I awoke early to ascend to the top of the bell tower. The tower was the highest point of the Abbey of Twilight. Upon reaching the top, I took my time walking the perimeter around the enormous, central bell. I looked outward at the surrounding lands. I observed the morning mist clinging to the trees below like a gossamer blanket thrown over the forest. Upon the tower’s opposite side the rising Sun made the vast Orichalcum Ocean glimmer like an emerald. It was all breathtakingly beautiful and eased the worries that lay upon my spirit.
I took a deep breath of the crisp morning air and withdrew my hands from within my monk’s robes to raise my hands in supplication. I had been lax in my morning prayers recently and for Kenric Ordheim, Prophet of the Gods and newly minted Abbot of this Abbey, that would simply not do.
“Mir, Goddess of Healing and Mercy, hear me. Protect my family, my friends and the people of Goodlabor this day.”
They are my people now. Ord’s Mercy, how did I end up being the Lord of this land?
It was true, however. I had rescued the town of Goodlabor from the grip of Shadowmurk and freed those held captive by an Infernal Demon set loose in the Abbey. Today I would escort Vicar Hamish back to Goodlabor and continue with my efforts to heal and restore the townsfolk. It was what I desired to be. A healer. Yet, I had become so much more in so short a time. The Gods had seen fit to grant me powers and I would use them for the good of all Aramyr.
After one last look towards the horizon, I started back down the tower’s winding staircase. Going down was easier than going up, but I wasn’t winded. As I had leveled up and gained more Achievements, so had my Attributes scores increased. I opened my Status as I walked focusing part of my attention upon the incredible gains I had made thus far.
Name: Kenric Ordheim
Level: 15
Primary Class: Prophet
Secondary Class: Abbot
Domain: Fate
Professions: Scribing-9, Treasurer-7, Alchemy-2
HP: 814
MP: 1118
Title: 4th Son of the Earl of Ordheim, Squire of Eastcheap Manor, Hope Bringer
Attributes
Strength: 47 (62)
Dexterity: 47 (54)
Constitution: 51 (53)
Intelligence: 52 (62)
Wisdom: 63 (105)
Perception: 51 (55)
Charisma: 48 (54)
Luck: 15
I owed my most recent Attribute gains to not only one, but two Shards of Ara I had recently absorbed. Both had added +10 to all my Core Attributes. It was a shame that didn’t include my Luck stat or the two remaining hidden stats of Psy and Endurance, but I would certainly not offer complaints to the Gods for these blessings.
I was now stronger, faster, more aware of my immediate surroundings and able to interpret information at a much faster rate than ever before. My thoughts were clearer. I attributed my now triple digit Wisdom score to my newfound sense of self. Inner peace felt closer than ever should I be able to overcome many of my current struggles.
This must be why Father Wolric and Brother Cammon were always so calm and collected even during times of stress. Their Wisdom attributes must be very high.
To be fair, most of my scores were boosted by gear and carefully selected Faction Web Nodes. I had been rocketed forward by three entire levels thanks to my success in cleansing the Abbey of Twilight from its Infernal jailer and successfully completing a high reward quest for 30,000 Experience points.
Quest Complete!
Path of Hope, Part III
Description: Locate and unlock another of Ara’s lost abilities.
Reward: 30,000 Experience Points, Quest: Path of Hope, Part IV
As I expected, I received a continuation of the Quest line.
Quest: Path of Hope, Part IV
Description: Locate and unlock another of Ara’s lost abilities.
Reward: 40,000 Experience Points, Quest: Path of Hope, Part V
My attribute scores were far beyond what a Level 15 Priest could expect. Triple digit Wisdom? Level 30 at least, I should think. Yet, it wasn’t enough. My challenges had only begun. Time was a factor in what I needed to accomplish and there wasn’t enough of it to go around. The Gods had made demands of me and I had little choice but to obey. Too much was at stake, even the fate of a God.
Quest: Locate Ord’s Divine Memory
Description: Within the city of Nephilim, located in the Innermost Sanctum of Ord’s Sepulcher, exists a hidden reliquary created by the Purgos Mystics where Ord’s Divine Memory is stored. Stop the Demons that are siphoning its power to create Fel Shards and recover the Divine Memory.
Duration: 1 year
Reward: Unique Class Upgrade, [1] Gold Node
Failure: Shadowmurk outbreaks will double in size and frequency.
Quest: Seek Purgatorium
Description: After Ord’s Ascension, the Purgos Mystics withdrew their influence from Aramyr for some unknown reason. Seek them out and find the means to enter their hidden bastion of *Purgatorium.
