Apostles of Doom

“Another saint?” Karis muttered to herself. “I don’t think my little chapel can contain this much holiness.” Fortunately, no one was listening to her — or so she thought.

The Arch-Diocate Iskerus chuckled beside her; she hadn’t realized he had moved so close. “Yes, I myself only discovered their activity yesterday. It has come as a bit of a shock. They really are nothing like in the old stories and books.” He grinned at her. “I do hope, however, that your chapel can contain a large winged horse that we need to bring through?”

Karis just stared at the Arch-Diocate, still too much in shock to truly process what he was saying.

Citadel of Light: Late Sixth Period

Grob shook his head again and glanced in confirmation at Arch-Diocate Verablis Tierny, the most senior priest of Tiernon on Nysegard after the death of High Pontificate Sessblame sixth months ago. The church had not yet been able to hold a conclave to elect a new high pontificate. Arch-Diocate Tierny shrugged and glanced towards Holy Lord Ranger Rassnon, the head of the Rangers of Torean in the Citadel. All were clearly as dumbstruck as Grob.

“You are telling me, Karis, that a squad of Rangers of Torean, led by an Apostle of Torean, have shown up in my basement with not only an Apostle of Tiernon and an Arch-Diocate of Tiernon, but also a veritable Heavenly Host of both Torean and Tiernon?” He stared at her as if she was nuts.

“Yeah. They are down at the main stables at the moment. As I said, the Divine Prophetess of Tiernon, Inethya is also with them,” Karis noted.

“Yet you say that they have come not to aid us in battle, but to locate a lost Knight Rampant?” Diocate Aeris asked, displaying a rather surprising amount of open incredulity for an alfar.

“It’s not as simple as that,” came a woman’s voice from behind Karis. The blanching on the faces of everyone before her, along with their sudden genuflections, caused Karis to turn around and discover that the Prophetess Inethya had somehow silently entered their sealed conference room.

“Your Holiness!” Arch-Diocate Tierny exclaimed while prostrating himself on the floor.

Inethya gestured for him to rise.

“Forgive us your holiness, but we have heard nothing concrete from Tierhallon for centuries, so an unprecedented contingent of foreigners and avatars suddenly showing up in our basement one night in search of a missing Knight Rampant of Astlan leaves us rather confused,” Diocate Aeris told the prophetess; she was clearly the least intimidated of Karis’s people.

Inethya sighed and gave her a gentle smile. “I understand the confusion; however, we have been constrained in how we may aid Nysegard for several centuries. Tierhallon has determined that it cannot afford to lose anymore avatars in direct conflict on Nysegard, so we have been prohibited from direct intervention. We are only allowed to work through our illuminaries.”

“Yet you can show up now?” Grob asked.

“The retrieval of Sir Talarius has been approved at a higher level than the proscription against direct intervention. Thus I, and others, are allowed to visit Nysegard as long as we are working on retrieving Sir Talarius.”

“So you are not here to aid us against the machinations of the Storm Lords?” Arch-Diocate Tierny asked in a very concerned tone.

“Should the Storm Lords attack while we are here, of course we would defend ourselves and those around us…” Inethya said.

Tierny seemed to relax slightly at this.

Grob, however, wanted more assurance. “And how long are you to be here?” he asked.

The prophetess smiled again. “As long as it takes us to retrieve Sir Talarius. Given that he is some distance away, the recon and planning should take several weeks, and then there’s the execution… I suspect a month or two.”

Grob shrugged at this and then grimaced. “That may be enough. We suspect an attack within a few weeks.”

Inethya’s smile froze. “So imminent?”

“Their forces are rapidly building in nearly every direction. We are looking at a larger initiative from the Storm Lords than we have seen in several centuries,” Diocate Aeris said matter-of-factly.

“Well, then I am sure we will be of assistance,” Inethya said.

Freehold, Havestan Gardens: Late Fifth Period

“Ah, my dear, once more you have prevailed upon the chef of this fine establishment to exceed themselves!” Trisfelt proclaimed, laying his fork down upon his plate.

“Thank you, but all I do is order; they do all the work,” Hilda replied with a smile.

“But you do give them ideas, I suspect?” Trisfelt said softly in a conspiratorial manner.

“Perhaps a hint or two.” Hilda smiled.

“I was sure of it,” Trisfelt stated, looking quite satisfied. “The Council kitchens are overwhelmed preparing food for all the reconstruction workers, and so have little time for fine cuisine.” The thaumaturge shook his head sadly.

“I can only imagine.” Hilda said sympathetically. “The devastation of the two events has been unbelievably extensive.”