The following day passed Dalen by faster than he had expected. Once Elendria’s sanctuary skill wore off Dalen struggled to stand the noise and chatter of so many people. But now wasn’t the time to sit around and do fuck all despite his injuries.
Volan, Melisia, and Leo stuck close to him as moved around the busy camp. It actually felt more like a temporary settlement than a camp since most of the people were in The Vault. The camp outside was still where all of Jaliete and Volan’s people rested but all the people with relevant skills to the requirements of the ritual spent most of their day in lower sections of The Vault.
Dalen barely believed that there had been any unrest between the cells after spending the day walking around among them. Volan had been right about Jak. The man had completely given control to Jaliete. Dalen had expected there to be a few among Jak’s cell at least that didn’t like the idea of taking orders from Jaliete but everyone he asked replied the same way.
“Elder Jak guides us to strength. If this is the path he believes we should follow then we will.”
It was getting to the point that Dalen thought they had to be brainwashed like Alansu’s people but then he remembered where he was, “Oh right, it's a cult…”
Obviously, he wasn’t helping matters but that wasn’t worth mentioning.
The ritual site was at the deepest level of The Vault. It reminded Dalen of the forums in Vandarra. A large central platform surrounded by hundreds of rows of pews and a large domed ceiling. It was probably once used by diplomats or maybe even some kind of priest for public speaking but now it was the core of the summoning circle to bring Kal back.
When Elendria said she needed space mages she wasn’t kidding. Nearly a hundred mages of various types were spaced evenly around the chamber, each working on their own portions of an array larger than Dalen had ever seen.
Most of the mages weren’t space mages specifically but they were all at least space attuned. Other classes were still in the mix though, dozens of laborers and serfs worked as runners bringing various scrolls, trinkets, and herbs to the mages on request. The rarity of some of the items he was seeing made Dalen realize just how expensive it was to bring Kal back.
“How does the order have the resources for all of this?” Dalen asked Volan as he collapsed into one of the pews.
Volan smiled, “We have people across the entire empire. Our numbers are small but our reach is substantial, the most uncommon and rare items we can safely acquire. But if I am to be honest Dalen, many treasures were found in this very place and any one of them dwarfs anything else we could acquire in value. That of course is part of the reason we called this place The Vault.”
“Like what?” Dalen asked curiously. He wondered if there was any potent alchemy ingredient or even a tome.
“Oh, quite a few things. But an example would be the tome Jaliete showed you. Professor Hentrax Vandalor’s Universal Observations Volume I. That tome alone is worth a city or two,” Volan chuckled.
Dalen continued his wandering for the better part of the day, making sure to speak with as many people as he could. Sure it sucked considering his state but he really wanted to gauge the people around him before it was time for his first chat… Dalen thought he should probably start calling it something else but eh.
As for the people? They were far more receptive than he expected, for one obvious reason. They had all heard about Jak and Alansu. In less than a few hours of arriving a supposed prophet wanders into the council chambers of The Vault alongside two of the most powerful elders where with the help of The Bearer pounded one elder into submission and incapacitated another.
But above all, it was what Kal had done to Alansu. As Dalen walked around he couldn’t help but overhear the whispers, “sunder the ties that bind…” For them, it was confirmation of their belief and Dalen couldn’t blame them. He was there.
Dalen could barely remember a thing about the actual sequence of events after seeing the hammer coming toward his face but he felt it. Kal was strong, probably stronger than he himself believed knowing the man.
Soon activity started to slow as people began to rest after a day of preparation and Dalen knew it was time to finally face the crowd he had been encouraging to build all day. There was no chance he would have enough brews for everyone this time, “Gods I hate this…”
Was it even worth doing now? Kal would be back soon. What if the moment he got back he told the whole lot of them to go screw themselves and left? Dalen knew if that happened he certainly wouldn’t hang around. Did he have that luxury now? Dhoerin may not have abandoned him yet but Dhinir’s followers were already after him so in the end it made little difference.
Dalen carefully made his way back through the entrance passage toward the surface. His body still burned but he plastered on his best fake smile as his face was illuminated by the setting sun. He had timed it perfectly and the moment he stepped out of The Vault the eyes of hundreds of followers were on him.
Dalen held in his wince at the sight of so many people but even as he started speaking he had one thought on his mind. Kal owed him one.
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Leo and Melisia stood by Dalen’s side as he spoke of his experience the night they arrived. Those who came to hear the prophet speak clearly expected a more regal man but Dalen as usual shattered that expectation. He told the story like an old friend would, continued to call Kalum Kal, and answered questions throughout.
Melisa could see that he was still in pain and the crowd would as well but it only proved to show Dalen as a stubborn and persistent man. All had heard about the losses Jaliete’s people had suffered on The Fractured Path. But even so, all of The Order of the Crimson Dawn’s followers were lost people, especially those within the more neutrally aligned cells. Godless and abandoned.
