Cultist of Cerebon

As Zareth was brought to the very center of Tal’Qamar, the first thing that he noticed was the unprecedented number of soldiers patrolling the streets.

He had always known that the city-state maintained a sizable military, but the Merchant Lord usually kept them abroad to sell their services as mercenaries. Tal’Qamar tried to present itself as a peaceful city where foreign traders could feel safe and sell their wares, but that image was at odds with what he was seeing now.

The second thing Zareth noticed was the splatters of blood staining the armor of soldiers returning from the direction of the Spire Gardens, the district which housed the Conclave’s temples and extravagant towers. If it wasn’t already obvious before, Zareth was now certain that the ongoing military takeover of the city wasn’t a peaceful one.

I definitely need to be careful once I get to the palace, or it’ll be my blood covering their armor next, Zareth thought to himself, glancing warily at the grim-faced ogre soldier walking by his side.

It wasn’t long before they reached the central administrative district of Tal’Qamar, where nobody but the highest-ranking officials, the wealthiest merchants, and the most important members of the Conclave typically went. Zareth had never actually been to this part of the city before, as he did his best to avoid the Conclave whenever possible.

The buildings in the administrative district weren’t much different from the area where he usually met his wealthy clients aside from being a tad more modest in scale.

Taking in his surroundings, Zareth could see the numerous towers of the Spire Garden rising toward the sky like silent sentinels, and he shuddered when he imagined what might be happening inside them at that very moment. Looking away from the towers, Zareth took in the sight of the large, ornate structures that housed the city’s bureaucracy, the most impressive of which was the palace that once belonged to the Merchant Lord.

The palace stood above any other structure in Tal’Qamar, its bulbous domes and sharp minarets gleaming under the summer sun. Its main entrance was framed by two colossal brass statues resembling Anzus, four-winged creatures with the body of an eagle and the head of a lion that were venerated throughout the Qahtani Desert.

However, its most distinctive feature was the renowned Skyglass Spire that emerged from its center. It stood more than twice the height of the palace itself and was constructed from enchanted glass that shimmered brightly with magic.

The spire was a marvel of magical architecture and was the primary reason why Tal’Qamar could afford to send its military far and wide as mercenaries. The Skyglass Spire had never been activated within his lifetime, but Zareth had heard many legends about what happened the last time it had. The details differed, but everyone agreed that the army besieging Tal’Qamar was obliterated moments later.

Zareth was pulled from his thoughts by the gruff voice of the soldier escorting him, “Continue walking, [Cultist].”

“Ah, sorry,” Zareth said sheepishly, realizing that he had stopped to stare.

Once the soldiers by the gate finished searching Zareth for weapons, confiscating the knife he kept on him at all times, he was quickly ushered into the palace. He tried to take in his surroundings, but the entire building was swarming with soldiers darting around and barking orders. Zareth found himself being quickly marched through a maze of lavishly decorated corridors and halls.

They soon arrived at a set of heavy doors, beyond which was a room that likely once exuded opulence and grandeur but now looked the very picture of chaos. Expensive scrolls were haphazardly strewn about, furniture was overturned, and several priceless artifacts lay broken on the floor. Unlike the rest of the palace, the room was relatively calm with several figures waiting inside.

The soldier who had escorted him pushed Zareth into the room roughly before saying, “Wait here. The General will see you soon.”

After the door was shut behind him, Zareth took a close look at the other people waiting in the room and realized that he recognized several of them, although one more than the others. She was a middle-aged human woman with leathery skin and a disdainful gaze wearing modest leather adorned with beadwork and feathers.

“I’m surprised you’re here, boy. I’d expected you to leave the city as soon as you had the opportunity,” said Farida Qureshi, Priestess of Silvaris the Stern Wanderer.

“Why exactly would I do that, Farida?” Zareth asked tiredly, already dreading being forced to stay in the presence of the caustic woman.

“I assumed someone so eager to deny their heritage would be equally eager to leave it behind,” Farida replied in a derisive tone.

