Board & Conquest: A Godly LitRPG

Less than a year ago, Victoire thought she would die at the tip of a magmorian’s blade defending Narc to her dying breath. Never would she have expected to witness the coronation of Lavaland’s next sovereign and the start of a peaceful union between their two nations, let alone crown the Fire Sultana on her god’s behalf.

So much has happened since that day, Victoire thought as she recalled the moment when Lord Wepwawet first showed up to save Narc from destruction. We’ve lost many friends and suffered greatly, but peace is finally at hand.

The entire population of Salamandra—mostly kobolds, magmorians, and traders from across the southern nations—had gathered at the palace’s gates to witness the Fire Sultana’s official coronation. Lady Alexandrite would convert in front of the whole population, and Victoire would crown her on Lord Wepwawet’s behalf. Her god’s divine avatar had already taken over Mount Sunfire and would oversee the region from afar.

Victoire had thus been invited to the Fire Sultana’s personal solar, the noise and cheers of the crowd reaching all the way to their balcony. Princess Topaz personally put a gemstone necklace around her sister’s neck under Jasper and General Peridot’s careful watch. Victoire sensed the latter’s hesitation as his gaze darted from his master to her.

“Does this turn of events trouble you, general?” Victoire inquired.

He didn’t deny it. “The gods’ power is unquestionable, and Lord Wepwawet has defended Verglane well against all threats… but I still doubt we should follow him unconditionally.”

Victoire could sympathize with the sentiment. She had shared those doubts once, until her god regained her trust. “I understand your position, especially considering what happened between Lady Pele and you,” she said. “Lord Wepwawet told me that neither he nor she blame you for Operation Cobalt.”

“Lord Wepwawet said as much to me,” Princess Topaz argued. “Lady Pele’s warmth and wishes endure through him.”

That didn’t reassure General Peridot in the slightest. “It is not that I fear consequences for myself, since I would shoulder any blame or punishment. I simply wonder whether our current overlord will treat us as allies… or as pawns.”

“This one was willing to put his life on the line for our sake,” Fire Sultana Alexandrite replied. “Which is more than I can say for all the others.”

“Lord Wepwawet has his flaws,” Victoire conceded. “But I truly believe his concern for us is sincere and that his heart is in the right place.”

“Flaws?” Her words amused the Sultana. “What kind of god allows his greatest Champion to criticize him?”

Victoire smiled back at her. “The kind I’ll follow to the death.”

Lady Alexandrite studied her expression for a moment before nodding. “Do you see that, Peridot? This is trust, and clearly built on experience.”

“Lady Victoire’s strength of character does her credit,” General Peridot replied even as he crossed his arms. “Even so, I would rather avoid becoming a Champion again, unless the Sultana asks me to–”

“I do not ask, I order it,” his mistress cut in sharply. “Lavaland’s position is too precarious for us to refuse divine power. I cannot indulge your troubled conscience any further.”

The rebuttal caused the magmorians present to wince, with Princess Topaz clearing her throat. “Sister, that is a bit harsh–”

“Do not mistake my calm for aloofness, my sister.” Alexandrite stood tall, her hands behind her back. “I do not think you understand the consequences of Father’s passing yet. He had led this country since its inception, and entire generations of our people lived and died under his rule. For most of our citizens, Father was Lavaland.”

Victoire glanced at the magmorians present, none of whom dared to argue with their leader. She could see the gloom in their scowls. The loss of the Fire Sultan had shaken their state to its very foundations, and only their people’s disciplined nature avoided what could have been an anarchic power vacuum.

“Many among our population blame Verglane for his loss and our army’s destruction,” Alexandrite replied. “While this Miracle demonstration nipped many quarrels in the bud, some wounds will take years to heal. We magmorians are a dutiful and traditional lot, so my people shall follow my lead and trust my wisdom… but that doesn’t mean they will like my decisions.”

“Our people will understand, Your Majesty,” Jasper said. “Lady Victoire and I are the very proof that our nations can mend their wounds and learn to coexist. We must continue to pursue the olive branch of peace until we can one day see it bloom.”

“An olive?” Alexandrite asked, suddenly curious. “What is that?”

“I believe it is an imaginary fruit?” Peridot answered. “And a metaphor.”

“For what, peace?” Alexandrite nodded to herself. “Oh, I understand. Fruits decay, like peace.”

“Exactly,” Jasper said. “Lord Wepwawet taught us that peace is like fruit, sweet but ephemeral.”

“And thus olive branches can lay the seeds for more fruits of peace in the future,” Alexandrite said with enthusiasm. “What a fascinating analogy! Our new god might truly be wise!”

