Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As Zareth was brought to the very center of TalQamar, the first thing that he noticed was the unprecedented number of soldiers patrolling the streets.

He had always known that the city-state maintained a sizable military, but the Merchant Lord usually kept them abroad to sell their services as mercenaries. TalQamar tried to present itself as a peaceful city where foreign traders could feel safe and sell their wares, but that image was at odds with what he was seeing now.

The second thing Zareth noticed was the splatters of blood staining the armor of soldiers returning from the direction of the Spire Gardens, the district which housed the Conclaves temples and extravagant towers. If it wasnt already obvious before, Zareth was now certain that the ongoing military takeover of the city wasnt a peaceful one.

I definitely need to be careful once I get to the palace, or itll be my blood covering their armor next, Zareth thought to himself, glancing warily at the grim-faced ogre soldier walking by his side.

It wasnt long before they reached the central administrative district of TalQamar, where nobody but the highest-ranking officials, the wealthiest merchants, and the most important members of the Conclave typically went. Zareth had never actually been to this part of the city before, as he did his best to avoid the Conclave whenever possible.

The buildings in the administrative district werent much different from the area where he usually met his wealthy clients aside from being a tad more modest in scale.

Taking in his surroundings, Zareth could see the numerous towers of the Spire Garden rising toward the sky like silent sentinels, and he shuddered when he imagined what might be happening inside them at that very moment. Looking away from the towers, Zareth took in the sight of the large, ornate structures that housed the citys bureaucracy, the most impressive of which was the palace that once belonged to the Merchant Lord.

The palace stood above any other structure in TalQamar, its bulbous domes and sharp minarets gleaming under the summer sun. Its main entrance was framed by two colossal brass statues resembling Anzus, four-winged creatures with the body of an eagle and the head of a lion that were venerated throughout the Qahtani Desert.

However, its most distinctive feature was the renowned Skyglass Spire that emerged from its center. It stood more than twice the height of the palace itself and was constructed from enchanted glass that shimmered brightly with magic.

The spire was a marvel of magical architecture and was the primary reason why TalQamar could afford to send its military far and wide as mercenaries. The Skyglass Spire had never been activated within his lifetime, but Zareth had heard many legends about what happened the last time it had. The details differed, but everyone agreed that the army besieging TalQamar was obliterated moments later.

Zareth was pulled from his thoughts by the gruff voice of the soldier escorting him, Continue walking, [Cultist].

Ah, sorry, Zareth said sheepishly, realizing that he had stopped to stare.

Once the soldiers by the gate finished searching Zareth for weapons, confiscating the knife he kept on him at all times, he was quickly ushered into the palace. He tried to take in his surroundings, but the entire building was swarming with soldiers darting around and barking orders. Zareth found himself being quickly marched through a maze of lavishly decorated corridors and halls.

They soon arrived at a set of heavy doors, beyond which was a room that likely once exuded opulence and grandeur but now looked the very picture of chaos. Expensive scrolls were haphazardly strewn about, furniture was overturned, and several priceless artifacts lay broken on the floor. Unlike the rest of the palace, the room was relatively calm with several figures waiting inside.

The soldier who had escorted him pushed Zareth into the room roughly before saying, Wait here. The General will see you soon.

After the door was shut behind him, Zareth took a close look at the other people waiting in the room and realized that he recognized several of them, although one more than the others. She was a middle-aged human woman with leathery skin and a disdainful gaze wearing modest leather adorned with beadwork and feathers.

Im surprised youre here, boy. Id expected you to leave the city as soon as you had the opportunity, said Farida Qureshi, Priestess of Silvaris the Stern Wanderer.

Why exactly would I do that, Farida? Zareth asked tiredly, already dreading being forced to stay in the presence of the caustic woman.

I assumed someone so eager to deny their heritage would be equally eager to leave it behind, Farida replied in a derisive tone.

Silvaris hasnt been our heritage for centuries. You should have learned to accept that by now, Zareth returned, rolling his eyes at the unreasonable zealot.

Silvaris was a god that had once been heavily favored by the human tribes native to the Qahtani Desert until the Conclave began to gradually suppress his worship. The Conclave's ability to do so was limited since the Desharin were nomadic and spent a lot of time away from the city, but Silvaris influence had still diminished significantly over the years.

It didnt help that Silvaris was a deity that demanded strict adherence to certain codes and rituals.

Farida was obviously unhappy about this, but she particularly disliked Zareth because she believed he would have made a capable Priest for her god.

We will see if that remains the case now that the Conclave has been driven from TalQamar. Gods come and go, but Silvaris will forever be here for humanity during times of hardship.

Uninterested in engaging in an argument hed already had many times before, Zareth turned his attention to the other figures in the room and was momentarily shocked by how few there were. However, it began to make sense once he gave it some thought. The General likely only wanted a representative for each deity and the soldier specified that they had been ordered to only round up TalQamari citizens. The Conclave had done a good job suppressing its competitors, so it shouldnt be a surprise that there were so few of them.

