Posts from 🐙 Planet Aberat, Kingdom of Selya-Mira 🐙 Auto-translated

“I love my organization…” Yuventius muttered. “No ‘goodbye,’ no ‘have a nice trip’… Although, she probably gets tired of being so polite to every visitor.”

Walking out of the room with a confident stride, Yuventius turns to the servants again.
“Well, we’ve taken care of business. Get me some coffee, if you would. And maybe something to eat.”

. – I don’t think there will be any more cultists there… – Captain Akoren said, referring to the cave. – It’s time to put an end to this!

In theory, there shouldn’t be any more threats to the remaining squad… but why is the priestess looking at that secret passage with such apprehension?

Albrecht approaches the priestess, looks at her for a few seconds, and then asks:
- What’s there? – he nods towards the passage.

“Forgive me, lads, but your blood can’t compare to true northern blood,” Harold chuckled as he continued feasting. “No one deserves death as much as a fearless son of good old Skufin. So go home and tell your descendants the tale of a glorious northern knight.”

The Priestess turns to Albrecht, fear in her eyes, and manages to utter only one word:

– Mistress...

Unfortunately, she clearly didn't plan to say anything more, making it impossible to determine which mistress she was referring to. In the kingdom, this title was usually used for Ceraria, but the Sorcerers also used it, and the Brown Banner might have followed their example.

Meanwhile, in "The True Empress":

There was no coffee in the capital, but there was wine with similar properties. That's what Juvenius was brought. Along with a luxurious fish pie and a seafood salad. Unfortunately, this didn't give Lord Am any experience, but the dinner dragged on, and there was a need to somehow spend the night. There's no home... Apparently, the street stalls are calling.

Meanwhile, with the mercenaries:

The loud voice of the northerner attracted the creature's attention, and it approached closer. Up close, Harold could see the following interesting fact: this creature had definitely recently gone through difficult times, as it was on the verge of exhaustion. Apparently, that's why it needed to drink someone strong dry. Just hunger, nothing personal.

– Too much blood... better someone smaller, – the creature decided, looking at Scufinson from all sides, after which it pounced on the nearest mercenary.

Arms, legs, and splashes of blood flew in different directions. Salitil grimaced slightly.

– Why him, and not me?! – disappointed sighs were heard.

Unfortunately, only one person could commit suicide today.

"It's my job to suspect everyone and everything," Dervos grumbled to himself. "But to fixate on one assumption when indirect evidence doesn't support it is amateurish." Having finished this thought, he places his hand on the hilt of his sword: "It seems the terrorist leader is here, sir," he says, trying to see something in the darkness of the collector. "But I suspect she has already fled, leaving her men to face the consequences. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this calm conversation right now." The guard hunched over, awaiting orders, ready to rush into the unknown and tear the throat of any threat lurking there.

.  

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The priestess turns to Albrecht in fear, and only one word escapes her lips:

– Mistress...

Unfortunately, she clearly didn't plan to say anything more, making it impossible to understand which mistress she was referring to. Usually, this title was used for Ceraria, but the Sorceresses could also use it, and even the Brown Banner might have followed their example.

     

Albrecht cautiously heads towards the passage, checking the path for traps and other similar unpleasant surprises.

“Excellent dishes, and wine of rare quality! Thank you,” Juvencius generously tips a hundred coins. Leaning back in his chair, he turned his gaze to the window, and his face clouded over. Juvencius irritably ran his hand over his forehead, smoothing out the wrinkles. “What a late hour it is. I won’t be able to get to the palace until morning… Hmm… Could I stay at your place for the night? I just arrived in the capital, and I wouldn’t want to wander around at night.”

Unfortunately, only one person could commit suicide today.

—Interesting traditions you have, guys. —the Viking remarked once again, tossing a piece of the mercenary that had landed in the plate.
The Northerner was slightly offended that he was considered too "massive" for the ritual sacrifice, because, as everyone knows, a good person should be plentiful, but out of respect for the hosts, he decided not to show it.

