История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Интерлюдия - 1.2

Four days, every month, from sunrise to sunset, the doors of the Petitioner's Reception Hall opened in the capital palace of the ruler of the eastern lands, starting from the Rising Shores and stretching to the borders with the steppes. In those days, anyone who wished could address the mighty Overlord with a request, and tell him of his troubles or aspirations. It did not mean that the petitioner's problem would be solved immediately. But the fact that it would be heard by the lord himself was strictly monitored. And first of all, the ruler.

Camrad_RIP 26.09.24 в 11:16

But you had to get to the reception first. In theory, any applicant could be admitted. But in reality, it was not easy to get to the reception. This was because there were a lot of applicants, and the time was only from sunrise to sunset, four days a month. So a few dozen employees worked to weed out most of the applicants, redirecting them with their questions to lower-ranking managers. After all shouldn't the lord of a vast country personally handle the issue of Xing Liao Village not being able to fix the bridge over the river for the third year? But to prevent these employees from becoming an obstacle, completely cutting off the way of ordinary people to the ruler, they were constantly assigned priests and paladins of the Guardian of Oaths, acting as arbitrators. They were also involved in checking the appeals to make sure they were not groundless.

Camrad_RIP 26.09.24 в 11:17

At the appointed hour, when the first rays of the sun appeared on the horizon, the doors to the reception hall opened and the first three visitors entered. The first, a little ahead of him, was a slant-sided man of age, with a shaved head, wearing strict light gray monk's robes, with a steel chain around his neck, one of the links of which was clenched in a steel fist. On his right, just behind him, was a similarly slanted man, in simple but carefully cleaned clothes, with a black tanned face and hands. On his left was an officer of the Capital Guard, in immaculately polished armor, but unarmored.

Camrad_RIP 26.09.24 в 11:18

The trio walked down the long hall and stopped at the opposite side of the entrance, where the steps began to rise steeply upward. A dozen scribes, with all the necessary supplies, sat at small tables at the edges of the steps. On each of the steps stood several officials strictly according to the importance of their positions. And so up to the penultimate step, on which no one stood. The ascent ended with a platform where a middle-aged man sat on a huge throne richly decorated with gold. His robes were made of red silk and heavily decorated with gold. His long dark hair was gathered into a powerful ponytail and carefully combed. It was impossible to read any emotion on the rigid and strong-willed face of a man accustomed to command. His dark slanted eyes watched the approaching visitors. When they reached the line at the foot of the throne where the steps began and knelt and bowed their heads, the man made a barely perceptible gesture with his hand.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 08:37

Standing on the third step from the top, a high-ranking official in bright yellow silk robes with splashes of red said in a loud and clear voice:

Camrad_RIP 22.09.24 в 13:25

"Stand up, petitioners. You are allowed to speak."

Camrad_RIP 22.09.24 в 13:25

The visitors rose to their feet, after which the Oath Keeper's servant, looking up at the man sitting on the throne, said:

Camrad_RIP 22.09.24 в 13:26

“I have made a thorough examination of the appeal of the village chief of Un-Liao Village, the Honorable Yun-Hin,” the black-tanned man immediately bowed again, ”regarding the incident in the city of Yu-Liao. The honorable Wushu,” the Guard officer performed a bow, ”witnessed my work. My investigation has determined that Viceroy Lio Xian has repeatedly violated the mandate given to him for his gain. He collected far more taxes from the villagers under his authority, including Un-Liao, than the mandate dictated. For this purpose, he and his subordinates used numerous extortions, applying them for a variety of, even frankly far-fetched reasons. Also, Viceroy Lio Xian had collected a full tax two years ago despite a poor harvest. However, a reduced tax was sent to the Capital as the mandate dictated in case of crop failure. The difference was appropriate to them. Besides this, I and my honorable companions have ascertained other irregularities in the province entrusted to him, of which he, as viceroy, could not fail to be aware. The most frequent of these are bribery and embezzlement. Here are full lists of what we have been able to ascertain, certified on my lord's altar.”

