The Frost Queen while a harsh and demanding goddess, gives large amounts of aid to her followers in the colder parts of Althrá. While she bans fire and the kinds of shelter needed to survive in harsh winters, her blessings more than make up for the sacrifice. She is not well received in most places outside of the domains of her followers and is often banned as an evil goddess.

Andrus of the Anointed Counsel

Going through the reports of the Church and nation, I cannot help but smile at how well the last few decades have gone. Few incursions of demonic forces, the decline of the sub-human population, ever increasing tithes and tax revenue, and the occasional but still random appearances of particularly powerful or useful otherwolders.

Opening the scroll that tracks the state of affairs on the western border of this holy nation, I immediately frown. The forces that we’re sent to Daerth to collect Pack Bloodclaw have failed. The leadership of that force are dead and while some of the soldiers and called likely survived, none have made a report. The Bloodclaw were supposed to be the fuel for another calling or two.

A setback that will delay our plans to field test the Purification by Blood rituals on the tainted lands. But that is not the greatest loss in the last few days. No that would be the loss of one of the transmutes that are looking into the ideas of a weak but extremely useful otherworlder.

Yet, he did submit a report claiming the near total success in collecting and condensing most of the werewolves. He should not have died with all of the leadership if the mission was as much of a success as noted in the report. The report can’t be false as they are enchanted to only accept truthful reports. Unless, it was the survivors of the Bloodclaw who did it or a third party.

“Raenath, have there been any spatial disturbances near Daerth recently?” I ask one of my assistants.

“One, a small disruption. Not large enough for anything of real size and the magnitude was too small to be long range. A second point was not found and determined to be no more than a particularly large burst of ambient charge in the wards” he answers and I nod. That would make sense, a short-range teleport without a second point would have to be either one of the rare quirks that show up in any ward of it’s size or a botched teleport.

Neither significant but something nags at the back of my mind. Something about an upsurge in ambient spatial disturbances.

“Get me a map of the ward’s readings over the last few months, including those deemed insignificant. Another from the same time period last year.”

“At once” Raenath says with a bow before rushing off to retrieve what I desire.

This may simply be a waste of time but something or someone must have drastically changed the course of that subjugation. There has to be a reason for their sudden disappearance and lacking anything else, this is the only potential lead. There should have been something more, a grand spell's signature or evidence of an army to destroy them all overnight but I’ve nothing but spatial static.

As I wait, I open the drawer of my desk and pull out a vial from one of the projects that has not suffered unforeseen setbacks. I down the vial's vile contents and wince in pain as a burning force spreads from my gut. The short few seconds of agony end and I smile as I go over my form. The slight changes of the alchemical agents making me better, stronger, faster, smarter and more powerful even if each dose does only a minor amount. To slowly reach and surpass the natural Apex of humanity without devolving into sub and demi-human scum. The Holy One is no doubt pleased to see his followers augmented and purified however slowly.

I play with the vial and whisper, “the things otherworlders come up with” for the few moments I have to wait on lesser examples of the human species to fetch what I commanded them to.

Once the maps arrive, I frown to see several hundred more 'insignificant' spatial disturbances around the capital. Far more than could be from the increase in extradimensional space items. Generally, this would not be my problem, but a similarly large increase around Daerth and the line of unnaturally large number of minor disturbances between the two coinciding with the force sent to deal with the Bloodclaw. . .

“Why was an disloyal called with the ability to manipulate space sent as fodder against the Bloodclaw?”

“We have no records of acquiring such an individual” Raenath answers before pausing a moment and guesses the question I am about to ask as he says, “the only disloyal called that we’re sent to be fodder were an elementalist and a few followers of his, the most noteworthy being a two-tailed kitsune girl.”

“Read me their records” I state for my other assistant Raenaer.

A moment later she begins, “Adrian, no known surname. Classes and race not confirmed but suspected pureblood human as most terrans. He has a weak mana presence, almost non-existent despite his ability to manipulate flames and call lightning from a storm.

He spent most of his time in the library before one of his followers died after witch he began to drink, spending more coin than he should have had. Likely began working with one of the thieves' guilds.

Abagail and Bryan both showed slightly above average mana potential and potency but no knowledge of the fundamentals of magic. The two spent most of their time together while Adrian provided for them. Abagail is loyal to Bryan who is loyal to Adrian. Bryan also showed some talent in swordplay but again lacks the fundamentals needed to be worth recruiting. The possibility that one of them are really in charge has been dismissed as both of them have been seen trying and failing to cast simple magics.

