《A Right to Power (A Divine LitRPG System)》 You Were Human I wake up and see blackness or is it whiteness? I couldn''t tell and it is hard to remember what I was doing before this. I believe I was talking to some people, and something happened. A flash of light with a voice that said something about a refresh. As I try looking around to see something I notice I have no body and so no, wait, how do I to know if I''m turning? I don''t know how long I waited but I should be panicking, right? But after some time, a blue box appears.
Greetings [???] you must be wondering what is going on? Well do not worry too much about it but to keep things simple, I have decided that your world was too boring, so I changed things up a bit and sent all of you to a new world! But life''s not fair and not all start the same and you are one of the lucky ones as I''m putting you in the role of one of the Fiend Princes.
I couldn''t tell if I was reading the words or if they were being spoken but as it finished what it was saying, I could feel a fog leave my mind and I could start thinking clearly. "What do you mean, you are putting me in the role of a Fiend Prince?" As I spoke, I could hear my voice echo in the nothingness of this place.
More will be explained about what a Fiend Prince is when you are making it yourself. But this world I made has some important entities that need a bit of spice to them and so some of you are there to give them that. Sorry but I am in a bit of a rush, and you are not the only one like this so only one more question.
''Wait only one more question! I have only asked one well. I need to make it a good one.'' As I thought about my question, I realised that the black and or white of this place was slowly changing. Then I had my question. "What is my role to be exactly in your world?"
Hmm that''s one I haven''t heard yet before, not the worst one but definitely an interesting one. In a way, any role you want if you try hard enough but I did make it easier for you and others to be the roles I pick and some guidelines to encourage you in that role. But for you, you are a close ally to the Fiend Emperor, but you have sadly been sealed away and limited in what you can do. Well goodbye, I hope you entertain me well.
And that was it the blue boxes were gone, and I was left in the nothingness with still many more questions and no answers. But with the blue boxes gone, I could feel the mind fog coming back. I try to hold it off but with no way of knowing how it worked, it slowly started taking over my mind. Just before my mind was completely consumed, a new blue box opened.
Greetings Fiend Price this is your creation screen where you will make alterations to your new self. Name: [???] Race: [Fiend Prince] Subrace: [???] Skill: You will start with 3 master ranked skills, 5 adept ranked skills, 7 journeyman ranked skills. Abilities: Will be selected after creation. Knowledge: You will start with 2 advanced research. (Note you might be given more after creation.) Patron Style: Choose a type of patron style. Stats: Will be shown after creation. Spell/Techniques: You will pick 3 and the rest will be given after creation.
As I was reading the box, I felt the mind fog start to receed. ''I will have to hope that I don''t stay here too long, or I might lose myself.'' As I finished reading the box, most of the fog had left my mind. "Why is my name in question marks? My name is..." But I couldn''t bring myself to say my name as a new blue box appeared.
Please choose your new [Name] but remember, names have power. Your old one and new name have power. When you pick your new name, it will alter aspects. So, when picking your name keep in mind what the name means to you. [Name]
"Well, that''s giving me some anxiety. Why does a name have to be so important?" As I think of what name to choose because I don''t want a cringy name especially if it will affect me! Then a name came to me, one I have always liked and if it''s some type of fiend then it''s perfect.
Name: [Helmer] has been selected analysing memories... Name has been analysed, titles selected. Lord of Nightmares Emissary to the Fiend Emperor Deal Master
"Wait what do titles do?" As I wait nothing happened well, I hope thing will make more sense later when I''m "Created" as I move to the next option.
Subraces
Black Inferno Demon - A demon that didn''t just embrace the abyssal fire but was in turn embraced back. All shall burn under my winds.
Akackorn - A fiend that uses the bodies of the dead to make it stronger and will attack others to add to itself. You will make a good heart.
True Nightmare Demon - A demon that can take on the form of other creatures'' fears and nightmares. I am your fears, I am your nightmare mortal!
Dark Blood Heart Demon - A Demon that corrupts the hearts and feelings of creatures and puppets them. All will fall to my plans.
Quagmire - A fiend that latches onto others and takes control with its shadowy vines slowly turning them into loyal servants before moving on to a new one. Join my hive, you might enjoy it.
Black Inferno Demon This is one of the heights of power for fiends that follow the path of fire. Known for their overwhelming offensive power. Abilities: Heal by fire, All Is Ash, Abyssal Wings and Aura of the Black Inferno
Akackorn This is one of the heights of power for fiends that follow the path of augmentation. Known for incredible physics that very few can equal to but are considered fiend beasts. Abilities: Greater Life Steel, Undead Potential, Shifting Mind and Unrelenting This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
True Nightmare Demon This is one of the heights of power for fiends that follow the path of fear. Known to be the source of all nightmares of the world and more. Abilities: Nightmare Aura, Shapeless, Nightmare Sense and Horizon Walker
Dark Blood Heart Demon This is one of the heights of power for fiends that follow the path of blood. This type of fiend is known for causing betrayal and inciting rebellion against its enemies. Abilities: All Is Blood, King of Blood, True Break and Golden Tongue
Quagmire This is one of the heights of power for fiends that follow the path of control. A small fiend that finds other creature to take control of and turns them into thralls. Abilities: Undetectable, Hive Mind, Over Mind and Flesh Warper
As I look at the different subraces and try to find more information, it made me realise that it tells me almost nothing and I start cursing at whatever made this system! Well, I first remove the Akackorn because I don''t what to be stitching body part on to me as well, I''m supposed to be trapped so I doubt I will find many bodies. Then I remove the Dark Blood Heart Demon and the Quagmire as I don''t see myself as a parasite or someone who likes making people betray each other. So that leaves the True Nightmare Demon or the Black Inferno Demon. I like the sound of the Inferno Demon, but I am trapped somewhere so I doubt overwhelming will be too helpful. So, that leaves me with the True Nightmare Demon, and I like the sound of some of its abilities, especially Horizon Walker. I open the skills list and if I had a jaw, it would have hit the ground, they just seemed to be endless number of skills all the way from clearing to flame control and so on. As I start wondering what to pick, I see an option to "Pick appropriate skills for your creation" I thought about it for a second before picking it as it would take too long to go through all of them.