(*Certain Prerequisites must be completed)
1) Restore the Abbey of Twilight.
2) Secure Ord’s Divine Memory.
3) Gather and absorb at least [4] Shards of Ara.
Failure: ORD will cease all function. XAT will achieve full consciousness.
My hand trembled as I wiped away a bead of sweat from my forehead.
Walking up and down all those steps must have winded me. That’s all this is.
Ord himself had tasked me with two quests of unimaginable importance. A year was all I had to succeed or fail. The power I had gained as a Prophet, the responsibility laid upon my shoulders as an Abbot…I knew I needed help. I squeezed between the broken door leading out of the Bell Tower and made my way towards the Abbey Gate. Fortunately, I had made new friends that I could rely upon. I heard two of them arguing as I approached the gate.
“I don’t want to hear any more complaints from you about the soap! You smelled like a goat on a hot Summer’s day!”
“I never asked for your opinion on my odor! Mine is the musk of the woods and wild places! You smell like a greasy Oil Slime that has been inappropriately rubbing itself against a Char Weasel!”
“Fool! It is an impossibility that a Celestial being smells like that! We are made of purity and light!”
“There must be lots of windows up in Heaven to air yourselves out then!”
“My friends, let that be enough,” I said not unkindly, but with a bit of force in my tone. My summoned Cherub, Octave, was nose to nose with Curmlough, a Satyr and a Chosen of Gor. I knew that their back and forth was harmless and that both genuinely liked the other, but their sharp tongues sometimes got the better of them both.
“Father Abbot Kenric.” I turned and looked to see Vicar Hamish approaching in a hurry. “Forgive me, the last time I overslept was over twenty years ago when I was but a Novice!”
“Think nothing of it, Vicar,” I replied with a kind smile. “After everything you have been through, more rest is as much a necessity as morning prayer. Mir understands.”
“I sometimes have to remind myself of how young you are, Father Abbot. You speak with the wisdom of one far beyond your age. Listen to me! I’m only thirty-eight and I act as if I possess such worldliness!” Vicar Hamish laughed and I joined him. It felt good to laugh. To be among friends and to finally be someplace safe was a blessing in and of itself.
The Abbey of Twilight would require a steady, confident hand to restore it to its former glory. I wanted it to be a place of pilgrimage. All Faiths would be welcome here as they once were. I would find a way to bring people back and thanks to the holy relic I possessed, the 5th Finger of Ord, I also possessed the power to grant Classes to those who would make worthy monks. Of Ord, at least. I glanced over the multi-part quest I had been given to guide me in the Abbey’s restoration.
Quest: Restore the Abbey of Twilight
Description: Restore the Reliquary, Library, Brewhouse, Scriptorium, Graveyard, Bell Tower, Cloister, Abbot’s House, Dormitories, Infirmary, and Gardens of the Abbey of Twilight.
Reward: +10 Daily Faith Points per Restoration. Attract Additional Monks and Worshippers.
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Bonus: New Quests per Restoration.
Current Abbey Status: Low Faith
Total Clergy: 1 (Abbot Ordheim)
Worshippers: 0
Light Pantheon Shrines: Neglected
Shadow Pantheon Shrines: Destroyed
Elemental Shrines: Missing
I would have to consider carefully where to begin my efforts and I was eager to do so, but first I needed to escort Vicar Hamish to Goodlabor and Curmlough to his siblings. Fortunately, it looked like it was going to be a good day. The morning mist was burning away beneath a bright Sun, the breeze was gentle and bird song filled the air.
“This is how it always used to be here, Father Abbot. Already the land’s healing begins! I dared not hope the scars of the Shadowmurk would so easily be washed away. Mir willing, we will see life and beauty return to this part of the Duchy of Sulheim.”
“Yes, that was something I wanted to talk to you about as we walked, Vicar. I have some concerns about what course to take with Goodlabor.”
I already had everything I needed for us to reach Goodlabor stored in my Inventory space. Thanks to my assuming of the mantle of Abbot, I had been able to initiate the Abbey’s basic restoration, which had included fresh water again flowing from the Abbey Fountains. I had filled several skins and stored them. Food around the Abbey was hard to find, but the Vicar possessed a spell called Create Mana Bread. It was a spell I wished I had access to, but the Faction Web Terminal did not grant a Prophet access to every single spell or ability a God provided to their standard clergy. In a phrase borrowed from Octave, that would have been ‘too OP’ and so forth.
