Amun Za'Darmondiel-Nox.
1st of Septara, 1492.
0440.
***
The problem with seeing and hearing all, was that there was no such thing as rest.
The Diadem of Empyrean Facultas forged nails of knowledge and poised them over my brain, the Soul Surveillance perk was like a giant's hammer driving it home. Just as I could sense all things that transpired within ten kilometers of me, my holy symbols, legionaries, my clergy, or anyone who has spoken my name, I could experience reality through any an all I've made pacts or dealings with.
Alone, that translated to me having to 'tap in' in order to sense these things. The Eternal Eye, however, made such a thing passive, filtering information through my many layers of perception to bring the most interesting things to the forefront of my mind. And so I heard all Zorrenor said during his meeting with the Southern Peninsula's rulers.
And so, I had orders to amend.
That was not to say it was all bad, however. With everything Grandmaster Vilignin, Kai'sha, Lance, and Zorrenor told me, there was little need to go out of my way in search of citizens and allies from now on.
The Southern Bodhi Peninsula was around 15,000 kilometers long from north to south, while the furthest point in the east was around 6,500 kilometers away from the most-western point. On it was everything from swamps to taigas, wastelands and a fair scattering of vast cities separated by even more vast distances. Even then, however, the population was only around 77 million. It was enough to fill each legion out nicely and give each of them an associated kingdom to boot. But that depended on the willingness of the natives.
All things considered, I assumed Rhar would be the only real problem. While his sister didn't mind me, Corym loathed my existence. As the Rharian King, I assumed such a mindset flowed to his subordinates, as was the case with his regent.
Of course, I could always just take the northern peninsula along with whoever wished to go and leave the rest. But then again, not taking the South would have been a waste. After all, even if the elevation was raised, the resulting island would be battered by the World Sea until they were swallowed entirely; though, they would live happily ever after until then, assuming Polaris didn't bother them or they didn't fuck off into the Faewoods.
At any rate, I refused to do anything without the people having a choice in the matter, so I took the time to assign each Legion a country to contact and held back on giving the order. They were still on leave, after all. Some of them had been working continually for a nearly full year now, and that wasn't counting their trips in temporally displaced domains. I didn't want to ruin their well-deserved time of celebration for anything short of a cataclysm. So, as their leader, that meant I had to take it upon myself.
Or, that would be the case if they didn't have doppelgangers, much less divine domains and powers of their own.
That aside, there was also the Northern Bodhi Peninsula to consider. It was around the same size as the South, but had no civilizations on either the surface or the Underground. As the Shadeforge taught me, the same couldn't be said for the Darkworld, but any societies down there would have little issues remaining to themselves once the surface disappeared. The immense depths of the world seas meant that the water would solidify under the immense pressure and that would be that.
That was neither here nor there, however. The Shadow of Death loomed above the Bodhi Tree. Thus, it would not do to have the Southerners relocate north. As such, there was no need to adjust my plans for it.
In short, I was going to give Zorrenor's corpse and the tree to Reina and have her birth the Bodhi Brood, either placing it at the edge of Maru's borders or around the dormant tree. His soon-to-be cursed eye would become a vessel for his spirit, including his arcane well, knowledge, memories, love affinity, and abilities, preserved for the Bodhi Brood and my ends. As for his hand, I was yet undecided. Of course, the Void Devil's Claws would sever it, leaving me with a piece of his soul. But I would take the withered hand too and… probably make something out of it.
I had time to think about it.
The Misty Arbor, on the other hand, was something I still struggled to make sense of. With a surface area of 1.5 billion square kilometers, it took up an area equal to that of a small gas giant. For comparison, Neptune was around 7 billion square kilometers, whereas Earth was only about 500 million. But where Neptune was a sphere of volatile gas and other matter, the Misty Arbor was an expanse that looked like the Mediterranean was put on steroids and moved to the equator, birthing a Jovian-sized cirque of dark tropical forests, rolling golden hills, and brick-red cliffs.
