Jericho traced an infinity sign on my forehead in the ash with his thumb. I glanced at Inquisitor Morton. He had to know what was going to happen. And from the glint in his eye, like he was watching a kid about to stick a fork in a light socket, he did know. And he let it happen anyway. I had to hand it to the Inquisition’s ability to adjust the game plan, but what a mentula.
Immediately, the memory of the infection awakened in my scars and the black veins of the curse tore across my skin until it covered half my neck and face. The veins encroached even the Divine Spark scar on my chest.
I screamed.
<<<>>>
Debuff added:
Curse of Serth-Rog (Level 3): An icy hand grips your heart. Health, Stamina, and Spirit Regeneration reduced by 75%; duration, 4 hours remaining. Carry Capacity -100 lbs; duration, 4 hours.
If not cured, your body will suffer Paralysis, Silence, and Blindness debuffs for 30 minutes, while your soul fights for life in its own personal dungeon. Victory results in the effect being dispelled. Defeat results in your soul being sent to the underworld, Morsheim, the land of Serth-Rog.
Your grave beckons. Make your peace with the living world.
<<<>>>
“See!” cried Jericho. “I bless her, and she reveals her true, corrupted nature: a Darkling, a servant of Serth-Rog, an agent of chaos from Morsheim! If there be any doubters left, let them witness for themselves her true nature.”
To say I felt awful was an understatement. Falling off a cliff and breaking every bone on the way down felt awful. Rolling your ankle and cracking through the ice into frigid waters after a bear tore your chest open felt awful. This felt like all of that at once, and I wasn’t sure how I was still alive, and I resented that fact a little bit. That’s how awful I felt. Worse, even if I hadn’t been excommunicated, I couldn’t have cleansed myself with Veracity. All he’d have to do to win was hit me again with it. There was no fourth step. It was a long walk off a short pier right into Morsheim if I did that.
Your kindness has always been seen as a weakness.
Sweat poured off my skin as I gasped for air. I heard Serth-Rog’s whispers vibrate in my arm, audible to only me, as if he were behind me. I tried not to focus on him. I tried to focus on how much I wanted to rip Jericho’s windpipe from his throat with my teeth so he could feel half as awful as I did.
They think you the worst sort of fool. They use you like you’re replaceable.
This wasn’t part of the plan. It was never supposed to go like this.
You humans disgust me. Let them die here. We will use you instead.
I had to agree with the Daemon Prince here. People disgusted me, too. Especially with how my team was taking their sweet damn time adjusting the plan. The Inquisitor wasn’t able to signal them like we’d hoped, but seeing me suffer like this should have been a good cue.
Inquisitor Morton stepped forward decisively and snatched the bag from Jericho, finally recognizing the exarch had his own maneuvers in our plan to trap him. I clutched my bound wrists to my chest to stop shivering as they struggled over the poison. In their struggle, or more likely, intentionally, Jericho knocked the lever to the trapdoor of my gallows.
The world fell away.
Lending Light to the Sun
I was literally at the end of my rope with this asshole. I kicked furiously as I swung from the gallows, gasping for breath like a fish out of water. I opened my mouth but couldn’t scream for want of air. A brilliant light surrounded me, protecting me. As I’d suspected back in prison, Ubiquity procced regardless of my position in the temple. If I had been wrong, it wouldn’t have been my problem anymore.
The crowd gasped in wonder to see me still alive. Then horror, to see me still alive. A few souls whispered much too loudly that surely this showed favor from the gods. How could I be corrupted if I was so blessed and protected?
<<<>>>
Debuffs Added
Induced Suffocation: You are being suffocated. You suffer 10 pts of Stamina Damage each second until you can breathe once more. If your Stamina reaches 0, you will die.
Current estimated time of death: 34 seconds
Silenced: You are being suffocated and cannot speak, and therefore cannot cast mage spells requiring vocal intonations; duration, until Induced Suffocation debuff is removed.
