--- Cardinal Pex POV

“You seek to leave the Mountains?” he asks in a whinny, almost fearful voice.

“You don’t have to follow …” I slither on, noting with some satisfaction he takes a pause.

“No, I must at least escort you past the exiles … no knowing what they have become.”

My turn to pause and wait for him to catch up. “The exiles?”

“When your Priest converted most to the worship of Aphrodite, some held to Zeus and were banished from the clan.”

The only path available, with tall trees and deep forest to the left and right and somewhere along here exiles dwell?

“Are they friendly?”

An exploding raucous deep laughter escapes his lungs. “Friendly? Would you be friendly to those who sent you into exile?”

The echo of his laugh dies slow, terminating with clumps of snow falling from the branches of the nearby trees with multiple thumps.

“That’s a no then?” I keep a straight face, although my Snake Kin facial look is probably lost on him.

“Most definitely no, although they could be dead, who knows?”

“One way to find out …” I continue to slither forward, whispering a silent prayer to Aphrodite.

---

We camp overnight without starting a fire, eating cold cured meat and I suffer. My Frost Giant escort seems immune to trail hardships and is the first to wake and rouse me in the morning.

“Come, Priestess, by the end of this day we should find the exiles.”

Snug in my bedding, I try to pull a fur over my head. He rips that fur and others from me with a cheeky smile. My blood almost freezes, and I need to move before that happens. Miserable, I try to cheer up by treating myself to two pieces of frozen fried pork. They are frozen. I don’t succeed.

---

Smoke wisps rise skyward ahead of us, above the trees and most likely near the trail, which is never straight for any significant distance.

“Time to find out if they are friends or foes,” he announces.

“Why would Frost Giants need a fire?”

His footfalls continue to break the snow crust, the sight of the smoke adding energy to each of his steps.

“They expect you and want to provide you with a warm greeting?”

His chuckling irritates me, so I leave him to his selfish thoughts. My question is certainly valid I convince myself.

---

I taste the smoke on the wind as he sniffs. Before I can ask, he marches onwards.

“No stealth then?” I quip.

“Frost Giants are large, and we are brave.”

Receiving no further explanation, I follow him and as we round a sweeping bend in the trail a village of several huts and a couple of cabins greet us. Smoke rises from one of the cabins and my ‘partner’ heads directly towards the obvious. He pulls up several body lengths from the front door and I wonder if he is going to stare and wait. Until he relieves my confusion by bellowing out a war cry of some sort. I blink, his breath isn’t a warm moist cloud into the cold air, unlike every frigid gasp I take.

Two Frost Giants, one male and one female appear first. A female Panther Kin follows behind and closes the Cabin’s door behind her. Could there be more inside? The other dwellings remain as we found them, snowdrifts around the foundations and dark, damp wooden walls with snow buried rooves.

“Well met Arnora, Priestess of Zeus, Hrut Myrmidon of Zeus and who are you Panther Kin?” he roars.

The Panther Kin attempts to step forward past the Frost Giants. The male, Hrut flings out an arm to prevent her solo advance.

“Ottar the Oaf, still confused by which of your heads should do the thinking?” says the female Frost Giant.

I hiss in amusement and earn a glance of betrayal from him.

“Now, a little respect Priestess … I have a visitor for you to entreat with.” His arm sweeps back in my direction.

The black coat of the Panther Kin burs up. “A Snake Kin! Untrustworthy, power-hungry vermin …”

I am more than jealous of the fur-lined coat and I assume jacket and long pants she wears – the coat and jacket should fit me comfortably …

“You stand accused Snake Kin, what say you?” asks Arnora, gaining my attention. Her voice even while Hrut’s eyes never leave me, his grasp on his spear tightening.

“I am beyond Snake Kin. I serve the Goddess Aphrodite.”

The Panther Kin roars her dissent, Hrut the Myrmidon advances a couple of steps and feigns thrusting his spear at me, which with steel purpose I refuse to react to. The female Frost Giant bursts out laughing, even my oaf of a companion stands mouth agape as a result.

