Amara and Varga had hung around for the first few months after Tormash took over as Grand Chieftain. Tormash was happy to keep things as they were, with the only real change being he'd like to see more young orcs taking non-combat classes as a secondary class. With a push towards enchanters and smiths.

He also said that he'd like to see the Red River dungeon be used as a place for young orcs to get tenacity. It'd be safer, they'd lose fewer children in the process, and it would get children used to respawning enemies and having to watch their backs for traps. The trek to and from the dungeon could also be used to teach them the skills needed to survive on the Shattered Plains.

The first challenger had been the Chieftain of another tribe. To prove a point, Tormash fought him without using his skills or weapons. The level difference was just far too prevalent. Tormash handily won the fight by breaking the other Chieftain's arms. Word quickly spread that one monolith of power had been exchanged for another, much younger, monolith of power. The Demonsbane clan name was even more terrifying to orcs.

Ralrouk stood in the grand library of the glass spire. "After we have dealt with the Sage. I'll be taking my leave. My brother has asked me to be his War General. I plan to accept it."

Arlyss nodded as he spoke the words. "I had thought he might. We'll be sad to see you go, Lord Ralrouk. You've been an invaluable ally. But I'm grateful that you will stay to see the Sage put to dust."

Kismet fidgeted a bit before stepping forward. "I will be leaving with him. When that time comes."

That caught Trillia completely off-guard. Arlyss only nodded once more. "I look forward to the feast of your union as well. I am grateful that you have both found someone to make you happy." Kismet seemed relieved. Maldoun was utterly confused, and Ralrouk refused to look at anyone in the room, instead choosing to stare up at the ceiling.

Trillia was quickly realizing that she was not an observant orc when it came to social situations.

Shaking her head, she changed the subject. "How close are we?"

Arlyss motioned to a map that had been splayed out on a table. Really it was several maps layered on top of each other to make a single whole map. "Another month or two at best. I think we've found the dungeon he is using as a base of operations. That worries me. It means he has either found a way to enslave a core. Or is allied with the core in such a way it's willing to do his bidding and let him stay there."

Maldoun glanced once more at his sister and Ralrouk. Not entirely sure what to say or how to approach the supposed union. Shaking his head and looking down at the map himself. "Which do you think is worse for us?"

Arlyss ran his fingers over some stubble that was growing in. "I genuinely don't know. Which worries me. Cores aren't known to be hospitable for that long to something that's not contracted or bound to them. Which means that the core itself is indebted to the same deity as the sage. I had hoped their strength would be weakened, considering that [Scorned Divinity] is still in effect."

Trillia spoke up at that. "That reminds me, what happened to your brother? I thought he was supposed to come and help us?"

Arlyss nodded and tapped the map. "He attacked a [Primordial] that had shown signs of waking on his continent."

The room went silent. It was seen as suicide to attack a [Primordial] with some rather strong divinity to seal it.

"And?" Kismet asked softly.

Arlyss smiled a little. "Turns out that immortals are incredibly durable creatures. Riten ordered his men to retreat and held a mountain pass for three weeks alone. I personally believe he should have already become a deity by now. Which leads me to believe he is refusing to become one until he gets a domain he wants."

Everyone looked at him with confused expressions. Arlyss nodded as if remembering he was speaking to mortals. "We choose when to ascend. Sort of like mortals who hit certain milestones. I ascended immediately because I knew I would need divinity on my side. Not only to deal with the Sage but also to make the people of D'Jamu listen. Knowledge is one of the weakest domains to have as a deity, despite mortals believing it otherwise."

Arlyss pulled a chair over and sat. Looking over the map with a heavy sigh. "My guess is that Riten wants a domain that allows him more flexibility in power. Our domains give us power and governance over the forces of nature that fall within them. Knowledge can be helpful when you have an army of followers. However, in a direct confrontation. A deity of death, for instance, would decimate me."

"Didn't you pick up the Unity domain?" Trillia spoke up, remembering the notification from before.

Arlyss bobbed his head slightly. "I did. Again, it's a domain that shines when I have more followers. I am trying to avoid pulling the city of D'Jamu into a full-on war with the undead. They just got their freedom and their lives back. I've sent word to Riten but haven't received anything back. I don't know if he is still trying to fight or keep a [Primordial] contained alone or not."

