Shattered Goddess, Restored Faith

**Shattered Goddess, Restored Faith** is the first issue in Series 2 of Paladins Chronicles.

As the developer note attached to the end of Shattered Goddess, Restored Faith states, "*Paladins Chronicles are short stories meant to enrich the world of Paladins & serve as context for future events."*

This story was originally posted here on Paladins.com, and promoted here on the official @PaladinsGame Twitter.

## Story

As the weeks passed and the news of Ascension Peak’s fall slowly whispered its way through the Realm, many knew not who to look to for protection. The Magistrate — seen as complicit in the tragedy — had more skeptics than ever, while the Resistance fell into turmoil over Zhin’s emergence. The Paladins were scattered after their loss and their leadership’s whereabouts remain unknown. The Pyre is absent and the Abyss feels inevitable to all…except the Lunar Coast.

Stalking from the rooftops above, an outsider looked down into the bazaar, scanning for threats. Instead, all they observe is excitement in the air around the reopening of the market. Ever since the battle that took place here years ago, the people of the Coast have struggled to come together and trade their goods. Reconstruction was constantly in flux since no external force was willing to help fund their endeavor. The Thousand Hand Guild, who used to control this region from the shadows, had all but vanished when they began to fight at the Magistrate. Now, everyone looks to the only protector they’ve always known.

In the heart of the market, children chase a spirit fox around a fountain bubbling with life. Atop rests a statue — cracked but reformed — of the Shattered Goddess Io. The onlooker’s gaze focused on the statue for a long moment. Long has it stood as a reminder of grace and hope for these people. Its purpose had now evolved into a promise from their goddess that her people would never be threatened again. The watcher knows such a promise has been broken before.

Their vision finally rests on a crowd gathered around a small booth covered with small rock fragments. There stands Io — contributing as any resident of the Lunar Coast would — providing her healing to those exhausted from the heat. Many offer her gifts or stare in awe, telling stories of the great Goddess of the Moon. Io was befuddled as memories of such power eluded her. She felt she should be treated like one of them, at least until she was back to being the deity they described.

She had a long way to go before she was back to those heights. Others would occasionally remind her of this, as some took this opportunity to point out all they had lost while she was dormant; homes and loved ones harmed by the Magistrate. She would apologize profusely, but the onlooker knew nothing could heal the void those people felt.

As they lose interest in spying and turn away to leave the gathering be, the ground begins to shake. People murmur and the sky begins to fill with dust. Io stands up, as if recalling an ancient memory she’d forgotten. She knew this feeling. The spy’s attention is pulled back, curious as to what the reborn god would do. Before Io could summon her bow, a rageful cackle roars out and people begin to panic. Luna gathers the children around her & guides them to safety as elders start to sound alarms and close the gates, but it is far too late.

A void rift opens outside the village, as the hulking shape of Raum emerges from it. Behind him, the wraithlike form of Seris stands, pointing him in Io’s direction. As he charges towards the entrance of the bazaar, her form dissipates to return to the Abyss. Noticing this, the hooded figure atop the roof frowns.

As Raum bursts through the gate, he begins to lay fire to the stands surrounding the courtyard. Io leaps into action as Luna returns to her side, the two determined to encircle the demon. His eyes lock onto Luna first as he ignites his gun, but as he takes aim Io runs up his back to land a few shots in his neck. Raum spins around and aims toward the goddess, but Luna snaps into action and stuns him for a moment.

Taking this split second, both Io and the witness watching on look around to check on the town. Most are safe, but some within the shops are injured and under rubble. Io attempts to reach out to share the light of the moon with them, but as she does Raum reawakens. Barreling forward with speed, he slams her against the outer wall of the bazaar.

She struggles to stand back up, ground shaking once more, as Raum stamps his hooves into the ground. Bricks crumble as work of those of the village begins to be erased by his rampage. Io looks towards Luna contemplative, and after a frown gives a brief nod to her spirit. This action finally piques the onlooker’s interest as they drop down to the surface level to watch. With a signal whistle, Luna begins to scramble away toward the rest of the Realm, leaving Io behind.

All watch on as Io channels herself and rises one more time, first to her feet and then slowly floats off the ground. Raum snorts and continues to pummel against her, but a shield surrounds the goddess in response as Io floats further and further up into the air. As she does, the statue of her begins to fall from the shaking, but with the flick of her wrist, it defies gravity and rises into place.

With every stomp, she repairs the damage and glows brighter with power. People stare from their hiding places in wonder…believing their Goddess has finally come back to them. Raum and the watcher take notice as well, as the demon levels his weapon towards her, determined to end this.

He charges up and fires endlessly, and slowly Io’s shield begins to crack, giving way to his fury. The spectator, conflicted and unsure, looks towards the people hiding and back at Io. When the protection finally gives way to the barrage, everyone watches as the Goddess suddenly flashes in a bright light that covers the whole bazaar, leaving a parting statement hanging defiantly in the air.

“This Realm is not yours. It is ours.”

As the vibrant scene fades, all that is left in her place is a weak and tired Luna. Raum chuckles as he aims at the defenseless fox.

“THIS WAS YOUR SAVIOR? YOUR GOD? SHE WAS NOTHING.”

As his bullets attempt to leave their chambers, the onlooker sighs and sends a tendril to reach out and grab the beast’s shoulder. They wrap it around their forearm and pull him backward to face them. The entire town gasps as they all turn to face this new combatant, and some notice a familiar scythe on their hip. With all the eyes on her, a disgruntled yet smug Vora shows herself.