I had assembled a modest amount of low grade gear I would be taking with me on our short journey. I carried with me the Staff of the Stone Bishop, a weapon I had looted from a dungeon. It had saved my life on more than one occasion and the rest of my gear was equally impressive.
Weapon: Staff of the Stone Bishop’s Bell (D)
Body: Robe of the Purgos Mystic (C)
Shoulders: Ara’s Stole of Concentration (D)
Back: Cloak of the Wild Hunt (C)
Legs: Linen Pants (Basic)
Hands: Gloves of the Purgos Mystic (C)
Feet: Blight Warden’s Boots (D)
Finger 1: Ring of Light’s Promise (D)
Finger 2: Ring of Shadow Shaping (C)
Neck: 5th Finger of Ord (S)
Head: Nil
I had yet to gain any protection for my head and my pants were basic linen, but the rest of my gear was a mixture of D and C level gear. Gear levels worked backwards from D to C, B, A, S and even higher into SS and finally Mythic level items. I had been fortunate to be granted loot that had boosted my attributes and added secondary bonuses from resistances to increased potency of certain skills. In fact, as I was about to embark upon a walk of several hours, it was time to upgrade a particular piece of gear I had been holding in reserve.
You have equipped Steel-tipped Boots of Defense (C) and sent Blight Warden’s Boots (D) to your inventory.
The new boots felt slightly heavier than my old boots, likely due to the shining steel cap over the toes, but they were comfortable and added another layer of protection I was grateful for.
Steel-tipped Boots of Defense
Grade: C
Class: Any
Slot: Feet
Quality: Uncommon
Primaries: +5 Constitution
Secondaries: +2% against Staggering attacks
I hated to lose Blight Warden’s Disease protections, but continuing to upgrade my gear grade was a priority. As dangers increased, so too would my gear need to be on par with the enemies encountered. Perhaps I could find a place to sell a pair of old, enchanted boots?
“What I wanted to ask you was how you estimate the Duke of Sulheim’s response will be when he learns the Church has taken control of a piece of his territory? Now that I am about to become Goodlabor’s Lord, all that I own and control naturally falls under the purview and supervision of the Council of Bishops in Caer Purgoth.” Vicar Hamish nodded along with my words as we followed the path to Goodlabor. Curmlough followed along behind us, happily piping away on his Aulos. He was eager to be reunited with his family and while Octave complained about the ‘noise’ it was easy to see he was sad that he would soon be parted from his friend.
“It is both easy and difficult to answer that, Father Abbot. I will explain. The Duke has always been…possessive of his chattels, even ones he may not think of often or even know to exist.”
“Goodlabor is rather remote,” I remarked as I moved to walk around a bush blossoming with new life.
“It was originally a logging camp set up near an old, abandoned Chapel. I believe the Chapel was originally built during the First Era, did I mention that? Then, monks came to build an Abbey. Goodlabor grew as workers from Sulheim arrived to help construct it. Emperor Caradan had decreed he wanted to ‘cover every corner of the land with houses of the Gods.’”
“Yes, I read about that while studying at St. Ioven’s in Ordheim.” I replied. Vicar Hamish nodded and continued.
“Once the Abbey was finished, many of the builders left, but some stayed and relocated their families here. Many of Goodlabor’s residents are their descendants. However, as the years passed the Abbey became more self-sufficient and more insular. People stopped going there to worship and fewer monks would come as it was too isolated for anyone but a Hulite, or so I always thought.”
“What made you come to Goodlabor? Did you want to join the Abbey’s community?”
“Not particularly.” Vicar Hamish shook his head. “There were rumors about the Abbey at the Chapel of Mir in Sulheim where I was as a Novice, but not a lot of solid information. Father Abbot, you must understand that some monks prefer an isolated life. They want quiet contemplation, prayer and to do the work of the Gods as they interpret it should be done. ‘There is Divinity in Simplicity’ was what one old Priest once said to me. Life in big cities are loud, crowded and often political. To answer your earlier question, the Duke of Sulheim will see your taking of Goodlabor as political, as most in his position would. I would imagine the Ordheim nobility would see it much the same, yes?”
“I grew up in a Duke’s household, Vicar. My Father is an honest man who believes in doing the work of the Gods,” I added. “Yet, you’re right about what you said about big cities. I was standing atop the Bell tower this morning and as I prayed, I felt something. A connection to the Abbey, perhaps? Its stillness. Its peace.” I made the sign of Ord over my heart. “I will restore the Abbey, Vicar, but I won’t let it shut itself away from the world again. It will be a house of welcome, not of cold stone that shuns the outside world.”