Skills level 107 - Shadow Magic (Master) level 105 - Sneak (Master) level 103 - Contractor (Master) Level 90 - Dark Magic (Adept) Level 89 - Bargaining (Adept) Level 86 - Dream Weaver (Adept) Level 71 - Crafting (Adept) Level 70 - Blood Magic (Adept) Level 69 - Unarmed Combat (Journeyman) Level 67 - Pierce the Veil (Journeyman) Level 57 - Tactics (Journeyman) Level 53 - Sense Motive (Journeyman) Level 49 - Self Awareness (Journeyman) Level 47 - Life Magic (Journeyman) Level 45 - Tracking (Journeyman)
As I look over the skills that were picked for me, I notes some strange skills like Dream Weaver, wondering what does that even do and why is Sneak master rank? Also, I have Life magic, that''s a weird one as well but no use thinking on it now, I will do it when I have a body I decided. Next, I move onto the Knowledge Tabe to see what I got and again, it had a lot of options not as many as the skill but still a lot. I started looking over the massive list and narrowing down the options to seven.
Knowledge (Research)?
Magical Architecture - Castle (Advanced)
Homunculus Creation - Humanoid (Advanced)
Magic Theory - Shadow (Advanced)
Artificer - Clothing - Cloaks (Advanced)
Magical Architecture - Housing (Advanced)
Demon Crafting - Nightmare (Advanced)
Portal Creation - Dreams (Advanced)
Even knowing that I can only pick two options, witling it down to just seven was still difficult as I just wanted all of them. Even now I just want to pick all of them, but I just don''t know what I will have when I''m created. But after looking over the seven options, I remove the Magical Architecture options as I might be by myself and building anything will be difficult to impossible. Next, I remove the Artificer, Homunculus Creation and Demon Crafting as I don''t think I will have anything to make cloaks with. And no matter how much I want Homunculus Creation as it seems so cool, being able to craft people just doesn''t seem likely becaise I won''t start with any resources to make then. As for the Demon Crafting, the boxes said that I might start with some more research, and I am a Fiend Prince so I probably will start with it. So that leaves me with Portal Creation and Magic Theory. Portal Creation might allow me to escape my prison and these portals should use dreams, right? As well I''m a True Nightmare Demon so that should mean something. With Magic Theory should help me understand my magic. Well, that what I hope, at any rate. Now what does it mean by Patron Style? Will I be giving people power, or will I be some type of Dark God? Well, these only one way to find out.
Patron Style (Due to your actions you will have five chooses)
Dark Whispers - Forces on creatures that are at their moment of weakness.
Though The Veil - Forces on creatures that are looking for lost secrets.
Blinding Truth - Forces on creatures that are trying to reveal posts, schemes and hidden truths.
Guiding Vengeances - Forces on creatures that want vengeance.
Gray Background - Forces on creatures that are spies and gathering information.
Well, they all sound interesting but as usual it gives almost no information. The thing that made this character creation screen did a shit job they couldn''t have at less given more information. "Hmmmm..." As I look over the options. I guessed this is like what type of boss I want to be. I do like the sound of Though The Veil and Gray Background. As I like the idea of helping people find lost knowledge and as for the Gray Background, I always felt like I blended into the background so spying and finding information would suit me quite well. As for the others, they sound a bit unpleasant. Like for instant, Dark Whispers I don''t want to talk to people that are having a mental breakdown. Plus, the other just sound difficult to manage while Blinding Truth just seems like a riot, and I don''t want to have control over what I''m doing. With Guiding Vengeances, this just sounds like you point and hope the person does what you want. So that leaves the Gray Background and Though The Vail. How much I want to pick Though The Vail but it probably wouldn''t be too useful as it sounded like whatever set all of this up is starting close to the beginning of whatever is happening. So I doubt they will be too much forgotten knowledge around and that tells me I''m going with the Gray Background choice. So, onto the last part of all of this is what spell or techniques will I pick. But for a change there is a bit of information about spell and techniques!
With your choices in the Skill Table options have changed about what spells and techniques you can have. (Note: I know you mortal will have some questions about the different between spell and techniques. Spells are magical constructs that use mana while techniques will add effects to skills that use stamina.) p.s. This is the standard but not everything is set in stone.
"Interesting, who knew how useless you can be! You only said what the standard is... But you are not going to reply so I''m taking to myself." Well, what are my options then. Like the skill and knowledge Tables there were quite a lot of options but unlike the skill and knowledge options they were about one hundred. So, after a bit of searching, I found the five that might be helpful.
