jmclarke
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Chapter 758: A Great Decision
🕑 Added 2024-01-10 15:54:37 +0000 UTCFor the first time in many years—many centuries in truth—the First Apostle was divided.
When he’d least expected it, a crossroads had appeared before him. For months, his only purpose had been to hunt down the Fool while keeping his followers focused. Their order had survived by being of singular purpose, always serving their god’s will, not questioning or wavering along the path.
Gabrian was a contemplative man by nature, leaving the philosophical questions of interpreting the signs of the world to other members of the clergy. He would let folk like Tobias Jay sit and debate whether or not the turn of a leaf was a sign that Uldar would grant a good crop year, or a bad one in any given year.
It was not his job to question, but merely to serve and guide.
To that point, his task had always been easy to remain true to. The First Apostle had spent most of his time in contemplation within Uldar’s Rise, giving orders to those that followed him, directing them to serve their deity’s will.
This had left him free to seek spiritual perfection, growing closer to the divine.
Even now, during this terrible time where their home had been assailed—and taken from them—he was free to be of singular purpose. All he had to do was keep the faith and guide others to do the same.
Things though, were different now.
A crossroads stretched out before him, one he could not ignore. Down one path lay salvation and the fulfilment of Uldar’s will, while down the other, destruction awaited.
For a time, he considered dividing his forces, seeking both the death of the Fool and the protection of Uldar’s doorway.
He quickly dismissed the notion.
Although he had often dispatched numerous agents to accomplish varied tasks in the past, in a time as dire as this, Uldar’s followers had to stay together, united. At another time, one not so long ago, there were a multitude of agents to fulfil Uldar’s will. Now, those numbers had withered.
Many of their best agents—like Eldin—were either dead, or deeply embedded in various institutions within the realm.
Gabrian simply did not have the numbers to divide his forces and still expect to complete both tasks well: he and Izas would both be needed to destroy the Fool.
The First Apostle’s speed, power, and might were necessary to chop the head off the snake; the Fool was wily, he was full of vicious tricks, and had gathered allies of not insignificant power.
While Uldar had granted his followers many gifts, Gabrian was no fool; the ancient Chosen knew well that—had he not been personally involved in the ambush of the Fool, the woman, the two giants, the cerberus, and the golem—the attack might have ended disastrously for the hidden church.
He also had little doubt that the Fool had amassed even more tricks now, making it necessary for him to be present to ensure the man's death.
Izas could not be spared either.
The Third Apostle would be needed to perform the interdiction to stop the Fool from escaping using the infernal Traveller’s power he was so fond of.
He and Izas must remain together to destroy their enemy.
Would they also not need their full strength to shatter the guards that held Uldar’s doorway? To have leadership focused on the Fool, and send only the rank and file to defeat the interlopers that now defiled Uldar’s Rise, was to invite ruin.
Such an ill-conceived decision would welcome failure in both tasks.
The First Apostle was accepting this truth, there was no way around it: he would have to keep his people together, guiding them down a single pathway of the crossroads at a time.
The Chosen of Uldar lifted his eyes to the sky, seeking final signs to guide his decision. No whispered truths came on the wind. No hidden messages in the water below its frozen surface.
Uldar was determined not to make things easy.
Gabrian was certain he was facing a trial, one no doubt, sent by their god to test both his faith and wisdom.
“And what would the wise and faithful choose?” he whispered.
On the one hand, allowing outsiders to hold the doorway to their god was the ultimate blasphemy. Every moment they were there was an affront to all of Thameish blood and Uldarite faith.
On the other hand, there was the Fool. A dangerous man, a contagious evil, spreading faithlessness and insubordination to the Heroes and others. He was also more than that: a herald, bringing outsiders in to strengthen the enemies of Uldar, a serpent, one abiding among the blades of grass—hidden from righteous eyes—until he was ready to strike, when he could wreak the most havoc.
Every heartbeat he remained alive increased the danger to their holy purpose.
He must be stopped.