“Silvaris hasn’t been our ‘heritage’ for centuries. You should have learned to accept that by now,” Zareth returned, rolling his eyes at the unreasonable zealot.

Silvaris was a god that had once been heavily favored by the human tribes native to the Qahtani Desert until the Conclave began to gradually suppress his worship. The Conclave's ability to do so was limited since the Desharin were nomadic and spent a lot of time away from the city, but Silvaris’ influence had still diminished significantly over the years.

It didn’t help that Silvaris was a deity that demanded strict adherence to certain codes and rituals.

Farida was obviously unhappy about this, but she particularly disliked Zareth because she believed he would have made a capable Priest for her god.

“We will see if that remains the case now that the Conclave has been driven from Tal’Qamar. Gods come and go, but Silvaris will forever be here for humanity during times of hardship.”

Uninterested in engaging in an argument he’d already had many times before, Zareth turned his attention to the other figures in the room and was momentarily shocked by how few there were. However, it began to make sense once he gave it some thought. The General likely only wanted a representative for each deity and the soldier specified that they had been ordered to only round up Tal’Qamari citizens. The Conclave had done a good job suppressing its competitors, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that there were so few of them.

Zareth recognized one of them, an elderly ogre man with graying hair, as the leader of some traditional ogre faith, although he couldn’t quite remember his Class or name.

Like most ogres, he stood far taller than anyone else in the room and looked strong enough to shatter a boulder with his bare hands. His ash-colored skin was as rough and thick as old tree bark and his broad face was adorned by two protruding tusks. He wore a hide tunic adorned with a multitude of strange symbols and a pendant made from the bones of several different creatures hung around his neck.

Despite his fearsome expression, Zareth could easily see the intelligence and wisdom in the old ogre’s eyes.

The next figure was somebody that he didn’t recognize but could guess who they were. Zareth had heard many rumors recently of a young female Lizardkin dressed like some kind of monk proselytizing among the lower class. She was very lucky that the Conclave had been pushed out of the city when it had, otherwise Zareth was sure they would have paid her a visit soon.

The last person in the room was a thin naga man with a somber expression. Unlike everyone else who wore some manner of religious garb, or jewelry in Zareth’s case, the naga wore a set of luxurious robes that Zareth would expect to see from one of his clients.

“Hello. Have any of you heard anything about what happened between Merchant Lord Raqasor and the Conclave?” Zareth asked, hoping he could learn a bit more about the situation.

The old ogre grumbled and shifted as he turned his gaze to Zareth. “I’ve had little contact with the ruling class since the Conclave refused to endorse the Way of Gendal. Some among the clans report that tension has been growing for some time between the Conclave, the Merchant Lord, and the naga elites, but this was as much of a surprise to us as it was to you.”

“It’s surprising that the Conclave dared to move against the Merchant Lord. Tal’Qamar will face a difficult situation without access to his Skills,” said the naga man, his forked tongue momentarily flickering out as he spoke. “Raqasor’s [Wealth of the Land] was one of the primary reasons that merchants flock to us instead of our competitors. Without him…”

Zareth shared the naga’s apprehension. In this world, societies were often defined and shaped around those who ruled them and the Skills they possessed. [Wealth of the Land] was a skill that both made it easier to find and amplified the resources within any land owned by the [Merchant Lord]. The city wouldn’t fall apart immediately without it, but things would certainly grow more difficult over time.

Tal’Qamar was about to become a very different place now that General Nasrith had taken control. The General had been firmly in control of the city’s military for decades and was the most powerful man in the Tal’Qamar.

“It’s going to be difficult for people to adjust to no longer having the Boons offered by the Conclave’s gods as well,” Zareth said thoughtfully. “[Suhail’s Boon] was responsible for getting a lot of people through particularly bad heatwaves and [Rayya’s Boon] helped the city’s water situation significantly.”

As a god of sun and sand, [Suhail’s Boon] granted people an increased tolerance to heat and a small increase in Vitality while [Rayya’s Boon] granted a boost to Spirit and the ability to produce their own water. All of the Boons offered by the Conclave were well-suited for desert life, which was exactly why they had grown so successful.

