Chapter 20-3 Outside the Garden

Chapter 20-3 Outside the Garden

The lives outside our borders are an untapped resource. I knowI know. Were not supposed to touch them and Voidwatch is watching per the Articles, but we need to start making special considerations.

They are currently a resource drain on our efforts. All those sanctuaries of subjects, publicly funded, offering nothing but trickles of lives. Its maddening. Our installations need to be insulated against the Sunderwildsprotected against whatever madhouse these people escaped from, and that we also need to provide education to them? A livable space? Possibilities for community prosperity?

Its ridiculous. Its outdated.

The dream is dead, long live the dream, but now we need to think about winning the war.

And war is about numbers.

Do you know how many Souls Highflame has? How many Omnitech has? How many the No-Dragons have? More than us. Sure. Our edge is in information and techno-thaumaturgy but right nowI guarantee youif we get the ability to see ten years into the future, its going to be of Highflame burning our districts and butchering our citizens.

Foresight does not equal power. It can influence it, but were not lacking skill or awareness or any of that. We need force and unfortunately, its the only thing we still seem to lack. Highflame has eight times more techno-thaumic armor; Omnitech has whatever nightmares theyre cooking up in their nexuses. I dont even want to count the No-Dragon troop numbers. Im sure everyone recalls what happened to our martyrs at Irisues Vale when they got overrun by the Breeder-Hawks.

Of course we can level things out by counting on Stormtree to achieve some degree of firepower parity, and counter-thaumic operations through the assistance of Ashthrone and Sanctus, but our alliance is contingent on the Sainists, and Im sure were all under no illusions about whats going to follow after we win.

Ugly truths the truth: were not just playing to overcome the Golds and their lackeys. We need to watch our esteemed allies as well.

We might be in agreement on some things, but in the end, theres no such thing as second winner.

So. Back to my proposition. I think its time we do a little exploring of our own in the Sunderwilds. Send out teams to establish enclaves allied to us.

Im uploading the mem-data for my proposal right now. Technically, were not really breaking the rules. Were just being flexible with its interpretation.

-Elder Iyar Kazahara (Ori-Thaum)

20-3

Outside the Garden

Not even light could escape the defilement of reality, but still, the brightness of dawn fell, lathering all things of solid shape in a thin sheen of radiance.

Merging from the horizontal crevice that was New Vultun lowest level, the outer layers of the Maw crept forth in diminishing detail, no longer the intricate sigils dividing the districts and Sovereignties back within the layered city. Here, there were but vast rings rounding the perimeter of the city itself, pierced through by channels that cleaved into the light splashing down from dawn ascending.

Drawing from the histories of ancient Noloth with a thought, Avo learned and then knew the Maw to be a living construct. Something that was meant to be expanded to fulfill the needs of its ever-growing population, blossoming outward like a flower fed by wither and rot to encompass Idheim evermore.

But with the loss of their Arkand thereby the history of Noloth and whatever power they had to influence the futurethe Maw was cosigned to merely be a great wonder of the world. A nigh-endless reservoir for Rend, but nothing worth any weight in culture or significance.

Another dead dream among the countless.

[And thank Jaus for that,] Abrel scoffed. [Listen, Avo, I know Im not exactly an unbiased party here, but that primer your dad-uncle gave you isnt exactly what Id call reliable. Propaganda. Everyone does it. And from what I know about Nolothi history, theres no way their little waste disposal expansion project wasnt going to cost a few billion more lives.]

Avo regarded her words with a faint note of acknowledgment. A few other templates within his gestalt provided their own insight on matters, but most were gazing forth as he waspeering far into the light.

Draus, Avo said, the Soulfire within him stirring, igniting the many deaths cycling his Fardrifter, going to accelerate our progress. Make myself wind. Expand our progress.

The Regular acknowledged him with a slight nod. Mind the light. Been forming reflections all the way behind us while we flew, but the light itself feels damn slippery. And wet.

Probably an effect caused by the Sunderwilds. Avo reached out using his Woundmothers Domain of Luminosity and found himself in agreement with Draus. There was an uncanny slickness to how light flowed here. Like rain of liquid arrows flung outward by the weight of a rushing monsoon.