<<<>>>
I certainly didn’t feel blessed or protected or favored as I dangled from the rope. I would’ve slapped my own mother for one more breath.
An arrow zipped through the air and cut the rope, finally. Finally, my people showed up, and it took them long enough. I slipped a few feet, but the arrow hadn’t sliced all the way through the rope. I couldn’t find ground. I held my arms out in front of me, and another arrow cut through the bindings, at least enough for me to loosen them. A falcon’s piercing scream ripped through the air above me. I reached up to the rope and pulled to rip the rest of my rope as if my life depended on it. Because it did.
I hit the ground hard. I’d say it knocked the wind out of me, but after dangling from string I didn’t have any left. I took a moment to recollect myself then wriggled out of the rest of the rope.
I checked my character sheet. If I could still cast Ubiquity, then that meant—
Oh hell yeah. I was unbelievably weak from the curse and without my gear, but I was still a Hieromancer. The exarch’s word meant nothing against what the Goddess herself ordained. The church may reject me, but my God celebrated me. I could leave the temple and take her with me. My power didn’t come from where some man said my position in the temple was; my power came directly from my faith in Gaia herself.
It was all a bluff, like I thought. It was all a bluff from the start from Jericho. You couldn’t trust a liar.
My Luck was still ridiculously high as well. I checked my status effect page and saw I still had the blessing of Gaia.
<<<>>>
Breath of Life
You have been blessed by Gaia, Goddess of Life and Fortune.
While you serve her, your Luck is permanently increased by 10.
<<<>>>
Thia, along with some of the other priests, stepped forward and waved their arms in unison to cast heals on me. I was filled with holy, healing light that removed the crick from my broken neck. The other clergy opened their mouths in protest and tried to stop the sisters, but Thia wasn’t having it and backhanded one to the ground. In short time, I was at 100%. Thia gave me a nod. She hadn’t forgotten I had saved her and the other priests at the Black Temple after all.
The archer, Judia, sent another arrow into the bells atop the temple steeple, where she was perched. The ricochet played a three-note tune that echoed throughout the marketplace.
At this sign, the crowd pulled off their cloaks. Therion and the Tryharders were there along with a few other rogues. No, judging by how many people suddenly disappeared into the ether, making the crowd look half its size, a lot of rogues. I assumed the Thieves’ Union in Harrowick wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to cause havoc for the Inquisition. Trouser belts were cut, merchant stalls were upended, and suddenly the formerly silent crowd, still as stone, was a living, breathing being of chaos, all noise and movement, as if the goddess Enyo herself showed up to the party laughing. Sophia would have looked upon these streets and wept.
To call it a riot was an understatement.
Kismet finally showed with other Inquisition soldiers to keep order. I recognized her wings in the crowd. My heart settled to see her face, fierce and determined, once again. One soldier with her balked at the flurry of thrown tomatoes and eggs stolen from the merchant’s stalls.
“Not again!” he cried.
I spotted Yvonne, dressed in her bohemian skirt and with her hair frazzled into a bird’s nest, challenge Kismet to keep up appearances. Corvus hid in the shadows of the stairs to the temple and wafted the miasma from their thurible to send thick smoke through the crowd and slow down the boiling chaos.
Off to my left, Chef Boyle bonked a man with
her rolling pin. Sten was there with a pitchfork, along with my workers from Ravenkirk. Shiraz froze people and sent up walls of ice to deny the Inquisition access at strategic points, while Rainer commanded the attention of anyone who was foolish enough to attack the berserker. Bri’jit was there as well, providing crowd control and healing as needed, while Keres, with a baby strapped to her back, zipped between people with her chakrams. Several people from Rowanheath joined in the fray in whatever ways they could, whether that was dropping vases of cooking oil or shielding people with barrel lids.
It didn’t seem like they were trying to hurt the Inquisition. Onions were sliced with daggers for organic tear gas. Fish were used as clubs, eggs as grenades, tomatoes as stuns.