Ruled by a venerable ancient cobalt dragon, the ocean had an average depth of only 3 kilometers; 5 at its deepest point, with the shores averaging 1 kilometer, maintained across its entirety by the giant beavers Kai'sha mentioned. Naturally, those were expanded upon to become the docks of true-to-the-name city-states interspersed by thousands of kilometers of untamed wilds and open roads. And wild those lands were. While steamy, dreadfully hot, and filled with exotic creatures, the land boasted as many biomes as the Bodhi Tree. The peak of the cirque gave way to a seemingly never-ending landscape of towering mountains in all directions but south-southeast and north-northwest; the region's water source, in case of the latter, and the dam that made the place possible at its opposite; beyond which sat a desert expanse that was allegedly home to an ancient violet dragon.
All things considered, the region was the perfect industrial playground for me, Iris, and Reina; albeit for various reasons. But the true benefit in claiming the region was its population. A whopping 359.4 billion people were reported to be living within the realm's ten countries, and they ranged from your standard Marulean species to civilized orcs and goblins, as well as an isolated dragonborne conclave, and even some sentient serpentine, arachnoid, and other such species native to Nonus. A strong Amazonian presence, two residing ancient dragons, a demonic invasion, and the prospects of Polaris wanting the Keepers out of their lands made next year quite the interesting prospect.
All that was left to follow was the Guild Master course in the following year. Throughout it all, however, as much work as possible was to be done with the Marulean Guild Association, Maru as a whole, Imkeruram, and the Legions if we were to get the edge over the invaders, which translated to more training, more research and development, and more sprinting down our paths.
As for now, the only thing to do was to seek out the rulers of the Southern Peninsula, scattered across the compound. Thus, I connected my spirit and thus my mind to the ArcaTech spread across the compound, creating packets of information that streamed their way to Selph the moment they radiated from my temples. With key information redacted, the packets passed along Simion's mind to Iris' components, which copied and analyzed the data to influence the general's game and refine the orders placed on the back burner before they were transmitted en masse.
There were, however, problems; a certain sky sorceress, approaching me and Granny Abbot. "The Headmaster requests your presence."
Yet another addendum.
I followed Mallory with a nod and nary a look back to the Troupe, for they were eagerly focused on our private channel, waiting for me to enter and gaze upon the mix of species and emotions spread across the room's scattered tables.
Blazing red skin caught my eye as I entered, bringing my gaze to the Kasian Empire's massive high-orc ruler, Bluszil, nodding as I entered; with respect, I presumed, as I was certain the word of my encounter with his orcs had reached him. The Green Orc Chieftain, Stiol, followed suit, though the humans to the right of them didn't extend the same courtesy. One seemed aged and wise, the other young and charismatic, yet they both seemed to be soldiers who yearned for the same things in differing ways. However, the dwarves to their left were more curious.
Their king looked at me through his massive white beard with a mixed reaction, for a few familiar faces were among their apprehensive ranks; those dwarves Etan and I encountered when we met Leary; and the one and only Geingurr Redstone. Moreover, he kept a curious eye on King Corym's ire. Yet, he still seemed apprehensive.
Indra and several other Archdruids sat near the disgruntled King Corym, who sat before a far less disgruntled version of himself, one of his sons, I assumed, with the man I understood to be Ranren and Zaos' father, given by Zaos' proximity to him. Curiously, a halfling woman with caramel skin, blue eyes, and trinkets galore glared at me with half of Corym's intensity. Not because of my actions, I presumed, but because of the actions of my father, allegedly cursing Duchess Dana Moft Brybs.
As Ferris mentioned, the Chaulortian delegation was without their ruling Prince Daereindil. Instead, a rather hard boiled-looking half-high elven knight in regal armor stood next to her, a grayed gnome in an exotic hat, and a stressed elf in a wizard hat. The leading knight's steely blue eyes looked at me with the same placidity I often gave others, yet his eyes were filled with the same worries as those murmuring to each other around him.