“General Nasrith and his mercenary army contribute just as much to Tal’Qamar’s economy as the merchants and the people won’t immediately lose their boons. I’m sure we’ll be alright,” the young lizardkin woman said optimistically.

Nobody looked reassured and Zareth also wasn’t sure that he believed her words, but keeping a positive outlook was probably better than drowning in worry. Over the next few minutes, Zareth learned the names of those he didn’t recognize as everyone politely introduced themselves.

The elderly ogre was a [Grand Shaman] of the Way of Gendal who introduced himself as Borak. Next, the naga man was an [Ophidian Priest] by the name of Kassan who worshiped some ancient naga deity called Ghisara. Lastly, the young lizardkin woman was named Kinta and she served a foreign god she referred to only as the ‘Serene Guide.’ Like Zareth, she hadn’t attained a Class evolution, so she was just a [Monk]

Once introductions were over and it became clear that nobody knew what was happening, the conversation soon died back down. The tension was palpable as they waited, and Zareth couldn’t help but keep glancing at the door while he waited for the General to make his appearance.

After another half hour of waiting, during which nobody else entered the room, there was an abrupt shift in the air. The heavy doors finally swung open and a squad of armored soldiers marched into the room. Every movement they made was precise, their eyes alert and scanning every inch of the room. It was obvious to Zareth that they were far more skilled and disciplined than the guards he usually dealt with.

One of them, a burly human man with a fierce expression, nodded to someone on the other side of the doors once they had thoroughly checked for dangers. As he entered the room, Zareth’s first impressions of General Nasrith were that he looked exactly like he expected from the man’s reputation and that he was the largest naga he had ever seen.

Rising close to seven feet tall, General Nasrith’s entire body was thick with muscle and he carried an air of authority that made Zareth want to stand at attention. His serpentine half was covered in crimson scales and featured several scars that spoke of a lifetime of battle. He was clad in dark, metal armor that emanated an unmistakable aura of magic, and his chest plate bore the crest of Tal’Qamar, a stylized depiction of the Skyglass Spire.

The General’s piercing eyes swept through the room, scrutinizing them all as he moved with a grace that belied his size. Once he reached the center of the room, the soldiers closed the doors behind him and he took a moment to gaze at each of them in turn.

When he finally spoke, the General’s voice was unexpectedly aristocratic and carried a calm authority that demanded their full attention. “Greetings. I am General Nasrith, Commander of Tal’Qamar’s forces and now its ruler. Let’s not dwell on pleasantries, as I have little time for such. Our city finds itself in a sandstorm, and I have many other duties to attend to if I am to navigate us through it.”

His gaze swept over them, his serpentine eyes unblinking. “The Conclave’s treachery ran deep. Our Merchant Lord Raqasor fell victim to their machinations, and in their selfishness they sought to elevate themselves above our city and its people. For this, their dissolution was carried out immediately by my forces.”

Zareth held his breath, feeling a shiver run down his spine at the eerie calm in Nasrith’s tone as he spoke of the Conclave’s destruction. While there were plenty of people in this world who only worshiped gods on a transactional basis, there were also many zealots. Those people wouldn’t be pleased by this turn of events and would likely face violent suppression while those who were less zealous would be encouraged to choose new gods.

Tal’Qamar was bound to face a period of significant turmoil as a result of the General’s decisions. Reconciling with the Conclave must have truly been impossible for him to go to such lengths.

“Allow me to be unequivocally clear,” said General Nasrith, a hint of danger creeping into his voice as he locked eyes with each of them. “Raqasor’s tragic demise was a consequence of his inability to manage the serpents among us. The Conclave’s dissolution has opened a power vacuum you all are most capable of exploiting, and I refuse to repeat his mistakes. As such, you all have three paths to choose from.”

The room was deathly silent as the General allowed his words to sink in before he continued. “First, you may be safely escorted from this city, never to return. Given that you all are here whilst others have already chosen to flee Tal’Qamar, I will assume this is a choice you all have dismissed. The second option available to you is to remain in this city but be forever forbidden from spreading your faith to any of its citizens. Are there any among you who wish to take this path?”