Spell/Techniques
Shade Walker - Sneak (Technique Master)
Calling of Night - Dark Magic (Spell Master)
Ancestor''s Assault - Blood Magic (Spell Adept)
Ejection of Souls - Unarmed Combat (Spell Journeyman)
Void Temple - Dream Weaver (Technique Adept)
Nightmare''s Breath - Unarmed Combat (Technique)
Blood Reaping - Blood Magic (Spell Adept)
Mass Call Dark Reflections - Shadow Magic (Spell Master)
Devils Tongue - Contractor (Technique Master)
They were quite a lot but one thing I did find interesting was that I could only pick techniques and spell that where at the highest rank for that skill. I also found about four other spells/techniques that didn''t follow the standard. Like one life magic technique that was called Vitality Sight and it did almost make the list, but I didn''t see myself needed it in the near future, so I cut it out. So out of nine choices, I can only pick three. Well, I''m keeping Shade Walker as I should at least have one master rank technique. As for the other two that was much harder but, in the end, I picked Void Temple and Mass Call Dark Reflection. The reason for Void Temple was that is sounded defensive, and I was lacking in any defensive options. And Mass Call Dark Reflection sounded like area of effect spell, and I needed a spell so yea.... As I finish picking my options all of the boxes disappear for a second. But only for a second, as the nothingness starts to churn and it stopped being nothing or did it become something? As a pain started growing it was like all of my nonexistent nerves were individually and personally stabbed with acid tooth pick that caught on fire and this was only the beginning. As time stopped meaning anything I stopped meaning anything as my mind, body and soul where loving torn apart bit by bit. I begged it to stop, I screamed, cried and pleaded but nothing. Slowly I could see multicolored miasma around myself as I was stiched back together, bit by bit. But as more of myself was rebuilt, the miasma slowly peeled back layer by layer until I was on a throne in a small old broken wooden shed. When I was able to regain control over my body, as I sat there for who knows how long. It felt like year, or it could have been seconds but then I did decide to move. The first thing I did was cry because of the pain, because of what I have lost, my friends and family and that I might be alone for who knows how long. Knock, knock, knock. "My lord have you finally awaken?" Theres Nothing Here I look up at the noise. ''Did that thing lie to me when it said I was trapped and if it did, what do I do with whatever is outside?'' Before I could make a decision, the crappy wooden door swung open revealing not what I expected. Now I''m a demon, well technically, a Fiend Princes and a True Nightmare Demon at that! So, what I didn''t expect was a human or what looked like a human. She had silky white hair, blood crimson eyes and skin that was too pale to be healthy. She was wearing a French maid uniform, black and white in color and why did she call me "My lord"? As she opened the door and looked down at me, I notice that I was completely naked. Pale skinned with an almost noticeable blue tint to it, I was also really skinny almost an unhealthy skinny. I could see my ribs! With my skin pulled tight over my body I also noticed I had no sex, there was nothing there.... But still, as the door swung open, I jump to my feet to try and hide my crying as a thought of ''showing weakness is unacceptable'' crossed my mind. Wait, why did I think that I wonder, but there''s no time to think more, just to act. "What do you want?" As I look down at the human? I was also able to hear my voice and I didn''t know what I was hoping for, but my voice sounded like my normal one, maybe a bit more powerful. "To see if my lord has finally awakened." As she spoke there was no emotion in her voice, it was a bit creepy to hear especially since she didn''t show any facial expression. "As you are now awake my lord, what is your first course of action?" I look at her, somehow keeping my face stern and passive. "Give me a minute and get me some clothes." She gives me a bow and left with out of a word. ''I hope I didn''t piss you off, but I just can''t shake this feeling of showing any weakness....'' "Haaaaaaa!" I hate this, I don''t know what I''m doing and this feeling making me act like I know what I''m doing isn''t helping. But all I could do was to try to center myself. Almost a minute later, the human returned with an old cloak, a wide brim hat and some pants. The color of the clothes were shades of ashen grays. After she hands me my clothes, she just stands there, seemingly waiting for me to put them on. I stare at her but that doesn''t seem to bother her, to the point that I couldn''t stand it anymore and told her to leave. "Of course, my lord as you wish." She bows again and leaves the tiny room with still no emotion showing. The clothes were well fitted even though it looked old and a bit tattered, but it was something. After getting dressed I had a quick look around the small room and the only thing of interest was the throne in the windowless wooden room. The throne was made of a dark blue-gray stone with only one other detail visible, that of a carving of a person in a bubble with other people around it, their arms pointing at it. "That must be me being trapped in wherever I am." I whisper to myself as I leave my room. As I open the door, I was greeted by a wasteland where the land was salt white with cracks covering the ground for as far as the eye could see. By the door was human waiting, seemly for me but unlike before, she was smiling. It was nice but why is she smiling now? She turns to me. "My lord, you are finished, it''s good that I don''t need to turn off my emotions when seeing you again." She says in an almost chipper tone. I look at the human in confusion, but I decide to say nothing about it. We stand there in uncomfortable silence, or at least for me as she looked quite happy just waiting. ''Why does she have to make this so difficult for me.'' I wonder. Waiting for another minute as nothing is said I finally speak, hating the fact that I had to speak first, and this is made worse by the nagging feeling in my mind to show no weakness. "So, what are we working with." I ask, keeping my gaze straight forward. "Well, my lord, you don''t have much. Your stores of essences are almost empty and access to the material plane is restricted ,so not much my lord." Sounding no less chipper. ''Well fuck, that tell me almost nothing.'' Also, what are essences and why does it matter? I think to myself. But I might be able check that with a thought and a new blue box opens, to my surprise it had useful information in it for once.
Beginner Guide for Divinity - Fiend Prince Addition
This is a basic guide to help you get started. Let''s get started with the fact that you are not a Divine Entity you are a Fiend Prince but like a Divine Entity you both use essence.
What Is Essence? Well, essence is many things but to keep it simple it''s the building blocks of reality. Which is what creatures of divinity use to affect the world around them.
How Do I Gain Essence? For a Fiend Prince to gain essence they will have to generate or have a concept been directed at them. This can be any concept, but certain concepts can harm you. The further away from you it is, the less effective it is. Concepts closer to you will give more essence.
How Do I Use Essence? Well, if you got to this point and don''t know how to use essence then you really shouldn''t be reading this.
Well at least it told me something but at the same time, not helping at all! I tried thinking of ''states'' and it worked to my surprise. At least this system is easy to use, I thought.
Name: Helmer Lord of Nightmares Race: Fiend Prince Subrace: True Nightmare Demon
Health: N/P??Mana: N/P??Stamina: N/P Essence: 300??Souls: 0
Titles: Lord of Nightmares, Emissary to the Fiend Emperor, Deal Master Abilities: Nightmare Aura, Shapeless, Nightmare Sense and Horizon Walker Patron Style: Gray Dreams States: Do not apply in your realm.