Queen Isabella Ligin was at the center of the room, appearing like a veritable ice queen- pale skin, blonde hair, and icy blue eyes held within a tall frame adorned by feathers and an elegant warrior's dress. Two counts straddled her, both halflings, with a crowned highlander sitting across from them, glowing with radiance in my divine eyes.
Adjacent to their table was a nearly 2-meters tall orc with the same red skin as Bluszil; Mazi. Like the former, he was built as solidly as the trees his species manipulated. Yet he appeared much less civilized. His tusks, brows, and ears were pierced with bones and metal rings. A tattered tunic was stretched over his rippling chest, acting as an anchor to the thick leather pads stitched into place over his hips; a feral orc's idea of formal wear, I presumed. Those with him weren't much different, containing a green orc, a blue orc, a human, and a dwarf of the most barbaric varieties.
The nations I'd spent the most time in and around kept two tables between them - an irony, considering the Glutton, or King Darden Surela, was sitting alone beside President Zapp Zeelba, positively glowing with radiance. Princess Olscilia Nevstan sat at the table near them, her skin like sulfur and eyebrows like horns, similar to Sinestro and a few members of her court, aside from his crimson skin.
Knighilian President Leiroel Aetoris sat closest to Zorrenor and was the closest thing to a textbook wizard that I've seen. His skin was tan, with vibrant blue eyes akin to the Chaulortian knight, yet his long and silky hair was golden throughout instead of streaked with brown. He was tall, dressed in fine robes paired with the iconic wizard hat, and carried an ornate staff, though I could identify the arcane wand tucked into his robes.
I relegated my hearing to the Eternal Eye while Zorrenor addressed the crowd, attempting to gaze into as many eyes as possible until they started spouting the same sentiments I heard in the Falls.
***
Queen Isabella Ligin.
***
"The decision was never ours!" President Aetoris was saying.
While true for him, the same was not true for me. I was made an offer, yet not by this one. And so… "Not to mention, deciding is…difficult, due to how little we know of you." I added.
"Yes, let's get to know of him by discussing his crimes!" King Corym sneered most childishly.
'To think, he's over twenty times my age and acting like that?' I internally shook my head, veiling it beneath a calm demeanor as I turned to Amun, rolling his eyes alongside Abbot Eiriol- his great grandmother's snickering.
"Ugh! Fine." He huffed, turning to King Corym. "What crimes?"
"Do not pretend you don't know, Unicorn Slayer!"
"Nice!" Bluszil and the other orcs cheered and were hardly silenced by Corym's fist slamming into the table.
"It was in self-defense." Amun carelessly shrugged.
Rather calmly, I leaned forward before the ancient elf could have another outburst. "When?"
"Last year," Amun said. "He summoned me into the forest and told me I had to leave. I refused, and so we fought. And so he died."
"And so you defiled him by turning him undead."
"Well, obviously, Corym." Amun squinted, shaking his head as if he was confused. "I'm a necromancer. And it's not exactly defiling."
"What is it then?"
"Reincarnating." Amun shrugged, then leaned across his table to face the ancient elf with a boyish grin that was more appropriate for one his age. "Now, with that out of the way, shall we discuss your crimes, Corym? Zaos?"
"W- what crimes?" King Corym sneered.
"I'm glad you asked." Amun grinned, tapping the table to somehow produce a silver, blue-veined mushroom that emitted a puff of large spores.
As the spore cloud detached, one drifted over to each of our tables, growing into similar mushrooms that emitted something similar to the scrying windows used in the Bodhi Tree. A sight that made the elves of Rhar pale, for it displayed an identical visage to the elf sitting next to their regent. One of Amun's classmates, Zaos Torhorn, and another who shared the countenance of both him and the Rharian regent.
