Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Now, in Toril, because of the emergence of the Undead Tribe and the unfathomable deities standing behind them, an unusual calmness has descended.

Yet, there is an undercurrent moving silently.

If deities like Lansendel and Tyr can stay vigilant without taking action, it is absolutely impossible for someone like Shaer to sit quietly and wait for things to happen.

If, at the beginning, Hill still believed she was genuinely focused on seeking the God of Secrecy, then Shaer having the time to stir up the Undead Tribe’s matters instantly alarmed him.

This is Toril’s Lady of the Night, the culprit responsible for the world restarting twice, forcing AO to create Aber for the Primordial who did not want to die to hide from the great destructive God.

She might idle and watch, but she would not just watch forever.

Her probing of the Undead Tribe this time clearly shows her intention to bypass them to accomplish something... but she certainly wouldn’t lay hands on Anmur and Kalinsan.

Hill has some understanding of Shaer, the Goddess of the Night, who is actually quite protective.

Moreover, if she has some goodwill towards someone, she will try to avoid implicating them... to be honest, in this regard, Shaer’s conduct surpasses over ninety percent of Toril deities.

Generally, those deities think, ”I value you, so I should use you.”

Even though you suffer somewhat during the time I use you, didn’t you also gain extraordinary benefits?

This is your privilege.

As for the mental anguish you suffered in the process and how much time it will take to recover your spirit afterwards, those deities won’t care.

Someone like Shaer, who thinks someone is decent, will bypass them when acting... Hill doesn’t know what Toril people think, but he truly likes it.

Or rather, the Undead Tribe might have the same feeling.

Initially, Hill didn’t understand why William would truly fall in love with Shaer... being infatuated with a lady’s beauty and truly deciding to spend a lifetime with her are different matters.

Now, he can fully understand.

Shaer, indeed, is the kind who disregards everyone... even her believers, most are just tools in her eyes, but if she truly notices someone, she really keeps them in her heart.

Just like Kalinsan’s Iltmara, if this Queen of the Ancient Night Temple was truly madly assisting Shaer in destroying the world when she first became a Shaer Elector ten thousand years ago, later, amidst the indulgent life filled with countless handsome men, she gradually gave up that dream.

Of course, Iltmara doesn’t have any thoughts of betraying Shaer... anyone who has fought their way from a Night Priest to an elector wouldn’t be that foolish, not even after enjoying ten thousand years of debauchery. She wouldn’t defy Shaer’s orders, would dedicate herself fully to her master’s missions; she just wouldn’t actively seek the opportunity to destroy the world.

Unlike the one in Anmur.

Otherwise, the Dark Night Elector in Anmur wouldn’t keep opposing her, because they believe she has abandoned her dark night faith and is unworthy of the Goddess’ trust.

But, how could Shaer be unaware of what even the Night Cloak can see?

She simply pretends not to see... as long as Iltmara wholeheartedly worships her and works diligently.

Of course, Shaer wouldn’t abandon monitoring Iltmara.

But for the Lady of the Night, who has always been extremely stringent with her subordinates, this is considered very lenient.

Although William shares the same soul with the God of Time and Space and is equally noble... there are still differences between him and the God of Time and Space.

He is not someone who is utterly selfless.

For the country, for the people, for those he loves, William can sacrifice his own life.

But his heart is only within that range.

Therefore, he can accept and even love someone like Shaer.

He wouldn’t admire those goddesses who wholeheartedly love all living things.

So, this kind of Shaer, when about to take action against certain people or affairs in Toril, will definitely avoid some regions.

Even Edna, she would slightly avoid... further extending, even the Snowdrop Island Alliance would be included.

After all, her plans were always conducted in the dark, hiding unknown amounts of cruelty and blood... and these are matters the Undead Tribe would meddle with.

However, because of William’s stringent control, the tracks of the Undead Tribe practically won’t appear beyond the domain of the Snowfall Isle Alliance.

That is, only from Icewind Valley along Sword Bay and then directly from Kalinsan to opposite Harua this part.

Interestingly, Edna has taken Harua under her control, yet she hasn’t uttered a word about the Silvermoon Alliance.

