The Flesh-Render's Sanctuary

The Flesh-Render's Sanctuary is the thirty-second chapter of Tales of Sheol'gotha:  Shadow of the Abaddon.

Synopsis
Valon awakes in pain, but alive, finding that he is in a darkened room. He looks around, seeing no one, and moves to a window to inspect his personal effects by the moonlight. Damage to his armour is apparent, and outside the window he can make out the figures in the forest moving at the perimeter of the courtyard. He suspects them to be Do'zen's Footsteps - a message of displeasure from the gods. The large creatures moving through the trees are unrecognizable and as one enters Valon hears the screams again, continuing until the beast moves out of sight.

He leaves the room and investigates the hallway, hearing a voice before coming across a shifter who explains that their group are the Blades of Aranicus and that he is to bring Valon to their patriarch. Valon follows, getting few answers until he enters a large room with a congregation inside. He is introduced to Patriarch Elissen who turns out to be female, and she welcomes him. Valon asks whether she recognizes the patriarch in Nazrin, which she does not, and when asked about her predecessor she looks up and gestures at a dead body hanging from a chandelier. Patriarch explains that those unworthy of the temple are cast out, or an attempt is made to purify them. She notes that the unworthy include those of impure blood, however does not seem to prohibit Valon owing to his arrival being approved by Aranicus.

She asks whether he can hear the whispers of the god and Valon suddenly realizes what the voice was that he heard. In an attempt at distracting himself he asks of the Footsteps and she explains that both the Heralds and the Footsteps outside are acting on the orders of the god in bringing destruction to the inhabitants of a village. When asked his name, Valon reflexively answers as 'Wiq'tin', and Patriarch implies that he will be staying with them, to which he argues. She quickly enrages and shouts him down, and Valon recognizes the pack mentality and his dangerous situation, submitting to her as the alpha. She informs him that he will guard the walls with Brother Mauxin, and Covus, the demon that guided him to her, offers to take him back to his room while promising food.

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