He Who Fights with Monsters, #3
He Who Fights with Monsters 3
by Shirtaloon
Contents
1. A Question You Don’t Yet Know to Ask
Overview
Jason’s team settles into intensive training on their cloud-house as Gabrielle delivers a goddess-of-Knowledge gift: transcribed tomes and recordings of Builder-sourced knowledge, which Jason accepts to study cautiously with Clive. Rufus survives his duel, the Builder cult reels locally, and Purity faces global investigations. Citywide upheaval reshapes adventurers and clergy, while Jason’s Adventure Society reassessment is set, demanding humility.
Summary
On the cloud-house in Greenstone’s marina, Jason cooks breakfast while Humphrey plans training. They discuss outdoor drills and upcoming mirage-chamber matches. Gabrielle Pellin arrives, tense but dutiful, bearing a new gift from the goddess of Knowledge: books and recording crystals personally transcribed, containing knowledge introduced by Builder cultists. Jason refuses direct mind-imprinting but accepts the materials, intending to involve Clive.
Cut to the island aftermath: Rufus awakens healed by Arabelle, learning he nearly died defeating the silver-rank cultist who killed Farrah. Gabriel confirms the enemy’s death and scolds Rufus for the reckless duel, while Callum reports many cultists escaped through portals, leadership mostly slain, and no prisoners due to mass self-detonations. Evidence of Purity clergy collusion will trigger broad church investigations.
Weeks pass with relentless training and mirage matches. Beth’s team pushes Jason’s group. Padma’s Remore Academy squad initially dominates but parity emerges; Natalie mentors Belinda on shapeshifting. A rivalry forms between Valdis and Lance: Valdis’s classic master-confluence sword style edges out Lance’s spell-mixing elven approach.
Citywide, essences and awakening stones flood the market after the Reaper trials, boosting novice adventurers and empowering criminals. The Adventure Society inquiry confirms many demotions and conducts reassessments. Locally, the Builder cult halts raids after losses, yet fugitives remain. Purity faces an ecumenical crackdown, with leaders missing and global scandals undermining their claims.
Time-displaced priests resettle unevenly: some rejoin welcoming churches, ex-Purity struggle with revoked powers, suicides, or starting over with common essences supplied by the Adventure Society. Reactions to Jason range from gratitude to resentment, with a few revering him after the gods thanked him publicly.
Returning from training, Jason finds Rufus drinking with Vincent, Gary, and Russel. Vincent announces Jason’s Adventure Society reassessment and warns that, as a conspicuous iron-ranker, he must display humility. Jason responds with a wry quip.
Who Appears
- Jason AsanoTeam cook and planner; receives Builder-derived tomes from the goddess via Gabrielle; plans to study cautiously with Clive; scheduled for reassessment.
- Humphrey GellerTeam’s training coordinator; discusses matches and mobility drills; reacts awkwardly to ex Gabrielle’s visit.
- Gabrielle PellinPriestess of Knowledge; delivers goddess-transcribed books and crystals containing off-world knowledge to Jason.
- Rufus RemoreAwakens post-battle; learns he slew Farrah’s killer; cautioned for recklessness; later socializes on the cloud-house.
- Arabelle RemoreHeals Rufus and rebukes his reckless duel against a stronger cultist.
- Gabriel RemorePraises Rufus for the kill, then admonishes his tactics; reports battle outcomes.
- CallumStealthy adventurer; reports cultist escapes, leadership casualties, and evidence against Purity clergy.
- ValdisSwordsman on Jason’s allied team; rivals Lance and complains humorously after mirage battles.
- LanceElf swordsman-spellcaster; duels Valdis using master confluence with spells; loses slightly more often.
- PadmaLeader of Remore Academy juniors; Farrah’s half-disciple; her team initially outperforms Jason’s before parity.
- NatalieShapeshifter on Padma’s team; befriends and advises Belinda on transformation techniques.
- VincentAdventure Society official; informs Jason of his reassessment and need to show humility.
- GaryPresent during Vincent’s visit on the cloud-house deck; part of the social scene.
- RusselMagic Society artificer; present with Vincent and Gary during the reassessment announcement.