The question was, which task was of the most immediacy? Which task was closer to their holy purpose?
It was difficult to know what his god wished for him to do.
The word ‘temptation’ played in his mind. It was tempting to go home, to meet with his god at long last, to destroy those spitting on his holy land. It was tempting to return home, to the comfort and familiarity of Uldar’s Rise. It was tempting to embrace Uldar’s Light and rebuild what their enemies had so thoroughly destroyed.
What was not tempting was to stay here in this cold, foreign land.
What was not tempting was to be perpetually hiding from the prying eyes of foreign deities.
What was not tempting, was to prolong their time away from home in order to hunt one single, filthy, Fool.
But, were these things not an answer in themselves?
He thought of his own earlier words.
His order was not to be the guardians of Uldar. Their god was mighty, wise, sage, and the arbiter of justice. Why would he tolerate outsiders holding his doorway unless he wanted it to be that way?
He was a god who had calmed natural disasters, wiped the first Ravener from the world, and struck fear in all of Thameland’s enemies. Had he wanted to, he could have destroyed the Ravener forever if his holy will were not to continue the cycle until his mysterious plan reached its end.
Uldar needed no protector; to assume that mere mortals could protect their god from anything he could not destroy himself, was ultimate arrogance.
Yes, no foreign wizards would escape Uldar’s wrath, unless he wished for them to do so.
To return and claim to protect him now, grovelling before him empty-handed while the Fool still ran amok throughout the world…yes, that would be the path that led to destruction
That was the trap!
To rush to Uldar’s side would not be to fulfil his purpose: it would be the act of a child returning to their father, seeking comfort. And they were not children. They were initiated. They were tied to Uldar’s hidden purposes.
And to abandon one of those purposes now: that would indeed be blasphemy!
At last, Gabrian had his answer: he knew what he was meant to do.
“Children of Uldar!” he called. “Let not the temptation of comfort and aid destroy your strength of purpose! Nor the desire for the warmth of home and Uldar’s light dissuade you from completing the task that was long laid out for us!”
He cast a flight spell on himself, rising high above the dedicated.
A nimbus of divine power surrounded him, drawing every eye in the encampment to the First Apostle’s glowing form.
His people looked up at him, seeking his guidance, his wisdom.
“We have been given a trial today, one that we came very close to failing! We are being called home, but do not hear this song of comfort and think that returning to Uldar’s Rise would be anything but a selfish choice,” he said sternly. “Our god is more than capable of protecting his interests, and if outsiders currently stand before his doorway, then he must be allowing them to do so! We would return to his side only to be reprimanded like disobedient children, for we would have left his enemy to run wild In the world while we gathered ourselves to his bosom!”
He shook his head. “We should return and greet him only with victory singing from our lips, not with excuses, not with begging and failure! That is not our way! It has never been the way of our order!” He gestured to the Ravener-spawn. “Our god’s messenger has stated that we must return to commune with Uldar, but also that our quarry must not be left free! Both tasks are necessary! And we are on the cusp of fulfilling the one we have committed ourselves to for so long, why would we abandon it now? On the day we kill the Fool of Thameland, then and only then will we return to commune with our god and retake our home!”
“It is a sign!” a holy warrior cried. “Our living god has brought the Fool to us! Our holy leader is right! Let's return to his bosom in victory!”
“In his name! For his glory!” the hidden church members chanted.
The First Apostle floated down to the ice, his attention on Uldar’s messenger. “Is this acceptable?”
The creature looked confused. “Both tasks are important…this one does not know which should be done first. The Usurper is closer to this place than our homeland, so perhaps this makes sense.”
“You hear that?” the Stalker laughed, returning to his jolly self. “The messenger of Uldar says it makes sense! Is that good enough for your purposes, my hounds? Now, hurry up before our prey gets away!”
“Be patient, like we have been,” Gabrian said, his heart light at last. “If the Fool has remained in one place since we began our deliberation, then that means he will be there longer. Uldar has provided us with this opportunity, he would not take it away so quickly. Is that not right, Izas?”
