Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Zareth anxiously paced back and forth as he waited for the residents of Jabal-Alma to return with a [Healer] for Skaara.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say that he was waiting for them to bring their so-called [Crystal Speaker]. It wasnt a Class that Zareth had ever heard of before, nor could he guess its capabilities from just a name like that. Instead, Zareth was stuck anxiously hoping that these strange and isolated ogres were capable of healing the only person who could prevent him from being stranded in the middle of nowhere. This was a tall order, given that Vidhatris [Greater Purify Flesh] only stalled Skaaras poison temporarily.

Upon descending into Jabal-Alma, the pale ogres had escorted Zareth and his retinue through a relatively large tunnel carved into the walls of the cenote which lead to an expansive cavernous space that served as the villages hospital. The dimly lit interior was lined with beds filled with sickly and frail looking ogres, each of them surrounded by strange, brightly glowing crystals. Vidhatri placed Skaara on a medical bed in a recessed, secluded area separated by a curtain before the ogre guards surprisingly left Zareth and his retinue alone to help with other tasks in Jabal-Alma.

Zareth didnt think it all that wise for the locals to leave a bunch of strangers unattended in the middle of their village even if they had been disarmed. However, the guards had cited supposed manpower issues and a belief that he and his retinue wouldnt be able to do much harm.

He didnt know where that confidence came from, but it was likely true that the ogres were needed elsewhere. Zareth had picked up on an abnormal undercurrent of anxiety and urgency within the locals hed passed while being escorted to the hospital.

The best way to describe it was Jabal-Alma reminded him somewhat of an upturned beehive.

Even the hospital seemed unusually busy, with far more sickly-looking ogres than Zareth had expected from such a small settlement seeking medical attention. Hed attempted to probe his guides about what had caused so many people to fall ill, but the ogres had shut him down hard and unambiguously. They claimed that it was nothing for outsiders to be concerned about and that all questions should be directed to Chieftain Murog.

Jabal-Alma had reportedly given a similar response to the representatives sent by High Command when TalQamar first conquered the area. It was likely that things had changed significantly since then, but while various means of long-distance communication existed in this world, they were nowhere near as convenient or straightforward as back on Earth.

He very much doubted that High Command would accept that kind of answer from such a weaker party under normal circumstances, but these were far from normal times.

The Southern Legion already had its hands full with Anket and couldnt afford to waste time disciplining such a relatively small settlement, which was why High Command had handed the matter over to the Hierophant Council. In addition to getting these people in line and purging any Conclave influence, High Command had heavily suggested that they would prefer for Zareth to deal with whatever was ailing Jabal-Alma.

Zareth hadnt understood why they would care at first, but seeing how so many of TalHadins fighting age populace were conscripted for the war implied a motivation which he wasnt all that eager to fulfill.

He understood that war was barbaric, but these people would eventually be his responsibility and he had very little interest in seeing them thrown into a meat grinder.

Although, he did wish that they could become a bit more friendly

What nonsense. How can they ignore my questions when Im stuck waiting because all of their healers are busy,Zareth muttered angrily before taking a deep breath to calm himself down and smiling wryly. If I survived my second assassination attempt just to run into some kind of plague on the same day, Im not going to be happy.

It is doubtful that these people are suffering from such a calamity, said Vidhatri, responding seriously to his half-joking remark as she peeked through the curtain to the rest of the busy hospital. The specter of death and hopelessness does not hang over them like it otherwise would.

That was certainly true. The presence of the System and the Vitality Stat meant that things like plagues and famines were unlikely to occur when compared to back on Earth. This also meant that when they did happen, they could almost always be traced back to some kind of magical or supernatural source.

Needless to say, any magical plagues virulent enough that a nation couldnt deal with it by hiring the Healers Guild or Mage Academies were almost always apocalyptic in scale. Jabal-Alma would already be a village of corpses if that were the case.

I agree with Zareth that these people could be a bit more forthcoming, said Rizok, expression tired as he leaned against a wall, arms crossed. Stripped of our weapons, exhausted from surviving a well-planned ambush that resulted in multiple casualties, and waiting blindly within the territory of a less than friendly populace facing some manner of unknown threat. Our day could certainly have gone better.