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 08:40

When he had finished speaking, the Damokar servant handed the sealed scroll to the courtier at the top of the stairs, dressed as a middle-ranking official. He opened the seal and unfolded it, revealing a fist clutching a chain link glowing over the smooth lines of text. The man sitting on the throne faintly turned to one of the higher-ranking officials three steps below the throne. The man nodded faintly with his chin. Turning to the Damokar servant and his companions, the man looked at them for a few seconds, then glanced at the wall above the entrance to the Petitioner Reception Hall.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 08:53

There was a single inscription written in bright red large hieroglyphics: “When those who live in Palaces and Heaven stop answering people's prayers, they start receiving answers from below." The inconceivably sacrilegious inscription was ordered by the founder of the current dynasty of rulers of the Eastern Lands when the new Capital was built and with it the new palace of the ruler. So that his descendants would remember why the new capital had to be built and what led to it.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 08:55

The last ruling dynasty was a powerful clan of gifted ones who persistently and very successfully cultivated the gift of magic. The result of many generations of effort was the rise to power of a very powerful gifted one. In the Western lands, he would be called an archmage. Over the many years of his reign, he concentrated great power in his hands, expanded the borders of his realm, and bestowed upon himself a great many titles. Lord of the Rising, Eternal Ruler, Lightning of the God - the full list took up more than one scroll. In addition to the lands along the Rising Shores, his power stretched all along the southern coast, all the way to the edge of the Forest. It encompassed the lands beyond the warm southern seas. And even managed to gain a foothold in the desolate lands beyond the Sunrise, which had only been rumored before. In order to effectively control such vast territories, he created an entire network of portals that connected the many cities of his power. It allowed one to cross half the world in a matter of moments.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 09:12

His troops had successfully repulsed a Horde of green-skinned barbarians and their wretched henchmen. The savages were saved from the wrath of the Lord of the Rising neither by the bribed inhabitants of the immaterial world, nor by bred monsters, nor by the help of the God who is always thirsty for bloody battles. Having broken their backs in a brutal war, and ruined many of their camps and a couple of cities, he not only eliminated the threat of raids from their side for a long time but did the unthinkable - brought the steppes to submission.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 09:29

Countless ships of his fleet had combed the surrounding seas with a fine sieve, hunted down and destroyed all the flotillas of pirates, some of whom proudly called themselves rulers of the seas. Their bases were either consigned to the flames or captured and turned into outposts of his will. In this way, he secured navigation in all the southern and eastern seas. The rulers of both near and far reckoned with his will, sending numerous gifts to his court. Gold, silver, precious stones, overseas fabrics, noble wood, outlandish animals - everything was impossible to count. A separate item was slaves for the palace of the ruler. The most outstanding beauties were brought to him from all corners of the world. Even the arrogant elves, despite their arrogance and hubris, regularly sent rich gifts to the court of the Lord of the Rising. And in some of the surviving chronicles of that era, there were even hints that the firstborn also sent their maidens to the bed of the Lord of the Rising. Albeit secretly, but still, they sent them, overcoming their legendary pride. And it was maidens, not barren old women with young bodies who had lived for millennia. In any case, the fact that there were several firstborns in the harem of the Lord of the Rising, as well as the absence of any official claims about it on the part of the messengers of the Forest, was beyond doubt.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 09:31

The capital of the Eternal Ruler's vast power, where untold riches flowed in an equally huge river, was a match for it. The giant-sized city was built by the best craftsmen, strictly according to the plan, planning everything for years in advance. If necessary, hills were leveled ravines were filled in, swamps were drained and rivers were turned back. All streets and houses were laid out neatly and evenly, forming craft, trade, temple, educational, and residential neighborhoods. The capital was populated by hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, some documents say as many as a million inhabitants at its peak. In the center of this incredible in its size city was the palace complex of the Eternal Ruler, in fact, a city within a city. A place where everything was available for his pleasure. A separate palace for only a few hundred select concubines and their children. A theater complex of incredible size. An arena for all kinds of competitions and battles. A huge garden with the rarest and most beautiful plants from distant lands. The slightest wish of the Lord of the Sunrise was fulfilled even before it was voiced.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 09:37

It was the golden age of the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun, for at every moment, over one of its provinces, it either shone, rose, or faded. But though it was long, it was by no means eternal. As the years passed, the ruler of the great power took less and less interest in the affairs of his lands. He left his palace less and less often. At some point, he ceased to be interested in anything but the most exquisite entertainment and the receipt of gifts in due time and in due volume. Countless nobles and equally countless officials throughout the empire felt more and more power and less and less responsibility. The power in the vast country was in fact in the hands of the ruler's advisors, whose main real duty was only to satisfy the whims of their lord. They issued laws, appointed or replaced viceroys, and most importantly, collected taxes. The hundreds of children of the Lord of the Rising from countless concubines also played their part. Many of them, especially the daughters, became inbred with noble aristocratic families, most notably the most powerful nobles.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 09:58

