novelraw Chapter 115: Moonlight, Moonfall
Chapter 115: Moonlight, Moonfall
They had dug up the tomb.
It had taken the better part of the day and reinforcements arriving to help secure the perimeter, but Victoire and her allies had uncovered a massive structure buried deep beneath the jungle and the murk: a blackstone pyramid about the size of Lord Wepwawet’s own Idol, with four horn-like claws reaching out to the sky atop it. Carvings of werelings, lunarians in deep meditation, and constellations covered its entire surface except for a closed set of rounded gates sealed shut at the base.
The Divine Peacekeeper Force had immediately dispatched its best mages on the scene alongside Lady Artemis’ shamans to keep the jungle’s creatures and Brood at bay—particularly a local worm kaiju that called the place its territory.
Victoire surveyed everything from her temporary command post. So far, the excavation had gone uninterrupted, but her instincts told her this respite would not last. The tomb had to boast magical defenses worthy of its occupant, and she couldn’t rule out the possibility that Beelzebub might try something to interrupt them if he somehow learned of the operation.
It might cost him his existence on Elphion, after all.
Victoire sensed her god touching her mind. “How’s the excavation going?”
“We’ve uncovered most of the tomb and found its entrance,” Victoire reported. “Wintresse, Gaspar, and Renarde are trying to unlock it. They’re optimistic, but there’s no telling when they’ll succeed.”
“I see. Good work.” She could feel his unease and trepidation on his end of the telepathic line. “I hope we’ll find what we’re looking for inside that thing.”
Victoire could understand his enthusiasm. It had taken them the better part of the year and cooperation with allies from all over Elphion to track down this place, after Renarde and Gaspar’s archeological digs in Mortis helped them finally translate the carvings found in Grand-Loup’s tomb and beyond. Their findings indicated that Archon’s words rang true; that a lunarian might have helped the first werelings during their rebellion, for which they were exiled by their cruel kind as punishment.
“You truly think it’s the only way?” Victoire asked.
“It’s our best lead,” Wepwawet confirmed. “We’ve looked for Beelzebub everywhere. We’ve mapped nearly all of Elphion’s mana leylines and actively monitor them, yet we’ve found nothing. His Idol has to be on one of Elphion’s moons. That’s where the blackstone comes from.”
Victoire looked to the sky with a sigh. Only one of the two moons was visible in the sunset, like a silver eye staring down at the world below. “Quite a long way up.”
“Yes. This world’s technology is decades, if not centuries, away from crossing that gap even with our help and guidance… but the lunarians had to make their way down to Elphion somehow.”
“They still do,” Victoire insisted. “It stretches credibility that we’ve faced so many lunarian-related incidents over the past year. They can’t have all crawled out from hibernation.”
The lunarians had been a persistent threat to Elphion ever since the Promesse incident nearly two years ago, with their subversive activities having increased after Whiro’s Incursion. They had exacerbated the Valentine-Zoramesh crisis, and some spies found in Shadazar suggested that they had likely ‘encouraged’ the local population to partake in pirate raids in the Wyld. They had then broadened their efforts towards sponsoring terrorist attacks—by brainwashing thralls who would then commit murders, funding anti-god or separatist groups across various nations, or just paying fools and catspaws to sow chaos—and sabotage the Divine Peacekeeping Force to weaken their efforts to exterminate the Brood.
This implied a large degree of organization, maybe even a hierarchy, and a central headquarters issuing orders to agents on the ground. Not all lunarians could be Champions that Beelzebub could micromanage. There had to be a chain of command and logistics involved.
“They must have a ship or teleportation network of some kind,” Lord Wepwawet said. “And if our archeological research about this Betrayer is accurate, then his resting place might hold a clue.”
“Resting place?” Victoire scoffed. “That’s assuming they’re even dead.”
“True. Be careful.”
Victoire nodded as her god cut off the communication to focus on other matters. She then moved to check on their archaeologist team. While the mages worked to unlock the gate, Renarde and Goreville were busy examining the pyramid’s carvings.
“So?” Victoire asked them. “Any luck translating them?”
“Patience, my dear,” Renarde replied. “I’m eager to please, but any translation I can come up with will be only an approximation at best.”
