Knights of Tezoth

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- Listen... Do you have absolutely no shame, and nothing sacred either? And why are there two of you?
- Mmm? Ah-ah-ah! Well, that's because you've already had the chance to meet my earthly form. The white-haired me is from Tezoth, and the black-haired one is from my personal dimension. Which version do you like better?
- The black one. - The answer was instantaneous. - But answer the question, what are you thinking?
- Is it because the heel is higher? Ahaha..! And what's wrong with that? What's the essence of your complaints?
- The essence... Do you have any idea how much feeling I had to invest in the perfect villainy that you're now trying to devalue? Not to mention that you're simply mocking and disregarding the efforts and pain of all the mortals who tread this earth. The meaning of life is precisely that you have only one chance, and if you lose it — that's the end. It's this irreversibility that makes every choice we make so important. And you're trying to foist not even a second, but a third chance on me. And no, it's not because of that. I just like the color palette better.
- I don't care what you mortals think, what you believe in, or what drives you, but your tears, despair, and those mind-blowing plays you put on for me are sweet to me. My choice fell on you partly because I want to devalue your deed, to turn this tragic cry of the soul into something ridiculous and absurd, and it will be especially so in relation to everyone you've destroyed.
- I refuse.
- Do you really have no unfinished business left, and are you ready to miss such a rare opportunity?
- I've already told you everything. And I don't wish to return there.
- You could help Karnea conquer Tezoth; I think that would be very amusing.
- She already has Mute; he's worth a hundred like me.
- Then support your friend in the fight against her, free his beloved, and restore justice in the kingdom!
- After what I've done, I no longer wish to see the look in his sad eyes.
- Maybe help your muse's region withstand this conflict?
- I've already done everything I could.
- I know! Let me make her fall in love with you! I don't like acting with such direct methods, but arranging something like that is within my power.
- ... ... ... If she doesn't respond to my feelings of her own free will, it won't have any meaning.
- Free will, huh? All your mortal thoughts are merely the result of chemical reactions; does it really matter what caused them to change?
- Let me rest. I'm tired; I want peace.
- I won't. If you don't want to return there, there's nothing to be done — I can't bring you back against your will, but other uses for your soul can be found.
- Haha.
- What's so funny?
- You see — you also don't want to, or can't, go against the will of your victim. It would be extremely boring to get what you need from her with a snap of your fingers, wouldn't it?
- Heh-heh, that's true.

...

So much for the kind Olivus.

And I thought he would survive and get buffed.

So he was right at the center of the explosion.

Well, maybe he's like Godzilla.

Judging by the picture, he's doing quite well in the Raven realms.

- It depends on how much human blood we spill — the more, the longer, that alone prolongs our existence. - Luciferia shrugged. - Torture or quick — whichever pleases the lady more?

The thoughts of any GM when they create an expedition.

Who would have thought that a random statue in the obelisks would lead to such consequences...

— Hmm, that's curious. A very valuable trait, if you don't wish to one day find your aged reflection in the mirror. ..Their minds are ossified by loyalty to ephemeral ideals, so torture and suffering are unlikely to bring pleasure. So do as you see fit: as a modest gift for your services.

- I know not the origins of your concerns, my lady — our kind, unlike yours, does not age. Do you wish to observe, or perhaps drink blood? Or if it's from the veins of hounds, would it not be to your taste?

That was a fateful expedition about the obelisks, and now the heirs of those same obelisks' power are doing all this... She is fire, Revaniel is space, Kanamiya is matter, Lunamaria is light, etc. So it turns out poetic.

— You're right, for some unknown reason this topic felt close to me. — Alsira propped her cheek on her fist. — It's only fair for every judge to witness the sentence being carried out. And replenishing supplies won't hurt either.

An unprepared person might have gotten dizzy from the sheer amount of information Lord Cartridge had laid out. But Alaria was used to her liege's lectures — moreover, she had been a diligent student since her very first incarnation — and had grown accustomed to processing large volumes of data.

But there was little good in it. Ever since the death of Lord Transend, Swordgard had turned from Tezoth's shield into a giant question mark, its future predetermined by one of the unpredictable heiresses. But the external factor, in the form of either a returned Deus or his impostor-doppelganger, was difficult to predict and certainly did not improve the picture. The grandiose speeches about the unity of the kingdom and the desire to protect it from inevitable doom contradicted Renavan's actions. He had appeared at far too convenient a moment. And he could have turned to his own granddaughter, offering his wisdom, if he cared so much about Tezoth's fate. Instead, he proclaimed himself a replacement ruler.

