Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 993: Chapter 788: The So-Called Secret of Long Saddle Town

Hill couldn’t help but rub his forehead; he really was crazy, why would he go and ask Celene!

Maybe even Shaer understands better what’s inside the Silvermoon Temple!

Anyway, it has nothing to do with Agleya... he’s not benevolent enough to help Deepwater City out of its predicament; it’s already good enough to take in the fleeing refugees.

”List, have the Agleya Temple prepare to accommodate the refugees.”

”Yes, sir. Should I notify Tyr Temple to also prepare to receive refugees?

Mr. Lynn now has them defending the walls on the north and south sides of the port. Although it’s unlikely, he’s worried someone might take advantage of the situation.”

Hill nodded. When protection is needed, the Toril people still very much recognize Tyr’s credibility... although the people at Tyr Temple are likely mentally prepared, it’s still good to remind them on his end.

As for the north and south sides of Agleya City... Terry and Tasding’s roars are already audible to him, and disorganized response sounds have come from the North.

They’re cussing each other out, planning to see who kills more invaders... Zholar would be crazy to come through those two mountains; they’re not really looking to invade Agleya.

Hill’s Draconic is just a bit lacking in reading and writing... but listening is not a problem.

He quietly stands up, sensing the strength of the enemies in the wild... not even at Demigod Level, are they here to die?

Rose is sure Hill won’t step in to rescue Deepwater City, right?

But her suspicious nature still decided to send cannon fodder to harass Agleya... no large tools like Disease Stone Golems have been sent over yet. If such things appear, Hill would have to intervene; minerals wouldn’t harm him, but the elves couldn’t avoid this disease damage.

He turned his head to look at Deepwater City, where black light had already erupted... The defense of Black Staff Tower opened so quickly... the attack is quite strong!

Just hoping Deepwater City can withstand the attack of the Zholar... it’s unknown how many people from ’Under the Mountain,’ hiding numerous evil mages, are involved in this riot.

To be honest, Hill really didn’t expect a mage rebellion in ’Under the Mountain,’ which was tightly suppressed by that Mad Mage.

Although there have been rumors of Halaster the Black Robe’s death over these years, most mages didn’t believe it.

It’s more likely he suddenly decided to tour other worlds, after all, Elminster often runs around.

But death?

Even Hill, who has been in Toril for just a few years, couldn’t believe it.

However, the Black Robe has indeed not appeared for a decade; even some high-level mages sneak into his territory, and he hasn’t stepped in to punish them... only his constructs continually patrol every corner of ’Under the Mountain.’

Perhaps these troublesome mages think the Black Robe has been isolated outside of Toril?

Most pure mages now only hide themselves, given the Magicplague forces them to stay put... but necromancers are different; they’ve become quite arrogant during this period.

Nobody knows why the Weave is lenient toward necromancers; maybe it’s because although the Shadow Realm is not very stable, it’s grown much stronger... anyway, the use of Undead Summoning Spells is entirely unaffected.

Hill has already heard a lot of news collected by Lynn regarding Sel... this Land of the Undead has now become particularly aggressive, coveting the two neighboring countries, with the Undead Canopy poised to strike, potentially triggering war at any moment.

The ambitious Necromancy Chief Salazaar has officially become the ruler of Sel.

Necromancers also need resources; when opportunity arises, anyone might be tempted, even those who once depended on the Black Robe for survival.

Even if they don’t dare act against the Black Robe’s Magic Tower, the labyrinth ’Under the Mountain’ still accumulates many treasures, experimental equipment, food, other essentials, magical items, and servants by Halaster... as long as they grab and run, what can Halaster the Black Robe do if he returns?

They will have long fled without a trace!

Moreover, there’s a chance to raid Deepwater City with Zholar... they wouldn’t dare to do so when the Black Robe was around, not only because he disfavored harming the surface folk, but also due to the Moonstars organization from Harpists and Kelben.

But it’s the Zholar doing the burning and killing; their most wouldn’t be more than looting... even if Deepwater’s people seek revenge in the future, they wouldn’t be the first target!

Hence, more necromancers are participating in attacking Deepwater City compared to those heading to raid the Black Robe’s labyrinth... the phenomenon of bullying the weak and fearing the strong never changes.

Fran frowned and asked: ”Aren’t you going to check out the walls?”