In the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun, unprecedented corruption flourished. The appetites of the imperial nobility were constantly growing. In order to satisfy them, new taxes, fees, and duties were imposed, and countless laws were written, hand in hand with which came new and new fines. More and more gifts were demanded from the neighbors, of which at best a third reached the palace of the ruler. It is not to say that no one tried to bring the news to the Lord of the Rising. But it quickly became so that the doors of his palace city opened only to those willing to be let in by the highest nobles. And they made sure that their lord heard only what he wanted to hear and what they wanted to tell him. Many of them, especially those related to his children and grandchildren, had built themselves huge palaces that were as luxurious as the dwelling of the Lord of the Sunrise, even if they were smaller than it. They spent more than their lord spent on their pleasures and whims.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 10:02

All this placed a monstrous burden on the shoulders of the common people. The maintenance of a huge army, a navy, a gigantic bureaucracy, roads, bridges, dams, intercontinental and intercity portals - all this required unimaginable funds. Yes, a natural river of taxes and gifts from neighbors flowed into the treasury. But many times more flowed out. Single attempts of indignation on the part of the common people were firmly suppressed. And what could even a hundred peasants do against one full-fledged Master of Magic? Even a thousand of them could do little against a true Magister of Magic, except scatter in terror.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 10:02

Seeing the utter contempt of officials at all levels, the common people tried to call out to the patron of the Never-Setting Sun Empire, Lord Thunder. But the celestial and his servants were as deaf to their prayers as the countless officials. Huge temples built in his honor that looked more like palaces, and regular sacrifices, including living ones, more than satisfied the Thunder Lord. His priests participated in the general corruption as if they were no more active than the aristocrats. And in suppressing hopeless rebellions. At some point, after another act of intimidation, the revolts of desperate peasants and low-level craftsmen suddenly declined and then stopped altogether. Those in power were satisfied and continued to pull the juices from their subjects with almost triple force. But it turned out to be the calm before the storm.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 10:16

Because a contagion was spreading rapidly through the lands of the Lord of the Rising. A terrible, deadly plague, but invisible. People's prayers were not unanswered. But they were heard not in Heaven, not in the palaces of nobles, but in the Hells. And there was a cult, in the glory of one of the Lady of Hell, who chose her vice Greed. Demons were incredibly cunning, cautious, and patient even by the standards of the inhabitants of Inferno. Going, at first glance, contrary to their nature, they helped ordinary people almost without asking for payment or demanding frankly ridiculous. But only because they were planning to charge many times more in the future.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 11:18

Their main targets in the first stages were officials of low and middle ranks. Village chiefs, provincial tax collectors, and lower-ranking judges. Those whom the common people encountered constantly, and who most of all poisoned their lives. For absolutely insignificant fees by their standards, the infernal messengers did the unimaginable: they fought against their own, native vice in the hearts and souls of people! By processing and taking under control the lower and part of the middle performers, they tamed their Greed and reduced their appetites. Yes, all levies continued to pour upwards in full, but even the fact that the lower and middle ranks of officials stopped drinking people's blood and began to be satisfied with only what they were entitled to, made the life of ordinary people much easier. And attracted more and more supporters to the cult.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:25

In the second stage, when the cult had gained a solid foothold at the grassroots level, they began to take over the gambling houses, of which there were plenty in the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun, especially in the big cities. After all, Greed and Gambling so often go hand in hand. Having managed to infiltrate some of the gambling houses, the cultists moved on to the next stage. The total corruption in the Empire was not just for the demons and their minions, it was sweeter than the mana of heaven. Greed was consumed by hundreds, if not thousands of people and non-humans. Officials, managers of crafts, trade, and magic guilds, younger children of noble families, and low-ranking and middle-ranking officers in the army fell into their net one by one. Those who were strong and powerful enough were allowed to win large sums of money, only to be enchanted by the cursed gold, whose luster made them want more, more and more until the victim was completely consumed by Greed.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:26

The weak according to the classical scheme was given a chance to win once and then driven into debts that were impossible to pay off. And at that point, they'd get a tempting offer. So the cult ran its tentacles into the middle ranks of the imperial nobility and officialdom. And through them, the cult and its patrons reached the lower ranks of the top. Provincial town governors, garrison commanders, and even governors of entire provinces fell under their influence.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:28

