jmclarke
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Chapter 757: The Crossroads
🕑 Added 2024-01-09 21:53:19 +0000 UTCThe Ravener-spawn waited a bit away from the hidden church’s encampment.
Gabrian had seen these sorts of creatures before, with their humanoid shape, long claws, and scab-like, hardened skin.
This one, unlike any he’d ever seen before, was mounted, sitting astride a large, formidable beast the likes of which he’d also never seen before. The mount had a grey, serpentine form, from which protruded six legs that clawed the ice. Its spade-shaped head bore a brutal horn rising from the tip of its snout.
Though Gabrian found the creatures’ forms somewhat foul, who was he to judge servants of Uldar’s appearance, especially one sent to speak to his people?
The weary members of the hidden church had prayed for a revelation from their god, and Gabrian was well-pleased that their deity had seen fit to bless them with one.
He went out to meet the creature, flanked by a holy warrior on his left, and Izas on his right. The Third Apostle was wiping sleep from his eyes and straightening his beard, looking upon the Ravener-spawn with relief.
Gabrian could not help but smile wryly: if any outside the hidden church saw a holy man looking—with such relief—at a creature spawned by Thameland’s greatest enemy, they would have cried foul.
But, they did not know the truth.
Such was the privilege of only those so closely connected to Uldar’s will.
“This is fortuitous,” Izas whispered to Gabrian. “Our God has at last blessed us with new insights. I must confess, holy leader, I had reached a point where I was beginning to think that Uldar was testing us and would keep withholding his guiding hand until we passed a trial of his choosing.”
“Perhaps we have now passed that trial,” the First Apostle smiled. “Remember, endurance and keeping faith in times of tribulation is valued by Uldar. We have preached this in sermons that we’ve given in our darkest hours, and have also shown both of these attributes in this very endeavour. Now, we are being rewarded.”
“Indeed,” Izas said, glancing about. “This is strange, have you seen our fae ally this morning?”
“I was only roused from my tent when the horns began blowing,” the First Apostle admitted. “I was in contemplation and prayer: the last I saw of him was last night when he went off to play with that broken doll of his.” He let out a pitying sigh. “There is no more knowledge to squeeze from that thief, now he is just practising cruelty. It is most distasteful.”
“He is not mortal, and I suppose we all have ways of relieving our frustrations. Still, the fact that he is not here now…seems odd to me…” Izas said.
“Perhaps there is a good reason for it,” Gabrian said. “But for now, let us focus on what Uldar has to tell us.” The First Apostle nodded to the Ravener-spawn when they reached it. “Greetings, servant of Uldar, what news have you for his humble servants.”
The Hunter’s mount leered at the humans, licking its lips. Its master placed a clawed hand on its back, calming it. “I bear a message from my master asking that you fulfil a task.”
Murmurs ran through the group of holy warriors standing near.
The First Apostle bowed. “And what might this message be? We are here to serve.”
“You are to go to the realm of the one above all in our land. Things have shifted. Strange tidings. Things have transpired that should not have. Ancient challenges that should long have been resolved, have arisen once more. These events are out of line with what should be, so, you must engage directly with him so we might know how to proceed,” the Ravener-spawn said.
Murmurs turned to gasps.
“Are you misspeaking?” Izas demanded. “Are you asking us to go to Uldar in person? Such a thing is not possible! He has ascended beyond the material world and now speaks to us through the whispers of the wind, the rumble of the earth, and signs hidden in the happenings of the world. One day he might open his door to us and let us ascend to be by his side, but that day is not now!”
The Ravener-spawn shook its head. “Not so. The door is open.”
Silence gripped the hidden church’s warriors.
“What do you mean?” the First Apostle asked.
“In the land that you once called home, others have claimed the tall rock. Above the tall rock is an open doorway they now guard,” the Hunter’s voice was human, but raspy. “Through the portal, you will find the one above all, though we cannot enter, you can. You must go there, take the door, and speak to him for clarification.”
Horrified cries of alarm and anger came from the holy warriors.
“Impossible!” a large, armoured man cried.
“Blasphemy!” a priestess added.