Vidhatri glanced toward Rizok, likely hearing the same carefully restrained frustration and sorrow in the soldiers voice that Zareth felt within himself. As the highest-ranking soldier within their group, Rizok had naturally taken on the role of their leader and protector.

Zareth had no doubt that Rizok blamed himself for the lives that they had lost.

Just as he was about to offer his friend what comforting words he could, Vidhatri beat him to it as she walked over to Rizok and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Rizok leaned into the touch and looked back at the shivarath with a grateful smile, who also wore a rare expression of sympathy.

Zareth couldnt help but feel a twinge of envy at their bond as he was also upset by the loss of those soldiers.

While he hadnt exactly gone out of his way to become best friends with the members of his retinue, it wasnt as if he could simply brush off their deaths. Not only had they literally given their lives to protect his well-being on an expedition that he had chosen to undertake, but these soldiers were ostensibly under his command. Whether it be when he was in a gang, the head of a cult, or the leader of these soldiers, Zareth always considered himself to have a responsibility to those who followed him.

That he failed in that goal, losing lives to an ambush which he had every reason to expect, was not a good feeling.

These Borvulk are unlikely to share any information with you before you meet their [Chieftain]. They are even more averse to outsiders than we Gruvulk due to their isolation.

Zareth was pulled from his melancholic thoughts by a deep rumbling voice and glanced at the source to see that the words had been spoken by the same massive ogre hed hidden behind during the ambush.

What do you mean, Sergeant Grunlok? asked Rizok, much to Zareths relief. He really didnt want to admit to anyone that he actually hadnt memorized the soldiers name. Unfortunately, Im only as familiar with your peoples culture as much as the ogre soldiers in the military have shared with me, which is less than I would like. What is a Borvulk?

Zareth was also a bit curious. While him being a human gave Zareth a connection to the Desharin, he had no such access to TalQamars similarly insular ogre community. Hed heard a few of the ogres refer to themselves as Borvulk before and thus knew that the word referred to them as a community, but they were generally uninterested in sharing more about their culture.

Hmm that is a difficult question to answer without first explaining a unique quirk of ogre biology, Sergeant Grunlok said after a moment of thoughtful silence. Have you ever heard the term Thaumagenic Bioadaption Quotient? This is the official term those [Mages] at Veilspire Academy created to describe the relevant phenomenon.

Zareth suddenly felt like he was back in college randomly hearing such an academic term out of nowhere. He vaguely recognized the term, but he couldnt remember from where and certainly didnt recall any details.

Thaumagenic Bioadaption Quotient, or TBQ, is essentially a measurement of how well a being's physiology can adapt and integrate with ambient magical energies, Vidhatri said immediately, her expression growing interested as she turned her attention to the soldier. Its a term which I learned during my studies to become a Senior Fleshwarper, but Im confused as to how this relates to your people. There are very few ogres in Zumair, as far as I know.

Thats correct, said Sergeant Grunlok, a hint of surprise showing in his rugged features at Vidhatris knowledge. To be clear, TBQ is how those smart [Mage] and [Scholar] types explain why creatures always seem to adapt to whats around them. Like how giant worms living underground can grow skin made of crystals and manipulate the earth while monsters in forests sometimes start looking like trees or learn to control plants. It's also why our humans are darker and better at handling the Qahtani Desert sun than the ones over in Eldamir.

Rizok and the rest of the retinue seemed confused at first when they heard Vidhatris explanation and then enlightened at the Sergeants follow up, but Zareth was a bit less convinced that magic was the only factor.

Now that hed heard their explanations, Zareth recalled that he had first seen the term Thaumagenic Bioadaption Quotient, and its Nephalan alphabet based acronym, while reading an academic book on magical biology which hed purchased from House Vhelan.

It referenced a unique magical phenomenon in which the people or creatures of this world became gradually and unnaturally changed by the magic of the area they lived in.

Zareth hadnt recognized the term at first because hed just ended up renaming it Magical Evolution in his head. Given that high concentrations of magic very much did change peoples biology in this world, it was difficult to pick out what could be attributed to natural selection and what was the direct result of magical influence.

Still, he was quite interested in learning what TBQ had to do with these unusually pale ogres and encouraged the Sergeant to continue answering Vidhatris question.