After an hour of walking we paused upon a bare hillock to take in a clear view of the Orichalcum. All of us, save Octave, munched upon some of the Mana Bread, which tasted more like a sweet cake, but it was filling and I noticed a slight uptick in Mana Regeneration after I finished my piece. We washed it down with water. I offered some to Octave, but the Cherub scoffed.
“Haven’t you noticed I never eat or drink such things? We of the Heavens sup only upon the finest fruits of Eden and drink the sweetest waters taken from the River of Life itself.”
“What about Heavenly Ale?” I asked.
“That’s different. Life Water is an ingredient in Heavenly Ale,” he said condescendingly.
“What about the wine from my Goblet?” asked Curmlough.
“That’s different too!” Octave snapped. “And it’s our Goblet!”
“I found it! It came to me! The Goblet chose me!”
“Curmlough, you brigand!” A voice shouted from some brush aside the path.
“No! You are a thief!” Another voice shouted from the same brush.
“Quiet!” yelled a third voice.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw three familiar figures emerge from behind a bush. One of them leveled an accusatory finger at Curmlough, who darted behind me, trying to hide.
Three Satyrs, each standing no higher than my waist, covered in wooly hair, and with small horns jutting from their brows hurried forward to stand in front of me. Each ignored me, focusing their ire wholly upon Curmlough.
“Goodness me…Gorlings,” I heard Vicar Hamish whisper. “I always suspected there were some living nearby.”
“Curmlough! Return the Aulos of Marsyas!” shouted Draflough.
A hairy hand reached out from behind me, holding out the sacred pipes of Gor. Draflough stomped forward and snatched it away.
“Now, we are going home where you are going to be cleaning the Harken Rabbit poop for a month!” Draflough finally looked up at me and smiled.
“Well done, Human. Lord Gor is pleased you succeeded in returning our brother to us.” she said.
“He will be even more pleased if you give us more honey!” said Turlough, who licked his lips in anticipation.
“No! He will be pleased if you brought us more honey and some of the ale from the great stone prison!” Sendough interjected.
“Quiet!” Draflough growled at her brothers.
Quest Complete: Reunite the Quartet
Reward: +200 Faction Gor
“I’m glad to see you all, but truth be told, I wouldn’t be standing here right now without Curmlough. He was very brave. Why not tell him how pleased you are to see him again, alive and well?” I asked. I gently nudged Curmlough from behind my legs towards his siblings. He hung his head and shuffled forward reluctantly.
“He was annoying! Take him and your hairy selves back to whatever forest hovel you all squat in!” The Satyrs gaped up at Octave who had floated forward to hover in front of me.
“Gor’s Fang! A creature of foul countenance!” Turlough fumbled for a stone from his belt to load his slingshot.
“No! The Human tries to gift us a flying baby! Fiend! We wanted honey!” Sendough cried.
“Quiet! It’s a Cherub come to defile our Grove!” Draflough snapped.
“Nobody is going to defile your Grove, Draflough.” I stated calmly, but firmly. “This is Octave and he is a friend.”
Turlough, Sendough and Draflough looked at Octave skeptically. I shot Octave a look that said he should keep his mouth closed when it looked like he was about to start hurling insults again. Octave made a face and floated over to Vicar Hamish, who appeared bewildered by the whole exchange. He glanced at me with an uneasy smile.
“One day I’m going to write a book about all this after which I’ll be defrocked and thrown into an Asylum.”
“We are on our way to Goodlabor, my friends, but know that you are welcome at the Abbey from now on. It is…under new management.” I said. “I am the new Abbot.”
“If you gift us some of your ale, we will consider it,” Turlough said, smacking his lips.
“No! You must bribe us with ale and gift us more honey!”
“Qui-!”
“What I would like to say…” I interrupted Draflough, “is that the four of you are welcome any time, but the Abbey of Twilight is a place where I plan to see all Gods are honored, including Gor.” I saw looks of skepticism shift to interest. I laid down my final card. “I could really use your help. Your suggestions for how I can rebuild our Brewhouse would be…”
“We’ll come,” snapped Turlough.
“Yes! We will!” said Sendough, not hiding his excitement as he licked his lips.
Draflough gaped open mouthed at her brothers. Curmlough laughed. He turned to regard me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“I’ll have to make penance in the Grove for a while, but we’ll be sure to come to the Abbey soon.” Curmlough then turned to look at Octave who pretended not to notice the Satyr was looking at him.