Ria the kitsune was a slave to one of the criminal organizations under training before they were destroyed in a fire. Her tail given powers are unknown but one is suspected to be fire. Appears to be dependent on Adrian to cope with her half-finished training. Like most kitsune she seems naturally gifted in illusions but also managed to pick up some divination before she was taken from her kin roughly half a decade ago.”

Something doesn’t fit, none of these individuals would have both the power and skill to be responsible for the disruptions. . .

“Was the mana reading verified on Adrian? He shouldn’t be able to use magic at all according to what you read.”

Raenaer nods and I frown. We’ll need to raise Vithrá from the dead then, but the Holy One is unlikely to restore the life of that fallen priest. . . Another method will be needed. . . We can’t turn to another god, and such necromancies are forbidden by the Holy One. . .

“Track down the called that were sent as fodder. If any are still alive I want them interrogated under accusations of heresy and treason.”

“At once” my two assistants say simultaneously before Raenath leaves to deliver the command.

With nothing left to do on this issue, I turn to the next report. One on the actions of an old enemy of the Holy One. It seems the Blood Elf has been active of late according to the scouts in the Darklands. The creation and training of a new toy of his.

A series of murders in a town bordering the Darkwall Mountains, easy enough to cover up. The citizens of such villages tend to be tainted anyways so there was no harm. At least not enough for me to send an army to it’s death in the Darklands to temporarily kill the man. Damn sub-human and his immortality. Such a lowly creature should not be allowed to have such a blessing.

His newest creation seems alarming and dangerous though. Something the alchemical transmuters would like to study but ultimately, no longer human and thus will need to be destroyed eventually.

A knock at my door given in courtesy echoes off the stone walls before it is opened by a servant of one of my colleagues on the Anointed Counsel. The man enters without looking at the lower human as he says, “Anointed Andrus, I hear your pet heretic died. Do you need any aid in finding the killer?”

I frown at my fellow Anointed, I did not give up my house to be mocked by one such as he. The fool doesn’t have the power he should have to act as such but I can’t remove him. He's too useful of a pawn in manipulating the other Anointed.

“Anointed Farriel, yes but do remember that that particular heretic was once on our counsel. It was hoped that he would recant his one failing by all of the counsel. Even fallen he still did all he could to further the agenda of the Holy One.

So do tell me what it is that you found out?”

“Likely only a little more than you have already. The leader of your expedition was killed by a called. Or at least he tried and failed to command a called in the last moments of his life. That and all but threw of the called sent to be fodder were killed either during the attack on the Bloodclaw or around the same time as the victorious army.”

“And who were these three?”

“Adrian, Bryan Grace and Abagail Clark.”

I raise an eyebrow at that interesting piece of information only to be surprised as my fellow continues, “but that is not the most interesting part. During the fight with the Bloodclaw, Adrian ceased to appear on the lists of active called only to reappear moments later in red . . .”

“meaning he broke his compulsions” I finish for him.

This changes everything, he would need to be capable of powering and casting a fourth-tier spell at minimum to break free. Something that we take great care never to have happen. Individuals of that power are supposed to be treated differently than the fodder that is the majority of the otherworlders. Someone of that power level is entitled to nobility and is supposed to be adopted into a house immediately.

“So you’ve come to seek my aid in covering up that you lost and likely made an enemy out of a significant called?” I ask with a smile.

“Oh no, the records of his summoning have already been deleted with. I just thought you would want a target to pin your failure to. After all, between this and the Blood Elf's recent actions you will need to do something about one of them” he says as he places a small amulet on my desk, one used to track rouge called.

With that the Anointed who has temporarily raised my opinion of him leaves. I stare for a moment at the offered amulet. If I use it I’ll owe the weakling a debt. A minor one, but still. I usually have debts go the other way.

I wave Raenaer to me and she takes the amulet, knowing what to do. The squads that hunt down escaped called won’t be able to handle a mage capable of breaking his own compulsions. They tend to rely on the bindings to handle the called and will end up slaughtered if they meet this one. Fourth tier magic at his age, and those in charge of his summoning turn him against us.

Though that alone does not explain how the entire force was lost. There is more to it than what I have deduced. He must have had outside help as well, perhaps an item stolen from somewhere in the city?

No, such a valuable object would have caused a blood hunt by the house who lost it. Then the thieves’ guild? Maybe, something to look into but unlikely unless there is far more to h and his group than I know. . .