Sir, it's related because we ogres happen to possess the highest TBQ of any sapient race, said Sergeant Grunlok, his shoulders tense and uncomfortable as he offered an explanation. This means that magic mutates our body far quicker and more deeply than anyone else. Ill spare you the tedious history of it all, but the important part of it is that the Gruvulk favor heavily exploiting this phenomenon while we Borvulk do not. The Brovulk separated from the rest of our kin to settle in isolated areas thick with their chosen varieties of magic, while we prefer to live among other civilized races. Our differences in philosophy mean that we generally dont get along.

Zareth winced as the Sergeant finished his explanation, anticipating that the citizens of Jabal-Alma might be a tad bit more difficult to get along with than expected. Any group that isolated themselves to pursue what sounded like an ideological agenda would naturally be more resistant to outsiders than most.

He doubted that he would have ever been allowed to step foot into Jabal-Alma if not for the whole military occupation thing.

It also sort of explained why the ogres in TalQamar seemed to have so much distaste for physical deformities, and made him wonder why any of them were willing to join his cult.

Why is that, Sergeant Grunlok? Given that you accepted my offer to augment your body, it doesnt seem like you have some kind of moral objection to being changed by magic, Zareth asked curiously, eager to learn more about a populace who would likely one day be under his stewardship.

Its different, Sir, Sergeant Grunlok immediately protested, a faint scowl making his opinion of the comparison clear. Your abilities are superficial and have few negative consequences, other than making me fit through even fewer doors than I already did. For our people, we are so sensitive to magic that excessive exposure leads to our very essence being altered, causing drastic changes in personality or physical form. These Borvulk are hardly even ogres.

There was a degree of disdain in the Sergeants tone that made Zareth feel uncomfortable and didnt make much sense from his perspective. The residents of Jabal-Alma may be a bit more slender, have paler skin, and have longer ears, but they were still unmistakably ogres.

Although now that he gave it some thought, that same description would apply to the differences between humans and elves. Zareth had never actually seen or met an elf, but everything that he had heard suggested that comparing them to humans was simply a creative way of committing suicide.

I see. Thank you for the information, Sergeant, said Zareth, deciding that he would reserve judgment on the topic until he learned more. I only have a few more questions. Do you know what kind of magic these people expose themselves to? Also, do you think any of the side effects related to their absorption of magic could be the cause of the unusual number of sickly people we saw in the hospital?

Zareth wasnt asking that question baselessly, given what he could sense from them in the Etherveil. Ever since he had acquired [Ether Attunement], he had gotten used to constantly feeling the ebb and flow of magical energies around him, but Jabal-Alma felt like a complete void in the Etherveil from the moment he had descended into the settlement.

The only source of Ether that he could sense came from the locals, but even they felt wrong and fake in a way that was difficult to describe. The worst of these was the sickly ogres that hed studied with [Eye of Cerebon] as he passed by them in the hospital.

I dont know much about these people other than that they worship the Conclaves twin gods, Nuriel and Amareal, so I would guess that they prefer magic related to their domains, Sergeant Grunlok said with a careless shrug. If so, youre going to have a hard time convincing them to turn away from the Conclave. As for your other question, itd depend on a lot of factors. Id recommend that you talk about it with whichever unfortunate officer High Command decided to assign to this ancestor forsaken hole in the ground.

Zareth fell into a thoughtful silence after thanking Grunlok for sharing what he knew. Nuriel and Amareal were the Gods of Restoration and Degradation respectively, but he strangely couldnt sense any exceptionally strong devotion from the residents. That conflicted with all the reports hed read from High Command about Jabal-Alma, who were supposed to be quite loyal to the Conclave.

I thought that was obvious. Do I need to use smaller words? said Major Idris as he glared defiantly at the Chieftain.

Although Zareth barely even understood what everyone was arguing about, he could tell that the situation was threatening to spiral out of control. He needed to intervene and fix this, but in a way that preferably didnt ruin his relationship with the Southern Legion or Jabal-Alma before he could even figure out what was going on.

Rather than judging my capabilities from my appearance or making assumptions on what would and would not offend me, I would prefer if we spoke to each other like adults and leaders, Zareth said loudly, his voice firm as it cut through the yelling. I will not stand here and be treated like a tool in an argument that nobody seems interested in explaining to me.