Zareth recognized one of them, an elderly ogre man with graying hair, as the leader of some traditional ogre faith, although he couldnt quite remember his Class or name.

Like most ogres, he stood far taller than anyone else in the room and looked strong enough to shatter a boulder with his bare hands. His ash-colored skin was as rough and thick as old tree bark and his broad face was adorned by two protruding tusks. He wore a hide tunic adorned with a multitude of strange symbols and a pendant made from the bones of several different creatures hung around his neck.

Despite his fearsome expression, Zareth could easily see the intelligence and wisdom in the old ogres eyes.

The next figure was somebody that he didnt recognize but could guess who they were. Zareth had heard many rumors recently of a young female Lizardkin dressed like some kind of monk proselytizing among the lower class. She was very lucky that the Conclave had been pushed out of the city when it had, otherwise Zareth was sure they would have paid her a visit soon.

The last person in the room was a thin naga man with a somber expression. Unlike everyone else who wore some manner of religious garb, or jewelry in Zareths case, the naga wore a set of luxurious robes that Zareth would expect to see from one of his clients.

Hello. Have any of you heard anything about what happened between Merchant Lord Raqasor and the Conclave? Zareth asked, hoping he could learn a bit more about the situation.

The old ogre grumbled and shifted as he turned his gaze to Zareth. Ive had little contact with the ruling class since the Conclave refused to endorse the Way of Gendal. Some among the clans report that tension has been growing for some time between the Conclave, the Merchant Lord, and the naga elites, but this was as much of a surprise to us as it was to you.

Its surprising that the Conclave dared to move against the Merchant Lord. TalQamar will face a difficult situation without access to his Skills, said the naga man, his forked tongue momentarily flickering out as he spoke. Raqasors [Wealth of the Land] was one of the primary reasons that merchants flock to us instead of our competitors. Without him

Zareth shared the nagas apprehension. In this world, societies were often defined and shaped around those who ruled them and the Skills they possessed. [Wealth of the Land] was a skill that both made it easier to find and amplified the resources within any land owned by the [Merchant Lord]. The city wouldnt fall apart immediately without it, but things would certainly grow more difficult over time.

TalQamar was about to become a very different place now that General Nasrith had taken control. The General had been firmly in control of the citys military for decades and was the most powerful man in the TalQamar.

Its going to be difficult for people to adjust to no longer having the Boons offered by the Conclaves gods as well, Zareth said thoughtfully. [Suhails Boon] was responsible for getting a lot of people through particularly bad heatwaves and [Rayyas Boon] helped the citys water situation significantly.

As a god of sun and sand, [Suhails Boon] granted people an increased tolerance to heat and a small increase in Vitality while [Rayyas Boon] granted a boost to Spirit and the ability to produce their own water. All of the Boons offered by the Conclave were well-suited for desert life, which was exactly why they had grown so successful.

General Nasrith and his mercenary army contribute just as much to TalQamars economy as the merchants and the people wont immediately lose their boons. Im sure well be alright, the young lizardkin woman said optimistically.

Zareth knew that the old ogre had hit the mark when he saw General Nasriths smirk widen further. Your wisdom does you credit, Grand Shaman Borak. Conflict is indeed more likely than not, which is why I would like to move on to the discussion of your Boons and what you have to offer. That is, of course, if you have all decided that you wish to stay in TalQamar and freely spread your faiths.

Zareth had already decided a while ago that he would accept the Generals offer and nothing he had heard so far had changed his mind. Even if he was forced to serve under a military dictatorship and live in a city that was about to go to war, this wasnt an opportunity Zareth intended to pass up. Besides, he was in a decent enough position to run away and start a new life if things turned sour.

I cant speak for anyone else, but the terms youve put forward are acceptable to me, said Zareth, nodding toward General Nasrith before turning to the others to see how they would respond.

Farida was the next to speak, her expression as stern as always. Despite the circumstances, I am a faithful servant of the divine. The Stern Wanderer has never turned his back on those in need, and I dont intend to start now. I will pledge my service so long as you honor your word to refrain from interfering in our teachings, General Nasrith.

Borak let out a gruff chuckle. The Way of Gendal has endured many changes throughout the years. We will endure this one as well.

Kinta simply nodded calmly in agreement, The Serene Guides teachings bring peace and understanding to all who follow them. If I can continue to share them with the people, then I will endure any hardship.

All eyes turned to Kassan, who merely gave the General a long calculating look. You already know my answer, General Nasrith.

I suppose I do, said General Nasrith, his serpentine eyes glinting with amusement. He then turned to address them all again. TalQamar will remember your willingness to cooperate. Now, let us discuss the topic of your Boons and their effects. We will start with the [Cultist].

