Reborn as the First Boss, Book 9 Epilogue

Epilogue – Elsewhere

The Holy Theocracy of Eclana, where the Righteous Pantheon of the Good Peoples of the World reigned supreme, was always in some sort of unrest. Mortals were weak creatures, and needed a firm hand to guide them upon the proper path, but that weakness also meant that they resented those who would show them the way. Despite the righteous faith that the churches called for in their people, there were always those who chafed against the strictures of the Church, and were seduced by the false freedoms and temporary pleasures that heresy offered. Thus, the Holy Inquisition always kept watch, to ensure that heresy, when it showed its vile face, was purged without hesitation, to prevent its rot from spreading through the land.

Sadly, the Holy Inquisition was stretched thin, now, and there were grave portents upon the horizon. Too much had happened, too quickly. First, a Hero had been born and killed. Then, a Great Sacrilege had been performed. The rise and fall of a Goblin Hero. Entire teams of Inquisitors being lost to attacks upon their holy mission in the heathen lands. And then, Eztar had been cast down from the divine realm, fleeing Zerat, the other half of what had once been the god Tarez. That secret had nearly shattered the Council of Nine when it was discovered what the priesthood of Eztar had been hiding for centuries. It was only due to Pope-Queen Marion Lionspirit and her righteous anger at those who did not recognize that there were other, more important, battles to fight than these squabbles in their own stronghold that kept things from coming to open blows.

There were other, lesser problems, as well. Ones the common people were blissfully unaware of. A stratagem to drive a wedge between Bikar and Dascora had been uncovered, and the Warpriest and his minions had been slain. A team of warriors near level 40 was hard to come by, especially since the only dungeons in Eclana were low-level. It was said that, before, there had been higher-level dungeons, but the Church had purged them, since they held abominations like Undead and Demons. Between that, and the fact that the XP for killing creatures that were no threat to you went down dramatically, it was little surprise that few made it to such levels in times of peace.

Another problem was that every cemetery, mausoleum, and necropolis in Eclana blessed by Eztar had been corrupted, the sanctified dead in those holy places rising as undead. The Holy Inquisition had acted quickly, after the Grand Inquisitor learned of the connection between Eztar and Zerat. Inquisitors and their retinues had rallied local forces, with the help of Eztar’s faithful, and the sanctified dead were returned to their slumber. However, losses were heavy, especially in rural areas where few soldiers were posted, but generations of villagers lay beneath the soil. Some farming villages had been lost completely, and even though the dead had been defeated eventually, the buildings were gone and the fields would need consecration before they could be replanted, meaning they would lie fallow this season. While it was not quite enough to cause a famine in the capital and major towns, the storehouses would not be as full as anyone would like this winter, that was certain.

And beyond it all was the certainty that the Great Demon Emperor and the vile hordes under his command were moving once again. For the birth of Heroes only came when there were Bosses on the move. Yet the newest Hero, after the Goblin Hero’s demise was an unknown, having risen up outside the Theocracy, in the heathen lands of the unbelievers and heretics. Who knew what damage would be done if the Hero was not found and properly guided to the true and righteous path?

And so, the Council of Nine was meeting in emergency session to try and decide the path forward. Pope-Queen Lionspirit looked at the Grand Inquisitor, and said, “The dead have been put back to rest. Now, we must decide the next steps. What of the search for Lord Eztar? Have any of the faithful found him?”

The Grand Inquisitor shook his head. “Nay, your Holiness. From what we have been able to discern, Lord Eztar did not descend anywhere within the Theocracy’s borders. Our spies in Crystalshield, and the remaining agents in Bikar have reported nothing, though the elves have been moving hard against our agents since Warpriest Andouin was defeated, and his retinue captured. The elves are using the angel’s ability to see souls to root out those agents we had put under the [Soulslave Ritual] to prepare our way for the eventual purification of that country. Unfortunately, this means our sources of information there are drying up.

“As for Dascora, our Inquisitors have been actively hounded or killed throughout the land. Not openly, but several teams have had encounters with extremely well-equipped bandits, or having been given tainted goods from reputable merchants. Our network of spies, however, still remains, in all the areas save for Dascora’s Crownlands and the Northern Reaches, where they are especially vigilant against our influence, though we’ve taken losses in Windwater Barony, as well. While we are blind in much of the country, and the faithful actively rebuff our advances due to the pacts with the crown needed to remain in that heathen land and tend to their flocks, our agent in Shadescar Barony reports that King Skysword is preparing for a celebration of his tenth anniversary of taking the throne next month. All the upper nobility of the country will be in attendance. If we could send a team with knowledge of the [Soulslave Ritual], we may be able to get eyes in places that had been closed to us before. Perhaps enough that we can end Dascora’s defiance of the divine truth of the Theocracy.”

“Is that wise?” asked Arthurus, High Priest of Cineas. “We all know and agree that all methods are worthy if they lead to the righteous path of the Theocracy bringing truth to the world, but if the elves have uncovered the existence of the [Soulslave Ritual], then would they not share that information with Dascora? True, the two nations are not close allies, but they have worked together many times in opposition to our crusades. That is why we sought to split them, after all.”

“Wise or not, we need to do something to reverse the current state of affairs,” intoned Averil, High Priestess of Yton. “While most of those who follow the Wondermaker are content so long as they are able to ply their crafts without restriction, they do hear things. Most of what has been reported to me is simple grumbling, but there is an undercurrent of doubt forming within the Theocracy. Even with just what the common masses know, too much has happened too quickly. And there are those who have noticed that none of the dead in Dascora or Bikar rose from their graves, even those tended by the faithful of Eztar. It has not yet reached the point of blasphemous or treasonous talk, but people are beginning to doubt the righteousness of the Theocracy. After all, they say, if we act with the will of the gods, then why are things not going our way?”

“I have heard much the same from my people,” nodded the aged Albree, High Priestess of Wobris. “The situation is degrading, and these doubts are not the sort that can be quelled with an Inquisitor’s talents. Not that the doubters should not receive ‘counseling’ to shore up their faith, but that is dealing with symptoms, not the cause. We must find something that can be used to rally the people, and prove that the gods are with us. We need a victory, of some kind.”

Pope-Queen Lionspirit raised her hand for silence. Turning her gaze to the Grand Inquisitor, she asked, “Dederic, which barony in Dascora was it where an entire team was lost?”

“Windwater Barony, your Holiness. The young Baroness is supposed to be a Mind Sorceress and Diplomat by the name of Alis Pureheart. A newcomer to the nobility, without any obvious connections to the other nobles, though her policies have made her popular in her lands.”

“This is the same Pureheart that killed the Goblin Hero, yes?”

“Indeed, Holiness.”

“Then she will be our primary target. With the young and charismatic Pureheart under our thrall, we will be able to find out about who killed our inquisitors, and use her to discover any other secrets Dascora may be hiding. But that will be the hidden ploy. We must have an obvious win to sate the masses.”

She paused, considering for a second. “Baron Longchaser of Shadescar Barony will be our ‘triumph’. With the [Soulslave Ritual], we will make it look as though he rebelled, and invited us in. Our troops will use the Underway to get to the barony. As I recall, it lies on the border of Bikar. With Shadescar added to our holdings, we will have a means to get around the blockade of the Northern Reaches, and a second means to attack Bikar. Baron Longchaser’s ‘invitation’ will be the rallying cry to our new crusade, to unify the continent before the Demon Emperor can make his move.”