“There’s something about this place that calls to my torc,” Goreville added, his hand clutching the Torc of Grand-Loup around his neck. “I feel its spirit stirring like it did in Promesse.”
Victoire glanced at her shield. It too had grown warmer the more they excavated the pyramid. “There’s something here, but…” Victoire cleared her throat. “I don’t feel any aggression from my shield.”
“Me neither,” Goreville replied. “This pyramid calls to the torc, but it doesn’t inspire animosity.”
“They could have been forged there,” Renarde suggested. “The prehistorical lunarian empire stretched across all of Elphion, and the Wyld used to be a very different place than a jungle infested with giant monsters.”
“What do you mean, the Wyld used to be different?” Victoire inquired.
“I had my suspicions, but I am now convinced the Wyld used to be an island split from Elphion’s larger landmass.” Renarde searched inside her bag and brought out a most peculiar object. “Check this.”
Victoire’s eyes widened when she recognized the spiral shape. “A seashell?”
“The miners found it when they excavated the pyramid alongside a few others,” Renarde confirmed. “They’re not old fossils either, which means this part of the Wyld likely used to be a coastline.”
“But we’re leagues inland,” Goreville pointed out.
“That is what bothers me,” Renarde said. “We know catastrophic climate change followed the end of the lunarian-wereling war in ancient times. I thought this might have been the result of terraformers, but a whole island merging with a continent should take eons rather than centuries. This implies a sudden and violent reshaping of the world.”
Victoire crossed her arms. The sudden ice age that brought the wereling revolt to an end, those huge chunks of blackstone they’d found around the world—including the one that created the magmorians—and now this reshaping of the landscape… her gut told her they were all linked somehow.
And she had the feeling she wouldn’t like the answer to that particular mystery.
Name
Merlin the Hood
Type
Demon
Rank
Commander 7
Class
Archdevil 7
Faction
Wepwawet
Movement
Walk/Swim/Fly
Strength
Agility
Vitality
Skill
52
33
41
40
Magic
Intelligence
Charisma
Luck
50
33
40
30
Accuracy
+35
Evasion
+31
Innate Perk: Devil Domination (Archdemon)
Automatically dominates higher generation Demons (Generation 1) within sight. Immune to Instadeath, Stun, Paralysis, Blind, Poison, and mind-affecting ailments. Immune to Fire & Corrosion.
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Devil Warmaster II
Furnace Body II
All natural and melee weapons inflict +5 Damage. Can generate a sword and whip of fire from nothing (both of them inflicting Fire damage on contact).
Body contact inflicts weak Fire damage and a chance to inflict the Burn ailment equal to (LCK/2)%. Does not take penalty from fiery terrains or weather effects.
Hellfire Ray II
Regeneration I
Can unleash hellfire inflicting dual Fire/Soul damage in the form of rays, fireballs, a conic breath, or an explosion centered around the user (10% chance to fully incinerate the target, inflicting Instadeath). Cooldown: one minute.
Regenerates from damage at a rate of 5% of maximum health per minute; can heal lost limbs. Holy or supereffective attacks suppress this perk for one minute.
Name
Igor, Golem Assistant
Type
Artificial
Rank
6
Class
Iron Golem 6
Faction
Wepwawet
Movement
Walk
Strength
Agility
Vitality
Skill
50
17
44
22
Magic
Intelligence
Charisma
Luck
1
22
11
15
Accuracy
+18
Evasion
+16
Innate Perk: Assistant Golem
Immune to Fire and Lightning, but weak to Water and rust-related effects. Resists Physical, Wood, Corrosion, and Metal. Immune to all Ailments and critical hits. Constantly aware of its master’s location (Slimon) and can hear its voice anywhere.
Magic Immunity II
Smash! II
Immune to spells and magical effects, whether beneficial or hostile, except those inflicting rust.
All natural and melee Weapons inflict +5 damage.
Gas Breath I
Yes, Master I
Can unleash a breath of gas, inflicting Corrosion damage, and with a 10% chance to Petrify those who inhale it. Cooldown: one minute.
Gains a +3 Bonus on any task ordered by its master (Slimon).