Skills: level 107 - Shadow Magic (Master) level 105 - Sneak (Master) level 103 - Contractor (Master) Level 90 - Dark Magic (Adept) Level 89 - Bargaining (Adept) Level 86 - Dream Weaver (Adept) Level 71 - Crafting (Adept) Level 70 - Blood Magic (Adept) Level 69 - Unarmed Combat (Journeyman) Level 67 - Pierce the Veil (Journeyman) Level 57 - Tactics (Journeyman) Level 53 - Sense Motive (Journeyman) If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.Level 49 - Self Awareness (Journeyman) Level 47 - Life Magic (Journeyman) Level 45 - Tracking (Journeyman)
Knowledge: Homunculus Creation - Vessel (Innovative) Magic Theory - Shadow (Advanced) Portal Creation - Dreams (Advanced) Nightmare Creation - Lesser (Simple) Essence - Manipulation (Simple)
''Ummmm where''s the spells and techniques, must be in a different menu.'' It was nice to see the new knowledge added especially the homunculus creation. Also, it says knowledge, but do I have to read it and if so, how? As I picked ''Essence - Manipulation'' a surge of pain spread thought my mind like a fire with fresh oil added to it. As the pain kept increasing, I could feel the knowledge of how to manipulate essence and what it is. After a bit of time, I came back to my senses with the knowledge of how to use essence, but it was painful, and I am not certain I''m willing to do it again any time soon. As I looked around, I notice I was on the ground, and that the human was looking down at me in concern. I slowly get to my feet, waving of the help of the human. "I''m fine, just got hit by a surprise that''s all." I think over what I just learned and just how little I have plus that if I make the wrong choice with the essence then I''m going to starve in here. As I now knew that as a Fiend Prince, I needed to use essence to stay alive, not just to affect the world. It also made me unkillable to anything that wasn''t also made of essence. With how little essence I have, I will have to be careful on how I use it with and if my suspicion is correct, about my prison. I next check why my patron style had changed and what I found was interesting as well as making my idea more plausible.
Patron Style: Gray Background Gray Background has turned into Gray Dreams. This is due to your evolution into a True Nightmare Demon.
Patron Style: Gray Dreams You find it easier to contact creatures that wish to hide and find information even easier well they are sleeping.
Essence type: Fear (Nightmare)
Gifts: Shadows Embraces: In darkness creatures will want to look away from you and find the need to leave the area that you are in if you so wish. (30 EP) Nightmare Eye''s: You can see the fears of a humanoid if they make eye contact, and they fail a Charisma save. (15 EP) Dream Eater: You can eat the dreams of a humanoid creature, this will allow the Lord of Nightmares to make a contract with that creature, this will cost 300 MP. (1000 EP) Call Nightmare: You can summon a creature from the Lord of Nightmares realm to help you but the cost varies on how strong the nightmare will be. (100 EP) Custom Gift: Make a gift, cost will vary on gift. (??? EP)
Well, that definitely confirmed how little essence I have. If I had to guess the EP means essence points, nice to know. I focus on the Gray Dreams part to see if I could get more information from it, and it worked. Well sort of, I got the feeling of how to make contact, but I was missing something. And that something was most likely a way to make contact with anything outside of this place. I guess that leave me with no option but to try and build a portal. I hope I have enough essence to do this. As I look at the human again before deciding to ask them something. "I wish to pick your mind for a second." "Yes, my lord?" "When I make contact with my first mortal which one should I pick?" I start making my way inside my shack. "Hmmm I believe you should make contact with some person who''s on the run and give them a gift with a quest where they must complete it to keep the power!" She said in that almost too happy tone, as she follows me inside. The room was still empty apart from the blue-grey stone throne so I move to it. Sitting down on the throne, I start looking over all that I now own, even if it''s not much. I get ready to do something I really don''t want to do but my life is on the line, so I brace myself to trigger the Portal Creation knowledge and when I did, I almost wish I didn''t. The pain washed through my mind once more, that''s when I realized that this is so much worse than the essence knowledge where it just put information into my head. This knowledge felt much more intrusive as it remade my thinking, how I put two and two together, how I see the world. But the pain was overwhelming like in the void and I started losing myself. After some time, and it felt much longer that last time, I came around. I don''t know how long I was out. The human looked at me, a worried expression on her face. "How long?" I say in a raspy voice, looking back at her. "Around an hour, my lord." She notes I was not fatally damage so her happy demeanor returned. There was one other benefit that came as a surprise and that was some knowledge about my prison. In basic terms, I could not leave but essence could leave and also come inside. As long as it''s directed at someone in the prison. But I can''t do much with the essence once it leaves. So, once I send it out, I can''t change it but that''s not as important as being able to gain essence. As I focus on what I want, and a blue box appears.
Gate of Dreams Eye: Cost (250 EP) This portal was created by Helmer the Lord of Nightmares to allow them to see the dreams of mortals on the material plane. Dreams Touch: This portal will allow the user to see and to a limited degree, interact with dreams. This effect increases if you are the Lord of Nightmares and or a True Nightmare Demon. (Effects stack) Dream Beacon: Creatures that have interacted with Gate of Dreams Eye can be marked by the user and the marked creature will be easier to fine when using the gate. The user can mark up to five creatures for free, any more will need essence to increase marked creatures. The eases of finding marked creature is increased when the Lord of Nightmares and or a True Nightmare Demon is using the gate. (Effects stack) Lost to the Dream: When using the Gate of Deams Eye you may get lost in the dreams of other creatures and might never find your way back to your body. (Curse)
Not the most ideal but with what little I have to work with, as anything more will blow the cost out of my range. But I should be able to make the most out of this especially with Dreams Touch and the cures isn''t too much of a problem as I have a feeling that my prison wouldn''t let me get lost in the dreams of mortals. I will also have to keep a note, just an idea of what I wanted was good enough to give me this. It only makes me wonder what the others like my kind can do. But for now, I push other thoughts away as I select it to be made. As I do so, I feel the essence leave me and it feels sickening, it was like throwing up but unlike feeling better afterwards, you just feel ill. But watching the essence forming was something of beauty. At first it was thousands of different colors, all different but in harmony, then it shifted from a liquid to a solid made of hundreds of different pieces as they all quickly and smoothly start building the Gate of Deams Eye like a 3D puzzle. As the last piece goes in, a ripple goes over it and it was finished. The Gate of Dreams Eyes was a circular sphere of clear glass floating in midair surrounded by three fine rings, one gold, one obsidian and the final one being make of different gemstones. The main ones being amethyst, black tourmaline and scolecite. The last main detail was what looked like stained glass floating around it in a random pattern. "My lord may I ask a question?" The human turns her head towards me. I pause for a second for nodding my head to her. "Thank you, my lord but why didn''t just go the breach to make contact with the mortal plane?" She asked as she turns her red eyes on me. I look at her for a second and somehow keeping a straight face as I kick myself for not asking about it. I don''t know anything as that damn feeling wouldn''t let me. ''Think, think