I glanced back at the Count. “I can take a crack at it, but before I go, what do you know about this particular creature and why is there tension between Matweirden and it?”
His already serious expression strained as he shut his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Gretkarn is the terrestrial deity with the greatest influence within the city as it dwells within Lake Karnkaroth, basically at our doorstep.”
Ygvarge cleared his throat and continued for his father. “The large tourism industry you’ve likely seen is handled by the faithful of Gretkarn. Despite the dangers posed by the deity’s brood only the escort vessels we insist on sending with them are attacked. Only us and the unaffiliated fishermen who dare to venture too far from the shore.”
So it only goes after those outside its belief system, and only when they venture into its territory. That checks out as reasonable behavior so far.
I rubbed my chin. “What about the leviathan? And it’s brood?”
Linus got up and started to pace behind his seat. “According to our records, Gretkarn emerged centuries ago, well after our family settled in this area. Reports of a strangely powerful lakedweller are what we assume are its first sightings, however physical descriptions vary wildly from the image that the faithful worship today so we can’t even be certain of that. However, the brood creatures started appearing some decades after, and have only increased in numbers since, while the leviathan first appeared during my father’s time and has grown into the monstrosity we now fend off for the sake of the city, as it alone could likely drag most of the castle into the lake if it ever desired.”
I glanced over at Ysdra. “And what’s this about you placating it with spirit magic?”
Her little face turned as red as one of those goga fruits and she fidgeted. “W-well, um… I just thought that since the leviathan keeps getting bigger that it’d be unmanageable soon so I wanted to lessen its resentment of us before it becomes too big to fight.”
Daww, that’s so sweet!
To my surprise, Ymir also jumped in. “Sir! My sister also acts to soothe the hearts of the people and prevent casualties, as the faithful grow in numbers their outcry for harming the creature grows louder and louder, and now we cannot drive it off without losing some of our warriors.”
“I see.” I nodded, and pretended to miss the look that Ysdra shot the younger of her elder brothers that screamed. “You know all that and you still went and fought it anyway?!”
All in all, it appears to be a rather enigmatic and influential creature. Though I am concerned with the growth of its brood and the leviathan. The lake is only so big and if this continues too much longer then it could become disastrous.
Calden then spoke up after ensuring that no one else had anything to say. “Lord Anon, I fear this is all we can tell you. Lady Matweirden has never asked for understanding from her followers, demanding only obedience from them.”
Count Linus, Ygvarge, and Ymir all whipped a sharp look at Calden upon hearing his final words. I knew from his status that his faith now rested in the ever so anonymous ‘One’, but that didn’t mean that those around him would just accept his change of religion so suddenly.
I mean, it could just be the kinda distant way he phrased it, or because it kinda sounded like he was dissing ol’ Matty-Weir too... But I blame that on the hoity-toity society in which he was raised.
I cleared my throat, and the three immediately averted their gazes with Ymir going so far as to bash his head into the floor–almost as hard as Iskel did–though he thankfully didn’t draw blood.
“If you can’t tell me about Matweirden’s reasons, do you perhaps know Gretkarn’s? What do his priests preach? How do they treat outsiders? When did conflict between your faiths start?”
Linus frowned, fingered a ruby ring on his right index finger, and stared at a screen–not too dissimilar to one of Uriel’s pop-up’s–that opened a few feet in front of his face.
Then he more read than spoke. “It’s recorded that Gretkarn’s faithful advocate acceptance of all in an… obsessive manner. They reject no one, and will go out of their way to bring in new members at all times. To date, there have been one thousand six hundred and eighty five incidents of harassment, nine hundred thirty two cases of assault, and four hundred eleven reports of missing people that we, for lack of evidence, can only assume were abducted by the faithful. It goes without saying that there are likely more of each category that have gone unreported.”
I kept my face placid, but hoo boy was I sweating on the inside. This is honestly starting to sound more and more like some two bit horror story, but I still wanna give the big guy down below the benefit of the doubt before jumping to any conclusions. After all, maybe he doesn’t advocate what they’re doing, or maybe they just misinterpreted his message.
I glanced at Calden, and he returned a smile before mouthing, “I’ll be okay.”, to me.
I suppressed a sigh. Thanks for proving my point, kid.
After another moment Linus paraphrased. “Conflict between our faiths started a couple centuries back, during my great grandfather’s time. Gretkarn had just established his presence and as soon as Lady Matweirden became aware of this she decreed we abstain from making contact with him or his believers. As time went on and contactless coexistence became impossible, she cautioned us to be wary only for his believers to start slandering our efforts to remain separate.”
