《Living In The Dark》 Preface Living in the Dark By Brian N. Johnson Preface Evelin¡¯s horror-stricken face nearly hit the stone floor of the passageway as she threw herself down under the bolt of lighting that impacted the tunnel wall behind her. Even though she tightly closed her eyes the flash of the lighting was incredibly painful to the nerves behind her eyes that normally peered through darkness easily. Besides being blinded she suspected that the thunderous boom of the spell and the resulting explosion of stone may leave her bleeding from her ears and deaf. That is of course if she survives this attack by the gods only know what the patrol encountered. With her mussels twitching uncontrollably from the so very close impact site, she hoped that her death would be quick because it would take some time to get herself back into the fight. Covered with rock chips and dust, Evelin tried to blink away the pain and after images of the lighting. Not being able to see, hear, or even move properly, Evelin was in more fear of her life ending now than any other time she could remember. Around her other muted shouts, spellfire, and flashes continued for what seemed to be an eternity. Deciding to remain still until she recovered, she lay there on the cold stone waiting. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Once Evelin began to hear moans and began to see the debris that lay around her on the floor, she felt like she might even be able to sit up. Rising slowly while looking for danger in the aftermath of the battle proved how fickle fate is. Evelin¡¯s sister Cathern had not ducked in time to avoid the powerful lighting spell. Her half-chard face stared at nothing and her raw meaty shoulder slowly dripped blood as only the dead can. One of the guardsmen was kneeling beside another and after finding no life began to strip the body of useful weapons and items. Beyond him, the ice-pierced body of a great centipede lay with the upper torso of another guard slumped against the creature¡¯s face while the guard¡¯s hips and legs were sprawled on the floor underneath the great mandibles. Sierra was sitting with her back to the opposite wall holding her frost-covered staff with a death grip while one of her legs was broken. Pushing herself up to her hands and knees, Evelin noticed a tiny bit of crystal with a very dim blue light between her and the wall among the other debris. When she inspected the wall, she found a larger, now dull, crystal that had been shattered by the bolt of lightning. Evelin could not help but wonder if that crystal had drawn the lighting to itself. Picking up the small bit of crystal that still had a dim blue glow she put it in her pocket without further thought. Barking at Sierra to heal her leg, Evelin began to strip any usable gear and valuables from her dead sister. Evelin had somewhat liked this sister a bit more than her other siblings, but it was always going to be one or the other someday. This battle just made it easier. With barely a shrug of her shoulders as Sierra continued to sit dazed, Evelin rolled the body of Cathern over to strip the rest of its belongings. Chapter 1 – Grand Ritual Living in the Dark By Brian N. Johnson Chapter 1 ¨C Grand Ritual Far below House Olum''ruh, the Twelfth House of the great City of Ral''fomda, the Archwizard of House Olum''ruh, Evelin Olum''ruh, took her place at the center of a grand ritual circle beside a tiny bit of quartz with a dim blue light at its center. Evelin could barely contain the excitement that she has so longly waited for. She had only been one-hundred-thirty-one years old when she discovered her life''s work after a battle she barely survived. To imagine that such a seemingly insignificant bit of quartz would change her life so much. Initially, it had taken decades to even determine what the ''worthless'' thing was and to understand its possibilities. It was then that Evelin decided to forgo seeking greater power within her House and fully dedicate herself to reaching her new goal. Not even when Evelin''s mother died trying to replace her grandmother as Matron Mother of House Olum''ruh did Evelin bother herself with the family politics beyond being a House wizard. Only by pursuing her magical might to achieve her true goal did Evelin make it to this point in her life at the age of four-hundred-fifty-three years old. For the last three-hundred-twenty-two years, Evelin fully committed herself to the research and construction of the grand ritual to take place today. Nothing and no one would stand in her way. Even though Evelin only became the Archwizard of House Olum''ruh just over a century ago, she laid down the law upon her grandmother and younger sister Cathren as they each played the role of Matron Mother of House Olum''ruh. They both learned that anything that disrupted the stability of House Olum''ruh would mark the end of their rule. Evelin laughs at the memory of telling them, "Quietly support others to bring down another House if you will, but do anything to risk our House and you''ll be a toy for the goblin slaves for the rest of your lives." That Evelin''s niece, Cathern''s oldest daughter, was currently serving the goblins due to Evelin''s displeasure may have been notable at that time. The fact that all three had forgotten how many litters of goblins the girl had already birthed was not lost upon them either. The grand ritual circle Evelin now stood at the center of spanned nearly two hundred meters in diameter. Due to her very real blood, sweat, and tears, the grand ritual contained dozens of smaller ritual circles. The symbols, shapes, lines, and curves of all kinds were carved into the polished black basalt floor. Each engraved line was filled with pure gold and other precious metals. Other symbols had the beauty and luster of gemstones that have somehow been formed into single pieces, regardless of shape or size. Just centimeters above the floor thousands of rubies float, each in their place above a symbol filled with onyx chips and magical power. Each ruby is a soul gem, a container for some poor unfortunate, who had already given their life unwillingly in a sacrificial ritual to fill each gem. Evelin smiled as soon these souls will be truly consumed to provide the power needed for these great rituals. Special reagents held in time suspensions were also awaiting their consumption. Blood and bones from