Zareth and the other people present with religious Classes traded somewhat nervous glances, but nobody seemed eager to accept the General’s offer. Either because of the immense potential benefits it offered or out of devotion to their gods, all of them wanted the opportunity to expand their faiths with the Conclave gone.

Eventually, Zareth was the first one to break the silence. “What is the third path?”

“If you wish to reside in Tal’Qamar while preaching your religions, then you shall only be permitted to do so after swearing fealty to myself and the city,” said General Nasrith, his voice filled with finality. “I will allow no authority to rise in this city other than my own. You will all serve under me, and your gods shall forward the interests of Tal’Qamar.”

The ultimatum hung in the air for several moments before Farida chose to speak up, her voice steady in the face of the General’s imposing presence. “Since you say that you don’t have time for pleasantries, let’s speak bluntly. I am willing to bend the knee if doing so allows me to spread the teachings of the Stern Wanderer, but I will not accept any interference in our faith or rituals. Explain explicitly what serving you would entail, General.”

“I would like to hear more on that as well,” said Kinta, her voice quiet as she sought to add her own concerns. “The teachings of the Serene Guide are precious to me. They are not to be manipulated or twisted for the benefit of others.”

“I agree with the Priestess and the Monk,” said Kassan, nodding toward his human counterpart. “You will need our help converting people away from the Conclave’s gods and you need a new source of Boons for your soldiers. Tell us exactly what you wish from us and what you are willing to give in return.”

Zareth watched quietly as General Nasrith and Kassan held each other’s gaze for several moments. At that moment, he became certain that he was missing a great deal of context for the relationship between the two naga.

"Tal'Qamar's government will soon need to undergo a period of restructuring to create the bureaucratic bodies needed to administer this city," said Nasrith, his eyes not moving from Kassan. "One of which will be a replacement for the Conclave. The Tal’Qamari High Command will be responsible for directing this new organization on how it might further the city’s interests. High Command will also distribute rewards to those of you who prove the most useful.”

It only took a moment for Zareth to understand the General’s true intentions. He intended to create a system that would instigate competition between them. By making the distribution of rewards dependent on their ‘usefulness’ to Tal’Qamar, he would be able to effectively pit them against each other and ensure they didn’t collude to threaten his rule.

However, none of that really bothered Zareth. If there was one thing that he had learned from living in Tal’Qamar for twenty years, it was that every opportunity came with risks. This opportunity was far from ideal, but it still presented him with the best chance to change his life for the better.

“What kind of rewards would we be given?” Zareth asked eagerly. He didn’t care if he came across as greedy, because the rewards were absolutely the most important aspect in his mind.

General Nasrith’s gaze flicked to Zareth, a knowing smile playing across his lips. “That depends on your performance. Rewards could come in the form of monetary compensation, enchanted items, or special privileges. Should you prove your usefulness and loyalty, I might even consider giving you all one of the Conclave’s towers from the Spire Garden, once they are… refurbished. Not to mention that spreading the influence of your deities has the potential to quickly increase your Levels.”

It was that last point that Zareth cared about the most. At his current rate of progression, it would likely take him more than a year to reach Level 20. People progress in Levels by doing things related to their Classes, especially when those things were uniquely difficult or dangerous.

There was a reason that Adventurers leveled far faster than most people.

Religious classes were unique in that their Levels would also increase faster the more favored they were by their gods. Zareth didn’t know exactly how long it would take him to reach Level 20 if he was recruiting worshipers for Cerebon, but he estimated it could even be as soon as a few months!

Farida scoffed before sneering at Zareth disdainfully. “Serving one’s god is its own reward, boy. The only recompense you should be concerned about is your god’s approval.”

Speak for yourself!

Zareth ignored the zealot as his mind conjured images of him moving out of his small house and into one of the towers in the Spire Garden. It had been more than a year since he’d had to worry about going hungry, but his life still couldn’t be considered a comfortable one.