Ygvarge pinched the bridge of his nose. “It escalated from there and we’ve been advocating against one another ever since. More radical members of both faiths have brought it to actual bloodshed several times resulting in grudges and concessions being made in equal measure.”
The Count pivoted on his heel to face me, and projected a screen in front of me that displayed a copy of a signed treaty. “We’ve agreed to a tentative peace, but ever since Lady Matweirden fell silent two years ago, Gretkarn’s brood and followers have been growing more and more bold.” He lowered his head, then clenched his fists, and started to emit a rather impressive and domineering aura that caused the others to straighten up in their seats. “I may not like them on religious grounds, but I have tried to be fair. My only armed conflicts have been with the uncontrolled brood, but as the Lord of this city I must remain cautious–for everyone’s sake.”
I scanned over the document, but it was just a bunch of legal jargon that boiled down to a bunch of we won’t if you won’ts. I think I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on now when adding all this to what I’ve seen for myself in that lake, but what’s really interesting to me right now is this window he’s opened. Uriel what is it?
Uriel buzzed, and I got my answer.
Notice: His displays are a result of the ability: Count's Authority. Both the county's records and the aura he's emitting are a part of the ability.
Oh! So this is what one of the abilities that can prevent observers from checking your status looks like! But wait, if it’s tied to actual ruling authority why didn’t the Baronette have a similar one when I checked him?
Uriel buzzed again.
Notice: Almost all authority abilities are tied to an item, usually a ring, and those items derive their power from a corresponding crown to which allegiance is owed. Allegance can change if contact is made between a ruling and ruled item, and the ruling item's power grows with the number of ruled items.
Well dang! That’s quite an interesting tidbit! But then how do individuals gain authority outside of these items? And who qualifies to have it?
Instead of Uriel, the system spoke.
I sighed in relief, momentarily frightened that I was going to have something ridiculous foisted onto me again. But the system struck again. I narrowed my eyes. Are. You. Kidding. Me? Other than Calden, who counts as my followers?! Visions of the Villagers of Kormath, especially Letta flashed through my mind, followed by Calden, Ysdra, to my shock Carmella, and then Iskel and the members of his church. Then came a whole barrage of people whose faces I didn’t even know, though some seemed vaguely familiar, as if I’d seen them in a dream or something. I had to refrain from facepalming, though I’m sure my irritation started to show in my protruding lower lip. I… I should’ve seen this coming. But who were the rest of them! I swear the system’s just making things up at this point! And then Uriel buzzed, Notice: Diagnostic required. Testing ??? Authority. Ability activated. and my eyes opened wide. Wait! No! Just then, the Count’s aura, which pressured everyone other than me into sitting in respectful silence and forced us all to be constantly aware of him and his every move, was blown away like a fart in a hurricane. I didn’t notice or feel any difference in anything after that, but just watching their reactions was all it took to realize that things were far from normal. I mean, come on. I’d have to be an idiot to think that all of them suddenly bowing down on hands and knees is a normal course of action. Well, I guess Ymir was already doing just that, but still. I was about to bury my head in my hands while searching for a way to deactivate my new ability, but it turned off all on its own, likely due to the fact that Uriel had called it a test. And let’s be fair, it had only been on for a few seconds, but even after it was off they didn’t get up off the ground. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I winced, stood, and spoke about as fast as my heart was beating–which is to say, as fast as a racehorse on the final stretch. “Well, I think I’ve accomplished all I can here, so I’ll get going first and see about managing Gretkarn. I hope my interruption hasn’t spoiled your dinner, so please, enjoy your evening.” Feral form. Once more in the shape of a fly I wasted no time zipping over to the window and casting, The sun had already set and the stars and moon glittered beautifully across the surface of the lake apparently dubbed Karnkaroth. The wind got a bit too turbulent to manage as a bitty bugger so I grew into a seagull and lazily drifted around the lake as I threw my awareness down into its inky depths. Hooo… Deep breath… Deeeep Breath… That was so embarrassing and ridiculous! I mean, it’s bad enough that they already walk on eggshells around me, even worse that Calden is so… Fanatical, and absolutely horrible that this isn’t even the first time people have acted this way! I shook my head and my feathers bristled. I ran away from Kormath in part because of people acting like that, but if this is going to happen wherever I go, and those people are counted as my followers, maybe I need to start being more subtle? Like I did