When the gods are searching for you, hiding isnt so simple thing, even less so when you still have work to do. This thought was clear on the high elf Naloths mind as he surveyed his surroundings, looking at the group he had gathered.
Really, when it ca to trying to escape the eyes of a force that constantly looked down on the world, was there ever really going to be a perfect place to do it? Being in a big city where churches would abound left the risk of being seen by any god who was taking notice of those who gave them faith, and a large group moving to a small town was sure to draw talk if hed done that instead. There was of course the option of hiding out in the untad lands, there were already rumours of so mysterious group connected to the now-dead forbidden gods who had been discovered doing exactly that, but if those rumours were true then it was even more likely that theyd be discovered if they tried that. If the gods had been made fools of once, they wouldnt want to be quick in making the sa mistake.
That led to the choice theyd ultimately made, with half of his group moving to a smaller city that only had a communal church, not any devoted to a single god, while the rest took up residence in the surrounding towns and villages, traveling out for their few pre-arranged etings at the warehouse theyd purchased.
Now that ti was drawing nearer though their etings were becoming more frequent, with so taking up residence at the citys different inns to make it seem like they were there for either work or to make ti for distant friends and family before the next wave ca, all because their project was bearing fruit. The ritual they were designing was almost complete.
He could see the people under him, the sa ones who shared his vision, all practicing their parts. Not together for the risk that might co from accidentally activating it too soon, but in pairs or threes to make sure their timing was right. There was a reason ritual magic was considered a lost art after all, it was hard.
Of course, perhaps it would be better to call it a previously lost art given all of the literature coming out on it recently. He thought with a smile as he flipped through the report that had let him cross the final hurdle in bringing his vision to life.
The invention of an enchanter who wished to stay anonymous, even if Naloth already knew their identity, who had revolutionized gate construction not long ago, resulting in the network expanding out like never before with even more gates being built to wait for the inventor's touch.
It was not only a blessing to the world, but one to him in particular with it coming to him at the perfect ti. Despite the help hed already gotten, hed still been missing pieces needed to turn his vision into reality.
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What he was attempting had been an idea that had sprung from a legend in one particular worlds history that had captivated his mind when hed been at his lowest, fearing the loss of all hed known. It had beco his guiding light, his hope that the world might get to carry on if his ideas could be pulled off, but even after breaking into the librarys basent at the magic towers and stealing all of the knowledge he could before gathering like-minded individuals to his cause, it hadnt been enough. It had seed like his plans were destined to fail.
But then a change. As if fate itself was smiling on him, his now departed friend had found him soone who excelled at the magic he needed, and with his people within the mages guild sending him copies of everything that enchanter had created, he felt his stalled progress rushing forward, with its conclusion finally within sight. Before long he would open a gate and seize a level of power for himself that could save his dood planet.
If I could just do it today- No. I cant be impatient when Im so close, my people need a bit more practice. When were nearly done, how can I risk all of this work over so impatience?
It was an understandable feeling though. Beyond his group, the rest of his like-minded compatriots who had each been willing to doom themselves to the infinite hells if it ant saving the world had been discovered, with years of work lost.
It wasnt as if he couldnt understand the gods. The world couldnt just win without worrying about the cost, at least from their point of view. How they won would matter.
But that was just the feelings of the divine. Let the history books condemn him for his actions if they wanted to, that would at least an that soone had survived to write them. Maybe the gods needed to act as the paragons they tried to present themselves as, but he didnt. Why worry about the dirt on his hands if the alternative was wading through a sea of blood?
It was a feeling that all of those around him understood too, each of the mages lost in their days of practice looking determined to see through the future they so wanted. A future where those they loved would get to live to see another day and one where the demons of the world could never threaten them again. A future where the horrors the world now faced would be nothing but a distant mory.
A future Ill make with my own two hands. He promised himself as he moved to begin practicing his own part of the spell, one that was going to be more complex than anyone under him would have to deal with. It doesn't matter the reason or morality behind it, if the gods think we can win without having to cross certain lines then theyre nothing but fools. For all the good the system has done it, it alone wont be enough. We need sothing greater.
His heart couldnt help but pound with the knowledge that soon theyd be attempting just that, to finally see if all their work would pay off in the end.
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