The Lord of Ragnarok

Chapter 11: A Flicker of hope

Temple of Celestia Sol - Throne Room - Mannulus' P.O.V.

I looked at the Scrying Mirror which I had linked to the spell book I had bound the soul of that lower level mage to. The two worked together, and through some slight alteration of various spells I was attempting to peer into the Sanctus Theocracy. So far I was able to see some of the outer layers of it, but getting much closer was proving to be near impossible. The only thing I could think of was that there was a powerful ward which protected the more secure areas from any kind of scrying.

This gave me some concern. If there was a warding powerful enough to keep me from scrying, it meant one of two things. The first was that it was created by various mages, ranging in skill, and constantly maintained by them. The second was that there was a mage, or sorcerer, who was at my level of skill, and they were keeping the ward up. What I had seen in this world so far led me to believe that most magic users were a far lower tier. It seemed likely that it was someone that was a player, and that left Anok the Destroyer.

I growled at the thought of that name. Anok had killed my friend, and what I remembered from Ragnarok was that his class was a brawler sorcerer. His magical stats were more toward offensive spells, and the rest of his stats were designed around melee attacks. It would explain how he was able to use a transformation item. Those were designed more toward offensive magic and usually melee attacks. But his skill set didn't include defensive or repelling magic. A ward used to protect more secure areas was well beyond what he should have been capable of. What Timidus had told me, and also what Lightingsword said about it, there wasn't a second magic user specifically fighting against Sombra. But that didn't mean there wasn't someone else there.

As I recalled he usually quested with a female avatar as his second. Where he was more about overwhelming force she focused on more nuanced magic. Her skill set, from what I could remember, dealt with dark magic, but it was allined toward protection, security, and torture. Someone like her could cast the ward, I was sure of that, but I never knew her level. Anok, the times we faced off, had been very close to ours. His level was about one hundred seventy. The ten extra experience points were indeed the difference between a great sorcerer and an extraordinary one.

I considered what I had learned. It most likely wasn't Anok the Destroyer by himself that killed Sombra. I believed that it had to be two of them, and that one distracted him. Of all of us I was certain that Sombra could possibly face down a full grown dragon and live to tell about it on his own. He had leveled in both offensive and defensive magic. And he had some powerful spells, some of which could wreck pretty powerful beings on their own. However, after facing Virth I knew that we could face and defeat a dragon. The difference was that there were five of us facing down Virth, and she was on her own. Not to mention I had raised a huge army, and they were keeping her busy while Luna had begun to attack her mind. It had ended up having the effect I wanted, and that was to enslave Virth.

I had no intention of enslaving Anok, but instead I wanted to wipe him from the face of the planet. No, what he had in store would be death, and I wanted to make it as slow and painful as possible. On top of that my promise about what awaited the Sanctus Theocracy would be kept. It needed to be because of the danger of allowing the nation to thrive. All of them had been conditioned, from what I read in the bonded spellbook, at an early age to be fanatical believers in the philosophy that all demihumans were to be destroyed to keep the bloodlines pure. Those that had disagreed with this following were often labeled as heretics and executed.

In the end, I couldn't spare them. I couldn't afford to spare them. Destroying an entire nation would label me a monster, regardless of the reasoning, and in order to keep the appearance of justification I would need to spark a war. I knew that the Empire already had terrible relations with the Theocracy. Sparking a war between the Empire and the Theocracy would be the easiest, but I didn't want another world power to wait in the wings and sweep in to finish off whichever won. Sadly, this would need to escalate into a world war. The Theocracy would need to do something against the Kingdom of Coronam. It would need to be terrible enough to warrant the Kingdom to side with the Barbarus Empire.

Sadly, I knew what action would need to take place. While I was no great fan of the Nolan Batman movies his version of the Joker was right about something. People are fine with something terrible, something horrible, as long as it's part of the plan. That was true here. If a thief of a soldier dies no one would bat an eye. But kill a noble, or a royal, and everyone will lose their minds. To ensure peace, and to ensure the justice that Sombra deserved, not to mention the vengeance we desired, I would need to manipulate the death of someone beloved in the Kingdom of Coronam.

How was the question to ask. It couldn't lead back to the Temple in the slightest, nor could it lead to any member of the guild. It would be simpler if the Sanctus Theocracy was actively attempting to start a war with the Kingdom of Coronam. Then again, it could be seen that they were the way they attempted to attack Oppidum Village. The village itself was apparently part of the Kingdom of Coronam, but it was so poor, and so close to the border between the Kingdom and the Empire, that I had doubts it would be enough to cause the Kingdom of Coronam to consider an attack.