“Yes…” the Third Apostle said hesitating, his voice low and his face troubled.
“What is the matter?” the First Apostle asked.
“You are sure of this, holy leader?” the bearded man asked, looking older and tireder.
“I am,” Gabrian said.
“And you are a better man than I,” Izas said. “Within me, doubt still screams. Doubt stemming from my own past misdeeds. Holy leader, I remember when I first heard of these outsiders entering our realm: I had spoken with you and Eldin about them, and it was decided that we should not drive them out.”
He sucked a breath through his teeth. “Not a night goes by that I do not regret that decision. Had I counselled you and ordered Eldin to disrupt them, perhaps we would have found the Fool earlier. Perhaps he would be dead now, or have rejoined Uldar’s ranks. The lost lamb, Carey London, would not be dead, our home would not be destroyed, and we would be by our god’s side even now. Now, something new has emerged…and once again, we find ourselves ignoring it to put our minds to another task.”
“We are not ignoring it Izas, but rather prioritising our holy work first,” the First Apostle said.
“I know, and that is why you are a better man than I. I cannot see my own path ahead of me, not past my earlier failures. I will trust in your decision, even as I dissuade myself from doubting,” he said. “But I am only an old man, holy leader, and I am tired, and I am worried, and I am fearful. I only pray that we are doing the right thing.”
“We are,” Gabrian assured him. “We are. We are avoiding a trap, and stepping onto the right path.”
Izas gave the First Apostle a startled look. He threw his head back and laughed; his mirth was bitter.
Gabrian's eyebrows rose in surprise. “What's this?”
“Nevermind, holy leader,” the bearded old man said. “You reminded me of something, is all.”
“And what is that?”
“Something Eldin used to say. By Uldar, I miss him,” he smiled wryly. “He often said that in his old work, people would lay traps as a means to an end. There were deadly traps, and traps meant to merely capture. There were traps of all sorts, but he said that only one thing separated a good trap from a bad one.”
“What was that?” the Stalker asked, suddenly interested.
“Well,” Izas said. “Only one simple thing: a bad trap was a trap one could see. A good trap was one its target never recognized until it was much too late to avoid.”
“Well, then that portal at the top of Uldar’s Rise was a bad trap, seeing as how I recognised it and all,” the fae said simply.
“Perhaps it was,” Izas said softly. “Perhaps it was.”
###
Author's Note
Hello forty cool fools, almighty chosen, wise sages, and mighty champions! Thank you for your support!
So! An announcement today for those who read Rune Seeker, it has launched onto Kindle and Audible!
Since it does not have a Patreon, we could use your help but only if you want to!
If you want, downloading it on kindle is super helpful (also a great way to read it and book 1 if you haven't). Listening on audio is ALSO super helpful!
You can find it through the links below.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rune-Seeker-2-LitRPG-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0CKXX7D6C
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Rune-Seeker-2-Audiobook/B0CN1WLVKK
I'd also love some upvotes on these reddit posts, but-again-you DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/193a1od/rune_seeker_2_is_out_on_kindle_audible/
https://www.reddit.com/r/litrpg/comments/193a1p0/rune_seeker_2_is_out_on_kindle_audible/
Thank you so much. Cya tomorrow for some more Fool!
Comments
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
tim
The problem isn’t just the pacing slowing down, it’s pacing being slowed down by scenes that don’t add to the story. We get the Ravener sending a message that results in a 4 chapter delay finishing in the exact same position it started. It’s not that there has been a 4 chapter delay to the start of the fight, it’s that the 4 chapter delay is full of the same thought process over and over and at the end of it nothing changed. This is avoidable if instead Alex brings the cabal into the plan at the Sactum. Then we have our characters we actually like present in the storyline again and you can slow the pacing down as they get up to speed and add to the conversation. We also eliminate the need for the detour message because there is no cliffhanger of “will they go to Uldar’s Rise and find Theresa.” The pacing still slows down, but it feels purposeful. Instead, we replace Hart with a new character 8 books in who basically has the same power set. Super good fighter with magical mark. THAT is why the pacing feels trash.
