Chapter 111: Strategy for the Agricultural Goddess [Seeking Recommendation Votes]
2016-09-01
Author: Floating Tower
Three goddesses appeared in the demiplane.
However, unlike the friendly attitude of the Goddess of Spring and Peace, the River Goddess wore a cold expression, while the Goddess of New Sprouts had a slight animosity towards Soren.
The Goddess of New Sprouts, Xionglia, is a kind-hearted goddess who often dances and plays in the forest, enjoying the company of forest creatures when she doesn’t need to tend to the little beings of the woods. Her voice is deep and resonant, and she loves to respond to conversations with clever retorts, often accompanied by superficial hints. She resembles a half-goat person but possesses more mysterious and unfathomable qualities than the latter. This goddess is a member of the Nature Deity pantheon and is said to be the embodiment of the collective spirit of the supreme forest spirit. She once served alongside the Unicorn Goddess under Merike but later shifted her allegiance to the Agricultural Goddess due to certain events.
In terms of her avatar, the Goddess of New Sprouts stands about 1.75 meters tall; her upper body is a beautiful woman draped in a green robe, while her lower body resembles that of goat legs, with a pair of small antelope horns on her forehead.
This goddess, with her weak divine power, governs the bountifulness of the forest and many areas related to it.
Since joining the Agricultural Goddess’s realm, she has been actively seeking to gain agricultural divine profession; Soren figured out the reason for her animosity toward him, as Saruman’s divine profession seemed to conflict with hers. Among other deities, Saruman is clearly viewed as a being that Soren intends to cultivate as a subordinate god.
“This is the Lord of Shadows—Lord Soren!”
The Agricultural Goddess stood up with a smile and addressed the three goddesses before her: “From today onward, he will be our most important ally.”
As a chief god of a pantheon, the Agricultural Goddess has her own authority, and she seems to ease the current atmosphere, which the other goddesses recognize. Thus, under the leading of the Goddess of Spring, the other three goddesses bowed to Soren in respect. In terms of divine power levels, the three of them combined are no match for Soren. Moreover, the Agricultural pantheon lacks battle deities entirely and can maintain their influence only by relying on Mother Earth and the Lord of Radiance’s support. However, the Agricultural Goddess does not wish to remain under the protection of her parents; she wants to forge her own path as a true god.
“Since you all are here.”
Soren’s expression was calm; he was indifferent to the rejection and suspicion from the goddesses because time would prove everything.
He slowly said, “As an ally, I have prepared some plans and gifts for you, which can help enhance your divine power. The Material Plane is becoming increasingly turbulent; the four elemental overseers have appeared, and the demons of the underworld are also stirring. I believe you would all be interested to hear my plans.”
Upon hearing this, the three goddesses showed expressions of curiosity but still sat down nearby.
With a gentle wave of the Agricultural Goddess’s hand, flowers and vines on the ground automatically formed three elegant and comfortable chairs.
“This is the Spearwind Hills.”
Soren waved his hand, and a spectral image of the Spearwind Hills appeared before them. This was the result of recent research by the Fallen Witch, completed with the help of the High Priest to create a three-dimensional imaging. The Arcane Tower flew over the Spearwind Hills to scan and record the entire map.
Soren pointed at the overview of the land and said, “The Spearwind Hills is very fertile.”
“There are two rivers passing through this land. As you can see, there are still many areas that are uncultivated. If all the southern areas are utilized, it could at least support 500,000 people.”
“Currently,”
“The refugees on the Southern Coast number around 400,000, with some having moved to Modo Island, but a large number of them remain near the Rosad Duchy and the City of Wealth. I plan to organize and gather them all together, then concentrate them in the Spearwind Hills to cultivate the land. Modo will provide the necessary supplies and assistance for this.”
“According to the vow I made, I will also station troops at the border.”
“Turmoil brings destruction and chaos. I am prepared to help these mortals rebuild their homes. This task also requires your assistance; I hope you can send priests to the Spearwind Hills to assist with this matter.”
“Additionally,”
“A grand Harvest Festival will be held in Modo soon, potentially attracting around 200,000 people.”
“If there are no issues, I would like to establish this festival as one of Modo’s important holidays! In the future, a corresponding celebration will be held every year during the harvest!”
Soren finished speaking.
Upon hearing this, the goddesses present could not help but brighten their eyes; Soren’s plan was not particularly attractive, but the figures he mentioned were tempting. Settling hundreds of thousands of refugees in one go, under such desperate circumstances, with just a little guidance from priests, these people would become devout believers. Soren’s request for them to send priests clearly indicated he was willing to let a large portion of these people become their followers. Unlike Soren’s divinity, these goddesses’ divine professions are closely related to ordinary people. Such a large number would be enough to significantly increase their followers.
