Moonlight spilled like mercury over the Manus Metyr Great Church.
So ancient that even the Hornsent did not know which deity it honored, this building was one of the few historic monuments in the Lands Between that remained intact. Bathed in moonlight, it was majestic as an emperor and solemn as a temple. Every stone bore the weight of the ages; every groove told of history's upheavals.
Then the moon fell out of the sky.
BOOOOM!!!
That was no metaphor, no exaggeration. It was the actual moon-the enormous silver disk hanging in the night sky-as though someone had yanked it down and slammed it into the top of the great church!
Silver radiance erupted like a tsunami, swallowing the entire building in an instant!
Three quarters of the church were pulverized on the spot. The remaining quarter swayed precariously amid violent tremors, its ruined walls clinging to existence and casting twisted shadows in the moonlight.
Two figures scrambled out of the wreckage.
The first wore white ceremonial robes, their hems still burning with silver flames. He looked back at the devastated church, his facial muscles twitching wildly, then roared furiously at his surroundings:
"I am High Priest Ymir! What lowly scoundrel dares violate the dwelling of God?!"
Silence answered him.
Then two figures slowly approached from the far reaches of the moonlight.
Moonlight stretched their shadows behind them, yet could not obscure their mountain-like composure. They walked unhurriedly, each step steady and sure, as though the rubble strewn everywhere and the bedraggled priest were merely insignificant dust by the roadside.
Blaidd, the wolfman, walked beside Ranni with the Royal Greatsword resting on his shoulder.
He spoke in a low, steady voice, yet his words struck Ymir's ears like thunder. "We have come for the Finger Mother. All others, stand aside