Name
Bernadette, Picky Brainsnatcher
Type
Elemental/Artificial
Rank
5
Class
Brainsnatcher 5
Faction
Wepwawet
Movement
Walk/Swim/Burrow
Strength
Agility
Vitality
Skill
36
40
32
30
Magic
Intelligence
Charisma
Luck
18
9
23
17
Accuracy
+23
Evasion
+28
Innate Perk: Alien Predator
Can detect any Alien-type creature within one mile per Champion Rank. Natural attacks inflict supereffective damage against Aliens.
Telepathic Detector II
Ferocity I
Immune to Mind Effects and all mind-affecting ailments. Can detect any telepathic communication within one mile per Champion Rank.
All natural Weapons inflict +2 damage.
Parasite Cleaner I
Vacuum Cleaner I
Can inflict instadeath on lunarian parasites and extract them without harming the victim.
Can suck air with their trunk, drawing targets closer and inflicting minor Wind damage.
The Hood could probably pick a fight with a dragon and win, Wepwawet mused once he finished reviewing his recruits’ rank-ups. While causing me much fewer headaches.
“Alright, everybody’s good,” Wepwawet informed Filou’s group through telepathy. “Igor, you’ll hit harder; Hood, your pyromancy should have improved in versatility; and Bernadette, you should be able to overhear telepathic communications within five miles from now on. That should prove a boon in your hunts.”
“So this is a rank-up… I can feel the power coursing through me.” The Hood muttered to himself as he played with his hellfire, this being his first blessing. “I wonder if my lady will be able to bless me too, one day.”
“I’m sure she will,” Filou replied.
“Bernie hears crickets south,” Bernadette immediately said upon picking up on lunarian telepathic communications. “Big crickets, very tasty.”
“Onwards, my mini-squire!” Slimon said from atop Igor’s back. “Now that you’re stronger than ever, you’ll be able to bring me ever closer to my beloved!”
“Yes, sir, of course, sir,” his golem replied with a complete lack of enthusiasm.
“Happy hunting,” Wepwawet said right before he sensed a communication attempt from his girlfriend. “I’ll be right back.”
Wepwawet disconnected from his Champions and retreated to his realm of Influence, where Artemis was waiting for him. Every god on Elphion had clerical ambassadors in each other’s nations, so communications had never been simpler.
“Hey, Wepy,” Artemis said with a smile that belied her blackened, tired eyes. “Are we still on for tomorrow night? Aunt Hestia wants us to confirm the restaurant reservation.”
“Of course we’re on,” Wepwawet replied. “It’s our first year anniversary, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
“Good answer,” Artemis replied with a grin. “Come well-dressed too. Hestia’s Hearth is super exclusive, and I don’t want to make the wrong impression.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered,” Wepwawet promised. In fact, he had prepared her a surprise gift he knew his girlfriend would fall head over heels for. “You should get some rest beforehand. You look terrible.”
“I’m not tired, I…” Artemis scowled. “I feel sick.”
“Sick?” Gods didn’t get sick.
“I think it’s the moons.” Artemis shifted in place uneasily. “I’m still a lunar goddess, you know? My Influence is connected to them even if I don’t have any Altars up there, and they feel… weird, if that makes sense.”
That immediately worried Wepwawet. “You think Beelzecuck is doing something to them?”
Artemis nodded slightly. “Can’t be sure, but yeah, something’s wrong upstairs. My moonseers haven’t noticed anything abnormal, though.”
“I’ll check with our observatory in Neigebleue and consult Horus,” Wepwawet promised. “If the fly is trying anything, we’ll find out quickly.”
“Thanks, Wepy.” Artemis kissed him on the cheek. “So, see you after our shift. Movie night?”
“Movie night,” Wepwawet confirmed as his girlfriend vanished. It was amazing how naturally they had settled into easy, no-drama domesticity.
The bit about the moons did worry him, however. He turned his attention to Castle Neigebleue, whose central tower had been reworked into a large observatory dedicated to checking the sky under Sagesse’s guidance. Horus and Epona had built similar facilities in their own civilizations to constantly search for any traces of lunarian civilization.