I tried to catch my breath and get my bearings. I had implied my plan to Yvonne with my last meal order, but I wasn’t expecting everyone to pay their debts in full like this. I even spotted Bella Jourdain, the cleaning lady, who owed me nothing, having the time of her life using her mop like a quarterstaff to shove Inquisition soldiers away.
Part of me wished Gaia would personally show up to help me, but in a way, she already was. She lent me her magic to fulfill her will in this world. I had been given everything I needed to help myself all along. I just needed to catch my—
I felt myself pulled to my feet and a bag shoved into my chest. Yvonne, having “escaped” Kismet’s grip, was staring at me. I blinked at her and tried to make sense of the world.
“How do you feel, Liset?” she asked.
“Yeah, I heal great,” I said, swallowing hard. Despite being topped off, I still felt a lump in my throat and the world spun when I stood.
Yvonne chuckled. “Normally I’d give you a minute, but as you can see, we have a situation out there,” she said. She slapped the bag in my hand. “Put that on.”
I pulled out what looked to be priest gear from the Inquisition. It was a simple white tunic with blue stripes and a loose mobius veil with a braided gold sash.
<<<>>>
Veil of the Holy See
Armor Type: Light; Head
Class: Rare, Blessed
Base Defense: 10
Primary Effects:
+ 10 Intelligence
+ 10 Spirit
+ 25% Spirit regen rate
<<<>>>
Cloak of the Law
Armor Type: Light; Cloak
Class: Rare, Blessed
Base Defense: 15
Primary Effects:
+ 10 Vitality
<<<>>>
Eternal Justice
Armor Type: Light; Body
Class: Rare; Blessed
Base Defense: 20
Primary Effects:
+ 10 Vitality
+ 5 Constitution
+ 5 Intelligence
+ 5 Spirit
+ 15% Experience gain
<<<>>>
Spirit of the Law
Armor Type: Light; Waist
Class: Rare; Blessed
Base Defense: 5
Primary Effects:
+ 15% Spell power
<<<>>>
Inquisitor’s Soul
Armor Type: Light; Feet
Class: Rare Blessed
Base Defense: 5
Primary Effects:
+ 5 Dexterity
+ 5% Evade Chance
<<<>>>
Shackles of Faith
Armor Type: Light; Accessory
Class: Rare; Blessed
Base Defense: 5
Primary Effects:
Returns a small portion of Health to the wearer when casting spells that use Spirit.
Let the prayers of your soul unto The Light renew your body.
<<<>>>
It was a side-grade to the disciple stola I had worn for so long. The stats weren’t nearly as good as the PvP gear Keres had given me, but it was certainly better than a shapeless burlap sack. I put it on and saved the bangles for last. I missed my gift from Gaia.
Then I noticed Yvonne wasn’t wearing her own bangles. She must have given me hers when the Inquisition stole my gear.
Yvonne picked up my holy book for me. I immediately wrapped it to my wrist.
<<<>>>
Vis Medicatrix Naturae
Weapon Type: Blunt; Spellbook
Class: Common, One-Handed; Offhand shield
Base Damage: 15
Base Defense: 25
Primary Effects:
+10% Bonus to healing abilities
+1% chance for Holy-based abilities to crit
Intelligence Bonus = .25 x Character Level
Spirit Bonus = .25 x Character Level
Secondary Effects:
Can be used as a small buckler (5% reduced weapon speed)
Unable to use spells that require two hands
Unable to cast spells with left hand
The healing power of nature is within all living beings.
<<<>>>
Above us, on the gallows, the fight had spread to Inquisitor Morton and Exarch Jericho. Yvonne and I slipped into stealth to listen for a good moment to escape while everyone was distracted.
“No one has done more for priests than me,” cried Jericho, spitting each word at the Inquisitor. “No one has supported their education, training, and employment more than my temple. No one has provided more healers for the Empire. No one has higher level healers. No one has more loyal healers. Who do you think is going to keep our citizens alive if a civil war breaks out with the rebels? The Brewer’s Circle can’t keep up with the demand! How dare you accuse me of a crime. Surely I am entitled to discipline my own priests?”