“How could outsiders open a door that we have never seen?” an older man said, sounding bewildered.
Izas was at a loss for words.
The First Apostle was almost speechless. “This is true…?”
“I speak no lies,” the Hunter assured him.
“Then we must regain it immediately!” Izas cried. “We cannot allow those who would undo our good works to hold Uldar’s threshold! He will curse us! If we had not allowed ourselves to be driven from our home, this would never have happened!”
“You are correct,” Gabrian said, filled with outrage. “Break camp, we must be gone quickly! Someone find—”
“I found him!” a familiar voice shouted, echoing across the ice.
Bells jingled in the cold wind.
The Stalker appeared in the distance, galloping toward the encampment on the back of his mount. His eyes were shining, his face twisted in a wide grin. “At last I found him, he's finally within reach! He’s left that sanctum he must’ve been hiding in but he’s been out for a while! We have to move now so we don’t lose him again!”
More cries of confusion and dismay rose from the holy warriors as the fae drew his moose up in front of them. “We have to go!”
The hidden church members looked at each other, then to their leadership for guidance. Even three hundred years of experience could not steady Gabrian’s racing heart.
‘Why now?’ he wondered. ‘It has taken months to find the Fool, and now—when we have been told to return home—we suddenly have an opportunity to destroy him? What trial do you send us, my god? What test must be passed now?’
“Well, what are you all waiting for?” the Stalker cried. “I mean, he could be gone at any moment—Oh, hello.” He nodded to the Ravener-spawn.
“Greetings,” it nodded back.
“What are you doing here?” the fae asked.
The Ravener-spawn paused, scrutinising him from head to toe before answering.
“I have brought a message,” it finally said.
“Well, whatever it was will have to wait. My hounds, and I—” the fae started.
“Did you know?” Izas took a step toward the Stalker.
“Did I know what?” the fae sounded irritated.
The Third Apostle ground his teeth. “Did you know that a door had been opened to Uldar? Did you know that it was taken by our enemies?”
“What are you talking about?” the Stalker demanded. “Doors? Uldar?”
“We sent you to Uldar’s Rise to gather sanctified soil so we would be well armed for our hunt,” the priest growled. “When you were there, did you not see the outsiders guarding a door?”
“Hm? Of course I did, I'm not blind!” the Stalker snapped. “But why are we wasting our time with this? Even now, our quarry could be getting away!”
“So it is true, and you did not inform us,” Izas said. “Outsiders have taken the doorway to our god!”
“Doorway to your god…wait…that portal leads to Uldar? But no one’s heard from him in thousands of years!” the Stalker shouted.
“It does not matter, strange things are happening this cycle, and now we must return home to take what is ours. To retake what belongs to our god!” Izas cried.
A roar arose from the hidden church’s warriors.
“Wait!” the First Apostle raised his voice. “Calm yourselves, brothers and sisters, calm yourselves! Do you not see what is in front of you?” He glared at them, his steely eyes cowing them into silence. “Uldar works through the signs of the world, does he not? Does he not?”
The question hung in the air.
“Of course he does,” Izas said.
“Do you not see the sign that is before us now? Look! We have been pursuing one of Uldar’s great enemies, and—at last—an opportunity is presented for us to fulfil our quest! All of you who have hung on for so long in the face of this seemingly endless hunt, are about to be rewarded,” the First Apostle met every eye. “And at the same time, a messenger of Uldar comes telling us we must go home. Go home and fail our quest. To go home, as so many of you have been tempted to! I do not know what this all means yet, but what we do deserves consideration, not blind action.”
The outcry from the warriors became murmurs of doubt and confusion.
“Holy leader, I must disagree.” A worried Izas looked at the Ravener-spawn, and the Stalker, his brow creased. “Our first duty is to serve Uldar, and we cannot allow outsiders to hold the keys to him. We cannot allow such blasphemy to continue.”
“Perhaps,” the First Apostle said, then looked at the Hunter. “Tell me, messenger, does the quest to destroy Usurpers still stand? Or is that no longer a priority?”
“It is of incredible importance,” the Hunter said. “I sensed one near, and it is taking all of my will to not go and seek it out for destruction.”