The chamber was quiet for several moments as everyone in the chamber turned their attention to Zareth, who forced himself to stand straight and unbothered under their scrutiny. He didnt need [Leadership] to know that this was a crowd that would look down on any kind of perceived weakness.

Eventually, both Chieftain Murog and Major Idris seemed to relent as the tension in the chamber simmered down a notch, even if it was still clearly present.

Good. We can start with an explanation about the Southern Legions business in Jabal-Alma, after you explain why you chose to refer to me as Lord-Marshal, said Zareth as he finally took a seat and turned toward Major Idris. Vidhatri and Rizok went to stand at the edges of the room with the guards. It was my understanding that fiefdoms would be distributed after the war concluded, and not before.

He was most upset about that as he didnt want his relationship with the locals to be sabotaged before it could begin to develop.

This wasnt the appropriate place to say it, but it also surprised him that the Major used Lord-Marshal when the Great Houses were pushing for noble titles similar to that used in Eldami. In a world where culture and titles often affected the Classes offered by the System, these kinds of distinctions carried a lot of weight.

It certainly implied a lot about how willing General Nasrith was to act against the Great Houses interests and made Zareth worried that there was trouble brewing in the background.

As there have yet to be any other claimants in this area, I felt it appropriate to address you with the respect your prospective position warrants and to inform these people that they should do the same, Major Idris said unapologetically. Regarding the Southern Legions interests in Jabal-Alma, its quite simple. Our front against Anket is proving more difficult to hold than expected and this settlement needs to be used as a staging area for reinforcements and supplies, which the Chieftain is refusing to allow.

It was obvious to everyone listening that the man had just wanted to use the threat of Zareths future authority to strengthen his negotiating position, but that remained unsaid.

Chieftain Murog looked as if he wanted to start yelling again, so Zareth interjected before that could happen. He didnt want the conversation to get pulled back off track.

I was told that the Southern Legions defensive position was near unassailable. What went wrong? Zareth said as he glanced toward Rizok, who looked just as taken aback as he felt. Also, what were you talking about when you said your soldiers were disappearing into tunnels and you referenced Amareal?

It was unassailable, until those damned worshipers of Suhail caused the desert sun to turn our position into a fucking inferno, Major Idris growled, his frustration directed at someone other than the ogres for the first time since the discussion began. The Southern Legion is the best defensive force on Valandor, and well hold off anyone on the battlefield, but even we cant last without water! Jabal-Almas cenote is the best source of water in the region, and we need to set up a supply chain if we dont want Anket to push the lines back to TalHadin! As for your other questions, youre better off hearing the ogres explain that themselves.

If the situation near Anket was truly as dire as Major Idris implied, then Zareth could forgive some of his actions to convince Jabal-Alma to fall in line. He had no doubt that the Southern Legion would have simply conquered the settlement outright if not for the mirage and potential manpower issues on the frontlines.

Zareth resolved to pay particularly close attention to the Chieftain and his advisors as he prompted them to give their explanation for their objections. He was already aware about one thing that Jabal-Alma was attempting to hide from outsiders, and he didnt want anything else to slip his notice.

Our people relied deeply on the churches of Lord Nuriel and Lord Amareal before your war forced the Conclaves servants to flee to Anket, Chieftain Murog began, not-so-subtly laying the blame for Jabal-Almas current situation at their feet. The God of Restoration blessed us by seeding the vast underground caverns connected to Jabal-Alma with his healing crystals, from which we absorb and feed off their divine power. However, it was only with the aid of the God of Degradation that we were actually able to safely navigate through the many dangers within.

Zareth couldnt help but feel impressed by the Chieftains fabricated story and how it stood up to scrutiny at first glance. [Devotion Perception] revealed that he and advisors seemed as faithful to the twin gods as their story would imply, and he had no doubt that one of Major Idris aides had a variant of [Detect Truth] active throughout the explanation.

What about the curse? And how does this relate to the Southern Legions request? asked Zareth, keeping his suspicions hidden.

