Его не звали, но он приперся / They never called, yet he is here: Глава 24

Chapter 24

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:05

So now I'll tell you something that almost gave me a seizure. Even taking into account my exaggerated characteristics and, as I suspect, my not-quite-human biology. Are you ready to hear this delightfully exciting, like a supernova explosion right next to your fart, truth in the last resort? Well, then don't be offended and tell me that I didn't warn you, because the words were spoken by me, and you can't take them back.

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:42

So.

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:40

The Yoke does not exist.

Camrad_RIP 22.08.22 в 19:41

Not as literally as you might think, but very, very close. The Yoke is not in the real world, nor is it in any of the known realms that have only been explored by the inhabitants of Alurei. There is no Yoke. But it, like the legendary level eighty gopher, is still there. It's a paradox, isn't it?1121212 Something that does not exist in reality not only affects reality but also determines the policy of every significant Alurei state, regardless of its non-existence.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:40

The Yoke is not hidden by the skills of un-existence, at least that's what Ferer believed, and I'm inclined to believe his version. It is simply not located here, does not exist now, and is hidden in the same place where Alurei's most intimate possessions are kept. The Yoke is hidden on a specially created realm, or an enormous pocket dimension, that covers the whole world, and perhaps more than one. It is hidden in the same place where the base of the main essence is located, standing even above the Gods.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:45

It was hidden near the center of the System.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:47

I admit that realizing this magnificent truth made me genuinely want to sit on my ass and burst into tears. Even with my current skills, even if I were to upgrade some more... it's all too little to compete with things like the System. The damn thing isn't just above any other realm, no. If this "System" realm were simply more powerful and saturated than what I have available to me, it would be a hundred times easier. Yes, the energy of, say, Cold is always weaker than the energy of Shadow. Simply because Shadow is older, older, and more dangerous, even if only in the hands of the user of this realm.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:48

If that were the case, all I would have to do was pump up enough to force my way into a space that was foreign to me. I'd have to meet the force with more power, and with skillful control over the energies I had. It's a daunting task, but not impossible, especially for a Hero. It should come as no surprise that such a method doesn't work: the Yoke was created against Heroes, and I have a strong suspicion that its installation didn't go bloodlessly and was first hindered and then straightened out. But the ancient Heroes of the past could not cope with this task, either perishing in their entirety, or resigning, or even taking part in the division of the world on a par with the kings and emperors of the time.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:52

The problem is that the System stands on the sidelines of my usual perception. I can interact with the realms, but I am not the only one! And in the deepest layers of Shadow or Dream, the same system is no longer there at all, it does not reach there! Alas, I do not need to go to the depths of Shadow, which is also bad, but I can risk it for the sake of the cause, but to a place where I simply cannot reach by the usual means.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:53

The creators of the System, the ones who protected its fucking central server, certainly made sure that the likes of me wouldn't get there. So that no one could get there, so that even with the help of the whole world, and with the help of more than a dozen Gods, the locals only managed to make a small crack through which they dragged the notorious Yoke through.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:54

To repeat such a thing, I would need to take over most of the world, take complete control, and perform a similar procedure once again without incurring the wrath of the divine and the admins. This is not a task for a single person, an organization, or even an entire nation, no. It is really a worldwide quest, with no indulgences whatsoever.

Camrad_RIP 15.09.22 в 17:55

Ferer knew a lot of things, but even these were small things. No one, not even the most trusted ones, was allowed near such data, but still, Ferer was a professional, a truly legendary magician, who knew everything about energies and even a little more. And so he was able to understand, was able to sense a tiny... No, not a vulnerability or a hole in the defenses, for they are not there. He understood the methodology, the state of interaction between the Yoke and reality, and suggested (only suggested, without the possibility to confirm!) a way to interact with this construction somewhat differently than the locals used to consider possible.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 04:38

I'm not the most shitty essentialist, and so I managed to rummage through the stolen bits of the soul in search of answers, and I even got them. Fragmented and inaccurate to an even greater extent than they were in Ferer's mind, but the main thing is done. I got a fulcrum, a point from which I could push back and put my plans into action. And I need, no more, no less, to turn this whole world upside down, and now I am very likely to speak quite literally.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 04:40

