasper.¡± Jasper nodded calmly and then followed the aide back to General Peridot¡¯s command room on the central tower¡¯s top floor. The place had black walls and four windows pointing in all cardinal directions to better observe the region. A magma hearth drawing its heat and lava from below provided all the warmth a magmorian could need. Magmorian guards stood in all corners of the room with obsidian axes sharper than a dragon¡¯s teeth. General Peridot awaited Jasper next to a stone table drowning under the weight of clay tablets. Magmorians rarely used metal since they found stone more aesthetically pleasing, but their elites could afford specially enchanted steel capable of handling their body heat. General Peridot was among that select number. As a ten-foot-tall magmorian encased in sleek plate armor of black and red metal, he cut quite the impressive figure. No one in the army had seen his face beneath his horned helmet, though six slits allowed a fiery glow to shine through. The general never went anywhere without his claymore and shield either, which he alone had the strength to wield with one arm each. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Jasper immediately kneeled and looked down in obedience. ¡°I have returned, my general.¡± ¡°It is good to see you alive, Jasper,¡± the general greeted Jasper, far more warmly than he deserved. ¡°I feared for your safety once your company failed to return.¡± ¡°Few survived,¡± Jasper lamented. ¡°I come back to you defeated!¡± Jasper half-expected his superior to behead him on the spot for returning empty-handed and having lost most of his warband, but General Peridot simply assessed him for a moment before answering. ¡°Give me your report,¡± he ordered. ¡°And omit nothing.¡± Though recounting the tale of his defeat brought Jasper no end of shame, his pride wouldn¡¯t let him lie to his superior. He gave him an accurate description of the whole disaster¡ªfrom the witch¡¯s visit, to his cataclysmic defeat at Narc, and then Wepwawet¡¯s proposal to let him go free should he carry a message home¡ªwithout downplaying anything. ¡°So the reports were true,¡± General Peridot muttered to himself as he considered the information. Jasper had never seen the man show concern before, yet he sounded quite uneasy this time. ¡°The werelings¡¯ god has apparently returned to lead them¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen him summon the rain, cast lightning from the sky, and create walls from nothing,¡± Jasper warned. ¡°Either he is indeed a god, or a more powerful mage than our own vizier.¡± ¡°No mage alive can achieve such feats, Jasper. I believe that this Wepwawet is indeed either a god or an entity so powerful that any difference would be purely academic.¡± General Peridot pondered the matter a few seconds before changing the subject. ¡°What of that witch who gave you the sword? Did you at least learn her name?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jasper admitted. ¡°I was a fool to take her at her word. She tricked me into a doomed battle!¡± ¡°Yet her sword must have indeed protected you in battle, or else this Wepwawet would have smote you like he did with your men,¡± General Peridot pointed out. ¡°It would have been much easier to repel your assault by assassinating you rather than flooding his own base. Such a roundabout strategy only makes sense when a simple solution is beyond reach.¡± Jasper hadn¡¯t considered the implications. His superior¡¯s keen eye for strategy and tactics showed once again. ¡°The witch said that Wepwawet¡¯s power only extended to a three-mile range or so,¡± he recalled out loud. ¡°It has limits.¡± ¡°I suspect so,¡± General Peridot confirmed, his finger repeatedly tapping the tip of his pommel. ¡°What bothers me most is that this mysterious woman, if she was indeed human at all, called him ¡®Set¡¯s bastard.¡¯ This implies there are likely more than two of these entities at play in Verglane, which I don''t like in the slightest.¡± ¡°More than two?¡± Jasper inquired. He already struggled to imagine an entity like Wepwawet could exist, let alone more. ¡°If this Wepwawet¡¯s sorcery is indeed as great as you say, then I would assume the only power capable of negating it would derive its power from a similar entity. A third party must have provided you with your sword through an intermediary.¡± General Peridot waved his hand and changed the subject. ¡°Is this all that you have to report? Or do you have any other information to bring me?¡± ¡°None that I can think of,¡± Jasper replied. It was time for him to face the music. ¡°Now that my task is complete, may I humbly request a sword to drive through my heart?¡± ¡°What?!¡± His demand startled his commander. ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°So I can expiate the sin of losing my men!¡± Jasper replied. Now that he had led the survivors home, he had little left to live for. ¡°I have shamed Lavaland, our beloved Sultan, and even Princess Topaz¡¯s beautiful name! I shall bear responsibility for my foolishness!¡± To his surprise, his commander denied him that mercy. ¡°No one is extinguishing anyone¡¯s flame today, Jasper,¡± he said, calmly but firmly. ¡°If I had to kill every commander who messed up, I would have no army left to lead. The loss of your soldiers, while a tragedy, did provide us with highly important information. You have not fought in vain.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve lost!¡± Jasper argued. ¡°I¡¯ve led my soldiers to death and defeat!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve survived fighting a god, and you believe this is a deed worthy of shame?¡± General Peridot shrugged his shoulders. ¡°It is fine to lose a battle young so you can win a war when you¡¯re old, Jasper. Pressure tempers iron to steel. If you feel you must regain your honor in your dead men¡¯s name, then you must atone through service, not death.¡± ¡°But¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give you permission to kill yourself, Captain Jasper,¡± General Peridot cut in. ¡°I order you to live and fight for your country. The end.¡± His words silenced Jasper. What could he answer to that? His superior had condemned him to live with his shame until he could shrug it off. He had no choice but to obey. ¡°As for your message¡­ I will hear it from these ambassadors¡¯ own mouths.¡± General Peridot turned to his aide. ¡°Summon them here. You can stay, Captain Jasper.¡± Jasper rose up and remained respectfully silent as Goreville and Sagesse both walked into the room. General Peridot sized them up with a glance, as he always did when facing potential enemies. ¡°I am General Peridot, high commander of the Lavaland¡¯s Expedition Force,¡± the general introduced himself. ¡°I am told you are representatives from Verglane?¡± ¡°Indeed we are, general,¡± Sagesse replied. ¡°I am Sagesse, advisor and representative to Roynimalia¡¯s council.¡± ¡°And I am Goreville, humble servant of Lord Wepwawet, god of this land,¡± the werewolf said. ¡°Which your very presence despoils.¡± ¡°You serve a powerful master, Lord Goreville, but if he held sway over this region then surely he would have expelled us by now.¡± General Peridot shook his head. ¡°Let us cut straight to the chase. As my captain already informed you, we¡¯ve been ordered to seize new magma chambers to deal with our overpopulation issue.¡± ¡°And Lord Wepwawet is willing to lend you ours,¡± Goreville replied. ¡°If you respect his laws.¡± ¡°The same goes for us,¡± Sagesse added. ¡°Verglane is sparsely populated, so we would be willing to allow magmorian immigrants to settle in our magma chambers under specific terms. However, this fortress¡¯ mere construction is a violation of our borders, not to mention your raids north. We demand that you cease both as a condition to any future agreement.¡± General Peridot listened to them without a word. Jasper expected him to agree to negotiations, and mostly hoped he did. His enthusiasm for this conquest had died with his troops. After seeing his power and ruthlessness, Jasper was now convinced that a conflict with Wepwawet would only lead to ruin. He had no doubt Lavaland would eventually prevail¡ªthey were the world¡¯s greatest country, and no god could change that¡ªbut at too high a price. If the werelings were willing to talk things out, they should at least try to hear them out; and General Peridot was wise enough to listen. However, Jasper had seen his superior often enough to tell when something bothered him. General Peridot¡¯s hand scratched his pommel¡¯s grip with clear hesitation. He looked almost¡­ distraught. ¡°You find me most embarrassed,¡± the general finally said. ¡°I wish you had visited me a few days earlier. Had you done so, we could have reached an agreement.¡± Ambassador Sagesse was no fool, and saw through his words. ¡°Is this the magmorian way of saying no?¡± General Peridot exhaled a sigh of smoke through his helmet¡¯s slits. ¡°Unfortunately, we have recently received strict orders from above to conquer all of western Verglane and bring it under Lavaland¡¯s control by any means necessary.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Jasper couldn¡¯t help but blurt out in surprise. He immediately regretted his outburst, but his surprise didn¡¯t diminish. Since when?! ¡°So this was a war of conquest from the start!¡± Goreville growled in response, his fangs barred behind his lips. ¡°This overpopulation issue was just an excuse!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± General Peridot insisted. ¡°Our initial orders were to scout north for magma chambers where we could establish colonies¡­ but they¡¯ve changed since.¡± ¡°Has your leader taken leave of his senses?¡± Sagesse asked in disbelief. ¡°Our people shall not stand idle while your armies march into our lands!¡± ¡°We will not push into Roynimalia,¡± General Peridot replied. ¡°Our orders are to seize western Verglane all the way to the Boisblanc Forest. If your people surrender this region to us, we shall not wage war with you.¡± ¡°Do you take us for fools?¡± Goreville replied. ¡°Your Fire Sultan just hopes to divide us so he can conquer us all one slice of land at a time!¡± ¡°The order does not come from His Majesty Onyx, but from higher still.¡± General Peridot¡¯s grip on his pommel tightened. He didn¡¯t sound happy about it, but a good soldier obeyed nonetheless. ¡°This is not a kingly command, but a holy mission.¡± His wording took Jasper aback, until he realized he had missed one very important detail: that his superior had immediately trusted his report about Wepwawet and his powers. Why would the general take such tall tales at face value? Unless¡­ unless he had seen such miracles for himself. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Goreville inquired with a glare. ¡°It seems your god is not the only one who has decided to answer his followers¡¯ prayers,¡± General Peridot replied. ¡°Since you came as ambassadors under a banner of peace, I shall allow you to bring your superiors our answer: should the people of western Verglane bend the knee to Fire Sultan Onyx and pay him tribute, the Lady of the Eternal Flame shall welcome you into her fold. You have until the next moon¡¯s turn to comply with our demands.¡± Ambassador Sagesse squinted at him. ¡°Or else, general?¡± ¡°Or else I will march with my army.¡± Fire glowed behind General Peridot¡¯s helmet. ¡°And Lady Pele won¡¯t need to send another.¡± Chapter 19: If you want peace... Pele? Pele?! If he had a body, Wepwawet would have fought against the urge to slam his head against the nearest wall. What were the odds that the only volcanic goddess in his class would lead a civilization called Lavaland?! How much more obvious of a choice could it have been?! I should have seen it coming, Wepwawet thought in annoyance. Observing the meeting with General Peridot through his Champions¡¯ eyes had answered some of his questions and brought new concerns. The threat of war, not so much. Why would Pele ask her civilization to seize western Verglane? It could be anything. Pele could have issued the order before Miss Athena asked for a truce and the change had yet to make its way down the command chain, or maybe she had no idea one of her classmates led Verglane and would cancel the invasion upon learning Wepwawet was her neighbor. Or maybe she just didn¡¯t care. Much as Wepwawet loathed that possibility, Artemis¡¯ point stood. Pele might have simply decided to grab as many resources and followers as she could before the Titan Incursion. Wepwawet didn¡¯t know her well enough to tell. The Egyptian Pantheon never had much diplomatic relations with the Polynesian gods, whether as allies or enemies, and Pele spent most of her own time in class hanging out with other goddesses like Ishtar or Axommama rather than his own friend group. He had heard she was the feisty sort of deity, but little else. At least his direct neighbor wasn¡¯t a titan stooge, so the possibility of a diplomatic settlement remained on the table for now. Nonetheless, peace was only as strong as the weapons protecting it. Wepwawet could always challenge Pele to a small-scaled B&C godly battle game in order to avoid a full-blown war of annihilation, though this would carry certain risks. First of all, it would still involve a battle of Champions and Miracles, so whoever had the best of those would start with a significant advantage. Second, Pele might outright refuse a Godly Battle. Wepwawet and her stood as equal-ranked deities from different Pantheons, unlike with that mystery goddess, so both deities had to agree on the wagers and victory conditions. Pele might decide to leverage her country¡¯s greater military might to either crush Verglane or force it into giving up painful concessions. Wepwawet couldn¡¯t agree to Peridot¡¯s ultimatum either. Besides the loss of territory, no mortal would respect a god who allowed another¡¯s followers to walk all over his worshipers. Sagesse¡¯s reaction also showed him that Verglane¡¯s inhabitants wouldn¡¯t lay down and surrender to the magmorians either. They would fight for their lands and autonomy. I need to recruit more troops fast, Wepwawet thought. Peridot had given Verglane¡¯s people roughly a month to answer his demands. Wepwawet still had time to prepare and bolster his forces. Roynimalia could provide men. I¡¯ll send a delegation there as soon as Sagesse returns to Narc, and fortify my strongholds until then. Victoire had also mentioned a certain Glarmes military order with enough military forces to assist Narc when Jasper first attacked them. Surely they would have to help against a full-blown invasion of their country. Locating more Altars was now a top priority too. Narc¡¯s people and his Idol provided Wepwawet six mana points per day, and the burgeoning community around the Altar three more. He had to subtract two from his Doctrines¡¯ maintenance cost, so he had a total of seven mana points per day to spend. I could fill out my reserve in roughly two weeks time if I use my Miracles sparingly, Wepwawet calculated. It would let me complete a quest and build up a war chest to spend in a pinch. The more Altars I can collect, the better. Wepwawet checked on Goreville through his Champion¡¯s eyes. Thankfully, Peridot had been as good as his word and allowed the delegation to leave his citadel unmolested. The werewolf and Sagesse should return to Narc in a few days¡¯ time; at which point Wepwawet would send them southeast to visit Roynimalia. He had sensed an Altar in that direction too, so he could kill two falcons with one stone. Wepwawet turned his attention back to Boisblanc Forest. His Animal Kingdom Doctrine had let him take over most animals in the woods and set them to work. A small army of arctic hares dug burrows at the Icefall¡¯s base to thaw out the Champion trapped within, while beavers chewed down trees that reindeer helped drag back to the camp. Weasels dug trenches, moose collected driftwood, and musk oxen shed underwool with the help of their teeth. Wepwawet even enlisted a few seals to fish food from the nearby river. Of course, he ensured his new minions retained their homes, took breaks, and enjoyed a steady supply of lettuce. He was a god of scouting and hunting, not animal abuse! More than that, Wepwawet had already put the Idol-Altar teleportation pathway to use by calling workers from Narc to settle their sister settlement. The connection worked both ways: Icefall would collect timber which would be shipped back to Wepwawet¡¯s capital, and Narc¡¯s mines would provide all the ore the new settlement required. All in all, turning Icefall into a proper fortified town shouldn¡¯t take too long. It was nice to begin with resources rather than having to start from scratch for once. But Pele had so much more than me from day one, Wepwawet thought. If a general miles away from his country knew about her, then he had to assume all of Lavaland now bent the knee to her. Why did she get to start in a militarized monarchy while I began in a village?! This unjust! This is unfair! He hoped that this bastard Horus started his civilization on hard mode too and shared some of his pain. At least Wepwawet had good and loyal followers. He had been toying with what kind of Obedience he wanted to teach his future priests before settling on one exercise that should both be easy enough for most to perform, and encourage the kind of mindset required for a soldier of the faith. His choice made, Wepwawet projected his voice through both his Idol and Altar, his words echoing across his entire realm of Influence. ¡°Citizens of Verglane!¡± he said, immediately sensing hundreds of gazes turning towards his statues. ¡°Through your toil and faith, you have proven yourself worthy of divine knowledge! Listen well, for I shall now teach you a secret prayer passed down from the heavens themselves!¡± Wepwawet had spent hours thinking about this ritual, and was especially proud of it. ¡°Each day, you must sit in front of a small wolf-shaped shrine dedicated to me,¡± he said. ¡°You may build these shrines from anything; branches, stones, mud, whatever you find laying around and without use. Then, you must reflect on the sacred virtues of duty, knowledge, and bravery, which I honor.¡± There, simple enough. It would be an easy enough task that encouraged his followers to raise shrines everywhere and thus spread awareness of Wepwawet¡¯s existence. ¡°Follow this ritual with a prayer, and though whether or not I answer it shall depend on your character, I shall always listen! The most faithful among you will receive a blessing worthy of their piety!¡± As in, those with the aptitude and dedication for divine magic would soon learn how to cast basic Prayer spells. Wepwawet would swiftly approach the best of those worshippers and turn them into his clergy¡¯s first members to supplement his Champions.
Quest: Shepherd of Many Flocks I, completed! You can now fuel Prayer spells for divine classes such as Clerics, Oracles, and Paladins! New Quest: Shepherd of Many Flocks II Have your followers build you a temple in your honor. Reward: Animism Miracle.
Wepwawet loved to be rewarded for what he was planning to do for free anyways, since he had already included one such location in his architectural plans for Narc and Icefall. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Wepwawet then searched for Victoire to complete her Rank-Up. Surely she had gotten over whatever bothered her by now.
They were pieces on a board. That horrifying existential realization wouldn¡¯t leave Victoire¡¯s mind no matter how hard she tried to suppress it. Seeing the board had already planted doubt in her head, but studying the mystery witch¡¯s puppet pieces and issue with Renarde¡¯s blessing had deepened her fears. Why would a god capable of conjuring a giant tower of ice from thin air and command armies of animals have a limit on how many spells they could empower a Champion with? Such arbitrary boundaries didn¡¯t make sense to Victoire at first, but if their world was a game with rules to follow¡­ And what should she make of Lord Wepwawet¡¯s new order? ¡°Is this shrine sufficient, Milady?¡± Filou asked her once he had completed his own construction: a rather shoddy, wolf-shaped snowman with branches for hands and stones for ears. ¡°D-do you think Lord Wepwawet will be mad about the lack of eyes?¡± ¡°I have no idea, Filou,¡± Victoire replied. She couldn¡¯t help but find the order bizarre in the first place. They had spent most of the day following their god¡¯s orders to raise a new settlement around the Icefall; a task which Victoire found herself less than productive at completing. Wintresse had taken command of the construction site around the ice tower and proved surprisingly adept at it. The enchantress carried herself with the easy confidence of a born leader unused to being told what to do and clearly had some experience in military command. Nonetheless, most human and wereling workers had stopped for the hour to follow through with Lord Wepwawet¡¯s newest divine commandment. A veritable forest of makeshift branch constructs and snowmen now stood at the cliff¡¯s base, though Victoire doubted that this army would frighten the magmorians. Even Lavaland¡¯s armies didn¡¯t worry her as much as her god nowadays. The fear of an invasion paled before existential anguish. Have we always been pieces on a board? Victoire pondered while studying Filou¡¯s snowman. Are we toys thinking of ourselves as real? Or are we real people, and an unfathomably powerful being simply decided to play with us one day? She couldn¡¯t tell which option she found most ominous. ¡°Has something been bothering you, Milady?¡± Filou asked, her squire¡¯s eyes brimming with concern. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting very subdued since our last battle. This is not like you.¡± ¡°Does it show so much?