Soon there was probably not a single town that did not have at least one cell of the cult. And some villages in their entirety fell under their influence! But the demons were in no hurry, acting incredibly systematic and cautious, all efforts to hide traces of influence Inferno among their puppets. Sometimes even purposely crushed them, in favor of secrecy. The rapid spread of the cult was aggravated by the fact that there were plenty of those who WILLINGLY began to help the Infernal brats. Even without an agreement, without a contract, it was often enough to promise to take revenge on the oppressors. Cultists are very active in this field, leading their propaganda, and demons are very willing to use such untainted servants.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:41

It cannot be said that everything went smoothly for them. There had been failures, and more than one or two cult cells had even been exposed and destroyed. But every time, they almost immediately control the damage, sacrificing little and cleverly covering their tracks. In the surviving archives of that era managed to find cases where exposed cells of the same demonic cult of the city governors or entire governors of the viceroys
of the provinces were left alone... for a bribe. For a trivial bribe! The activities of some active cultists had been known about for several years, but they have simply turned a blind eye for a generous fee. And it would have been fine if those who did it were already under their influence or fully corrupted. So no, then established several cases where there was no direct influence of demons. Only their own, not at all infernal greed, stupidity, and lust. Yes, hellspawn paid not only in gold, but also seduced, or vice versa, pure virgins. Or young men.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:43

Those who noticed something was seriously wrong in the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun and tried to sound the alarm were either quickly eliminated, led astray, or lured to their side. The widespread spread of the cult swept across the vast country took only ten years. Ten years! And then came the black day that ended the reign of the Ruler, who was far from being eternal, and his vast empire. On the fateful day, at the same moment, in all cities and very many villages, the cult struck. The demons struck as they were best able to do. Suddenly, crushingly and meanly. Hit where it was necessary because, in some cities and provinces, they did not even have to hit thick. Everyone who needed to be hit had already been treated by the cult. Or their immediate surroundings had been treated. Not the smallest cities, with all their arsenals, artifacts, materials, and other supplies, literally fell into the hands of the cultists and their patrons. After that, the direct invasion from Inferno began.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:45

Instantly, a monstrous chaos reigned in the entire huge power. No one understood in the first, most important hours, what was happening, what to do, where to run to! The pride of the Lord of the Rising, the network of portals he had created was either partially blocked or at the mercy of the cultists. Either way, communication between cities and provinces had been cut. Oh yes, they tried to fight back, and somewhere it even partially succeeded. The priests and ministers of the Thunder Lord were the most desperate, but they were the priority targets for the first strikes. As a result, many of the temples that could have become pockets of defense were beheaded in the first moments. But even where the demons were not able to win an instant victory, for every success of the defenders there were three failures, and that was in the best case.

Camrad_RIP 29.09.24 в 12:46

And not even so much because the demons were so strong, although that was also the reason. But because, to the great amazement of many of those in power, on their side was a large part of ordinary people at all levels. Not that they did not resist them, but helped them in every way possible, opening doors and gates to the cultists, and stabbing the defenders in the back. Making an already nightmarish situation worse were the huge stationary portals that the cultists had managed to seize. As it turned out, they could be reconfigured. As a result, the demons were able to directly transfer troops directly from Inferno. And there to chase in droves the least useful captured, stupefied, and defamed mortals. The scale of the disaster that paralyzed the vast Empire was unimaginable. The Celestials were the first to really sound the alarm, and they were also the first to realize a very unpleasant fact.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 17:18

There were very few serious temples in the land of the Lord of the Rising, aside from those belonging to the Thunder Lord. This deprived the other celestials and their messengers of a foothold. The Lightning Lord himself, in addition, had long relied on regular sacrifices as a quicker way to gain power, rather than a steady stream of faith from his flock. He had long ago ignored the prayers of ordinary citizens. And on that fateful day, it turned out that the celestial certainly had a lot of power. And he rained down a lot of lightning on the invasion troops. But it turned out that they needed even more, and they needed them literally everywhere! Quickly and in the necessary volume to replenish reserves is not possible, because bringing new sacrifices and conducting the right rituals is not a normal opportunity. Yes, and temples somehow suddenly became noticeably less. But the demons of these very forces turned out to be just obscenely much. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of voluntary contracts with them gave them a lot. To this should be added and almost immediately began ritual sacrifices and countless other preparations for the invasion. Together, this gave the Infernal freaks so much that they not only repelled the first attack of the incarnate celestial and his messengers but launched a successful counterattack. Personally incarnated in the world of mortals, the Lady of Hell personally guided and supported her servants in battle. And she turned out to be unbelievably strong.

