>>6153436You were a fervent believer of the Goddess. How could you not be? Proof of her favor ran through your veins in the form of your Crests. That you were bestowed such exceedingly rare and powerful gifts meant that she had high expectations of you. Perhaps this was what she’d had in mind. To conquer a foreign land where she was alien, and introduce her to the people so that they may know and come to worship her.
Doing so would doubly have the benefit of replacing this so-called Sorcerer King. It would be difficult to assume the mantle of leadership while the citizens of Morfis were still crowing over some dead mage from thousands of years ago who was responsible for their country’s isolationism. You didn’t know the first thing about how to accomplish this task, but you were sure Bronte could figure it out. And the Church of Seiros would undoubtedly enjoy the opportunity to lend a hand in order to expand their influence. You grin as you stare down at the bust of Xenophanes.
Enjoy it while it lasts, you old fart. They’ll be replacing you with a bust of me soon enough!
“I’m so happy to see you taking an interest in our culture.” Cassius says, smiling.
“Done!” Nadia exclaims. You hear the sound of another latch unlocking. The Keep begins to briefly shake, and you can hear mechanisms moving within the very walls surrounding you. A loud bang resonates from within the entrance hall of the Keep, echoing down the hall behind you. “That’s it. With both switches undone, the staircase to Adjunct Marlin’s chambers have lowered. We can finally confront the leader of these scoundrels.”
>“Good. Let’s hurry back and deal with that woman quickly. I wouldn’t want to leave Alvin in her ‘care’ for any longer than we need to.”You and the group rush back across the hallway. Nadia works overtime in healing the rest of your party back to their full health, including Alvin’s men, who have managed to stay alive throughout these ordeals. Returning back to the first room of the Keep, you find that a staircase extending from the wall is now there, leading to a previously unknown and unexplored second floor. At the top of the staircase is a woman, lightly tanned and with spiky auburn hair. She’s tall, and was wearing a jacket that looked as though it would be useful in concealing several tools and items. You were sure that this was the Riahi’s leader who had taunted you when you first arrived. The scowl she wore on her face was one of minor annoyance more than it was any actual anger or rage.
“You know, this was a lot funnier when I’d taken you for foolhardy foreigners.” The Riahi says. “I’d have been content to let you leave with your lives. With the College likely to cover up this attack, it would have been nice to have a few souls left standing to spread the terror of what happened here. But for some reason, you insist on being a ridiculous nuisance.”