¡± Victoire sighed. A knight shouldn¡¯t make their squire worry. ¡°Seeing Lord Wepwewet fight that giant shadow shook my resolve more than I thought.¡± ¡°I felt the same,¡± Filou confessed, his ears lowering slightly. ¡°We looked so small, and that shadow was so big¡­¡± The wererabbit shook his head and snapped out of his morose mood. ¡°But then I remembered that we only won thanks to you, Milady! We still contributed to a battle of giants!¡± ¡°I suppose we did,¡± Victoire replied, though she pondered how much their victory mattered in the grand scheme of things. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to wonder why we¡¯re fighting in the first place.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Milady.¡± Filou frowned, his eyes full of innocence. ¡°We¡¯ve been protecting the good people of Verglane from magmorians, and to prepare for the coming darkness Lord Wepwawet warned us against.¡± Does that ¡®incoming darkness¡¯ even exist at all? The shadowy entity that fought Lord Wepwawet had looked powerful enough, but for all that Victoire knew this battle had been no more than a board game match between two entities whose power she couldn¡¯t even begin to comprehend. The magmorians are a genuine threat to our people though, I can¡¯t deny that. Whatever the nature of her world or Lord Wepwawet¡¯s intentions didn¡¯t change the fact that her life¡ªand those of the people under her care¡ªfelt real enough to Victoire. She wouldn¡¯t stop fighting on their behalf, no matter her doubts. Filou stared back from his mistress to his snowman altar. ¡°How about asking Lord Wepwawet?¡± Victoire blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what prayers are for, no?¡± Filou asked. ¡°If you¡¯re having questions, why not ask Lord Wepwawet? Milady is special to him, so I¡¯m sure he will answer.¡± That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of, Filou. I fear that he will tell us we¡¯re indeed pieces, or that he¡¯ll get bored and leave us to rot. Victoire internally scoffed at her thoughts. Since when had she become such a coward? Kale would be laughing at me right now. ¡°You¡¯re right, I should do that,¡± Victoire said before spotting Viviane, Lourson, and Mistouffe walking towards them. The latter two had teleported all the way from Narc to do a survey of the area around Icefall. ¡°So? Did you find anything?¡± ¡°We can build a few sawmills along the river to the east,¡± Lourson replied. ¡°We could clear part of the forest to build a lumberyard or a farm in a short amount of time with my new tools.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also found shinies under a rock!¡± Mistouffe boasted upon presenting Victoire and Filou with her newest treasure within her paw: a piece of amber. ¡°I bet we¡¯ll find amber mines nearby!¡± ¡°Amber is nice, but lumber and farmlands will be more immediately useful to us,¡± Victoire decided. ¡°Would Roynimalia allow us to exploit these lands, Viviane?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be an issue,¡± Viviane reassured her. ¡°It¡¯s not like we could exploit the area back when Wintresse was calling the shots here. If anything, I¡¯m sure the council will be happy to let you handle her and trade with the new settlement.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be sure to thank them for it,¡± Viviane replied. She glanced at Wintresse, who guided workers in digging a hole into the Icefall; Lord Wepwawet said a powerful ally might be imprisoned there and ordered his followers to free it. ¡°I¡¯ll see if Wintresse can use her spells to clear the land. She said one of them could multiply our lumberjacks¡¯ strength.¡± Lourson squinted at the Changeling with a skeptical gaze. ¡°Are you certain that we can trust that one, Victoire?¡± ¡°No,¡± Victoire replied bluntly. The changeling¡¯s predatory presence never failed to send chills down her spine. ¡°But I trust her greed and sense of self-preservation. She¡¯s a good organizer, and wise enough not to challenge Lord Wepwawet.¡± ¡°And if she tries anything, she¡¯ll earn herself an arrow to the neck,¡± Viviane added. ¡°I¡¯ll always keep her back in my sight!¡± ¡°Oh, oh, when will I earn new powers?¡± Mistouffe asked with enthusiasm. ¡°I want a new tail like Renarde too, or wings!¡± ¡°That can be arranged, Mistouff!¡± Lord Wepwawet¡¯s voice called out from behind Victoire, startling her. The god¡¯s projection appeared in all of his divine glory. ¡°Keep working hard, and I shall reward your good toil accordingly one day!¡± ¡°Neat!¡± Mistouffe scratched the back of her head. ¡°Do I have to fight someone for it though, Boss? I¡¯m not afraid to use my claws, but my words are sharper.¡± ¡°True,¡± Lourson said. ¡°Only those who fought on Lord Wepwawet¡¯s behalf enjoyed his blessing.¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Lord Wepwawet reassured her. ¡°Battle is not the only way to earn experience and benedictions. Your feats are what matters, whether on the field of battle or behind a stall.¡± Experience? The term bothered Victoire. Does he assign powers based on his Champions¡¯ performances? ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve received Goreville¡¯s report,¡± Lord Wepwawet declared, immediately earning Victoire¡¯s full attention. ¡°I won¡¯t lie, I fear that Verglane¡¯s conflict with the magmorians will escalate further in the coming months. We can expect nothing short of total war should the worst come to pass.¡± ¡°W-war?¡± Filou repeated with a trembling voice. ¡°T-they¡¯ll send more raiders?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll send an army,¡± Victoire replied, her jaw clenching. She had been fearing this outcome for weeks. ¡°So Jasper and his band were little more than scouts.¡± Lord Wepwawet nodded sharply. ¡°I will defend these lands with all of my power, but a house divided cannot stand,¡± he said. Victoire had the feeling he took that quote from somewhere else. ¡°We need every spear in the country pointing at the same target to prevail.¡± ¡°You can count on Roynimalia¡¯s, Your Godliness,¡± Viviane said with enthusiasm. ¡°The magmorians will find an arrow waiting behind every patch of snow!¡± Victoire bit her tongue upon sensing her god¡¯s gaze on her. She could already tell what was on his mind. ¡°You wish to call upon the Glarmes, Lord Wepwawet.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m told you stood among their numbers.¡± ¡°I did,¡± Victoire confirmed while shifting in place. The subject always caused her no end of embarrassment. ¡°I learned about warcraft from them for years, until I left.¡± ¡°Good for you,¡± Viviane said with a scoff. ¡°I can¡¯t stand ¡®human-only¡¯ people.¡± Lourson raised an eyebrow. ¡°Human only?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Viviane snorted in disdain. ¡°Those guys don¡¯t let werelings join them. They¡¯re not even allowed into their ¡®holy¡¯ city!¡± ¡°They¡¯re still kind enough to trade with us when they have no other choice,¡± Mistouffe said with heavy sarcasm. ¡°Coins know no barriers!¡± ¡°Neither does hypocrisy,¡± Victoire said with a sigh. ¡°Their approach to interracial relationships was one of the reasons I split off from them.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Lord Wepwawet replied. He didn¡¯t sound impressed by the Glarmes¡¯ policies. ¡°Nonetheless, they must be quite the talented warriors to train someone like you, Victoire.¡± ¡°The Glarmes are the finest fighting force in Verglane,¡± Victoire said. Talking about them reminded her of her history lessons. ¡°They used to be the Kingdom of Valentine¡¯s royal guard¡­ back when it was still a kingdom, that is.¡± ¡°Uh huh, uh huh,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied while nodding. ¡°And then?¡± He has no idea of what I¡¯m talking about, but he doesn¡¯t want to look foolish. Victoire decided to play along. ¡°When King Lefou died and the monarchy fell, the Glarmes fled north to Verglane after Stahlheim and Lavaland refused them asylum. They spent twenty years roaming the land until they discovered the Sacred Source beyond the Glacis Mountains and founded the city of Promesse there.¡± ¡°The Sacred Source?¡± Lord Wepwawet¡¯s spirit stroked his chin. ¡°Did they find an Altar?¡± ¡°No¡­ maybe?¡± Now that Victoire thought about it, the Source did serve as a potent source of magic for the Glarmes to draw upon. ¡°The Sacred Source is a holy place, a lake of heat and salt in the heart of winter itself; a gift from a great creature only a few are blessed enough to see.¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m truly curious,¡± Lord Wepwawet said. ¡°Even if they won¡¯t allow werelings into their ranks, surely they will see the wisdom in repelling the magmorians with us instead of waiting for them to show up at their doorsteps. A source of hot water is bound to conceal a magma chamber.¡± The thought had crossed Victoire¡¯s mind the moment they discovered the hot spring beneath Narc. The similarities with the Sacred Source were too great for her to ignore. The Glarmes were strong, but could they repel the entire magmorian army on their lonesome? Almost certainly not. Nonetheless¡­ Victoire knew them well enough to guess that they would be tempted to fortify their city and leave the country to die rather than take the field alongside werelings. A powerful noise thundered in the distance, startling everyone. ¡°Grudu!¡± The voice resonated through the Icefall, causing everyone to turn in its direction. A small army of rodent diggers fled the tunnel that Wintresse had ordered them to carve into the Icefall. It seemed they had managed to free the mysterious wereling from his icy prison. ¡°GRUDUUUU!¡± And it didn¡¯t sound particularly grateful. Chapter 20: Here Comes Grudu! When the newly freed prisoner of the Icefall burst out of it with a tempestuous roar, Wepwawet realized that maybe waking up a prehistoric monster from its very long sleep might not have been his brightest idea. The creature swiftly landed at the cliff¡¯s base in a loud crash that blew snow and ice in all directions. It was assuredly a wereling of some kind, but over twice the size of a werebear and with enough brown wooly fur to fill out a coat shop. It had thick arms larger than pine trees, huge feet capable of crushing stone, tusks sharper than spears, big black eyes larger than a human¡¯s head, a thick trunk, and little more than a loincloth to cover its intimate parts. In short, it looked like a weremammoth. A very, very angry weremammoth. ¡°Grudu!¡± it shouted¡ªor rather he from the sound of his deep, bellowing voice¡ªwhile beating his chest like a gorilla. ¡°GRUDUUU!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, stop that!¡± Wepwawet¡¯s spirit projection shouted as the weremammoth began trampling his new shrines and sending his workers running in fear. ¡°Stop!¡± His order echoed through his Animal Doctrine Miracle, only to rebound off the rampaging weremammoth.
Grudu, Prehistoric Behemoth, is too smart to be charmed by Animal Kingdom!
