《Master of Dungeons》 Prologue - The Revival Edwin Cast was a regular guy living and working in a small mountain town in eastern Kentucky. At twenty years of age, he''d done quite a few jobs; ranging from working as a grocery stocker at Walmart to working in the various (and numerous) coal mines littered across the mountain landscape. He never held any position for long; but never left with any hard feelings. In fact, most places would beg him to come back. Unlike most workers, Edwin did his best every single day, and loved learning new things. Even before joining the workforce, his school days had drawn an even larger amount of attention. Acing every test, scoring the highest, joining and quitting clubs regularly. He''d go with whatever interested him and consume it like a dry sponge in a desert suddenly dropped into a sea. He wasn''t interested in going to college though. While advanced learning interested him, he wanted to do and experience everything he could. So after graduating high school at the top of his class and winning five different great scholarships to different colleges and Universities; he instead went the other route. He jumped fully into working, and soon became an even bigger celebrity locally. But that didn''t mean that there weren''t any bad things in his life. Quite the opposite. His mother was chronically ill, and had been ever since he was a young teen. The rest of his family was basically non-existent. He grew up with little money, and sometimes even less food. During his school years, almost every cent went towards making sure he would finish high school instead of dropping out. His mother became increasingly sick and frail. Afterwards though, he reversed what had been going on. He worked harder than anyone, gained bonuses and extras, and got his mother into a good hospital and made sure to pay everything she needed. It was rather heartwarming, in a way. Until that single day in May, when he found out that his mother had died of heart failure. It was a great shock to Edwin. He was working at a bookstore in town, and when his cellphone went off, he answered it immediately. It was the emergency contact number from the hospital. The words that were spoken seemed to go in one ear and out the other, but it was enough to cause him to stumble and knock down an entire shelf. After that, it was all on auto-pilot. He cleaned up, finished his job, and left without saying another word. He didn''t even clock out properly. His boss was so surprised that he ran after Edwin, determined to figure out what had happened. He never got the chance. There was another facet of things that were going on in Edwin''s life. At every place he worked, he always did the best he could. He worked harder than everyone else. Made great impressions on his bosses and superiors, and learned and did everything he could. He even had a knack for management and finances. But the other employees were a different matter. He got along well with most, but there''s always someone in every job that was not pleased. Not at all. The ''old favorites'', the ''old boys club'', the ''heir apparent'', they went by many (informal) names, but almost all of them were pushed aside when Edwin came around. Especially if they were wealthy and arrogant. Edwin had little time to suck up or pamper those who thought they deserved whatever they could get. So he''d blow them off and go on his way. Some of them he''d known in school. Others were the owners kids, or those who''d been working the same job half-assed for years. It doesn''t really matter who or why though. It simply came back to kick him in the ass on that very same day. Several of the guys decided to get together and came to the decision to duke it out with Edwin. And they caught him as he was walking home, so distracted that he didn''t even grab his bicycle from work. It normally would have been a twenty minute ride out of town and into the hollers where his small single-room house was. Walking took nearly three times as long. He was ambushed just outside of town, still walking in a daze. The first blow hit him in the back, just above his shoulder blades. It was hard enough that the old board used to do so broke in half. But it was enough to stagger Edwin, and he was on his knees before he even knew what happened. The second was across the right side of his face, knocking him sideways and onto the ground. After that, there was literally no stop to it. Pieces of wood, twisted metal pipes, even a half-broken pickax from one of the mines. Blood splattered across the ground and more than half his bones were broken. They trashed him across the back and along his arms and legs. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The only reason it stopped was because of the bookshop owner who''d been chasing after Edwin. The assailants ran off, but the old man from the bookstore recognized several of them, and within minutes Edwin was in an ambulance and the police were out in force. Edwin didn''t even make it to the hospital. He died in the ambulance, his world at first having become a scarlet haze of pain that slowly went black around the edges. He couldn''t see, couldn''t hear. Severe cranial trauma and spine injuries left him unable to move or speak. He drifted away before the paramedics could do anything. The news of Edwin''s murder spread like wildfire in a town where almost everyone knew everyone else. At first only the guys recognized by the bookstore owner were tracked and caught, but soon enough all of them were rounded it. It was the most brutal thing to happen up in the mountains in years. Even the media got involved, claiming that it looked more like a gang-land attack than anything. Premeditated murder. Edwin though never got to know. He was dead, and the town turned out in force to mourn his passing, and that of his mother. But things for Edwin didn''t stop there. Even though his world had gone black, his mind didn''t stop working. *Why why why why why why why why* Over and over again, the word repeated in his mind, until it grew so loud that he was screaming it. ¡°WHY!?¡± The word blasted into the void seemingly from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. But there was nothing around. No sight or sound or even a scent. But he could hear his own voice echoing back at him. That shut him up rather quickly. ¡°Wait... How can I talk? Didn''t I die?¡± The words came out in a rush, but the sound of his own voice brought him out from his state of confusion. It was only then that he realized that he could still feel himself. Not his body, but something else. He didn''t feel hot or cold, nor could he feel a heartbeat or even his breathing. But at the same time he felt like he was floating in the blackness. He couldn''t see himself at all, but he felt safe and even comfortable. It was definitely an odd experience. But it didn''t last. There wasn''t any way to gauge time in that place, but it seemed to happen only a short while later when he finally started hearing something, first softly, barely more than a whisper; and then more and more strongly. It was a chant; almost like a hymn, a soft singing chorus you''d most likely recognize in a church or a chapel. It was beautiful and mysterious, but Edwin couldn''t recognize the language. Only that it was getting louder and louder, filling the emptiness with a sense of longing and desperation and need. As it reached its peak, he felt like something had suddenly grabbed him, and was pulling on him. He was moving, but through the void there was just the feeling of it. He had no body, and there wasn''t even the passing of wind or friction. But he was definitely moving faster and faster. It was so totally different from anything he''d experienced that he actually let out of -whoop!- of excitement. For a guy who always enjoyed doing new things and learning more, it was great. And then there was light, a pale red glow that started as a dot in the distance that quickly became brighter and bigger as he neared it. A circle of light that opened in the middle of the blackness. It was also hot, and grew hotter and brighter the closer he got. And he wasn''t slowing down any, either. It almost felt like he was burning as he drew even closer. ¡°What the...!¡± He couldn''t even finish his yell as he was suddenly yanked through the glowing circle. It was only then that his consciousness finally receded. But he did hear something before his world went black again. He couldn''t understand the words, but he did get the meaning behind them. ¡°¡°Success!¡±¡±
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Chapter 1 - Eternal Beginnings Edwin blearily opened his eyes, feeling both warm and comfortable on a mattress as soft as down. His head was resting on an overstuffed pillow, and the sheets felt silky and smooth against his body. For a moment, all he could do was look at the vaulted ceiling arching over his head, but soon enough he turned his head and gazed out at the partially opened window. Outside the sunlight was bright and cheerful, and he could see the swift-moving clouds across the endless blue sky. From there, his gaze wandered downward, and he could see the peaks of mountains both near and distant; the white caps of glaciers almost glaring in the sunlight. He couldn''t see anything else, so he turns his attention in the other direction, looking about the room he found himself in. First off, the bed was huge, bigger than any he''d ever seen before; and that was saying something, having worked in a furniture shop before. It was also a four-poster bed, but the crimson silk canopy and sides had been tied up, allowing him to see the ceiling. The rest of the room was also furnished in an extravagant manner. The dark stone walls (probably granite) were adorned with tapestries, while the floor was covered in a soft off-white carpet. The nearby wardrobe was massive, carved out of some sort of dark ebony wood he couldn''t recognize, and engraved with what was likely gold filigree. A nearby table and matching chairs were much the same, elegant and tasteful and looking polished and bloody expensive. There were also lamps mounted on the walls, but instead of being electric or gas or even torches, they were carved out of some sort of crystal that seemed to glow softly even in the daylight. After that, his attention snaps to a large mirror hanging opposite the bed. In it he could see the bed, but not himself. Instead there seemed to be some sort of red-skinned demon laying where he was; with a single black horn sticking out of its forehead like an oni. He opens his mouth as if to shout; but the monster does the same, and with a -snap- he clamps his mouth closed. The demon in the mirror does so as well. With a shiver running down his spine, he suddenly sits up and reaches a slim arm up; his large hand grabbing at the horn. He couldn''t really feel anything from it besides the pressure that seems to come from his skull; but the horn was smooth and warm to the touch in his hand. ¡°What the hell?¡± He mutters to himself, letting go of the horn and instead pushing the crimson colored sheets down from him, revealing the rest of his deep red skin. The rest of his body was fairly human shaped, and his face looked much similar to how he did as a human; besides the pointed ears on either side of his head. His hair had turned a faint, fuzzy white; and hung down almost to his shoulder blades, except he didn''t have any bangs at all. He was slim and slightly muscular, and his eyes had the same deep, piercing green they had been before. Thankfully he didn''t have any sort of jagged teeth or fangs. All in all, he was rather handsome, even with the odd skin color. After a few minutes of exploring his body, he rolls out of the bed and tries to stand up. He''s rather weak, but after doing some quick stretches he moves to the wardrobe. It wouldn''t do to go out nude, after all. He still has no idea where he is or what happened to him, but he definitely remembers dying and then being pulled into this place. It made him a bit itchy thinking about it all. He''d never been overly religious, but this was definitely not a normal situation. He could almost imagine the chaos that would happen if the churches back on earth learned that something similar to reincarnation really happened. He almost grinned at that thought. Almost. Instead, he quick pulls out the clothing that was left in the wardrobe and tries them on. They fit rather well, and are soft and light weight. But they definitely are not modern clothing. An undershirt, a long sleeved over-shirt, a vest, underpants, trousers, and socks that go almost up to his knees. If he didn''t know any better, he''d think that it was almost like medieval garb back on earth. Except the clothing was obviously some sort of cotton and really soft and light. The colorings were black and a sordid light gray, but when he check himself in the mirror, he has to admit that they look good on him. He was still looking himself over when the door opened and a woman walked in. A woman dressed like an classical maid! Except that the woman''s skin was a pale, almost luminescent blue color, and her eyes were a crystal clear white color. Complete with long black hair tied back in a stiff ponytail and ears even taller and pointier than his own. All he can do is stare in shock. ¡°AAAAAAH!¡± The woman shouts when she sees him standing there, having carried in a wicker basket filled with clothes and the like. She was obviously there to do the housekeeping, but didn''t expect him to be up and about. ¡°Um... Hi?¡± He manages to stutter, completely at a loss after flinching back a bit. But the words that suddenly come out of the excited woman''s mouth completely go right over his head. He couldn''t understand her at all. ¡°#######!¡± The woman was shouting again, with a look very much like awe on her face. She even drops the basket in her excitement. ¡°I... um... I cannot understand you.¡± Edwin finally says, motioning with one hand in a negative fashion. For a moment it seems like the woman was shocked, but then she makes a quick look at his right wrist, and an expression like chagrin spreads across her face. She also said something else, this time sounding much more like a curse. At least people weren''t totally different in that way, no matter what color their skin is. Still, it doesn''t take but a couple more seconds before someone else had shown up; this time an elderly man with the features of a regular human. Probably nearly seventy years old, he''s short and lithe and yet still filled with energy as his sharp blue eyes take in what''s going on. First, the man smacks the blue woman on the back of the head, saying something dismissive that causes the woman to blush before picking up her basket and leaving in a hurry. Next, the man steps in and gives a sudden bow at the waist. ¡°########.¡± This time the man also speaks after straightening up, but all Edwin can do is shrug one of his shoulders. ¡°I cannot understand you.¡± Edwin repeats, sounding almost like a broken record by now; but the man simply nods and makes a ''come-with-me'' motion with one of his hands before walking out. Edwin actually has to sprint to catch up; for a man looking so old he''s surprisingly fast. Outside of his room though, he notices that the stone hallway is almost completely bare, with nothing on the walls or on the floor. Indeed, even the wooden arches holding up the arched ceiling are bare; with only a few of those crystal lamps he''d noticed in his room providing any sort of light now that they''re away from the sun. Edwin takes everything in though, always looking around him and having to jog to catch up to the old man he''s following. They end up leaving the hallway and entering a spiral staircase, going down. From the looks of it there are six floors, each with its own large landing, and they''d started at the top. At the bottom, they finally enter a short hallway leading further back; and then the space opens up into a large chamber. Here the floor is some sort of soft, warm marble; while great shiny black pillars stretch toward the ceiling that looks three or four stories tall, almost completely lost in the shadows. The chamber is sparsely lit, and it seems almost gloomy and solemn at the same time. Empty and forgotten. But the old man continues to walk straight toward the center of the place, where a plan stone pedistal rises from the floor. On it, a glowing white crystal floats about two inches off the flat top, slowing spinning and casting the brightest light in the place. The old man stops about ten feet from the pedestal, and motions for Edwin to go forward and pick it up; although there''s a hard, almost anxious look on the old man''s face. Something about all of this seems to scare the old man. Edwin does what he was told though, and steps toward the crystal, and reaches out to grab it with his right hand. As soon as his red skin comes into contact with the crystal, the place is suddenly filled with light; and Edwin has to clamp his eyes shut and turn his head away. That''s when the crystal suddenly disappears from his grasp, and the light fades away as if someone had flipped off a switch. But that''s when he notices a burning sensation coming from the wrist of his right hand, and he looks at it in a hurry. That''s when he notices that the crystal had embedded itself into the top of his wrist, almost like a watch. Except the white crystal was sunk half into his flesh. He doesn''t feel any of that though. Instead, he watches as black lines start to spread out from the crystal, forming glyphs and signs that Edwin doesn''t recognize. But he does recognize the icy feeling that spreads up his arm and down to his fingers as the lines spread. It hurts! He shouts as the sudden pain takes the strength from his legs and he falls on the floor, his right hand seeming to spasm out of control as the black lines crawl across his skin. The cold, icy-sharp pain also continues and grows and grows as it moves further across his; up his arm and then his shoulder; across his back and his chest. It reaches his other arm and then down his body, and he screams again as the pain sears into his brain. Finally though, the lines stop moving, and instead start to sink into his skin, fading away. With them, the pain also recedes, and Edwin is left gasping and panting for hair, his entire body aching. If he''d had anything in his stomach, he probably would have vomited right then and there, but instead he was left to cry and gasp in great amounts of air, waiting for it to pass. Finally getting enough energy to look back at his right hand, he notices that crystal was still there, but now it was shiny black and the inside of it seems to swirl and flash with various colors of light. ¡°What happened?¡± He manages to croak out, his voice nearly gone from all of his previous screaming and his mouth almost completely dry. ¡°Here, my lord. Drink this.¡± He suddenly hears a soft voice from behind his shoulder, but he grabs the cool crystal glass without thinking and downs the water without a second thought. AAAAH! He definitely felt better after that, and only then does he look up at the old man standing over him. The look of worry previously on his face had been replaced with a look of something akin to fear, and he was shaking slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Edwin says after a moment, handing back to now empty glass before he blinks. ¡°Wait... I can understand you now. Just what is going on?¡± The old man suddenly looked relieved, and even lets out a slight sigh as he straightens back up. ¡°You''ve successfully claimed the Status Crystal, my lord. It acts as a translator, so we may finally be able to speak with you.¡± The man says, motioning to Edwin''s hand before holding up his own left. There''s a small blue crystal embedded in his wrist there, as well. ¡°Status... Crystal? And everyone has one?¡± Edwin asks the first question that came to his mind, but the old man only shakes his head. ¡°No, my lord. Only a few are born with the ability to use a Status Crystal. Everyone is born with a Language Crystal though.¡± He explains, although he seems a bit taken aback by the sudden questions. But before Edwin could say anything more, the old man holds out his hand. ¡°Come on, then. This is no place to have a long discussion, and I''m sure you have plenty of questions, my lord. Let us retire to the study. I''ll have Allisa prepare something to eat.¡± Edwin simply looks a bit surprised, but he takes the old man''s surprisingly strong grip and raises himself up, although his knees are still a bit weak, but after a couple of steps he feels more steady. ¡°Allisa... The maid from before?¡± Edwin cannot help but ask, even as he follows the old man out again. ¡°Yes, my lord. I''m Lucien, your manservant, and Allisa is the head maid.¡± Lucien replies only after they leave the great room, and Edwin easily catches Lucien''s sigh of relief this time. From there, it was only a short walk to the ''study'', which actually turned out to be more like a library; with dozens of bookshelves spaced around the room. The only trouble was that only a couple of them had any books on them at all. Most were empty and bare. But there was a set of chairs near the entrance, and a fireplace along with several end tables and a coffee table set in the middle. Lucien motions for Edwin to take the largest, most luxurious chair, and in turn sits himself on the chair to the right after walking back into the hallway for a minute or so. ¡°Ah. Now then, let me see if I can answer some of your questions. I know you have plenty of them. But first, you should check your Status Screen.¡± The old man, Lucien actually manages to say this with a straight face; which is something of a surprise to Edwin. ¡°Status Screen?¡± He says, for all the world feeling like he was talking about a game, perhaps some sort of MMO or the like. While he was never a vivid gamer, he had an interest like any other guy on the planet. But as soon as the words leave his lips, a transparent message window opens right in front of his face, exactly like in a game.
