Reports came in, half a dozen of them every day. When the first traces of our enemy appeared in the surrounding mountains, they came with no signings of the beasts themselves. It kept me on edge, my scales constantly flattened against themselves to present a more armored front to whatever and whoever approached me. I didn't try to hold back my immediate willingness to work violence, and it infected the rest of my Empire. Everywhere I went, my people were snarling, slavering and chomping at the opportunity to go and kill these fools that threatened us and our children. The sand pits were constantly full, mock battles fought around the clock and needing stronger discipline from turning not just bloody but deadly.
Fortunately, Shemira, as the Militia's Superintendent and Percral, as the General, maintained the fights' momentum in a positive direction, so they served only to further whet my people's appetite for blood. As reports returned, letting me know that the first conflicts with our enemy had occurred, I decided to finally finish a long-standing Quest that I'd allowed to continue incomplete for a long time, but it was time to finish it.
After Percral excitedly reported on his victory against the leader of a company of twenty Misti Hawar, Foire gave the information that we had so long been waiting for: the main body of the Misty Hawar enemy force had been seen, and they were making preparations to attack in the next day at the latest. Most likely, they would strike this every night, and the time to wait was finally over. I gave my approval for the final few preparations to be made, but we had long since anticipated this. This was only the arrival of the inevitable.
With that, I went on my way towards where I could find Shraal. He and Nievtala's priesthood, the Unbroken Blades, had long since finished the barest trappings of creating a temple, with the sanctum, altar, and divine representation, and now, not a day passed by without some new adjustment or improvement being made. I'd delayed on finishing the Quest to ensure that I would reap the greatest rewards possible, but now that the war had begun, it was time to rededicate ourselves to only the war, instead of all of the efforts in developing in strengthening the nation. With that in mind, I checked over the requirements that the System had given me back when I'd newly evolved to Keel:
Create a city that can house, provide for, and protect 10,000 inhabitants. Rewards will vary according to the quality of the final product.
Declare your nation as extant to three foreign nations' qualified representatives. Progress: 3/3 COMPLETE.Gain a population of at least 20,000 sapient civilian inhabitants within the bounds of your new nation. Progress: 11,429/20,000Establish a capital city. Note: The requirements of a capital city are as follows;Able to house, provide for, and protect 10,000 inhabitants. COMPLETE.Contains three established public institutions, such as a school, a policing force, or a city council. COMPLETE.Has an established governance office. COMPLETE.
There will be benefits granted to citizens and the monarch upon the completion of the establishment of the nation and capital city, including a new evolution.
I had done everything I conceivably could in the time that we've had, as I couldn't provide for my population to burgeon any quicker. As it was, every dead body, whether enemy or friendly, was quickly consumed to ensure that my militia and soldiers were well fed and full of energy when the time came to fight. Fortunately, I'd had the wherewithal to force my people to stop their indulgences over a year ago now. Most important of all, the Keel were held back from eating until we were full, with the exception of the three infants who were only toddlers at this point. As each of us was, at least, nine or ten feet tall, we could consume over one hundred pounds of meat each every day, though that would have overstuffed our bellies and fattened us up.
Instead, every one of my people was ready and excited to destroy this sword that hung over our heads. Everybody, from Kha to Keel, was made of ripcord muscle and just enough fat on our bones to keep us warm in the snow. Thinking of it, I sent a quick thought to Nievtala.
"Not sure how much influence you have on it, but I thank you for our bodies, that we're able to do what we do, survive in the snow, in the water, in the forest, and on the mountain."
No words came back, but a deep warmth pressed on me, and though part of that was in response to my gratitude, I understood, as Nievtala's Voice, that much of her pleasure came from the reality that war was finally here. A grin crossed my face as I stepped to the temple. Near the center of the city, a large building towered over those around it. With those like Ytte able to manipulate stone, each building constructed was sturdy and, frankly, utilitarian over anything else. There was no filigree or ostentation on the buildings, they were built laboriously, and though the city's walls encompassed a space several miles across at its widest, what remained of the city in its wake was only rubble. Not a single building was truly liveable before the Kha'Tal caste of workers fixed it.
The temple was the sole exception to the rule of no decorations, my own palace included.
It stood two stories tall, with a spire jutting from its center another two stories up. The outside was patterned with windows, colored stone carved so thin as to allow the brightest light from the suns to pass through it. Mosaics of our victories, those of the swarm before it was the Empire, decorated the walls, showcasing fights against humans, Moonchildren, Indlovu, and a few Misti Hawar, and conspicuous spaces were left to add more. A set of stairs divided into five parts led up to the massive doors. As I walked up the central, main steps for a size to fit Keel feet and legs, while on either side of me were steps made for Khatif, and beyond those, the smallest steps for Kha.
I strode into the temple, and torchlight filled the air. It was well lit, and I stepped over a small lump as I looked around. In the center of the room stood the altar, from which sprouted a long spear. That would be my final destination, but I took in the view. Surrounding the room was the representation of Nievtala in all her glory. A massive Keel, at least 40 feet tall, started at the left of the main door, her head looking down on the congregation that was absent. Her tail stretched all the way around the room, around the sand pit for ceremonial fights, and looping over a doorway in the back. Then, the tail returned to the front of the temple, where it made the threshold of the door that I'd stepped over.
Each of her scales was individually carved, and her majesty had largely filled the room. There was something missing, and it was inextricably tied to the spear jutting from the altar. Before going there, I poked my head into the room at the back, the sanctum. It was a small room, the floor uneven stones that I knew were intended to become tisarite, Nievtala's divine metal. Victory's alloy was made from iron that accompanied someone on a path of victory and conquest, but we didn't know more. Having this unrefined metal here, where the blood of sacrifices would wet it, though, was a good start. The ceremonial knife in the center of the room was made from the small excess of tisarite we'd had, and I took it in my hand before going to the altar.
There, finally, I saw the altar. The top was unornamented stone, though six rings were carved into the stone to allow for living sacrifice to be tied there. Underneath were carved representations of every race but the Saharliard, each carrying the weight of the altar, and in the center, where a hole had been carved to allow blood to fall underneath, was fastened the spear. My spear.
Fashioned entirely of tisarite, this had been placed here until I claimed it, and it was time to do so. I rolled my shoulders, settled the knife better in my hands, and leaned forward to begin the ceremony.
Thanks for reading! Check out the Patreon, where you can read up to 40 chapters ahead!
https://www.patreon.com/No_creative_name
Join the swarm! https://discord.gg/RqzsKj8hkD