Frozen Soul, and other works: Chapter 218

From the deck of the Veil of Twilight, I watched as the orb of misty purple energy flew from the mouth of the great cannon. This was the first time that the Twilight’s Caress had been fired, and I was interested to see what the weapon was capable of. Because of the… mixed nature of my divine backing, I decided against using the more destructive settings for the cannon, and instead used the third option, which would cause a special effect based on the kind of magic I used to charge the weapon.

The orb crashed upon the side of Duskhaven Hill, in the middle of the Noble District. As planned, the wave of energy flew out in all directions. Not a single person, creature, or item in the area suffered even a single point of HP damage, but I knew that there would be an effect. Of course, the radius of the blast was almost 190 miles, but those of us on the ship were immune to the effect, while those allies around us had all been given single-use enchantments that completely blocked the next magical effect of a certain type that came in contact with them. All were set to the same type of magic as I used to charge the cannon, and so none of our forces were hindered by the blast.

Interestingly enough, not everyone in the city was affected, either. I had been expecting it, but it was still pleasant to see that the mass of Duskhaven Hill had blocked the effects of the Unholy Degredation shot, causing a wedge to form on the eastern shore, as the magic did not touch the Slums, and the lands beyond them. Of course, the slums were not the only areas that weathered the onslaught, for the Temple District was alight with several domes of energy, as the wards upon the various temples fought to keep back the magic.

I noted that eight of the temples glowed stronger than the others. Two of them, I knew the cause immediately, for one was Mystra’s temple, which had the aid of the Mage’s college nearby and their wards reinforced each other. The other was the Temple of Sharess, long embattled in this city, but even the Theocracy knew better than to try and tear down one of her major temples, especially after I had given my warning that Sharess knew of what happened to her followers Lastwall, and she was greatly angered by what had happened. Both those temples had been warned of the assault, and had prepared accordingly.

The other six, however, looked like there may be trouble. Ilmater and Pelor’s temples were obviously lit, no doubt signifying that their gods had sent avatars to the city. Sezphy’s temple glowed, but the color was a pale white, like moonlight, not the gold one would associate with her. Perhaps someone else had moved in? The other three? Helm was a god of sentinels and protectors, so one might expect his temple to always be prepared for an assault. Selune was a moon goddess and favored by female mages. That, no doubt, was a reaction to my presence nearby. And, well, Torm was a god of paladins and other such protectors, and he was often shown riding a golden dragon into battle against evil of all sorts, but especially evil dragons. It looked as though there would be quite a bit of conflict in the future.

(Duskhaven Keep, Duskhaven)

Haymo Runeless, Knight of the Realm, Paladin of Sezphy, leader of the Crimson Onslaught and the Grand Crusade of the Righteous, and Prime Exarch of the Theocracy of Ograin was restless. Despite the best efforts of the Grand Crusade and their Inquisitors, they had not been able to quash the rumors. The damn Shadow Alliance was to blame, of course. For three years, they’d been a thorn in his side, always managing to keep their ‘local’ members out of the Inquisition’s eye. Any Shadows they caught were all Travelers, and they never got the punishment they truly deserved.

For three long years, he’d tried to bring those insufferable brigands out of the shadows and purify them with cleansing fire, but they’d refused to die. The foolish locals fell prey to their whispers and lies, preferring the squalor of their so-called freedom rather than embracing justice and order and being cared for as a productive follower of the light. Worse, the restrictions placed by the Inquisitors to root out heresy would often find people actually fleeing their comfortable lives in the city to live in the slums, where the Inquisition could not go unless they were armed and armored for war, and even then only if they possessed enough numbers to ensure that the heretics would not try to assault them. More than once he had envisioned simply putting the slums to the torch, and rooting out the nest of vipers and heretics once and for all. Indeed, several of his advisors had suggested just that. But he knew that was not the path of justice, and that it would just drive more of those who were being misled into embracing the darkness.

Of course, there was no silencing the rumors amongst the Travelers, and it would have been foolish to try. But he had hoped to limit the spread of tales amongst the locals. The fact that the Temple of Sezphy’s wards had shattered, the Eternal Lights had gone out, and all members of Sezphy’s clergy, both priests and paladins, had felt the power leave them all of a sudden simply could not be hidden. Anyone with an ounce of magical insight could see that something had happened. And the damn whispers from the Shadow Alliance were there to tell them exactly what: that the Demon of the Amhelin Planes had discovered what the Theocracy had done to those heretics in Lastwall, and had taken out his wrath upon their goddess, consorting with a demon lord to strip Sezphy of her divinity. The rumors, apparently, went into far more detail about how the Bastard had defiled and violated his goddess, and they were no doubt spread by the Bastard himself.

But normal rumors could be quashed. Even rumors like these, if they had been in the real world, could have been spun around on their heads and turned to their—his—advantage. This game world, however, with its game effects and game rules, had constantly thwarted his attempts over the last two weeks to combat the rumors. Divination magic had been used to thwart him. The scryers searching for truth were problematic, but could be dealt with. The members of the Shadow Alliance who hid in crowds and cast truthtelling and lie detection spells whenever his people tried to ‘set the record straight’ were becoming a foe that had to be dealt with, before everything they’d worked for over the last three years came crashing down.