Camrad_RIP 01.10.24 в 20:36

Having spent a lot of his own reserves of power and accumulated in the temple altars, the Lord of Thunder, along with his thinned retinue, though he had a lot of trouble with the demons, but had to retreat and concentrate on holding the main temples of the capital. At the same time began to urgently call for help from colleagues, promising anything, up to the cession of part of the flock, temples, cities, provinces, and anything, but soon!!!! The first to respond was the Eternal Warrior, but even he and his messengers were unable to turn the tide. Because the damned demons did not sit idly by. Infernal creatures did not massacre everywhere or hastily steal prisoners through captured portals. In all the cities that they managed to take control with little or no bloodshed, they began to organize spectacular executions, combining them with ritual sacrifices. In the city squares, the crowd gathered, and in front of their eyes, yesterday's masters of their lives were sent to the knife. Aristocrats, officials of all kinds, the highest hierarchs of the major guilds, captured servants of the Lightning Lord. All those who were hated by the common people were publicly subjected to painful death by ritual sacrifice. Often along with their captured families and immediate families.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 17:21

And many common people rejoiced at the sight of this, from their point of view, the triumph of justice. The others were quickly helped to dispel their doubts. And the messengers of the Infernal Lady only fueled their jubilation. Their sweet speeches, full of poison, flowed directly into the souls of humans and nonhumans. They promised them the fulfillment of all their wishes, their deepest dreams, to give them everything the rich had unjustly taken from them. And in many places, they immediately began to do it, literally throwing gold and silver to the crowd, igniting in the hearts of people so dear to them Greed. But most importantly, they promised them vengeance and justice. And what is most terrible, they also partially gave it to them, right in front of their eyes, subjecting the most hated, pre-selected officials, judges, and tax collectors to agonizing death. And this was indeed deadly dangerous, even for the heavenly-minded people who had already become alarmed. For it was no longer souls flowed to the Lady of Hell, though she and her henchmen had gotten them without number on that fateful day. Faith flowed to her. And the worst thing is that the faith was sincere or almost sincere. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people shouted her name in delight in the squares when another former torturer was sent to slaughter.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 17:24

The situation began to take a catastrophic turn. It was only on the second day of the invasion that the Celestials managed to start a large-scale transfer of troops from all inhabited lands. They pulled in everyone they could: steppes, green-skinned people, people from the far west and far south, northerners, lizards, even elves, and some dragons came to fight. But the demons hadn't been sitting idle all this time either. Using the same captured portals, they had brought all their forces to the Capital. The Lady of Hell did not bring her entire domain into the real world. It would have cost her a monstrous amount of money. If literally every city did not have one, or even several altar-anchors that lightened the burden of being in the real world for her and her demons. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of captured prisoners were moved to the Inferno, directly into her domain, strengthening the invasion forces beyond measure. But most importantly, they had managed to move everyone they could from among the antebellum commoners directly into the Capital. And by the end of the second day, it had fallen.

Camrad_RIP 02.10.24 в 05:18

The total decay at the top of the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun had reached such proportions that the demons had managed to pull off the seemingly unthinkable. For several hours AFTER the invasion began, the palace complex of the Lord of the Rising had NO KNOWLEDGE of what had happened. The supporters of the cult, both vilified and voluntary, had banally cut off the entire palace complex from the outside world, closing the gates and shutting down all communication channels. And when they found out what was happening in the country, it was too late for many. Yes, the Lord of the Rising was also a great power in his own right, especially in his palace. But he suddenly found himself essentially alone, and there were many enemies. Yes, even alone in his abode, the archmage could have given the invading army a serious fight. If they hadn't known too well what to expect from him. If they hadn't prepared for it in advance. And if they didn't have infiltrators inside the palace complex. That's a lot of IFs.

Camrad_RIP 02.10.24 в 07:27

The outskirts were the first to fall, many districts without a fight. Following them, one after another, the quarters of the middle belt were captured. Moreover, the residents of some, and this was also recorded in the archives, voluntarily and en masse went over to the cultists' side when they realized what was happening. In some places, persuasion was required, seasoned with a dose of vice. In some places, only promises of a painful execution of the most hated representatives of the imperial nobility were enough. And in some places, even this was not necessary, since everyone was already on the side of the cult.