“Keep my Goblet safe! I’m going to bring a skin of Grove water when I return,” Curmlough said with a grin.
“Oh?” Octave sniffed and raised an eyebrow. “Why should I care about that?”
“Because the water from the Grove is special. Imagine what will happen when we pour it into the Goblet of Sweet Dreams?” Slowly, Octave floated down to hover before Curmlough. The Cherub gently laid a hand on Curmlough’s shoulder and spoke.
“Curmlough. That idea…is absolute genius! Bring two skins!” Octave said with a laugh. Curmlough grabbed the Cherub’s hands and the two friends danced/flew around in circle laughing.
“I’ll bring three skins!”
My smile grew even larger when I saw the expressions of disbelief on the other Satyrs’ faces.
“What did you do to our brother?” Draflough whispered to me. I reached out and patted her on the head.
“Nothing. Trust is a choice. Friendship is built through shared experiences. Aramyr is a world that needs hope again, Draflough. I think a Cherub and a Satyr laughing together is proof it can happen. Don’t you?”
“Hmph.” She watched her brother swing around the Cherub until he said he was going to vomit. She tried not to smile, but failed. “Perhaps Lord Gor will be lenient with Curmlough’s punishment.” She looked up at me. “Perhaps we will see you again soon in your big, stone prison.”
“It’s not a prison any longer.”
The Satyrs all disappeared into the forest shortly after and I couldn’t tell if Octave was pleased or sad about it.
“They smelt terrible, but Great Ord teaches us to have patience with the uncouth.” Octave said.
“Right.” I answered.
“We should continue, Father Abbot.” Vicar Hamish said. He was still getting over the fact he had just had a brief discussion with two Satyrs about the differences between Ales and Stouts. I had to wonder if the Vicar’s opinion on Celestial beings and magical creatures were now as forever changed as mine had so recently been.
“I agree. I am eager to see how the others are doing. Just a little bit farther…”
A little bit farther was another two hours that passed uneventfully. When we finally reached the outskirts of Goodlabor, I was pleased to see some work had been done to restore the dilapidated gate and the town walls. Holes had been patched over with wooden boards and a newer, sturdier gate was in the process of being installed. However, I noted the lack of sentries watching from the walls as I had instructed there to be at all times.
“Something is wrong,” I said aloud and I hurried through the gate, the others hot on my heels. The streets were empty, but I could hear the low murmur of voices coming from near the center of town. I made my way through the streets and past wooden homes still baring the scars of Shadowmurk. My heart began to beat faster as my doubts and worries voiced themselves in my head.
Did I leave the town too soon? Should I have searched harder to make sure I eradicated all trace of Shadowmurk? Was it too much for Cole and Maddie to manage things while I was away?
Or my greatest fear.
Did someone discover another Fel Shard nearby?
I reached the center of town. The fountain where the Fel shard had been displayed was still rubble. I had seen the remains of the shard carted out of town and buried deep in the woods. Now, parked in front of that fountain, was a very large and well constructed carriage the likes of which only a Noble would ride in.
I stopped in my tracks and stared open mouthed as I recognized the heraldry the carriage bore. More-so, I recognized the stern faced woman who stood atop a step stool upon the back of the carriage. Three very large, well armored knights stood before her with hands upon their swords. The woman was glaring at the murmuring crowd of townsfolk who were looking back at her with trepidation and suspicion.
“Father Kenric! Thank Ord, you’ve returned!” I looked over and saw Maddie Koff break away from the crowd to rush over to me. Others turned and saw me as well and they quickly took up a cry.
“Father Kenric is back!”
“Father Kenric!”
“Praise Ord, it’s Father Kenric!”
I held up my hands to attempt to calm the rush of people who were all talking at me at once. There were tears in Maddie’s eyes as she clasped my hands tightly. I saw the two sibling Hunters Suni and Fasil, relief apparent upon their faces, try to calm the frantic mob.
“It’s alright, everyone!” I shouted to be heard above the noise. “Everything is going to be fine!”
“SILENCE!” A sharp voice cut through the air, silencing everyone instantly. The change was instantaneous. Everyone turned, including myself to regard the stern faced woman who was staring at me in anger. “Kenric! Come here at once!”
Abashedly, I made my way through the crowd, touching a shoulder here, giving a reassuring smile there and murmured a few blessings until I stood before the straight backed woman glaring down at me. I spoke first.
“Hello Aunt Elsbeth. I am pleased to see you!”
