As they were ushered inside the guards filtered out. Not a single one stayed and the doors were shut with them. The elderly man spoke again. “You may leave.” For a mere second Xane thought that he meant them. But instead the other priests got up and left through a side door.
One may think that a group of hardened adventurers wouldn’t be scared of a single old man. Who ever thought that would be mad. The strength Xane got from the high priest was more than the bleak bear. It felt more in line with the monstrosity Xane first encountered in the deep caves on that island so long ago.
But when the feeling from the monster was of death and darkness. Of overbearing might. This was of cleansing. Of Purity. Of indifferent kindness. Of I’ll kill you in 2 seconds flat if you say the wrong thing. Xane tried to stay calm. Luckily his new ring sorta helped keep out intrusive energies from his mind. But it was barely anything.
“Sit, sit. We have much to discuss and so little time.” The man said with chairs moving on their own.
His legs moved on their own as well guiding him to the chair on the left side of the High Priest. Hunteress seemed to be the only one fully in control of herself. Walking with purpose right next to Calrin. Who of which was opposite of Xane. Hatchet was set on the table. Though he could ‘see’ in a pretty large area.
“First off. I am Barbos Waer, High Priest of the Vir god of the Moon.” He said shuffling through papers. “But please just call me Barbos. Don’t much care for the grandeur of High Priest. Just don’t let the others hear you saying otherwise, might behead you.” He started laughing in a way only the old and jubilant can. When no one said anything he went on. “Yeah, that joke never goes well. Besides, we are here for important reasons.”
Calrin spoke up though it looked hesitant. “We keep hearing that. Important. Mind just moving along.
Barbos didn’t seem too upset, “Of course you are busy saving this land and water. Let’s get straight to it. You are doomed to fail.” That wasn’t shocking in the sense they knew it was a possibility. But hearing it didn’t help. Seeing the crowd he went on. “I mean you will fail with the plan you have set in motion. Trying to sneak into the Island of Iron has been tried countless times. Always has failed. Lead with disaster and retribution from the island. They have a mad wizard making newer and deadlier contraptions on that island. The creator of the wave makers Garrith Markins.”
They all knew who Garrith was. This information wasn’t new. But him still being alive was new. From what they could find he had been executed by Tortoga after being captured. Him being alive was a problem.
Xane knew Akiad was a great enchanter and runesmith. But the contraptions that this Garrith guy made were deadly. He was a renowned military crafter. Making things like the wave maker. And another one currently being used in the war up north. Something called an army array. It used the energies of soldiers to boost the power of one individual draining the soldier till near death. But boosting the one individual enough to fight an entire hoard all by themselves.
If Garrith was still alive no wonder know one was able to take back the island. And whatever else he created could destroy their plans before it even started.
Barbos went on, “I can tell you know of him. I can’t say too much about him. But I can tell you that he and the current Lord of Iron is after a specific treasure. They plan on using this treasure to bolster themselves for the next step.”
Xane ventured a question, “What might that next step be?”
“I sadly can’t tell you that. What I can tell you is that they are after something dear to you.” He said looking at Xane. But not really Xane through Xane’s eye to Lyenn. “The last thing I can tell you is that it is somewhere on an island south east of this city.”
Calrin spoke quickly, not angry but nearly, “But that place is filled with islands. Thousands of them. How do you expect us to find it before they do? They apparently left ages ago.”
“I can tell you that they haven’t found it. But nothing more on this topic. I’m pushing the limits even now.”
“What limits?” Xane asked. Though he could hazard a guess.
“Godly involvement is a fickle thing Xane. Now I have one last bestowment if you’ll have it.”
“Bestowment? I’d love to have one.” Hatchet said a bit too excited for Xane’s liking.
“A short-lived boon. Will grant you safe passage in the ocean of stars for one month. Very few but the strongest of ocean monsters will attack you.” He said, holding out his hands. “Take my hand so I can pass on the boon.
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Xane did so seeing as if the man wanted to harm them he could have done it without any of them having noticed. Calrin grab the other hand while Huntress grabbed his. Hatchet didn’t really matter since he would be at Huntresses hip but she still gripped the ax nonetheless. Energy coursed through them as the man visibly paled.
You have gained a boon.
Silence of the Stars:
You are invisible to creatures, for a time no creature not above level 70 or above will be able to see you. Less easily lost in the Ocean of Stars. This is broken if you attack the creature or get too close.