“So long as you serve Tal’Qamar faithfully, you shall be rewarded in turn,” General Nasrith said as he studied Zareth before turning his attention back to Farida. “And as long as your teachings are not a threat to the city’s interests, you will be permitted to spread your teachings without interference.”

Zareth wasn’t all that concerned about interference since Cerebon wasn’t too picky when it came to his rituals, but he could tell all of his peers were reassured by the General’s word.

Just as Zareth was about to ask another question, a deep rumbling voice echoed throughout the room.

“Is it safe to assume that you would prioritize contributions that bolster Tal’Qamar’s war capabilities?” asked Borak as he studied the General. “The Boons offered by the Way of Gendal are indeed well-suited for combat, but they will only be shared among my people.”

Why would Tal’Qamar be going to war?

Zareth turned his attention to Nasrith and saw a pleased smirk on the General’s face. “Why do you believe that would be safe to assume? I have made no mention of a coming conflict.”

Borak grumbled under his breath and his eyes hardened as he returned the General’s gaze. “In my long years, I’ve learned how to predict where the wind will blow. The Conclaves still hold significant influence in the rest of the Qahtani Desert, and will not be pleased that they’ve lost access to Tal’Qamar. As a man whose known nothing but war, it’s natural that you will respond to their inevitable aggression with military might.”

Zareth knew that the old ogre had hit the mark when he saw General Nasrith’s smirk widen further. “Your wisdom does you credit, Grand Shaman Borak. Conflict is indeed more likely than not, which is why I would like to move on to the discussion of your Boons and what you have to offer. That is, of course, if you have all decided that you wish to stay in Tal’Qamar and freely spread your faiths.”

Zareth had already decided a while ago that he would accept the General’s offer and nothing he had heard so far had changed his mind. Even if he was forced to serve under a military dictatorship and live in a city that was about to go to war, this wasn’t an opportunity Zareth intended to pass up. Besides, he was in a decent enough position to run away and start a new life if things turned sour.

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but the terms you’ve put forward are acceptable to me,” said Zareth, nodding toward General Nasrith before turning to the others to see how they would respond.

Farida was the next to speak, her expression as stern as always. “Despite the circumstances, I am a faithful servant of the divine. The Stern Wanderer has never turned his back on those in need, and I don’t intend to start now. I will pledge my service so long as you honor your word to refrain from interfering in our teachings, General Nasrith.”

Borak let out a gruff chuckle. “The Way of Gendal has endured many changes throughout the years. We will endure this one as well.”

Kinta simply nodded calmly in agreement, “The Serene Guide’s teachings bring peace and understanding to all who follow them. If I can continue to share them with the people, then I will endure any hardship.”

All eyes turned to Kassan, who merely gave the General a long calculating look. “You already know my answer, General Nasrith.”

“I suppose I do,” said General Nasrith, his serpentine eyes glinting with amusement. He then turned to address them all again. “Tal’Qamar will remember your willingness to cooperate. Now, let us discuss the topic of your Boons and their effects. We will start with the [Cultist].”

Zareth was a bit startled to be singled out first, but he didn’t hesitate to begin explaining. “[Cerebon’s Boon] gives people an increase to their physical stats, passive regeneration, and it also increases the malleability of their flesh.”

General Nasrith raised an eyebrow at the last point. “Malleability of the flesh? Elaborate.”

“Ah, yes,” Zareth said, trying to remember how his grimoire explained it. “Cerebon is the God of Flesh and Transformation. A person with more malleable flesh will be easier for me to affect with my [Permanent Flesh Manipulation]. If they earn enough favor from Cerebon, they’ll also gain some minor shapeshifting ability.”

General Nasrith nodded, his gaze contemplative as he processed Zareth’s explanation. “I’ve been informed of the flesh sculpting services you sell to the city’s wealthy. Is it safe to assume you could use your Skill to augment the abilities of my soldiers?”

“To an extent,” Zareth replied hesitantly. Raising a hand for the General to see, he quickly used his abilities on himself. His nails sharpened into talons and his skin hardened until it resembled an ogre’s. “I can do things like this, but the more drastic the alteration, the more difficult it will be for me to perform. It also takes a significant amount of time when done on others and is stressful on the body. Once I increase in Level, I should be able to offer better alterations.”