No, the best way would be to insight a war between the two powers. The chiefest trouble, though, was I lacked intel. The lay of the land was slowly being opened to me. Too slow, actually. This wasn't Ragnorak; I didn't have an Internet connection wherein I could Google the various powers in this world. There was no Wiki I could reference to determine who I would need to bribe, blackmail, murder or extort to get the ball rolling on a global war.

What agents we had placed were making some headway, but if Sanctus Theocracy was staging some sort of Fourth Reich action, they wouldn't bother waiting for all the intel they needed. The Third Reich Guild was anything but subtle or patient. If they had managed to found or co opt this Theocracy, then one can only assume (even if assumption is the mother of all fuck ups,) then they were moving very rapidly. It was obvious that the Sanctus Theocracy had all the momentum at the moment and only a rather large accident, or a bafflingly massive mistake, would stem their ambitions.

In the end it was looking likely that I would have to become a monster in order to ensure peace. That was not a move I wanted to make. I needed information, and I needed it yesterday. I understood the Empire and that they were slowly attempting to reclaim lost lands from monsters. The Ruined City, the Hidden City of Sanerek Nim or as I preferred to call it the Dwarven Stronghold, and just local grasslands that the monsters roamed. Acting as an Adventurer there I realized how much they were attempting at growing. It wasn't stupid, and it would give them exactly what they needed. In this case it would give them land for new cities, fields for farms and farming communities, and finally valuable mining resources.

What Lala had reported back on the Kingdom was that it was divided into four factions. The Royal Family apparently made the ending decisions, but they listened to the Noble faction, the House of Commons, and finally the Merchant's Guild. I had Maxine and Lala set themselves into a Merchant role, allowing them access to the Merchant's Guild, and attempt to learn the amount of suggestive power they held.

It was some, and it did help, but it wasn't enough. I began to feel heated rage when I felt the message spell activate. I calmed myself, and closed my eyes.

"Lala, what do you have to report?" I asked

Her voice came through crystal clear, "Lord Mannulus, I have discovered a hidden power. There is a dark criminal enterprise at work here. Apparently they call themselves the Hydra. From what I've learned they deal in slaves, sex trafficing, and they take a percentage from every member of the Merchant guild. One of the other high ranking members has said that Princess Elegas Regiis, of the Regiis Royal Family, is publically attempting to end their presence."

I smiled, A Princess being a champion for the people, this would be beneficial, "Is that all?"

"No My lord," she replied, "The same member has confided in me that she believes the Hydra has connections with the Sanctus Theocracy."

I smiled, "That is interesting. Lala, attempt to learn what you can about Princess Elegas Regiis. Observe the kind of ruler she is, how popular she appears to be with the commoners, and how close she is with the rest of the royal family."

"Of course my lord."

A popular princess was something I could work with. I had two options, and both stood out as decent plans. Both included hiring mercenaries, but it would appear to be through the Sanctus Theocracy. Both would start the same. The Mercenaries would be hired to kidnap, and kill, the Princess. If I let them slaughter her then I had to be sure that my puppet was there to be discovered. The act had to lay at the feet of the Sanctus Theocracy, but the second option I felt was better. Again, they would believe their job was to kidnap, and kill, the Princess, but one of us would step in and save her.

I instantly decided on who it should be. I would have Umbra save her. The likeness of Sombra the Magnificent would spark the war between the Kingdom of Coronam and the Sanctus Theocracy. The Puppet would still need to be there, but only to be destroyed by Umbra. He would save the Princess, contact me, and we would return her to safety. Once she was safe I would explain that my servant had saved her, and we would let her tell them, in her own voice, that it was the Sanctus Theocracy that had attempted to kill her.

If she was as popular as I hoped then war would be guaranteed. All I could do at this point was wait. I wanted action, and I wanted to have Anok the Destroyer's Head on a platter. It was vengeful. I knew it had nothing to do with justice. What I wanted to do, and I felt I had to do, wasn't justice. Justice would be just taking out Anok the Destroyer. Justice would be ensuring that he paid for every death he was behind. Justice wasn't burning all of the Sanctus Theocracy to the ground and then pissing on the ashes.

But that was what was going to have to happen. I couldn't afford to be merciful on this. If just a fraction of what was in that spell book was true then leaving a single one of them alive would be welcoming it all to start again. It would be allowing more suffering, more hate, more anger, and we couldn't do it. One of my favorite quotes expressed exactly what the road was that I was looking at. "Fear leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, and Hate leads to Suffering." I could rationalize it, and I could say that it was their fear that lead to anger, and their anger that lead to hate, and their hate had led to countless individuals suffering.