what should I tell her.... Well fuck I don''t even know her name and I need to think of a lie that will sound plausible.'' And where does this feeling of mistrust come from, I want to know. I wasn''t like this. Then inspiration struck and it would allow me to kill two birds with one stone. "Well, that''s easy because it strengthens my connection to the mortals'' dreams on the material plane and it will allow you to help me deal with the mortals when I might be preoccupied." I said and can see it in her face as she thinks it over. Just when I think she will call me out for the lie, she nods. "That makes senses my lord, sorry for not understanding. I will be more diligent next time." She turns her sharp gaze to the Gate of Dreams Eye. While making the gate, I was also given the knowledge of how to work it. As I put my hand out, the slowly moving rings and shards of glass start picking up speed as I feel my consciousness fall into the gate. It is hard to describe the feeling of using the Gate of Dreams Eye and even harder to understand but it felt comfortable, right, it felt like home. But I push away the unimportant thoughts and focus on my patron style where I felt at first five lines going off in the distance then more going off and more until I lost count. All of the strings were different some were brighter or dimer, others had hundreds of colors, but some only had three. They were like people, and now I knew how someone could get lost as I felt myself wanting to go off and see all of what I knew to be dreams. But I take control of myself and focused more on my patron style as some of the strings glowed even more brighter. I followed the brightness one and I could feel that it was the one I was looking for. But in my casting, some of the lines had a strand of darkness go down them without me noticing. One Life for My Happiness ~~Feno~~ ''It''s cold so, so cold, why does it have to be cold, why do I have to be cold?'' I think to myself, running again from a group of cold guards, clutching some warm bread. I do love warm things like a mother''s hugs and when my father told stories. But those cold people took all the warm things away. ''I shouldn''t think cold thoughts, not when cold man are looking for me.'' After some sharp moves, I lose the cold guards and make my way back to my cold home. It was not much, some half-rotted planks with a few long rags and a pillow! I crawl into my home to eat my now not-warm bread. After eating it, I went to sleep to dream of warm things.
This dream was strange. At first, it was a warm dream, but it became cold, and it wouldn''t stop getting colder. I tried to wake up, but I couldn''t. As the dream turned into the day, the world became much colder. I was forced to watch how mother, in her nice dress, was taken away screaming. And how father was stabbed through the chest by uncle. While he laughed at father. Then he looked at me with a cold glint in his eyes and told me: "Run boy and make the hunt fun." In a cruel tone as he laughed. But before I could run as I did on that cold night, a person who wasn''t present that night appeared. Uncle turned to him in confusion. The person was tall much taller than uncle, wearing an old ash-colored cloak with a wide brim hat that covered most of his face. Shadows were the only thing I could see along with one glowing crimson eye. When uncle looked straight at the face, he paled and let out a scream that hurt my ears and uncle fell unconscious. Then the person turned to me and even that one eye made me feel cold. "Wh-who are you?" I stuttered, my voice breaking as well. "Who am I?" He said in a voice so cold it would make people run from. He pauses for a moment, seemingly thinking it over what I said before answering. "I''m the Lord of Nightmares, Helmer." He moves closer to me. "What is a nightmare and what do you want?" I don''t know why I asked him, but his cold was burning like fire. Again, he stops for longer this time, staring at me, almost judging me with that gaze. "You don''t know what a nightmare is?" I couldn''t stop myself when he asked the question, coldness made me speak. "No, I always have warm dreams." My heart pounded in my chest and each time it pumped I could feel the coldness from the man as he spoke. "How interesting and to answer your second question, I was here to recruit this man." He looks at uncle on the floor and for some reason, that hurt. When he said he came for uncle, the cold became almost too much. "But he doesn''t seem to be any use now." He looks at me again, seeming to wait for something. "I could do better than uncle," I squeaked out as I started to feel his coldness leaving. "You think you can do what I want, boy?" The person''s coldness came back with vengeance, burning me. "Ye-ye-yes I can as long as I don''t have to feel this cold many more." As I spoke, I couldn''t stop myself form shuddering at what I''m now certain is a nightmare. The nightmare stared at me for a long moment. "Hahaha, fine boy if you think you can do better here." The nightmare flicks his wrist.
Quest - One Life for Happiness You have agreed to work for the Lord of Nightmares. Success: Kill one person. Optional: Cause widespread fear. (Will increase reward.) Fail: Fail to kill someone within 1 month. Reward: Keeping Shadows Embraces and not suffering an eternal nightmare. Increased reward on performance. 1000 XP
Shadows Embraces: In darkness creatures will want to look away from you and find the need to leave the area that you are in if you so wish.
The last thing I remember was that crimson eye looking at me and the cold washing over me, almost comfortably.
~~Helmer~~ As I enter the dream of the man I was looking for, I noticed that the dream was of him killing the boy''s father and taking away the boy''s mother. He seems like the right person because the dream is too weak to hold me. So, I graded the dreams of others to straighten it. As I finished straightening the dream and enter it, the man was laughing at the boy, telling him to run. But the boy seemed to notice I was here. First. how interesting I thought, but he''s not the one I''m here for. The man turns to see me and he turned so white so fast that he could have been a chameleon. His scream was loud, if this was the real world, not just a dream. I''m certain some glass would have broken if it was real. Then he passed out.... Well, that failed! Was it because I''m in the dream, I wonder as I look at the boy. Or maybe because he was the main dreamer as the boy doesn''t seem like he''s going to pass out. Or the man was just not strong willed? "Wh-who are you?" The boy stuttered out with his voice breaking. "Who am I?" I say caught off guard, but I might as well try and salvage some of this. "I''m the Lord of Nightmares, Helmer." I move closer to the boy deciding that I might as well see if I can get some essence. "What is a nightmare and what do you want?" ''Wait, did this boy really ask me what a nightmare?'' I stare at the boy, trying to figure out if he''s lying to me. "You don''t know what a nightmare is?" Almost like he was forced to answer me he said. "No, I always have warm dreams." ''Okay he could just be an outright liar, but I doubt he is. And if he isn''t, then that could be really good or really bad for me. But I don''t think he is lying to me about this. "How interesting and to answer your second question, I was here to recruit this man." I look at the man on the ground with a bit of annoyance as I think on what to do next. "But he doesn''t seem to be any use now." I look at the boy, thinking of what to do now. Before I make a decision, the boy surprise me. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "I could do better than uncle." The boy squeaked out. I start thinking if the boy was worth putting my chips on. "You think you can do what I want boy?" I bring my full focus on the boy as he starts to shake. "Ye-ye-yes I can, as long as I don''t have to feel this cold any more." He couldn''t stop himself from shuddering as I watched him. I don''t know why but I found this boy, splattered with blood and saying he could do better than this man, interesting. Hell, why not, let''s bet on him? "Hahaha, fine boy if you think you can do better here." I flick my wrist at the boy and on focus the essence what I want and need.