“She is, so let me give you a real challenge.” Vora lunges towards the demon, slicing at both his legs as she slides through them. She takes a moment to steady herself and grimaces while turning back to face Luna.

“If you ever speak of this, I will destroy every fragment of you,” she states as she situates herself between Luna and Raum. “Now, let me show you the power of the Maw.”

Raum responds with unrelenting fire, but Vora dances between his volleys. She throws herself at his shoulder, knocking the gun out of his hand as he reaches out to grab her. He squeezes her between his claws, leaving her gasping for air. She squirms, stuck until Luna springs up and knocks her out of his grip. As the two steady to face off again, the haunting voice rings out in Vora’s head once more.

***SEAL HIM AWAY, AS THEY DID ME. HIS RAGE MAY BE OF USE.***

The realization hit her instantly, as Yagorath’s guidance offered a solution. She reaches down and grabs Luna, pulling them both away from the town. Luna begins to whimper and paw at her arms.

“We aren’t leaving people to die, he wants you. You…. Io is mine, I saw what you both can become. You will stay alive, so I can end you both.” Her detested tone betrays the subtle pets she gives. As Raum begins to charge toward them through the Shattered Desert, she slowly heads towards the center, towards the seal she had broken.

As they approach, Vora tosses the spirit across the open gap. She turns back to see the red blur of rage approaching and smiles coyly.

“YOUR SOUL WILL BE MINE!” he screams as he prepares to hit her with all his might.

“I don’t have one to take.” She leaps upwards as Raum lunges forward, sending himself over broken runes and fragments that remain from Yagorath’s release. As he stumbles and falls into the pit, Vora quickly tosses her scythe to the ground and recites words she swore to forget. Fear briefly floods her mind as she struggles to remember the incantation, words pour out as she is unsure if she is still able to tap into the moon.

Slowly, she feels the magic well up back within her, faintly glowing from her palms. It burns as the lunar light singes at the corruption consuming her body. Raum roars and charges forward as he attempts to rush up the side of the cavern. To her relief the rocks of the seal reform right before he reaches the top, keeping him contained as her hands shakily rest on the stone.

She takes heavy breaths, waiting for another threat that won’t arrive. After the moment passes, she feels confident she’s done it. These seals can hold more than Maw…perhaps that knowledge can be of use to her again. Yagorath chuckles in her mind at the revelation, which distracts Vora enough that she is caught by surprise when Luna nearly bowls her over. rushing up to show affection. After an increasingly difficult battle for balance, the fox wins as it tackles Vora to the ground in defeat.

“Stop, stop! Ugh, I will ruin you!” She screams as Luna nuzzles into her face, her healing glow surrounding them in a cool refreshing aura. She begrudgingly relaxes and accepts the respite. Eventually, she sits back up, eyes glaring at the fox.

“Go, find your lost self. The people of this desert are under my protection. Shoo.” She continually gestures until Luna finally accepts and leaves her alone, back where her first life fell apart.

Vora stands above the seal for a long moment, then laughs under her breath. The goddess she swore to serve…now needed her protection. Pathetic. She picks up her scythe and continues her search for her true goal. Where did Atlas go?

**Directions**Anti-Abyss  •  Anti-Darkness  •  Nature Protectors  •  Neutral
**Groups** Bomb Kingdom  •  Deepwerks  •  Eternal Pyre  •  Followers of Io  •  House Aico  •  House Arturos  •  Outer Tribunal  •  Paladins (Former)  •  Red River Orcs  •  Sentinels  •  Shadow Tribunal  •  Summer Court  •  Tau-Kor Monastery  •  Thousand Hands Guild  •  Warders  •  Unknown Groups
**Noteworthy Items / Forces**Crystals  •  Magic  •  Souls  •  Warder's Key  •  Warder's Relic
**Notable Positions**Abyssal Lord  •  Border Lord  •  Grand Magister  •  Pyre Lord
**The Realm**Abyss  •  Aico Tundra  •  Crosswind Hold  •  The Eight Oceans  •  Enchanted Forest  •  Greenwood  •  Lunar Coast  •  Seris (Village)  •  Temple Isles  •  Trade Row  •  Warder's Watch
**Races**Abyssal Creature  •  Animal  •  Construct  •  Darkness  •  Dragon  •  Deities  •  Dwarf  •  Elemental  •  Elf  •  Faerie  •  Goblin  •  Human  •  Leipori  •  Orc  •  Pyre Creature  •  Ska'drin  •  Spirit  •  Stagalla  •  Tigron  •  Transformed  •  Undead  •  Vulpin  •  Wyrin
**Complete Timeline**Complete Timeline  •  Paladins Chronicles
**Story Arcs**Crystal Arc  •  Darkness Arc  •  Ska'drin Arc
**Time Periods**The Ancient Age  •  The Age of the Paladins  •  The Golden Age  •  The Age of Resistance  •  The Lost Future
**Notable Events**Dragon Scourge  •  Goblin Scourges  •  Golden Age  •  Crystal War  •  Koga's Revenge  •  Destruction of Seris  •  Battle of Ascension Peak  •  Warders Return  •  The Fight of the Shattered Desert  •  Shattered Goddess' Return  •  The Summoning of Raum  •  The Darkness Released  •  Shift of Power
**Other**NPCs  •  Updated Bios  •  Alternate Realities  •  Canon Skins  •  Statues  •  Legends  •  Misconceptions  •  Retcons  •  Character Feats  •  Alpha Lore