Aaron had lost count of how many times he had visited Seabury. His story had begun here. At the Seabury Open-Air Shrine, a traveler from another world had taken one small step that was also a giant leap for the transformation of the Realms and the Emperor's plan.
By now, Aaron had proclaimed his rise, yet he still felt deeply attached to Seabury. As the town came into view, along with the waves rolling across distant Wyvernwater, he spread his arms and savored the lake breeze fluttering the hem of his clothes.
After his battle with Be'lakor, he realized that he had been setting his sights a little too high.
Previously, his plan to attain godhood had broadly followed two paths.
The first aimed to steal portions of the divine portfolios of Bane, the God of Tyranny, Lolth, and Cyric, the Dark Sun. How he intended to do this had already been explained, so there was no need to repeat it here.
He had made some progress along this path. By defeating Mannacorn, the Bane Godspawn, Aaron had stolen a trace of Bane's divinity and entered the domain of Strife.
At present, however, continuing down this path remained fraught with difficulties, for one simple reason-the enemies were far too powerful.
Even setting aside the ascendant Dark Sun and the cunning, cruel Lolth, Aaron was no match for Xvim, the Godspawn left behind by Bane, a fallen greater deity.
Aaron never doubted that Xvim would kill him given the chance, just as he never doubted that he would attempt to deliver "justice from above" if Xvim exposed an opening.
The only things preventing Aaron and Xvim from coming to blows were the threat of Be'lakor, the threat of the Dark Sun, and their evenly matched strength. Aaron could not use Drach'nyen,