ItWasIDIO!!
The Hubris the... the... The Zealotry
Drendude
It feels very much like the Oracle at Delphi saying to Croesus "If you go to war against Persia, you will destroy a great empire"
Surgebinder
I think the author knew the story needed 8 books but committed to 9 books and is now padding it out
JYonder
For all that is unholy don’t give him more ideas on how to draw the lead up to this fight out even more… where’s the “it’s been 84 years” gif when you need it 😂
BoxQueen
Eldin's advice will play a part in the upcoming battle and I look forward to it. And I wouldn't mind seeing these follower's faith crashing on the reveal of their god's death. Though they might blame it on the outsiders involvement for that.
Daniel is ŁØNE
Every chapter not being epic isn't an excuse, there are plenty of books that are released on a chapter-by-chapter basis that are made to be read in volume format that don't feel like they are being artificially extended when read in the chapter-by-chapter format. A lot of the information that we have gotten over the last couple of chapters excluding this one has been highly redundant, no one cares about how Alex, the stalker, apostle, or bystander A feels about the situation since it's all been said before, and we are all intimately familiar with each character's take concerning the scenario at this stage so the constant rehashing of info is annoying at best. I'll admit that this chapter was starting to move things forward but honestly the entire thing read like an excuse to delay what is already an overdue confrontation by even more chapters. Also, telling people to not read chapter by chapter for something that is released to the public and Patreon on a chapter-by-chapter schedule is an incredibly stupid argument. The vast majority of readers who have been following this novel since its start read on a chapter-by-chapter basis and it is because they do so that they even bother with a Patreon subscription, the author would make significantly less money if every reader waited and bought the novel volume by volume so that entire thought process is in no one's best interest. If we were willing to stock up on chapters we would just let entire volumes build up and read them for free before they get stubbed on RR.
Orion1024
As much as I didn't like some of the previous chapters because they felt like fillers, this is not one of them. The church charging into the trap without any rationale wouldn't feel natural at all and a bit too easy for the MC. This chapter grounds that decision nicely IMHO. Well done !
Clark Price
There really isn't? It's been like 3-4 chapters and there was a lot that the book skipped over, like him going through Keldas notes. I think a lot of you need to stop reading the chapters everyday. Every chapter isn't going to be so e sweeping epic?
Duncan
Just to be clear; I was talking about the author’s creative work ethic, not accusing them of using AI.
Scott Emery
Agree. Some of the chapters before the holiday were so shallow they felt like a paragraph or two expanded by a generative AI into 2000 words.
Scott Emery
So, I understand the concepts of scene and sequel: you need to balance action sequences with introspective and character-building sections, otherwise you have cardboard cutouts for characters. I also understand plot dynamics, in that you can't really start a book with a fight scene. That makes no sense at all. What I don't understand is J.M. is trying to accomplish here. I think maybe it could be an a attempt at satire on how stupid these so-called religious zealots are? They think in circles until they wind up in the exact wrong spot? But they are only subject to this effect because their god is, in fact, dead. If he were alive and able to guide them they wouldn't be facing the choice in the first place. All in all, it just isn't quite snapping together right. It feels forced.
Caestus
This feels like a result of the end of the 8th book not feeling like a climax. Yes Alex defeated the Mark of the Fool, but that is character growth, to feel satisfying it needed the trap to be sprung and the battle to reach a completion. If some of the Order are going to escape, that should have been a revelation at the beginning of book 9 and better felt if Isaz and Gabrien discussed their worries during the long stretches Alex is working on research. A bit of restructuring would help with the suspense too. Lining up the timeline so that we think the priests find the escape portal Alex sets up for the giants and have got a jump on him. We can then get a flash back to a shortened telling of the soul operation and planning after the Order enters the portal.