Arnora, Priestess of Zeus, flicks ice drops from her eyes while recovering her demeanour. What is so funny?

“So, a Priestess of the enemy visits our humble Shrine. What is your purpose?”

I fold my arms upon my chest. “I seek passage to the sea, nothing more and nothing less, otherwise content to leave you as I have found you.”

“You lie,” growls the Panther Kin. “All Snake Kin lie, you can tell when they do, they open their mouths …”

The Priestess’ hand rests upon Hrut’s shoulder. I am uncertain if this is for support or to restrain.

I stare down upon the Panther Kin. “My Goddess wields the Truth Realm foolish Cat Kin, I cannot lie.”

“How do any know that Truth,” retorts the feline.

“If I may assist,” rumbles Ottar. “My … um … partners normally call upon Aphrodite during sex, Fertility is big then as well as Disorder to ensure the failure of Frost Giant conception is thwarted. Once done they want you to swear on the Truth Realm that you forever love them and when you edge away from that commitment, they curse you with the Death Realm. Deeply passionate are the Initiate and Lay members of her Goddess.” He flicks a hand in my direction. Over to me then is it, after that somewhat unusual assist.

Hands, on my hips, I stare at him and realise now how he earnt his name ‘Oaf’.

Ignoring me he continues, “So, when she speaks, being a Priestess and all, you can take her words for truth …”

His statement isn’t entirely true, yet the explanation too subtle for this meeting. The Priestess of Zeus, for her part, relaxes her gaze upon Ottar and her arm now lays casually across Hrut’s shoulders.

“You may pass if you tell me the whereabouts of an Aphrodite Priest,” she asks while laying her head upon Hrut’s shoulder, finishing with a charming smile upon her lips.

“Can I ask the reason why?”

“Tell her Hrut, my Myrmidon of Zeus.”

“We wish to hear his preaching again and perhaps this time we will heed his divine message …”

“Name?” I ask knowing there is falsehood behind their answer.

“Priest Allene,” murmurs the Panther Kin.

I know my skin darkens in shade … the name a surprise and a shock, not discounting my recent obedience to his desires and plans.

“So, you know the Priest then?” entreats the Priestess of Zeus. Her eyes narrow while she straightens her posture, standing alone and in command.

All I can manage is a nod.

Hrut free from his Priestess’ arm across his shoulder advances upon me. Ottar for all his oafishness, shifts closer to me as a not-so-subtle warning and Hrut halts, midway between me and his Priestess. Seeing this, I recover. The Priest Allene, his reputation for converting the Frost Giants lauded by all and hence propelling him into the position of Arch Priest. Yet I now know the truth … he coveted our Goddess’ position, felt he deserved more. His remonstrations before me almost daily were about his frustrations with others and how the Goddess spurned him.

All eyes are upon me when I free my thoughts and return to the ‘present’.

“Priest Allene is no longer in the service of the Goddess Aphrodite. Therefore, he can no longer be found.”

The Priestess Arnora answers with a sweet smile. “I must of course accept that truth from a Priestess of a Truth Goddess, yet I sense there is more.” She takes a deep breath and releases. The cloud of vapour I expect fails to manifest. This immunity to cold is unfair. “Where is the creature Allene? And if you decide not to answer, we will consider that disrespectful and therefore an insult!”

“Allene is a spirit on the Spirit Plane. He no longer has a physical form,” I answer.

Hrut looks over his shoulder, while the Priestess advances to join him. The Panther Kin releases a high pitch howl of anguish.

“He is dead then?” Arnora asks.

I shake my head. “He didn’t die to ascend to the Spirit Plane, another, a Sorcerer summoned him.”

“To the Spirit Plane!” Arnora’s voice loud, near enough to shouting. Several weights of snow thump to the ground. My answer a complete shock to the Priestess, yet such is the truth.

I take this moment. “May I pass?”

She waves a hand at me and Ottar and without another word we return to the trail, him taking long strides and me slithering for all I am worth to keep pace with him. Once around several bends, he slows, and I follow suit. The warmth of exercise is welcome yet tiring.