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals101010
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals101010
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals100500100
LeadershipLuck
110
Edwin finds himself fascinated, and quickly looks over the information presented to him, giving a ''hmmm'' sound every now and again. ¡°Void Demon? Is that because I was pulled from that empty, black place?¡± He suddenly asks, causing Lucien to give a start. ¡°Wait, my lord. You actually remember that place? The Void itself?¡± The old man was definitely startled, but Edwin simply nods his head. ¡°Yeah, and my life before that. I was dead, you know.¡± Edwin replies, although the crackle of anger that is carried with his tone shows that he didn''t like that at all. The memory still carries too much pain. But while he was talking, the Status Screen had disappeared as if it had never been, and by the time Edwin got back to looking, he had to pull it up a second time. ¡°Ah. That is most unusual. But I shall start at the beginning, my lord.¡± Lucien was about to continue on, a nonplussed look on his face but Edwin stops him with a hand. ¡°What''s up with calling me ''my lord?''. My name is Edwin.¡± He says, a slight frown creasing his red-skinned face; making him look much more formidable than before. It even gives Lucien another shock, seeing such a serious look. ¡°If you''d let me continue, sir, it''ll be answered directly. So if you''d quit interrupting...¡± Edwin holds up his hands with a laugh, his face finally relaxing at the griping tone of the manservant. ¡°Fine fine, start your story.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord. Now then, you were summoned here as the last Demon Lord. This world is known as Eternia. We know of the existence of bordering worlds; but we can only summon beings from the void space between worlds. The vast majority of them do not remember anything of their lives before or their time spent in the Void itself; so its quite shocking that you do. ¡°In any case, the nature of the summoning directly corresponds to the race the being is reborn as here in Eternia. We wanted a great and powerful demon, and thus you were summoned as one. There is very little control over this, but we can influence the type of being to be pulled from the Void. Temperament, power, knowledge... the summoning can be as complex and specific as one can think of. Sadly, to do so takes a great amount of resources and money.¡± The old man was going on, and Edwin was listening as diligently as he could. Some things stood out, but he lets it go for the moment as he listens to the manservant''s story. Still, it seems that is a rather large amount of control that can be established over any sort of summoning. But the increase in complexity also increases the overall cost. At least he could understand that. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Now, for yourself, my lord, we had to go to rather drastic measures. Things are not quite as... stable as they appear here in the Citadel, and summoning you was a rather harsh drain on our remaining resources. In the end, we could only put in three criteria for the summoning. ''Been a human'', ''Hard working'', and ''Curious''. And thus we summoned you, and even then it was the hardest summoning we''d ever attempted.¡± Okay, so Edwin was able to follow all of that. Things must really be bad here in Eternia, if they went through all that trouble to bring someone who could actually work. Normally people would want to summon beings with ''absolute strength'' or some other thing like that. But hard working? That''s a bit of a shock. Before Lucien could go back to speaking, Edwin holds up his hand, interrupting once more. His mind was going a thousand miles a minute, but soon enough a flash of a rather boyish grin comes across his lips. ¡°Let me see if I can fill in some of the gaps. For whatever reason this... country, for lack of a better term, is on its last leg. The last Demon Lord made a terrible mess of things in one form or another, and the other countries pressed in with greater resources and tactics. After the old Lord was gone, the only thing you guys could do was try to find someone as close to possible as opposite in order to reestablish a balance of power. ¡°Given that there is only yourself and Allisa here, I take it most others didn''t expect it to work in any reasonable fashion, so you pressed on by yourself. You set down the summoning criteria in order to find someone who wasn''t overly strong or arrogant, because that''d turn an already bad situation even worse. But you also needed someone who could work and actually succeed. ¡°You also needed someone who was willing to learn, cause the rules of this world are rather different from the others, and without the desire to study, things would eventually come to a stand-still in one way or another. ''One dies when one stops learning'' is an old expression from the world I lived in before. As for being human... Was it for the compassion? No. Even in my old world, humans weren''t always considerate or compassionate. So it was for a different reason. ''Know thy enemy'', perhaps. ¡°The enemies that have put you in this position are almost exclusively human, aren''t they?¡± His words shocked Lucien, who''d gone rather pale in surprise before he gives a roaring laugh. *DING*
STAT GAIN
+1 Intelligence
+1 Wisdom
For reasoning out a great many things with very little information.
New information about Eternia has been added to the Codex menu.
For a moment Edwin was distracted by the new panel that had popped up, but he soon closes it even as Lucien regains control of himself. The old man had all but fallen out of his seat in laughter. ¡°Oh... Sorry, sir. But it seems you have a knack for picking out information from the words of others. Yes, in all those cases. We needed someone very specific to get us out of this mess.¡± The old man finally says, wiping the tears from his eyes before straightening up in his seat once again. ¡°Eternia is a single vast continent surrounded by endless sea and a great many smaller islands. The continent is separated almost in two by a massive mountain chain called the Spine that runs from east to west. The southern lands have almost always been under human control, while the northern area has predominantly been controlled by the various ''demon'' races. ¡°Demons are any beings that are not human in form or skin color. That includes Blue Elves like Allisa, Goblinoids like myself, or pure demons like yourself. Its a policy of extreme discrimination that forced all other races out of the southern lands. Thankfully there has always been the Spine to active as a massive barrier between the lands. But four hundred years ago the humans discovered an underground cavern network that easily connected the two lands, and fighting started as adventurers set out to explore the northern lands in order to increase their own strength and skills. The First Eternal War started within fifty years, resulting in a bloody serious of conflicts. ¡°Ten years later, the great Demon Lord Scarran proposed a peace treaty, which the humans accepted after a lasting, bitter defeat. We would construct a serious of great dungeons for the human adventurers to explore, and man the dungeons with increasingly powerful creatures and artifacts. The humans would pay to explore the dungeons, and would be able to freely fight any creature in them. Should they survive, they''d gain the right to plunder the dungeon at the expense of us Demons. Should they die, everything in their possession would belong to us. ¡°As you can imagine, this caused quite the uproar on both sides. But after a successful test in which the humans were killed, it became the established system by which peace was maintained. For over two hundred years it was so. Our dungeons would be built and plundered and rebuilt and the adventurers would be killed and looted. There were no large scale fighting, and it became quite lucrative for both sides. ¡°Until summoning magic was developed.¡± Lucien stops there, because a soft knock on the door drew both of their attentions. The Blue Elf Allisa walks in carrying a rather large tray with two sets of covered dishes on it. ¡°Excuse the interruption, my lord.¡± The woman says, although she was blushing faintly. ¡°Ah, its fine, really.¡± Edwin quickly replies, standing up in a bit of a fluster himself. He wasn''t used to being served, especially by a woman. Allisa herself was only about five feet, five inches tall, and was almost painfully thin; but her blue colored skin was rather striking. And she was definitely dressed in a maid''s uniform that showed off every curve. And she had quite a few of them in all the right places. The woman sets the tray easily on the coffee table, and removes the covers on the plates covered in rather nice-looking food. The smell of it was definitely appetizing, and its only then that Edwin realizes that he hadn''t eaten anything in what was likely days. It causes his stomach to growl rather wantonly. ¡°Hmm... It smells good.¡± Edwin says, almost drooling. ¡°Hehe, thank you, my lord. I''m rather clumsy as a maid, but I pride myself in cooking!¡± The woman replies with a grin, actually striking something of a pose at the praise; only to have the back of her head smacked again by Lucien. ¡°Now is not the time, Allisa. I''m still in the middle of explaining things to our new young lord.¡± His voice was stern, but affectionate. ¡°No, its alright. Anyway, are you not going to join us, Allisa? There are only two plates...¡± Edwin says then, holding up his hands to stop the old man from hitting Allisa again. But this only causes the woman to let out another screech. ¡°What..?! My lord, really?! To share a meal... Oh gosh!¡± The woman''s blue face had gone almost completely red with a blush, and Lucien cannot help but let out a sigh at the dumbfounded look on Edwin''s face at the sudden outburst. ¡°My lord, it usually is not proper for the Lord to dine with someone as low in status as a maid.¡± Lucien explains with an almost indifferent tone, which quickly brings a frown to Edwin''s face. ¡°Eh. Bullshit. Its thanks to you two that I''m alive at all now. I don''t really give a damn about social standards or ranks. And I don''t feel like a Lord yet, regardless of what my ''class'' says. So Allisa can join us. She may also have different knowledge or a different perspective in what we''re discussing, so she can join in on that, too.¡± Edwin''s tone had suddenly become hard and even slightly sharp, making both the others to look at each other. But Lucien only gives a nod, and Allisa blushes again, this time holding her cheeks with her hands. ¡°Thank you, my lord! I shall be right back then!¡± The young woman was definitely excitable, but Edwin eases into a slight smile as he retakes his seat after the maid had run off. It only takes a couple of minutes for the woman to return with her own smaller plate, but she jumps into the seat on the left side of Edwin. Lucien actually lets out a sigh at the almost childish way the maid was going about it, but the look changes to chagrin when he realizes that Edwin was looking at him. ¡°Ah, we might as well eat, my lord.¡± The man says to cover himself, motioning to the food. Edwin simply nods and takes up his own plate. The smell was even better up close. It was some sort of grilled meat with a side of what looks like pale rice and leafy greens. Using the knife and fork, he is quick to eat it all; followed by a glass of cool water. He isn''t the only one. Both Lucien and Allisa also scarf down their own meals, as if they''d both been starved. Allisa goes so far as to give a burp afterwards, and blushes again as she covers her mouth. ¡°Excuse me, my lord. Things have been rather hectic since the summoning, so myself and Lucien there haven''t had a good chance to eat or relax in the past three days.¡± The maid explains, setting her plate and glass on the table alongside that of Edwin''s and Lucien''s. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Edwin replies with a nod, although he gives another slight smile. ¡°Hmph.¡± The old man gives a slight cough to draw Edwin''s attention back to him. ¡°I shall continue now, my lord.¡± Edwin only gives a nod. ¡°Summoning magic changed the balance of power in Eternia. Developed by the humans, they used it to great effect to summon powerful ''heroes''. These heroes were unlike any of the previous adventurers. They gained stats and skills and abilities quickly and rapidly advanced. At first most were as weak as any other human adventurer, but those that survived their first few dungeons advanced until they could dominate almost all the rest. Only the biggest, toughest, and trickiest dungeons eluded them. ¡°But even those would fall after a hundred years. With each dungeon that was looted, we had to spend more and more money and resources to rebuild and restock them. At first this was a little matter, cause the regular adventurers that tried to raid the leftover or restocked dungeons were just the same as before. But over time it created a deficit, and thanks to the heroes, fewer and fewer regular humans became adventurers. ¡°In the end the only ones that''d raid our dungeons were the heroes who were so powerful that we had no way to stop them. We fell into near ruin.¡± Lucien stops at that though, already recognizing the thoughtful look on Edwin''s face. ¡°Which means the last Demon Lord decried that the use of summoned ''Heroes'' broke the peace treaty his predecessor created, and lead an attack on the humans rather unexpectedly. He managed to gain access to the summoning magic, and used it to summon something terrible.¡± Edwin says after a few more moments of thinking, one of his hands having come up to tap his lips in thought. ¡°It started another full-fledged war, with the heroes on the side of the humans. The ''thing'' the Demon Lord managed to summon beat them, but was destroyed in return; and the humans, thanks to their superior resources managed to push the demons back. One summoning after another commenced on both sides, but most of them were too weak at the start and were quickly killed as the fighting pushed back and forth. But that only drained the resources from both, and a third group rose. Some sort of Summoner''s Guild, right?¡± Both Lucien, who had expected something like this, and Allisa were shocked at the deductions coming from Edwin, and Lucien after a moment finally nods his head. ¡°Almost exactly. The Summoner''s Guild is comprised of both human and demon wizards that managed to restrict the access to the Summoning Magic both sides used during the war. This brought a rather abrupt end to the fighting, and neither side could no longer summon powerful beings from the void. The Summoner''s Guild had amassed a vast amount of wealth during the fighting, and used it to secure their dominance. They literally took over the connecting caverns in the Spine and placed guards and other summoned beasts to restrict access. ¡°The previous Demon Lord even went so far as to try to wage war on the Guild, but was beaten and then killed. It was an action of folly that nearly caused the collapse of the Demon lands. After that though, peace was forcefully brought about, and the previous Dungeon system was set back into place. But because the northern lands were no longer ruled by a single entity, most of the races broke part and tried to create their own dungeons for their own gains. One by one they were destroyed and left destitute. ¡±Now only we remain, here in the Imperial City of Jottenhiem¡± *DING*
History of Eternia
New Codex Entry
The bloody age of war during the First Eternal War was brought to an end with the advent of the Dungeon System. By building, raiding, and looting Dungeons, both sides gained peace and prosperity for a great amount of time. But the creation of Summoning Magic shifted the balance, and lead to yet another war, the Second Eternal War. Both sides used Summoning magic to great effect, which threatened to destroy the world itself as the fighting waged out of control. The Summoner''s Guild put an end to all of that, and reestablished the Dungeon System to once more bring peace; but without a strong leader, the Demon Races went about it in the wrong way, and lost even more. The Demon races have become desperate; while the humans have become arrogant and foolhardy.
+1 Intelligence
New information about Eternia has been added to the Codex menu.
-|- -|- -|- Thank you all for reading Chapter 1! I hope you guys enjoyed it. This is my first attempt at writing and putting a story I''ve created online. Many of you will recognize several of the themes used, but hopefully you guys will like the original idea behind it. Also, thank you for post various table guides in the forums! They are a great help. Feel free to comment, leave suggestions, criticisms and reviews. I''ll also be leaving an updated Status chart here in the credits after each chapter. So far its only the Status Screen, but I''ll eventually add others like Skills and the Codex. Spoiler :
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals101010
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals121110
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals100510100
LeadershipLuck
110
PREVIOUS CHAPTERBack to Main PageNEXT CHAPTER
Chapter 2 - Dungeoneering 101 The study had gone silent after that newest bit of information was stated, and Edwin took the time to read the newest update message that popped up in front of him. It was quite a bit to take in, but the stat boost for his intelligence seemed to make it a little easier on him. It seems that all the stats influence both his physical and mental abilities here. That''s a good thing to know. Still, the silence drags on, and becomes heavy and even solemn. The two servants, the goblinoid Lucien and the Blue Elf Allisa give all the time they can for Edwin to get use to everything, but it still manages to surprise them when he''s the first to speak. ¡°Alright, so there have been two great wars and the almost literal downfall of the Demon Lands here. I really cannot do anything about that right now. But I guess you both knew that going into this. So why don''t we skip the rest for later and get to the heart of the matter. How do we create a Dungeon?¡± Edwin could almost laugh at the look that crosses both of the others faces, and it even takes Lucien a moment to straighten up his expression while Allisa is blushing again, not even able to look at Edwin. ¡°Ah, very well, my...¡± He stops at the sudden glare from Edwin, and actually gives a short laugh while wiping off his suddenly sweating forehead. ¡°Ah, excuse me, sir. Edwin. That will take a little bit to get used to.¡± The old man almost stutters, and for a moment he actually thought that they really had summoned a demon from the Void. ¡°Anyway, constructing and running a Dungeon involves several Skills that you will have to learn and get progressively stronger in. At the start, a Dungeon is an ''Absolute Domain'', meaning the creator has absolute control over it. The more knowledge, skills, abilities and other things the creator has, the more the dungeon is able to be developed, and the stronger the demons assigned to it can be. ¡°The more challenging the Dungeon, the greater its ''Fame'', and the more it will draw Adventurers. So long as the dungeon is set up properly, you can make a profit from the entrance fee regardless of how many times the dungeon is successfully raided. And if you manage to kill the adventurers, you also get to keep everything they owned, both within the dungeon in the form of equipment and outside, assuming they''d set up a camp or used the cities facilities, like the Inn or a hotel.¡± Lucien was once more giving a lecture, and Edwin was focused and paying attention. It was almost like being back in school, and the thought brought a slight smile to Edwin''s face before he nods. ¡°Sadly, there are very few Dungeon Masters'' left. Given their great skills, most were brought into the various armies after the Second Eternal War started. As such we don''t have anyone to train you personally, my... Edwin. But we did manage to get a hold of a Skill Tome. Its only the beginning volume though; but it should prove useful. Allisa, if you''d please?¡± Lucien says then, motioning to one of the few bookshelves with anything on it. The maid is quick to nod and jumps up from her seat, and rushes over and back again with a grin on her lips. ¡°Here you go, Sir Edwin.¡± The woman says, her cheeks dimpling at the unusual words. Edwin had already made it clear that he wouldn''t really stand on being called ''lord'' yet, so that would just have to do. ¡°Thank you, Allisa.¡± Edwin says, taking the rather thick book. The cover is made of some sort of hardened leather, and the pages he can see are thick and yellowed with age. ¡°Sadly, you''ll need to learn the letters of most books in order to read them. But Skill Tomes are different. They are both physical books and magical grimoires at the same time. By opening it you''ll be able to read it, and once finished you''ll gain the skill related to it. Skill Tomes are very rare and utterly expensive. ¡°... We actually had several, waiting for when the new Demon Lord was either found or summoned, but we were forced to sell them when we were forced to summon you.¡± Lucien''s tone had become rather shallow and meek, and for a moment Edwin only looks at him before shrugging. ¡°Its alright. Its why the place here seems so deserted and bare. Still, I thank you.¡± Edwin says, giving another smile before finally settling into his seat again, still looking over the book in front of him. ¡°It should take you a couple of hours to read everything in that tome, Sir Edwin. I''ll tidy up and see about starting dinner! I''ll also bring you a pitcher of water. Lucien knows more about dungeons than I do, so I''ll leave it to him.¡± The maid said after another moment of silence, and jumps up quickly to gather the plates from their ''lunch'', although she does leave the glasses. ¡°Thank you, Allisa.¡± Edwin says, just managing to drag his attention away from the book held in his hands before Allisa could get out the door. ¡°Aaah! You are...¡± And there was no further reply, given the woman managed to trip as she was turning around. The crash of the tray, plates, and silverware that hits the floor a moment later is enough to startle all three of them. ¡°Wwwwwaah! I did it again!¡± The woman cries, but the door closes just before she could say anything else, so Edwin misses whatever else she was about to say. Lucien on the other hand hadn''t even flinched at the sound, and instead simply shakes his head. ¡°I apologize, Edwin. Allisa has always been dedicated, but she''s also always been a klutz.¡± The old man says, sounding rather defeated. ¡°Its alright. I''d suggest getting wood or stone plates and bowls that don''t break, though.¡± Edwin says with a wry grin, shrugging one of his shoulders before turning back to his tome. ¡°I''ll be on standby here if you require anything, Edwin.¡± Lucien says, leaning back in his seat. The old man is asleep within moments though. It seems everything since the summoning had rather ran them dry in the past couple of days. But Edwin still felt rested and refreshed after eating, and was rather excited about the Skill Tome in his hands. It was just like any other RPG game, except for the weird way it seems to mesh with reality here. But still, it was freakin'' cool! He was almost drooling. Almost. Definitely almost. He still has to wipe his chin, though. Still... for some reason he hesitates over opening the book, and with only himself there still awake... well, lets just say the front he''d been putting on around Lucien and Allisa comes down. It was really too much. A human who dies and finds himself in the ''Void'', only to be summoned into a new world that''s obviously filled with strife and hatreds and a bunch of races. And Dungeons! Wasn''t that the usual theme of an RPG? And yet he''s to be the one controlling the Dungeons. It was almost like that classic computer game, Dungeon Keeper. He was good at games like that. But that''s from a distant, omnipresent viewpoint. It was never supposed to be real. It just all seemed too big. Too real. But he shakes himself after a few minutes of thinking. This was his world now. This was his place. And he has a job to do. So he straightens up himself and opens the book. At first nothing happens, and then a pale white light shines out. In front of his eyes, the words of the book seemed rather meaningless. He couldn''t decipher any of the chapters or the way the words or paragraphs were written. It seemed all like gibberish to him, much like the way Lucien''s and Allisa''s words were previously. But as the light dies down, the words start making sense. He didn''t instantly learn anything, but the book became suddenly legible. It was if it had been translated into his language, except he could still ''see'' the gibberish-like characters underneath. ¡°Interesting...¡± He mutters, before he starts reading.