Camrad_RIP 02.10.24 в 07:28

Yes, the demons had been thwarted. Yes, they were hit with the most terrible weapons, sweeping away entire streets and even neighborhoods. But, first, the Lady of Hell also had something to say, both in terms of direct power, sweeping away the defenses of pockets of resistance. And in terms of the power of her vice. Too, too many had been exposed to Greed in the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun. Some were so consumed by it that they would do anything when they heard the clinking of coins and saw their gleam. Even if they could only see the wealth they were promised in their minds, in reality, they sold themselves for symbolic copper pennies. And secondly, every blow to the capital still played into its hands. Because it was, in effect, a blow to its own. Even, if they weren't quite their own, thirdly, the demons were constantly receiving reinforcements. The cultists were constantly carrying out ritual executions. The defamed or voluntarily joined ordinary people were generously lavished with borrowed power, formed into assault squads, or rather assault mobs, and sent to the most dangerous areas. As a result, at some point, the invaders had literally endless supplies of forces and reserves.

Camrad_RIP 02.10.24 в 05:16

The first of the key nodes of the Capital's defense was the First Temple of the Thunder Lord, who was desperate enough to fight the Infernal Lady in a direct battle. He was unable to defeat her, nor was he able to hold the walls of his main abode, and eventually fled the Capital with the remnants of his retinue never to return. Such a monstrous blow, the loss of so many temples, and most importantly, the lack of an influx of faith - all this led to his Fall in the shortest possible time, and then to oblivion. In many ways, the outcome of that battle, as we learned later, was decided by the flood of faith that flowed to the Infernal Lord. It gave her a literally inexhaustible reserve of strength, allowing her not to save them and to respond to every blow of the enemy with two of her own. The palace complex of the Lord of the Rising lasted longer, largely due to its size. But after the cultists attacked the inner gate leading to the ruler's personal palace in order to open it, it was a foregone conclusion. No, they failed to take the gate, but while they were distracted, another group of fellow demons managed to break their masters a direct portal to the inner chambers of the palace. And that's where the select servants of the Lady of Inferno poured in.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 17:46

It was the hardest blow to the coalition that had been hastily assembled under the patronage of literally all the Ascended Gods and some of the Ancients. Huge accumulated wealth, powerful artifacts, and most importantly sources of magic that were in the Palace - all this fell into the hands of demons. And hastily either put in line or sent to her domain. The doomed Lord of the East took his own life, literally letting his soul go to form the final killing blow. He thinned out the Infernal Lady's retinue but didn't even wound her. However, a lost battle did not mean a lost war. Everyone understood that. The coalition was pulling its forces to the captured Capital, taking it under siege. Troops under the aegis of the Eternal Warrior and his heralds one by one swiftly cleansed the captured cities, marching along the southern coast towards the Rising Shores. Much of the reason this was happening so quickly was because the cultists and their masters weren't clinging to them. Using the portals, they either retreated to Hell or the Capital. The cities beyond the southern seas were the very first to be abandoned. As a result, on the third day of the invasion, the troops of the huge coalition were already on the outskirts of the captured city. Everyone was preparing for a hard battle. Many expected that the Lady of Hell, who had managed to cling to the material world, was at this very moment negotiating with her kin for help in order to organize a joint full-scale invasion. But the plan of the infernal spawn turned out to be much more insidious.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 17:12

She didn't give battle, punching a prearranged direct route to her domain and leaving with a huge booty. But not all of it, though it would have been better if she had taken everyone in the fallen city with her. Yes, many mortal souls she had defamed and taken. A great many. But there were just as many who had been touched only lightly by her vice. And so she let them go. And not just let go, but arranged it quite cleverly. Demons made a whole spectacle, as if part of the city was still resisting, and these pockets of resistance went to the breakthrough when the backup came. Then no one knew the true state of affairs in the fallen city. Yes, those who had been rescued were checked cursorily, and the Heralds of the Celestials saw that they were almost unaffected by the vice. And they were hurriedly sent to the rear, away from the looming battle. The creature helped those who were too obviously affected by the vice or had been in the cult for a long time to escape from the captured city utilizing portals, not only stationary but also small ones.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 17:13

It was unthinkable that demons would willingly let go of THAT many victims. It was against their very essence! But the damn thing had calculated it well. The mortals were released for a reason. Each one of them took with them a simple truth. If the gods do not hear you. If your rulers don't care about your fate or your sorrows. You know who to turn to and how to turn. You know who will hear your prayers. You know who will always answer them. When the scale of the problem became clear, it was too late. The contagion along with hundreds of thousands of refugees had spread far and deep. First and foremost, in the minds of mortals. By sacrificing a little, the Infernal Overlady had gained many times more. Instead of receiving a large number of seduced souls, she received a terribly stable and constant inflow of them.