in the church, just without chatting after, because Iskel got pretty reverent too. And that’s likely why the system counted them as followers… I just don’t need the attention, especially not with two crazy Ascendants after me now! I’m not God, I don’t want followers, I just want… Wait. What do I want? Defeated, I hung my head, and let my mind drift into the churning darkness below, able to see thanks to the pervasive amount of mana that saturated the marine biome. And oh boy is it pretty! Everything, and I do mean everything had a glow to it, kinda like bioluminescence but with mana. Pinks and purples, greens and blues, and oranges and reds swam all around while projected against the steady backdrop of the lake’s navy mana. Some tiny fish flitted about in schools while the majority were larger and mostly solitary.There were a few crustaceans too, some even large enough to fight a dog, but those critters stuck to the swaying strands of grasses–which also glowed a sorta heliotrope-ish color. As the lake denizens swam or swayed, the water carried emanations of their mana which created this aurora-like effect, giving each and every one its own trail that faded out a few seconds after they passed. I enjoyed the beauty of the mysterious aquatic atmosphere, and sent my senses down as far as I could, but strangely enough, I couldn’t find the bottom. Based on the width of the lake you’d think that it’d be around this level, but from what I see of the lakebed, someone, or rather, something has been making the lake deeper. Which is especially weird considering that the water level hasn’t dropped. I mean, I guess there is a cliff on the one side, but the rest of the shore is flat ground, and sandy too, making me doubt it was eroded. Plus the Count probably would’ve told me if there was some sorta geographical collapse. I shifted back into myself but with wings, and frowned. “So why is Gretkarn digging so deep? Don’t tell me he’s following in the footsteps of some greedy dwarves and is going to accidentally unleash an ancient evil!” Chuckling at the image of the great and terrible ‘Bal-frog’ that I imagined, I cast, scintillating barrier, around myself like a second skin, and then dove headfirst at the water’s surface. Given my height and the speed of my plunge I made it pretty deep, scattering the shimmering trails of the fish as I went. I shifted my wings into fins, webbed my fingers and toes, and grew a large fishy tail to maintain my momentum as I delved deeper still. At this point the natural appearance of the lake vanished. No more sand or grasses, no more fish or crabs, from here on it was only a dark spiral into the abyss. And I do mean spiral, as the stone was hewn in a funnel shape, starting wide and narrowing as it went. I noticed that the ambient mana was churning along the ridges of the spiral in a rather fascinating way, and as I observed it Uriel buzzed. Effect resisted: Hypnosis. Countered by Insanity Immunity. Oh. Oh that’s nasty. So there’s a reason as to why he he dug it this way, but can it reach the surface? A second buzz came a moment later. Conclusion: No. The structure is likely defensive in nature, meant to ward off those who are strong enough to invade. Ha! Nice try Gretty! But you’re going to have to do better than that. I swam down toward the black center of the spiral. I was honestly impressed that it could get any darker, but the several hundred foot wide cavity somehow was, and all my senses could gather from down there, was… well… nothing. Okay, what’s the big idea? You mean to tell me it’s empty? How can he not be home?! He’s a fish! Uriel buzzed yet again. Notice: This is the entrance to Gretkarn's domain. It is shrouded from outside detection unless greater authority is used to push through it--though this will likely be considered an act of hostility. Normal entry is possible for user, as is complete destruction of the domain. Right. Good to know. Especially the part that I have options should our talks break down. I glanced at the navy undertone of the water’s mana and how it slowly gathered around me before being stopped by my barrier. And it looks like they’ll break down given he’s filled the water with these little buggers. I was about to project some mana to knock on his metaphorical door when three massive tentacles shot up from the black sheet blocking my way. I hesitated, since I didn’t come here to fight, and the tentacles used that opportunity to entangle me and unceremoniously yank me in. As soon as I crossed the threshold my awareness was no longer inhibited. The space was big, but only about a third of the size of the rest of the lake. It was oval in shape, and would be perfectly smooth if not for the fact that every surface was coated in millions of little egg pouch thingies that wobbled and writhed with the water. The tentacles that held me fast belonged to a huge creature that I could only assume was the leviathan. It resembled a cross between a giant squid and a jellyfish, as it was a roughly cone shaped mass of squirming translucent tendrils with a few more solid tentacles mixed in on the one side. It gazed at me with a single beady eye roughly the side of Ysdra or Calden, as the other was shut tight since I guess Ymir stabbed it. Everything