Too smart? He could barely utter his own name! ¡°Viviane, Mistouffe, evacuate everyone!¡± Victoire ordered as she readied her spear and charged the weremammoth in the blink of an eye. ¡°Filou, Lourson, with me!¡± ¡°M-Milady, wait!¡± Her wererabbit squire called out, his knees too busy shaking in dread for him to follow her order. By the time he found the courage to chase after his teammates, they had already engaged the creature. ¡°Wait for me!¡± Wepwawet quickly pondered what to do. He could smite this Grudu where he stood to protect his followers, but he would rather restrain him for future recruitment. His hesitation led to Victoire stabbing the creature¡¯s leg with her spear. It bounced off. The tip of her spear simply failed to pierce through Grudu¡¯s fur and the thick skin underneath. As for Lourson, his attempt to hit the giant with his warhammer only resulted in the weremammoth grabbing him by the throat and lifting him up like a teddy bear. Wepwawet quickly reacted by casting Oath of Spring on Lourson. The werebear¡¯s skin turned into a tree¡¯s strong bark, which likely spared him from death when Grudu threw him against the Icefall with enough force to crack it. He¡¯s strong! Not only was Grudu a Rank 5, but he also boasted immense physical power to match his brutish exterior. Wepwawet decided not to prioritize saving his existing Champions over his recruitment. Smite it is! Wepwawet prepared to cast the appropriate Miracle when Filou leaped into the fray. ¡°B-Back off!¡± the wererabbit said with a trembling voice as he unsheathed his scimitar in a vain attempt to assist Victoire. ¡°S-stand down, villain!¡± Grudu turned to squash Filou where he stood¡­ and then bolted back like a frightened kitten. ¡°Grudu!¡± the giant cried out in dread as he stumbled backward, before swiftly crawling back away from Filou with eyes full of panic. ¡°Grudu¡­¡± Wepwawet was so taken aback that he failed to cast his Smite Miracle. His Champions too found themselves at a loss of words when Grudu fled to the base of the cliff, his back hitting the ice. ¡°Grudu¡­¡± the weremammoth whined and curled in a fetal position. ¡°Grudu¡­¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s right!¡± Filou said as he swung his scimitar, which only caused Grudu more distress. ¡°I have a magical sword and I¡¯m not afraid to use it!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the sword he fears, Filou,¡± Victoire noted, though she didn¡¯t lower her spear. ¡°He¡¯s looking at you.¡± Wepwawet glanced from Filou to Grudu. Victoire was right, the latter didn¡¯t particularly focus on the flaming sword; he only stared at the wererabbit¡¯s ears with immense distress and panic. Well, that was¡­ anticlimactic. Wintresse chose that moment to teleport in, having previously retreated to avoid being trampled by the weremammoth on his way out of his prison. ¡°Is that an elephant? We had those in Shadazar until our queen ordered us to build her an ivory palace.¡± Wintresse pointed her staff at Grudu, magic swirling around its tip. ¡°Should I cut his tusks and turn him back to ice, Lord Wepwawet?¡± ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Mistouffe all but bolted between the witch and her target. ¡°Please let me try to talk to him, Boss!¡± True, Mistouffe¡¯s Translation Perk should let her communicate with him, Wepwawet thought. Grudu could only say his name, but if he could resist Animal Kingdom, then he had enough Intelligence points to understand a spoken language. ¡°I leave him in your care, Mistouffe,¡± Wepwawet decided after giving Grudu a long hard look. Filou had single-handedly cowed him into docility, so he would give diplomacy a chance. ¡°I suspect he is more distressed and confused than aggressive.¡± ¡°I think so too,¡± Mistouffe replied with a furious nod. ¡°I would be confused too if I had been woken up from a years-long nap!¡± Wepwawet supposed that a werecat would know such things. Whatever the case, Grudu proved too frightened by Filou to lash out at Mistouffe when she moved up to him. ¡°Come on, big guy, don¡¯t cry,¡± Mistouffe said while massaging the weremammoth¡¯s side with her paw. ¡°We¡¯re all friends here!¡± The weremammoth whined, his eyes staring at Filou¡¯s ears with dread. ¡°Grudu¡­¡± ¡°That silly wererabbit looks scarier than he is, that¡¯s all,¡± she comforted him. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly!¡± ¡°I-I would,¡± Filou protested in a childish attempt to prove his bravery. ¡°I mean, not without a reason, but I could do it if I wanted to!¡± ¡°Not now, Filou,¡± Victoire said before checking on the others. None of the workers had been hurt, and Lourson was already back on his feet. ¡°Are you well, my friend?¡± ¡°My pride as a werebear took a hit, but I¡¯m fine otherwise,¡± Lourson replied. His skin turned from bark back to pristine fur. ¡°I¡¯ve never been manhandled like that before. It will take dozens of us to restrain him if he acts up again¡­¡± He glanced at Filou. ¡°Or one of you.¡± ¡°I, for once, am happy to be taken seriously,¡± Filou replied. ¡°We were lucky that no one was seriously wounded,¡± Victoire said, her eyes wandering to Wepwawet. ¡°What is this creature?¡± ¡°An ancient wereling,¡± Wepwawet replied. From the way his followers reacted, he guessed that Grudu¡¯s kind was long extinct in Verglane. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look like it, but the soul of a Champion slumbers within him.¡± Lourson grunted. ¡°He does have the strength to match. That one will walk through fortifications like I do through the rain.¡± Meanwhile, Mistouffe managed to calm Grudu down enough that he stopped sobbing. ¡°For every minute you spend being sad and scared, you lose sixty seconds of happiness,¡± she said with the boundless wisdom of a self-help marketing guru. ¡°And since time is money, you¡¯re doubly in the red!¡± ¡°Gruuuuduuu?¡± The weremammoth squinted at Mistouffe with a mix of curiosity and confusion. Wepwawet could tell he was trying to understand her point, but lacked the higher reasoning required to do so. Mistouffe hence switched to simpler slogans. ¡°You¡¯re a big boy with a big heart!¡± To illustrate her point, she pressed her paw against his chest. ¡°Your heart is bigger than both me and that silly wererabbit, but there¡¯s still no place for fear in it!¡± ¡°Grudu¡­¡± The weremammoth¡¯s trunk touched his chest, and then his stomach. ¡°Grudu.¡± ¡°See? Everything will be fine!¡± Mistouffe then turned to Wepwawet. ¡°Boss, can you show him some of your plant magic? He must be hungry after sleeping for so long.¡± Wepwawet had no idea if a weremammoth would appreciate lettuce, but he consented to Mistouffe¡¯s plan nonetheless. ¡°A blessing upon you, Grudu,¡± he said while summoning a pile of food. ¡°Eat your fill.¡± The weremammoth examined the lettuce with his trunk, then grabbed some and shoved it in his mouth. He appeared to enjoy the taste from the way he enthusiastically ate the rest of his meal. ¡°Grudu!¡± the weremammoth said with what could pass for gratitude, though it only lasted until he spotted Filou. ¡°Grudu¡­¡± Filou sighed in defeat and sheathed his sword. It didn¡¯t entirely reassure Grudu, but the weremammoth¡¯s attitude changed from outright fearfulness to mere suspicion. ¡°Can I keep him as my employee, Boss?¡± Mistouffe asked excitedly. ¡°I swear I¡¯ll teach him the ropes and keep him in line.¡± ¡°Your employee?¡± Victoire rolled her eyes. ¡°Mistouffe¡­¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Hey, an employment contract is the best way to reinsert someone into society!¡± Mistouffe argued. She gave Grudu affectionate pats on his leg; a gesture which the weremammoth returned by caressing her head with his trunk. ¡°Look at him! Look at his big muscles and all that soft fur! He¡¯s a one wereling-industry!¡± ¡°The werecat speaks true,¡± Wintresse said. ¡°The creature has the strength of twenty men, and he seems more interested in being paid in pounds of food than gold.¡± ¡°I suppose it would be better than letting him run amok,¡± Lourson conceded. ¡°Pleeease?¡± Mistouffe joined her hands and pleaded Wepwawet to indulge her request with those big cat eyes that would melt any heart of ice. ¡°I swear I¡¯ll treat him well and supervise him!¡± Wepwawet considered his options before deciding to go along with her proposal. Mistouffe was his only Champion with the Perk required to even interact with Grudu, and while she possessed a merchant¡¯s greed, she remained a hard-working mortal with her heart in the right place. Wepwawet didn¡¯t think she would exploit Grudu¡¯s simplemindedness, and since she already managed to calm him down, he could give her a chance. ¡°Very well,¡± Wepwawet said. ¡°I will welcome Grudu among my Champions, but he¡¯s your responsibility, Mistouffe. I will have words with you if he messes up.¡± ¡°Thanks, Boss! I swear I won¡¯t disappoint you!¡± Mistouffe immediately translated the news to Grudu in very simple terms. ¡°Hear that? The Big Wolf Boss will give you all the food you want!¡± ¡°Grudu?¡± The weremammoth¡¯s trunk let out a loud and enthusiastic call. ¡°Grudu!¡± Wepwawet had the sharp intuition that his daily lettuce budget would soon spiral out of control, but claimed Grudu as his newest Champion anyway. The weremammoth offered no resistance and his stats swiftly showed up on his god¡¯s system screen.
Name Grudu, Prehistoric Behemoth
Type Beast
Rank 5
Class Weremammoth 5 (Monster/Fighter)
Faction Wepwawet
Movement Walk
Strength Agility Vitality Skill
46 20 33 20
Magic Intelligence Charisma Luck
11 4 11 15
Accuracy +17 Evasion +17
Innate Perk: Megafauna
Cannot learn Spells nor progress in non-Monster Classes, but inflicts a damage bonus equal to twice their Rank.
Thick Fur Unstoppable I
Resists Physical, Fire, and Frost damage. Immune to Paralysis, Stun, Slow, and Petrify Ailments.
Smash! II Toughness I
All natural and melee Weapons inflict +5 damage. Gains a chance equal to VIT/2 to survive a lethal blow.