Time Remaining: 30 days
Lyenn spooked Xane as she hadn’t said a word this entire time. Not even a sound of shock when discreetly referenced by the priest. “This is invaluable. There are so many strong monsters hiding in the depths and islands. One of the reasons very few humanoid lives live on them. Too small to protect.
“Thank you, this will help a lot.” Xane said after looking it over. “But are you ok?”
The old man looked even older. A small but noticeable difference in power could be seen in his aura. “Yes Xane. I am. I only need to rest.” He started to stand shaking ever so slightly but Xane’s high intelligence let him see it. “Now be off with you. Time isn’t on your side.” And with that he shone brightly radiating moonlight and disappeared.
“I actually have a ques- Oh come on. Why am I never part of these conversations?” Hatchet complained. “It was a very good question too.”
“And what might that be?” Calrin asked absentmindedly.
Hatchet went on. “It was going to be why the hell did this guy care? He seemed powerful enough to outright destroy anything that attacked by himself. Not to mention the guards. Bet the military is even better.”
Xane thought it was a good point. But not one to be talked about here. “We should just get going. Like he said, time isn’t on our side.”
Xane and them were taken out of the room taking a different way than when they entered. It was way less fancy as if the first one was just for show. It led out to a back area and they were flying again towards the ground. “Wait, you aren’t going to take us to our ships?”
“Not our problem.” The one taking Xane down said giving a care in the world. “Enjoy the lovely walk through our city.”
“Thanks.” Xane said annoyed.
They found themselves back on their ship this time allowed to leave. Though were they going to listen and head to find a specific island in a pile of islands or stay course and go towards the Island of Iron.
“Where do you think we should go?” Xane asked as they were setting sail with no direction in mind.
Calrin was first to speak his mind, “I don’t like others trying to bud into our plans. It sounds fishy. Though I don’t see why we would be led incorrectly. Makes no sense. It also doesn’t make sense why they would help to this degree. Similar to what Hatchet said, Crescent City is the oldest city on this continent. It was here before the humans. Before the elves. Even before the dwarves inhabiting Crown Peak. They won’t fall due to some small faction of pirates. Even with them in control of a god's body.”
Xane was next, “I agree. There is no clear point in them helping. Though if I took his words correctly Garrith and the Lord are going after a piece of Lyenn. There are only two more. An eye and something else. If it's the eye that's there then it would be a minor boost in power. If it's her-” He paused. Even though Lyenn told him it was ok to divulge this information it was dangerous to say out loud. Just in case he took out a privacy chip and threw it on the table. The object didn’t let out any sound and distorted sight in the bubble. They were multi-use but took a lot of mana to run.
“You can’t repeat this outloud. But if it’s her heart. Then the next person who..uhm consumes it. Can become the next god of the ocean. They go through a trial of body and mind. But then they are a god. A fledgling god but one nonetheless. And in the short time they have that power they can do mass destruction before the other gods force them to reel it in and follow the godly law or whatever.” Xane just started spitting it all out. It felt good not to be the only one with this on their shoulders.
“But isn’t Lyenn the current god?” Hatchet asked the poignant question.
“Yes and she is the only thing holding back someone else taking control. But if she..or I die then its open season. A grab for power.” Xane said slowly.
“So on the off chance that it is true we have to get there first. We need to beat the would be god. A potential two for one.” Calrin added. Though Xane could tell the swordsman didn’t like the change in plans.
They started to set sail in the general direction of the ocean of stars. It wasn’t far and not hard to find since it was a massive section of water filled with islands. The only thing that they could potentially count on is Lyenn sensing where it might be. Since she was more connected to it she should have a major advantage. “The only problem is that I think they too will be able to sense it. The body yearns to become whole. I hope that I have a better pull than them.”
The ocean of stars was similar to the Crescent city where it was permanently nighttime. Though the waters themselves belong to Lyenn. The ocean of stars was a whisky washy situation. Legends had it that the place was created when a portion of the moon was sheared off somehow and crashed into the place where the crescent city stood. If that is what happened not even Lyenn knows but it would make sense. Deposits of moonstone can be found throughout. Many creatures and humanoids alike ventured to the islands in hopes to find the precious material.
If they happened to run across something like that Xane would happily take it. But time was limited so he wouldn’t go looking for it.
They made it to the first set of islands within only a few hours. The problem again was how many there were. Ranging from small outcroppings of stone. To massive towering mountains. “This is going to take forever. Why don’t we just head back and fight an island we know the location of. Island of Iron sounding better and better every minute.” Hatchet said what everyone was thinking.
“I agree. This place sucks.” A voice said from behind them.