"Around the ninth hour of the Thirtieth Day of Trescia, one Ranren Torhorn and his brother, Zaos Torhorn were dispatched to scout the Rharian border to gauge the way the realm reacted to my ascension - that massive fucking beam and the arcana now present across the realm." Amun clarified to us before returning his gaze to King Corym. "Who dispatched them?"
Another slam of his fist unleashed a string of Elven words from King Corym's mouth; retorted by Amun immediately. "Answer the question, Corym. And please, speak in Common for the jury."
"You think this is a court?" Duchess Brybs scoffed.
"Hey, he's the one who wanted to point fingers. Anyway, you'll want to listen, Dana. It gets good." Amun turned back to King Corym as the recording played.
'Ranren, reporting in. Again, the denizens report residents disappearing in the night; here, more than any other place. Of the nearly hundred thousand dwarves, there now exists less than half of that. Those that remain are as non-compliant as always. Not that their lies are needed. Even a novice can see how the mountains above have been tainted. Like a mirror to our last report, the forest resembles the stream of energy that fell just days ago. It yields no sense of evil, but no goodness, either. Thus, we will investigate.
'By-'
"King Corym!" Amun smirked as the scrying suddenly halted, and his eyes shifted from the focused Zaos on screen to the young Rharian paling in his chair, yet burning with rage. "Who were you and your brother reporting to, Zaos?"
Another string of elven words cut through the air, causing Amun to recoil as if struck. "Wow. You don't speak drow? Interesting." He snorted, turning to his king. "Who was Ranren and Zaos Torhorn reporting to? You or you, Regent Torhorn?"
"That is none of your business!"
"I disagree. Regardless of that and who gave the order, you certainly received the report of Zaos and Ranren crossing your borders. You knew exactly where they were going. As did they, it seems. We'll soon learn why that's important." He smirked at us.
We watched Ranren ask Zaos about Amun's silver light and listened intently to his reply, finding it to be somewhat of a juxtaposition. His explanation indeed told us everything and yet explained nothing, yet none I'd asked had mentioned anything of infectious emotions or false mental images.
The apparent hypocrisy of it all made Amun snicker, I assumed. But then again, he could have been laughing at anything. Especially when the scrying showed Corym, his regent, and the young elf in question just how conspicuous the two were in trying to hide from Amun's light. Amun - he who ruled darkness.
Even they did not realize their folly. They halted their pace when a half-elf appeared before them, sealed within in a thick suit of armor, similar to Toril's knights. Murmurs ensued as she introduced herself as the 7th Legion's Prime Executor, Muirenn Snyder, and went on to explain the purpose of their legion and their actions in Rhar, followed by how it related to their actions there, in that silver grassland.
The room collectively leaned forward once silent shame made the young Rharian's eyes drop, bringing our undivided attention to her next words. "So now that you are here, ensure you deliver a message to your king when you give your report. We of the Seventh Noctis Legion will guide the residents of your kingdom who so desperately want to leave. The same ones you so vehemently wish to be gone, but keep trapped in your forest."
"We will not be conducting business with the likes of you!" the younger Torhorn erupted, mimicking his king perfectly.
"That's for King Corym and Regent Torhorn to decide." The Prime Executor said as Amun's inquisitive eyes settled on the pair. "But let it be known that we choose not to affiliate ourselves with a culture such as yours. Thus, we will not enter your lands or even speak to you. We will leave you be should you leave us be."
Spreading her hands, the Prime Executor smiled warmly as she looked each of them in the eye. Then the scrying halted, bringing our eyes to her emperor, god, and guild master, mirroring her perfectly. "So, King Corym and Regent Torhorn, have you made your decision? Will you leave us be?"
"Yes." Regent Torhorn quickly nodded; a slight surprise, considering his seething king. "We will allow your seventh legion to escort the residents outside our lands. And then we will close our forest. For good."
"Very well. They'll be gone before you know it." Amun nodded, and with no malice, smugness, satisfaction, or pride, even as his tone darkened. "We're not finished, however."