So far, they had struggled to find anything. No trace of a large city on the moon’s surface, and no ships traveling across the void of space. Wepwawet strongly suspected Beelzebub of using a dissimulation Miracle similar to the one keeping his parasites hidden from his godly senses to shield his civilization from detection. However, he was bound to make a mistake at some point.
Wepwawet materialized his spirit in the observatory, where he found Viviane and Sagesse working on a colossal, Stalheim-built telescope the length of a small ship. Viviane constantly monitored the Verglanian night sky with her superior vision while Sagesse recorded their findings on paper and analyzed them.
“Ah, Your Godliness.” Sagesse bowed to Wepwawet’s spirit projection, while Viviane remained stiff and tense behind the telescope. “I was just about to contact you.”
“Have you spotted movement on the moons?” Wepwawet inquired.
“Not on the moons, per ser…” Sagesse cleared her throat as she reviewed her documents. “However, I have spotted a most worrying trend lately. I’ve thoroughly compared the results with those of our sister institutes around the world, and I’m afraid the math checks out.”
Wepwawet quickly glanced at the papers. It didn’t take long for his divine mind to process the difficult, long-winded equations. “The moons are moving away from Elphion at a rate of one inch per year?”
“Yes, that is a phenomenon Lord Horus’ astronomers identified centuries in the past,” Sagesse confirmed. “However, it appears the trend has inverted since last year.”
Wepwawet scowled as he put two and two together. “Since the Hastur Incursion?”
“Yes. Now it appears the moons are moving closer to Elphion at a rate of one inch per day on average.” Sagesse stroked her chin. “Such distances are infinitesimal compared to the gulf that separates our planet from its satellites, yet I am at a loss as to what could be causing this anomaly.”
“I can answer that for you: divine power.” Wepwawet pondered this finding’s implications. “Three hundred inches a year is nothing, but it would imply the gravitational forces binding Elphion’s system are being meddled with somehow…”
Was Beelzebub planning to cause global cataclysms on Elphion’s surface by bringing the moons closer? No, it would take centuries for the world to feel any consequential change from these changes in orbit. The Titans’ Incursions would have all passed by then, one way or another.
Maybe he’s trying to bring one of the moons down to annihilate Elphion, Wepwawet thought. The Titans wanted to destroy the world, but nothing said they couldn’t do so outside the bounds of Incursions. But if his rate is an inch per day, that won’t happen for an incredibly long time… unless that rate will increase over time?
“Your Godliness?” Viviane called out, surprising Wepwawet. “You should look up. Something’s weird with the moons.”
Wepwawet could see and find anything with his realm of Influence, on top of being able to see through his Champions’ eyes. It didn’t take him long to notice what bothered Viviane.
The moons were sparkling.
Elphion’s two moons often crossed in the sky a few times each year, by virtue of following different rotations around the planet. Tonight was one such moment when one of them would eclipse the other… Yet unlike any other such event since Wepwawet had arrived on Elphion, sparkles now appeared to flash along their outer ring.
What is this? Wepwawet focused until he noticed the sparkles leaving the moon and floating across the darkness of space. They shone in the void, leaving trails of light in their wake. Are those… falling stars?
“Is it me, or are they getting closer?” Viviane asked.
And she was right.
Wepwawet immediately triangulated the falling stars’ trajectory with his Providence and quickly sighed in relief. One of the most vexing parts of Verglane was that its sheer size limited trade and commerce between its few settlements, but on the other hand, it meant most of its territory was uninhabited tundra. The falling stars wouldn’t hit any city or town.
Sagesse and Viviane quickly moved to the observatory’s windows to observe them with their naked eyes. Wepwawet watched on in silence and then winced when the meteorites hit the icy desert north of Castle Neigebleue in a rain of light. He could see the explosions from here as they hit the ground with enough force to wipe out hills and valleys, creating small flashes that lit the horizon like candlelights.
“That…” Viviane gulped. “That’s as pretty as it is disturbing.”
“And not normal in the slightest,” Wepwawet replied with a scowl as he mentally dispatched Champions to investigate the site. For all he knew, those might be lunarians preparing a landing or worse. “Nor a good sign.”
Artemis was right; something was happening upstairs.