Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 18
Daras and Balat observed the comings and goings of the denizens of the stronghold for a while, noting what appeared to be work details clearing the land around it. The pair also spotted what Erren called a supervisor type, though the only noticeable difference was the slight change in colour scheme from black to indigo.
“What do they live on?” Balat asked.
“Anything edible from plants to animals, according to Erren,” Darras replied. “That includes you and me.”
“Oh, right,” Balat grimaced.
“I don’t think they believe they could be attacked here,” Darras opined. “Either that or they don’t use fire.”
‘You’re right, they don’t use fire, ’ Erren confirmed. ‘They’d try to use numbers and territory in any confrontation.’
“So, Elven archers would likely run out of arrows?”
‘Depends on their numbers, but yes, it’s possible.’
“Do they use magic?”
‘I suspect they’ll have access to it at some stage, but at this level, no, ’ Erren replied.
“If they do plan to invade Asulnarath, I suspect the forest folk could cause havoc upon them unless they have numbers in excess of reason,” Darras mused.
‘That can happen if they plan to expand, ” Erren confirmed. ‘A queen can lay a mass of eggs, though these are soldier types and very short-lived.’
“They are all enspelled to increase their metabolism by way of breathing,” Balat joined the conversation. “I don’t think numbers will be a significant issue.”
“Ah,” Darras nodded. “Difficult to increase their numbers beyond a certain point?”
“Only if they have a large number of magic users, and even then it would make the magic users useless for much else.”
‘They most certainly could do it for an initial attack, ’ Erren pointed out.
“True,” Balat conceded.
“Not a defensive measure, however,” Darras nodded.
‘Definitely not a defensive measure, ’ Erren confirmed.
“Let’s head back to camp,” Darras decided. “Our supplies should have arrived by now.”
The pair headed back cautiously, whilst none of the Chickrith had been in the vicinity of the dense woods, their colour scheme would make them difficult to spot if they stood still. The campsite was the same as they had left it, except for a large quantity of dried food and water beside the tent.
“Guess they didn’t want to stay,” Darras chuckled.
“Can’t blame them,” Balat smiled. “This is not a pleasant environment for a Nymph, despite all the trees.”
“The fungi?” Darras asked, suspecting it was.
“The fungal spores,” Balat nodded. “We’re ok as my magic protects us, but many Nymphs can’t do barrier magics.”
“Will Elvish explorers be ok?” Darras frowned.
‘I’m devising a talisman for them, ’ Erren replied. ‘It won’t work with Woodnymphs, though, their magics will interfere with it.’
The following day, the pair continued their explorations, marking trails and landmarks on a map. Balat also marked multiple areas that were magical in nature, including a few marked as deadly. Of the Chickrith, there were few signs; they appeared not to stray far from their assigned positions other than foraging. There was no sign of the large predator in the dense woods other than the occasional hunting call, and the pair made sure to avoid the area it claimed as its territory.
The one significant discovery was a road that led in a straight line towards the interior of Gresh. The pair avoided this as the Chickrith foraging parties used it constantly throughout the day. The pair then returned to the camp via the First One building they’d discovered on their first day. Darras collapsed the wards and the other spells on the entrance, with Balat monitoring the attempt to ensure no warning went out. Inside was a collection of scrolls, which the pair burned after Erren and Doriel scanned them.
From there, the pair packed their camp and headed to the edge of the woods. They slipped away up the pass using the side of the pass they knew the Chickrith could not observe. Two days later, they made it to the gateway and were greeted by Fallie, who took a copy of their maps and promised to make more of them for any Elven explorers. Darras and Balat then returned to Erren’s demesne and a meeting of the allied gods.
“Quite a dangerous place,” Osruit opined as the gods gathered in and around the bathing pools. “Far too much extant magic still.”
“My people would struggle with the spores,” Doriel added. “The Nymphs in particular.”
“It rather looks like Elves will be exploring Gresh, at least for a while,” Hallis replied. “We do have a shielding talisman to keep them safe.”
“Yes, though only from the spores, not the Chickrith and the local wildlife,” Erren added.
“Mithril weaponry will be effective against all of those,” Pelegard replied. “Admittedly, if they have to use them, it will mean the mission has failed.”
“Yes, for the moment we do not want our enemies knowing what we are doing,” Saltak agreed.
“Well, we have a pretty good idea of what’s within five miles of the forest edge,” Tsumi nodded. “Certainly enough to give the Elves enough room to explore further.”
“What of the building you explored?” Sorella asked.
“A defensive outpost containing a lot of very deadly spells to deal with any intruders attempting to enter Gresh,” Erren replied. “None of the spells remain; they’d be too powerful for most magic users and too deadly for any nation facing them.”
“Wonder how many of them remain?” Crannok sighed.
“Far too many,” Pelegard shrugged. “Plus, the Deadlands keeps throwing up various deadly surprises Klavin has to deal with.”
“He’s kept a lid on it so far,” Tsumi nodded.
“True, he is good at neutralising the various artefacts,” Pelegard agreed. “The ones the various temples can’t deal with.”