Beginner''s Dungeoneering Guide Book One of Four
Dungeoneering The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Dungeon Mining The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Dungeon Filling A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Dungeon Trapping The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Dungeon Command The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
Dungeon Treasures The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
And with that the book comes to a close, leaving Edwin to sit back and sigh after rubbing his eyes. It was fairly hard reading everything, even with the magic translation provided by the Skill Tome. But he did it, and after learning about the basic skills and their use, he actually feels like he can do something now. *DING*
Beginner''s Dungeoneering Learned!
Dungeon Mining Skill Learned!
Dungeon Filling Skill Learned!
Dungeon Trapping Skill Learned!
Dungeon Command Skill Learned!
Dungeon Treasures Skill Learned!
+1 Intelligence
+1 Wisdom
+1 Constitution
Now able to create and operate a Small Dungeon!
Now able to command level 0 ¨C 1 creatures!
New information about Dungeons has been added to the Codex menu.
Quite a few things pop up before him, but he makes sure to read it all, although for a moment his vision becomes rather blurry. But it clears quickly, and for some reason Edwin thinks it has something to do with the magic from the Skill Tome he just read. He puts the thought aside though and stands, stretching his stiff muscles. He almost knocks into the coffee table, which has that pitcher of water Allisa had promised. He was so caught up in reading that he hadn''t even realized she''d been there and gone again. He smiles though and pours himself a drink, downing it with slow sips. ¡°Aaah.¡± He lets out another breath. It was almost as refreshing as when he got his Status Crystal. It seems that things like sleeping, eating, and drinking are still required in this world. In fact, given how much Lucien is storing, you could almost say it was exactly the same. The old man said he was a Goblinoid, and yet he looked completely human as far as Edwin could tell. Hmmm. With nothing else to do for the moment, he sets the Skill Tome on the coffee table and walks around to the bookshelves, the vast majority of them completely empty. It was a rather sad sight. There should be hundreds or thousands of books on those shelves. But the books he does find he cannot read at all. He picks up several, but once again the words are all gibberish to him. He actually lets out a long sigh. He''ll really have to learn to read the language here to have access to everything he''s curious about. He shrugs his shoulder though and moves back to his seat, taking the quiet time to think. Dungeoneering is fairly straight forward. But it touches on such things like mining and crafting, and while he had experience as a miner back on Earth, he isn''t sure if it will be any help here at all. Oh, that brings something to mind. ¡°Status Screen.¡±
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals101011
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals131210
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals105520105
LeadershipLuck
110
With his stat gains, its fairly easy to see how it influences everything on the screen. He gains mana from both Intelligence and Wisdom, and gains health and stamina from Constitution. He probably also gains those from Strength, but at what ratio he doesn''t know yet. Still, to bump up so many points in a single day is surprising. But then, perhaps it shouldn''t be. He''s also a summoned person. If he''s anything like the ''Heroes'' told about in the history he''d learned, he probably operates under the same guidelines. He waves the Status Screen closed, and thinks for a moment more. ¡°Skill Screen.¡± Better give it a shot. For a moment nothing seems to happen, and then another large screen opens up in front of him.
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DungeoneeringF10.0%
The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon MiningF10.0%
The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon FillingF10.0%
A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TrappingF10.0%
The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon CommandF10.0%
The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
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Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TreasuresF10.0%
The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
There were actually quite a few of them. At the top were the Dungeoneering skills he''d just learned, but below them were several others, like ''Language Apprehension'' and ''Mining Expertise'', but they were listed as ''Locked'' on the screen. He couldn''t select or get any other information about them. He ponders on that for several minutes before putting it aside as one of the already numerous things he''d have to learn as he goes. His time thinking over everything is interrupted when the door to the study opens and Allisa comes in, although the sneaky way she walks is utterly suspicious. It actually raises a grin on Edwin''s features when he sees the young elf woman tiptoeing about. ¡°Its alright, Allisa. I''ve already done reading. I was just checking up on my skills.¡± He calls to her, which provides another chance to see the blue-skinned woman nearly jump right out of her skin. She even goes so far as to fall on her ass. ¡°Aah! Sorry, Sir Edwin. You scared me.¡± The girl says in a fluster, standing up and blushing once more. Edwin can only give a wry chuckle. ¡°Its okay, Allisa. The same thing happened this morning when you found that I was already out of bed and dressed, didn''t it?¡± He of course knew the answer already, and the maid nods her head. ¡°Yes. You''d been asleep for almost four days after the summoning. It was rather surprising, truth be told. Most others are up and about within hours!¡± The woman nods to herself and moves to take the left seat, which she''d vacated earlier. ¡°Ah, but the summoning was really hard, too. Several of the wizards collapsed during it and had to be replaced. They''d never even tried to bring something like you into the world. You''re the first being summoned to ever become the Demon Lord. Until now its always been a hereditary title.¡± ¡°Ah, so that''s why only yourself and Lucien are here. I take it the idea wasn''t very popular?¡± Edwin cannot help but ask. ¡°Yep! The Demon Lord has to be the strongest in order to rule. It isn''t just the ''class'', but the title as well. The only way for one Demon Lord to rise is to kill the previous one in combat. But with the last Lord killed by the Summoner''s Guild, there was no one left to fight against. The candidates to become the next Demon Lord each returned to their own races and raised themselves up to fight against the others and establish their own Dungeons; but most of them failed in either endaevors. ¡°The only reason Jottenhiem survived was because it still had a large amount of wealth, and a council of the lesser nobles that were left made sure to secure all they could. But that started to run dry about a decade ago, so the city has been in decline ever since.¡± Allisa''s information was much as Edwin suspected, but it still brought a frown to his face. ¡°Is there any centralized government at all here? The Demon Lord rules absolutely, but a single person cannot control everything, especially with so many different races spread across the Northern Lands.¡± Edwin had to ask, but he wasn''t sure that Allisa would know the answer. ¡°Ah... Well, from what I understand the Demon Lord would pick a handful of the most powerful nobles from the various races to act as regents over the territories claimed by their races. The Demon Lands'' are not a unified government, like the Imperium is in the Southern Lands. In most cases the lands claimed by each ''demon'' race is independent and self-governed, usually based around their own capital city.¡± ¡°Hmm. That sounds like the City-States period of the world I came from. Each city was its own kingdom and controlled its own land and vied for dominance against its neighbors.¡± Edwin mused, causing Allisa to nod her head. ¡°Yeah! Just like that. The various races also fight against each other, and there has been more than one ''demon'' war to happen over the years. The last of them were stopped by the first Demon Lord before the First Eternal War.¡± The woman was rather bubbly about it all, and Edwin cannot help but laugh at the look on her face. *DING*
Demon Race Wars
The various Demon Races are not a unified society. They are a motley collection of City-States spread across the vast Northern Lands who''ll go so far as to even wage war on one another. Without a strong leader to unite them, they are unable to work towards prosperity, and cannot withstand the constant dungeon raids of the humans from the Southern Lands.
New information has been added to the Codex menu.
Another window had popped up, and after reading it Edwin waves it closed. ¡°Aaah, you keep getting new status messages, don''t you? I''m rather envious. I only have a Language Crystal!¡± The playful tone in Allisa''s voice draws Edwin''s attention, but there''s still a slight reddening of her cheeks. ¡°Lucien did mention that not everyone could use a Status Crystal. What''s the difference between them? I''m still unsure about that.¡± Edwin admits with a slight shrug, and for a moment Allisa can only looked perplexed, before it clears up. ¡°Oh, that''s right. Sorry, Sir Edwin. Everyone born in Eternia gets a Language Crystal when they turn five years old. Its a crystallization of mana from their own body. Status Crystals are different though. They are larger and more powerful crystals that have been specifically prepared via magic. Once implanted in someone compatible, it connects to both their body and mind. But its rather rare to find someone who''s compatible. About one out of every thousand people or so. ¡°Most of those born in the Southern Lands who are found to be compatible become Adventurers, cause the Status Crystal is able to keep track of all of their skills, abilities, and stat updates. Without it, no one really knows what their stats are.¡± Allisa explains, before starting to search through her maids'' uniform before pulling out a dull silver-colored metal card. ¡°This is a Status Card. For those without compatibility, this card is enchanted to provide just the basic information. Its used as an ID card in most cases, but can only show a rough estimate of the true stat numbers.¡± She says then, holding out her card to him. He reads it with a rather serious expression.
STATUS CARD
NAMEAllisa EvatonessRACEBlue Elf
CLASSLEVEL
Head Maid?
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals30?12?45?
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals25?12?15?
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals???
¡°You see? Your Status Screen is much more accurate and gives even greater information. There are cases were a person who was incompatible before was suddenly able to use a Status Crystal, but that''s only after gaining specific Skills or some other perk.¡± The woman explains, before putting up her card. ¡°Lucien also has a Status Card, and his stats are way before mine. Then again, the old coot has been here for nearly two hundred years already! He was supposed to return before the last Lord was killed, but after the war he came back as if nothing had happened and has stayed around all that time.¡± Allisa puffs out her cheeks after glancing affectionately at the man in question; who was still sleeping and snoring on the other side of Edwin. ¡°Well, once he wakes up, we might as well go over a few other things and set to work tomorrow. I imagine I''m going to have to create a Dungeon before anything else, right?¡± Edwin asks after another moment, and Allisa fidgets in surprise before shaking her head. ¡°I don''t know, Sir Edwin. There was a rather large uproar over summoning you. If you tried to go and make a Dungeon now, you''d probably be mobbed out in the streets before you get out of the city gates. I think Lucien plans to teach you how to defend yourself and perhaps even some magic. I''ll be helping you with that...¡± The woman actually lets out a sigh, and even slumps down a bit in her chair. ¡°You''ll probably have to fight for control of the city here first, my lord. Only then will you get access to the city''s coffers and start your first dungeon. Its a rather large undertaking, regardless of the simple explanation given from the Skills. Even a small Dungeon can cost thousands of Xim.¡± ¡°Xim is the primary currency here?¡± Edwin asks, interrupting the woman; but she nods. ¡°Yes. A Xim is basically a solid gold coin. A Vim is a silver coin, and a Cim is a copper coin. A hundred Cim can be converted to a single Vim.¡± She says, pulling out the first two coins to show him; but not a gold Xim. They were rather broke, after all. ¡°Okay, I got that. Thank you, Allisa.¡± Edwin says, standing up, and watching the blushing woman do so as well in a fluster. ¡°I think I''m going to follow Lucien''s example and take a nap before dinner. Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Aah! Its my pleasure, Sir Edwin. Leave it to me!¡± The blue-skinned woman says, taking another pose that makes Edwin smile again before he leaves the study before Allisa does. Making his way back to his room is rather simple from there, and soon enough he flops down in his absolutely ridiculously large bed. ¡°A fight... huh. That''s a pain.¡± He mutters. -|- -|- -|- And here is Chapter 2! I hope you guys enjoy it! There''s quite a bit of new information here, as well as unique things as well as the listing of Dungeoneering Skills! The story may be a bit slow to start, but I promise its going to pick up soon. I may not post Chapter 3 today, but I''ll definitely do that first thing tomorrow. Feel free to comment, leave suggestions, criticisms and reviews. I''ll also be leaving an updated Status chart here in the credits after each chapter. So far its only the Status Screen, but I''ll eventually add others like Skills and the Codex. Status ¨C Chapter 2 Spoiler :
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals101011
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals131210
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals105520105
LeadershipLuck
110
Skills ¨C Chapter 2 Spoiler :
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DungeoneeringF10.0%
The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon MiningF10.0%
The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon FillingF10.0%
A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TrappingF10.0%
The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon CommandF10.0%
The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TreasuresF10.0%
The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
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Chapter 3 - Training Edwin ended up sleeping the entire evening and night away; only to yawn come morning, reaching his arms straight into the air even as he sits up, feeling comfortable and relaxed. Normally it wouldn''t be so; sleeping on a bed big enough to fit nearly ten people in; but he was, and he doesn''t really know why. Still, after that, there wasn''t any time to waste. A change of clothes, breakfast, and then off to the training ground with Lucien. The old man was in high spirits, considering his equally long nap the afternoon before and the fact he didn''t get scolded. The old man seemed full of energy today, and Edwin couldn''t help but be equally excited. Sadly, Allisa was almost on the opposite end. She''d worked her nice blue butt off cooking dinner that no one but herself ate. Its easy to see why she''d be angry or down about that. But Edwin could only apologize, which set the woman off to blushing all over again. ¡°My...! Sir Edwin, don''t go bowing to me!!!¡± Yep, that woman has some issues, but Edwin could only chuckle. But in truth, things were not going that well. Everything was being rushed, and after Edwin finally got the chance to look out a window at the city proper, it wasn''t hard to see why that was so. The city of Jottenhiem was more than half in ruins. With the Citadel sitting on a bluff edge overlooking the city, only the buildings closest were even intact, much less properly utilized or occupied. Beyond that half-circle of neat and tidy stone buildings, the rest of the city could be called a cesspool. At one point in time, neat and orderly lined streets had been built up with dwellings that could house a dozen or more families. Made out of stone mined from the mountains, the homes and workshops of the citizens were sturdy and functional and cared for. But after a night-time attack by the humans during the Second Eternal War, great swathes of the city were knocked down due to catapult fire. Afterwards there were obvious attempts at re-construction, but it never took. More buildings were torn down for their resources, and what essentially was a shanty town formed. It was a pitiful sight, and even Edwin could not imagine trying to live in such squaller. Even beyond the city walls, where great plantations or farms should have been were mostly barren. Some of the fields looked burned, even to his gaze. It isn''t hard to figure out why. Successful farmers don''t have the money to hire enough guards to patrol their lands; and anyone thought to have fortune was attacked by the downtrodden masses. Its amazing to think that Jottenhiem survives at all in such a state. The city was the biggest slum Edwin had ever seen. It was probably similar to how cities like London, New York, or Chicago looked after their massive fires in the centuries before Edwin was born back on Earth. He couldn''t help but feel bad about it. But there wasn''t any time for pity or feeling sorry for himself or others. Edwin had a job to do. *DING*
The Imperial City of Jottenhiem
The City of Jottenhiem was once the crown jewel of the united Demon Lands. Ruled by the iron fists of the previous Demon Lords, its great wealth and access to local resources made it the biggest tourist site in the entire world of Eternia. But after the Second Eternal War, without the diligent rule of the Demon Lords the petty infighting amongst the lesser noble houses left the city in a poor state, which has degraded even further until now all that remains is a shanty town full of the downtrodden and desperate. Jottenhiem has very little agriculture. Jottenhiem has very little resources. Jottenhiem has almost no access to industry. Jottenhiem''s education levels are ranked at mediocre. Jottenhiem''s average health-care is almost non-existent. Jottenhiem''s treasury is nearing bankruptcy. Jottenhiem''s population of 73,000 citizens has reached 94% unemployment.
New information has been added to the Codex menu.
Edwin was no longer surprised when he got such status messages; but he was surprised about the new information that was provided. A summary of the wealth and resources of an entire city. That was odd. Edwin even asked Lucien about it. ¡°Ah. Its because of your ''class'' of Demon Lord. Due to the high status nature of such a class, you are given a greater amount of information compared to others. Everything you learn should be stored in your Status Crystal''s Codex. It only stores information that you yourself know, but its a good way of keeping track of everything you are doing.¡± Lucien explains. After that, they reach a courtyard encircled on the western side of the Citadel. Soft sand had been set to cover the ground, and several racks had been set up holding weapons from quarterstaff to greatswords. Whips, chains, and all the good stuff, too. Even needle weapons and bottles of (most likely) weak poisons. ¡°Here we go, Edwin. Given our lack of time, we''re going to have to rush through a training regime. Demon Lords are naturally born with great fighting skills, and require very little teaching in order for them to achieve a near-perfect battle sense. You on the other hand are without those skills, and thus have to learn them through practice, practice, and more practice.¡± Lucien says, looking calm and collected; but that didn''t stop him from fidgeting a little when Edwin wasn''t looking. ¡°Alright, Lucien. What shall we start with?¡± Edwin asks, curiously looking over the items presented. They were of good quality, but without any ornamentation at all; bare carved wood and metal that''s been shined. He does notice all the weapons have blunt edges. ¡°The world I came from had already moved beyond most of these martial weapons...¡± He mutters. ¡°We''ll start with the quarterstaff, which is best for close and medium ranged combat. Proper stance and striking is a must, after all.¡± The old man says, moving to pick up two of the said weapons. The quarterstaff comes up to almost Edwin''s shoulder, and was a single length of carved and polished wood. These had been prepared with padded ends, making them balanced but slightly heavier than a normal weapon of the same type. Its apparent that injuries have to be kept to a minimum. *DING*
Training Quarterstaff
Type:Blunt WeaponDurability:20/ 20
Quality:Common
A quarterstaff specifically weighted and blunted for weapon''s training.