Ralrouk was the next to raise a question. "You have another sibling, correct? I recall there being four orbs of light in the sky that night. Your mother and her three children?"

Arlyss nodded. "Yes. I have kept very loose contact with my mother. Not only is she trying to hold the entire central continent together without the guidance of deities, but she also has to contend with her own [Primordial] stirring. My sister Mariah is learning to lead from my mother. I don't want to interrupt that process. The end goal for the three of us is to ascend at all costs. Doing so should remove the debuff and allow the other deities - notably our father - to interact with Alirast directly."

Slow rhythmic vibrations began to shake the tower. Arlyss groaned and began rubbing his eyes. "Fuck" Was all the young deity said. The others looked at him quizzically for a moment before a notification appeared in front of their faces.

WARNING! [Primordial Centralis] has awoken!

All non-sapient monsters have had their stats boosted.

All [Primordial Spawn] now level twice as quickly.

All spawn rates of non-sapient monsters have tripled.

All other [Primordials] will awaken more rapidly.

The first of seven locks has been broken!

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Trillia trembled as she looked from the notification to Arlyss. Panicked shouting and cries of terror began to drift up to them from the city below. Arlyss shook his head. "I knew we had a few years...I had hoped for just a little more time."

Trillia spoke softly, barely able to manage a whisper. "Which one is that?"

"The Central Continent. It is the strongest of them, which is why Kadessa is situated on the cliff-side overlooking its dungeon. The worrying part is that it will send out tendrils to awaken the others." As Arlyss stood, Trillia could feel the energy radiate from him. Could feel the telepathic bond he had with so many of his followers, reaching out to soothe some and order others.

Ralrouk looked at Trillia, who nodded. "Lord Arlyss. We need to attack the Sage now. We can't spare a few more months of battle planning. We need to deal with one threat and focus entirely on the [Primordials]. Or ascending your sibl-"

She paused as another notification popped up in her mind.

A Godling has ascended to become a Lesser Deity of Courage on Alirast!

Arlyss nodded and closed his eyes. A moment later, another figure stepped out of the light shining through the windows. Trillia felt the pressure of divinity once more. This figure stood as tall as Ralrouk, covered head to toe in the same crystalline material from which her rapier was made. Brilliant white orbs of flame sat in the helmet. Trillia saw an orcish figure, but she knew that was the deity's veil.

Arlyss looked over and nodded. "Brother. I see you chose to ascend."

The voice that came from the figure made Trillia flinch. Deep, baritone, and laced with enough power to cripple warriors. "No choice. If Centralis has awoken, we need another deity that wants us to survive. I've been in contact with the deity of the forge. It still remains neutral and refuses to push the true dwarves to action."

The figure strode up to Arlyss, all but ignoring the others in the room. "Mother says that with the two of us, she can manage a sealing spell for at least one of the [Primordials]. But it will drain both of us greatly and leave us vulnerable to attack. It may even cost us our titles as a deity and push us back to godlings."

Arlyss rubbed his eyes and slumped back into the chair. "Mariah?"

Riten shook his head. "Still nothing. It's difficult for her to garner followers and worshippers while being near Mother. Mother refuses to ascend."

"The smarter choice. If she becomes immortal, she is not weak like us. The number of rules and stipulations that will be laid at her feet will make it so she is unable to help us." As Arlyss finished the statement, Riten nodded.

"I agree with her reasoning. I just worry for our future." Finally, the deity of courage looked over at the others and gave the faintest of nods. "I need not introduce myself to any of you. You know who I am. I know who all of you are. I am here to help you solve the undead crisis on your hands. I have bad news on that front."

Arlyss motioned for him to continue. "The Sage is a keystone lich. Do I need to explain more?"

As everyone began to nod, he continued. "A keystone creature is required by the realm to continue existing. All of the [Primordials], for instance, are Keystone Great Beasts."

Arlyss interjected at this point. "Realm cores are quite different from dungeon cores. A realm core is created with a purpose. Alirast is a prison. The keystone creatures on Alirast must continue to exist to ensure that the seals of the prison stay strong enough to keep what is locked away imprisoned."

Riten nodded his thanks. "The easiest way for me to explain this. Is that the Sage, as you know it, killed the former Keystone Lich. The darkness that invaded its soul slowly killed it and drove it mad. The ogre made its way to this desert, hoping that it would be somewhat contained. It made a deal with the deity of death to seal it in the desert. If we are to kill this creature. The keystone lich needs another host."