Quest - One Life for Happiness (Cost 31 EP) You have agreed to work for the Lord of Nightmares. Success: Kill one person. Optional: Cause widespread fear. (Will increase reward.) Fail: Fail to kill someone within 1 month. Reward: Keeping Shadows Embraces and not suffering an eternal nightmare. Increased reward on performance. 1000 XP
Shadows Embraces: In darkness creatures will want to look away from you and find the need to leave the area that you are in if you so wish. (Blessing)
As I leave the dream turned nightmare, I decide to give the boy a peaceful night. After all, he will be busy for the next month. When I left the dream realm I was met with a stare from the human. Which was giving me great concern, has she figured out that I have no idea what I''m doing? I get ready to do something as the feeling of mistrust grew stronger. It was also nice to know that essence can turn into XP one essence for 1000, not bad, I think, trying to stay calm. "My lord, why did you change to a different mortal?" The human asked, looking at me with confusion. Before the distrust grew overwhelming, I replied. "The mortal was weaker than I thought, and an opportunity appeared, that boy seemed to have some potential." I looked at her flatly. For a few seconds she said nothing before speaking again. "I think I understand my lord, as the elven boy is still young, he can grow into a useful pawn." I blinked at the fact I didn''t notice the boy was an elf. Which was concerning. How did I fail to notice he was an elf? How much did I change in that short amount of time? But the feeling of mistrust left after her hearing what I said. I hate the fact that I can''t trust the only other living thing with me but the second I even think of saying something, I''m blasted with the feeling of mistrust again. I bring up the blue boxes to see if I can find one for being a patron after a few seconds I found it.
Patron of the Gray Dreams
Essence: 23
Chosen: 0 Proteges: 0 Warlocks: 0 Acolytes: 0 Servants: 1
Upkeep: 16 essence a month Servant: 1 essence Blessing: 15 Shadows Embraces - (15)
Income: 0 essence a month Bonus: 4 essence
''Hmm, interesting, I didn''t know I had an upkeep. And what does the different between servants and the others mean?''
Servants: 1 essence Servants are the lowest rank of servant amongst your followers. Not known for their loyalty, they are not given any major benefits other than sometimes getting temporal bliss. Servants are the cheapest of your follower to maintain. Lesser Benefits: As a patron of the Gray Dreams and your abilities will affect the benefits. Lucid Dreams: Strengthens dreams and increased awareness while sleeping. (Horizon Walker) Nourishing Sleep: After sleeping you will have the effect as if you have eaten. Effect is stronger with more people around. (Dream Eater)
Servants: 1 Name (Feno), Race Elf (Wood), Age 11, Level 1 (234XP), Cost 16
Income: 0
Bonus: 4 Four creatures had nightmares due to your actions. Gain 4 essence.
When did I cause four creatures to have nightmares? Well at least I have something to do well I wait.
~~Feno~~ When I woke up, I had a hard time remembering what I dreamt. I remember a tall, cold man and uncle? But as I looked at my states and saw the quest, I realized what I had done.
Name: Feno Willow-Heart Race: Elf Subrace: Wood Elf
Health: 80/80?Mana: 100/100?Stamina: 90/90 Strength: 7?Agility: 10?Dexterity: 11?Constitution: 8?Endurance: 9 Intelligence: 10?Wisdom: 8?Charisma: 10?Luck: 11 Titles: First Servant of Helmer Abilities: Feel Insight, Shadows Embraces, Servant of the Lord of Nightmares Malice\Buff - None
Skills: Level 8 - Sneak (Novice) Level 5 - Pick Pocket (Novice) Level 5 - Small Blades (Novice) Level 2 - Unarmed Combat (Novice)
Quests: One Life for Happiness - Time remaining 29 days and 23 hours.
Quest - One Life for Happiness You have agreed to work for the Lord of Nightmares. Success: Kill one person. Optional: Cause widespread fear. (Will increase reward.) Fail: Fail to kill someone within 1 month. Reward: Keeping Shadows Embraces and not suffering an eternal nightmare. Increased reward on performance. 1000 XP
Shadows Embraces: In darkness creatures will want to look away from you and find the need to leave the area that you are in if you so wish.
As I look at the quest, I remember the cold from the dream and I shiver from the memory. I hug my legs to my chest as I try to calm myself. ''Okay Feno, what to do?'' I think to myself but as I do that, I hear someone arrive to my home. Did they come to kill me? "Feno, are you still in there? I hear the merchants called the guards on you." A cheerful but slightly worried voice called out. A wave of relief goes through me as I realize it was Skylar, one of my oldest friends. Unlike me, they didn''t live on the streets but in the temple of Oreal, but they still came to see me. "Umm yea, I didn''t get caught." I left my shelter and found Skylar standing there in the apprentice robe to Oreal, having one of the star constellations on it but I could never remember which one. They had light skin, dark brown hair and pale blue eyes. They were mostly androgynous in looks, they could be a girl or a boy. "Are you okay, you don''t look too good?" "Umm, oh no, I just didn''t get much sleep that''s all." I say, thinking back to that cold creature. "You too?" "Wait did you also see... It." I feel the dread before I could speak its name. "No, I didn''t have any nightmares as people are calling them, but people all around the place are having them. The temple thinks it is a new disease from Alamer." They voice darkness at the mention of Oreal''s hated bother. ''Should I say that it''s not a disease but something new?'' But as that thought entered my mind I felt the displeasure of the nightmare. Maybe if I do nothing the nightmare may just leave me alone.