He triggered his Fortress of Luminosity out of curiosity, and though spherical oscillations formed of clashing brightness briefly layered the points where Avo expressed his canon, no backlash followed, no paradox laid him low.

Should be fine, Avo said. Still. Keep being careful. Going to draw the Manta into my Yondergales.

And with a simple effort of will, he did just that. A gust of sudden wind folded over the stealth ship as it was swallowed. A coiled knot of space, air, and shadow tightened, lacing the Manta in a demiplane of black clouds thundering with torrential gales. Here, these Yondergales formed the yolk that was the Fardrifters inner plane while the coiling walls of wind containing its ten-kilometer expanse extended outward as nine galloping steeds.

Beneath the surface of spatial reality they charged.

Four of the steeds snaked across two hundred and fifty kilometers of land. Air currents shivered in the air as if to foretell a hurricane, and empowered by the Horizon Strider canon, Avo and his cadre moved at speeds matching such a calamity.

Then, when another of the Fardrifters heads burrowed into the shadows cast by the towering structures of New Vultun, they plunged forward even faster, Shadowrun granting Avo ten times his initial speed.

The Manta itself was a marvel of human ingenuity and technological achievement. Yet, its structures still obeyed laws. Capitulated to rules. Fast though it could accelerate, it would never be able to treat drifting contrails as folds of space to hide within or augment its base velocity by assuming darkness to function as if wind tunnels.

Despite this, Calvino merely sighed.

+You disapprove?+ Avo asked.

{Hardly,} Calvino responded. {I'm merely lamenting the fact that we can't enjoy a nice leisurely flight over the land without wrapping ourselves in realitys disemboweled entrails because were suspicious that the light might kill us. Somehow.}

It probably wouldnt, but the potential it could was all that mattered.

As the horizon tumbled closer, so emerged the first hints of the refugee sanctuaries. Situated directly beyond the final Maw-ravine wrapped around New Vultuns perimeter, grand towers made from alloy and vivianite climbing a full kilometer high stabbed at the sky, their tips pulsing with Sprites. Static thoughtstuff lashed from spire to spire, functioning as if a relay.

Settled some two hundred feet below ground and with the glass on the topside formed beneath a layering of shrubbery, their presence couldnt be detected at a glance, and from what Avo understood, the Guilds didnt tend to waste golems or drones on reckless patrols, trying to sweep every inch of the Sunderwilds for hidden dangers.

Emerging from their temporary operating base, Avo coated his cadre in a protective shell using his blood, channeling his Incog through his Haemokinesis and keeping them veiled from notice.

From there, they observed the surrounding sanctuaries for a moment, taking in the settlements that served as blockades for migrants trying to enter New Vultun.

The first thing to note was that they were domed and that their shells were lined with insulated solar panels. Avo sampled their material composition from afar and frowned. He sensed a few golems present in the area, but few other protective assets beyond them. Some drones patrolled the sanctuaries surroundings while others continued to work on new architecture.

A complex network of tunnels between each of the settlements. Much like how each sanctuary had a techno-thaumic communications tower, they all seemed to have something of a maglev station as well, with fast-moving trains constantly shuttling new people in and around per population capacities.

Over rolling hills in the distance, Avo noticed trailing drones projecting light-marked lanes. Expanding both his Woundmother and Fardrifter, he found migration caravans running at least a few hundred kilometers long. Tents, vehicles, beasts of burden, and haggard-looking people were the norm.

Voidwatchs coldtech drones did what they could, but Avo could feel the strain affecting their machinery, the Sunderwilds wearing them down in moments when such degradation should have naturally taken years.

Strangely, however, the people remained unaffected, and Guilder assets functioned without fail.

I remember this route, Essus said, coming to a stand next to Avo, still careful to keep his eyes averted from the sky. I was far that way. You see? There. Where a patch of light is shining down on those hills.