Code Reed
Anyone else feel like that chapter title is a little sarcastic after reading the chapter about all these old holy fools convincing themselves they made the right decision and patting themselves on the back?
Sean T
Feels like the comment section is as divided as Uldar's followers. Fellow patrons, please recognize the trial laid before us by the creator, stand strong against the mighty cliffs that are before us, for beyond there lies endless showers of endomorphins. But seriously though, I love this chapter, I like going through the thought process of the characters for events as important as jumping into the General's trap. Why would people want them to mindlessly charge into the trap like some third-rate villain and then get defeated like dumbasses. This lays a more solid foundation for the beating they are about to receive. I love the suspense of how all the buildup near the end of the previous book might have been ruined by this messenger of the ravener only for the villains to ruin themselves with flawed but convincing reasoning. Plus the snippet about seeing traps becoming the reason they fall into a trap is so ironic and masterfully done. I love it!
Sean T
Nah I'm staying subscribed, this is great writting and I love the suspense and the way it's done. Also like others said, a chapter a day is already quite awesome compared to other writers. But if you can't handle it, then hopefully you get your fix when the finished books come out.
Jordan Svec
Cya, it was nice not knowing you. This is one of my favorite series. What books are you reading that every single chapter is packed to the brim with action? DCC is the only one I can think of that’s close. HWFWM is one of the most popular litrpg series, and Shirt takes off months and has entire chapters only involving political tangents. You commenting that you’re unsubscribing is just kind of sad. Don’t like the content provided, move on.
lenkite
I think there should be 3/4 chapters on the plan to assault the Fool. And a description of the Fae road they walk upon towards the mighty battle, as Gabrian slowly ponders - over several chapters- on the culmination of his efforts to end the Fool of Thameland. A few chapters detailing a sung canon to Uldar , as the brave band of paladins march to slay the rebel Hero would not go amiss during this great endeavor. A few chapters analyzing the complex portal that Alex will leave open. Another one for the buffs they will cast. Another couple of chapters detailing the Interdiction that Izas will cast with all his holy devotion and strength. And a chapter for the holy vigil all these brave Paladin's will endure before commencing the assault. Maybe another one while the Ravener spawn communes with its master before entering the gate.
George R
Thanks for the chapter- loved this
Erik Borgstrom
It is really interesting to see how the pacing changed from the end of the last book to what it is in the start of this book. If I was taking a couple of weeks or months off from book 8 before reading book 9 I could totally see this pace being a good reintroduction to the story and to rehash the "kelda's sanctum" arc. I know you are getting a lot of complaints/comments about this part being a stalling tactic and for those of us reading the story straight through it does kinda feel a bit like a DBZ power up scene. I am sure it's important to the story to set up the new part so it doesn't feel like something just happened to fall perfectly inline with what The General needs to happen. And to give clarity to the choices made by everyone in the story.
Fizbandu
There is a redundancy issue. We don't need to hear Alex's thoughts on the trap and then the priests' thoughts. Give us one, at most. Stop telling and start showing. Instead of telling us how the trap is going to go, just show us its execution through the Church's perspective. Seems like he's greatly undermining the reveal / suspense with all the filler
Borisalv
This decision is taking too much.....
Kettle
When I read the books I always skip over all of the “And then I tried spell level 3, And then I summoned this creature, And then I learned this spell” stuff. The rest of the story is so good that I am okay with the parts that feel like filler. But I agree, to me almost all of what has happened since Alex became the general has felt like filler. However, I do think this chapter is the getting back to the story, so I am happy.
Robert Paulson
Also, yes. I unsubscribed, as I'm sure many other will do following the continued disappointment
Robert Paulson
You guys think those were full 'chapters' ? Can you guess the word count? Same subject matter beaten to death? Pirateaba writes chapters with 10x the content and its FREE.
mag28
I kinda agree. But I think it will be the First Apostle. That way him and Theresa can have there rematch. I think after he is the the only one left he finds out uldar is dead he goes to the Ravanger and there the final bosses. Heroes take Ravanger and Theresa takes the First Apostle.