1 Week later After a week, I wasn''t visited by the Lord of Nightmares again but the timer on the quest kept ticking down. But other weren''t as lucky to not be visited by nightmares and the ones that saw the Lord of Nightmares seem to go mad or are too scared to leave their homes. Some just ended themselves. The temple still think it''s Alamer and have been trying to communicate with Oreal or one of her servants. Not successful, from what Skylar says as if something is blocking them. But the blessing I got from the Lord of Nightmares has been almost too good as the week went on. I was becoming healthier after each sleep and sneaking became easier. where I could even steal warm food. But I know at the end of the month, it will be gone. I look at the quest one more time as I wonder if I could really do what the quest wants. The Seed of a Nightmare For the first two days everything was going fine as I started to gain a small amount of essence from spreading nightmares around that city. Plus even if that boy hasn''t done my quest yet, he was still being useful by eating the dreams of others. I was also able to do a bit of testing to find out why that man broke down but not the kid. It seems that the mortals can''t take seeing my form even when I suppress it. The way around the problem I found was grabbing someone else''s dream and using it as a filter but even that doesn''t work too well. But just as my essence started to roll in, it started to drop and for a day, I couldn''t find out why. It got to the point that I got the human to help me find out why. That alone almost made me have a heart attack as the paranoia almost got out of hand. But my desire to find out why my essence was slowing down helped overcome it. After searching though the dreams of the elf (which wasn''t easy) I could tell they believe that some other dark god is causing my nightmares and that must somehow be taking my essence. Also, this dark god is doing something that is blocking one of the many elven gods, but I don''t know what they are blocking. I had no way to do anything about the loss of essence unless I wanted to spend more essence, which I didn''t. So I did more testing. I did more testing and left the human to spread nightmares while I found out why my essence income was lowered. The first thing I tested was one of my abilities, Shapeless.
Shapeless Your true form is what you make of it as no shell will contain you and only imagination is your limit.
You can spend mana to change your form. Any chances are permanent until you change again. Any nature weapons, armour or other alterations will work to your understanding. Any injuries will not be removed by changing form, but the damage can be moved around.
I first tested how large I could become while the human was using Gate of Dreams Eye and at first the increased size didn''t cause any problems. But it got to a point where my body started to collapse on itself. Only a thought and I returned to my normal size, or what I thought was my normal size. Then I tried give myself claws. Long, black claws like obsidian knifes and like obsidian, they broke just as easily. It was painful when they broke but only for a moment, almost like a slap to the face. I tried to make the claws stronger but nothing I did worked. Before I could try and turn myself into an animal, the human came outside of the little shack as I given to her. "What do you want?" I asked, raiseing one of my eyebrows, even if she couldn''t see it. "My lord, I believe I have found a way to motivate your new servant." She said as she lowered her head to me. "You have found a way to motivate the boy then why do you need to tell me this?" "My lord of course I would have but I will need some essence to achieve the outcome." She added, still keeping her eyes down to the ground. "Ah and do you think this plan of yours is worth the essence?" "My lord I believe it will be truly beneficial for you and the essence will be well used." As she spoke, I noted her emotions slowly leaving her words. I look at her for a long moment, feeling the paranoia grow but not much as the appeal of the idea of not needing to do all the work by myself. "You many use my essence for your plan but if it fails, there will be consequences." I don''t know why I said that last bit, but I felt the feeling guided my works. "My lord I thank you, you will not regret it." As her emotions flew back into her voice, she straightened up before bowing again then moving back to Gate of Dreams Eye.
~~???~~ ''Lord Hemler has been very kind to Mr. Willow-Heart even after you hesitate to do his quest but even if you aren''t the one he wanted, you can still be polished into a diamond.'' I think to myself. I walk into the throne room feeling slightly sorrowful at squalor of the place. The only thing that redeems the room was the Gate of Dreams Eye and that was a shame as the throne should be the center of the place. But one day it will be. As I stand in front of the Gate of Dreams Eye, I could feel the pull of the magical artifact on my mind, trying to steal me away from my lord. But it was a simple thing to turn off my emotions to no longer feel that urge. Looking into the dream realm, seeing all the dreams of the mortal''s it never gets old. As well as seeing the small trickle of essence flowing into my lord. But seeing the essence does irritate me as I could also see that at least half of the essence was being taken away by that dark god. That is doing almost nothing with it! "Now where are you... Ah found you." I said in an almost too sweet voice even if my emotions where turned off. I couldn''t help myself, I enjoyed the anger of the mortals then they fight each other. As I found the mortal I was looking for. I would have like to enter the dreams of Mr. Willow-Heart and inform him that he needed to fulfil my lord''s quest, but I don''t want to interfere too much in my lord''s plans. So, I find myself in the dreams of Miss SilverCreek, or should I say nightmare. The nightmare being some creature hunting her down with the face of her mother. Mortals are so easy to scare. As I enter, I grab the nightmare and freeze it in place then, so the mortal didn''t run away, I summoned walls around us with some chairs and a table. "Miss SilverCreek please take a seat." I say with a sweet voice. "You! Why are you back, I told you to leave me alone." The woman said with a bit of fear in her brown eyes. "Come now Miss SilverCreek, you are smart and what I promise you is good. The task not too hard." I added staring at her, knowing that the woman will give in as I have been priming her for long enough. "What you ask is for me to kill a child and one that is part of the temple, all for the nightmares to end. That is not worth it." But I could hear in her voice the lack of conviction. "Ah but I can do more Miss SilverCreek, as my lord is willing to give you a gift if you do this task." As I say this, I see the glint in her eyes, only for a moment, but it was there. "What gift and what lord?" She asked as she finally moves to a chair. "Well to answer your first question, this gift would fix the problem you have been having." I look at her womb pointedly, giving a knowing smile. "And you will not need to know who my lord is." This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The woman quickly moves her hand over where I was looking, as her face filled with grief. "Your lord could do that?" She whispered, looking at me. And with those words, I knew I had her as I gave her a smile. ''So easilyy.'' I assured her and gave the mortal the quest.