Hill shook his head: ”We’re already fighting inside the Puzzle Lock, if I run over, what’s their purpose for the battle? Let’s wait! Lynn won’t overestimate himself, if he needs me, he’ll call out in time.”

Knowing there’s support, and having it stand right next, is different for most people. The word ’invisible’ can still give them some tension.

Lynn probably just wants to train the city guards’ crisis awareness, they should not lose their will to fight just because the City Lord is too powerful... He’s always been a foresightful elf, perhaps already considering what to do if, one day, Hill doesn’t make it back to Agleya in time when enemies attack.

At the very least, Agleya City Guards must firmly defend their city until Hill returns.

Hill can understand Lynn’s concerns, so he decided to wait here anyway... he doesn’t need to show his strength, he could remain unseen.

Celene suddenly spoke: ”Why would Long Saddle Town help the Zholar? Clearly, that Archmage Marko is good friends with Kelben from Deepwater City, isn’t he?”

She seemed to just realize what was happening, but her focus was a bit odd.

Hill suddenly remembered, the Maiden of the Moon once ran an inn in Deepwater City, right when Marko and Kelben were building the Black Staff Tower together.

So she indeed knew those two Archmages, and the relationship seemed quite good... Her renowned Silvermoon Cathedral in Deepwater City was also established during that time.

Hill shook his head: ”That’s another matter. Marko Haber was not the Clan Leader of the Haber Family.

For such a mage family, the Leader will only belong to the Neutral Faction, otherwise, what about those evil-side family members?

The Haber family has many necromancers as well.

If there’s an opportunity for the Haber family to rise higher, even if Marko disagrees with their actions, he would remain silent... in the treasure maze ’Under the Mountain’, those treasures, especially some spell materials, just a small part would drive them mad.”

The Haber family indeed has many Archmages over level 20, but they have poor advanced professions, and they aren’t willing to take on deity-given advanced professions; there’s always been rumors about their dealings with devils... so most of them find it hard to truly reach level 30.

Although many mages as early as level 17 or 18 can recognize the difference between the Weave and Primordial Power and start learning to detach from the Weave to learn the use of Primordial Power for spells.

But those past marks constantly pull at them, leaving them to only spin in place: the stage at level 20 is basically the key period for them to break free from this pull.

Some are geniuses who, without any help, manage to make their way forward smoothly, reaching level 30 or even surpassing level 40, ultimately able to switch freely between Primordial Power and Weave spells.

For instance, Elminster... in spell creation, even the Deity of Mages, Azuth, is not better than him.

Those who can create spells beyond 7th circle largely belong to this category... each spell that resonates with the Law signifies their further mastery over the Law.

But some, without a guide, would get lost in the pursuit of spell truth, going around in circles only to find themselves stuck outside the exit.

Talent is indeed very important for mages... the Haber family is the latter type: though with decent talent, they fall short of reaching the top.

Both Fran and Hill are not mages bound by the Weave all their lives, from the start they pursued the path of Law Force research, also known as Toril’s Primordial Power, thus they can’t comprehend the madness of the Toril mages.

Yet they can understand how these mages resort to any means necessary in search of truth... insufficient power can be compensated with time, but a lack of foresight is perpetually detrimental to mages.

Except that people like Hill and Fran would bite down hard and forge ahead, even if it means leaping off a cliff or pounding through stone walls... yet some always seek shortcuts.

Even if the shortcut is short, it remains a path.

Hill recalled the book sent by the Haber family: ”The Haber family can’t pin its future on stolen or looted goods, those holding them surely must keep away from the North... List, inform Lynn to be wary of Long Saddle Town.

I don’t want one day to see neighbors jumping over...”

”Sir! Please hold your tongue!” List quickly spoke to stop Hill’s unwanted musings, ”Please don’t casually raise flags... Your ’it’s impossible’ ideas always turn true.”

Hill coldly stared at his overly honest Tower Spirit: ”List, shut up.”

Fran rarely laughed aloud, with a hint of nostalgia on his face... probably recalling the first time Hill faced a life crisis... all his nagging ’shouldn’t happen’ thoughts all came to pass.

”What the Haber family is associated with isn’t devils,” Celene suddenly added enigmatically, ”it’s the Lady of Pain in Mark City.

Just the Toril people’s long-time nickname, calling Mark City the City of Devils, led to this misunderstanding.

But they possibly detained something beneath their castle... even the Deities don’t know if it’s a devil or a demon, but generally, deities won’t intervene in such self-destructive matters.