Im told that you brought one of your own to be treated, which means that you have already seen the many sickly ogres in our place of healing, said Chieftain Murog, a flash of what looked like genuine grief flashing through his eyes. This is Lord Amareals punishment for our treachery and can only be cured with Lord Nuriels crystals. Ive had no choice but to prohibit the Southern Legion from Jabal-Alma lest they fall victim to the curse while sending brave warriors out into the tunnels in search of a source of crystals large enough to rectify this situation. This unfortunate reality upsets Major Idris.

Ive said time and time again that the Southern Legion is willing to take that risk, Major Idris immediately responded, hands balled into fists at his side. Were already at war with the Conclave. Why would we fear what their gods could potentially do when were being roasted alive in the desert? Youre clearly just making excuses to support your gods!

I see. I assume that these tunnels are filled with all kinds of life-threatening dangers, and you attempted to send soldiers to directly resolve this situation by finding these crystals? Zareth asked, struggling to keep his expression neutral.

Aye. Twelve veteran combatants and the only high-level [Scout] that the Southern Legion could afford to spare to guide them, said Major Idris, before going on to explain the kinds of dangers that could be expected in the tunnels.

Unusually powerful creatures, strange magical anomalies, and a lack of any rigorous maps of the tunnels. But the greatest danger seemed to be pervasive magical darkness of unknown origin that made it nearly impossible to navigate the ever twisting tunnels without getting lost.

Amareals [Priests] apparently used their gods power to degrade the darkness enough for people to travel the tunnels, according to Chieftain Murog. Everything else could be dealt with by a powerful and well prepared group, but nobody had found any other means of seeing through the darkness.

Its a shame that so many brave warriors were lost to the depths, said Chieftain Murog, his face the picture of a regretful leader solemnly remembering the fallen. After a moment, he turned to Zareth with a considering expression. But perhaps you may succeed in their stead. Ive been told that your retinue is quite capable, and there are many in Jabal-Alma who would be endlessly grateful for your assistance. It may even be enough to convince them that youll govern these lands better than the Conclave.

Zareth felt a flash of intense anger that he only barely prevented from showing on his face. Not only at the Chieftain for his attempted manipulation, but also at himself because he had no doubt that he would have fallen for it if he didnt already know healing crystals had nothing to do with Nuriel.

He could easily imagine himself being presented with an opportunity to ingratiate himself to his future subjects and agreeing without further thought. Especially when that fed the narrative of a relatively small settlement suffering under the thumb of the Conclaves gods, which would naturally make it childs play to recruit here once he returned as their savior.

But that wasnt what was being offered to him.

Instead, Chieftain Murog had already directed thirteen soldiers to their deaths with false stories for unknown reasons and was attempting to do the same to him. Oh, he had no doubt that parts of the story were true and the locals might have a good reason for their deception, but that didnt change the fact that Chieftain Murag was responsible for the deaths of everyone they sent into danger under false pretenses.

And he likely would have successfully done the same to Zareth and his retinue if not for [Eye of Cerebon] and its ability to see through illusions.

Any inclination of cooperating and earning the respect of Jabal-Alma was immediately discarded from his mind as Zareth's thoughts raced to find the best path forward. He still couldnt afford to directly call out the Chieftain on his lies, not without knowing the full extent of Jabal-Alma's secrets and the potential repercussions of such an accusation. However, he couldn't simply accept the situation as presented either.

It was only when his thoughts drifted to how he discovered Jabal-Almas deception in the first place that a plan began to form in his mind.

Unfortunately, Im no Adventurer. It wouldnt feel right forcing my retinue to protect someone as weak as me while dragging them into danger, said Zareth, refusing the Chieftains suggestion as diplomatically as possible before turning to Major Idris. You said that the magical darkness is the primary obstacle in navigating the tunnels and finding the crystals that Jabal-Alma requires, correct? If I had a means of allowing a person to see through this darkness, then how much would that help the situation?

Considerably. This matter is important enough that the Southern Legion would redirect significant resources and manpower to support such an endeavor if proved feasible, said Major Idris, both he and his aides perking up as their expressions grew hopeful. Is this something that youre able to provide, Apostle Zareth?