~~Lenn~~ My eyes shoot open as the dream, or should I say nightmare, ended and the deal remained fresh in my mind. I stare at the wooden ceiling as light patches filter though the curtain, hitting the wall. I close my eyes as I take a breath, tasting the morning and the old room. "Please Oreal, forgive me." I whisper. I force my body to move. Getting dressed was hard, so was most of the morning. The creature gave me the time when best to kill the target. "I must think of it as a target or anything else or I might not be able to. to... to do it." I try and stop the shaking as I grab the sharpest knife I have. It had a chip in it and wasn''t as sharp as its once was, but it will still do. As I leave my house and make my way towards the place for the ambush, I note the dark expression on the faces of the people around me. Giving the atmosphere of the place an unpleasant feeling, which makes it so much worse knowing what I was going to do. "Keep it together Lenn, I just have to do this one thing then I can leave." As I entered the alley the nightmare told me about, I didn''t have to wait long for my target to walk appear. ''What am I thinking, it''s a child, but I will kill it.'' As I move out of my hiding spot and I grip my knife I could feel the sweat covering the hilt. I lunge towards the child and struck her throat with the knife. The feeling of the knife cutting the flesh of a living creature was revolting. The resistance of the body and the still-hot spraying of blood cover my hand. As I pull back again to finish the job, I hear a whisper from the darkest part of my mind. "There is no need to finish this task. Leave." The voice was cold and uncaring causing a shiver run down my spine.
Quest Complete - Birth of a Legend (Nightmare)
You have completed the hind quest Birth of a Legend where you played an important part in shaping a legend of the era. Due to Helm''s intervention, you are able to see this quest. Reward: 16,000 xp, Title: Made a Legend (Hidden), You no long suffer nightmares, your next child will have the blessing of the Lord of nightmares, you can now have children.
As I feel the level up wash though me, I look down and see what I did, and any joy form the leveling up left. ''Did I really make a legend out of this child?'' I wonder as I see the blood pooling from the neck. Barely breathing I look away and quickly leave. But I turn around as I feel a gaze of someone on me. I look and don''t see anyone. But best to make sure.
~~Feno~~ As I see the lady run from the alley, I dash to Skylar''s body, trying to stop the bleeding. Then I hear the lady''s voice and it made my blood run cold. "Help, help, there''s been an attack!" And even as it made my blood run cold, I wanted nothing more than to attack her for what she did. But before I could do anything, more people ran down the alley and they saw me. "Hay, you, freeze!" SuddenlyI feel a compulsion fall over me. As I look, the lightly armored guards move toward me, spears in hand. One was a slim and gangly with long brown hair while the other was also tall but with darker hair. Both had an unnatural dark energy moving around their eyes then I hear both of them say: "You don''t have much time Feno, I can only control them for so long." Their voice where in sync but I couldn''t using someone else''s voice, I could never forget the voice behind the words. "What do you, you w-want?" I ask as I try to keep pressure on Skylar''s wound but I see the light leaving her eyes. "You know what I want Feno, and I am handing you a way to complete it." The voices almost had a hint of humor as the brown-haired guard pulls out a dagger and toss it to me. "I will not kill my friend even if I suffer your eternal nightmare," I say with more confidence than I had. But it did give the thing pause before it smiled. "That is fine."Tthe brown-haired guard drops to his knees. "You can kill this one and if you do a good job, I might save your ''friend'' haha." They both looked at me with cruel smiles, no longer hiding the humor. I don''t know why but with no hesitation, I grab the knife and stab the man in the eye. I believe I heard his eye pop.
You have killed level 6 guard for 1,500 xp.
You have level up you are now level 3 congratulations! You have 4 unspent stats points. You gain 1 point to Dexterity and 1 to Intelligence. You also get 1 point to your Charisma as a gift for Helmer Lord of Nightmares.
Quest Complete - One Life for Happiness You have completed your quest even with the help of you patron. Reward: You gain 1,000 xp, you keep Shadow Embraces Bounce Reward: The Lord of Nightmares can see great fear being spread and will save the life of Skylar.
Shadows Embraces: In darkness creatures will want to look away from you and find the need to leave the area that you are in if you so wish.
As I realize what I just did, I hear its voice behind me. I turn around, seeing the other guard standing over Skylar as crimson red magic bleeds into him. If me killing the guard nearly made me throw up, seeing the flesh knit itself back together almost like worms was just as bad. Then I feel a cold spread through me, making me feel numb to the events. "You really should get over that disgust with what you will be doing and if I were you, I would be running." And with almost no control over my body I ran. But I was able to turn my head with all my will to see the cruel smile that crossed the face of the guard and the outline in the shadow of something truly monsterous.
~~Helmer~~ It is really hard to keep the bodies from falling apart. After I found out I could process the body of broken willed people, I thought I found a way out of my realm, but it was like trying to fit into clothing way too small and even being shapeless didn''t help. But the worse thing was if I didn''t restrain myself, the body would look like it suffered and the face had a cruel smile on it. As I was testing out two bodies, I saw that elven woman my homunculus was interested in and then she started shouting about an attack. So I thought I could help her out a bit and spread some fear as these bodies were as good as dead by now. As I got both of the bodies running into the alley, I activated command skill of one of the guards but when I saw Feno over the body of some boy or girl (I couldn''t tell the difference) a thought came into my mind. After a bit of talking and getting him to kill the puppet that was starting to break down, the only thing I had to do was heal his friend. But my control slipped a bit, and the word came out a bit weird. What was hard was healing the kid as using my blood magic to do a fix-up put a lot more strain on the body I was using and it was already about to fail. I could also feel the press of more people making their way towards us, so using a bit more of my power, I made the boy run and I felt the smallest bit sorry for the kid. So with some word of encouragement, I send him off. As the other people start entering the alley I put on my acting face and slumped against a wall, using a bit of my Nightmare Aure. "He ran away, I don''t know what he did bu-" I say in a raspy whisper as I force the body to cough up blood. "Hay don''t push yourself Greg." A man that looked like this body''s brother spoke with concern. "No, I need to tell you that it wa-" But before I could do anything the body died on me! I lean back on my throne, slightly annoyed as I had a bit more to say. But, oh well, at least I know what nightmare I will be giving the people. ''Sorry Feno but I want to be free and if that means making you the living nightmare of the world, so be it.'' I think as I start to make nightmares so people will recognize Feno as the problem. ''I do hope he lives as he can be quick and useful. Now why is my essence leaving me?''