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That is why Dalen’s speeches worked. He was the barkeep. He was the man who would always listen even if he barely knew you. It was how he met Kalum. If Kalum The Bearer, The Slayer could be friends with this man could they be friends with him?
Melisia couldn’t help but admire Dalen’s skill at humanizing Kalum while at the same time flaunting the few feats they had witnessed.
Melisia smiled at Leo and by the smirk he gave her in return he knew what she was thinking. “Dalen had come a long way from stealing books from the academy.”
Suddenly Dalen grimaced and brought his hand to his head, “Something…”
“Help! Please help us!” a distant voice reached them over the noise of the gathered followers. The crowd parted and several nearby fighters darted toward the gate just as a group of people became visible in the tree outside.
They were covered in blood.
Melisia recognized the leader of the group immediately. A middle-aged woman with fiery red hair, she was the sister of Elder Kaydan Lyndal, the leader of one of the last cells to arrive.
[Lisette Lyndal | War Mage 87 | Human]
Lisette shouted across the courtyard as she fell to her knees sobbing, “You must help us! My brother is… Is dead! Our people fight a demon!”
“How!” Melisia gasped and she felt Leo tense beside her. Dalen was still holding his temples while several of Volan’s healers dashed to Lisette and the others behind her.
Dalen grunted as he pulled his hand away, “You know what this means right? It has to be the Sanguine Reaver. If it is, you know what is happening to those people.”
Both Leo and Melisia grimaced but Dalen’s wounded and tired gaze turned to Volan, “What level was Elder Kaydan?”
Volan frowned already knowing what Dalen was getting at, “He is one of the weakest among us in terms of level that also goes for his people. They are not fighters. I have already sent the command to reinforce them.”
“Jaliete?” Dalen said and an instant later all four of them heard the elder’s voice in their minds.
“Yes, Dalen. I have been listening. Leo, will you join reinforcements?” Jaliete asked.
Leo nodded grimly and moved to the already-gathering warriors of The Order. Melisia could see Dalen wanted to go as well but even he was wise enough to resist the urge.
Dalen winced as his hand came up to his head again, “Jaliete, when can the ritual begin?”
“We can begin at any moment. If we are willing to slow the reinforcements.” Jaliete replied.
“Fuck!...” Dalen shouted, staring out into the trees, “It's not going to matter. Start the summoning now!”
Melisia was taken aback by the heat in Dalen’s voice but as if he had sensed it coming a notification appeared for them all to see. A cascading display of lights spread across the entire order’s forces.
Quest Received: Abyss Infiltration
A demon from the Abyssal Horizon has infiltrated your world and soon more will come. Slay the demon and prevent the destruction of your world.
Slay Sanguine Reaver 0/1
Bonus Objective: Abyssal Anchors
An Abyssal Anchor has been detected in your area if left intact its presence will accelerate the arrival of the hordes.
Destroy Abyssal Anchor 2/5
Warning: Time until mass transposition 5:30
Reward: Title, Rare Chest
Warning: Time until mass transposition 5:29
Warning: Time until mass transposition 5:28
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Kuzularak flinched away from the Great One as it strode passed him into the fallen hall. Its wraith followed it eerily, their infernal gaze scanning the chamber and the glowing anchor ahead.
Kuzularak bowed, “The security is to your liking, Great One?”
The Great One’s gaze fell upon him again and he felt as if his mind would break. This was no ordinary shadow. To think a disciple of the 37th layer could be here. It was as much an honor as it was terrifying to be in this elite’s presence.
It did not respond to Kuzularak’s question but its eyes flashed crimson and gold through the obfuscation of its cloak. Kuzularak shivered under its gaze and bowed deeper. “Fool. Do not speak until spoken to…”
The Great One continued toward the anchor and moved its gaze to its reason for being here. The anchor continued to shine brightly as it should. Kuzularak didn’t know how they could have lost an anchor on their side of the link but there were fools in any horde.
The anchor was a crystal of darkest black that pulsed with purple light. Looking directly at this close was difficult as warped the space around it like rippling pools of blood on the 7th layer. But looking at the anchor was preferable to the back of the monster he now stood with.
Without turning, The Great One’s harsh voice reverberated through the chamber, “Who is responsible for the formation of this anchor?”
“I…I don’t know Great One… But I am sure Lord Knarzka would be happy to answer your questions. If you like I can call him here-” The Great One’s burning gaze fell upon him again making his words fall short.
“No… He has his own duties to attend to,” It snarled, making Kuzularak flinch.
The Great One turned back to the anchor and raised its hand. Kuzularak’s hackles raised but he squashed the fear back down. This was a Great One, it was an extension of the Dark Eternal’s will.
Light appeared in The Great One’s hand washing over the anchor. Kuzularak almost cried out from sheer anxiety but then an even more indomitable presence filled the room throwing him off balance.
[Lord Knarzka Seeker Shadow Lord | Abyssal Spawn 159]
“My… A Disciple of the 37th. How interesting…”