So, the Supreme Lady of Silvermoon City is truly not in a good situation... although everyone knows, if she hadn’t driven Edna and her mother away, Edna wouldn’t be the Edna she is now.

But no one can deny that she has indeed hurt Edna.

Of course, if they as sisters don’t just speak up for Ella’s daughter when covering up, this matter might be slightly recuperated.

However, if remains an if.

Even though everyone understands that Elastr? has so many children that she couldn’t possibly care for those grandchildren and granddaughters she hasn’t even met twice.

But in the end, the situation still turned into what it is now.

Elastr?’s image, which had been built up over so many years in the Silvermoon Alliance, began to collapse.

After all, what was exposed in this process was her personal ambitions, which made the fair image she had always established virtually vanish.

The collapse of an idol’s persona can cause a huge faith collapse, let alone someone like Elastr?.

The Silvermoon Alliance is likely soon to revert back to its old ways of each standing apart.

After all, the current Northern Ferun doesn’t need a powerful Supreme Lady to shield their safety anymore.

The Undead Tribe is really too close, especially Hidden Town, which can almost reach every country and city along the rivers... So, no one is willing to push their neighbors to a desperate fight.

Moreover, those who don’t care about this, or even welcome the Undead Tribe, don’t have the ability to influence neighboring countries.

In fact, Edna, who has already become the new Mystra, doesn’t really pay attention to the situation of Elastr? and the others; instead, she’s more focused on Harua.

As Mystra’s Sacred Land, she completely cannot understand Midnight’s disregard for this country.

It’s a Sacred Land, indeed!

Even if the previous one created it, you have to keep it under your control!

If you want to change places, at least build your new place and then talk about it.

Moreover, even if really changed places, you should at least hold on until the entire world forgets what this place was before letting go!

Edna would never let herself end up in Midnight’s situation... Honestly, after hearing the Harua Mages in Chult give countless reasons but not say ’for Mystra’, Edna decided to reform the past Mystra Sacred Land according to her own ideas.

Indeed, Hidden Town is her future.

But she absolutely won’t let Mystra’s past constantly disturb her present, vex her future.

Thus, Edna resolutely designated Harua as part of her territory... and no one dared to say otherwise.

Even though the Naish Archmages of the past did not wish to face this result, under the nearly complete destruction of their leader in Chult, no one dared to stand against the Goddess of Magic.

Back then, the Arcanists collectively embraced Mystra to free themselves from Naish’s influence, resulting in this outcome... not many have the courage for casting spells without the Weave.

Of course, it’s impossible to have none at all.

But these powerful mages were originally followers of the Weave, entirely disagreeing with their colleagues who intervene in the fate path of the Goddess of Magic as neutral parties.

The formal and reasonable orders from the Goddess of Magic, they would not defy.

So, now Harua is actually quite lively.

No, it should be said that the whole continent is lively.

How can it be... According to William’s constraints, the Undead Tribe will not enter countries that have neither invited them nor harmed them.

Therefore, they cannot wander directly through others’ territories like the Harua Mages do.

But the Undead Tribe doesn’t want to detour that far... the mountains in Harua are high enough to be annoying, with only one section of peaks allowing easier passage.

This place happens to be situated between two desert kingdoms.

That is, the territory once filled with countless thieves, meant to block Harua’s trading routes.

It could also be called a no man’s land.

Although both countries claim sovereignty over this land, none have actually sent a lord there to manage it.

That’s why the Undead Tribe buried themselves in Edna’s Great Library, dug out old maps and books, and straightforwardly established the actual borders for the two countries.

These two countries, before Harua turned this southern barren land prosperous, were just two small nations.

Only later, for various interests, did they betray and even harm Harua.

They have hardly any real territory.

Even though extremely displeased with the wide and long road the Undead Tribe left for them between the two countries, neither king dared to utter a word.

After all, to trouble Harua, they had already ceded most of their lands to rampant thieves.

Their past actions were so disgusting, which is why the main Ferun Great Land countries never recognized those territories as theirs.

The Undead Tribe has already given them some face.

They are also afraid that if they say too much, the Undead Tribe might return them to the most original... the land Harua had just established.

Remember, Candlekeep’s map of Ferun Great Land has never listed them as formal countries.

The Undead Tribe can treat most regions as wastelands for development.