down here was dyed in the navy blue of Gretkarn’s mana, and the only reason I knew where the bugger was and didn’t mistake the leviathan for him was because he was the brightest point of navy mana and kinda swam up to me. Much, much smaller than I’d pictured, he was no larger than your average trout, and just as his followers described: a fish, with several tentacles dangling out from where his pelvic and anal fins should be. Also, he had a pair of more wiry whips that extended out from the corners of his mouth like whiskers. Not wanting to be any ruder that I’d already been by barging in at such an hour, I cleared my throat and said. “Gretkarn I presume?” The fish-freak’s tendrils lit up and his mouth flapped in what I could only assume was an incantation. I allowed it, since I felt no hostility, and since I could use Uriel to study his magic to improve my own. Plus, if my earlier experience is any hint, his magic likely isn’t a threat. The spell was cast a moment later and a rough, all around unpleasant voice entered my mind; yet I knew he was only using the spell to talk at me, not to me. ~You speak, but your words mean nothing. You swim like Us, but you live on land. We have been waiting for a strong one like you. We are delighted.~ About as unfriendly as I expected, but we, really? I squinted my eyes at him, but he didn’t look like a colony creature. Perhaps he’s just using the royal we since he basically owns the lake. Uriel buzz, buzz, buzzed again. Incantaion analyzed: Telepathy of the Mind over mind discipline has been acquired. Great timing! Telepathy! I felt the spell complete and the one sided connection he’d established became two way. ~Glad I could make your day. As you might’ve noticed I didn’t come to harm you, rather I was hoping we could talk and maybe come to an understanding.~ The little fish gaped at me, then flailed into a swarm of bubbles. Despite the rather adorable reaction, the mana rolling off of him suddenly spiked and the leviathan reacted by squeezing me tighter, not to the point of harm, but it was definitely getting uncomfortable. ~No! Silence! We are the one who rules! All others are to be ruled! We speak! You listen! Obey!~ He started glowing again, but I just sniffed and waited to learn new spells. But while I’m waiting for him to cast, Uriel what’s his status? Another buzz followed my request, but the window that opened was unlike any I’d seen. Name: Gretkarn Species: Terrestrial Deity Health: Blocked Mana: Blocked Endurance: Blocked Strength: Blocked Agility: Blocked Speed: Blocked Toughness: Blocked Spirit: Blocked Status conditions: Enraged; Offended; Insane; ??? Titles: False God; Ruler of the lake; Bender of Wills; Uninvited Guest; Usurper; Parasite; ??? Abilities: Blocked Name: N/A Species: Briliant Trout Health: 2/5 Mana: 3/10 Endurance: 2/25 Strength: 15 Agility: 30 Speed: 12 Toughness: 3 Spirit: 10 Status conditions: Weakened; Drained; Parasitized Titles: Host of a False God Abilities: Swimming lv: 100 Aquatic hunting lv: 45 Burst of speed lv: 37 Hmm. There’s some pretty concerning stuff in there, poor fish too, but nothing I didn’t expect. As for his blocking everything, two can play at that game. He cast whatever he was casting, but this time I chose to resist it. From what I knew spirit was what enabled magic resistance and since mine was maximized I really wasn’t afraid of anything he threw at me. Because even though I can’t see his stats I doubt he’s stronger than that Ascendant lady, otherwise I’d probably already be dead. Sure enough, nothing happened, and Uriel notified me for like the tenth time in the last hour. Notice: Hypnosis resisted through combination of will and ability Insanity Immunity. Adding the new spell to repertoire. I rolled my eyes and sighed into his literally tiny brain. ~Anything else you’d like to try? Or can we get to negotiating?~ He thrashed around again only this time his mana caused some pretty powerful currents to shake the cavern. ~Insolence! We will not suffer this from our new host! We have waited too long! Grown too much! Conquered too many!~ I scowled at him and let my intimidation ability loose. ~Hold on there. Host? Me? That’s not happening. You might be the, heh, ‘big’ fish in this pond, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be fried by a bigger one~ My intimidation had no real effect on him, it did cause the leviathan to tense up a little, but Gretkarn just kept wiggling around like a kid throwing a tantrum. ~Blasphemy! Arrogance! Insolence! We will rule you! We will rule all! Everyone will be Gretkarn! Gretkarn will be everyone! This is our purpose! This is why we were awakened by the Great One!~ I shook my head and tried to think over the noise he was injecting into my thoughts. Okay, just ignore the insane ranting, Anon. Even if it does sound dangerous. Anyway, it’s safe to say negotiations broke down before they even began, so what do I do now since I know he’s got frightening ambitions and no intention to play nice? Do I just try to take him in a straight fight here and now? Or should I scarper and nuke the whole blinkin’ lake regardless of the consequences? Or perhaps I’ll try to pry more info out of him about the details of his plans and unknown status condition and title?