章 78: whispers
Within a wide valley surrounded by rocky hills and twisted pines lay the heartland of the Golden Serpent Sect. Unlike the Ember Circle's territories, which bustled openly with trade and training grounds, the Serpents preferred obscurity. Their domains were a patchwork of hidden enclaves and guarded passes, each fortified subtly, ensuring no stranger could penetrate too far without risking entrapment.
This region bore the mark of centuries-old cunning. Narrow trails wound through dense forests where serpents—both literal and metaphorical—lurked. The Serpents seldom advertised their presence, yet every traveler felt watched. Villages under their sway paid silent tribute, leaving offerings at discreet shrines. Lords who owned these lands answered to quiet directives rather than public decrees. The people lived in a tensioned calm, aware that any dissent or careless word might be relayed by the Serpents' network of informants.
Here, physical strength alone was not prized. The Serpents valued subtlety, influence, and long memories. Their warriors trained in secluded groves, balancing on moss-covered stones and striking at shadows. Instead of large barracks, they preferred scattered safehouses—abandoned barns, hollowed oaks, and secret cellars connected by underground passages. Alchemists and poisoners worked in dimly lit chambers, testing new compounds on captured beasts, refining the delicate arts that once toppled the old HellSin family.
The Serpents had allies, though not all were willing. Some distant sects owed them debts or feared them too greatly to refuse aid. A few merchant leagues courted their favor, hoping to gain profitable black-market routes. In return, the Serpents granted protection or discreetly eliminated competitors. This web of silent agreements stretched across borders, ensuring that even if they did not march openly, their influence seeped into many corners of the region.
Yet the Serpents were not without enemies. Among their own vassals, resentment simmered. A few minor lords, chafing under secret extortion and constant surveillance, yearned to break free. Dissident groups hid in the hills, training in secret to challenge Serpent enforcers. Some muttered that the Ember Circle's rise offered hope—if they could endure until the Circle and the Serpents clashed again, perhaps an opening would appear to break the old order.
To counter such threats, the Serpents employed infiltration and espionage. They rotated operatives frequently, ensuring no spy became too comfortable or tempted to turn traitor. Their leaders spoke in coded riddles, making it hard for even their own agents to grasp the full picture. Those caught whispering dissent vanished quietly. Everyone knew the Serpents could be patient and ruthless.
This territory, so different from the Ember Circle's balanced alliance, thrived on secrecy and fear. It was a land where a council of robed elders guided strategy, debating how to handle the growing stalemate. They knew strength must be preserved, new allies courted, and enemies kept guessing. The Serpents had not yet found a way to break the current equilibrium, but they would not rest until they devised a plan as intricate and deadly as their name implied.
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