Edwin blinks in surprise at that, and looks at Lucien. ¡°Huh, so I even get status messages about usable items.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Every object in the world has a status assigned to it. Only with the appropriate knowledge can you see the status of it, though. The Identify Skills are of great use for those who often find unique or uncommon materials and items.¡± Lucien explains, before walking toward the center of the training field. Edwin follows him, swinging the staff a bit to get used to its heft and balance. ¡°Now then, let us assume the proper form. Face me and try to mimic my stance and how I hold the weapon.¡± Edwin nods and does so, and soon enough he''s facing Lucien, who''s tone has taken on the macabre cadence of a drill instructor. The thought brings a fleeting smile to Edwin; but soon enough he finds it isn''t all fun and games. In fact, he failed. And failed, and failed again. He could settle the stance pretty well, holding the quarterstaff slightly to one side, its bottom forward with the top just over one shoulder; and each time Lucien would knock him down. But Edwin wasn''t the sort to give up; and would always jump back to his feet and try again. Trying to focus solely on Lucien or the staff he''s holding seemed to make things worse; as he didn''t have the reflexes to guard himself properly to the nearly lightning-quick strikes and pumbles that come his way. Eventually though he started to widen his field of view; not focusing solely on what was in front of him. That''s when he started noticing the slight twitch in Lucien''s shoulders; and how he''d shift his center of balance downward or to the right or left. These were indicators of how and in which direction the attack would come. But even if Edwin could see them, he still couldn''t respond properly. So he still landed on his ass. ¡°Good, but it isn''t enough to see your opponent move. You have to be able to predict it without thinking!¡± Lucien was pleased, but being short on time there wasn''t any chance to slack off. So Lucien fell back on the oldest saying there was: ''Pain is the best teacher''. So he beat Edwin. Over and over and over again. By the time the lunch hour came around, Edwin was battered and bruised and covered in dirt and sand. His legs, arms, shoulders and several spots across his chest were heavily bruised; as even with the padded tips on the quarterstaff, Lucien''s blows were filled with ruthless strength and unerring accuracy. ¡°We''ll give it one last go, Edwin. After that, its time for a bath and a quick lunch. You''ll study with Allisa in magic during the afternoon.¡± Lucien says, settling back into his position while Edwin pulls himself up for one last go. This time though there was no preemptive strikes. They were both still and silent, watching each other. The atmosphere became thick and heavy; and Edwin, who was already panting, found it even harder to breath. But he pushes against the force, and settles himself into his newly learned stance. It wasn''t as neat or as precise as Lucien''s, but if what Allisa told him before was true, Lucien had literally centuries of experience under his belt. Edwin decided to give it a charge then. He was tired of taking the beating while focusing solely on defense. So with a sudden shout he rushes forward on legs that felt like toothpicks, as sore as they were. But his tactic brings a look of surprise to Lucien''s face, and by the time he snaps his own staff up to intercept the strike Edwin had thrust at him, Edwin had shifted his staff around, bringing it back and then around; a solid feint that should have caught Lucien off guard; aimed for his legs as if to take them off at the knee. But Lucien jumps back, putting more space between them. ¡°Good, sir. Very good. You have to be able to both defend and attack at the same time. A quarterstaff is the perfect weapon to practice that with. Its length and with two sides usable, you can attack and defend at the same time once you learn how. Now, again!¡± ¡°WRAAAH!¡± Edwin gives another cry, and attacks at Lucien''s behest, this time going for an arm blow. He''s forced to twist the staff to one side though, at Lucien''s sudden strike; but now that he''s in the midst of the engagement, he saw the blow coming and was able to twist his own staff to intercept it; the clash between the two wooden quarterstaves ringing out in the courtyard. Once, twice, and then a third time, he manages to block the heavy blows from Lucien; and even strikes back at the minute opening Lucien had left. He was simply too slow to hit though. The last blow from Lucien knocks him right across his head, and Edwin drops like a sack of potatoes, panting on the ground. ¡°That was surprisingly adept for the first day, Edwin.¡± Lucien has to admit, moving to set his own quarterstaff back in its rack before moving to help the decidedly unsteady Edwin to his feet. ¡°Here, sir. Sip slowly.¡± Lucien says, holding over a rather large travelers canteen. Edwin does so, knowing all too well how the stomach could turn if you force food or water into it after strenuous exercise. Still, the water was greatly appreciated, and he started feeling more level-headed afterward. *DING*
Combat Basics
By successfully completing the first day of combat training with the old Goblinoid Lucien, you''ve learned the basics of the Combat Stance, Blunt Weapon, and Defense Skills. Your diligence and unrelenting willingness to stand up regardless of the opposition has unlocked the hidden skill Blow Absorption.
+2 Strength
+3 Dexterity
+2 Constitution
New information about the basics of combat has been added to the Codex menu.
Combat Stance Skill learned!
Blunt Weapon Skill learned!
Defense Skill learned!
Blow Absorption Skill learned!
Quite a few things had popped up, and Edwin looked it over before nodding his head. He was pleased, but still far too sore to give it any real thought at the moment. He couldn''t help but give a slight groan as he walks to the weapons rack to put away his own quarterstaff, making sure to wipe it down at Lucien''s instruction before doing so. It wouldn''t do to destroy the few weapons available to him, after all. After that, its off to have a bath in his chamber, and a change of clothing. His clothing was sweat-soaked and covered in dirt and sand; but didn''t smell bad. In fact, as far as he could tell he didn''t have any sort of body odor at all. But the warm bath, provided by magic cleverly hidden in the faucet was definitely relaxing; and he could have slept if given the chance. But his growling belly soon makes him get out to seek food. Lunch was a simple soup made from the leftover meat and vegetables from the night before, and freshly baked dark bread that was still warm. It was good and filling, and his head finished clearing as he scarfs it down alongside Allisa and Lucien. Its good to know he wasn''t the only one to get hungry during training. After that, it was time to study; which includes magic! Edwin almost cackled at the thought of learning powerful spells like a wizard; but he''s careful not to around Allisa and Lucien. It wouldn''t do to be seen as some evil bastard, right? Still, the three of them settle into the study again, and this time it was Allisa in her maids'' uniform that started the lecture. ¡°Ahem. Now, the basis of all magic is Imagination. You have to be able to hold the image of what you want to happen in your mind in order to achieve it. Every being in Eternia has a pool of ''mana'' internal to them that they have to pour into the image in order for it to happen. Advanced magic is even more complex than that, but for now we''ll focus on the basics. Elemental magic.¡± The woman was quick to jump into the subject. Like all Elves, Allisa had a natural affinity to various sorts of magic, regardless of her stats. As a wizard or magician, she was on the low end; but she was competent enough to use magic even in her daily chores. Its why as the lone maid in the Citadel she''s able to keep the place spotless. ¡°I''m going to perform a small bit of magic, and I''d like you to repeat it, Sir Edwin.¡± The woman says, although once again she''s blushing after looking at him. That was getting odd, but he couldn''t really spare the time to think about it just yet. Instead, he gives her a sharp nod. Allisa takes a deep breath and holds up her right hand. Within moments, a flicker of -something- happens, and suddenly there''s a flickering flame no bigger than a candle''s flame floating just above her palm. It was a deep red color, and he could feel the heat of it even from his seat. ¡°This is the ''Flame of Warmth''. Its a beginner level fire spell, and is useful in both the dark and the cold. It can also be used to light camp fires or lamps if casted at a distance. Now I want you to cast it on your own.¡± Allisa explains its name and its affects, and Edwin nods again. This time he raises his own hand, and after a moment of thought, starts to focus on the image that comes to mind. A small flame, warm and comfortable. With his eyes closed, he couldn''t see it; but he could definitely feel the ''pull'' it has on his mana; an odd feeling that he''d yet to experience. It was like there was something else buried deep inside him, a pool of energy that had nothing to do with his physical body; and yet his all the same. It was very odd. But it was the gasp of both Allisa and Lucien that brings his attention back to what he was doing, and he opens his eyes to see what he''d conjured. In the palm of his hand was a single flickering flame, except where Allisa''s was a deep red color; his was so pale and silvery that it was even more transparent than glass. Almost invisible to the naked eye. The heat generated from it though was several times more powerful than Allisa''s was, though, and was stirring the air so much that it was blowing back his own fine, long white hair. ¡°Waah! I''ve never seen a pale flame before!¡± Allisa cannot help but cry out, and even Lucien looks troubled for a moment. Edwin''s focus wavers as he listens though, and the flame flickers out, removing the light and warmth from the study. All of a sudden Edwin feels tiredness, and his head goes all fuzzy before he shakes his head vigorously. ¡°Mental exhaustion is the other side of the coin when it comes to magic, Sir Edwin. Any being can generate and use their mana to create magic; but mental exhaustion comes from the focus required to hold the image required. You''ll get used to it. From what I understand, the Wisdom stat boosts mental fortitude, allowing wizards to hold their magic for longer and more precisely.¡± Allisa explains after looking at Edwin''s face. ¡°I''ll go make some tea and give you time to rest a bit before we continue.¡± Edwin can only nod, and closes his eyes against the fuzzy feeling in his head. It only takes Allisa a couple of minutes before she returns. A cup of hot tea clears his head though, and soon enough they continue. Allisa goes through the full spectrum of beginner spells; fire, water, air, earth, even force. She has to strain herself to do some of them, and she explains that everyone has elements they are good at and others they are not, based on their affinities. Most Blue Elves were specialized in water and air magic; but she was actually more adept at fire and earth. Edwin even finds out that Lucien is adept at martial spells that empower the body or the weapon during combat, and can even create a shield of magic when he needs to. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Edwin also learns that because he was summoned from the ''Void'', he doesn''t have any specific affinities; and is instead able to directly influence how strong a spell is by how much mana he pours into them. With enough mana and focus, he could potentially turn even the weakest of spells into power magic. ¡°Sir Edwin, there''s one last type of magic we can teach you at this point. That''s Creation Magic. Its a unique and very difficult branch of magic. Even I''m unable to use it. Creation Magic is like the other types; except its effects are permanent in the world. Its used to create things out of nothing, or change the properties of an item you already have.¡± Allisa speaks with a great amount of reluctance, but Edwin could already figure out why. ¡°It takes a large amount of mana and focus to make it permanent, right?¡± He asks, and Allisa nods, before casting a glance to Lucien. After a moment, Lucien nods. In the end, there''s no reason not to try it. ¡°Alright, Sir Edwin. I want you to make a replica of the tea cup.¡± Allisa finally says, choosing something simple and basic to begin with. Edwin doesn''t go right at it though. Instead he picks up the cup; looks it over, feels its weight and tries to remember all of its details. Its actually hard to keep up with everything like that, but after about five minutes he sets it down and closes his eyes, raising one of his hands. In his head, he''s focusing all of his attention on that teacup, putting in as much detail as he can. It takes him several minutes in the silence before he feels he''s gotten as much as he can, and then starts pouring in his mana. And its quite literally sucked from him. More and more, he feels as if the spell is sucking him dry; and when it does he feels cold and empty. But the spell doesn''t stop, and he realizes its also draining his stamina, which had taken a hit earlier during the day during his weapon training. He lets out a groan and topples over in his chair as his stamina is sucked up too, followed soon after by his health. But even as Lucien rushes to lift up Edwin, who was barely conscious by then, a blinding flash of light erupts in the study, and there beside the original teacup is an exact replica. Except it isn''t quite right. Its so pristine and translucent that it appears to be made out of flawlessly cut crystal instead of earthenware. *DING*
Spell Successful
Creation Magic successfully cast, at the cost of a large amount of mana, stamina, and health. Rest is required to regain the lost status. By subverting the laws of nature in order to create, you have also learned how to destroy.
Elemental Magic learned!
Fire Magic learned!
Water Magic learned!
Air Magic learned!
Earth Magic learned!
Force Magic learned!
Creation Magic learned!
Destruction Magic learned!
Stat Gains
+5 Intelligence
+4 Wisdom
+2 Constitution
By using mana, stamina, and health almost until the point of death, you have gained +50 in each of those stats.
+50 Health
+50 Mana
+50 Stamina
By learning of the basic elements of the world, along with Creation and Destruction Magic, you''ve gained additional Void Affinity. All Void Spells are stronger now.
+100 Void Affinity
Light Magic unlocked!
Darkness Magic unlocked!
New information about Magic has been added to the Codex menu.
New information about the Void has been added to the Codex menu.
Creation and Destruction
Creation cannot come from nothing. Even in Eternia, there is a limit to the amount of raw materials available. Wizards can bypass this with Creation Magic, but doing so costs the wizard greatly. By converting mana into raw material, an object can be created with the desired attributes. Wizards with weak affinity to the elements of the world will find the cost to be far greater, and permanent. Destruction on the other hand can be used to create raw mana out of the physical material of the world. Absorbing raw mana is both dangerous and lucrative, as its purity is far greater than that a person can generate. But doing so too often comes at a great cost. A wizard who overuses the forces of Destruction become unable to generate their own mana.
New information about Creation and Destruction has been added to the Codex menu.
A great many new messages appear before Edwin''s eyes; but he''s so weak that he isn''t even able to read them. By the time Lucien manages to get him up the stairs and into his rooms, Edwin is already unconscious, and all that''s left is to lay him out on the bed. Its so big that it doesn''t matter if he''s laying properly or not. ¡°Well, my boy, you keep surprising this old man.¡± Lucien mutters to himself, although he gives a rare smile of something close to affection to the unconscious Edwin. ¡°A second night without eating dinner. Please don''t make it a habit. Allisa will never let it down.¡± -|- -|- -|- And here is Chapter 3! I hope you guys enjoy it! Chapter 3 was rather hard to get straight. It involves the start of training, learning new skills, and quite a bit of magic. There are no real ''spells'' that require complicated chants or the like, but I think you guys will enjoy it anyway! I had intended to get further along in the story here, like as far as the fight to gain control of Jottenhiem itself; but it didn''t happen. It may in Chapter 4 though. I''m going to post the Spells table here as well, so check it out! Feel free to comment, leave suggestions, criticisms and reviews. I''ll also be leaving an updated Status chart here in the credits after each chapter. So far its only the Status Screen, but I''ll eventually add others like Skills and the Codex. Status ¨C Chapter 3 Spoiler :
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DungeoneeringF10.0%
The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon MiningF10.0%
The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon FillingF10.0%
A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TrappingF10.0%
The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon CommandF10.0%
The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TreasuresF10.0%
The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Combat StanceF160.0%
Proper stance is important in both attacking and defense. Without this foundation, the ability to defend yourself and retaliate against attack is degraded severely.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blunt WeaponF155.0%
The skill that governs the attack attributes of blunt weapons. Increases both attack power and speed, as well as defense when using blunt weapons.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DefenseF179.0%
An skill that governs all things related to defense. The ability to take hits and remain standing, as well as dodging and parrying. A high defense also raises combat awareness and the ability to see or sense attacks that cannot normally be seen by the eye.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blow AbsorptionB113.0%
A unique skill that supplements both Defense and Constitution when it comes to taking blows. Greatly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from blunt weapons. Increases defense when it comes to taking blows from bladed weapons. Slightly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from piercing weapons. Negates part of the damage received from falling or getting struck with non-weapon objects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Elemental MagicC135.0%
The skill that governs the ability to use elemental-type magics. The higher the level, the more powerful that the related spells can be. Part of the Magic series skill set.