“When you are finished with your task here, will you go and strike him down?” Gabrian asked.
“Immediately,” the Ravener-spawn hissed.
“Hold now, hold now!” the Stalker shouted, sliding off his mount. “Don't let this rangy monster turn you from your task, my hounds. We are here to destroy our prey, aren't we? Don't let yourselves get distracted.”
“This is not a distraction,” Izas said. “It is our purpose.”
“It might be a temptation; it might be a test,” Gabrian said. “I have never known Uldar to communicate so openly, and yet suddenly, a door is open to him, just in time to call us home and let our quarry escape?”
He shook his head. “It does not sit right with me. It requires more thought.”
“Perhaps it does not,” Izas pressed. “Uldar has given us a command, and we should simply follow it. We must return home: we must set aside our pride and our mortal hunger for vengeance to protect him.”
“He does not need our protection,” Gabrian said. “Our secret church was created not to be Uldar’s bodyguards, but to be his hidden hands. Our purpose is to go out into the world and perform the tasks that most would find distasteful. We are to perform them in secret, and we are to perform them both quickly and adeptly. In the history of our order, we have eschewed comfort and distraction. We have been singular in purpose. This situation threatens to divide us, I cannot believe it is coincidental!”
“It might even be a ploy!” the Stalker offered. “Maybe this is some wizard’s trick to lure you away, to lure you back home so they can kill you, my lovely hounds! It all stinks to me!”
“You are not without blame here,” Izas said. “If you had told us about the door—”
“Then what, my lovely hound?” the Stalker asked. “If I had told you about a random portal—guarded by wizards, and leading to an unknown destination—what would you have done? Would you have charged in in a foolhardy fashion? Would you have given up our hunt? Or would it have changed nothing? In the end, it was just a distraction, and I didn't see the point in mentioning it! Look, it's already distracting us! Our prey could disappear at any heartbeat!”
Izas looked at the Hunter, ignoring the fae. “Tell us, according to Uldar, which takes more priority: the death of a Usurper, or communing with our god?”
The Ravener-spawn frowned. “This one…does not know…both are important.”
“See? It's like your lead hound was saying, it’s a test!” the Stalker cried.
Izas shook his head. “Holy leader, I think we should return home. However, I am not the shepherd of this order. You are. Under your leadership, we have prospered. Your wisdom has been the rudder in a stormy sea. I will trust it. What say you? Do we seek the Fool’s life and then return to Uldar’s rise? Or do we go home immediately?”
The First Apostle frowned.
He knew in his soul that this would be one of the most, if not the most, important decisions of his long life.
###
Author's Note
Hello forty-one cool fools, almighty chosen, wise sages, and mighty champions! Thank you for your support!
And now we have the crossroads for Gabrian. Welcome everybody!
So tomorrow, Rune Seeker book 2 publishes to amazon! I'll include links tomorrow!
Also...I'll have BIG Fool news soon. :D Hopefully in the next month or so. Whenever I get the green light to announce it.
Cya tomorrow!
Comments
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Sedat Ulusal
do they not just sing for any hero, I don't think they differentiate
Nathan moi
Who said Uldar couldn't talk because the door is blocked ? Dude you managed to completely misinterpret the chapter, you should reread it
George R
Thanks for chapter
Code Reed
Yeah, unfortunately. As illogical as that might be. After all, if he truly was your Almighty god, a couple of mortal wizards shouldn't have been able to do shit to him.
GuyWhoReadsALot
Religious people.... "We can't talk to Uldar because bad people are blocking his door." Soon followed by "Uldar told you to go save his door." How did Uldar tell him to save the door when the whole point is the voice of Uldar can't be heard because bad people hold the door?
Fleetpanda
Not sure what the choice is here. One of these things has a time limit and the other doesn’t. The door isn’t going anywhere, Alex is. From their perspective, the choice should be easy: kill Alex then take the door back. The other choice is take the door back and have Alex ‘escape’ again. They don’t know he’s baiting them, so taking him out while they see a chance is just flat out the better option
Daniele Di Vitto
also a flashback chapter of alex building some golems for toraka to keep the business going. and ofc we need a "Thundar and the curry of life" arc.