Truthfully, the augmentations that he could currently offer wouldn’t be all that helpful to people who already had a high level in a combat class. A human with a Strength stat in the 40s was already strong enough to dent metal with a punch and 40 Vitality would allow them to shrug off blows that would be lethal to most people. Slightly harder skin or sharp nails were unlikely to be a significant advantage to them, but Zareth was confident that he could offer something more impressive in the future.

“That is satisfactory for the moment,” General Nasrith said after a moment of contemplation. “We can discuss the specifics at a later time.”

Zareth nodded and felt a sense of relief wash over him when the General turned his attention elsewhere. Being the center of Nasrith’s attention was not a good feeling.

“Let’s proceed with the [Monk] next,” Nasrith announced, turning his gaze to Kinta. The rest of the meeting continued in the same vein as everyone explained their Boons and what their gods could offer to the city.

Kinta’s [Boon of the Serene Guide] gave a boost to Spirit while also increasing mental fortitude.

Farida’s [Silvaris’ Boon] improved a person’s Vitality and offered some protection against the harsh elements of nature. It also gives people an intuitive understanding of the best path to safety.

According to Borak, [Boon of Gendal] could manifest in many different ways depending on the worshiper and it was useless to attempt to describe them all.

Kassan’s [Ghisara’s Boon] increased Agility and made them more perceptive in general.

By the time everyone was done, Zareth felt mentally exhausted. They had spent a significant amount of time discussing how their Boons could be best utilized while also going over what their gods required from their worshipers. Zareth was lucky as Cerebon was satisfied with ritualistic body modification, which could come in the form of earrings or tattoos in the most minor of forms.

By the time they were done, Zareth had learned more about the faiths of his new colleagues than he ever thought he would.

“One more thing,” said General Nasrith, just as everyone was preparing to leave. “You will each be assigned a soldier who will act as a liaison between you and High Command. They will handle all communication between us as well as provide you protection in these tumultuous times. I insist on this, both for your safety and so that there are no… unfortunate misunderstandings.”

His eyes scanned their faces as he took in their reactions. “I trust there won’t be any issues?”

Zareth and everyone else understood the unspoken reality. These soldiers were there to keep them in check and ensure their loyalty.

“No issue, General,” Zareth replied in a neutral tone. It would make some things harder for him if he had a watchdog following him everywhere, but he understood that all good things came with a price.

Besides, this would offer him a new source of information to learn about the new guys in charge.

A round of affirmations followed Zareth’s response as everyone seemed to reach the same conclusion.

“Excellent,” General Nasrith said, sounding pleased. “Then allow me to introduce them.”

With a gesture from the General, the five elite soldiers who had swept the room earlier and remained silent throughout the meeting stepped forward. They were a mix of races and each of them was rather imposing.

General Nasrith directed a burly human man to Farida and a thin human woman to Kinta. To Kassan he assigned a stone-faced naga man and Borak was given a massive ogre who seemed to dwarf even his charge.

Lastly, Zareth was assigned a lizardkin man with vibrant green scales. He was the smallest among the elite soldiers, yet he exuded a feeling of danger that raised the hair on Zareth’s neck.

“This is your liaison, Rizok,” said Nasrith, introducing the lizardkin. “He will be your point of contact with High Command.”

Rizok gave Zareth a curt nod but didn’t otherwise react. Zareth wasn’t sure how to respond so he just returned the gesture and waited for Nasrith to end the meeting.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long. “We have discussed everything that needs to be addressed at this time. You will receive your orders once I have consolidated my administrative hold over the city. You are dismissed.”

With that, Zareth gave one last glance to his new colleagues as his ‘liaison’ hurried to escort him out of the palace. There were still many uncertainties that still needed to be addressed, but there was one thing that was absolutely clear to him.

Destiny had offered Zareth the opportunity of a lifetime, and he intended to grasp it with everything that he had.

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