The answer to my questions was banal human (and not only human) greed. If they hadn't wanted to save money on summoning reagents, I wouldn't be here right now. I'd be licking the boots of some high-born bitch (at best) and I wouldn't be in trouble. Or I'd be dead if the chain of command hadn't been overlaid, and I'd have been thrown out right in the Hall of Summoning. That would have been fun, I guess, but not for long. Greed worked here, too. Glory, greed and pride, glory forever.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 09:20

What were you doing in the Stone? Lots of things, actually. It wasn't just the summons, as I had originally thought. Yes, they could theoretically do a summoning here, and the late prince was well aware of that, so he tried to get here in order to persuade the then not so old, but already very strong and experienced Ferer to do the ritual. Who knows, maybe the old man would have agreed to such a request if the price had been right? Then the current political situation in Melareth would be very different, perhaps diametrically opposed - an entirely different prince would die, leaving a surviving heir to the kingdom.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 10:52

But the Stone was not intended for summoning, even though one of the few ritualists sat here who could conduct it according to all the rules and had done it more than once. Here they developed new mass rituals, created weapons in case of war, studied realm energy and the process of its processing into conventional energy (it's like nuclear power and a nuclear bomb, only three times cooler), and developed methods of simplifying spatial transfers and creating closed dimensions, created new types of closed fields (the sensory barrier that caused me so many problems was created here), and even tried to create some new legendary artifacts.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 10:53

All this has been documented, recorded, and studied over many, many years. Perhaps the archives of the Stone will save even more than its treasury and vaults, for to ruin so many years of painstaking work would be a great insult to the King. Lethal for those who'd missed our attack and those who couldn't get the archives out. Although the latter is not a fact - the archive itself, as well as the storage of the most valuable artifacts, is located in another spatial pocket, tied directly to the foundation of the Stone. Even if the Mist has gobbled up almost all the magic in the enchanted walls, there's still a chance to open the pocket and get everything-everything out of it. All the more reason to hate the unknown offender who sent saboteurs to visit.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:08

However, the above actions were important, but not the main purpose of the complex. It was the purpose for which the Stone was once created, almost as a gift (forcing everything they could rip off, but still not enough profit) to the then fledgling kingdom, made up of successful adventurers whose leader founded a new dynasty. In fact, taking possession of the Stone, elevated the young kingdom from the category of "rubbish no one would take seriously" to the level of "promising fellows". It was the presence of such a "gift" that allowed Melareth to endure during the most difficult decades when everyone and everything wanted their land and gold. They were simply too afraid to be touched, remembering the purpose of the fortress and, more importantly, who would kick their asses if anything went wrong with the fortress. And so gossip was right that the royal family had at one time taken refuge in the Stone, for that was how it was - they did not risk storming the fortress, giving them time to regroup.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:13

Yeah...

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:13

The King and his entourage will be asked a lot of unpleasant questions about "where you fucked up the property entrusted to you," and he will have nothing to answer except to accuse unknown aggressors. It is not certain that the King will die, for his answer may be deemed worthy, and then Melareth will not be the only one to come looking for us. This brings me back to the thought of the noose clamped around my neck. When they bring in the elite from other countries, there will be a lot of tough bastards per square meter. I don't want to wait an extra day - the sooner we get out of here, the better.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:15

But back to our Heroes, or rather to the question of the utility of the Stone. What were they doing here that was so important, connected with Yoke, and useful not so much to Melareth but their patrons? Pleasing their greed and unwillingness to risk their skins, of course!