Scott Emery
Some foreshadowing indicates the following: The secret church goes to Uldar's and finds him dead. Theresa is killed in the process. (Optional war between Generasi and Thameland.) Many fights later, the actual climax will be Alex overcoming Baelin in order to resurrect Theresa.
lenkite
apostle seeing uldars corpse -> stalker sees uldar's corpse -> stalker brings in fae lord -> fae lord claims throne and becomes new God -> Thameland becomes unfit for human life as humans become [Slaves/Food].
lenkite
Yeah, it is a [Dramatic Plot] moment to have this happen *right* at this very moment. Probability factor is very low, lol. Also, just annoyed that Ravener spawn can now travel freely through the fae roads and go anywhere in the world - that was never really mentioned in the story earlier and was popped out of nowhere.
lenkite
Nah, following Alex is far better, since claiming Uldar's sanctum is to the extreme benefit of the hidden church - they can claim his throne and all its and even deny it to others. Which also effectively means the Stalker has access to divinity and the Fae Lord can claim it all for himself.
Revan694
Perhaps a tree was hit by lightning out in the forest of Endor. I'm sure the tree had a fascinating story worth covering. Also, there's the entire history of the moon Endor, which wasn't included in the other books. Then whatever Baelin has been up to in Space Vegas... The current size and weight of Harmless...
Lorevi Q
I don't really understand the first apostle. He claimed to talk to Uldar and he knows more about what's going on since he's completely cool with ravener spawn. He's happy to kill and force people to follow Uldars plan as it helps his goals. But then there's scenes like this where he acts confused and unknowledgable, barely more informed than a random believer. I can't really describe why but it feels very dissonant. It's like there's 2 First Apostles, the manipulative one determined to maintain the status quo where he's on top and the devout believer who's innocently trying to do his gods bidding and the plot swaps between whichever makes more sense.
Scott Emery
Got any snark left after that one? That about the most perfect comment possible.
He's hearing the Ravener. The Ravener tried to reach out to him some chapters back but realized he was out of range. That's why he sent the spawn
mag28
No I think originally the fae and uldar were on good terms or maybe they help him to ascended to godhood maybe. I mean uldar had a feast set up for 2 people, himself and someone else. So maybe the fae lord wasnt strong enough to take uldar in a straight up fight but uldar wasn't killed in a straight up fight. He didn't have any weapons or armor on him, I think, he was suppose to be having a dinner with friend or at the very least someone he knows enough to be let into his divine realm. Hell you don't need to be stronger than somebody to sucker punch them. And yeah I think this is all just a secret plot set up through lies, you know a thing a fae lord would totally set up. Also I'm a little confused about the "anti-chaos" stuff. If that means the stuff the dungeon cores are made up off I think you might be over thinking it. There is no mystery around it. It was made by Uldar, people have known it was useful to make things before this cycle, it was just never really brought out of thameland and never used/experimented on like alex and Jules did. Remember thameland seems important but it's really just a random little country, hell genesai would be will to go to war with it for alex. And yes he is the MC and all that but that's fucking crazy that they value one person so much, but it's also because they don't give a shit about a tiny little island kingdom.
Daniele Di Vitto
before the battle starts, it would be great to have a few chapters about how the bakeries are going and also a couple on selina's school life.
Alex
There is probably an easier solution to this problem xd. You might be right about faes benefiting from it that way. But like - was Uldar that weak/fae lord that strong, that he basically sold his own land to him, instead of fighting him?
mag28
You just asked a lot of questions but yes I think killing uldar was just to use the land. Why he didn't just take the spawn because he couldn't. Only people from thameland can control dungeon core and make the spawn and the fae lord isn't so he couldn't make them. Yeah when the cycle is broken nothing will happen. The fae lord might be willing to start a war but I don't think so because if he was it already would have happened. And the original purpose of the cycle and heroes was as an excuse to explain why everyone needs to leave thameland for a couple of months to a couple of years. Because what sounds better, yeah pack up your life so the fae and play in your area or there's a struggle between good and evil but you need to leave so you don't get caught up in it. Also every cycle would remind people that uldar is great and he empowers his heroes to save and defend their homeland, so that would make him stronger too from there faith.