I noticed Torhorn's face pale as the scrying window shifted to display Zaos and Ranren, gazing up at a verdant forest set atop the range's tallest peak.
"…To have once thought He would build the bridge between civilization and nature is… embarrassing." The older Torhorn was saying.
"Oh, but I already have." Amun snickered. "Just look at Shujen."
"You are not to blame." The younger one shook his head. "His heritage aside, I did not think he was entirely evil at first."
"I'm not." Amun added.
"…Then he infected our classmates with his ideologies."
"True." Amun nodded.
"…robbed the Bodhi Tree of its purpose."
"Eh." Amun shrugged in contemplation; or disagreement.
"…and usurped the loyalty of nearly the entire class."
"More like; I showed them what a genuine leader is. I made them want to follow me."
"…Then, I realized two things. One. I almost fell for his spell. And two, that was only the beginning. The southern peninsula will be no different from what happened to the Bodhi Tree. Neither will the Mortal Plane, given enough time."
"All true, it turns out." Amun smiled at us in a most unsettling way. Yet it faded as quickly as it formed, followed by his murmurs. "Especially considering what Polaris has done. Regardless." He turned back to us, then gestured to the Shujen representative. "As you can see from Shujen, I clean up my messes rather efficiently."
Curiously, he fell silent after his words and Abbot Eiriol concentrated on their window, prompting many others to.
What transpired was most impressive; and most concerning.
A young half-high orc emerged from a tree as if she was a part of it, sparking a conversation that ended with the Rharian regent's older son drawing his bow and firing it into the distant crowd. And to devastating effect.
It was an act of unwarranted terrorism. But where Amun's predecessors would have unleashed their plagues without mercy, his legions showed lenience.
"Jaimess warned your king." The high-orc sneered. This is strike two. Three strikes, and you're fucking dead!"
What followed what a short-but-intense battle between the two Rharian elves and single Conditor Noctis legionary, supported by a few magical beasts throwing spells as she used powerful wood manipulation and spatial positioning to her advantage. A battle that ended with the older Torhorn getting bisected by a manipulated branch wielding a cruel weapon.
Bluszil and Mazi cheered when he went down, albeit with different intensities and for dissimilar reasons, causing Abbot Eiriol to snicker and the Rharians to fume. Archdruid Indra, however, looked melancholic; Amun, indignant.
"Your intrusion into the lands of Roheisa's tower resulted in the death of Jakobs. A thirteen-year-old boy who had yet to evolve. I do not take such transgressions against my subordinates lightly. Thus, Jakobs' murderer, Ranren Torhorn, Regent Torhorn's son, was executed, settling the Fourth Legion's blood debt. Their Valkyrie, however, settled mine." Amun grinned, revealing the evil made manifest his family was infamous for.
"Ranren's soul was delivered to my underworld. And you, Zaos, were delivered to your father's doorstep, where you not? How were you punished for your insubordination? Or were you permitted to cross your borders?"
"How was he delivered?" Regent Torhorn spat back, a quiver hidden beneath his centuries of experience. But all vibrations were perceptible to me.
"An act of providence." Amun grinned smugly. "Not by Caelarins Grace, but by my mercy for the weak. And so, I ask you." He turned his gaze about us, the Bodhi Peninsula's rulers. "Who here is more deserving of punishment? Whose crime is worse? Whose actions can truly be called 'evil'?"
"Well." I sighed after several moments, although it took no time for the orcs to answer in the most unkind ways. Unsanctioned though their actions were, these were the actions of rogue elements. And so, the issue lies with Rhar's... reluctance to hold the insubordinate survivor accountable for his actions. He is here, unpunished by your laws. It is not a favorable look for King Corym, I admit. Especially considering such… unruly behavior coming from an ancient elven king.
"However," I turned to Amun, "I wish to verify the claims of you conquering Shujen."
