Cautious of the woman standing in front of them, the Imperial guards had surrounded the woman ready for another fight. But Maximus stopped them raising his hand prompting them sheathe their swords as he approached the woman. He did this because when she appeared, he got a similar feeling to his first meeting with the Great Stallion.
As Maximus approached the figure, he felt a very strong energy that was slowly building up. The woman's features were ethereal, her eyes shining a bright green color which reflected the green dress that she was wearing. She smiled softly at Maximus; her voice melodious as she spoke. "Greetings, Maximus of the Imperial Union. I am Rhoynar, the goddess of these lands."
"It's an honor to meet you Goddess Rhoynar, I hope we haven't disrespected you by trespassing on these lands" Rhoynar's smile widened, "Far from it, Maximus. You have done these lands a great service by banishing the Shrouded Lord. His presence was a corruption, a remnant of an ancient curse that has plagued this region for far too long."
She gestured around them, and as she did, the landscape seemed to change. The crumbling ruins began to repair themselves, moss and vines retreating, stones realigning. The murky waters of the river cleared, revealing sparkling depths filled with life.
"The Sorrows were once a place of great beauty and prosperity," Rhoynar continued. "With the Shrouded Lord's defeat, they can be so again. But they require a worthy steward."
Her gaze fixed on Maximus, "You have proven your strength and valor, Maximus of the Imperial Union. Would you take up this mantle? Would you restore these lands to their former glory?"
"I would be honored to become the steward of these lands and restore them to a sense of beauty and prosperity" answered Maximus. Taking up the stewardship of these lands didn't need time to think it over, plus it would complete his mission so naturally he would accept.
Rhoynar's smile brightened, "Then it shall be so," she declared, as she walked up to him. "I bestow upon you the blessing of the Rhoynar. May it guide you in your stewardship of these lands." Standing almost face to face with him, she planted a kiss on his forehead causing a green light to envelope Maximus.
He began to feel a connection to the land around him, as if he could sense every blade of grass, every drop of water in the river.
"With this blessing," Rhoynar continued, "you will have the power to nurture and protect these lands. The waters will bend to your will, and the earth will respond to your touch. Use this gift wisely, Maximus."
As the goddess spoke, the landscape continued to transform. The ruins of the Sorrows were rapidly rebuilding themselves, stone by stone, until they stood proud and gleaming in the sunlight that had broken through the dissipating mist. The river ran clear and swift, teeming with fish, and the surrounding land turned into a vibrant greenery.
Everybody Maximus and his entire legion watched in awe at what was happening around them. For Maximus he had a system that could possibly do an infinite number of things so something like this wouldn't really surprise him. For the rest of the Legion however, they never thought that they would see an actual goddess in their lifetimes.
And the fact that the goddess had blessed Maximus only increased their faith in him even more. Rhoynar's form began to fade, her voice echoing as she spoke her final words, "Remember, Maximus, the fate of these lands now rests in your hands. I shall be watching."
As the goddess disappeared, Maximus turned to face his awestruck legion. The transformation of the landscape was complete, the once desolate Sorrows now a vision of beauty and vitality. The soldiers knelt before him, their faces a mixture of reverence and wonder.
Eonwe was the first to speak, "My lord, we have witnessed a miracle today. What are your orders?"
Maximus took a deep breath, feeling the power of the land coursing through him. He could sense the potential of this place, the possibilities that lay before them. "Rise, my friends," he said. "We have much work to do."
He began to walk through the newly restored city, his mind already formulating plans. "Eonwe, I want you to send word to Olorin. Tell him to dispatch Stonemasons and Carpenters alongside 10,000 builders. We'll need their skills to fully restore and populate this city."
Lilith fell into step beside him. "What do you envision for this place, your excellency?" she asked, her eyes scanning the transformed landscape.
Maximus paused, taking in the structures and lush greenery around them. "This will be more than just a military city," he declared. "The Sorrows… no, we shall rename it. The is will be New Rhoyne, a beacon of prosperity and strength for the Imperial Union."
He turned to address the legion. "We'll establish a naval base here, taking advantage of the river. The city will become a center of trade and learning. Academies filled with scholars studying the mysteries of magic and science." While his original goal was to turn it into a massive military city, he saw the advantage that this new transformed land could bring, and who says that he can't have both a military city that is also prosperous at the same time.
Eonwe nodded approvingly. "A wise plan, your excellency. The strategic location will allow us to project power throughout the region."
"Indeed," Maximus agreed. "But it will also serve as a symbol of rebirth and hope. The curse that plagued these lands for so long has been lifted. Now, we have the opportunity to create something truly magnificent."
He began issuing orders rapidly, his mind racing with possibilities. "I want scouts sent out immediately to map the surrounding area. We need to know what resources we have at our disposal. Lilith, I want you to have the witches establish magical defenses around the city. Eonwe, once you've sent word to Olorin, begin planning the layout for our naval base."
As his subordinates rushed to carry out his commands, Maximus walked to the edge of the newly restored city, gazing out over the sparkling waters of the river. He could feel the vitality that now flowed through every blade of grass.
"New Rhoyne," he murmured to himself, testing the name on his tongue. It felt right, a fitting tribute to the goddess who had blessed him and these lands.
Over the next few days, the legion worked tirelessly to secure the area and begin the initial stages of development. Maximus, empowered by Rhoynar's blessing, found he could shape the land with mere thought and touch. He created natural defenses, raised hills and lowered valleys.
And since the Rhoyne stretched from Qohor and Norvos, all the way to Volantis, he could adjust the landscape as much as he wanted. Though how far he could adjust the landscape was not known yet. He would have to test how far from the river he can transform the landscape around him to gain a better understanding of his abilities.