Catharsis had no trust in this person. Spells of changing one's appearance were known even to the Sillians, let alone the unknown form of magic of this returnee. Rumors that his close associate was not human at all, but a Sithian hiding her true form, only exacerbated this distrust. But even if this truly was "the very" Renavan. Not a homunculus. Not a sorcerer hidden under a veil of illusions. Not a cunning plan of the Sithians or an evil joke of the Raven of Dawn, but a miraculously surviving monarch... was there any reason to entrust Tezoth's fate to someone who had once jumped into the river in a fit of melancholy and returned only after more than twenty years? Not at all. But people are stupid and cowardly. Rather than solving their own problems and facing the chaos of this world with their heads held high, they would much rather hope for a Great Man to come and solve all their problems. Fools will be found. Especially those who cannot imagine their lives without Deuses and see the impostor-not-impostor as their best chance.

But Alaria could not say that this shady character could not be of use to Silverdawn. If the loyalists, Carnea, and this type tear each other apart in the struggle for the throne, it will be easier to restore Cortina's independence. This did not, of course, negate the potential danger, but there was no reason to seek conflict with "Renavan" either. Each of the regions had its own enemies, and there were few reasons to go at each other with swords at the moment. And exposing the northern border to risk, in case of surprises from Ifilla, would be unwise. This was likely understood both here and there.

Another surprise was the events in Oshi, whose knight had acquired a powerful artifact. According to information, it was intended by the priestess of the Raven of Dawn as a gift to Mariarnelia, but was now being used by Anella Blood for her own personal purposes. Previously, the lands of thinkers and philosophers lived in peace and harmony with each other, united by a shared thirst for knowledge common to both regions, but in light of such news, everything could change. Potentially. In their current form, the lands of the theologians would hardly renounce their autonomy in favor of Renavan, who had once founded the region. Consequently, they also had plenty of potential opponents around them. And attacking a fortified capital, even from an ambitious person, would be reckless. Perhaps conflict could be avoided here as well, but turning one's back on such a neighbor was clearly not advisable.

Even Snaboria, with a chaotic madman at its head, managed to surprise. From Lord Cartridge's accounts, it seemed that behind Margel's fall was none other than the "lord" of this "region." At least, if the witnesses who heard the Sanbornian's phrase about "unexpected surpluses of aconite in summer" were to be believed. However, his daughter Aconia, sitting practically on a chain beside him, served as a good argument for that. Yet the motives... even Catharsis was at a loss, trying to unravel the intricacies of this fanatical parasite's machinations. It seemed that religiosity for him was truly nothing more than a mask. Either that, or he was ready to destroy the sacred city of his goddess over philosophical disagreements.

But motives aside, he would clearly be a dangerous enemy, one who would find other ways to surprise. An enemy whose movements would need to be watched carefully and attentively to catch him in a mistake. Without beheading the snake, it would hardly be possible to return Sanbornia to Silverdawn's fold. And the question still remained: who would this snake bite first — its former liege, its former ally, or would it go all-in on Oshi?

Finally, the last but not least neighbor remained a formidable opponent even in its current form. A trained army. A wealthy economy. A well-established industry. Even without the presence of its lord, dealing with this giant would not be easy. Technically, a complete rout was not required here, but Alaria was not naive. Capturing the trifecta of Makiat-Tempesta-Novalette would make the Guildard expedition members de facto hostages of Silverdawn. A potentially useful argument in negotiations, but also an extra motivator for the Guildards to continue the war.

Reflecting on this, Catharsis could not help but note one remarkable point. In her past lives, she had acted in attempts to preserve the unity of dying empires. Time and again. Now she was trying to achieve the exact opposite and understood people on the other side much better. The inhabitants of Tezoth happily went about their daily lives while Silverdawn... no, Cortina served as their shield. For them, that was the norm of life. And what did it bring him? An ephemeral "honor" and "prestige" that brought no real benefit. When Adalard decided to carve off a piece of foreign territory, no such protection came in return. And why would it? After all, it was all part of the same kingdom. The time had come to defend one's own interests. Ideally, with words. If necessary, with a sword.

— It shall be done, Your Brightness. Before we begin the task, may I ask you a question related to the mission set before us?

Well, that's it, Ples, there will be no peaceful solution! I challenge you to PvP! Silverdawn will answer for distributing Ikazkan furry porn in Swordgard!