Grudu could only do one thing¡ªbreak stuff¡ªbut he would do it very well. On the plus side, Wepwawet wouldn¡¯t need to teach this creature the Translation Perk since he only knew one word anyway. That saved him a move slot! Nonetheless, Grudu¡¯s reaction to Filou bothered Wepwawet. The weremammoth had clearly been traumatized by something the wererabbit reminded him of. Wepwawet also found it strange that a living creature could be frozen in ice quickly enough to remain in a state of stasis for years, if not centuries. This did not happen naturally. Could this be connected to the murals in Grand-Loup¡¯s tomb? There¡¯s a secret past buried under Verglane¡¯s snow, Wepwawet thought. I wonder what I¡¯ll find there¡­
All in all, things ended rather well, much to Victoire¡¯s surprise. Mistouffe managed to bribe Grudu into docility with a combination of lettuce and paw massages, which led to Wintresse immediately assigning them to clearing out a patch of forest for future construction. Victoire feared what would happen should they give their new recruit an axe, but he simply began to uproot trees with his bare hands. No wonder my spear failed to wound him. Her failure gnawed at Victoire¡¯s heart well into the night. She wouldn¡¯t have been able to do much had Mistouffe and Filou failed to calm the beast down. I couldn¡¯t crack that witch¡¯s magic quartz wall either. Victoire knew she could only blame herself for her weakness. She had delayed Lord Wepwawet¡¯s newest blessing and the magical power which her god would have provided, though it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had reached the limits of her own strength. I can¡¯t put this off any longer, Victoire thought once she rose in the middle of the night. I have to ask him. Victoire and her squire had been granted the uppermost room in the wolf-tower for their use, with small torches lighting it up. It was surprisingly warm and comfortable for a solar encased in eternal ice, enough that Filou slept soundly in his bed of leaves and fur. The wererabbit always managed to find slumber more easily than Victoire herself. Victoire didn¡¯t see much use in decorating their solar, especially since they would likely leave it soon for the Glarmes¡¯ territory. Nonetheless, she had enough material at hand to raise a small shrine near the window. Her statue of wood brindles and straw hardly resembled a wolf, but she hoped her deity would forgive her lack of artistic talent. First time for everything, Victoire thought as she sat in front of the shrine, joined her hands, and then followed Lord Wepwawet¡¯s ritual. ¡°Duty, knowledge, bravery.¡± Lord Wepwawet¡¯s spirit immediately materialized the moment she uttered the last word. ¡°Good evening, Victoire,¡± he said with a solemn tone. ¡°What is on your mind, my child?¡± Once again, Victoire couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that her god was trying to act wiser than he really was. She stared at the projection for a moment, sensing the doubt creeping up on her deity¡¯s face. ¡°Victoire?¡± he inquired. ¡°Victoire, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Victoire gathered her breath and courage, then uttered the dreadful question which had been haunting her for the last few days. ¡°Is this world a game to you?¡± ¡°W-what?¡± The question took Wepwawet aback, and though it only lasted a moment, Victoire quickly caught the brief flash of embarrassment crossing his wolfish face. ¡°N-no, of course not! What makes you think that?¡± ¡°I saw the board¡¯s edge during your battle with that giant shadow, and the cards you played.¡± A chill traveled down Victoire¡¯s spine as she recalled this battle. ¡°Were the two of you using us as pieces?¡± Her god clenched his jaw and stared at her for a moment. Victoire held her breath, half-expecting Wepwawet to smite her down where she stood. She feared he would either punish her for doubting his words, or kill her for discovering his secret; yet that moment never came. Victoire half-expected Lord Wepwawet to have been either secretly malicious or uncaring about mortal plights, but he showed neither fury nor carelessness; only indecision. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing, do you?¡± Victoire realized. ¡°You¡¯re improvising as you go.¡± ¡°O-of course I know what I¡¯m doing, Victoire!¡± Lord Wepwawet protested, his unease shining through his mask of self-confidence. He clearly hadn¡¯t been expecting them to have this conversation. ¡°I¡¯m just, I¡¯m just trying to remember the proper procedure for this scenario, that¡¯s all!¡± Victoire blinked in surprise. ¡°There¡¯s a procedure for this?¡± A long and heavy silence settled in the room, with neither god nor Champion speaking up. ¡°Forget I said that,¡± Wepwawet finally asked. ¡°No,¡± Victoire replied bluntly. ¡°Dammit!¡± Wepwawet sighed upon realizing he wouldn¡¯t talk his way out of his one. ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have skipped that Mortal Diplomacy class!¡± ¡°Class?¡± Victoire struggled to breathe as all of her previously existing fears suddenly turned into new, wilder ones. ¡°You¡¯re a student?!¡± ¡°N-No¡­ maybe?¡± Her ¡®god¡¯s¡¯ facade of wisdom and competence crumbled to dust, replaced with shame and embarrassment. ¡°You make it sound demeaning!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it is!¡± A terrible thought suddenly crossed Victoire¡¯s mind. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m eons old, I¡¯ll tell you!¡± Wepwawet protested. ¡°Yeah, sure, that would be the equivalent of eighteen of your human years, but I wield potent and ancient divine wisdom!¡± Victoire¡¯s entire world came crashing down, so much that she winced when she heard Filou turning around his slumber. She looked at him in fear that he overheard this¡­ this terrifying revelation. Thankfully though, her wererabbit squire slept like a stone. ¡°The others must never know,¡± she whispered to her¡­ god? Could she even call him that anymore? ¡°This will devastate our entire army¡¯s morale.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one pushing the subject,¡± Wepwawet complained with the exact same tone. ¡°I was happy not broaching it!¡± Victoire closed her eyes, took a long deep breath to calm down, and then locked eyes with her now less-than-impressed benefactor. ¡°Is Verglane a board?!¡± she asked once more. ¡°Is this a game? Are you playing us right now?¡± ¡°Nnnn-yees?¡± Wepwawet crossed his arms and avoided Victoire¡¯s glare. ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°Then make it simple.¡± Victoire didn¡¯t care if he struck her dead where she stood¡ªsomething which he clearly had the power to do. She was done with this charade. ¡°All this talk of a coming darkness, those were lies?¡± ¡°No, no, that part is very real,¡± Wepwawet protested. ¡°We¡¯re fighting a war here.¡± Victoire¡¯s blood froze in his veins. A war. This almighty entity, while nowhere near as competent as he portrayed himself as, could still rip out a piece of land to shape it into a board, summon the rain, conjure towers of ice, and create life with a snap of his fingers was at war; something that could only happen between equals. ¡°How should I put this¡­¡± Wepwawet scratched the back of his head. He suddenly looked so young to Victoire, so¡­ mundane. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ve got this.¡± The wolf-god straightened up, cleared his throat, and then pointed a finger at Victoire¡¯s face. ¡°Evil gods called Titans will soon try to kill you all and eat your souls, but don¡¯t worry! You¡¯re not alone!¡± Wepwawet raised his thumb at his face, his wolfish lips stretching into a big wide smile shining like the night sky. ¡°You¡¯ve got me, and all my classmates!¡± Victoire stared at her god in utter silence, her skin turning paler than the ice walls surrounding her as her mind processed his words. She pondered her god¡¯s divine revelation, took another long deep breath¡ªso deep her lungs burned in her chest¡ªand then finally found the strength to speak up. ¡°I need a beer,¡± Victoire Fleuret said very, very calmly. ¡°I need several beers.¡± Chapter 21: The Talk Since Icefall lacked a bar of any kind¡ªor any alehouse for that matter¡ªWepwawet ended up sending Victoire back to Alpine¡¯s inn in Narc. The place had been mostly restored since Jasper¡¯s attack and even slightly expanded to host the constantly increasing flux of newcomers. Alpine had kindly cleared the bar area for her god and commander¡¯s exclusive use before leaving them alone with enough beer bottles to sicken Dionysus himself. True to her word, Victoire had emptied a dozen cups already and showed no signs of stopping. Wepwawet¡¯s spirit sat next to her, his own cup untouched. He had no need for sustenance and mortal alcohol paled in potency compared to the brew gods used at their parties, so he only asked Alpine to pour him one for moral support. ¡°You are taking all of this way too much to heart, Victoire,¡± he told his Champion. Her glare had all the venom of Apep, Tiamat, and half a dozen snake deities combined. ¡°If you had a solid neck, I would be strangling it right now.¡± Oh great, she¡¯s a mean drunk. At least she was answering him now instead of giving him the silent treatment. Wepwawet had been warned that mortals rarely took the truth about their reality well, but he thought Victoire¡¯s stoic demeanor would make her the exception. I guess I misread her. What was he supposed to do? Lie and take everything back? His mother used to say that the truth dispelled all doubts, but his dad also insisted that mortals should constantly be put in their place. Should Wepwawet tell Victoire to shut up and get on with the program? Argh, this was why gods needed priests! To delegate crises of faith to the populace! Victoire set aside her cup and exhaled a breath full of alcohol. ¡°You¡¯re eighteen.¡± ¡°Wait, that¡¯s the part that bothers you?¡± ¡°Yes, because it means we¡¯re around the same age!¡± ¡°Hey, let me make myself clear,¡± Wepwawet protested. ¡°I¡¯m not one of those shameless gods who fool around with their female worshipers!¡± Victoire choked on her drink. ¡°Because that is a thing?!¡± ¡°You would be surprised.¡± Wepwawet could quote hundreds of such stories, half of which came from Artemis¡¯ family, and a few weird kink cases like that ¡®immaculate conception¡¯ fad¡­ ¡°I¡¯m only interested in a professional god-worshipper relationship, with no place for messy entanglements!¡± Victoire stared at him for a moment, before focusing back on her glass. ¡°You said gods¡­¡± she blurted out. ¡°Classmates.¡± ¡°Yeah, I hoped to wait another day to tell you this,¡± Wepwawet admitted. ¡°But no, Victoire, I¡¯m not the only god active on Elphion. The witch we fought at Icefall served another.¡± ¡°That giant shadow¡­¡± Victoire¡¯s expression darkened into a scowl. That event had shaken her to her core. ¡°It was either one of your ¡®classmates¡¯ or ¡®titans,¡¯ whatever that means?¡± ¡°She was probably on the latter¡¯s side, though I can¡¯t confirm it yet.¡± Wepwawet hoped that Miss Athena would provide more information soon. ¡°She¡¯s a mere prelude to the disasters that my classmates and I were sent to prepare you for. They¡¯re already active in other nations as we speak.¡± Victoire immediately caught on to the implications. ¡°Including Lavaland?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wepwawet confirmed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that one of my classmates has taken command of the magmorians.