Magic Screen ¨C Chapter 3 Spoiler :
MAGIC SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Affinity Levels
VoidFireWaterAir
50 + 100505050
EarthForceCreationDestruction
50505050
LightDark--
5050--
Usable Magic
VoidBeginnerFireBeginner
WaterBeginnerAirBeginner
EarthBeginnerForceBeginner
CreationBeginnerDestructionBeginner
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Chapter 4 - The Fight for Jottenhiem The next five days were rough for Edwin. The training got progressively harder, the study more vigorous. And it wasn''t all about combat or magic, either. Lucien proved adapt at many different disciplines, and soon enough topics like tactics, group combat, and crafting came into it. With Allisa, things soon shifted to economics and history. Soon after that there were discussions on the rule of law, government and even espionage. Many of these subjects Edwin had very little information upon; but always a deft study, he jumped in feet first and simply hoped he didn''t drown in it all. He also learned about religion, although in Eternia it wasn''t anything compared to how it was on Earth. Most races had a set of deities they worship, but there were no formal churches or sects. The rough world of Eternia left little time or energy to engage in massive rituals for gods no one is really sure that exist. Even Lucien, the oldest amongst them, had never seen anything prescribed as a ''miracle'' before. Almost everything could be figured out through observation and magic. Even healing magic was simply a combination of earth and water magics, set to restore the body to its unblemished state. He even learned about the Southern Lands, and the humans there. The biggest kingdom in the south was the Imperium, ruled by a monothetic ''Emperor''. According to rumor, the Emperor is actually a previously summoned ''Hero'' that managed to survive the Second Eternal War. They had a large army, and even larger segment of Adventurer''s. The Adventurer''s Guild headquarters was also found in the Imperium, with branch offices in almost every city and town in Eternia. There was even a branch right there in Jottenhiem, catering to the few Adventurer''s that set out to plunder the last of the still functioning Dungeons nearby. But for everything he learned, there was still more to do, more to learn. And time was running out. Especially given that Edwin didn''t have any real knack for personal combat at all. While his skills have progressively increased over the week, it wasn''t enough by far. Even Lucien, as stoic as he is, was becoming desperate about that; although Edwin didn''t find out why until after his combat training on the sixth day. Even after nearly a full week, Edwin felt more like a punching bag than a fighter; and set about soaking in his bathtub afterwards. The warm water relaxes him, but it didn''t do much for the bruises that litter his body. He was stronger, faster, and definitely had much more durability than he had from when he started; but Lucien had told him that they had to have a ''talk'' after lunch. That didn''t bode well at all. Something was definitely up. Edwin had just set down his empty plate when Lucien walked to him carrying a sealed envelope. The wax seal was already broken, no doubt by Lucien himself. Edwin had already started to learn to read and write in the ''Demon'' language, so even he could tell that the date on the envelope was from several days ago. ¡°Hmph. I am sorry for delaying in telling you about this, Edwin. But there hasn''t been much time, and far, far too much to do. In brief... You''ve been charged to a duel.¡± Lucien''s voice was empty, and his face was like a sheet of glass. One hell of a poker face. ¡°Ah. You weren''t the only one expecting something like this, Lucien. Sit down, and we''ll talk.¡± Edwin says, although the look on his face and in his eyes had gone cold. If Lucien had learned anything about Edwin Cast, it was that a shift in his mood could happen at the drop of a hat. He also knew that it most likely had to do with the way the then-human Edwin had been killed before. That''d leave a scar on anyone. Lucien just nods and drops into the seat, utterly disregarding his own apparent dignity while letting out a sigh. ¡°I had thought we could buy a little more time, especially after you gained the starting skills for being a Dungeon Master. But it seems the shock of the successful summoning that brought you here was too much. The other nobles are acting out of desperation and fear.¡± For some reason, Lucien sounded bitter, and looked much more frail than he did any other time Edwin had seen him. It made Edwin realize just how old Lucien really is. Long past his prime, and yet still hanging on. Edwin almost asked why; but he realized it just as he was opening his mouth. Lucien had nowhere else to go. A manservant to several of the previous Demon Lords, this was the life he knew. And he''d watched everything he and his Lords had worked toward crumble into dust around them. It must have been like some sort of curse, to live so long and see so much hard work come undone. Lucien was even more desperate than the other nobles. ¡°The nobles gathered together and set about hiring a specific mercenary to fight you. A Rock Demon called Krash. A brute of a man, with barely two stones worth of brains to rub together. But as a Rock Demon, his skin is as hard as granite; and he has the aptitude of a berserker. He personally fancies himself a businessman dealing in death. In short, he''s an asshole.¡± Lucien finally gets on with it, before pulling out the letter. Its a single sheet of very white, very thin paper. Obviously high quality; but so delicate that its ripped in several places already. ¡°I''ll read it to you.¡± Lucien doesn''t even think of doing otherwise. ¡°''The Regent Council of Jottenhiem has decided on an act of single combat for the title of ''Demon Lord'', and all ruling stakes over the city of Jottenhiem and its territories. Holding to the tradition of the Trial of Strength, the winner will be crowned with all power vested in the title ''Demon Lord''. The challenged, one Edwin Cast, is to present himself on the seventh day at noon at the Jottenhiem training field, and is to be accompanied by no more than one personage. Failure to appear will mean an instant disqualification and the vacancy of the Jottenhiem Citadel and environs. The Trial of Strength is an act of single combat against another candidate for the title of ''Demon Lord''. You may freely choose a single weapon, and may use any magic, skills, or abilities within your possession. There is no penalty if death occurs to either candidate.''¡± That was all the letter said, but Lucien looked definitely relieved as he folds it back up and shoves it back into its envelope. Edwin simply sat there, looking thoughtful and distant for few long, terse moments. But then he nods, and actually smiles. ¡°It seems they''ve hung their own noose. If I win, they are all out of luck. They were the one that challenged me, correct?¡± Edwin asks, although he already knew the answer. He was actually thinking of more of what will happen after the fight, instead of what is going to happen during the battle itself. To Lucien, Edwin appears unworried and unruffled. Its a good look on the boy who was a human just a week ago. But both Lucien and Allisa were worried. They had every right to be. ¡°Okay, Lucien. I need you to go clear out the western training courtyard. There isn''t a lot of time, and I need to practice. My weapon and combat skills are still more than lacking, especially at this level. So I need all the dirt and sand removed down to the rock floor.¡± Edwin says, suddenly flashing a rather boyish grin as he decides on a course of action. In the past week, Edwin had become rather adapt at magic, but against an armored and trained opponent, that in itself isn''t going to be good enough unless he unleashed something powerful enough to blow them both to smithereens. So he needs a different approach. And something in his Dungeoneering Skills gave him an idea. Lucien simply nods and does as he''s commanded, leaving the study after waving in Allisa; who was there to collect the lunches dishes. Edwin doesn''t even look up when the door closes with a ''snick'', but does when he hears the heavy bolt slide into the lock position. Glancing toward the door, he sees Allisa there, her arms wrapped around her chest, her shoulders shaking. The blue-skinned woman looked like she was about to cry, and Edwin is quick to stand up. ¡°Allisa, what''s the matter?¡± He asks, worried he''d done something. But it doesn''t seem like Allisa heard him at all, simply shaking her head back and forth. ¡°We... we knew it would likely come to this. That there would be a lot of opposition, a lot of mistrust and anger over summoning someone to become the new Demon Lord. But we had no choice...¡± The woman finally starts speaking, her words low and throaty. ¡°We gave up more than you know to bring you here, Edwin... Lucien... before, he could have gotten on at any noble household in the Northern Lands. He''s powerful and well respected, as both a manservant and as the former confidant of several Demon Lords. He could have become an advisor and lived a life of luxury anywhere he wanted...¡± The young woman was crying now, her shoulders hunched and her fists clasped into the material of her maids'' uniform, crinkling the already tight corset-top. ¡°But he chose to go along with it, staking his name on this chance. His name doesn''t carry any respect anymore, not even amongst the commoners. And as for me...¡± This time she bites her lower lip so hard that a bead of blood forms. Edwin can only stand there, no doubt looking dumb and uncomfortable. But Allisa takes several breaths before continuing. ¡°I was a kitchen maid before. There were half a dozen of us. Some took care of the cleaning, and others did the laundry and I helped cook. When the plan was proposed, those against it left, one after another. I... I thought there was a chance, a real chance it could work, so I stayed with Lucien after the others left. I achieved a ''Class Change'' and now here I am, the Head Maid; the only maid in a place with the fallen Lucien and a Demon Lord who''s too young...¡± She obviously wanted to say more; but her tone hadn''t taken on the cadence of a rant or even a scolding. She had something to say. ¡°Its okay, tell me.¡± Edwin finally speaks up, and Allisa looks at him a moment before deflating a little. ¡°The more... more specific and powerful the being to be summoned carries a higher cost in both magic and other resources. But sometimes there are other criteria that have to be met in order for it to work. We... we didn''t know when we first started. It was only after the summoning had already started that we learned we needed something else... Something more for it to succeed. I... I didn''t have any other choice but to provide it.¡± Allisa stutters through her words, crying again; and this time Edwin moves to her and places a hand gently on her shoulder. She leans into his warm touch, and after a moment picks herself up before looking at the demon in front of her. ¡°I had to give up my ability to have a family, Edwin. To give you new life, I had to give up every life I could possibly ever have...¡± The woman does finally break down then, but being so close to Edwin she leans right against him; and after only a moment he wraps his arms around her. ¡°The Summoner''s Guild was aghast... In the entire history of summoning, nothing had ever cost so much, not in that way. They had to watch me bleed, cause to stop the summoning could have killed them all. And then you appeared, red-skinned; as if you had taken everything I''d given freely... They called you a Monster; and they knew what we had wanted from the beginning...¡± Allisa was almost desperate now, crying and speaking at the same time, her breath having become harsh against his shirt. ¡°And now you''ll have to fight... and you could die and I could lose everything... EVERYTHING!¡± Edwin doesn''t know what to do or say about any of this. He''d already heard that the summoning that brought him here had been the most expensive one ever managed by the Guild. He knew that he''d almost managed to kill several of the wizards that had performed the spell. And while it had cost Lucien his dignity; it had cost Allisa even more. How was anyone supposed to respond to that? But he doesn''t say anything, and instead he brings one of his hands up to stroke through Allisa''s silky black hair. It was still in the ponytail he''d first seen her with; but it was loose enough to work his fingers into; and after only a couple of minutes Allisa had quieted down and stopped shaking against him. His skin was damp under his shirt; but he remains silent and standing, holding the woman gently as she finishes her crying and catches her breath. Only when she pulls back does he let her go, although he can see the scarlet blush that had crossed her cheeks again, this time going even to her sharply pointed ears. It was a good look on her. Edwin actually smiles at that. ¡°I don''t plan to die, you know. As for everything else... I don''t know what to say. But I will promise you that I''ll be back; one way or another.¡± He says softly, and Allisa nods her head before taking another deep breath. She opens her mouth, but he stops her with a red finger on her lips. ¡°Its okay. You don''t have to apologize.¡± He says, interrupting her and causing her to blush all over again. At least now he knew why she kept doing so around him. He just isn''t sure if its because she sees him as a child or some other reason. ¡°Why don''t you come join myself and Lucien this afternoon? I have some special training in mind. If it works, I''ll be able to survive and perhaps even win.¡± He asks her, going so far as to even flash a grin. It was crazy; his idea. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. And if it worked... Well, lets just say it could change the game. Assuming it worked. ¡°Yes!¡± -|- -|- -|- Edwin had been in Eternia a full seven days now, counting from when he finally woke up after the summoning. A lot of things had happened; but at best it could only be considered a prelude to what was to come. The day dawned cool, and fog and mist had risen from the ground, masking the whole of the run-down city below the great Citadel of Jottenhiem. But below the bluff on which the citadel rests, there was a clear area; marked out with hundreds of flaming torches; which scorch off the approaching fog. It was the training grounds used to train the conscripts and soldiers of Jottenhiem; not that it had seen much use within the last half a dozen years or so. With the city''s offers all but empty, there wasn''t any way to pay and outfit soldiers. The deterioration had gotten even so far that part of the training grounds had reverted back into a grassy field. But even hours before the deadline, there were hundreds of people standing on the field. It seemed like everyone in Jottenhiem had heard about the challenge issued to Edwin, the latest in would-be Demon Lords. By and large, most of them were commoners from the shanty-town portion of town. The nobles and other few wealthy individuals were escorted in large, ornate carriages; surrounded by dozens of trained and no doubt well-paid guards. The crowds were forced to either side to allow the nobles to best positions in the field. They were there to watch a show, after all. One they expect to be bloody and decisive. Edwin could only shake his head, looking down from the balcony outside of his chambers. It was like a circus down there; and he could already spot various games and other ''events'' the commoners put on to pass the time. A number of others had even started large bonfires, and were already cooking a copious amount of food to sell to the peasants. Most of them didn''t even look able to clothe themselves. But then, how often have they been able to enjoy a festival in the last decade? Edwin doesn''t really envy them that. Especially given that he''s supposed to be the main entertainment. ¡°Ahem... Edwin, there''s quite a crowd out there. Are you sure you still want to go through with it?¡± The voice of Lucien comes out from behind him, and Edwin could only give a soft chuckle as he glances over his shoulder. As always, Lucien was dressed spritely as a self-possessed manservant. ¡°Well, given that my experiment succeeded yesterday afternoon... I have to go through with it. Simply running isn''t an option. There''s already too much riding on this.¡± Edwin replies shortly, although his tone was cool; almost cold. He sounds unworried; but really it was just him burying his fear as deep as he could. It was the only way he would be able to go through with it. Most would call it courage; but really, what''s the difference between courage and insanity except in the eye of the beholder? ¡°Just so... Sir...¡± Lucien starts, only to stop when Edwin holds up his hand. ¡°No excuses, Lucien. This is the way it has to go. Here and in the future. There will be other challengers, we both know that. But Jottenhiem needs this. If I cannot win here, then I''m never going to be able to get to where we both know I need to be.¡± Edwin''s words shock Lucien; but then that had become quite common. Say what you will about Edwin, he had an undoubtedly great mind. Give him enough information, and he could rule the world. ¡°Yes, my lord. But it has never been done before; and live combat is vastly different than on a secluded training field. I''m not sure if even you can do what is needed with all of that going on.¡± Lucien finally says, motioning to the field far below. There were literally thousands of people there now, and through the fog Edwin could see even more making their way to the place. ¡°Well, there''s no helping it, is there? If it was done without anyone around, no one would believe the results, would they?¡± Edwin asks, quirking his lips up for a moment. ¡°This way if it works... No one can deny it. The nobles would have to run to the hills to get away from it.¡± ¡°If I didn''t know any better, my lord, I''d have thought you''d just made a joke. But I guess I do know you by now...¡± Lucien mutters, although his words make Edwin laugh. ¡°Is that so hard to think? I plan to demolish them all. Should their champion fail to kill me, they''ll try with something else. But I don''t plan to let them live to repeat their arrogance. Every noble down there will be dead before I leave that field.¡± His tone had become as hard and as sharp as steel. In other cases, one would probably think Edwin was insane with that remark. But after looking at the city, and learning all that he could... There''s no excuse for it being any other way. The nobles had done nothing but advance themselves while the city turned into a squaller. ¡°Assuming you win, Edwin.¡± All Lucien got in response was a shrug. ¡°I''m not too worried about it, to be honest. Anyway, lets grab something to eat. If I know Allisa, she has something special in store. Oh, and you''ll be coming with me; so I expect you to watch my back, okay old man?¡± Edwin laughs again, relaxing once more as he turns around and makes his way through the citadel and to the kitchens. He''d only been there a few times; but the place was big enough to host an entire cafeteria. At one point in time, with dozens of servants and maids running around; it probably had been. Now though there was only a single table with a crystal lamp on it, and Allisa was waiting with a smile. Edwin could still see the worry in her eyes though; but he smiles back and the three of them eat their meal quickly. Just as Edwin had thought, it wasn''t just an early lunch; there was also a pie waiting as well; still warm, to boot. It almost looked and smelled like chocolate. ¡°Hmm... You should open a bakery, Allisa. Its really good.¡± Edwin says after his serving had been consumed. He even burps himself, chuckling by way of an apology. ¡°Aah. I thought about it, to be honest. My mother was a well known chef; but this is my place. But if you start bringing in actual money, I''ll see about baking for you every day, ''kay!¡± Allisa was all bubbly again, and Edwin nods. ¡°Fair enough. But its time to go. I assume the black carriage is our means of transportation for the day?¡± He asks Lucien as he stands up, and the old man nods. ¡°Yes. Sturdy and black, the traditional carriage of a Demon Lord.¡± Lucien actually manages with a straight face; but Edwin could only shake his head. ¡°I doubt that. If anything, I imagine all the more ornate carriages were sold off for funds.¡± But still, they make they way to the entry foyer; which Edwin had never seen before; and then out into the Citadel courtyard. Like a castle on the hill above a town, the Citadel was surrounded by thick walls, with various outbuildings and workshops. With only three of them in residence, the place was rather forlorn and run-down; but the walls didn''t have a single crack in them; and there was space for hundreds of people within the walls. ¡°One day soon this place will be bustling again...¡± Edwin mutters to himself, which catches Lucien''s attention as he comes back from retrieving the horses from the stables. They were basically old nags, too old for field work or birthing. But they could pull a carriage, and were gentle enough to let Edwin stroke them. ¡°If you win today, that day may come a lot sooner than you realize.¡± Lucien says dryly; but Edwin only nods and climbs up into the carriage. Besides his regular clothing, he''s also wearing a lightweight set of leather armor, dyed black to fit his crimson red skin. He''s also carrying a single dueling blade in its sheath. They''d switched from training with the quarterstaff to the blade only three days ago; but Edwin felt better with the touch of metal beside him, instead of wood. He was pretty good with it too; but nowhere near where he needs to be. But he wasn''t planning on using the sword anyway. The ride down through the ''uptown'' part of Jottenhiem was silent and still. None of the tall, multi-story stone houses had any lights on. Just like lower Jottenhiem, the nobles and merchants had all turned out to see the spectacle. But it did give Edwin a good chance to check out the architecture. He was pleasantly surprised to see that it is still quite similar to what he grew up with. No doubt the materials and ways they were handled were different, but all in all Jottenhiem looked like any other medieval town he''d ever seen. It was always good to know that some things are still the same, regardless of the people or races involved. Still, they finally met resistance as the carriage turned out into the road leading toward the training grounds. At least, it did; until Lucien unrolled the Demon Lords'' seal; which was basically a black flag with a white crest-like design on it and hung it on the front of the carriage, just behind him. That got everyones attention, and soon enough the way forward was cleared; while those behind came in with a rush. The Demon Lord was there early, and everyone wanted the chance to see him. For Edwin, it was a bit of a scary situation. He''d never been drawn to the limelight, and even though he had been locally famous at home; in a small town there''s no real issue. Here it was different. There were literally seventy thousand people who wanted to see him. Edwin ends up more flustered over the crowds than he was about his upcoming fight! Thankfully in the carriage, no one could see in, and he has time to catch his breath and calm down again before the carriage rolls to a stop. ¡°My lord, we have arrived.¡± Lucien says gravely; and yet loudly enough for everyone to hear. Edwin has to grind his teeth for a moment. He still wasn''t used to the ''lord'' part. But he manages to calm himself. Appearances matter, after all. So when Lucien opens the door for him, he steps out easily, and jumps right to the dirt-covered ground below. The silence that came from his sudden appearance was a bit distracting, but Edwin ignores it. People can look and gawk all they bloody want. But the only who looked bloody was actually him. His fine white hair, blood-colored skin and the single straight horn on his forehead definitely caught all sort of attention. Even the various ''Demon'' races had never seen anyone who looked like him. In fact, most of the crowd looked human, except with odd skin colors and other features. The vast majority of them had pointed ears, in one shape or another. Edwin was watching them just as they were watching him. But the silence didn''t last long, especially not when another carriage comes ambling up from across the grounds. It was definitely ornate, nearly twice as large as the one Edwin had ridden in. It had gold inlays and was encrusted with jewels of every shape and color. It was so heavy that it had six wheels and was pulled by a team of four oxen, instead of a simple pair of horses. ¡°Lord Gallon.