“Jurisdiction over her fell to the Empire when you excommunicated her,” said Inquisitor Morton coolly. “And you publicly poisoned a citizen under our care. If the woman is dead, we will add murder to your list of crimes.”
Jericho laughed. “As I explained earlier, I only revealed the corruption within her. There are people in Morsheim more holy and devout than that woman.”
“No, Exarch,” said Inquisitor Morton. “It revealed the corruption in you.”
I wish I could’ve seen his face as he realized he was finally going to be held accountable and suffer a single consequence for his actions.
I heard Morton’s bootsteps on the wood as he approached Jericho. “I am placing you under arrest for attempted murder of clergy, usury, simony, profiteering, witness tampering, blasphemy, extortion of Citizens, extortion of the Emperor, and treason against the Empire and her people.”
Jericho scoffed. “You think you can invoke Emperor Osmark? I personally know the man. I’ve known him since before you ghosts in a machine were even a thought in his brain. You and the other so-called citizens are fabrications in a simulation of our creation. Your lives don’t mean anything to anyone. Go ahead and call the Emperor. I’m sure he’ll clear the confusion that you have any say over my life.”
“We did ask him,” said the Inquisitor. “And he asked us who you were.”
I realized neither of them could see us underneath the gallows. Yvonne threw her cloak around me and tugged on my arm. Now was our chance to escape. We blended into the crowd as we made our way to the temple stairs. Yvonne promised there was a tunnel underneath we could use once we got inside.
I paused on the landing though. Something felt wrong in the air. Jericho and Inquisitor Morton had come to blows over his last statement, with the Inquisitor holding up a shield against Jericho’s book. The title on the cover said Dies Iræ. Jericho stepped back and held up his left hand.
I ran Acuity on him, concerned. We healed with our right hand.
<<<>>>
Casting Spell...
Duality: Reverses the beneficial effects of Hieromancer spells
Sanctity: Channeled spell; a holy nova that knocks back and stuns non-party members. Applies the Faithful buff to party members and automatically casts Prosperity on them.
<<<>>>
Yvonne tugged on my arm. We had to go. Now. I shielded her out of ha
bit, just in time as a blast wave washed over the crowd. The chaos paused as everyone, and except for Bella Jourdain, I do mean everyone, was knocked ass over teakettle. Even the rogues in stealth weren’t spared. My people, random bystanders, and the Inquisition all lay on the ground, stunned as if dead. The pressure even knocked the hood off my head. I felt the salvo of raindrops land on me before the sky released a torrential downpour.
As if being one of the few people on their feet wasn’t enough, Yvonne was now a shining beacon to all who could see the landing to the temple.
Jericho kept his hand high. It was bait. I knew it was bait, because I understood how my class worked, and I understood how he worked.
“There you are!” he called out. “I thought that’d find you. See what you made me do? Now, Darkling, come face your judgment!”
I kept Acuity running. He had something called Severity, a Smite Stance, which increased his DPS by 5% with holy spells and stacked up to three times every time he cast another damaging spell with his left hand. If he healed, it refreshed the effect and applied it to his healing instead. The Faithful buff on his followers, which notably did not include Thia or the two priests who joined her, applied a percentage of damage as heals. He also ran another interesting buff: Comity, a high-level Hieromancer spell, which applied the Sinner debuff to anyone who attacked him. It reduced the amount of healing received by the sinner and increased the damage against them based upon the level of the priest. Judging by Jericho’s seemingly infinite Health bar and Spirit pool, he was very, very high level.
But if he was running Duality, that meant he intended to do damage. And he wanted me to heal them. I had to call his bluff. I wouldn’t start fights at school, but when people picked one with me, Mama always told me to finish it, and my people would have my back.
Viridian Gate Online: Schism: A litRPG Adventure (The Heartfire Healer Series Book 2) Page 30