The Agricultural Goddess was particularly interested in the Harvest Festival.
A festival of 200,000 people is rare in the Material Plane due to the limitations of population. Although the City of Harvest is bustling and prosperous, its actual population is only around 100,000, and any more would ruin the beautification of the entire city.
Too large a population means serious pollution of the city’s environment from basic needs.
A Harvest Festival of 200,000 would provide a significant boost to the Agricultural Goddess’s divine power, and if the festival becomes an official holiday in Modo, it would mean that Soren officially allows the Agricultural Goddess and her church to enter Modo’s sphere of influence, being recognized as an official and legal church organization.
The interests involved are evidently very enticing.
“Sending priests is not a problem. But how will you ensure that the cultivated land will not be destroyed?” The Goddess of New Sprouts suddenly spoke up.
Soren glanced at her and replied slowly, “I will station an army of about 50,000 at the Spearwind Hills, including some of Modo’s main forces and well-trained militias.”
“If war breaks out,”
“Troops can be dispatched from Snake Island and Taro Port at any time to provide support. This plan is primarily concerned with settling them down and ensuring they have land to cultivate so they can sustain themselves. It may take about ten years to fully realize.”
By that time, the Saint’s Cataclysm would have long concluded.
Soren thought to himself that the purpose of developing the Spearwind Hills is to accumulate enough population. It doesn’t need to be as good as Modo’s planning; it just needs to ensure a continuous flow of people without anyone starving. His goal is to pull the Agricultural Goddess onto his ship, and once the Saint’s Cataclysm is over, he could plan however he wished.
“Alright.”
At this moment, the Agricultural Goddess spoke, smiling and nodding at Soren: “I can send a group of priests at any time. I also believe you have the capability to protect the agriculture. But I have one request.”
Soren raised his head, “What request?”
The Agricultural Goddess drew a circle on the map, covering an area of about 3,000 square kilometers, including the fertile land upstream of the rivers, as well as a large expanse of dense forest, and said earnestly: “All these lands belong to our church.”
Secular and church.
It appeared the Agricultural Goddess had learned her lesson; she understood that she could not establish enough influence over the Southern Duchy because the church itself did not possess much land. These lands belong to nobles and merchants, and while the Agricultural Church has influence, it lacks decision-making power. She is preparing to make some changes, but for that, she must have certain resources in the secular world. Everything Soren has done in Modo has ignited her desire to test this notion; she wants to know if the church can achieve more if it controls more secular resources and power.
Soren fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
The other three goddesses also looked thoughtful; although the deities possess immense power, the influence they have over the mundane world is largely determined by the churches.
Soren’s behavior is considered an anomaly among deities since what he initially did was somewhat akin to ‘********’, only to later separate from all of it. However, the influence he exerts within the church’s propagation range is remarkably significant!
“That’s acceptable!”
After contemplating seriously, Soren nodded and said: “These lands will be entirely yours. However, the tenants will still belong to the Spearwind Hills.”
It seems the Agricultural Goddess has also learned her lesson.
What of the deities? No matter how powerful and exalted? Yet these good-aligned deities cannot possibly force mortals to yield food, wealth, and land, right?
Why are the actions of the Agricultural Goddess consistently thwarted?
The reason is simple.
All the divine orders she issues are merely verbal commands, as the church itself does not control the Southern Duchy. Ultimately, execution depends entirely on the whims of the nobles. While the Agricultural Church has a large number of druids and priests, for long, the Agricultural Goddess has primarily been creating wealth for the nobles and merchants, and the resources of her church are actually limited to the vicinity of the City of Harvest.
Without resources or money.
Even divine beings would find it very challenging to do anything!
Wealth in her hands, in the church’s hands, makes it easy to accept refugees and expand her faith; it is merely a matter of words. But if wealth lies in the hands of secular nobles and merchants, convincing them to spend money to accept refugees and assist the church in expanding its influence?
Hmph.
Even the noblest ideals cannot persuade them.
It seems the Agricultural Goddess has realized one point: only resources controlled by the church can be directly mobilized by her. Other followers, even devout believers from the nobility, will likely hesitate during execution.
Hearing Soren agree to her request, the expressions of the other goddesses also grew friendlier.
Although deities do not care about mortal wealth, mortals do, and this vast area of land is sufficient for them to establish another parish.
Good gods cannot simply loot.
They need a legitimate way to expand their parishes and influence.
………………(To be continued ~^~)