I cant say for certain until Ive actually tried, but almost certainly, Zareth said confidently, a small smile growing on his face as his plans began to seem more realistic. [Eye of Cerebon] was awarded to me by my god. If Amareals [Priests] could affect it, then I sincerely doubt that the magical darkness is strong enough to withstand its penetrative gaze. Not only that, but I can share it with other people

Zareth went on to explain how [Eye of Cerebon] functioned to everyone gathered, though he naturally kept a few important details to himself. It was fortunate that he had already thoroughly tested the Skill by implanting the eye into a few willing members of the cult. Otherwise, he would have had no idea that it could do more than serve as a makeshift camera and actually allowed those who possessed it to share the same level of perception he enjoyed.

The longer he talked, the more Major Idris and his aides seemed to grow excited while Chieftain Murog and the other ogres began showing subtle signs of unease. Even if he couldnt see their every microexpression and was already aware of their deceit, Zareth would have noticed their discomfort.

Major Idris seemed disgusted for a moment when Zareth offered to give him an [Eye of Cerebon] of his own as a demonstration, but the officers practicality soon overcame his revulsion. One wet plop and a few uncomfortable moments of grafting Zareths freshly removed third eye into the Majors forehead later, and the atmosphere in the chamber shifted dramatically.

Major Idris initial discomfort was quickly replaced by a look of sheer astonishment as he adjusted to the new perception granted by the eye.

This... this is remarkable, Major Idris muttered, all three of his eyes scanning the room in a way that suggested he was seeing it in a completely new light. "I can see the Ether flow, the smallest features along the walls, and quick movements easily enough that it feels as if I just drank an Agility Potion! The Southern Legion will definitely agree to send a new round of personnel into the tunnels with this kind of advantage. Although, we will demand that Jabal-Alma commits to allowing us access to their cenote so long we solve their little crystal problem.

Zareth was more than satisfied with that arrangement. He had no doubt that he would be able to learn more about Jabal-Almas secrets once the Southern Legion ventured into the tunnels.

Something dark flashed through the Chieftains expression so quickly that Zareth almost thought he imagined it before the ogre traded a few meaningful glances with his advisors.

That wont be necessary. So long as your [Eye of Cerebon] works as you claim, our own warriors will be sufficient to secure the tunnels and find what we need, Chieftain Murog, his voice calm but unyielding as he offered Major Idris a conciliatory expression. Youve already lost several of your soldiers while attempting to help my people, and it would dishonor us to see any more lives lost on our behalf. Let our warriors shoulder this burden.

Major Idris expression grew suspicious, but Zareth struggled not to grin like a predator scenting prey. Not only was the Chieftains refusal extraordinarily telling, a clear sign that there was indeed something in those tunnels that these people desperately wanted to keep hidden, but they had just given him the perfect means to figure out what it was.

Thats a very generous offer, Chieftain Murog, and I see no reason why we shouldnt accept given the several weeks it would no doubt take for the Southern Legion to mobilize another expedition and transfer them to Jabal-Alma, said Zareth, his voice as smooth and grateful as he could manage. It would make perfect sense to send your warriors in there during that time, and hopefully resolve the situation swiftly. I cant say just how much it pleases me to know that you and the rest of your people are so committed to cooperating with us, despite the difficult circumstances.

Zareth was worried for a moment that he had laid it on a bit too thick when he saw a flash of doubt and unease cross Chieftain Murogs face. However, the Chieftain quickly masked his reaction and nodded curtly in agreement.

Major Idris didnt seem entirely enthused by the arrangement, but he didnt have any reason to complain and the promise of the Southern Legion being allowed to resolve the situation if the ogre warriors failed quelled any protests.

The next hour of discussion was far less tense than it had been when Zareth first entered the chamber, aside from a subtle undercurrent of apprehension amongst the ogres. Vidhatri and Rizok both sent him suspicious glances every once in a while, but Zareth merely gestured for them to drop the matter until they were private.

The talks revolved around matters such as logistics, resource allocation, and establishing a realistic timeline for the expedition, but he barely gave those things any attention. After all, most of his focus was on holding back his laughter at the fact that Chieftain Murog unknowingly agreed to have his most trusted warriors be implanted with what were effectively cameras that only Zareth could access.

If he had any doubts before that he would sniff out all of Jabal-Almas secrets, he now had none.