Apostles of Doom

Elrose nodded. “We give it only perfunctory coverage at Lenamare’s. It is not particularly useful for understanding modern wizardry, which comes from Norelon and Eastern Free Eton. And when I was a student, it was not covered much better. What I know, I learned from my parents and grandparents. My great-great-grandparents came to Norelon from Natoor. Thus, as you might expect, my grandparents were more than happy to discuss the depredations of the Etonians.” He chuckled.

“That must have been interesting,” Jenn said with a frown.

“To a child, somewhat amusing, sometimes terrifying. However, I probably learned more from my first teacher; his father was from Natoor and so had more recent and less filtered information,” Elrose explained.

“One thing I don’t see, though, is how could the Anilords have broken the power of the Holy Council? Wouldn’t the Etonian avatars have interceded?” Gastropé asked.

“Mmm.” Maelen spoke up. “The Etonian gods, much like others, tend to be ambivalent about political structures, so long as those structures are not constricting their worshipers and thus their mana supply.”

“That seems very cynical. One would think that prayers of people being unseated by political change would have some effect,” Jenn said.

“It does, if things are getting worse,” Maelen agreed. “However, in this case it was far subtler. The Council essentially devolved its power willingly — in a manner of speaking.”

“I have heard that, but never understood it,” Elrose said. “It makes no sense; rulers do not relinquish power.”

“It is contradictory to normal human behavior; however, if the council members were unduly influenced by advisors that shaped their thinking…” Maelen trailed off.

“What kind of advisor is going to be that persuasive?” Gastropé asked dismissively.

Maelen shrugged. “Mind Reavers.”

“Mind Reavers?” Elrose asked with a gasp.

“What are Mind Reavers?” Jenn asked, having never heard of such things.

“They do not sound pleasant,” Gastropé added.

“I thought they were myths!” Elrose said, sounding more shocked then Jenn had ever heard him.

Maelen shrugged again. “They were a particular type of Anilord. They practiced a perverted form of telemastery. Mind Reaving to telemasters is as necromancy is to self-respecting wizards. It was banned at the fall of the Anilords, and all known practitioners were hunted down and slain.”

“Slain?” Jenn asked. “Why not just put them in a dungeon?”

“Too dangerous.” Maelen shook his head. “They could easily convince the guards to let them out, and probably many others. Mind Reavers could control other people as if they were puppets. And afterward, the controlled individual would not even realize they had been controlled, should the Reaver so choose. The individual would be convinced that everything had been his or her choice.”

Gastropé shuddered. “You mentioned that Etonia Eternia was different than the Holy Etonian Empire, that it covered all of Eton, but not the lands of the Najaar Kmet and was a theocracy,” he said. “But the Holy Etonian Empire is also a theocracy and covers a good chunk of Eton plus Najaar Kmet. So why wouldn’t they just restore Etonia Eternia? You know, like an inter-regnum.”

Maelen chuckled. “Well, for one thing, The Society, which had played a great role in the downfall of the Anilords, was not interested in joining any new Etonian empire. As a member of the Learned Society of Fellows, which is actively involved in the management of the Republic of Etonia, I can say that we still have no interest in joining said Empire. Thus we have resisted, and continue to resist such suggestions. We have also allied with the feudal lords and city-states of Eastern Free Eton, to keep their influence there tempered. Thus the Holy Etonian Empire only covers about a third of the continent. I think they probably have more land and citizens in Natoor, Najaar and here in Noajar than in Eton.” He shook his head and added, “Also, they are not a theocracy.”

“They aren’t? I thought the churches ruled the empire?” Elrose asked.

“No. The Holy Etonian Emperor, Rafaestus Torson III, is independent and secular. There is a Holy Council and they work closely with the emperor, and while there is a lot of overlap, the actual government is secular. Further, the churches operate all over Eton, and in Norelon, beyond the boundaries of the empire.”

“Then what makes it holy?” Gastropé asked.

Maelen grinned and shook his head from side to side. “Well, the imperial family, with their very distinct purple eyes, is said to be descended from the god Torean.”

“Demi-gods?” Elrose asked, frowning.

Maelen shrugged and gave them an expression indicating he doubted it. “Very diluted blood at best.”

“So that’s the only holy part of it?” Gastropé asked. “I always thought it was a much bigger deal — you know, religious wise.”