“There is more isn’t there?” he whispers.

“Possibly,” I say. “Anyway, why do you continue to follow me? The mountain pass looks to be descending now, soon the snow will be no more.”

“You have grown on me and I have never seen the sea, whatever that is.”

Me neither. I keep that thought to myself.

---

Below the snow line, the salt on the sea breeze rests on my tongue. Ottar sneezes, while salt on my tongue irritates and I try to change the habit of a lifetime and keep my tongue inside my mouth. The path down the mountain is strictly single file for a Frost Giant, with many cutbacks. Ottar grumbles every few steps yet this changes nothing. I do make the effort of checking with him to ensure he doesn’t want to turn back … oaf by name, oaf by nature, I conclude.

The seaside village hugging the shore gains definition and detail as we continue our descent, two long harbour piers an obvious feature with fishing boats along one pier, while larger ships utilise the other. The crafts come and go, and I divide my concentration between observing the wondrous sight and ensuring my next step is on the path.

I slam into Ottar’s back and shake my head to recover from the shock.

“The path ends,” he states.

I crane my head past his bulk and find the trail does continue … into a cave. The expected switchback doesn’t exist, never did exist given how the mountainside is sheer and devoid of vegetation.

“The cave?” I suggest.

“Not many Frost Giants have walked this path, yet all know there is no cave, it continues downward.”

Half glad and half concerned, I notice sweat upon his brow … will my Frost Giant companion be able to endure?

“Shift aside, I will enter the cave … after all, we can’t stand here forever can we.”

He shuffles about until his back is against the mountain stone, turning his clodhopper boots to one side also. I have a third of the width to myself. Enough in normal times, yet over the afternoon, the breeze has been strengthening …

I slither forward, leaning towards Ottar, although trying to avoid any actual touching. The wind rips at my furs, eager, pulling and my eyes look over the edge of the precipice. My body follows my eyes …

His hands grab my shoulders and my body steadies. My furs whip about my body, obeying the ferocity in the wind and just as I wonder why he doesn’t pull me, he does.

“That was strange …” he mumbles.

With one of his hands upon my shoulder, I am now past him. The wind though is now a breeze …

The cave entrance isn’t as such. The depth is shallow, almost like someone scooped out a chunk of mountain. Ottar would need to duck down, while my height is comfortable. Daylight reveals most of the interior, which at best would provide shelter from any seaside storms.

“We are at the end of the trail …”

Ottar shakes his head and then strokes his beard. “The trail goes down the mountain … it always has.”

“Do you wish to return or rest in the cave and then return?”

His eyes check the sky and then look out to sea. “Rest in the cave.” There isn’t any energy in his brief reply, dumbfounded conclusion is the strongest feeling I sense.

Once I am inside, Ottar hands my pack to me and I break out my bedding, busying myself to ensure I have my first warm and comfortable sleep in many days. Almost done and Ottar stands where he spoke his last words.

“Come in at least to escape the salt spray …”

He bends over slightly, one hand resting upon the top of the cave opening and peers in. He grunts, something must meet his expectations as half bent over, he shuffles inside, finding a place to sit opposite my bedding. I note this must be temporary as he can’t lay down where he rests. His eyes fix on the cave exit, off in the distance pure blue sky with glimpses of the mountain range fill his vision. I don’t understand yet such is his look of loss, I fear disturbing him and instead try to sleep amongst my fur bedding.

---

“We can’t go back …”

I am uncertain how long I have slept, yet his words reverberate around the cave and wake me as if he slapped me. Blinking my eyes doesn’t help. Night has fallen and we are surrounded by darkness.

With light humour in my voice, I reply, “We don’t have a choice unless you can sprout wings …”

“Your Goddess could fly …” he retorts, and I know his head swivels about as his eyes catch some faint light while looking directly at me.

I clear my throat. “The Goddess Aphrodite could do many things.”

“Pray to her and ask if she will grant us flight.”

My mouth drops open … thoughts run through my mind … simply ask? Ridiculous. Naive.

“Place your hand upon my shoulder,” I ask.