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re still going to invade Verglane? Can¡¯t you just talk things through?¡± Victoire glared at him. ¡°If this is a lunch money dispute, I swear to you¨C¡± ¡°H-Hey, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Did she take him for a bully magnet? ¡°Our school teaches us to manage planets and create life! We learn responsibilities!¡± ¡°Then why is your classmate warring against us?¡± Victoire argued. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stop them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Complicated? Wepwawet almost said that before realizing Victoire wasn¡¯t in a good state of mind to listen about all the intricate laws and covenants that bound the Heavens. He needed a different approach¡ªsomething down to earth enough she could visualize. ¡°Have I been good to you and Narc, Victoire?¡± Wepwawet asked. ¡°Have I helped Verglane prosper? Have my gifts and presence improved your life?¡± Victoire clenched her jaw, and then nodded. ¡°Yes, they did.¡± At least she wasn¡¯t ungrateful. ¡°You didn¡¯t see me helping the magmorians take over Narc when all the odds were against us either.¡± ¡°What are you getting at?¡± ¡°My classmates and I were tasked to guide and protect a different civilization each,¡± Wepwawet explained. ¡°My loyalty is to Verglane and its people, so if I had to choose between wiping out Lavaland and saving you, I¡¯ll always pick the latter. Your prosperity comes first.¡± Victoire quickly caught on. ¡°And the same goes for your god classmate?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wepwawet confirmed. ¡°She must think she needs your resources for her people to prosper. We¡¯ll put our differences aside when the titans come calling, but until then, we¡¯ll always put our worshipers¡¯ well-being first.¡± ¡°Why bleed each other out if the titans are the real enemies?¡± Victoire glared at her god. ¡°You¡¯re just like us, aren''t you? You have tribes and factions that don¡¯t get along.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Wepwawet suppressed the urge to cough in embarrassment. ¡°That would be a gross oversimplification of the intricate politics unfolding in the highest of hea¨C¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Victoire cut in with annoyance. ¡°I got the message at ¡®politics.¡¯¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Wepwawet sighed. ¡°I am trying to contact other friendly deities and form an alliance, but the person in charge of Lavaland may not be friendly to me. We¡¯ll put our differences aside when the titans come calling at least.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s the same as before,¡± Victoire grumbled. ¡°Except we have gods instead of kings to tell us what to do.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ and no?¡± Wepwawet tried to find the right words to break the news. ¡°My group¡¯s goal isn¡¯t to rule over mortals, but to train you Champions for the real conflict against the titans. We just have different approaches on how to whip you into shape.¡± Victoire didn¡¯t look entirely convinced, but she didn¡¯t argue either. Wepwawet guessed that all the help he provided for Narc at least gave him the benefit of the doubt. ¡°Those titans¡­¡± Victoire cleared her throat. ¡°Who are they? Gods like you?¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Wepwawet said. ¡°The only difference between our pantheons and theirs is that they don¡¯t want you around.¡± Victoire frowned in dread and confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t want who around?¡± ¡°Mortals,¡± Wepwawet explained. ¡°You know, the whole creation of the universe and filling it with life things we have going on upstairs? Well¡­ the titans believe it was a big mistake.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Why?¡± Victoire protested. ¡°What did we do to them? Most of us don¡¯t even know that they exist!¡± Wepwawet scratched the back of his head. How could he put it simply enough for a mortal to understand? He guessed he should start with the root of the issue. ¡°You remember the mana fount we built my Altar on?¡± Wepwawet asked. ¡°That raw magic rising from the earth?¡± Victoire raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Your entire world arose from mana, as did all life on it; and we gods can use it to shape reality to our liking.¡± Wepwawet fondly remembered the day he created his first wolf-spirit from nothingness itself. ¡°Mortals give some of it back through prayers, but it¡¯s always less than what they take. The more worlds that mortals spread on, the less mana there is for us gods to draw upon, and the titans don¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°The titans hate us for existing?¡± Victoire¡¯s eyes burned with genuine anger and outrage. ¡°That is insane!¡± ¡°Why do you think we¡¯re at war with them?¡± Wepwawet replied. ¡°They¡¯re the Interdimensional Federation of Godly Assholes!¡± Wepwawet wouldn¡¯t deny that his side¡¯s pantheons had a few creeps and selfish bastards among them, but even the worst of the gods at least tolerated the existence of mortals. The titans wouldn¡¯t even concede anything on that front. ¡°The good news is, we¡¯re more numerous than the titans,¡± Wepwawet said, ¡°The bad news is that they¡¯re not afraid of collateral damage, so both sides had to settle on a compromise where they would fight with proxies while following certain rules. Hence the board and cards.¡± ¡°You¡¯re starting conflicts where we are the proxies,¡± Victoire guessed, her hand tightening its grip on her cup. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you fight each other and leave us out of this?¡± ¡°Well¡­ my parents and grandparents did that in the early days.¡± Wepwawet scratched the back of his head. ¡°But when you fight by smashing moons and stars in the other party¡¯s face, few mortals linger around to enjoy the aftermath.¡± Victoire didn¡¯t answer. Her eyes searched Wepwawet¡¯s face for any hint that he was joking or trying to deceive her, only for her face to pale when she realized he meant every word he said. Victoire had seen his true form looming over her like a mountain over a molehill, witnessed him summon the rain and create life out of thin air. Only now did she understand just how powerful his kind was¡­ and how much they held back. It distressed her. How could it not? Nobody liked feeling weak in the face of grand and terrible changes beyond their control. ¡°If the gods care, why send students?¡± Victoire asked, the fire in her heart all but snuffed out. ¡°Because we¡¯re overseeing thousands upon thousands of worlds, many much more populated than Elphion, and there¡¯s only so many of us,¡± Wepwawet replied. ¡°We young gods have to start gaining experience somewhere.¡± Victoire¡¯s scowl only deepened further. ¡°So we¡¯re just not important enough to warrant your superiors¡¯ personal attention?¡± Ugh, she¡¯s even more depressed than before, Wepwawet thought. Now he felt guilty. And yet, she¡¯s nowhere near as powerless as she thinks she is. ¡°Victoire, I promise you that all I want is to see Narc and the rest of Verglane prosper in peace,¡± Wepwawet reassured her. ¡°And you have power of your own. You can be the spear and shield that protects your people.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t even scratch Grudu and that undead monster,¡± Victoire replied with a low, barely audible tone. ¡°What can I do against a shadow the size of a mountain?¡± ¡°I know the likes of Apep can eat your sun for breakfast, but¨C¡± Wepwawet caught himself before he said something very stupid. ¡°What I mean to say is that you will fight different battles than mine. You¡¯ve only taken your first step on a very long journey as a Champion, Victoire; and one day, you will grow strong enough to fight the titans¡¯ servants and save your world.¡± Victoire bit her lower lip. ¡°You¡¯re pulling my leg.¡± ¡°I swear I¡¯m not,¡± Wepwawet replied without hesitation whatsoever. ¡°You¡¯re the first Champion I met in Elphion, and I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a coincidence. You have a destiny, Victoire. I¡¯m just here to guide you along.¡± Victoire studied him for a moment. Her doubt remained written all over her face, but she desperately wanted to believe in his goodwill. ¡°You swear it¡¯s not a game to you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Wepwawet replied. He had a duty to his worshipers caught in the struggle. Their lives and future depended on his decisions, and he wouldn¡¯t let them down. ¡°Yes, from our divine point of view, mortal wars are little more than movements of pawns on a board¡­ but I don¡¯t find your existence inconsequential either. I truly want you to enjoy long and happy lives.¡± That was Wepwawet¡¯s duty as a god, and he wouldn¡¯t betray it. ¡°If all goes well, we shall repel the titans together and ensure the good people of Verglane can prosper for centuries to come,¡± Wepwawet insisted. ¡°I will do everything in my power to protect you.¡± ¡°And if we fail?¡± Victoire asked with a dark look. ¡°What happens if the titans win?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Wepwawet tried to find a good way to put it before deciding a picture was worth a thousand words. ¡°You see that bottle of alcohol on the counter?¡± Victoire frowned at it. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°This is your world. Verglane, Lavaland, the ocean, everything.¡± Wepwawet cast a Smite Miracle on the bottle and shattered it to pieces. He immediately regretted wasting a point of mana on a private demonstration, but from the horrified look on Victoire¡¯s face, it did get his point across. ¡°Just like that?¡± she asked. ¡°Just like that.¡± Wepwawet crossed his arms upon realizing it was only partly true. ¡°Although, I guess that¡¯ll depend on which titan we¡¯ll encounter. Tiamat will probably eat you all, but some will probably skip that step and simply smash your moons on the planet¡¯s surface¡­ and I guess Apep would likely settle on eating your sun and watching you all freeze to death in eternal darkness.¡± Victoire didn¡¯t say a word. Her pale skin had gone so white Wepwawet briefly wondered if she had died on the spot. ¡°But that¡¯ll only happen if we really, really mess up!¡± Wepwawet tried to reassure her. ¡°We have a whole process with chances for comebacks at every step!¡± Victoire listened in silence, closed her eyes, and then let out a long deep breath. ¡°Lord Wepwawet,¡± she said, very calmly. ¡°I would like a power-up, please.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s very sensible!¡± Wepwawet raised his hand at her. ¡°So, you want to rank up in Snowheart? Or do you want to try the path of the holy paladin?¡± Much like Renarde, Victoire chose to assess her options before choosing. ¡°What are the pros and cons of each choice?¡± ¡°It depends,¡± Wepwawet replied. ¡°The further you progress in a given path, the stronger your existing abilities will become, but starting another can provide new and potent synergies.¡± ¡°I need power,¡± Victoire decided after a short moment¡¯s consideration. ¡°I shall continue down the Snowheart¡¯s path.¡± ¡°A wise choice,¡± Wepwawet replied as he imbued her with his light and power.
Victoire Fleuret has ranked-up in Snowheart! +3 STR, +3 AGI, +3 VIT, +4 SKI, +3 MAG, +3 INT, +4 CHA, +3 LCK! She gained the Ice Mirror I Perk! Ice Mirror I: You take half damage from magical attacks. If targeted by a spell, you gain a chance equal to CHA/2 to reflect it back to the sender as a Frost elemental attack.
