[ericthered]

The two messengers of the villa are escorted by six immortals back to the Chamber of the Otherworld: the large room with the murals and the bell that Vassarious arrived in. They are left there for three hours.

Will they give up the communication pen?


After the three hours, a force of four immortals and four of each species of soldier open the door, bow to them, and one of the immortals says: "Champions of the Otherworld, the Great Maximus is most indebted for your service, and wishes to thank you personally. We will escort you."


Maximus is standing, with a great number of priests buzzing around him. Their ranks are very haphazard, but none of the top layer seem to be present.



Maximus raises his hands, and the noise stops.
Maximus: "I would like to thank the champions of the otherworld for saving me from imprisonment. Many changes will have to have been made, and much wrong has been done, but due to these, we have reversed our awful situation."


"I have some small understanding of Corco's policies: we will not exalt your role in our histories, but you shall live forever in our immortal memory. I do not know how much time you have to stay here: I would wish to have you at feasts, and to heal your injuries, but I do not know if that is within Corco's time-table"


"I have released the priest Cyraelian for you. I am still crafting the official story, but he may fill some of your place in the history. As may the wounded soldier who helped my backup speak to you."


"The Spying on Fericus has been most helpful in identifying the traitors. They have betrayed their God, and thought they could best me. Indeed, they did, but they did not know of my allies, and that was their downfall. They shall reap what they have planted."



"I now know of two of my backup locations. At least one was altered. I'm not sure about the other. Kunifax has analyzed the historical record for me, and may attitude now seems at least closer to history. The search for the backups continues. I do not know if one remains, or as many as three. I will need to make new precautions against such treachery, as the backup shrines are now known to the priesthood. I am still unraveling the story, but it appears that a priest found the backup, disobeyed the warnings, and from it learned how to corrupt my architecture. From there, he altered me, and took control of the priesthood"


"The war with the rebels has been stopped. It will be months before I sort out traitors from patriots. Perhaps I will never be able to do so. There are many on each side, with complex motives. The generals you enlisted will be remembered as heroes, perhaps most prominently in the history"


"And Finally, Retifurus wishes to pay his respects."


Retifurus approaches V, and bows. "It appears that you had a better mastery of the situation and a less changeable devotion to my emperor than I. Thank You for saving us from the conspiracy. I hope you are not injured permanently?"