¡± Lucien whispers, to which Edwin nods. Edwin had learned the other day that Lord Gallon was one of the greater nobles in Jottenhiem, and the current head of the Regency Council. His personal wealth rivaled that of any two other cities in the Northern Lands. He was also a Woodman, a sort of male dryad that carries a part of his birth-tree buried in his chest, where his heart should be. In truth, Edwin thought he would probably be more like an Ent, from the Lord of the Rings books; but when the excessively ornate carriage stops; what jumps out was a short little imp-like man with brown hair and a face full of curly fuzz. But he was wearing a golden chain with the crest of the Council, so it was no doubt Lord Gallon. Edwin only takes a second to regain his composure; but as instructed early, he doesn''t move or speak to Lord Gallon as the little man comes over to him. ¡°A pleasure to meet you, Edwin Cast! I''ve heard quite a lot about you; and it seems the rumors of the Red Demon were true! Hoho!¡± The little man speaks, giving a flourishing bow. If he''d had a hat on, he probably would have doffed it. But while the voice from Gallon was crystal clear and squeaky, like a child''s the tone was cold. ¡°Lord Gallon, indeed a pleasure. It seems your stature proceeds you.¡± Edwin replies, his tone soft and courteous; even the joke was said with a completely straight, and serious face! ¡°Hmph. Yes, indeed. Now, I''m glad that you accepted the challenge for this duel; but there was something I wished to speak to you about...¡± ¡°No.¡± Edwin cuts him off, although his expression hadn''t changed. ¡°I do not care for any sort of deal, agreement, or excuse you or those you represent have. I''m here to fight Krash, and that is all there is to it.¡± He finishes, before he gives a glare at Lord Gallon; who had suddenly broken out in a sheen of sweat. With his red skin, white hair, and very sharp green eyes; Edwin had a very effective glare. Enough to scare eve Lucien; and Lord Gallon was nowhere near Lucien''s league. ¡°Aah... Yes, very well then.¡± The short Lord Gallon was quick to back up; and after only two or three steps had turned his back and started running back to his carriage. It wasn''t until the oxen had turned around and started rushing off in the other direction does Edwin let up his glare; followed soon after by Lucien''s laughter. ¡°Hahahahahaha! Oh my... I''m sorry, my lord; but I couldn''t have done it better myself! That no doubt put a kink in Gallon''s plans! Hahahahahaha!¡± The old man was bent almost double with his laughter, and even Edwin grins at it. ¡°You''d told me he was short, but you didn''t tell me that he was so small that I could punt him like a ball across this field, Lucien.¡± Edwin replies, this time grinning fully; although soon enough the laughing dies down and they once more take on their calm expressions. ¡°If you hadn''t already told me that you plan to do away with all the nobles after the fight here, I would be worried about Gallon''s actions after today. But he won''t have any time to finalize any plans.¡± Lucien says, his voice having sobered up. Edwin only nods once. ¡°The nobles, and several of the wealthier merchants. Before the fighting starts, I need you to pick a handful of Jottenhiem guards you can trust, either personally or with the purchase of coin. We''ll need to make sure we get all of the nobles and keep them here. So I need you to blockade them as soon as the fight has ended.¡± Edwin says, to which Lucien only nods before bowing. ¡°It shall be done.¡± The old man says, before walking off. The nobles no doubt have various plans of their own in case their luck turns south; but with so many people here; the only real way they could escape is on foot. But if Edwin secrets guards around the nobles, they could be caught as soon as they try to flee. It wasn''t ideal; but it was the best they could do until Edwin''s rule of the city was established. One way or another, the fight for Jottenhiem ends today. Lucien returns just before noon, followed by a short, bulky man dressed in an old, weathered Jottenhiem uniform and wearing bits and pieces of leather armor interspersed with chainmail and solid metal on his shoulders and knees; along with heavy boots that raise a cloud of dust with every step. Edwin recognizes him as a dwarf; especially with the long braided beard and skull-cap on his head. It seems that even some of the races are still the same as he imagined. ¡°My lord, let me introduce you to Cormic Pendron. He was the previous Guard Commander of the Jottenhiem patrol.¡± Lucien says, his face carefully neutral. Edwin isn''t sure if its because Lucien doesn''t like the dwarf, or for some other reason. ¡°Oi! This is the scrub you were a talkin'' about, Lucien? I could break him over one leg!¡± The dwarf says; foul-mouthed and all. But he still gives a slight bow, much to Edwin''s surprise. ¡°Yes, Cormic. This is Edwin Cast, the new Demon Lord.¡± Lucien replies shortly; which only makes the dwarf stomp on the ground in something of a hussy. ¡°Bah! How many times have I told ''ya to stop with all the polite speech, Lucien!? If you hadn''t pulled me out of that mess before, I''d already have knocked your teeth on the ground!¡± Cormic all but roars; but its then that Edwin catches the slight raise to Lucien''s lips. The old man is doing it on purpose to wile up the equally old dwarf. Heh. Edwin only barely stops himself from chuckling at the two of them. ¡°Anyway! I heard you have something of a plan to deal with them raunchy nobles, aye? Me and a couple of meh boys can do that job right enough; but that''s only if you win here today. I''m not sure if you have the stones to go against Krash though. So do ya really think you can do it, kid?¡± The dwarf asks; right down to business. Edwin doesn''t even have to think about it before nodding his head. ¡°I can do it, but its what comes afterwards that''s going to be a mess. If the nobles escape, then this is all for nothing, and we might as well pack up and leave.¡± Edwin says both bluntly and honestly, which causes the gray-haired dwarf to arch his brows at Edwin. ¡°Heh! See, Lucien, the youngin'' Demon Lord has more stones than you do! Hahaha! Okay boy, I''ll do the job; but you better win; otherwise its to the gallows for all of us! Hahaha! It''ll be a glorious fight, one way or another!¡± The dwarf was happy about it all; but then most dwarves are when it comes to fighting. A worthy opponent is one that could kick you; but only if you get the chance to kick back. ¡°Just make sure you get the nobles. I''ll handle Krash.¡± Edwin finishes with a nod; and Lucien leans over the whisper something into Cormic''s ear. It makes the old dwarf grin and bow again before stomping off, no doubt to handle the rest of the affair. Only once Cormic was gone does Lucien relax and let out a laugh. ¡°Ever since the Jottenhiem guard was disband, Cormic has been freelancing as a mercenary. We were lucky he was here this time. He''s been wanting to get back at the nobles who took his job from him for years. He''ll be good and loyal and solid should you set things straight, my lord.¡± Lucien explains, which makes Edwin quirk a grin again. ¡°Well, it won''t be long now. The nobles are already moving this way. Lets go, Lucien.¡± Edwin says, motioning out onto the field where the nobles were walking from the other end, and Edwin and Lucien are soon to start toward them from their side as well. As they leave the carriage, its easy to tell that the festival atmosphere has gone into overdrive. Yells and shouts for food, drink, and other things are called out behind them; no doubt the last attempt before the big match; and from all sides the crowd starts moving with them; tightening the noose. In the center of the training grounds though, a square area had already been staked out for the fight. Probably two hundred feet in every direction. It was more than enough space; but part of the rules says a candidate cannot cross the marked area. Lucien stops right at the edge while Edwin walks right into the arena space. All around them thousands and thousands of Jottenhiem citizens crowd in, packing in tightly except for the area right across from him. A great many people were actually trying to get out of the way as a great giant of a monster rumbles toward the arena; and it takes Edwin a moment or two to figure out what he was seeing. For all its shape; it looked like a gray speckled boulder. In fact, it didn''t wear any sort of armor, and was only carrying a great club across one lumpy shoulder. From what he could figure, it looked like a troll. Yep, definitely a troll. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. But here, it was a Rock Demon, and from what Edwin had been told, its skin was as hard as stone. It was also bigger and definitely meaner looking than he''d thought. But the bigger they are... Yeah, lets just go with that. The demon definitely had a fan club, as well; given the cheers that went up on that side. Or maybe the nobles had simply bought the people. Speaking of the nobles, they were also there in the crowd, standing about in groups on the northern side of the arena line. Lord Gallon actually had someone bring up a tall stool for him to stand on. ¡°QUIET!¡± Krash screams as soon as he steps into the arena; and the entire audience goes silent. Even Edwin, who was standing still some distance away; had to shake his head after the shockwave passed him. That could be a dangerous weapon up close. ¡°Hmph. Yes! Today we get to witness the fight between two candidates for the title of ''Demon Lord'', and ruling control over the city of Jottenhiem!¡± Lord Gallon''s screechy voice calls out from his stool, and everyone is left listening and waiting. ¡°First, we have the mercenary Krash, a Rock Demon of great acclaim! Everyone should know of his accomplishments, and his acts of bravery on the battlefield during the Second Eternal War!¡± And now for the applause, except there weren''t really any. The atmosphere had turned too tense for that to happen. ¡°And for the challenged, we have the newly summoned Edwin Cast! Previously a human, this Red Demon has the ''Class'' of Demon Lord, as well as Master of Dungeons. This has already been confirmed. But as a newcomer, most of us don''t hold any hopes for him.¡± Gallon''s tone had become contrite, almost to the point of sounding conniving. But Edwin doesn''t show anything else on his face; and in fact, here in front of everyone, and facing his soon-to-be-opponent, he actually doesn''t feel anything at all. No fear, no excitement. His mind is still running for all its worth; but the emotions which he had expected don''t bubble forward. If anything, the edges of his vision has started turning red. ¡°Now is the time for the fight! Now is the time for the strongest to rein! Now is the time! Begin!¡± Gallon yells out, before waving one of his hands down in a short motion. Behind him, a wizard shoots off a greasy flaming fireball into the sky; and the entire crowd takes a deep breath before yelling. At the signal, Krash rushes right at Edwin; hunching over with his shoulders out front, as if he were a bull instead of a fighter. But Edwin doesn''t move... Instead he actually gives a grin. A wide, macabre smile. ¡°Applied Stats.¡± He mutters, watching each of Krash''s ponderous steps as a window pops up off to one side.
Applied Stats
Health285 / 285
Mana690 / 690
Stamina285 / 285
With the information in front of him, he gives another chilly grin. By then, Krash was right on top of him; but Edwin simply ducks underneath the lumber giant, and with a quick set of steps moves from one side, then the other, right between the Rock Demon''s legs. Quickly turning around, he crouches down and presses his hands against the ground, gathering up all the mana he can gather at any one time. ¡°Dungeoneering!¡± He yells, activating the skill. Its even quicker than it was yesterday during practice, as the sudden release of his mana into the skill causes it to activate almost instantly. Out around him, the space had suddenly gone white, with blue lines spreading out through the area; for all the world looking like some sort of 3D blueprint program on a computer. In fact, in his head, it is just so. To everyone else around, the lines that sudden come out are white, cutting through space in the form of a cube; reaching even toward the sky. A two thousand foot cube is the limit of Edwin''s ''Small Dungeon'' that can be generated though; but he doesn''t need it anywhere near that large. In fact, he makes it just slightly shorter than Krash''s head. This causes Krash to stumble and roar in pain, having already tried to come around for another pass at Edwin. The brute was an idiot, still charging like an animal instead of fighting with any sort of skill. He was prodigiously strong and surprisingly fast; but Edwin knew that already. He was prepared to do what he had to do. But the sudden pain to Krash''s head only brought his attention back to Edwin that much more quickly, and this time he hunches over even more so to avoid the boundary line of the ''ceiling'' Edwin had set. It was the secret to the Dungeoneering Skill. The ''Absolute Domain'' that could be created. Within it, Edwin was the sole Creator and with enough mana, god. This is how Edwin is going to kill Krash. Assuming he didn''t get squashed flat like a bug. The downside of the skill was found during the experimentation the afternoon before. Dungeoneering had an up-timer; a specific amount of time required to establish itself fully. If broken off before then, then the main is wasted and the skill has to be reactivated. ¡°10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4...¡± Edwin never got to finish his count, as Krash bowls right into him with a knee. It catches Edwin hard, and tosses him across the ground; but Edwin grits his teeth and keeps one hand firmly on the ground, keeping the skill active as he checks his status and his body.
Applied Stats
Health202 / 285
Mana390 / 690
Stamina285 / 285
He''d taken over eighty points in damage from a single attack! No wonder he actually spits out a mouthful of blood. But he still grins. ¡°1.¡± He mutters to himself, as the countdown finishes and flashes in his sight. Outside, the area constructed with the skill darkens around the edges; before it spreads to cover the entire cube of space; turning slightly opaque. It was like a cage made out of magic. Nothing could come in or out without Edwin''s say-so. And given that it takes up the entire arena space; nothing could interrupt the fight now, either. ¡°ROAR!¡± Krash, of course, finally realized what happens as he tries to stand straight again; this time ramming his head into a wall harder than iron. Made up of Edwin''s mana, the entire place was like an electric fence to the giant Rock Demon. ¡°Do you think you could keep me here?!¡± The demon roars, this time finally pulling his club off his shoulder and slamming it into the ground at his feet; although it doesn''t do much more than shake the earth. ¡°I''ll kill you!¡± ¡°You already planned to do so before, right? Just how much were you paid? Two, three thousand Xim?¡± Edwin remarks, finally regaining his own feet; thankful for the little bit of time afforded him by Krash''s confusion over the skill used to lock him in this place. ¡°You! I''ll smash you!¡± Yep, typical troll sayings. ¡°Come on then, Krash. Lets see if you have what it takes to do so here.¡± Edwin says, his tone having gone flippant. Only now that Edwin''s actually been hurt does he feel anything, and rather fear or worry; its a deep, boiling sense of excitement. To fight an enemy, to trick him. To beat him. And Edwin was goading Krash right where he wanted him. It wasn''t a fair fight by any stretch of the imagination. Edwin already learned that lesson. He''d been killed in his old life, utterly unable to resist. And now he was going to make Krash feel the same thing. And Krash does exactly what he wanted him to, rushing right at Edwin again; this time with his club held off to one side. He is unable to hold it over his head for a downward swing; thus limiting its range and power. Hunched down, Krash is also slower, and more off balance. Even with his limited combat experience, Edwin could see that. Krash''s balance and center of gravity was totally messed up. One step, two. Krash never gets to make it to a third step. ¡°Dungeon Filling!¡± Another Dungeoneering skill. This time, he pulls solid stone from below ground; lifting a hand as he feels a spectral strain on his shoulder as if he were physically lifting the mass all by himself. The drain on his mana isn''t too bad with this skill; at least not in clear space; but with the solid rock slammed right up under Krash''s feet, it suddenly takes a lot more power to haul it up. ¡°COME ON!¡± Edwin yells over Krash''s sudden screams of surprise and agony; and with a sudden increase of his mana released to the skill, the stone slams upward against the ceiling in a pillar; crushing the Rock Demon against the rock-solid barrier. Caught between a rock and a literal hard space; Krash''s huge body can do nothing but burst apart like a water balloon; blood and gore splattering all over the place with enough force to even hit Edwin, still about ten feet distant. The last thing to hit the ground is the club, with Krash''s still grasping arm holding onto it. Outside of the dungeon space, the crowd was absolutely quiet, everyone too aghast at what they''d witnessed to figure out what it actually meant. Even Lucien, he already knew of the plan, was surprised; but with another start he realizes the Edwin was shooting a glare his way, and he gives a slight salute before turning to the other side of the arena. The nobles were standing in utter shock. Their chosen champion, a man they''d paid a great amount of wealth to, was killed as if he were an insect. Literally squashed. They didn''t even try to flee. It was pathetic. And their ''guards'' were just as shocked. So its no surprise that when Lucien finally made it to them, Cormic and the rest of his boys were already there. ¡°Toss them in!¡± Edwin yells, as the area of his dungeon zone right before the nobles turns clear, admitting their entrance. Most of them are simply given a kick in the ass to push them past the boundary, but a few of them try to fight their way out when they realize what was going on. But their hired swords aren''t able to respond before the last of those picked out were already sealed in. Of the crowd of nobles that had gathered to watch the fight, only three were left. One of them was a wealthy merchant. The only reason they were left was because of Lucien''s good word that they could be worked with. The rest though... ¡°Now then, we''re going to have a short chat before this ends. Lord Gallon, sad as it is to say, you are no longer in control of the Regency Council. In fact, the Council itself is hereby disbanded. All of you have lost your positions, your wealth, your possessions... And in a minute, your lives.¡± Edwin says, almost snarling at them as he walks toward the group of men; his voice loud enough to carry even outside the dungeon zone; so that everyone present can hear and watch. ¡°But I have one question for the bunch of you.¡± Edwin says then, finally dropping his voice to a volume that only they''d be able to hear. ¡°Yes, yes... Whatever you want to know, we''ll tell you!¡± Of course, it was Lord Gallon that was the first to speak, even though he hadn''t even picked himself off the ground. He was still sitting on his rump, as if rooted to the spot. ¡°Which of you interfered with the Summoning Ceremony that was used to summon me?¡± The question was utterly unexpected. In fact, it would normally be thought of to be completely impossible to interfere with the Summoner''s Guild at all. Except after Allisa''s explanation of what had happened, a suspicion had formed in Edwin''s mind. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of summons over the years had been successful. They''d been achieved at great cost, of course; but to actually cost the life of another in return? Never. It was something that went against the laws of the world as Edwin could figure them. It wasn''t the only possible option, but the most likely. Especially since the nobles knew of the plan even before it happened. Paying off one of the wizards to make it fail would have been a simple matter then. Even a Guild is susceptible at the individual level. ¡°He told us it had to be that way!¡± One of the other nobles suddenly shouts, pointing at Gallon. ¡°We had a meeting after we heard what Lucien was planning. We debated on rather or not we would allow it to happen! But Gallon said that we''d let it, and plan for it to fail! It would ruin Lucien and get him out of the way!¡± The same noble shouts, a dumpy looking man with oily green skin. Another sort of goblinoid, no doubt. Several of the other nobles were nodding their heads in agreement, sweating and desperate. ¡°So we paid into the fund Gallon set up to hire one of the wizards at the ceremony to break the warding circle set around the wizards. It would drain them excessively and force them to halt the ritual.¡± Another one speaks up. But all this does is cause Gallon''s face to go red in anger, then pale in fear as he looks at Edwin. Edwin was simply staring at them, utterly without any sort of expression. His thoughts had all dried up, and now all he could feel was tired. Tired and sore. It wouldn''t surprise him if a rib was broken due to taking that hit without even trying to defend himself. ¡°Guilty.¡± He finally says, and this time he claps his hands together, reactivating the previous skill. This time, there''s very little resistance as two large walls of stone erupt from the ground; and slamming them together, the nobles are crushed to death. They''d leave nothing here but a pool of splattered blood. It was a less gory death than compared to Krash; but he''d been strong enough to at least resist. These nobles? Not so much. Only after making sure everything is finished does he drop cancel the Dungeoneering Skill. He could have left it on, but he no longer wanted to bother with it right then and there. And in the middle of the training grounds, it would only needlessly take up space. As the ''Absolute Domain'' zone comes down, the rock pillar and walls summoned also sink back into the earth, leaving nothing but blood and Krash''s splattered body in its wake. The earth had swallowed up whatever was left of the nobles corpses. In the silence that''s left in his wake, Edwin closes his eyes and leans back his head, letting the fresh air blow through his hair before he straightens up and looks about him. ¡°I''m the Demon Lord, Edwin Cast. From today on, I rule here in Jottenhiem. This place will change. The nobles have been dealt with, and all others who resist will receive the same treatment. Within a week, a notice will go out from the Citadel. It will be posted on every job board in the city. It will detail my plans to revitalize the city. If you do not like that, then get out. Dismissed!¡± Edwin calls out in the silence; his voice loud enough to be heard by just about everyone gathered there. To those that aren''t, no doubt word will spread like wildfire. Edwin had won, and he won''t allow any opposition. He''ll kill them all. *DING*
You have won the fight for control of Jottenhiem!
You have unlocked the City Management menu. You have unlocked the Nobles Council menu. You have unlocked the Jottenhiem Population Control menu. You have unlocked the Jottenhiem Territory Resources menu.
New information about the Trial of Strength has been added to the Codex menu.
By killing an enemy 40+ levels above your own, you have gained bonus stats!
+15 Strength +17 Dexterity +25 Constitution +12 Intelligence +10 Wisdom +10 Charisma
By winning the fight while surrounded by an audience more 60,000 people, you have gained bonus stats!
+12 Charisma +20 Leadership +50 Luck
You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You have gained a level!
You have 30 unused Stat Points available.
Several of your Skills have leveled up. Please check the Skill Screen.
Unique Skill Hide of Earth Learned!
New information about Earth-based skills added to the Codex menu.
You have gained the Earth''s Blessing!
Earth Affinity +50
New information about Blessings added to the Codex menu.