Brave Albrecht makes his way through a short tunnel to a cave. Inside, he is met by a strong smell of blood and the aroma of decay. On the one hand, the discovery could seem disappointing, as the cave turned out to be a dead end, with nothing hinting at the secret of moving the Brown Banner around the capital. On the other hand, the pile of rotting, festering corpses filled him with more somber thoughts. Not so long ago, a hundred or so monsters were kept here, simply huddled together in a confined space. Now they were all dead, and a woman with a spear stood over their bodies, her grip firm and confident, like that of an experienced warrior. It was a fearsome and frightening sight. "My Lady..." repeated the priestess, who had somehow followed Albrecht. The woman turned, and the novice of the secret guard easily recognized a recent acquaintance. "We meet again, follower of Iggarath. To be honest, you are more useful than you seem. If you continue in this vein, you might even stay alive." The High Priestess, Celia-Mira, narrowed her eyes and whispered, "Of course not..." "My Lady... My Lady!" "Welcome back from captivity, sister," Celia-Mira dodged an attempt to grab her hem, "the Great Cathedral will heal your mind and body." The High Priestess walked past Albrecht and headed towards Captain Akoren. "There is nothing here, but you can check again if you like. Later, the guard will receive a reward for the work done." "It is an honor to serve you!" Gortrich Akoren bowed his head. Celia-Mira waved her hand dismissively and disappeared in a flash of green flame. It seemed that the clearing of the Brown Banner's hideout was now complete. Meanwhile, in "The True Empress": Lord Ammu is allowed to rest on a bench... but not a street bench, but in a restaurant. Meanwhile, with the mercenaries: Having tasted a good amount of blood and flesh from a strong mercenary, the creature seemed to have been transformed. It shone with life, confidence, and external attractiveness. "Thank you, my lady!" Salitil smiled. "You are saved, my dear! You are so lucky to have met me!" The creature nodded and wiped fresh blood from its lower lip. "This lovely lady almost perished in the swamps from hunger..." Salitil said in a mournful tone, "my faithful followers found her, but the risk still remained. However... thanks to the Merfert family, she has shone again!" Everyone in the hall burst into enthusiastic applause, expressing their admiration for the kindness and mercy of the head of the Sorn-Tarn cult. The deceased mercenary would also have participated, but, alas, he was eaten. "Continue the feast! All these threats are only for you!" Unnoticeably, Salitil's eyes flashed with a dark crimson. "Indulge yourselves, basking in the rays of my beauty!" Meanwhile, with the looters: Having read the free literature of Radiant, she lost her ability to speak a little, but this did not prevent her from reaching the destination with the others. "We are here," said Xaya Walden. "Now, everyone buys something specific and puts it in those carts! Don't get confused! You go for water... you – for spices... and you..." the looter pointed to Radiant, "for fruit. Here is the list!" Thus, our happy owner of a solid three-volume book finds herself on a street full of various shops. She has five thousand cetrens in her purse, received from Xaya, and a list of what she needs to buy: 1) Snake fruit x150 2) Keves x100 3) Cetraniton x10 4) Kizik x1000 5) Maiden fruit x15 Kizik was the most common fruit in the kingdom of Celia-Mira, which was used in almost all sweet dishes, keves was a bland white fruit with long strands, snake fruit was one of the few edible gifts of the swamps, and maiden fruit was a favorite treat of the priestesses. Radiant did not know what cetraniton was, as she had never heard of such a fruit. Perhaps it was worth spending the coins wisely...

The detective wants to, and he double-checks. He looks at the condition of the bodies and the method by which they were damaged; he compares their external features with the "suspects" on his list of crimes; he thoroughly searches the entire room for any tools or parts and looks for any exits or passages from it other than the one they entered through.

The woman turned around, and the seasoned member of the secret guard easily recognized their recent acquaintance.

They've arrived.

"So, we meet again, follower of Iggdrassil. To be honest, you're more useful than you appear. If you continue in this vein, you might even survive." The High Priestess, Celia-Mira, narrowed her eyes and whispered, "Of course not..."

The supreme god of your universe told me that nothing would happen because of the snake. DID HE LIE?! 😱

Albrecht still didn't understand what he had done to offend the High Priestess. As far as he knew, worshipping Iggdrassil wasn't forbidden. Shrugging, the young man repeats the same actions as Deresh.