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:20

Getting even an epic class at level ten is incredibly difficult, demanding in terms of characteristics, and deadly by definition. Such a thing as the first legendary class is not even worth asking about. It's something that only a handful of people can do. Geniuses among geniuses, true nuggets that in their youth accomplish things that other illustrious champions even in their old age can only dream of. Well, or you will be transplanted that class by ripping it out of someone else.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:22

The ritual of class transplantation itself has been known for a long time, but until the appearance of Yoke was considered a kind of joke, of little use to anyone. The point is that a madman who sacrifices his soul and life must be a volunteer, not just a sacrifice, but also a full-fledged help to his killers, literally pushing them to do the right thing. The slightest doubt, the slightest insecurity, or even just the slightest wish that you stop being hurt and withdrawn will turn into an epic (legendary, mythical) fiasco. Even if some volunteers will agree to this (if his family is promised the moon and he is old and tired of life), he must have balls of steel and incredible stamina to endure such torture and not break the ritual. Few legendary classmates would do such a thing, and forcing them into voluntary self-sacrifice... is fraught with a lot of corpses at best.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:24

But if that sacrifice is a summoned Hero, a victim of Yoke, then the transplant is a success - a guaranteed coolest class, right at the start, and with the opportunity to later enlist the support of family and loyal people... This is the kind of thing they would kill for, without delay or hesitation.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 11:25

And everything would have been as it was, if not for someone's greed and desire to get even more, to snatch not just cool classes, but also those suitable for you specifically, necessary for you, and not for the summoned Hero! That's where Stone worked, as well as others like it, helping a rich daddy get the best for his son so that the poor guy wouldn't risk his skin like some poor schmuck.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 12:02

Follow the thought.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 12:02

There is no manifestation of the essence of the System in reality.

Camrad_RIP 16.09.22 в 17:07

Neither is it among the multitude of realms, whatever they may be.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 15:53

But!

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 15:53

The System is located in a superspace dimension. A realm that is not a realm, but something else, but partially operating by similar mechanisms, operating on remotely similar principles. That is, somewhere in the depths of the Shadow, the distance to Yoke is still as vast as it is in reality, but it is already smaller. It is still not enough for any influence, for it is no chance to catch traces of "Admin Server's realm", but it is already closer, even if by some pathetic step.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 15:56

What if we try to act not just through one realm, but through many of them at once? Make it so that at the moment of Summoning, when Yoke gets as close as ever, to start acting simultaneously in several (not necessarily even all at once) fortresses like Stone. What if we use the realm link, leaning it on the summoning ritual, forcing the Yoke mechanism not just to rewire the summoner's mind, forever leaving a path to his soul, but to make the summoner choose exactly the classes the summoners want?

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 15:58

The task is complicated only if you compare it to the installation of Yoke, and otherwise, this action is many times easier than the previous one. Especially since there was not much to do, and the benefit is obvious.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:09

Stone was not only useful because of her work with Yoke. On the contrary, much of her benefit lay in secondary projects. But at the same time, the very possession of one of the amplifier-transmitters that could set Yoke's algorithm made Melareth "cool". Because Stone alone is not enough to guarantee class selection success, of course. But the Reithnor Kingdom, or the Dawn Forest, or the Seinberg Empire, for that matter, could politely ask Melareth to work as a sounding board for their summoning rituals when the time was right. And not for free!

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:21

In turn, Melareth itself could ask for a similar favor in return, for a fee, of course. Other states have several such places, and the largest hegemons can provide such an appeal on their own, without asking their neighbors for help.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:23

An important point to consider is that not every place is suitable for setting up an installation that can not only steadily use realm energy processing, but also run a sort of probe-transmitter deeper into the realm, to start signaling to Yoke to do the right thing. That's why they gave the Stone to such simpletons as the founders of Melareth were. Too far, and it would take too much effort to capture that wretched kingdom, and too much effort to hold territory. And here at once you'll get a loyal debtor, and nail his neighbors (which, or whose patrons, and you are not your friends), and expand the network.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:30

A kind of radio tower, creating normal coverage for "Yoke-Alurei mobile communication". With each new fortress, the summoning of Heroes is more successful, the Heroes themselves increasingly choose the right classes, and subjugation is almost always imposed, rather than one of three as in the very first decades after the Yoke appeared. The stronger the coverage, the rarer the disruption, the easier and cheaper it will be to summon and then hopefully the cherished dream of Ferer will come true: to open the way to the Hall of Choice themselves, starting not to summon Heroes, but to make them themselves. From the first levels and straight into the Chosen Ones! What do you think?