Camrad_RIP 26.09.24 в 10:33

The hasty attempts to start immediately burning out the heresy with fire had only backfired. Too many saw that the creature had kept its promise, putting a fair number of those in power to a painful death. Too many remained, as they later found out, unopened cult cells. And too many now knew how and to whom they could appeal. And those who did not know, they were told. Seeds of sweet lies of demons fell on too fertile soil, rapidly sprouting and deadly poisonous fruit. Trying to fight the demonic contagion adherents of the cult skillfully exposed as chain dog celestials and their earthly henchmen that want to drive ordinary people under their yoke again. Their own Infernal Overlady they exhibited as the only savior that not a word but a deed answers the prayers of ordinary mortals.

Camrad_RIP 26.09.24 в 10:34

In a chaos-ridden Empire, in a situation of almost total anarchy and lawlessness, recruits were once again pouring into the ranks of the cult. And this was happening not only in the ruins of the Empire of the Never-Setting Sun but also far beyond its borders. For there were very few places where the common people lived well and free. And the damned creatures, taking advantage of the total confusion, as well as the sleeping possessed left behind, took full advantage of it. They organized several demonstrative eliminations of the most ardent fighters against heresy, as well as of the surviving power holders, among the most hated. The slogan: “Heaven and Palaces do not hear? SHE will hear!” took on a truly monstrous scale. Shouts and sermons about the common people paying for the deaths of their oppressors with their deaths did not stop anyone. Because the hated creature defiantly left some of those who turned to her for help practically uncorrupted! So that they could attract more and more followers by their example.

Camrad_RIP 26.09.24 в 10:38

In some places, it came to the point where they began to organize secret but full-fledged temples to it! TEMPLES! To the Infernal Lady! And the insidious creature began to collect payment not only in souls but also in faith! The first to sound the alarm was the same celestials, especially the Oath Keeper. They realized that the ground naturally began to go from under their feet, and there was a risk of another full-scale invasion of demons. So, it was urgent to knock the ground out from under the feet of the cult. For this reason, under pressure from the celestials and the most prudent gifted mortals with the greatest personal power, the survivors or the new rulers of the collapsed state went to measures unthinkable during the reign of the Lord of the Rising.

Camrad_RIP 03.10.24 в 11:39

Many taxes and taxes were abolished. Huge debts on them were forgiven. In general, almost all debts were forgiven involuntarily, as many of them were the work of demonic hands. Dozens of the most draconian laws were abolished. New ones were passed, protecting and guaranteeing the rights of peasant communities and junior workers in the city's craft shops. A massive redistribution of arable land was carried out, and there was now plenty of it. A few of the most hated officials of the middle and upper levels of the government, which were not too many of them left alive, were publicly tried and executed under the auspices of the Oath Keeper. Under his auspices, amnesty and forgiveness were granted to members of the cult who had not had time to tarnish themselves, after public repentance in the temples. A reward was announced for information on current cult members and their accomplices. A real struggle for the minds and, no less importantly, souls of the people began.

Camrad_RIP 03.10.24 в 11:41

It bore fruit. Not immediately, but gradually, the cult was largely suppressed. But the damned creatures did not give up without a fight, sowing the seeds of their lies wherever they could. And they bore their poisonous fruit. Despite all efforts. Despite their best efforts. People stubbornly remembered who they could turn to if they were no longer heard in the Heavens and Palaces. And so, the representatives of the new ruling dynasty that managed to take power into their own hands and restore order on the part of the earth devastated by the infernal invasion, had to constantly make sure that the subjects were not tempted to commit such a stupid thing as turning to the demons. And for that, it was necessary, first of all, not to give them reasons to do so. Or at least too many reasons. Even if it meant going through certain difficulties.