“Glad he can,” Erren nodded. “Even if it’s a major distraction for you.”
“Someone needed to do it, and Klavin has the skills,” Pelegard shrugged. “All the temples know to call him in if the Explorer Guild brings them something they can’t deal with, even the temple of Rustav.”
“I take it he occasionally brings you some of the more deadly ones?” Erren asked.
“He does, though not often,” Pelegard nodded.
“Tiruk and Amina are dealing with a plethora of issues in the northern realms,” Crannok informed the gods. “Petty stuff, but time-consuming.”
“Yes, I expected this,” Erren replied. “All designed to keep Darras and me distracted.”
“Glad they can help,” Crannok smiled. “The various temples they report to are usually quick to act.”
“As expected, the Mataki tribe attempted to raid Lirrant,” Saltak informed the group. “The new tribal leader, Druff, thought he could use it to gain respect in the other tribes and clans to boost his claim to be a supreme leader.”
“I take it the horse archers came as a surprise to them?” Darras asked.
“They did,” Saltak thinly smiled. “It wasn’t quite a massacre of the Orcs; their chelvaks were quite fast, but they took many casualties and hence lost prestige.”
“And now this Druff is a laughing stock amongst the other tribes?” Pelegard chuckled.
“Not quite, but close to one,” Saltak replied. “The tale of his tribes defeat has other tribes worried ... well, tribal leaders.”
“Knocked some of the arrogance out of them,” Darras nodded.
“Yes, the tribal elders aren’t stupid regarding war and raids,” Saltak confirmed. “A foe they considered lesser just handed a powerful tribe a stunning defeat, easily.”
“What will happen now?” Sorella asked.
“They’ll think about it, try and revise some tactics and then pretend it never happened, or wouldn’t happen to them,” Saltak chuckled. “But they will remember next time some upstart tries to get permission for a raid into Human territory.”
“Pragmatic as ever,” Erren smiled.
“It’s a ruthless system, but it does mean the smarter ones get to the top and stay there.”
“The dispute in Fordel is over, my temple is restored, and the Rachtelinians mostly got what they were after,” Erren continued.
“Mostly?” Doriel asked.
“Some of the Rachtelinian national treasures were destroyed, mostly out of spite by the Darmelan Temple or the former Council,” Erren replied.
“Petty, but not too big a surprise,” Darras sighed.
“Rigilo isn’t too bothered, the biggest one was the former crown of Rachtelin, and he thought it somewhat over pretentious,” Erren chuckled, showing an image of an over-gilded, pearl and jewel-encrusted monstrosity.
“My goodness,” Hallis laughed. “Where did they get the idea for that thing?”
“Wasn’t my people,” Pelegard chuckled.
“It’s based upon the crown of the Emperor Harranis,” Erren replied. “Only more so, as you can see.”
“Someone who wanted it had delusions of grandeur,” Tsumi chuckled.
“One of their early kings,” Erren confirmed.
“Ah, after the fighting kings had passed?”
“Yes, the nobles went into a kind of frenzy over appearance and ceremony, and that’s where many of the crown accoutrements came from,” Erren explained.
“What did the original crown look like?” Darras asked. “Assuming they had one.”
“Rigilo and Callani have almost identical ones,” Pelegard replied. “Erren showed me the design and I got a craftsman ‘inspired’ to make it.”
“Rigilo will be a bit surprised when he gets the treasures back, as there’s a painting of the first king of Rachtelin wearing an identical crown on his helm,” Erren smiled.
“How are they getting back, the men that is?” Darras asked.
“Skirting around Gilvarion under the scouts of Iversirion,” Erren replied. “They are using farstriding so it won’t take too long.”
“And then the scouts go south?”
“Yes, I need Gresh to be fully mapped for when an army goes in.”
“You believe it will come to that?” Doriel asked.
“I do, you know our brother will not simply go back to the status quo, not with the resources we now know he has.”
“True, though getting into Asulnarath from Gresh won’t be easy,” Doriel nodded. “And my people will fight.”
“Firios and his team will also be looking for other routes,” Erren replied. “Just in case.”
“Casal will likely have any known ones watched,” Darras pointed out. “There’s also the dragon.”
“Yes, which brings me to your next mission, as it involves Klea,” Erren smiled.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Firios and his team will meet you in Asulnarath, you’ll then fetch Klea and begin the scouting for alternative routes, observe but do not interfere, they need to bond and it can’t be forced.”
“Very well,” Darras nodded.
“Mirion will meet them there to activate their shield amulets, yours too, Darras,” Hallis said.
“Just so long as she isn’t going with us,” Darras replied. “It would be difficult to keep her safe there.”
“I know, and she isn’t.”
“Good.”
“Looking for other ways in is also to permit Klea and Firios’ team to access Gresh without all the fuss of dealing with the other Elves of Iversirion,” Erren added.
“Ah, I see,” Darras nodded. “Let’s hope they manage to bond, though at least we know they won’t attempt to kill each other immediately.”
“Yes, though this will be different as they’ll have to work together for the good of all.”
“If you find a place, Balat will form a gateway for you,” Doriel added.