At this point, everyone was sitting except for Riten. "Arlyss and I could theoretically harbor it. But it would still slowly corrupt us and turn us into the lich in its place."

As Trillia was about to speak up, Maldoun did instead. "Let it be me. I would ask to become your Pact-Bound warrior, Lord Riten. I would also ask you to guide me through the process."

Tears began to well up in Kismet's eyes. She began shaking her head. Maldoun stood with a smile. "We should also find a way to seal me away. So that when I am fully corrupted, I cannot bring ruin into yet another city."

Kismet stepped forward. "No! There has to be another way. Can't we just seal this lich away? Why must we pass on the curse again?"

Arlyss spoke up. "That was the plan. That's why I've gone through such great lengths to pattern the desert the way I have. That plan is still a few months from fruition."

Trillia stood up now. "I propose a new plan. Why don't we bring your sister here and attack the [Primordial] sleeping under the Western continent?"

Everyone turned to her with confused looks on their faces. She continued. "If she is the leader of the charge, I am sure we can get her enough followers and worshippers to make her ascend. That's the goal, right? If she ascends, your father can return? Will that be enough?"

Riten seemed to ponder that. Arlyss looked at Trillia for a moment. "I have an idea. I want everyone to leave the room. I'll be sealing it with divinity. Trillia, ask the Fountain for a way to ascend Mariah with the help of Riten and I. If it gives you an answer, we will go with your plan. If it remains silent, we attack the Sage now and let Maldoun harbor the keystone."

Everyone nodded except for Kismet. Who stared pleadingly at Arlyss and Trillia. Ralrouk ushered her out. Riten remained in the room when the doors closed. "Is it alright if I am here?"

Arlyss looked at him and nodded. "So long as you understand that anything you hear, see, or read from her mind is never to leave the three of us."

Riten's eyes darkened. "I swear it on my divinity. Until such a time as you deem worthy, I shan't speak of what I hear."

Once both nodded. Trillia sat on the floor and closed her eyes. Reaching out to the small shrine in her mind where the divine skill sat and waited.

'Fountain of Lethe. Guide my hands to action. Show me the path that leads Mariah Darktone to ascension with those in this room. Show me the path that leads to salvation.'

Trillia chanted the saying over and over again. She felt her experience tighten, and her mana slowly begins to drain. Suddenly she wasn't in the grand library anymore. Instead, she sat on the edge of the universe, surrounded by stars, staring into the inky darkness of oblivion. The first time she had used this skill had been humbling and terrifying. Honestly? Those feelings hadn't changed.

A single eye opened that was larger than Alirast itself. Trillia could look in any direction in front of her, and all she could see was the eye. After a moment, her brain began to burn with flashing images. She saw them leading a charge and getting wiped out. She saw them all go to the central continent and watched as the other [Primordials], now unchecked, ran amuck.

She watched Maldoun harbor the keystone and kill Kismet as his mind immediately broke under the weight of the curse. Finally, she saw Ralrouk kneeling in front of a woman with silver hair and silver eyes. Stretched out behind him was the mana rift of the Shattered Plains. She took a dagger and plunged it into her chest, carving out part of her still-beating heart. Trillia ran the Sliver of Fate through Ralrouk's heart. As his body fell lifeless to the side, the ravine shuddered closed behind them.

The entire series repeated several times, each time ending with her killing a member of her family or a dear friend.

Trillia saw the notifications that appeared each time.

Trait Acquired: The Grand Betrayer

A Godling has ascended to become a Lesser Deity of Sacrifice on Alirast!

Her vision went black. Her eyes fluttered open to find herself laying on the floor in the grand library. Riten and Arlyss sat on the floor near her, their eyes darkened by what they saw in her mind. Trillia curled up in a ball and closed her eyes tightly.

Arlyss shook his head. "I think we should find another way. The fountain does not always show us every path forward."

Riten grabbed Arlyss by the shoulder and tugged gently. "Let's give her a moment to process what we have all seen. We stand united with you, Trillia. We will discuss with the others some more options that might be available."

She heard them stand and leave, she whispered softly to herself.

"Please. Don't make me kill my family. Please save me, Dawn."

She repeated it several times as she tried to curl tighter and tighter into a ball. There had to be another way.