"That is how it usually is for Domains, yes. But the Passages are patchwork, gossamer cobwebs between weakened points of the Corporeal. Ancient pathways that require much skill in traversing and more power than is wise when travelling with a large group. Voidbeasts were expected, and they crowded around the periphery like sharkswe should not have drawn such a huge, terrible beast however. I still do not know what set it in pursuit, only that it was intent upon devouring us all."
"We can handle a few voidbeasts," Felix assured her. "Hell, not to toot my own horn but I'm pretty sure I could fight off whatever decided to come for us. Voidbeast or no."
"Not this one. At my strongest I would not even be able to dent its skin. It was...a behemoth. A Primordial in the Void, somehow."
Felix stilled, a chill clawing down his spine. "Describe it for me. Please."
"Mountainous, with rust-red scales and yellow tendrils. It vaguely resembled what I know of as Narhollows, but it was like them as an emberfly is to a dragon."
Whalemaw.
"Fuck," was all he said.
"You know it," Zara said. It was not a question.
"I do. It's..." Felix sighed. "It's another piece of the Maw. The largest piece," he said.
"Another Ravager King?" Vess asked.
"Worse. This thing got the bulk of the Maw's power when we got banished to the Void," Felix explained, giving them a run down of events. "It chased me around the Void for weeks, though I managed to lose it. Twice. But if what you're describing is right, then it's even stronger now."
"Why's it chasing you?" Evie asked.
"His power," Atar said. Felix looked at him and nodded. "It wants his power."
"Yeah. The same reason I was able to rip the Maw's potency from the Ravager King; the Whalemaw wants the relatively tiny piece of Primordial power that's in me." Felix could feel the certainty of that in his bones. "It wishes to be whole. And apparently even knowing me is enough to draw it's attention."
"Of course. It could sense our connection," Zara said.
"And it'll do it again, if it's anywhere nearby. Unless..." Felix drummed his fingers on the edge of a carving. "Unless I could make a replica of the array that hid me before, in a village in the Void. Then maybe we could risk it."
"Give me the sigils and we'll make it happen," Atar said. "If Hector's here, then I'm sure it can be done. And if we garner no attention on this Passage thing, then we can bring the Legion right?"
"That'd be a sight," Evie chortled. "Imagine the look on those zealots' stupid faces."
"An entire army, though?" Vess asked. "How will they be fed? Billeted? Supplied with healing resources and replacement equipment? The Gheldan Hills might be neutral territory, but if the Paladins are already in the Expanse then it is a surety they will have a rear camp in the Hills. How do you propose we move an entire army without them noticing?"
"Do we even know if the Shadowgates will hold so many?" Zara asked.
"Sorry to interrupt, but the Shadowgates should be enough to send a sizeable contingent through them. They are far superior to these...remnant walkways you are describing," Karys said with clear disdain for the idea of these Dark Passages. "The Autarch's power alone could make do for several hundred soldiers in his retinue. And you should have a retinue, Felix, especially seeing as you shall be visiting a foreign city..."
"We're not visiting and I don't need a retinue. Besides, it's way better if we move with less than our full force," Felix said. "I wouldn't want to leave Nagast undefended. Let's not forget the challenge I apparently put out into the world. Someone is bound to come knocking eventually."
"Another good reason to move fast," Atar said, but followed it with a defeated huff. "Fine. A small army."
Karys cleared his throat, a sound like a metal file on an empty aluminum cylinder. "The Shadowgates still require a considerable donation of Mana and Essence to function. Some of that will be provided by your Seat and Seal, Felix, but the initial spark will have to come from you. And," he paused, eye-fires flickering between Zara and Felix. "The gates' connection to the liminal corridors between the Realms will need to be reestablished."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Evie asked.
Felix met Zara's eyes, and found her calmly considering him and the golden giant. He smirked. "It means we have work to do. All of us. And fast."