Zareth was a bit startled to be singled out first, but he didnt hesitate to begin explaining. [Cerebons Boon] gives people an increase to their physical stats, passive regeneration, and it also increases the malleability of their flesh.

General Nasrith raised an eyebrow at the last point. Malleability of the flesh? Elaborate.

Ah, yes, Zareth said, trying to remember how his grimoire explained it. Cerebon is the God of Flesh and Transformation. A person with more malleable flesh will be easier for me to affect with my [Permanent Flesh Manipulation]. If they earn enough favor from Cerebon, theyll also gain some minor shapeshifting ability.

General Nasrith nodded, his gaze contemplative as he processed Zareths explanation. Ive been informed of the flesh sculpting services you sell to the citys wealthy. Is it safe to assume you could use your Skill to augment the abilities of my soldiers?

To an extent, Zareth replied hesitantly. Raising a hand for the General to see, he quickly used his abilities on himself. His nails sharpened into talons and his skin hardened until it resembled an ogres. I can do things like this, but the more drastic the alteration, the more difficult it will be for me to perform. It also takes a significant amount of time when done on others and is stressful on the body. Once I increase in Level, I should be able to offer better alterations.

Truthfully, the augmentations that he could currently offer wouldnt be all that helpful to people who already had a high level in a combat class. A human with a Strength stat in the 40s was already strong enough to dent metal with a punch and 40 Vitality would allow them to shrug off blows that would be lethal to most people. Slightly harder skin or sharp nails were unlikely to be a significant advantage to them, but Zareth was confident that he could offer something more impressive in the future.

That is satisfactory for the moment, General Nasrith said after a moment of contemplation. We can discuss the specifics at a later time.

Zareth nodded and felt a sense of relief wash over him when the General turned his attention elsewhere. Being the center of Nasriths attention was not a good feeling.

Lets proceed with the [Monk] next, Nasrith announced, turning his gaze to Kinta. The rest of the meeting continued in the same vein as everyone explained their Boons and what their gods could offer to the city.

Kintas [Boon of the Serene Guide] gave a boost to Spirit while also increasing mental fortitude.

Faridas [Silvaris Boon] improved a persons Vitality and offered some protection against the harsh elements of nature. It also gives people an intuitive understanding of the best path to safety.

According to Borak, [Boon of Gendal] could manifest in many different ways depending on the worshiper and it was useless to attempt to describe them all.

Kassans [Ghisaras Boon] increased Agility and made them more perceptive in general.

By the time everyone was done, Zareth felt mentally exhausted. They had spent a significant amount of time discussing how their Boons could be best utilized while also going over what their gods required from their worshipers. Zareth was lucky as Cerebon was satisfied with ritualistic body modification, which could come in the form of earrings or tattoos in the most minor of forms.

By the time they were done, Zareth had learned more about the faiths of his new colleagues than he ever thought he would.

One more thing, said General Nasrith, just as everyone was preparing to leave. You will each be assigned a soldier who will act as a liaison between you and High Command. They will handle all communication between us as well as provide you protection in these tumultuous times. I insist on this, both for your safety and so that there are no unfortunate misunderstandings.

His eyes scanned their faces as he took in their reactions. I trust there wont be any issues?

Zareth and everyone else understood the unspoken reality. These soldiers were there to keep them in check and ensure their loyalty.

No issue, General, Zareth replied in a neutral tone. It would make some things harder for him if he had a watchdog following him everywhere, but he understood that all good things came with a price.

Besides, this would offer him a new source of information to learn about the new guys in charge.

A round of affirmations followed Zareths response as everyone seemed to reach the same conclusion.

Excellent, General Nasrith said, sounding pleased. Then allow me to introduce them.

With a gesture from the General, the five elite soldiers who had swept the room earlier and remained silent throughout the meeting stepped forward. They were a mix of races and each of them was rather imposing.

General Nasrith directed a burly human man to Farida and a thin human woman to Kinta. To Kassan he assigned a stone-faced naga man and Borak was given a massive ogre who seemed to dwarf even his charge.

Lastly, Zareth was assigned a lizardkin man with vibrant green scales. He was the smallest among the elite soldiers, yet he exuded a feeling of danger that raised the hair on Zareths neck.

This is your liaison, Rizok, said Nasrith, introducing the lizardkin. He will be your point of contact with High Command.

Rizok gave Zareth a curt nod but didnt otherwise react. Zareth wasnt sure how to respond so he just returned the gesture and waited for Nasrith to end the meeting.

Thankfully, he didnt have to wait long. We have discussed everything that needs to be addressed at this time. You will receive your orders once I have consolidated my administrative hold over the city. You are dismissed.

With that, Zareth gave one last glance to his new colleagues as his liaison hurried to escort him out of the palace. There were still many uncertainties that still needed to be addressed, but there was one thing that was absolutely clear to him.

Destiny had offered Zareth the opportunity of a lifetime, and he intended to grasp it with everything that he had.