He doesn’t hesitate and the weight now resting upon me is somehow reassuring. Then I pray [Worship (Aphrodite)].

[Frost Giant Ottar accepted as Lay Member of Aphrodite]

I crack a smile. The confirmed self-centred Frost Giant has accepted the Goddess.

I remember the words of my Goddess and my prayers turn to a different purpose [Sanctify Area (Aphrodite)].

[Consecration of Shrine to Aphrodite +0% Divine Dominate.]

[Due to Level of Faith, Ottar, Lay Member of Aphrodite promoted to Initiate of Aphrodite.]

Snake Kin, don’t sweat, we must breathe to release heat from our bodies and at worship end, I am doing so rapidly. Ottar waves a fur near the entrance of the cave and the cool night air helps.

“Why did you agree to become an Initiate?”

He chuckles. “The women keep asking, so why not.”

His laughter doesn’t hide the total truth, I am certain his reason truthful, yet there is more …

The ring I received grows warm, have I fulfilled a requirement or passed a test? The Shrine? The Priestess did hint the Spirit within could assist me … all I need do is attune the Spirit to me. I know this absolute control … lived this absolute control as the helpless one. The warmth recedes, knowing my will perhaps …

{Mountain Trail Zone is being contested by another, Gateway Dungeon of Arsu. Prepare to defend your claim or surrender.}

“A Dungeon!” he bellows, his deep voice bounces off the walls of the cave so we can hear his words again and again …

“Gateway Dungeon of Arsu, we surrender!” I scream.

“Whoa …” he replies.

“As your Priestess, Initiate, you must trust in my decisions …”

He grumbles to himself.

[You have entered the Gateway Dungeon of Arsu.]

“Welcome Cardinal Pex and Initiate Ottar.”

In the back of the cave, a passageway opens and to our surprise, Ottar can stand. The passageway closes behind us, stone materialising and filling in behind us as we scamper forward side by side. As we travel along, behind us becomes solid.

“I apologise for the undue haste, but the Mountain Trail Zone is only acquired by me when I sense allies within the cave. To own the zone always would be like a sign to all that a Dungeon is present, and my purpose restricts my actions somewhat. Enough of that, how can I assist the faithful of Aphrodite?”

The temperature within the passage is ideal for Snake Kin and pleasant for Frost Giants as Ottar’s face is one of calm curiosity.

“We hoped to take the mountain trail to the beach, we have a task to complete for the Goddess at her Shrine there,” I reply.

“I am responsible for the removal of the mountain trail. I needed to restrict the invaders and while the terminus of the trail was hidden these new creatures, they call themselves humans are extremely curious and ravenous. They crave resources, wood, ore, fur and meat and using their water vessels they transport them away. The vessels then return with more humans … they are many and their number grows.”

“Are they a threat to Beast Kin?” I ask.

“Frost Giants?” adds Ottar, his thoughts are like shouting, still good first attempt.

“They are ravenous … they take and take. Enough of this dreary subject, the Goddess aids me and I in turn will aid her worshippers … and on cue, your guide arrives. He will take you, although being a walking dead he lacks conversational skills.”

Appearing from a side door, a shambling body of rotting flesh covered in threadbare clothes stands to attention. One pale bloodless arm, waves at us, an invitation to proceed through the doorway he just exited. The only saving grace, the doorway and next passageway have a ceiling height that clears the top of Ottar’s head.

Our route through Arsu’s Dungeon feels almost direct, as if the path through the Dungeon, while not a direct physical copy of the trail still delivers the traveller in good time.

“Cardinal, did you expect any to follow you?”

The exiles?

“Didn’t expect or not expect. They are the exiles who continue to worship Zeus. Can you lure them into the cave and crush them?”

A gentle, all-knowing tinkling laughter echoes through my mind. “Dungeons have rules Cardinal. We can set traps, overrun intruders with our denizens and perhaps get those who enter lost so they eventually starve, but no, we can’t just collapse part of the Dungeon on them with no chance of survival. We are obligated to challenge. A Dungeon is an environment of contest.”

“What will become of the exiles?”