Thomas Keller
Ah, so this is (potentially) narrative set up for the Third Apostle to escape and then be the one to "return to Uldar", letting us both have the majority of the hidden church die here while also seeing them crumble from witnessing the god corpse.
Callum Brunt
Right? Like, we are literally getting an entire chapter A DAY. Would you prefer to wait afew days for it to be a little longer? Like, not every chapter will be a huge battle. At least some need to focus on characters other than Alex, some need to lay the foundation for conflict, to see the other side of the coin. Like, what are these people expecting?
Daniele Di Vitto
leaked schedule for the next chapters: 759-760 flashback of alex building golems for toraka with the equipment he received. 761-763 inauguration of the new bakery. 764 selina's school life spin-off. 765-790 thundar and the curry of life. 791-800 gabrian second guessing his decision again.
Clark Price
Then don't do that? Stop reading everyday. Christ.
Clark Price
Man you guys are a really piece of work. You all seem to forgey we are getting one chapter at a time. Are you really raging over TWO chapters? Just unsub if you're that unsatisfied and wait until he book releases in it's entirety
Steven McNeeley
Filler episode
M van Dongen
Yoink..
Obi-Wan-Sage
I'm sorry.......i'm not following the purpose of these last two chapters just for this decision?!?! A decision they already made since leaving Thameland. I mean nothing really happened. If the ravener's messenger with its news changed the outcome. But it was basically a roundabout.
Duncan
We enjoy a consistent out put. I wonder if the price of that machine-like output is chapters that ask for more time while not depriving people of content.
Robert Paulson
Seriously? Two days (extremely short 'chapters'" and no decision making whatsoever? All of these threads hanging, bombarded with 'filler' chapters and nothing of note? I've hung on thru the back to back cliffhangers and lack of progression long enough. I'm beginning to feel as though I would have been better off either not beginning this story or waiting. I'm done contributing financially to tripe.
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
RyanR-Reviewer
Despite the constant stalling, this was a good chapter. But seriously, everything has been built-up as far as necessary (perhaps too much so). We have three chapters left this week, if the fight hasn't started in earnest by Saturday's chapter, I think I'll stop reading for a while and let the chapters accumulate. That way I can read through all the pointless chapters and get into the the fight without feeling cheated everyday.
Steven Lamb
I like the last couple chapters but thought it dragged on, might just be me wanting the battle to start
mant06
I think it was Tobias Jay who commented upon how active gods tended to have more sychophantic followers, apostles may have in a ironic way taken Uldar's place for the secret church and have a similar effect to it that an active god would have. Rather tragicomic when one considers both that Izas and Gabrian seem to be geniuen believers.
mhaj58
You’re stalling The SpongeBob SquarePants movie
A
I want the first apostle to die quickly so we can finally move on but I also want to see his reaction to a super dead Uldar…
Xardion
I ALMOST feel bad for these guys. Never was there a clearer case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't", not that they have any inkling of that. They're without a doubt walking into the jaws of death, but they'll at least die for what they believe (unless Alex somehow makes them lose faith... which is entirely possible given what he's about to unleash on them). But if they went back to Uldar's Rise, fought off the guards, and entered the sanctum??? They would be shattered and broken men.
MockingBird
This is awesome. Glad they stayed together. Enough buildup, lets start the fight.
CentaureHeart
I don't even know how this was a tough decision to make. If their Uldar is so great he can wait a tiny bit for them to get back. It's not like he's being held hostage. He's deader than dead though.
MrBlacknightmare00
Let the slaughter begin
Bender
Nice. "Welcome to my lair" Said Alex Spider the the Church Flies.
Daniel is ŁØNE
No more stalling let's get to the fight already, realistically this fight should have been the climax of the last book the fact that it has extended to this point is making me lose interest as time goes on. Maybe if I read this all at once it would be fine but as someone who reads on a chapter-by-chapter basis the delays are starting to seriously grind my gears.