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:36

In general, the pipe dream of the locals is very clear, may well be considered Great, thoroughly pragmatic, and quite amoral - just like on Mother Earth, only without the Internet. Power over the world beckons many, and the one who treads the path to the Hall of Choice first has all chances to become the lord of the world without any tricks: send your son or daughter inside and come back a first-level Chosen One with five mythical classes and an artifact on top. And everyone understands that the first one will get the cream of the crop, but they continue to work on this topic, continue to strengthen the network, or even the Network, make alliances, and share the pelt of the unkilled bear.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:39

Well, yes, unlike Earth's space program, everyone here firmly knows that such a cool thing is possible, knows how to achieve it, and has full confidence that competitors are already working on it. Once again drawing an analogy with Earth, it's some kind of mix of nuclear, space, and whatever the hell else programs has continued to be explored for centuries and even millennia.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:40

Naturally, everyone is well aware that a breakthrough will not happen in their lifetime, but here, attention, another thing is important. If it were just another useless theory, the profit from which will be only in the distant future, in a hundred thousand and five hundred years, then the attitude would be appropriate. At most, the budget would be sawed off on this case, but certainly not much effort. But even without the long-term prospects, the creation of "communication towers" is still useful as hell! Just can not tell you how useful it is! Huge amounts of energy poured into the accumulators and then sent to strengthen the stationary protective fields, combat artifacts, or protect the home hut with honestly stolen stuff. New research, new artifacts, and even new classes were obtained by those who worked too long and diligently with realm energy (there are a couple of families in Melareth working closely with the Mist, and I even know what they are doing now). And the ability to dictate their will to those who do not and will not have such towers.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:45

Diversions like ours are, in fact, very rare, but they are by no means new - the attitude toward such pranks is similar to that toward nuclear terrorists, and yet such situations have happened before. True, more often research laboratories that had just been built were destroyed. They say these petty little guys are too cheeky, let's tame them, instead of giving them a nuclear cudgel.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:46

I say it again.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:46

These fortresses are not built primarily for communication with Yoke, but for other benefits, the deprivation of which would hit the kingdom just as hard. And the suspects will not be those who want to destroy Yoke, but those who want to undermine Melareth's economic, scientific, and military base. Thanks, guys, that makes me feel a little better.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:47

Now, dear audience, the trillion-dollar question: is there any way to use the connection you have with Yarm not to sneak into the Hall of Invocation and become almighty like God, not to summon a big-breasted blonde in the rank of Chosen One, but to trivially take and kick off a super-complex and unfuckingly delicate magic-system fuck, incapacitating it from fucking use?

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:48

It's just out of pure curiosity that I'm interested, without any double interpretations.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:49

I'm nice, kind and sweet, believe me.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:50

The silence was complete, with only the sound of frogs croaking somewhere in the distance. Ygra, lulled by my long and detailed story, sleeps sweetly, curled up somewhere behind me. The others do not sleep, but only blink their eyes in silence, disconcerted beyond all measure, or, to put it more simply, all of them are quite fucked by the scale of the problem posed. Hestia doesn't blink, but only because she has no eyes, so she's just as stunned as the others.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:51

The woman had the foresight to keep her mist up, not to lower it toward us, so that God forbid something should happen. I was, of course, very convincing when I told her that I wouldn't be affected by her ability, or if I was, it would take a while to get through, and it would be noticeable. I wasn't so sure of my invulnerability, though. I didn't say anything or even hint at anything, but Raimel herself didn't want to risk my companions if not me. I suspect she just doesn't know yet what her ability and side effects are, so she doesn't risk testing her control.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:53

The others, if they'd been worried about it before, now forgot about the mist and its dangers all at once and for a long time. What I'd said had clearly caused their brains to go into reboot. It's just that before, of course, they were aware of the need to go out against the world. But now, after they could appreciate the magnitude of the effort that went into creating Yoke, to know how many Gods had their hands in it, how many Nations and Guilds had worked together, how much money had been spent to achieve the goal... Anyone here would feel like a pathetic little grain of sand, lost in the gears of a well-adjusted and enormous mechanism that would shred a dozen boulders into rubble, not to mention a grain of sand, which it would chew up and not notice at all.

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:56

"Well, what are we going to do?" Hans, returning to his usual expression. "Where to go and who to kick ass?"

Camrad_RIP 05.10.22 в 16:57