Victoire was pretty sure they had blown Lord Wepwawet’s words out of proportion, but she didn’t have the heart to set them straight.

“Indeed, peace is a reward we should all aspire to,” Lord Wepwawet’s voice echoed across the room, startling everyone except for Victoire. His spirit materialized in the room soon after. “I swear to you that I will treat Lavaland’s people like I do Verglane’s citizens, until the day you may all live in peace and harmony.”

“A bold claim, and one most welcome.” Sultana Alexandrite studied his spirit for a moment. “I assume that your presence here means you have claimed Lady Pele’s throne for yourself?”

“Almost,” Lord Wepwawet replied. “Assimilating a place another god used as a seat for their Idol is proving a bit more difficult than expected. It might take me a few hours until my Providence fully blankets the region.”

“Which means you are vulnerable for the moment?” General Peridot guessed.

Lord Wepwawet marked a short pause before reluctantly nodding. “Vulnerable, but not powerless. I have more than enough Miracles to defend this city, but I will be unable to move my Idol until tomorrow.”

“Mmm…” General Peridot lowered his head, his mind deep in thought. “This nonetheless leaves a gap in our defenses and might invite an attack.”

“I have sent out Filou and the others to keep an eye on the other gods’ ambassadors,” Victoire reassured him. “We’ll be ready to intervene if they try anything.”

Alexandrite turned to General Peridot. “Keep the army on high alert as well. I want no incident to interrupt this historic event.”

“I have already mobilized everyone to ensure a smooth coronation,” the general promised.

“Good… but just in case…” Alexandrite turned to her new god. “Would you kindly bless us with the power of Champions?”

“But of course.” Lord Wepwawet waved his hand, blessing both the Fire Sultana and General Peridot with his radiance; the latter accepted the gift less eagerly than the former, but did so nonetheless. “Welcome to the flock.”

“Your glow is quite frostier than Lady Pele’s… but it does not displease me either.” Alexandrite glanced at Victoire. “Let us not make our people wait any further, my dear.”

“As Your Majesty wishes,” Victoire replied with a nod and a thin smile.

Princess Topaz soon entrusted her with a flat emerald tablet on which sat a crown of obsidian adorned with rubies. Victoire and her god’s spirit walked after Alexandrite as she reached the balcony, waving her quicksilver hand at the people acclaiming her. A black and red sea of kobolds and magmorians filled the streets below, cheering loudly at their new leader’s appearance. Victoire spotted Duke Vidé and the other foreign ambassadors in the front row, but the likes of Melchior and those of the southern nations were nowhere to be seen.

How strange for them to skip such an event, Victoire thought, her eyes glancing at the horizon. Neither Lord Horus’ island and flying pyramid nor Lady Epona’s shining sword had disappeared. Let’s hope Filou can find them.

She doubted they would dare to do anything that would alienate Lavaland on the day of its new ruler’s coronation, but a warning from her god came to mind.

Power-hungry fools were as common on earth as they were in the heavens above.

Assimilating an Altar from a land beyond his own proved surprisingly difficult.

Taking over Mount Sunfire and Salamandra’s mana locus involved stepping into the volcano and then settling there until half of his Idol stood inside the crater like a magmorian god rising from the depths of the earth to guide his people. Wepwawet cancelled Divine Avatar and harmonized his essence with the local mana, settling on the throne Pele used to occupy and blanketing all of Salamandra within his Influence. A flow of prayers from kobolds and magmorians alike immediately reached his ears.

Demonstrating his power had won over many unbelievers, enough to complete a Quest.

Quest: Proselytism V, completed! You have earned the Fire & Ice Rank 7 Doctrine Miracle!

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Fire & Ice

Rank 7 Doctrine

All your followers and allies within your Influence gain Fire and Frost Resistance, and take no penalty from Fields or Weathers aligned with these elements. Maintenance Cost: 2.

New Quest: Proselytism VI

Convert over 1,000,000 worshipers.

Reward: Doctrine Miracle.

What better way to represent the union between Verglane and Lavaland than his newest Miracle? It would tremendously improve immigration between his two nations and was simply too good to pass up.

Wepwawet checked his deck and examined his cards. After a moment’s consideration, he decided to let go of Victoire’s Draketooth Spear. Not only did its unique aspect prevent him from creating copies, but he could always just re-register the Relic so long as Victoire retained the original like her shield.

All in all, it’s a pretty good day, Wepwawet thought as he made the switch. New Altar location, new followers, new Miracle, and new Commanders.

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