Oh, awesome! The reflection effect would likely rarely trigger considering Victoire¡¯s balanced Charisma stat, but a blanket damage reduction on most incoming magical attacks would make her the bane of spellcasters everywhere. ¡°I need to change one of your Perks for your new ability,¡± Wepwawet asked Victoire. ¡°Would removing Longstrider work for you?¡± ¡°Perks?¡± Victoire scoffed. ¡°Is that what you gods call your blessings?¡± Oh right, he hadn¡¯t told her that. Wepwawet felt a little embarrassed about missing that. ¡°Pretty much,¡± he confessed. ¡°Longstrider is the speed boost blessing I granted you earlier. I can always apply it again later, and truthfully it pales compared to your newest ability. No other mage will dare attack you!¡± ¡°I see¡­ very well.¡± Victoire nodded and Wepwawet followed through with the switch. ¡°I don¡¯t feel particularly slower than before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because the power you gained naturally compensates for the blessing I removed,¡± Wepwawet explained. ¡°For me, it looks like you have numbered stats increasing in various areas. I¡¯m still figuring out how they all work together.¡± Victoire scoffed at the concept. ¡°Do gods have numbers too?¡± ¡°You have no idea.¡± System Mathematics was a key part of the Mytholo High curriculum. ¡°Suffice to say, you¡¯re doing well for yourself. The likes of Grudu, Renarde, and Wintresse beat you in their area of expertise, Victoire, but you¡¯re good everywhere.¡± ¡°That is¡­ that is nice, I suppose.¡± Victoire rose from her seat, the alcohol losing its hold on her. ¡°The others¡­ I don¡¯t think they¡¯re ready to learn the truth yet. They won¡¯t take it well.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Wepwawet had the intuition Goreville would probably react violently to the truth. ¡°You¡¯re fine playing along?¡± ¡°For now,¡± Victoire replied. Her icy stare had regained some of her confidence. ¡°Your people deserve to learn the truth one day, Lord Wepwawet; especially if they are to die in your name.¡± I suppose they do¡­ Wepwawet¡¯s lessons insisted that the less mortals that knew about the truth of their existence, the better. Yet Victoire had a point; asking people to risk their lives for him on half-truths and false premises didn¡¯t sit right with him. If Victoire could understand, others should once they¡¯re ready. ¡°That day is still a long time ahead,¡± Wepwawet decided. ¡°Have I regained your trust?¡± ¡°No.¡± The response was so quick and blunt that it startled Wepwawet. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡± Victoire cleared her throat. ¡°I trust your words, Lord Wepwawet, and I cannot deny that all of Narc and I owe you our lives. I believe these titans are indeed a threat to my homeland and we must work together to repel them, whatever the cost. I¡¯ll do as you ask as the god of Verglane.¡± Wepwawet¡¯s ears fell down in disappointment. ¡°But you don¡¯t believe in me.¡± ¡°I want to believe in you, Lord Wepwawet,¡± Victoire replied with a heavy sigh. ¡°But I¡­ I can¡¯t shake the feeling you see us as pieces on a board to dispose of as it suits you, and I don¡¯t like that.¡± His first Champion had lost faith, and it would take a miracle to restore it. Chapter 22: Old Curses By the time Goreville and his group returned to Narc, Victoire had mostly recovered from her existential depression and had taken charge again. She spent most of her time traveling between Icefall and Narc to oversee their defenses and construction progress; a newfound enthusiasm which relieved her squire and god alike. While it disappointed Wepwawet that his first Champion had lost faith in him, he was glad she took his warning about the titans and magmorians to heart. Goreville and Sagesse gave their report to Wepwawet, though he already knew how their meeting with Peridot went. He immediately tasked them to join Viviane on a diplomatic mission to the eastern city of Roynimalia in order to hammer out an alliance. As for Victoire, she would run her own expedition north to contact the Glarmes Order beyond the Glacis Mountains. Seizing new Altar spots would be each group¡¯s secondary priority, both to bolster their god¡¯s mana production and provide quick teleportation relays to return in a pinch. Wepwawet didn¡¯t trust Peridot¡¯s ultimatum. He needed at least one Commander and a handful of Champions in Narc in case the magmorians launched another assault ahead of time. Considering how Wintresse¡¯s past and demonic nature would come across to Roynimalia and the Glarmes Order, Wepwawet would leave her in charge of Narc and Icefall under his close supervision. On the plus side, the influx of settlers coming to his capital finally allowed Narc to break through the one-thousand inhabitant population ceiling. Wepwawet welcomed the appropriate System notifications with glee.
Quest: A Town of Prospect, completed! You gained the Skill: Treasure Hunter Rank 2 Revelation Miracle! Skill: Treasure Hunter Rank 2 Revelation Teaches a Champion the Treasure Hunter Passive Perk: Allows the target to smell gold, silver, gemstones, or treasures of value within one mile per Rank, ignoring all forms of magical protection. This Perk does not reveal the target¡¯s exact location, only its presence somewhere within range.
Quest: Proselytism III, completed! You gained the Dimensional Fortress Rank 8 Doctrine Miracle!
Dimensional Fortress Rank 8 Doctrine You can block all forms of interdimensional travel within your Influence, such as teleportation spells or actions, including attempts to enter it from the outside or to escape its borders from within. If you choose not to block the attempt, you can instead redirect it to a spot within your realm of Influence. Maintenance Cost: 3.
Wepwawet looked over Dimensional Fortress¡¯ description twice, first grinning ear to ear when he saw all the advantages, and then grimacing upon seeing the maintenance cost. This Miracle was simply too useful not to be cast, but the hefty mana drain would limit his ability to build up his reserves. Narc should provide me with seven mana points a day with its current thousand-strong population, and Icefall with five, Wepwawet calculated. The presence of lumber, docile livestock, amber, and ready-made fortifications had caused the latter settlement to attract a few local tribes. All my Doctrines will cost me five mana to maintain, which leaves me with seven points to spend or stockpile. I can manage with that. As for the Skill: Treasure Hunter, Wepwawet briefly considered it underwhelming considering his Providence ability let him already do that for free within his realm of Influence¡­ until he realized that that the perk covered miles around the Champion. This meant that they could forage for treasures far beyond his Influence¡¯s limits! I can already imagine Mistouffe salivating when I bless her with it, Wepwawet mused. Alpine would benefit from it too, since her Perks let her explore difficult terrain easily. I¡¯ll have both of them scout around Narc and Icefall in case we missed anything. Maybe they¡¯ll even find a new Artifact! Wepwawet quickly replaced two of his copies of Sacred Beast with his new Miracles. He had little use in summoning more spirit-wolves now that Animal Kingdom let him completely control fauna within his realm of Influence and he had already built a large pack. One copy of the Miracle should suffice from now on.
New Quest: A City of Ambitions Transform Narc into a city capable of supporting over eight thousand inhabitants. Reward: Revelation Miracle. New Quest: Proselytism IV Convert over 10,000 worshipers. Reward: Doctrine Miracle.
Well, those two would take a while to fulfill unless he managed to convert entire towns to his side. How many inhabitants live in Roynimalia and Promesse again? Wepwawet doubted the Glarmes Order would welcome his cult with open arms considering their anti-wereling bent and isolationism, but Roynimalia should prove fertile ground for proselytism. Thankfully for him, a few of his followers had already shown the potential to become clerics after performing his Obedience. It was time for him to organize his first missionary mission.
Three days had passed since her god told her the truth about her world, and Victoire never thought she would spend them planning a return trip to Promesse. She hadn¡¯t left the Glarmes on the best of terms, though Lord-Commander Raymond said that she would be welcomed back whenever she ¡®adjusted her attitude;¡¯ something she had refused to do and had no desire to change. Reaching Promesse would be difficult enough, let alone convincing the Glarmes to help. ¡°That should be enough,¡± Victoire said after reviewing Lourson¡¯s newest creations: a set of dragon-shaped silver statuettes forged from their mines¡¯ bounty. ¡°We¡¯ll put in a few gemstones for good measure.¡± ¡°This is quite the treasure we¡¯ve gathered, Milady,¡± Filou replied. All in all, they had gathered a sack¡¯s worth of gold and silver. ¡°Will that be enough to buy the Glarmes¡¯ assistance?¡± Lourson asked. The sound of clashing steel echoed in his forge as his new apprentice and associates hammered out the settlement¡¯s newest set of weapons. Victoire had the distinct impression that the smith¡¯s staff increased in number with each of her visits. ¡°This treasure is not meant for the Glarmes,¡± Victoire replied. The insular order had little need for gold. ¡°It¡¯s for the dragons.¡± ¡°Dr-dr-dragons, Milady?¡± Filou gasped in fear. ¡°Oh, true,¡± Lourson muttered to himself. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that a few of them live in the Glacis Mountains.¡± ¡°They mostly hibernate during winter and awaken when the ice melts,¡± Victoire confirmed. She had only encountered one in the past, and had no desire to face another. ¡°Thankfully, dragons are a vain and greedy lot. We should be able to bribe our way out of a confrontation with some proper compensation.¡± ¡°Should?¡± This aroused Lourson¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Did you encounter a dragon in the past?¡± ¡°A-are they as fearful and majestic as the tales say?¡± Filou inquired. ¡°Dragons are¡­¡± Victoire shuddered upon recalling her last encounter with one. ¡°Special.¡± Poor Filou, who didn¡¯t know any better, squinted in confusion. ¡°Special? In what way?¡± ¡°Believe me, it will be better for everyone if we don¡¯t cross a dragon¡¯s path,¡± Victoire replied without answering. Her friends wouldn¡¯t believe her if she told them the truth, and besides, it wasn¡¯t like they could fend off one of those creatures should they piss it off. While proud of her skills, Victoire¡¯s clash with Grudu had sharply reminded her of her limits. The power Lord Wepwawet granted her might not be enough to make up for the gulf in strength separating warriors from Verglane¡¯s mightiest monsters. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Will that gap ever close? Victoire¡¯s conversation with her god continued to hang in her mind. Lord Wepwawet had insisted she would eventually grow in power enough to fight the titans¡¯ servants, but her confidence faltered each time she recalled those undead monsters that they fought in Icefall. I have to pray that he¡¯s right. It wasn¡¯t like she had any other choice. Lord Wepwawet¡¯s duel with that giant shadow had given her a glimpse of the battles to come, and there was no way her people could pull through without divine assistance. She would have to take her god at his word and follow his directions for no. Victoire heard movement behind her and turned around to see Mistouffe and Alpine entering the forge, with the former carrying a bag full of old antiques. Neither made too much noise, yet Victoire picked up on their approach before they even crossed the threshold. Her senses had sharpened greatly since her last ¡®Rank-Up.