Avo saw what the man was pointing at, but only momentarily. In the next moment, a vast city-sized tendril whipped down across the sky and briefly blanketed everything in darkness. With the obfuscation of light, so too faded the hills, the space changing to be a lagoon instead.

Ah, yes, Essus muttered, rubbing his chin. We had to get away from the hills when the light goes away. Many of us drowned the first day. Of course, those of us who went left instead of right were also met with unkind fates. He sighed. Artad protect them. How could they have known the rocks were carnivorous.

Next to them, Tavers was fully encased in her armor again, face unseen behind inches of protective alloy. I cant believe Im saying this, but I fucking miss the city already. At least I can take a piss there most days and not wonder if my urine is going to wake up somehow and eat its way back up my cunt.

Oh, whats a matter, Tavers? Too much of a city girl? Country life aint to your likin? Draus shot the older woman a grin as she swept their surroundings using the scope of her rifle. Tavers flipped her off.

Avo meanwhile pushed his awareness far south. There, a few million migrants were flooding into the protective tunnels that would lead to mass security screenings, and temporary housing, followed by a wait before enough people left or died inside a sanctuary for them to be granted a spot. As fascinating as the process was, Avo was seeking something even further beyond.

In Dices memories, she had come from that direction. Followed her master out of a place where pillars of murmuring darkness called to travelers, where beasts shaped of matter and shadow both preyed upon the supple flesh of baseliners. Such was the life Dice knew. And such were the monsters that have almost certainly overrun her enclave in the long absence of her master.

Soon, however, they would be purged. Or least repelled. Avo was interested in knowing which Fallen Heaven they originated from, and if he could staunch the Rend.

If nothing else, the abandoned enclave would serve as a place where they could operate freely without worrying about the Guilds.

After months of scurrying about the dark, Avo found something cathartic about playing the harbinger of light. The more superstitious among his gestalt had taken it as a sign. A changing of the times.

From beast of darkness to the bringer of the bright. An auspicious change, if judged from the sound.

But before Avo could reach any further, a session sounded in the depths of his mind, and saw Nandus Metamind identification flashing across his cog-feed.

A frown overtook him in an instant. Somehow, Draus knew, and pulled away from her gun, turning to look at him. Whats wrong? Is it Kae?

Dont know yet, Avo said. Hope not. Chambers calling. Has to be important. Costs a death. As certain templates inside him began to speculate, he connected to the session, and his Conflagration erupted out the other side like fire striking a lake made from napalm.

[Hey!] Chambers said, mind reassembling as Avo overwrote the false Nandu memories. [Whoa! That feels weird. Its like I didnt know myself at all a second ago. Why the hells did you need to make me look so godsdamned ugly anyway, you know]

+Chambers,+ Avo said, tone even, but annoyance evident.

[Right. Youre not gonna like this, consang. Not one bit. You wanna know who just called me? Green River. She wanted to talk to you, and so I played along and spoofed her using some artifacts I assembled on the fly. Chief Paladin Naeko gave the Second Fortune a visit earlier today. Put the squeeze on our least favorite Sang. Hes looking for someone. And it aint me.]

A coldness filled Avo from the inside. Tension plucked at his nerves. +Draus? Kae?+

[You.]

Somehow, he expected that answer, though he wished it werent so.

[He came around asking about your Bone Demon sheath. Think youre going to need to change up soon, consang. Switch up your glamor and shit. ]

[Naeko? Working? What the fuck?] Paladin Kassamon was practically at a loss for words. [We might want to consider an impostor. Maybe burn Kare and have her shadow the boss.]

[Please dont volunteer me for such a detail, Sergeant Kassamon,] Kare said, her calm tone still ripe with frustration. [It is unbecoming conduct.]

[I know. But honestly, he scares the piss back up my balls.]

A brief pause followed. [Is that where the piss goes?] Chambers asked. [I thought we have like a ballon in there or some shit.]

[A bladder,] Benhata provided.

[There is no reason why one cannot make such a thing possible,] Elegant-Moon said. [The bladder and testicles can be merged.]

Avo looked up at the sky. His templates screamed. He sighed.

Problem? Draus asked.

Yeah, Avo said. Problem.