I could rationalize it, and in some ways I was, but the truth was I was going to cause suffering on a scale that would be just as terrible. The difference was I knew that I was making a world that would be safer for all. I was making a place that would accept all people. I closed my eyes and I suddenly didn't fail to grasp what Franklin D. Roosevelt had gone through when he entered the U.S. into World War II; I understood it completely.

A clap of thunder seemed to answer my mood. L0rd0f7hunder was still in a rage and the somber mood afflicted upon LightningSw0rd hadn't left. I could tell as they entered the conference room. Seeing Fluttershy trail James with a look of despondency added to my dour deposition. On either side of me, my herd mates flanked my throne. Rainbow and Solar Flare glowering in anger, Twilight mournful, and Luna somber.

All the other floor guardians and temple staff were in attendance, including Virth and, strangely, Orasio. I had not called the newest of our guards, so I couldn't understand why she was in attendance. She gave a loving smile to Hephestus then switched her gaze to L0rd0f7hund3r. She tilted her head, seeming in inquiry, and Steven nodded. She strode to conference's rooms podium, something TrixieisaGoddess installed. Orasio cleared her throat, calling all to attention.

"Orasio," I called out, "is there a reason you are not with your fellow guardsponies?"

"Aye, milord,' the mare said, "I have something that needs reporting. Something Sire L0rd0f7hund3r brought to my attention."

I looked to Steve, who nodded at me with a grave face.

"What is it you have to report?" I asked.

Clearing her throat again, Orasio said, "I have with me a piece of parchment, procured Sire L0rd0f7hund3r, off the corpse of a dead Sanctus Theocracy soldier. It was written in Lanctum, an obscure language oft used in the lands to the west. Ser 7hund3r could not interpret the writing, but I have spent time there and am, learned of the language, both spoken and written. The parchment has- an interesting piece of information. Methinks it pertains to The Guild at large…and to you, milord, as well as Sire 7hund3r and Lord LightningSword."

I looked to fellow Guild members; James was seething but his eyes betrayed some sense of confusion. Steve has a concerned look on his face. I, myself, was curious and a little alarmed. While the Third Reich Guild had a foothold on this world, I had no idea they knew of us or our presence here.

Intrigued, I told the guardsmare to continue.

"According to the missive, it is a letter from The Triumvirate Masters. It speaks about ongoing efforts to 'neutralize the abominations of this world for the purity of the human race.' It also speaks of a 'holy scripture,' some piece of divine revelation discovered in a monastery that was- cleansed."

"Does the parchment mention what this 'revelation' is about?" I asked.

"Aye, milord," Orasio stated, "a copy of it is written, like doctrinal scriptures. Shall I recite."

"Yes, please."

"Of course, milord," Orasio said, then after clearing her throat again, she began.

"Triune troubles plague Lutum fair,

A world balanced upon the width of a hair,

Nine shall come from a land beyond,

Six of chaos and three of laud.

To Death, for whom life has no meaning,

A storm of justice, quick and keening.

To Lightning, proud and fair,

A storm to rage, a lion's share.

To Silver, bound to speed

A chorus of affection to him should heed.

Three to bind the world of Lutum,

Six to break it all asunder.

Death, Lightning, Silver, ho!

To wreak justice upon the sodden fold.

Whence havoc wrought upon The Dragyn Of World's End

Two worlds shattered, now to append.

"There is not more to it then that, milord," Orasio concluded.

"I wonder what it means," I said.

"Sounds like ravings of a lunatic," 7hund3r uttered, "Death, Lightning, and Steel, that could mean anything."

"No," stated Lightning quietly, "no, it means us. It means the three lords sitting here, today."

"Dude, I ain't no lord," 7hund3r started but James cut him off.

"Steve, you command lightning; Chris, you control the dead," Lightning said, "Quicksilver allows me move such velocity that even with my dark paladin armor on, nothing can be seen of me but a flash of silver. I'm pretty sure it's talking about us."

"Why us, though?" Steven mused, "we can't be the only major powers here. Coronam must have some badasses in the ranks of their militia. The Empire has to have some major kickers of ass in their ranks. Why us?"

"Because," James said, "we come from Outside."

This left us to pause.

"Outside, milord?" Orasio asked.

"It's the other world," Fluttershy explained, "Master Lightning, Sir 7hund3r, and Lord Manalus all receive summons from The Outside. Master 7hund3r explained that The Outside is a land from which they hail. It summons them occasionally to take on dark and dangerous quests that only They can perform. If they do not, they cannot return to us until that task is done."