Alex
Responding to your second comment, that I didn't see initially - why the hell did Uldar make such a deal with fae lord? Maybe such deal was made with the entity that creates an "anti-chaos" substance, that's a valid assumption. But you are making fae lord a main culprit, just because he knew that Uldar is dead, and because he for some reason wants to kill heroes.
Alex
True, but you are just saying that this entity is Fae lord, which doesn't make much sense to me. Because he is not directly connected to "anti-chaos" substance. Also, what exactly will happen, if Ravener is destroyed? Fae lord will start massacring everyone because faes are no longer free to run during the cycle? Was he just bluffing? Was all this effort from him, just so faes can use this land? How does the original purpose of the cycle and heroes interconnect with him? Why didn't he take the throne of Uldar, if he killed him? Why did he need the ravener spawns from heroes? Couldn't he just take them from the hidden church years ago? Too many loose ends.
mag28
So yeah my theory is that for some reason in the past uldar and the fae lord made a deal. The deal was every 100 years the far would get more time in thameland. In order to do that he need people to leave so he made up the cycle and the ravanger. But the heroes got too good at taking down ravanger with the general so uldar nerfed it into the fool. Them time past and the fae lord got too greedy, and killed uldar. Then the far lord set up the secret church to extend to cycle, but the church doesn't know that they just think they are following uldars plan but actually are following the plan of his killer.
mag28
The cycle is 100% by uldars design we know that because ulnar made the Ravanger. And as far as the cycle happening it's because the Ravanger is on autopilot because it's basically an ai. And the secret church probably got that BS about the cycle from whoever killed ulnar, in my opinion the fae lord. Whoever killed uldar, probably, set up the secret church to use them to keep the cycle going. And if you remember the fae all love the cycle because everyone in thameland leave so the fae basically have free run of the place during the cycle.
Alex
I feel like he knows, that Uldar is dead) That's why he pretended that he could hear Uldar. He probably hopes that Uldar can be resurrected.
Alex
It feels like the cycle wasn't running after Uldar's death by accident. Someone is responsible for it, and it is probably the same entity that killed Uldar. First Apostle said, that they need to keep the cycle running, and if it ends abruptly - there will be a disaster. How does he have such knowledge?) And more importantly - what will happen? I guess that the entity that killed Uldar will interfere when the cycle stops permanently. It doesn't make sense, that he made all this stuff up for no reason.
mag28
I'm not saying he won't be able to do other 9 tier spells eventually, but I think it will take time and the story is in the end game so it isn't gonna happen right now. I'm also confused why you would think getting who killed uldar is gonna happen. Like yes I want to know who did it but I never thought that was the end game. Alex cares about ending the cycle not who killed uldar. Alex spend most of series hating him so he wouldn't want revenge for him. As long as we find out who killed uldar I think that's a good enough ending for that loose end to be tied up. And I think we will find out who did kill uldar for sure but I don't think Alex is gonna fight them.
Alex
Ofc he will be able to cast 9th tier spells other than summoning. We got the "shopping" chapter not just for a tease. Ravager might be stronger than he is, but him being the final boss doesn't tie loose ends.
Alex
I mean, Alex just summoned The Slaughterer of Infinite - who else will they fight? XD The stalker's lord is probably responsible for some things, but I doubt he is the main culprit, considering that he has an ambition of probably "becoming an Udhar" only now when the portal to Uhdar was opened.
mag28
One I thing you are overestimating alex a little. Yeah he can cast 9 tier summoning magic but he has the travels help so idk if he can has other 9 tier spells. Two he can't just call the unmaker whenever he wants. If he calls her for something she doesn't consider worthy, she'd probably kill him herself. Third we don't know how strong the Ravanger is. As far as we have been told the Ravanger thinks it's part of a plan and it basically let's itself lose to continue the cycle. So for all we know when it finds out Uldar is dead it might rip thameland apart. Your assuming the Ravanger is giving all its got what if currently it giving like 5% of its total power.
mag28
That's interesting but even with all the recent power up I don't think they can fight something that killed a god. And my guess for who killed uldar is the stalker's lord. He basically told the stalker that uldars dead and I feel like only people that were involved with the killing would know. But ill admit he might not have done it alone.