-|- -|- -|- Finally done with Chapter 4. Its quite a bit longer than the previous chapters, so watch out! The fight scene is hard though. Jeeze. I''m not good with things like that. I''m more of a strategic player myself. I plan my moves like on a chess board. Heh. I''ll try to get better as more comes my way! There''s been quite a few updates on stats and the like as well. That''s getting to be a pain! Heh. A note on the Codex: After Chapter 5, I plan to publish what I have on the Codex as its own topic, and update it there! Right now the only things in the Codex is what I''ve specified here on the previous chapters. I''m going to post the Spells table here as well, so check it out! Feel free to comment, leave suggestions, criticisms and reviews. I''ll also be leaving an updated Status chart here in the credits after each chapter. So far its only the Status Screen, but I''ll eventually add others like Skills and the Codex. Status ¨C Chapter 4 Spoiler :
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals323853
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals423734
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals445775445
LeadershipLuck
2160
Skills ¨C Chapter 4 Spoiler :
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DungeoneeringD472.0%
The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon MiningF10.0%
The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon FillingD211.0%
A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TrappingF10.0%
The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon CommandF10.0%
The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TreasuresF10.0%
The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Combat StanceF24.0%
Proper stance is important in both attacking and defense. Without this foundation, the ability to defend yourself and retaliate against attack is degraded severely.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blunt WeaponF155.0%
The skill that governs the attack attributes of blunt weapons. Increases both attack power and speed, as well as defense when using blunt weapons.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DefenseD233.0%
An skill that governs all things related to defense. The ability to take hits and remain standing, as well as dodging and parrying. A high defense also raises combat awareness and the ability to see or sense attacks that cannot normally be seen by the eye.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blow AbsorptionA293.0%
A unique skill that supplements both Defense and Constitution when it comes to taking blows. Greatly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from blunt weapons. Increases defense when it comes to taking blows from bladed weapons. Slightly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from piercing weapons. Negates part of the damage received from falling or getting struck with non-weapon objects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Elemental MagicC135.0%
The skill that governs the ability to use elemental-type magics. The higher the level, the more powerful that the related spells can be. Part of the Magic series skill set.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hide of EarthPassive1-
A unique skill! The Hide of Earth is an advanced form of the common skill ''Stone Skin''. It is also a passive skill, and cannot be leveled up. Greatly increases defense. Greatly reduces fall damage. Objects with a total durability lower than the Constitution stat can be broken on impact with your body!
Magic Screen ¨C Chapter 4 Spoiler :
MAGIC SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Affinity Levels
VoidFireWaterAir
50 + 100505050
EarthForceCreationDestruction
50 + 50505050
LightDark--
5050--
Usable Magic
VoidBeginnerFireBeginner
WaterBeginnerAirBeginner
EarthBeginnerForceBeginner
CreationBeginnerDestructionBeginner
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Chapter 5 - The Jottenhiem Project Chapter 5 ¨C The Jottenhiem Project Edwin had won the fight. But even as he was looking over all the status messages that had popped up in front of him, the nervous-excited battle energy that had left him cool and collected suddenly deserts him. With everything that was going on, all he suddenly felt was tired. Bone dead weary. The crowd had finally waken up from its shock after Edwin''s short speech, and now they were screaming. Cheering. Cursing. Most were with arms lifted in joy; while others were not. Edwin had won the fight for control over Jottenhiem, but it was the residents and commoners that''d either see it succeed or fall into ruin all over again. But his work wasn''t done, and he waves over Lucien. There was still something to do. ¡°Lucien, contact... er, Cormic and bring him here. There''s something to do before we return to the Citadel.¡± Edwin orders, although he slurs on remembering the dwarf''s name for a moment. He''s really tired. Lucien simply nods and goes off at a trot; but thankfully returns in only a couple of moments. Cormic and his ''boys'' had remained nearby after finishing their assigned task; much to Edwin''s relief. ¡°Hah! I bet Krash and those bloody nobles didn''t even imagine this sort of thing would happen! Good for you, lad!¡± Cormic is in high spirits, stroking his beard. Edwin can only nod, before turning the subject back to his plans. ¡°Cormic, I need you and your boys to secure to estates of the nobles I just did away with. I also want you to pick one a residence in Upper Jottenhiem from one of those now available and set up shop. I''m going to reinstate the Jottenhiem Patrol, so you''ll be able to use it as your new headquarters. But I don''t want any of those estates looted. Everything in them, valuables, servants and otherwise now belong to the city. ¡°Also see if you can find a couple of good scribes to go over everything available. I''ll need that report as soon as possible. Rebuilding Jottenhiem is going to be a nightmare, even with everything we have.¡± Edwin''s words have a sobering effect on the dwarf, and for a moment the older man was silent; a pondering look on his half-hidden face. But finally the dwarf nods; and raises his right hand to his heart in salute. ¡°Alright lad, I''ll get it done.¡± Cormic says, although he seems to be a bit in shock at the sudden change. Edwin actually grins at the dwarf. ¡°The Patrol isn''t going to be how it was, Cormic. Once you get things straightened out on your end, come to the Citadel and we''ll work out a proper charter and make it all official. Bring with you any information on the city, the previous Patrol, and a basic tally of how many guards you have and how many we really need along with what you''ll need to do the job.¡± Cormic actually flinches at that though, but there''s a new light in the dwarf''s eyes and he gives a slight bow; which is definitely awkward for a man who stands only to Edwin''s waist. ¡°I''ll get it done, my lord. I''ll send Lucien a report in a couple of hours to get things rollin''.¡± Heh, it seems that Cormic wasn''t looking forward to all the paperwork involved, after being literally freelance for quite a while. Edwin can only shrug in way of apology. ¡°Carry on then. Lucien, bring the rest of the nobles here. I need a word with them.¡± Edwin says, switching tracks once more and nodding toward the three ''lords'' that had been left outside of the killing. They were heatedly talking amongst themselves; probably trying to assign blame or the like. Edwin didn''t really care. Lucien nods and goes to fetch them himself, and the three nobles walk toward Edwin and his group with an apparent show of hesitation. Edwin only waves them closer, and they pick up the pace, finally. ¡°I''ll get right to the point, gentlemen.¡± Edwin starts, before any of them have the chance to say anything. ¡°On Lucien''s good word, I have refrained from killing you outright, but I will not put up with any resistance. The City of Jottenhiem''s government is going to be reformed, and along with it the laws will be changed. The nobility class itself is likely to be demolished, unless another option is brought up. ¡°What I want from you three is access to information, manpower, and favorable trade for the city itself. I would rather not centralize commerce under the city itself though. Therefor I want you three to work out an agreement for a ''Commerce Guild'', and bring the proposal to the Citadel in three days. If things look good, I''ll personally sign the charter into commission myself. ¡°But there will be no caste system. All forms of trade, crafts, and artisans are to be represented equally. Business owners, land owners, even farmers are to qualify and be able trade as required or needed. Am I understood?¡± Edwin''s tone became cold at the end, especially at the end. Back on Earth, commerce was a mess. Capitalism is all well and good, but when you start creating various agencies with competing agendas and criteria of what can or cannot be done and who may trade with whom; it dissolves into a massive mess. Edwin wasn''t going to let that happen here. He''ll hold everything together under a single umbrella and see how it works for now. Changing it later may be a hassle, but if it comes right down to it, he''ll do it. ¡°That is a... tall order, my lord. But we''ll work it out.¡± One of the nobles speaks up, the merchant. He was likely to lead the other two in this, given that its his area of expertise; but even he seemed troubled. ¡°There are already several trade guilds, though. They won''t take kindly to being replaced.¡± The man finally says, speaking his mind on the subject after a glance to Lucien and Cormic, who''s still standing there, watching the going-ons with a couple of his men he''d brought over. ¡°They aren''t being replaced. They''re being folded into a larger organization. Each group will have a say, but the primary mission of the Commerce Guild is to work out problems and smooth out all the issues. Bring them in on the setup, and if there are any outstanding problems, send a message to Lucien and I''ll work it out. If they don''t like it, they can disband and then be replaced.¡± Edwin says, coldly; giving one of his glares at the man who''d suddenly broken out in sweat. ¡°Yes, my lord. It will be done.¡± The merchant says hurriedly. Edwin simply nods and waves them off. ¡°Now... Its time to go home. Lucien, bring the carriage, please.¡± ¡°Of course, my lord.¡± Lucien doesn''t even bat an eye at the commanding tone, and instead goes to do what he was told to do. The crowd though makes that a problem, at least at first, but soon enough Lucien and the carriage arrives, and Edwin climbs into it without even waiting for Lucien to open the door for him. He almost collapses into seat, closing his eyes and leaning back into the rather thin cushion. The ride back to the Citadel is a longer affair than getting to the training grounds had been, though; and although the fight had started at noon, the sun was already sinking down under the mountainous horizon by the time they made it back to the Citadel''s courtyard. At the top of the stairs was Allisa, looking worried and relieved at the same time. Some time earlier a pair of guards had also showed up and were standing on either side of the open gate, as well. Cormic''s idea, no doubt. Edwin was grateful for that as he claims out of the carriage. Edwin lets Lucien drive the carriage back into the stables and stable the horses for today, while he claims up the steps until he comes to where Allisa was waiting. ¡°I''m home, Allisa.¡± He finally says, after several moments of silence, looking at the blue-skinned woman. ¡°Yes, my lord. Welcome back.¡± Allisa says, finally breaking into a bright smile; although her eyes are red from either crying or holding back the tears. But she catches herself and curtsies him after a moment. ¡°Don''t do that, Allisa. There''s no need.¡± Edwin says, waving off her show of obedience before chuckling softly. ¡°I''m going to go take a bath and eat. Today has been long, and I want nothing more than to sleep now.¡± He finally says wryly, which causes Allisa to giggle. ¡°I''ll start on the meal then, my lord.¡± Allisa says with a smile, having regained her bubbly composure. ¡°I''ve also been contacted by some people interested in joining the staff here at the Citadel. After the showing during the fight, there are quite a few hopefuls wanting to show off their skills.¡± Allisa comments then, although her own tone had turned cold. ¡°Ah, several of those who left before? Talk it over with Lucien. If they can be used, put them to work. If not, tell them ''no''.¡± Edwin says, laying out clear instructions. That part, at least, was easy. With everything that''s going to start happening, they are definitely going to need more staff. ¡°Alright, time for that bath. I shall see you in a bit, Allisa.¡± After all of that, Edwin finally gets to drop into bed, and is literally asleep before his head hit the pillow. -|- -|- -|- That night, Edwin dreamed. It was the first time he''d had any sort of dream since he came into the world of Eternia. And like most dreams, he didn''t realize he was having it. At least at first. That soon changed though. He was back in the nothingness; the place he''d come to know as the ''Void''. Except this time he has his body, and could see himself clearly even in the utter nothing. It was like he was floating, and yet he felt as if his feet were on solid ground. It was rather creepy. But he wasn''t alone, either. Only a short distance in front of him was -something- that was hovering. It looked like a wisp; a tangle of glowing deep purple and red light so intertwined that it didn''t seem to have a beginning or an ending. -I''ve been waiting for you- A voice echoes out suddenly, and Edwin jerks and looks around himself. ¡°Ah... Sorry. I didn''t know.¡± Edwin says, although it was a rather deadpanned response. -Fear not, I am not here to harm you. This is only a dream, after all.- The voice says this time, although it sounds rather amused. Edwin couldn''t tell if the voice was male or female or something else. As if sensing the thought, the wisp-thing bounces up in down in apparent amusement. -I am me. I am here. This place is mine, although of the other realms. I am the Void.- ¡°Oh... So are you like a god, then?¡± Edwin couldn''t help but ask after a moment of thinking on the things words. -Alike, but different. I have no power, no influence. The ''gods'' you speak of are beings connected to their physical worlds. Their powers allow them to influence the places they were born into. I am different. I simply am.- Edwin couldn''t help but nod at that. It was simple enough that even he could understand. ¡°Alright. But why were you waiting for me?¡± Edwin finally asks, bringing things back onto track. The wisp-thing hovers back up again, and this time starts to glow with a pale purple light, casting back some of the darkness; although there is nothing else in existence here. It did make Edwin feel more comfortable though. -You are here because I have need of you, Edwin Cast. The summoning ritual used to bring you into Eternia is... incomplete. They drill holes through the world in order to pull the immaterial into the material world. But part of you remained here, stuck on the other side of the the boundary that separates the world from the Void. It makes you... unique. But it also means you are incomplete.- ¡°What do you mean? I already know that the ritual was messed up; but it was still successful. I''m alive again.¡± Edwin says, suddenly weary. Something was wrong with this. He could feel it. He just couldn''t figure out what it was. -You do not even remember, Edwin Cast. It is fine for now. You may regain what you are missing later. With part of yourself trapped here though, you will gain something else. I will fill the part of you that is empty with a part of myself. You will gain power over the Void, and will be able to use it even in your new world.- Edwin was at a lost. He couldn''t really understand what was going on now. Had he forgotten something? He goes back through his memories, about his previous life and his death. Of his work. He couldn''t find it though. There didn''t seem to be any blank spots in his memory. Except that there was. He couldn''t even remember what he had forgotten. He didn''t know anymore. But before Edwin could say or ask anything else, the wisp before him suddenly shoots right at him. He couldn''t even react as it slams right into his chest. Except he didn''t feel any sort of impact. It simply disappears into himself. At first, nothing feels any different, and he looks around and then down at himself. Where his heart should have been, a black mark resembling a spiral had appeared; like a thick, heavy tattoo right over his heart. -Use this power to forward your goals and plans in Eternia. We will meet again when the time is right.- The voice finally says after a moment, still echoing in the nothingness which had gone dark all over again. Edwin tries to speak, but his surprise had taken precious moments from him; and his consciousness falls into darkness of real, heavy sleep. -|- -|- -|- Edwin woke with a start, sweat-drenched and with his chest on fire. Sitting up in bed, he jerks the sheets from his chest; where the same black mark he''d seen on himself in his dream had appeared. It was burning with an purple-like glow around his red flesh, and was painful to the touch. Thankfully the pain disappears after only a couple of minutes, and he breaths deeply; in and out. ¡°That hurt.¡± He mutters to himself, before looking out the nearby window. The sun was only starting to come up, painting the horizon with vivid colors. With the snowcapped mountains in the distance, it was a grand view; and he cannot help but relax while looking at it. Soon enough though he climbs out of bed and goes to clean himself up, changing into proper clothing after another quick bath. ¡°So it wasn''t all a weird dream.¡± He muses to himself; remembering the entire experience rather vividly. Part of him is still stuck in the Void, huh. He simply shrugs. At this point it wasn''t important. The mark on his chest was still glowing slightly though. He''d been told that he''d gain new power; but so far he hasn''t felt any different. Maybe he''ll have to figure it out on his own. But first things first. It was the first day of his new rule, so he had a great amount of stuff to do. Edwin set off after getting his thoughts in order, and leaves his chambers. He makes his way down to the kitchens; and is quite surprised at the sight before him once he walks in. There were three new people, being lectured by Allisa and Lucien. Two women dressed as maids, and a man dressed as a manservant, similar to Lucien. ¡°... Got it? Betra is assigned to kitchen duties. Eltrude is assigned to the first and second floors, except the great hall. I''ll be overseeing your work as well as the rest of the floors.¡± Allisa was saying, and Lucien nods beside her. ¡°Mark is to oversee the courtyard, as well as the couriers; including the stables and the mounts. You''ll also to bring all the messengers to me personally. No one is to enter the Citadel without one of us accompanying them.¡± Lucien finishes up the lecture, and then spots Edwin standing there. ¡°Ah, our lord has arrived. Greet him properly, you three.¡± Lucien says smoothly; while the three newcomers jumpy and turn around. They are a bit slow to catch on with what is happening, but eventually Edwin gets proper bows and curtsies, but he waves them off. It still made him nervous. ¡°Its alright. No need to be so formal.¡± Edwin says, to the rather aghast response to those three. Lucien actually cracks a smile behind their back, but its a fleeting thing that disappears quickly. ¡°Quite right, my lord. Off to work, you three.¡± Lucien finally says, although Allisa to his side is trying to not giggle at the scampering salutes that come before the three new servants rush out of the kitchens. ¡°Ah, you came at a good time, my lord. Those three had only just arrived this morning. We got them situated in the servants quarters and was just filling them in on their duties.¡± Lucien explains, motioning to the nearby table. Edwin takes a seat and nods. ¡°I''d heard we might be getting some new staff, I just didn''t expect it to be this soon.¡± ¡°Heh. It was easy enough to pick out a couple of new hands. Things have already been quite busy this morning. You''ve received some thirty-odd letters and other bits of news this morning alone. Your actions yesterday has turned the whole of Jottenhiem into an ants'' hill that''s been kicked over then flooded, my lord.¡± Lucien says, although he''s in obvious good cheer. It was actually a bit disconcerting, but Edwin simply gives a wry grin. ¡°Well, there isn''t any helping it. We didn''t start the fight, but I plan to finish it.¡± Edwin says, leaning back even as Allisa shows up with their breakfast. No doubt such meals together with the three of the mare going to become rare rather quickly. ¡°Indeed, my lord. I''ll give you a summary of the missives'' contents after we retire to the study after breakfast.¡± Lucien says, to which Edwin can only shrug. He hasn''t had time to learn to read as much as he''d like here yet. ¡°Also, you should know that the Citadel Tower has been unlocked for you. It was sealed, waiting for a new ruler to claim Jottenhiem.¡± Lucien says simply, which causes Edwin to raise a brow. But he soon shrugs it off and they get down to eating the steaming breakfast. It was good and filling, and Edwin feels quite full afterwards. ¡°Thank you, Allisa. I suppose you''re quite happy to have help here now.¡± Edwin says after setting his silverware down on the empty plate. ¡°Haha. Yes, my lord. Betra was a restaurant owner before she went into debt. She''s a great hand in the kitchen, but she cannot really bake. So we''re splitting that duty.¡± Allisa says, smiling and no longer looking so worried. In fact, she seemed rather happy now. ¡°Ah. There''s going to be a lot to cook here shortly. I''m going to have part of the Jottenhiem Patrol stationed here in the Citadel''s barracks full-time; so some fifty-odd soldiers are going to need three meals a day.¡± Edwin says teasingly, to which Allisa grins; with just the slightest hint of a blush. She''s no longer so awkward now, and Edwin is glad for that. ¡°Anyway, lets go, Lucien. Business comes first, after all.¡± Edwin says, standing and waiting for the old man to lead him back to the study; although he is sure to wave bye to Allisa before they get out of the kitchens. Once in the study, Lucien locks the door while Edwin takes his usual seat. On the coffee table before him, is a neatly stacked pile of already opened letters. Some of them are plain, while others are more expensive and pure white instead of cheap off-colored. On top is one that even has gold embroidery. Edwin cannot help but pick that one up, but after opening it he cannot read the writing at all. Its all slanted and curved. ¡°Ah, that one was sent by Lady Gallon; the previous'' Lord Gallon''s wife. Or rather, widow. In it she''s saddened to learn of what had befallen her husband, but has offered her unconditional support. She''s taking a stipend and is moving to a rural villa provided by her parents, and is releasing all rights, holdings, and titles to you, my lord.¡± Lucien''s tone is calm and even; but Edwin glances up at the man who was standing at his shoulder with an arched brow. ¡°Hmm. I take it the families of the nobles I had done away with did not take kindly to how I dealt with the lords, then?