“Short of flying off the cliff, they will need to return from whence they came …”

“Could they climb down elsewhere?” I ask.

Her failure to reply immediately is a concern. Maybe she checks and double-checks the possibility?

“The mountain trail is the furthest my Dungeon reaches … I can’t say if there is another way down the mountain or they can discover their own by climbing down.”

I don’t believe the Priestess of Zeus will remain frustrated by a trail that suddenly ends. Biding their time, hoping to meet and exact revenge from Allene perfect training to develop a high level of patience. With him being out of reach, their wait is over and I am responsible for disturbing their peaceful procrastination. With Allene no longer within their grasp, I suspect they wonder what a Priest of Aphrodite needs to do by the seaside …

--- Aphrodite POV

[Divine Worship Magic: 462 Points

Worship Regeneration (106% Divine Dominate) x (12% Worshipper Divine Dominate): 12.7 Points per Day.]

[Awareness on the High Planes:

Enable Ruler God Clairaudience – 150 Points.

Enable Ruler God Clairvoyance – 150 Points.

Enable Ruler God Five Senses – 150 Points.]

[Awareness on the Low Planes:

Enable Ruler God Clairaudience – 150 Points.

Enable Ruler God Clairvoyance – 150 Points.

Enable Ruler God Five Senses – 150 Points.]

[Worshipper Interaction:

Enable visitation via Dream – 100 Points.

Enable visitation via Prophecy – 100 Points.

Enable visitation via Proxy – 100 Points.

Enable visitation via Divine Agent – 100 Points.

Enable visitation via Avatar – 500 Points.

Enable visitation via Self (Leave the God Plane) – 1000 Points.

Enable teleportation across High Planes – 1000 Points.

Enable teleportation across Low Planes – 1000 Points.]

[Ruler God Enhancement:

Read and Write all Languages (known by worshippers) – 100 Points.

Command Lesser Beings – 100 Points.

Summon Lesser Beings – 500 Points.

Place Geas upon Lesser Beings – 500 Points.

Place Quest upon Lesser Beings – 500 Points.]

After the refusal of eavesdropping, I decide I need to know more. The Ruler God Menu System is like that of Dungeons, although there is progression. My attempt to [Enable visitation via Divine Agent] failing due to not yet acquiring [Enable visitation via Prophecy], which failed because [Enable visitation via Dream] wasn’t purchased. The other shock being usage, the cost being ten percent of the original Divine Worship Magic Points, which means the use of any, once per day exceeds my regeneration capability per day. I need to save a reserve and in the meanwhile expand my worshipper base.

First, though, I need to reconnect with my worshippers. My active presence among them the greatest influence to winning more to my worship. Not far behind that is to keep a watch on the humans, they, according to Arsu are the invaders, the testing force, either Beast Kin or Human the ultimate winners, the original experiment and purpose of this planet.

I select the following powers:

Worshipper Interaction: Enable visitation via Dream – 100 Points.

Awareness on the Lower Plane: Enable Ruler God Clairaudience – 150 Points.

Awareness on the Lower Plane: Enable Ruler God Clairvoyance – 150 Points.

Divine Worship Magic: 062 Points

I expend a further 15 Points immediately to invoke Clairvoyance. The Beast Kin continent projects into the surrounding ocean like a lower jaw, the teeth are a mountain range that protects the soft interior. The Dungeon of Arsu is the official access path for the humans to complete their racial Quest, yet when I last flew over the area the human’s seemed more interested in mining instead of questing …

After a day of observation, following the entire coastline of the Beast Kin continent, I slump back into my throne, contemplating my options. There are the two well-known human incursions, one directly opposite Arsu and the other further along, directly opposite the former mountain trail, a cutback path hewed into the sheer mountainside by who knows. What is disturbing are the other incursions further along the coastline, each one flying a different flag which can only mean separate interests. Perhaps divide and conquer is the way forward? To accomplish this, I will need the perfect agent.

Expending 10 Points to enable visitation via Dream and focusing on the name of the worshippers I wish to target my conscious enters her dreamscape and I begin hinting at what I require done.