Alex
Also, I don't think Alex and Heroes will be challenged by such easy opponents. He can cast 9th-tier magic, he should fight alongside Baelin for their lives.
Alex
Nah, nor Ravaner nor Apostle are final bosses. There is an unknown entity, that killed Udhar, that has some benefits from running cycles. This entity is the origin of "anti-chaos" substance, and was recognized by the devil from Generasi. Might be the chief of Ezaliel, that he threatened Baelin with before he died.
RyanR-Reviewer
They way things are going, by the end of this Saturday's chapter, the fight won't have even begun.
RyanR-Reviewer
More filler chapters that simply are not needed. This fight has been hyped for two books now-at least 20 chapters. Things really need to get a move on! This is the final book, I mean come on! Where's the momentum built up from all the previous books? So far Book 9 feels like a slow grind when it should feel like a fast-paced, action packed finale with intrigue and mystery sprinkled in.
Jmc mc
It would be super funny if all the preparations alex has made ended up being useless and he gets mildly frustrated by it wondering where they are, only for the apostle to be seeing uldars corpse and become increasingly insane
Uroš
It's getting tedious at this point.
mag28
I'm making a prediction right now: There gonna go to Alex and most are gonna die but first apostle live. Then goes to uldars rise but has to sneak in he's either alone or has like 5 people left, then finds out uldars is dead. Devastated he goes to the Ravanger, thats how it finds out uldar is dead too. The Ravanger starts going all out because uldar is dead. And that sets it up so the Ravanger and the first apostle are the final bosses. The heroes get the ravanger and Theresa gets her rematch in the end.
CosmicInsomniac
They already are doubtful on what the right path is, and I can only imagine them to be utterly baffled when their Holy Symbols start singing not of the Fool, but the General being near. The Stalker wants to hunt Alex, but he is only obligated to hunt 'The Fool', so who knows where his allegiances may lie in the near future
CentaureHeart
Kinda want to see their faces when they see their dead god though
Decide
Personally, I want them finding their dead God, knowing their lives were for nothing.
Decide
They'd probably just blame the wizards or something.
MockingBird
They've been after Alex for months. For this to happen just as Alex lays out his bait is such a stupid coincidence, that's only here to build up tension and prolong the fight. If you were gonna separate them or have them leave, it should have happened earlier. We'll either get no fight, or one with half of them present. Either way the tension won't have been worth the payoff in my opinion.
Julien Fellegara
Dumb logic lead to dumb decision. 😅 To the point they can't even have faith in a direct order from their god.
MrBlacknightmare00
Not sure which I need more: hidden church bodied and sent away screaming or hidden church finding out uldars dead and thinking generasi did it
Munirah Hutchinson
Tftc. This felt much shorter than usual. Still, the tension is delicious
Bender
Come on, these small cliffhangers are tedious, esp in a serialized format. Either they face Alex and his minions or they face his cabal and the Heroes. There are no easy roads for the secret church.
BoxQueen
Interesting, I would've thought they would jump to Uldar's aid there but Gabrian had other thoughts about this. If they split, that would be a big problem and stupid idea; they are asking to be picked off that were to happen. I am just filled with anticipation with their decision and how it plays out.
stardast24
Each part is a chapter in the book.
Sol
nope every chapter is split into two or three and then given to us. Every week is a sandwich and we're given one ingredient a day. ffs.
Code Reed
I'm not sure if then splitting up, or not is for the best. Sure it means Alex can't get them all in one fell swoop, but that also means the remainder will be a lot easier to deal with. Besides which, I'm sure a lot of us want to see the reactions of since of these hidden Church members upon seeing their God dead as a door nail.
mhaj58
Ok now you’re just stalling Dread Pirate Robert’s
RainyCats
It would have been fine if the chapter at least ended with a decision being made.
stardast24
This was pointless