Camrad_RIP 03.10.24 в 11:45

He warned Lio Xian's family. He warned him too. He told him to curb his appetite. But no, it had to be to the point where there were idiots in this small village who would sell their souls to the infernal beasts. If only they would help them to get even with the hated top of a small provincial town. As a result, the Mayor, Judge, Tax Collector, and Chief Clerk died a painful death. The townspeople found their desiccated corpses hanging over the gates of the town hall and on its gates, the same ineradicable, red-hot slogan: **“Heaven and Palaces do not hear? SHE will!” The fact that some of the idiots who turned to Inferno's creatures for help paid for it with their postmortem and turned into the same dry corpses was not written about.

Camrad_RIP 03.10.24 в 11:47

Eventually, the Palace heard. Belatedly, but it did. An inspection had been made, involving the priests and paladins of the Keeper of the Oaths. And now the results had to be demonstrated to the subjects. So as not to put more trump cards in the hands of the unstoppable infernal spawn. Turning to one of the counselors standing on the third step from the top, the man sitting on the throne nodded briefly. The nobleman in bright yellow with red flecks bowed deeply and signaled to one of the scribes sitting at a table at the foot of the steps. He understood instantly. In less than thirty heartbeats the scroll with the sentence was sealed with the ruler's seal and tied with a red silk cord. Then it was handed to the waiting priest of the Oath Keeper, and he and his two companions left the Petitioner's Reception Hall, bowing deeply. As they left, one of the counselors clutched the binding amulet that hung on his chest. He turned to his lord, he heeded the mental call. After receiving permission to speak, the counselor said:

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 16:16

"We have just received news from the Forest, lord. The elves request a direct conversation with you. They say it is very urgent."

Camrad_RIP 22.09.24 в 13:21

* * *

Camrad_RIP 22.09.24 в 09:13

A long line of horsemen, wagons, and carts loaded with everything they could carry stretched northward across what seemed like a vast sea of grass on the steppe. Some carts carried everything necessary to live on the steppe, from cauldrons to camping tents. Another part of the carts was loaded to the top with various goods. And some carts were pulled by non-mighty horses, bred by skillful masters of beasts. The heaviest ones were pulled by huge northern mumaks, which differed from their southern relatives by their thick brown fur and more steeply curved tusks. At the head of this huge line of riders, wagons, and carts, riding a mighty warg, as big as a warhorse, was a huge orc. He wore expensive, shining-in-the-sun armor, the work of the best human craftsmen, and in a luxurious cape of snow pard skin. His closest retinue, also in expensive armor and capes made of furs of mighty beasts, rode a little behind, on horses, albeit on war horses, but still. Because only a very rich chieftain could afford a real warg. It was not easy to feed a fierce beast, it needed a lot of meat. Also, it was necessary to have great strength and a steady hand to tame the ferocious predator. And Khorbrand, the Great Chief, possessed everything necessary for this.

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 16:19

With his own hand, he joined one medium-sized tribe of orcs and two small tribes of slanted steppe men to the Horde created by his grandfather. And that in total gave him more than seven thousand blades that could be put in formation at once. Nearly nine hundred of them were skillful warriors, not young boys who had barely grown fangs. Not counting the several large packs of excellent wargs and the three graugas bred by the monster tamers. All this made him one of the strongest chieftains in the vast steppe. A Great Chief. He commanded vast lands in the heart of the green sea that fed herds of horses and mumaks. Two dozen cities of soft-bodied humans that spread along the shores of the warm southern sea from the Forest to the Rising Edge recognize and respect his power. Even the arrogant elves and the equally arrogant Shaanese send him their gifts, so long as his warriors do not cross their borders with naked blades. Some of the Eternal Warrior's zealots would be bloody frothy from such a thing. But that's why the Great Chief is Great. He thinks of more than just battles. Why shed the blood of his warriors when the soft-bodied humans are willing to reward him generously?

Camrad_RIP 30.09.24 в 16:21

This year's gift-raising campaign has been particularly rich and successful. The carts and wagons are literally bursting with the weight of abundant gifts. It is time to return to Uruk-Khaar, one of the few true cities of the steppe people, who used to live permanently nomadic. It is situated on the shores of one of the great northern lakes, which lies at the northernmost edge of the steppe, beyond which the dense forests that stretch all the way to the Ice Coast begin. There the Horde would wait out the cold winter, in the warmth of real houses made of wood. Nourishment and tranquility. But it's still days away. In the meantime, they should call a halt, the sun is already setting. And the place they are passing now is very good, low and gentle hills, at the foot of which a small river flows.

Camrad_RIP 03.10.24 в 11:49