powerful creatures, various gems and treasures, magical waters, oils, and other alchemical components. A true treasure hoard by any standard. Above the ritual floor, the cavern''s half-sphere domed ceiling is also covered with active runes and symbols to prevent anyone from discovering this great work before and after the ritual takes place. Even gods, devils, demons, and other powers, unless directly led to the ritual or its results will not notice what is happening here such are the lengths Evelin has gone to for protection. A mithril and diamond circlet holds back Evelin''s head of silky long white hair that hangs down to just above her slim ankles. Her tiny bare feet float in the air just a few centimeters above the polished black floor. The mithril and diamond circlet is matched by a slim chain belt, necklace, a pair of rings, and bracelets on each of her wrists and ankles. The revealing white gossamer gown stands out against her ebony skin, leaving her back uncovered, and hangs midway down her slim calves. The only color that stands out is her brightly shining red eyes which are so common among her people. Only the tiny lines at the corners of her eyes give proof of her great age. With her delicate thumbs and index fingers, Evelin holds a massive, perfectly cut, flawless diamond directly above the small blue crystal to which so much effort has been applied. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Speaking the final word of power to begin the ritual, Evelin watches with wonder as the outermost circle begins to shine brightly. Slowly and deliberately more and more of the ritual comes to life around her. Comparing this great ritual to a commoner''s simple game of falling domino patterns is offensive but at a basic level true enough as each ritual circle and rune flares to life in their designed sequence. Soul essence drifts down into the ritual circles from the many rubies that at first seem to turn into dust. Not a single particle of dust touches the floor as each disappears though. Liquids seem to boil into vapors, while other gems and items disappear into tiny starbursts in a multitude of colors. As the ritual collapses toward the center where Evelin stands the diamond she holds begins to glow brightly, then her, fingers, hands, and forearms. Soon Evelin is entirely aglow as the grand ritual completes its purpose. Tiny flashes of light separate from the diamond and Evelin as they disappear and float towards the tiny blue gem as dust motes dance in bright light. With a final flash of light, the chamber is empty but for a large blue diamond that rises to float spinning slowly a meter above the floor. A floor that was once perfect black basalt is now a chaotic pattern of swirls of every possible color where the previous lines, shapes, symbols, and runes seem to have been brushed or stirred into a great work of art. The chamber is dark except for the light that comes from the diamond, causing the floor and domed ceiling to sparkle and dance in unbelievable glory.
Evelin slowly awoke to her new reality. She knew in her mind that her living body was gone, but its ghostly feelings remained. She felt as if she should see her hands in front of her face wiggling her fingers. It certainly seemed to be so, if she would just open her eyes she would see them. Her fingers, hands, her entire body, was replaced by this new existence as a gem. Some would call her a dungeon core or dungeon heart. To Evelin though, she was now an ageless, immortal, perfect goddess. Soon her House would know a true Matron Mother and serve her until the end of time. Slowly Evelin felt her awareness expanding and growing outward spherically to cover more and more of the ritual chamber in which she began her new life. After an unknown amount of time, with the entire chamber claimed, Evelin began to push her growing sphere of influence upwards toward another chamber she had previously created directly above this one. In her logical mind, Evelin focused on pushing the growth in that direction by eighty-five percent as the sphere expanded, slowing her opposing downwards growth to only fifteen percent. Gradually the shift in her expansion took place and allowed her to encompass the ''decoy chamber'' above her true chamber. An identical diamond rested here on a two-meter tall cone that held the gem as a ring would. Evelin designed this decoy chamber to only be ten meters in diameter with a matching half-sphere ceiling. Unlike her true chamber, this chamber had a small, one-meter diameter tunnel cut two meters into the side of the chamber. Engraved into the wall of this tunnel are dozens of small runes which creates a two-way portal between this cavern and a goblin warren. Evelin caused the goblin warren to be built over the last two centuries. The other side of the gateway is connected to the top of a cavern that was roughly hollowed out by the goblins, so unless you manage to get up to the chamber''s ceiling and find the concealed tunnel there, the decoy chamber will remain out of reach. In the ceiling of Evelin''s true chamber is a tiny gateway that connects to another tiny gateway under the gem in the decoy chamber. Thus Evelin hopes to keep her true chamber forever hidden and out of reach. It is when Evelin reaches the decoy chamber that her growth increases substantially. Within the decoy chamber, Evelin left hundreds of goblin soul-filled gems to consume while keeping her goblin warren from becoming overpopulated for the last century. Once Evelin completely claims the goblin warren the only other gateway in and out is destroyed. She then kills all the existing goblins with her dungeon goblins. Once the dungeon is restocked with a large number of goblins. Evelin creates an entry into the plaza in front of and controlled by House Olum''ruh who already has the needed forces to collect taxes there. With a laugh, Evelin creates the dungeon entryway in the House Olum''ruh Plaza somewhat uniquely. She creates a five-meter diameter vertical shaft that is a thirty-meter fall from the plaza to the bottom of the twenty-meter diameter goblin-controlled cavern. The shaft appears to be a natural tunnel and will allow anyone to free climb up or down into the cavern from the plaza. Friendly shoves from the Olum''ruh Plazza visitors or otherwise misstepping visitors ensure Evelin has souls to claim fairly frequently, much to her pleasure.