"Ask the people who live there." Amun dismissively snorted. "However, I will say that those who dwelled on the surface of Shujen never ruled the place to begin with. The Prime Matron of Zimysta Falls owned the land from the Darkworld to the surface. The drow of Nydorden Halls trained the Bodhi Tree's monks underground and sparingly used the surface. They hardly cared for it, aside from the pacts they made with their neighbors. Those who 'ruled' the surface could do what they wanted. And they wanted to kill me.
"Now, one may think I 'conquered' Shujen, recently, only because I've come to learn that my Nox blood is mixed with the blood of House Za'Darmondiel. Abbot Eiriol, here, is my maternal great-grandmother, and former Prime Matron Etyl Za'Darmondiel is my aunt. Who knew?" He chortled, shrugging with his hands.
"And now they are with you?" Princess Nevstan asked, uncertainty rippling through her voice.
"And now they are with me." Amun nodded, smiling happily.
"Great." King Corym rolled his eyes.
"And what of the dragon you were to face last year?" President Aetoris asked, leaning forward.
"Any guesses?" Amun's face peeled into a cruel smile that bared his fiendish teeth. He looked around with those damning eyes, beating the room into a silent hum, disturbed only by the snickers of his ancestor. "Guess not."
"Lie to the realms as much as you want!" King Corym spat. "You're still a Devil of the Nox; as wicked and cruel as each of your ancestors before you! From Zefroth until you, you are a blight on the realms! But unlike them, you hold the foul blood of the Demon Spider in your veins! You are the end to all that is good! The darkness that will swallow the realms! And these legions, these kingdoms you conquer, will be your herald of destruction!"
"Hah!" Amun leaned back in his chair, cackling like his great grandfather. "You mortals of this plane love to say that. It's not your fault, however. You simply lack perspective. Someone close to you will die and you'll think about all the things you never did with them. You'll reminisce about all the things you did, be it alone or with mutual acquaintances who are affected in the same way as you. Those who aren't, you'll be angry with. You'll think of these things as if that person no longer exists, and only in ways that relate to you. Mortals are often selfish in that regard.
"I can see, however." He stated; again with no pride, smugness, satisfaction, or malice. "Ghosts, spirits, specters. Souls. I can see where they go once they're released from their bodies. I can see how they continue to live past death. I can speak to them, hear them, help or hinder them. I can even bring some back. So." He shrugged. "A million could die and it would mean nothing in terms of emotional burden, for they are not truly dead to me. They've simply… changed."
"A million?" Duchess Brybs scoffed. "How monstrous! Though I am not surprised to say King Corym may be right."
"Would you say the same if it were a million goblins or a million orcs, Dana? Especially those of the Kasian variety?" He smiled, turning to me. Then the Mazians, followed by the Kasians. "I bet if it slayed a million demons, you'd all be impressed. I'd become a legend if I felled a million dragons. What about… a million rats… infected with the plague?
"Exactly." Amun snorted with utter contempt following our silence. "Don't be a hypocrite, Dana. A life is a life, and all lives end. Everything dies. The quantity per unit of time is inconsequential."
"Everything dies. Even you?" Asked the Chaulortian knight, Maes Miller. "A God-Emperor, commanding deities and demigods as they live among mortals? He who they call, Eternal?"
"Eventually, yes, I will die." Amun nodded slowly. "And not in the sense of me being a living lich. I am eternal for as long as this universe exists. No longer. Others, much less. Or do you think those with so-called 'immortality' or even the deities will outlast the universe's inevitable end?"
"And what of our lands?" Duchess Dana asked, ignoring the fair point he made. "Will they die under your rule?"
"You're not listening, are you? Honestly, I don't care what you do." Amun groaned. Surprising us all and infuriating some. "I'm on a recruiting spree because of what's going on in Maru, but I didn't expect, nor did I want, to bring a dozen countries into my budding empire so soon. The founding members are doing that already, and I've got enough to do.
"Besides." He leaned back in his seat… pouting. "This takes all the fun out of it."