Of course, the worst was that the game wrote the truth into his status for all to see. Oh, there were skills and other abilities one could use to hide or edit what those who Observed you might see, but a high enough skill level would see through it, and if it got out that a Paladin had such a skill, it could tear the Theocracy apart. Which meant he had to deal with the humiliation of his status on a daily basis.

Haymo Runeless

Half-Celestial Human Male

Level 150 High Justicar (Paladin) / Grand Warleader (Marshal)

Titles: Pure One, Genius, True Believer, Orc Bane, Undead Bane, Manslayer, Evil Bane, Demon Bane, Troll Bane, Lost Servant, Follower of a Fallen Goddess

Lost Servant

Belief is a powerful force. But what happens when a believer is faced with the object of their faith being ripped away? You served a higher power, but that power has been brought low. Will you forsake your vows and find a new master? Or become the master yourself?

-500 Fame

-10% Morale penalty on all actions

Follower of a Fallen Goddess

As a Paladin, your connection to your chosen diety is usually stronger than those of any save her priests. However, your goddess has fallen, either slain or reduced to mortality. This title cannot be removed until your goddess is restored, or you choose a new god to follow.

Lose all Divine spells and abilities

Divine spells (including divine healing) are 75% less effective on you, all other spells are 25% less effective on you.

The last two titles had been slapped on him, and every surviving priest or paladin of Sezphy, when the Bastard had done whatever ritual it was that allowed him and that bitch Malcanthet to defile his goddess and strip her of her divinity. Unfortunately, people had quickly spotted the change, and reported it around the city. If he hadn’t still had his martial skills, he likely would have been replaced by one of the other ambitious members of the Theocracy. But as Prime Exarch, he commanded the loyalty of their Travelers, and that counted for a great deal.

“My Lord! Dragons sighted to the west! The mages say that they came out of a massive portal in the sky! The Farseer said that the one in their center was Mirelth!”

The news the messenger brought to his throne room shattered his reverie. What few people were left in the great hall at this late hour began whispering amongst themselves. Still, this was a chance! Haymo drew himself up, rising from the Golden Lion Throne that had once belonged to the King of Ograin, and pulled his sword from its sheath. “The bitch would not have come alone, not with the preparations being made in the city! The Corruption Made Flesh has come, and we shall meet him in battle! Sound the alarms! Everyone, prepare for battle! For the Theocracy! FOR THE LIGHT!” He may have lost his divine powers, but the Marshal class was designed for the leading of men into battle, and he retained all those skills. The whispering stopped, and a fire shone in the eyes of the people, as the messenger turned to give the orders.

All of a sudden, there was a flash through the windows, as an orb of purple light hit the walls of the Morledge estate halfway down the hill, and exploded! Haymo shielded his eyes from the initial light, only to see the wave of magic expanding outwards, passing through the walls of the noble estates as though they were nothing. The Keep’s protections flared briefly and then failed. The Mage’s College and the disciples of Mystra were the ones who maintained the wards, but they had refused to approach the castle or leave their halls because of the crackdown on warlocks and necromancers, who were counted amongst their number. Haymo brandished his shield as the wave of magic crashed through the throne room, and resolved to resist it as best he could.

EVENT NOTICE!

The Siege of Duskhaven

Woe to the people of Duskhaven! Woe to the people of Ograin! The actions of the Theocracy have long gone unchecked, but now the pantheons are moving against each other, with mortals at the forefront of their battles to stop the Theocracy of Ograin’s actions. Zayn Darkmore, Chosen of Sharess, has led the Aria of the Twilight and their allies to Duskhaven! Rise up, and defend the Theocracy! Or take this time to stand, and throw off the yoke of your oppressors! Be warned, that the gods themselves may descend to fight alongside you mortals who take up arms in this conflict!

Yes! An event to stop the evil bastard! That would rally people to his cause. That explosion, whatever it was, must have been just lights past where it hit, for his HP didn’t even drop a point. Now, he would lead the forces of the light, and restore Sezphy to her proper place in the world, and all would be well! Sword and shield in hand, he gave a great cry, and began charging towards the door, to meet the Corruptor in a battle long overdue!

And yet, he screamed in pain as he was brought up short! Turning to look behind him, he saw… himself? His body lay crumpled upon the floor of the keep, sword and shield having fallen from his hands. A ghostly chain stretched from his body towards him, pulled taut. Looking down, he saw that he was not in his body, but was some kind of ghostly spirit, and a chain ran from his chest to his body.

Curse of the Soul Chain

You have been touched by powerful Soul Magic! Your spirit has been ripped from your body by the force of Twilight’s Caress while charged with Soul Magic mana. For the next six hours, you will exist as an incorporeal specter in spirit form. Rules for interacting with corporeal beings are as normal.

Protect your Soul Chain, which connects you to your body! If it breaks, you risk succumbing to a terrible affliction from which only the strongest recover. Those who are weak-souled succumb to the affliction, and become Undead creatures, who prey on the souls of those with great connection to the divine. Your Soul Chain stretches up to 15 feet, though knowledge of Soul Magic can extend that distance.

Haymo raged at this second notification, but he was helpless to do anything about it! If that weapon had covered the whole city, then all of his forces would be useless in the coming battle, trapped by their own soul chains! And few had the magics that would allow incorporeal beings to attack the living. The majority of Duskhaven had been taken out of the fight before it even began! “DAMN THAT BASTARD! I WILL SEE HIS HEAD UPON A PIKE IF IT IS THE LAST THING I DO!”