"It is an honor to serve you!" Gortrich Akoren bowed his head.

Celia-Mira waved her hand dismissively and disappeared in a flash of green flame.

Ah, he should have groveled at her feet and fawned over her while he had the chance. The captain missed his opportunity.

“Oh, old age is no joy,” Yuventius creaks, his joints protesting as he hobbles towards the palace in search of the statue.

- You could spend fifty Fortune Spins in the Absolute on this amount, and there's no such thing as too much of that useless essence – or whatever it was called!
Of course, she didn't have such intentions, and instead of looking for loot boxes, she's looking for shops where she might find what she needs according to the list she has.

To Treevos's great disappointment, the cultists seemed prepared for the possibility of being ambushed at any moment. There were no clues. The symbolism of the mages was completely unknown, and there were no hints as to where the Brown Banner Knights had come from in the capital. The only thing they were certain of was that these were indeed the renegades. There were also no secret exits from the building or cave. The woman with the doll-like appearance was also not particularly remarkable. A complete dead end. The only interesting thing was the obvious fact that the cultists had generous sponsors, as they were well-equipped, and that the creatures in the cave had been poisoned with Ceraria's venom. However, there was nothing surprising about the latter. Albrecht, on the other hand, demonstrated a rather low level of education, because although there was no law directly prohibiting the worship of Iggarath, the Dark Serpent and Ceraria had been at war for centuries. Moreover, the words "follower of Iggarath" were most often associated in the kingdom with the cult of Aldric, who dreamed of capturing the capital and overthrowing both the king and the goddess herself. Be that as it may, soon our heroes set out. "The job is done. You," Captain Akoren nodded to Albrecht, "report to the secret guard, and we'll return to the Stronghold." The remnants of the squad dispersed. Well, all except the half-elven assassin, who went in one direction, while the others went in another. "I'll send more guards to check everything again," Gortrich Akoren said in a reassuring tone to Treevos, "and I'll have someone escort the priestess to the Great Cathedral. Oh, it's already night... But what do you need, specifically?" The last question was addressed to Keraak. "I wanted to discuss some details... but this battle has confirmed everything." "What exactly?" "It's a cult. The Brown Banner Knights are dealing with cultists. And we don't know who they worship." "That sounds like a job for the Great Cathedral..." "Indeed! With your permission, I will return to the House of the Pink Flowers." Keraak goes to sleep in his cozy fox bed, while Treevos, the captain, the last guard, and the priestess return to the capital guard's Stronghold. **Quest completed!** **Treevos receives 1130 experience points for killing enemies.** **Treevos receives 825 experience points for story quests.** **Treevos levels up from 3 to 5 (10 free stat points, remember the rule of no more than two points in one stat per level).** **Albrecht Van Hosling receives 1130 experience points for killing enemies.** **Albrecht Van Hosling receives 750 experience points for story quests.** **Albrecht Van Hosling levels up from 3 to 5 (10 free stat points, remember the rule of no more than two points in one stat per level).** **Keraak receives 390 experience points for killing enemies.** **Keraak receives 500 experience points for story quests.** **Keraak levels up from 4 to 5.** **Meanwhile, in "The True Empress":** Lord Amm is definitely rushing things, as he is awakened at night by two unpleasant figures. **Special offer:** Name two targets for assassination and receive 500 cetrens for each! The targets must not pose a threat to the merchants.

Albrecht, however, did not demonstrate a very high level of education, because although there was no law directly prohibiting the worship of Iggdrassil, the Dark Serpent and Ceraria had been at war for centuries. Moreover, the words "follower of Iggdrassil" were most often associated in the kingdom with the cult of Aldric, who dreamed of capturing the capital and overthrowing both the king and the goddess herself.

- Well, who's to blame that this particular god fits the build, - Albrecht would say if he were the Sky.

– The deed is done. You, – Captain Akoren nodded to Albrecht, – report to the secret guard, and we will return to the Stronghold.

- It will be done, sir.
Upon his return, Albrecht went to Captain Warren to report in detail on what had happened.