¡¯ ¡°Greetings!¡± Mistouffe declared as she proudly unloaded her bag. ¡°Look at what Grudu and I found buried in the Boisblanc Forest today!¡± Victoire checked her friend¡¯s finds. Most of her gathered treasures looked like ancient junk or equally old ceramics, but she spotted a few interesting items among them: a broken crimson shield with a closed eye-like symbol carved on its surface and a split staff made of a black metal she didn¡¯t recognize. Both radiated magic. ¡°Good finds,¡± Victoire congratulated Mistouffe. ¡°Where did you find them?¡± ¡°Buried deep in the forest, near the spot where I found the amber,¡± Mistouffe replied proudly. ¡°His Godliness bestowed a new blessing on us both this morning,¡± Alpine said with a small smile. ¡°We¡¯ve been putting it to the test ever since.¡± ¡°My new blessing is pawsome!¡± Mistouffe replied with a wide grin. ¡°My whiskers tremble with anticipation whenever I get close to treasure! It¡¯s addictive!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also discovered a new silver vein¡¯s location near Narc, alongside buried copper,¡± Alpine informed them. ¡°Wintresse suggested that we exploit them both for coinage. She said, and I quote, ¡®a unified economy buys more than victory.¡¯¡± ¡°She¡¯s not wrong,¡± Victoire conceded. A few large settlements across Verglane produced their own coins, but smaller villages like Narc mostly relied on bartering. ¡°A common currency would bind our communities tighter together.¡± ¡°Do you want me to work on it?¡± Lourson asked. ¡°I¡¯m almost finished with the sawmill pieces.¡± Victoire shook her head. ¡°I want you and Alpine to join me and Filou on the Glacis Mountains trip.¡± Lourson frowned. ¡°Why¡¯s that? I don¡¯t mind accompanying you, but I do my best work behind a forge.¡± ¡°The Glarmes produce the best weapons and armor in all of Verglane,¡± Victoire explained. ¡°They might be willing to supply us with equipment even if they deny us direct military assistance. As our head blacksmith, I think your presence would both help along our negotiations and teach you a few things. You and Alpine also need more field experience.¡± ¡°Good point¡­¡± Alpine conceded. ¡°I suppose we can¡¯t be expected to stay away from the frontlines while the rest of you risk your lives all the time.¡± Victoire nodded sharply. Moreover, Lord Wepwawet had told her that while Champions could earn new Perks through non-violent activities, they progressed more quickly when facing harsher ordeals. She had no idea whether a diplomatic mission would fit the mold, but it was a start. ¡°You¡¯re sure you don¡¯t want us to come with you too, Vicky?¡± Mistouffe asked. ¡°No one will dare to pick on you with Grudu around!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure about that, Mistouffe,¡± Victoire replied. ¡°Grudu is difficult enough to manage at the best of times, and he¡¯s quick to anger. That might lead to an incident with my former comrades. His strength will serve us better in defending Narc and Icefall from an attack.¡± Their towns would be short on powerful defenders for a while with Goreville, Renarde, and Viviane escorting Sagesse to Roynimalia as well. Having Grudu and Wintresse staying behind to assist Lord Wepwawet should secure Narc and Icefall in their absence. Speaking of the wolf god, the deity¡¯s spirit swiftly materialized in the forge. Hardly anyone reacted; everyone had grown used to Lord Wepwawet showing up unannounced by now. ¡°And you would be right, Victoire,¡± he said with a nod and a tone that could pass for wise. ¡°Besides, I will require Mistouffe¡¯s assistance on the coinage project.¡± ¡°Oh, will I get a cut, Boss?¡± Mistouffe asked immediately before knowing any details on the project. ¡°No, but you will receive shares and a salary!¡± Lord Wepwawet examined Mistouffe¡¯s new finds. ¡°Good job on your treasure hunt! I¡¯ll restore these two relics shortly!¡± The god waved his hand at the treasures and magically repaired them. The shield regained its golden and red luster, while the black crooked staff shed off its rust and reassembled itself. ¡°This shield shall I bestow upon you, Victoire,¡± Lord Wepwawet declared with magnanimity. ¡°Use it well in the defense of others!¡± ¡°I¡­ I shall prove worthy of it, Lord Wepwawet,¡± Victoire replied. She tried to sound enthusiastic, but she couldn¡¯t muster that level of solemnity after her previous discussion with her god. ¡°As for that staff¡­¡± Lord Wepwawet didn¡¯t finish his sentence, his eyes staring at the second object with a tiny bit of concern. ¡°That staff¡­¡± ¡°Boss?¡± Mistouffe asked out loud. ¡°That staff¡­ that staff has no place in my church,¡± Lord Wepwawet said, his uneasy tone taking Victoire aback. ¡°It is¡­¡± The god clearly hesitated for a moment until he found the right word. ¡°Cursed! Yes, it¡¯s a cursed treasure!¡± ¡°Cursed?¡± Alpine covered her mouth. ¡°Oh my!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look especially dangerous to me,¡± Lourson said, a feeling which Victoire shared but kept quiet about. ¡°W-what does that mean?¡± Mistouffe panicked. ¡°I¡¯ve found that treasure, so did the curse pass on to me? I can¡¯t have misfortune striking before I open my first big business!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mistouffe, you¡¯re completely fine!¡± Lord Wepwawet reassured her. ¡°In fact, Victoire and I will be sealing it beneath my first temple to keep its evil safely contained!¡± He¡¯s as subtle as a blizzard sometimes. ¡°Then we shall dispose of this cursed relic immediately,¡± Victoire said upon seizing the staff and shield. ¡°Filou, Lourson, Alpine, I want you to be ready for tomorrow morning. We¡¯ll leave at dawn.¡± ¡°As you say,¡± Alpine replied with a gentle giggle, while the others nodded in assent. ¡°I haven¡¯t gone hiking in a very long time.¡± Victoire left the forge alongside her god¡¯s spirit, began to climb the cliffs leading to his Idol, and then waited until they had walked out of anyone¡¯s earshot to confront him. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied. ¡°Does the name ¡®Lunarian¡¯ mean anything to you?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Victoire guessed it had something to do with the moon from the ¡®lunar¡¯ part. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°How should I put it¡­¡± Her god scratched the back of his head. ¡°I guess it would be easier if I showed you.¡± Lord Wepwawet waved his hand at Victoire. Phantom words and numbers shaped from the spirit¡¯s raw essence began to float above her shield.
Sleeping Magna-Shield Type: Accessory (Shield) Quality: B Weight: 6 Hexlock Protection 3 (three spots): Grants +6 DEF against physical damage, and +3 DEF against magical damage. A shield carved during an ancient war. Its true power dwells deeper still, waiting for the return of its ancient enemies to be awakened.
¡°Are those the numbers you told me about?¡± Victoire asked as she read the words. Hardly half of the description made any sense to her, besides the fact that it would help protect her from danger¡­ like any normal shield. ¡°Ancient enemies? Who are they?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been asking myself the same question for a while,¡± Lord Wepwawet replied as he summoned a similar string of letters and numbers over the staff. ¡°And I think I finally have a lead.¡± Victoire read, and then paled.
Lunarian Slavertaff Category: Weapon (Rod) Quality: B Bonus: + 12 MAG Accuracy: + 8 AV Weight: 12 Restriction: Only Bug-Types benefit from its effects. Wereling Killer (three spots): Inflicts Beastslayer supereffective damage against Beast-Types; this also extends to damaging spells cast by the user. An archaic weapon crooked from all the times it was used to beat up wereling slaves. It used to be the most popular piece of equipment in the land over a thousand years ago, outside of a certain demographic¡­
¡°What the¨C¡± Victoire choked in outrage. ¡°Who wrote this? You?¡± ¡°No, of course not!¡± Lord Wepwawet protested. ¡°My magic simply reveals an item¡¯s secrets, and that one has heavy implications.¡± ¡°Yes, it does.¡± A chill traveled down Victoire¡¯s back as she reread the description. ¡°Renarde believes an ancient wereling civilization once ruled Verglane hundreds of years in the past¡­ but this staff¡¯s description would imply that they suffered under another¡¯s yoke.¡± ¡°Both these objects belong to the same era as the torc I entrusted Goreville with and old murals buried beneath Narc. I¡¯m starting to wonder if they don¡¯t all connect together.¡± ¡°But whoever these Lunarians were, they all perished centuries ago,¡± Victoire pointed out until a worrying possibility crossed her mind. ¡°Unless¡­ unless what happened to Grudu wasn¡¯t a singular case.¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡± Lord Wepwawet crossed his arms and dissipated the summaries back to nothingness. ¡°A place like Icefall cannot occur naturally, Victoire. Dozens of ancient beasts don¡¯t all end up trapped in the ice in the same area unless they were all frozen together in an instant. There may be other creatures or artifacts buried across Verglane waiting to wake up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking about the creature at the Sacred Source,¡± Victoire guessed. ¡°You believe it could be related to Grudu or these Lunarians in some way?¡± ¡°Hey, finding the answer to that question is your job, Victoire.¡± Lord Wepwawet replied. ¡°I said I would seal away this item, but honestly I think it¡¯s best to destroy it outright. Besides the fact we don¡¯t actually have any werebugs or the like to wield the damn thing, I don¡¯t believe the others will appreciate us using it should its true history come to light.¡± ¡°No, probably not.¡± Victoire stroked her chin as an idea came to mind. ¡°Actually¡­ I say we should show this staff to Wintresse first.¡± ¡°Wintresse?¡± Lord Wepwawet raised an eyebrow. ¡°Victoire, she¡¯s the last person you would want to trust this kind of weapon with.¡± ¡°I know, but she¡¯s the wisest mage on this side of Verglane,¡± Victoire replied. ¡°She might be able to identify the metal used to forge this staff. The more we can learn about its origins and weaknesses, the better prepared we¡¯ll be should anyone ever use it against us; if Mistouffe could find one of these things, so can the magmorians.¡± ¡°Mmmm¡­ true.¡± Lord Wepwawet pondered her point for a moment before nodding to himself. ¡°I guess it doesn¡¯t hurt to have an additional perspective and develop safeguards.¡± Is he actually considering what I have to say? Victoire had the distinct impression her god listened more to her viewpoint than usual. Then again, I¡¯m the only one who knows his secret. He must feel he can confide in me more than the others. It wasn¡¯t an unpleasant feeling, though the matter at hand bothered Victoire a bit too much for her to appreciate it. These ¡®Lunarians¡¯ had oppressed the ancestors of Verglane¡¯s werelings and left quite a few artifacts behind. Did any of them survive to this day like Grudu?