Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 26
Darras appeared on the lawn of his and Erren’s home, becoming immediately clean-shaven. However, this time Erren was standing alongside Serulon and indicated Darras should follow her as she led the way to the pergola.
“This has caused quite the stir amongst the neutrals,” Serulon began. “Not that Darras is in any trouble ... well, not from me.”
“I’m glad to hear that, sister, what that wizard was doing was abominable,” Erren replied.
“Indeed, it was. The question is, who gave him the knowledge, as it’s certainly not possible for a mortal to stumble onto it on their own.”
“Ah, should I have scanned his books before destroying them?” Erren asked.
“I doubt it was in any book he had, not unless he was so foolish as to keep a diary,” Serulon grimaced.
“I doubt it, unless it was coded,” Erren nodded. “So, we have a case of forbidden knowledge?”
“We do, and I doubt very much it was our brother’s doing,” Serulon replied.
“Not really his style, no,” Erren agreed.
“Not really any of our styles,” Serulon replied. “Well, not the main protagonists in this battle between you.”
Erren then created the scene where Darras had dealt with the wizard and Serulon studied it, examining the circles on the floor, as well as any open books.
“Hmm, a marked similarity to the circles used in Pell,” Serulon finally said.
“Pell?” Darras asked.
“Capital of Peltath,” Erren replied. “There was an incident similar to Dinone about two hundred years ago.”
“So, who was behind it?”
“Gorgath, the god of murder.”
“There’s a god of murder?”
“Sort of,” Serulon replied. “He was a minor god who picked up the title due to a cult worshipping him, and he passed on forbidden knowledge to them.”
“I take it he’s no longer around?” Darras asked.
“He was banned from interacting with the world for a thousand years,” Serulon continued. “It may be he’s found a loophole.”
“I doubt it, your purgatorium is not somewhere a god could escape from,” Erren frowned.
“Yet we have a case of forbidden knowledge and only one possible source,” Serulon countered, as other gods and goddesses arrived, including a couple Darras had not seen before, and a couple that Darras would have thought would never have received an invitation.
Tables and chairs had sprung up out of nowhere with food and drink piled high upon them. This, some of the gods piled into it with gusto as Serulon took charge of the gathering. This was simply an explanation of what Darras had found and its implications.
“This is why interfering with the races of this world should be banned,” Bimmlat stated after the explanation.
“That’s not why we were created, you fool,” Rustav countered. “Our purpose is to guide this world to the narrative of the Allfather, not bask in glory because we have a few worshippers who acknowledge us.”
“They manage well without us!”
“Your followers also got possessed by the scales of a dragon because you didn’t do your job,” Pelegard chuckled. “You’ll forgive me if I do my job properly.”
“Each to their own,” a buxom goddess dressed in green and gold said. “The question we need to know is who and how.”
“Indeed, we do, Cheelath,” Serulon nodded. “The circles were similar to those used in Pell, during the darkness of Peltath, when the Gurnith clan ran amok, releasing forbidden spiritual beings to murder any they thought opposed them.
“That was that idiot Gorgath,” Szavona replied. “I somehow doubt he’s escaped.”
“He’s still there,” Serulon confirmed. “Nor did any of the Gurnithi escape.”
“Some of their spells must have been missed ... or we have a god out there foolish enough to attempt this kind of idiocy again,” Doriel said, getting several nods from the other gods assembled.
“Doubt it was our dark brother,” Hallis added. “Really not his style.”
“Much as I loathe him now, yes,” Szavona agreed. “He works with the living, not the dead.”
“Whilst possible,” a thin, unhealthy-looking god said. “There’s a two-hundred-year gap involved here, with no incidents in between.”
“Yes, that’s why I have questions, for those of you who would come here,” Serulon replied. “And yes, Epelmos, I do believe a god has meddled with the narrative.”
“Seems a stupid thing to do, just to end up with a millennia-long banishment,” Venicia frowned. “Because they will be found out eventually.”
“Assuming they do it again,” Erren pointed out.
“I rather doubt it was a one-off,” Venicia replied. “There’s likely some plan behind it, or Gorgath has found a way to cause mischief from where he’s locked away.”
“There’s one possibility,” Tsumi informed the assembled gods. “Dream linking.”
“Dream linking? What’s that?” Osruit asked.
“It was a means used by the first ones to communicate over vast distances, before they learned how to use the dreamscape to travel and for war,” Tsumi replied.
“OK, but why now?” Crannok asked.
“I suspect it’s an experiment,” Tsumi explained. “Whilst we gods do not dream, hence cannot see the dreamscape, it exists and can be used for various means, including the passing on of forbidden knowledge unbeknownst to other gods.”
“I see,” Serulon frowned. “Certainly a possibility for passing knowledge along, though it does not give us a who or why.”