I looked to Steve to find him looking away. I hadn't deigned to explain my absescnes to my brides and had no insight in how to do so. Then again, I was here more often than not during the end and had I not when the Lutum servers were powered off, none of us would be here at this moment.

"Is- is that what happens when you are away?" Twilight asked.

"Indeed," I answered, "though, now it seems that I am cut off from The Outside. We all are. The summons will no longer be heard."

"Does that mean you all are here to stay?" Luna asked.

"I guess so," James answered, his face melancholy again.

"Is it such a bad thing?" Rainbow asked, "Because it seems to be just fine. We have you here, and you aren't leaving. Is there anything in this Outside that you need or want?"

I smiled, "No my love, there is nothing that is better on The Outside."

I felt Twilight's hand touching my arm, "Beloved, you control the dead. I know that it isn't what we're discussing, but can't you revive Lord Sombra the Magnificent?"

I felt the stirrings of anger. Not at Twilight, but rather at the fact that my friend had been so ruthlessly killed. I looked toward her, "I'm uncertain. If there is at least a piece of his body, a tooth or bone fragment, then perhaps. Even my mastery of Necromancy needs a physical piece of the dead to channel them. Having something that was his in life may be enough to draw in his soul, but having a physical piece of his body would allow me to create a new body for him."

I saw Solar Flare's eyes light up, "The Flesh Golems?" she asked.

I nodded, "Basically, yes. I could use the bone fragment, or tooth, to create a blank body for him, and then bond his soul to it. If he hadn't been practically cremated I could use my magic to repair his body and restore him to life."

Lighting looked at me, "So, if any of us die, you can bring us back?"

I held up my withered hand, showing the three fingers it had, "Yes, but there are three things to know. It's easier if your body still exists. You will be weaker for about a month, and I will need time afterward. Raising the dead is different than bringing someone back to life. When I raise the dead I'm giving them a temporary body normally made over their bones. It still takes magic, but it's less taxing. Repairing a body, or rebuilding one, takes a great deal more, and then there is joining the soul to it," I looked at Solar, Luna, and Rainbow, "but if we can find some piece of his body I will bring Sombra back."

There was an excitement at my words that passed through the room. The knowledge that I could bring Sombra back was indeed exciting. But at the same time, it had a frightening aspect to it. From my experiences so far I had been able to draw the dead back after they were killed, and the cases of the trolls and dwarfs in the hidden City of Sanerek Nim I had pulled souls back that had been dead ranging from months to years. In some cases hundreds of years. I began to say something when Rainbow looked at me.

"Just a piece right?" she asked.

I nodded, and then she took off. I began to say something, but I felt a hand touch my own. I looked at Solar Flare. She gave me a smile, "Beloved, she is simply doing what she feels needs to be done. If you command her to stay, she will , but I beg you, let her see if there is anything left of our Father."

I nodded, it wouldn't be right of me to take that hope away from any of them. Besides, there was a very real part of me that wanted to see if this was something that I could do. I wanted to experiment to see if I could raise any of us that ended up. I needed to see if it would be a truly viable option should the worse happen. If it was an option then there was the potential that I could ensure that would be truly eternal.

There were some worries I had of course. The beings I've raised so far had been from this world. Their souls were a part of it, and it made bringing them to the surface all the easier. But Sombra, L0rdof7hund3r, and Lightingsword were from a different world. The NPCs themselves seemed to have gained a soul from here, so I was less worried about reviving them. Still, the possible reward would be worth the risk.

Sombra the Magnificent's Room - Rainbow's P.O.V.

I looked at the open door, and I stepped into it. I could see Timidus sitting, holding one of Lord Sombra's robes, and I walked toward her. I needed her to tell me where their village was. I could get there fast, faster than anyone else here could, and I could find a piece of him. I had to find a piece of him. I stepped up to her, and I knew that she didn't notice me.

"Where was your village?" I asked.

She looked at me, "It's… Why?"

I studied her, "Lord Mannulus can bring Lord Sombra the Magnificent back, but he needs a piece of his body, so where is your village?!"

I saw her eyes widen, "Bring me a map, and I'll point it out to you!"

A map, well, the village had provided a basic map of the world. I could only assume that it was old, but even if I had a general idea that would be good enough. I just needed a point to search for any piece of his body. The moment I found it I could come back and Lord Mannulus could bring him back. Maybe, if he was fine with it, he could even bring back my parents as well. I understood that they would be weak, but even so, having all of them back would be worth it. I saw her look at the map before she pointed to a place just outside of the Sanctus Theocracy, but I wasn't worried. They couldn't catch me.