“I do dream in my avatar form,” Erren added thoughtfully.
“As do I,” Doriel nodded. “Though I’ve never tried to affect them.”
“Has Gorgath taken form in your purgatorium?” Saltak asked.
“Hmm, yes, he has,” Serulon confirmed. “Recently, too.”
“I wonder...”
“Seems bizarre,” Bimmlat added thoughtfully. “Though if he has nothing else to do...”
“It will be difficult for me to check,” Serulon confessed. “It’s not like I’d know how it could be done.”
“I believe I can,” Tsumi offered. “Whilst I do not dream, I do know when the dreamscape is in use and who is doing it.”
“Accepted,” Serulon replied. “I’ll let you know if he takes form.”
“What of the other dreamers?” Hallis asked. “Won’t their ... noise interfere?”
“No, it’s not focused,” Tsumi replied.
“Ah, interesting.”
“Thank you for all coming and sharing your thoughts,” Erren said to all. “Please remain and indulge in food and drink if that is your desire.”
It was obvious that some of the gods, at least, were being nosey, and most went to look at the bathing area, although they were blocked from viewing the house. Darras found himself cornered by Cheelath, who clearly was after something.
“You caused issues for my followers in Hrasstic,” Cheelath said.
“Inadvertently, perhaps,” Darras shrugged. “I was dealing with a kidnapper of Elven women and children, an irredeemable called Kervak.”
“They were using the extra funds to improve their village and crops when you interfered, and the price dropped.”
“A pity, but I’m not going to ignore a servant of the Dark Lord, nor a kidnapper.”
“I’d avoid Hrasstic if I were you,” Cheelath hissed.
“I’ll go where Erren sends me,” Darras calmly replied. “If that’s Hrasstic, so be it.”
“You should have more care where you send your dog,” Cheelath turned to face Erren.
“You should show better judgment than to support your people who benefit from kidnappings,” Erren replied. “It was bound to end one way or another, and the price has returned to normal.”
“Leaving them impoverished, again!”
“That was due to a war with Sthistor, and the village not gathering enough flax to sell,” Darras replied. “It had nothing to do with what I put an end to.”
“I suggest you bless their crops to give them a bumper harvest,” Erren shrugged. “That’s supposed to be your focus of worship.”
“And have you step in to change the weather?” Cheelath sniffed.
“Why would I do that?” Erren quizzed. “Changing weather patterns is fraught with unintended consequences further down the line.”
“Yet you have done it, I know you have!”
“In consultation with others, yes,” Erren replied. “I don’t do it on a whim.”
“That’s not what our brother says!”
“Seriously? Ask Szavona what a liar he is,” Erren chided.
“I will!” Cheelath snarled and then walked away to where Szavona was talking to Epelmos.
“Lot of pent-up anger there,” Darras commented to Erren.
“It’s because I also bless crops,” Erren shrugged.
“Ah, she thinks you’re trespassing?”
“Yes, I doubt we’ll ever get on, though I don’t harbour her or her followers any ill will,” Erren replied, watching Cheelath talking to Szavona and looking rather shocked.
“A surprise meeting,” Sorella said after she’d approached and greeted the pair.
“Yes, there are several here whom I’d not normally permit such access,” Erren nodded. “But, Serulon asked.”
“Yes, you have far more room here than she does,” Sorella replied.
“What have you done now?”
“A ship was torn apart on the rocks off the coast of Asul, and somehow that’s my fault,” Sorella chuckled. “I just pointed out that the captain was a Darmelan and didn’t make an offering to me.”
“Would that have helped?” Darras asked.
“He’d still be alive, so yes, a bit.”
“I suspect she enjoys your company,” Erren smiled.
“Possibly, it’s not like I got a real admonishment or judgment passed,” Sorella nodded. “She serves up a decent wine, too.”
“I put her in touch with Bolgasa.”
“I think she appreciated that,” Sorella replied. “I notice that, as usual, he didn’t turn up.”
“I doubt he’s interested,” Erren shrugged. “Same as Lanfros and Bennos.”
“True, nor would our dark brother deign to turn up, either.”
“He’d just get on everyone’s nerves,” Erren chuckled.
“Well, Darmela turned up and she didn’t,” Sorella remarked.
“She’s mending fences,” Erren replied, indicating Darmela talking to Doriel and Pelegard.
“Ah, Fordel,” Sorella nodded. “She has a lot of work to do there to restore their economy.”
“Their defeat lowered her standing, too,” Erren continued. “Particularly the actions of her high priest, though that wasn’t her fault.”
“I see the Netas, Fermanilk has consolidated a lot of power around himself now,” Sorella replied. “Now that the merchants and nobles have fewer funds for bribes and power grabs.”
“Yes, Fordel will become a thriving commercial hub again, but Fermanilk will be the one running things, not the guilds.”
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