¡± Edwin asks, to which Lucien nods. ¡°Yes, my lord. But you didn''t leave them any choice. Several of the more wealthy ones are leaving as quickly as possible; but some of the others are unable to do so. They are currently seeking shelter with the last three nobles.¡± Lucien says, finally taking his seat to the right of Edwin. ¡°Hmm. Very well. Offer the families amnesty for their previous lords'' actions, as well as a generous stipend. Those with children can stay here in the Citadel in the guest wing. Once reconstruction starts, we''ll let them pick out plots for new homes here in the city if they wish to stay. But we cannot spare materials for building ''villas'' and the like outside of Jottenhiem. ¡°Also, send word to Cormic and have him set aside some of his guards. I want these families to tour through Lower Jottenhiem and see personally just how bad things are for the rest of the commoners. If that doesn''t get through to them, then we don''t need them here in Jottenhiem at all.¡± Edwin says, detailing his instructions. Lucien actually pulls a small bound journal from his pocket and jots down Edwin''s instructions. He hadn''t done that previously, but now things are different. These were official orders, after all; so they need a proper paper trail. ¡°Very well, my lord. Now, for the rest of the letters...¡± Lucien says after a moment, snapping the booklet shut and setting it within easy reach. ¡°Cormic has sent a preliminary report. The noble houses are being guarded, and already the scribes are at work cataloging everything that''ll be of use to us. He''s also chosen a residence quite close to the Citadel to set up as headquarters for the new Patrol. At the moment he has around fifty guards and volunteers under his command, but he wants to increase that by several fold.¡± Edwin nods to that. ¡°I already figured it would. Once the scribes report comes in, we''ll buy up a large set of land surrounding Cormic''s new headquarters and have the buildings torn down in order to build a proper Patrol. Estimates should be around a thousand guards here in the city itself. After that, we''ll start setting up Patrol posts in the surrounding territories. Especially the farms, timber lands, quarries and mines. People need food and the city needs resources.¡± Lucien had grabbed his booklet and started jotting things down, no doubt in order to keep track of everything. ¡°Okay. Now then, there are several letters from the various trade and crafting guilds. Some welcome their support for the new Commerce Guild; while others are already criticizing it as futile. I''ve taken the liberty of sending replies to the nay-sayers that such complaints should be issued to the three nobles who are working on the proposal. ¡°There is also a letter from the village of Lotash, roughly four hours from the city. They''re the only village within the territories Jottenhiem controls; and also the closest to hear word of what has happened. Traditionally Lotash is considered little more than a way-stop to Jottenhiem, but they''re also the biggest farming community we have left. Most of our food comes from there, and it has made the village relatively wealthy. But they are not a proper city, and thus fall under your direct control as well.¡± Lucien explains this at last, pulling out a rather thick letter. Edwin simply nods, with a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°We need that food, but I''m guessing that Lotash has its own troubles. Bandits and the like, right?¡± Edwin asks after a moment, turning back to look at Lucien. ¡°Yes, my lord. Lotash has also become something of a refugee camp for people leaving Jottenhiem. But there isn''t enough work to go around for everyone, so the place has become almost as bad as lower Jottenhiem. Lotash also sits on the edge of the Raven Forest, and the Wellshire creek. They have several mills set up on the waters edge.¡± Lucien explains in detail about the village and its environs, to which Edwin nods. ¡°The Raven Forest is mostly unexplored, and over the years has been home to many bands of bandits and other criminals. There aren''t any real dangerous animals or beasts there; but the area is plentiful in herbs and the like; both for cooking and medicine.¡± ¡°Ah. Then we''ll set up a logging camp there. Dead wood and old growth only though. We''ll also need to keep people out of the areas the herbs grow and see about setting up a way to use the land to grow the herbs ourselves.¡± Edwin says after a moment of thought. Most of the buildings in the city are built out of stone, and are bigger and stand taller than the buildings and homes in villages, which are often made out of more common materials, like wood. But part of the problem back on Earth was that people learned to late on how to gather resources and still be conservative in their management. Clear-cutting whole forests and the like is a great short-term policy; but is really bad once things run out. Edwin isn''t going to repeat that here. ¡°Lotash will be the first place we set up a Patrol Post as well. We need to clear out the bandits and set up security in order to get things done. Make a note for Cormic about that.¡± Edwin finally says, which leads to Lucien nodding; jotting it down in his booklet along with everything else. All of this was getting more and more complex. ¡°Ahem. The rest of the letters are congratulations on your victory and the like. Only a few of them deserve a reply, so I''ll see to that myself, my lord.¡± Lucien finally says, closing his booklet once more before standing up. ¡°On the last piece of business, let me show you to the Tower. I imagine you''ll be quite pleased.¡± Lucien says, sounding all mysterious all of the sudden. He even goes so far as to grin at Edwin. Edwin simply nods and stands up, following the old man out of the study. Instead of going to the hall and using the stairs, they instead walk toward the central wing of the citadel, close to the place where Edwin had gotten his Status Crystal before. But they don''t enter that great hall, but instead go off to one side, which has another staircase leading up. And up, and up. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The tower soon reaches past the six lower floors, and still goes up and up. Lucien appears as cool and collected as ever; but Edwin is sweating and huffing for breath slightly after only about halfway up. Finally though they come out on a landing, which is just like any of the others. Bare dark stone and only a little wood can be seen. But the large double-doors on the other side are impressive, iron-bound and carved with an lovely and very complex set of glyphs. Edwin had learned about such things with his study with Allisa. They are wards and magic circles. He recognizes a few of them, for protection and locking; but the rest make no sense to him. ¡°Here we go, my lord. Beyond this point only yourself may enter. It is perfectly safe though. I shall be here when you come out.¡± Lucien says formally, motioning to the doors. Edwin looks at the doors once more before straightening, and walks right up to him. On the way, he can feel a force pulling his right hand up; and before he even realizes it he''s touching the doors. A bright flash of light comes from his Status Crystal embedded in his wrist, and he has to squint before it fades. *DING*
The Tower is unlocked!
The Citadel Tower is where the ruler of Jottenhiem comes to review information about the city. Other features are also available.
The doors open as soon as Edwin waves the new message away; and even he cannot make anything out on the other side of the newly opened doorway. He glances back at Lucien, who nods; and after taking a breath and steeling himself, Edwin steps into the room. Once past the doorway, the doors close shut silently behind him; and for a moment the pitch blackness reminds Edwin of the Void. The thought sends a shiver down his spine. But soon enough light appears. In the center of the circular room, a large crystal is floating; and it gives off a pale blue glow that grows after a couple of moments, filling the space with light. The sight makes Edwin gasp. The floor is white marble, shot through with veins of deep blue lapis lazuli. The ceiling arches high overhead, supported with pillars and arches of more marble, with wooden struts elegantly carved and polished to a shine. The ceiling itself is lost in shadow. Off to one side, a comfortable looking couch along with an end-table is set; both of exquisite quality. Behind the couch, a bookshelf stands, also of good quality; but sadly empty. But what really catches Edwin''s attention is that the room has no walls. Indeed, there''s nothing but empty space beyond the flooring; showing off the mountains surrounding Jottenhiem and the city below. And yet there''s no wind. And the temperature is comfortable. It reminds Edwin of a lighthouse, actually. A beacon at the top of the world. In fact, from the city below, it looks just like that; a shining blue lighthouse at the tallest tower of the Citadel. But soon enough Edwin''s attention is brought back to the floating crystal in the center of the space, which has started to rotate; spinning first slowly, then more and more quickly; a sudden -beat- coming from it, as if it were a heart suddenly pumping after being so long and still. It beats again, and again, and again; slowly and then more and more rapidly; growing louder and louder until Edwin has to clamp his hands over his ears. But finally it stops the noise, and instead continues to spin. ¡°Welcome, Demon Lord. I am Jottenhiem.¡± A soft voice suddenly comes from the crystal, and Edwin starts for a moment. *DING*
The Heart of Jottenhiem
The Heart of Jottenhiem is a Heart Crystal, one of the few ever found. It is a mass of crystallized mana that houses the spirit known as ''Jottenhiem''. It oversees the entire city of Jottenhiem, as well as its territories. The previous Demon Lords used it in help controlling the information and development of the city it resides over. The spirit Jottenhiem is bound to the power of its ruling Demon Lord. The greater the Demon Lords'' power, the more influence the spirit gains; and its control can reach out over a greater area. In ancient times, the spirit was considered a ''god'', but as that knowledge faded from legend to myth and then into obscurity, no one remembers who or what it was before.
New information about Jottenhiem has been added to the Codex menu.
That was a bit of a shock, but Edwin is quick to read the new information that popped up, before giving a soft chuckle. ¡°A pleasure to meet you, Jottenhiem. I''m Edwin.¡± He finally says, speaking to the crystal as if it were a person. In truth, it probably was, at one point in time or another. The Heart Crystal had probably been asleep for a long time now. ¡°Ah, a polite one. Some of the previous Demon Lords were rather crass.¡± The crystal responds, sounding oddly excited for some reason. But Edwin could understand that after a moment of thinking about it. All alone, locked in a room for decades. Anyone would get lonely. ¡°In any case, I''m here to help you govern your territory. So far that means the city of Jottenhiem and the village of Lotash and the surrounding lands. Things seemed to have fallen quite a ways~ Aah, I remember when my presence used to touch almost every part of the North Lands. There was always so much to do, to see back then!¡± Yep, the spirit was acting just like a person. That made it easier for Edwin, and he gives a slight smile. ¡°Well, I do plan on reuniting the Northern Lands, so you may get the chance to experience that again, Jottenhiem.¡± Edwin finally says. ¡°Haha! I look forward to it, Edwin! But first, please step up to me and touch your right hand to my Heart. I need to synchronize with your Status Crystal.¡± ¡°Okay..¡± Edwin replies, slightly hesitant when he remembers the pain that happened the last time he touched a crystal. But he does it anyway. Thankfully that doesn''t happen this time. Indeed, a golden glow comes out of the Heart and wraps over his hand and wrist, soft and surprisingly warm before it fades. ¡°Oooh, it seems you''ve unlocked quite a few menu''s already, Edwin. But here is the best place to use them. Simply say ''City Status Mode''.¡± Jottenhiem instructs then; and Edwin nods once more. ¡°City Status Mode.¡± *DING* With the sound of a new message opening, the world goes away, except for Edwin and the Heart Crystal. For a moment everything is black again; but then it starts filling up with blue lines; rapidly building one on top of another. After a moment Edwin recognizes it as similar to the Dungeoneering skill; a blueprint screen. All around him the city and territories of Jottenhiem come up in outlines; before it falls away and he''s left looking down at everything under his control. Its rather cool. Every person is marked with a blue dot, all of them moving around within their places. Animals are green, and dangerous beasts that are recognized are red. Buildings are seen as solid blue outlines, while the land itself has gone white around them; while resources are marked with different symbols. He recognizes a few of them, like the symbol for ''grain crops'', which is a simple wheat stalk on a golden background. Others he doesn''t though. But it isn''t just the physical things he sees, either. Several large blue message boards had popped up, including the City Management screen and the Resources screen. It was quite a bit overwhelming. ¡°With the synchronization done, all the information you could pull up normally is represented here through my projection, Edwin. I have also taking the liberty of setting up the Jottenhiem Project based on the plans you have stated to Lucien and others. I will now mark those projects on the map in orange.¡± Jottenhiem says clearly; and after a moment several new orange buildings and symbols have popped up, replacing or overriding the previous normal blue ones he''d seen. The Patrol Headquarters and its surroundings, the details about Lotash and its farmlands and the Raven Forest near it; as well as messages about the Commerce Guild and some of the plans he''d stated with that. It was quite a bit of information; but set out like this, it was like he was working on it in a computer. It was that cool. ¡°Wow. You''re just like an AI.¡± Edwin says then, looking over everything. He also found out that he could move his view and the like by moving his hands and manipulate the projection with his fingers, like using a touchscreen. He could zoom in and out and rotate and everything. ¡°An AI?¡± Jottenhiem asks, sounding rather confused at the word. ¡°Ah. In the world I came from, Artificial Intelligences are theoretical constructs possessing self-awareness. But their ability to process information is thought to be several times greater than that of a living beings.¡± Edwin explains after a moment, a but chagrined at the slip. ¡°When I lived there, AI''s were still theoretical. Impossible to make. My old world didn''t have magic; so everything we did relied upon technology that is more advanced than what''s available here in Eternia.¡± ¡°Ooooh! It sounds like a rather unique world! Most of the worlds we know of that border Eternia have similar disciplines of magic and technology.¡± Jottenhiem says, once more excited about the whole thing. Edwin can only shrug though. ¡°Anyway! What''s first on the list that you''d like to do? I can pull up the Planning menu and we can finally get to work!¡± -|- -|- -|- Here''s chapter 5, and its quite the read! Sorry it took so long to get out; but I''ve been distracted. Haha. There isn''t any fighting or the like, but picks up right where chapter 4 left off! Some new things happen, new people are introduced, and plans are made. Things are progressing. There will be more action soon though, I promise! I''ll be working on the first Codex post here soon too. I''m going to post the Spells table here as well, so check it out! Feel free to comment, leave suggestions, criticisms and reviews. I''ll also be leaving an updated Status chart here in the credits after each chapter. So far its only the Status Screen, but I''ll eventually add others like Skills and the Codex. Status ¨C Chapter 5 Spoiler :
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals323853
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals423734
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals445775445
LeadershipLuck
2160
Unused Stat Points30
Skills ¨C Chapter 5 Spoiler :
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DungeoneeringD472.0%
The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon MiningF10.0%
The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon FillingD211.0%
A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TrappingF10.0%
The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon CommandF10.0%
The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon TreasuresF10.0%
The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Combat StanceF24.0%
Proper stance is important in both attacking and defense. Without this foundation, the ability to defend yourself and retaliate against attack is degraded severely.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blunt WeaponF155.0%
The skill that governs the attack attributes of blunt weapons. Increases both attack power and speed, as well as defense when using blunt weapons.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DefenseD233.0%
An skill that governs all things related to defense. The ability to take hits and remain standing, as well as dodging and parrying. A high defense also raises combat awareness and the ability to see or sense attacks that cannot normally be seen by the eye.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blow AbsorptionA293.0%
A unique skill that supplements both Defense and Constitution when it comes to taking blows. Greatly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from blunt weapons. Increases defense when it comes to taking blows from bladed weapons. Slightly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from piercing weapons. Negates part of the damage received from falling or getting struck with non-weapon objects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Elemental MagicC135.0%
The skill that governs the ability to use elemental-type magics. The higher the level, the more powerful that the related spells can be. Part of the Magic series skill set.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Hide of EarthPassive1-
A unique skill! The Hide of Earth is an advanced form of the common skill ''Stone Skin''. It is also a passive skill, and cannot be leveled up. Greatly increases defense. Greatly reduces fall damage. Objects with a total durability lower than the Constitution stat can be broken on impact with your body!
Magic Screen ¨C Chapter 5 Spoiler :
MAGIC SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons1
Affinity Levels
VoidFireWaterAir
50 + 100505050
EarthForceCreationDestruction
50 + 50505050
LightDark--
5050--
Usable Magic
VoidBeginnerFireBeginner
WaterBeginnerAirBeginner
EarthBeginnerForceBeginner
CreationBeginnerDestructionBeginner
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The Codex - Starting Post [Entry 1][12/19/14] Starting Codex
Welcome to the Codex Menu
The Codex is a collection of all information gathered or learned by the user. The world of Eternia is a vast one, with many places and peoples. Advanced skill descriptions are available. Advanced race information is available. Territory and city management information is available. Information about the various characters is available. Tutorials for the use of skills, abilities, magic and management are available.
Eternia Entries Spoiler :
The World of Eternia
The world of Eternia is a single massive Pangaean-like supercontinent that spans both hemispheres of the planet. The Northern Lands include vast prairies lands, mountains, and lush forests. Mineral and stone resources are abundant. Several large rivers and mountain springs make the few plains very fertile. Vast stretches of the Northern Lands remain uncharted. The Southern Lands include the Eastern Desert and vast plains. The northern most areas have access to yearly run-off from the snow melt from the Spine, making the area incredibly lush and fertile. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Thick forests in the southern steeps provide 90% of the timber resources of the south. Very few mountain ranges, restricting access to mineral and stone resources. Great herds provide an abundant access to animal resources. The Spine is a single massive mountain range that spans nearly the entirety of the middle of the continent. With peaks reaching an excess of 250,000 feet above sea level, they are all but impossible to trespass. An underground cave system, thought to be the hollowed remains of a volcano provides the only access point between the two halves of the continent. The Summoner''s Guild has claimed full ownership of the caverns beneath the Spine. Travel between the Northern and Southern Lands is currently restricted.
New Information will be added as more is learned.
-|- -|- -|- Here it is guys, the starting entry for the Codex! Sorry that its still rather barren, and for the long wait! It took me a while to figure out just how I wanted to set it up. Each category will have its own heading and Spoiler tag, and multiple entries can be logged under a single spoiler. Subjects like Skills and Magic will be the same, including updated logs on what the MC has learned! This post will be updated, and the title will be changed and updated as I post into the Codex for everyone to enjoy! Feel free to use this thread as the main discussion thread, as well! Chapter 6 - How to Rule Edwin was quite enjoying the view he had over his new domain. Looking down over them like a god; it felt surreal; but cool all the same. Think of games like Sim City and you''d have an idea of what it feels like. But Jottenhiem''s question catches him off guard, and for a moment he stands still and silent before letting out a sigh. ¡°I have some plans, but I''m really not sure how to start.¡± He says then, actually admitting it. It can take years for a monarch to learn how to lead an entire kingdom, after all. He''d been in Eternia little more than a week at this point. It was a big step. ¡°What Jottenhiem needs right now is food, building materials, and security. The number of unemployed is outrageous.¡± He mutters, pulling back the view with a motion of his hand until he''s once more looking down at the city and its environs from the tower itself. ¡°Ah, I understand. The previous Demon Lords rose up from what could be considered humble beginnings. Step by step, they took over their tribes and then villages and progressively larger territories. You''ve started at the top, so it may be a tad overwhelming.¡± Jottenhiem finally says after a moments though, and Edwin could just imagine the being inside the crystal nodding. ¡°We shall bring in Lucien. Please wait a moment.¡± Jottenhiem suddenly says, and the sound of the large doors opening can be heard, even though Edwin couldn''t see anything inside of the room itself, still being within the projection of the crystal. And then out of nowhere, Lucien appears; although even he appears ruffled. ¡°Ah, my lord. It was unnecessary to yank me in here in such a manner. I could have walked.¡± The old man says pointedly, although his gaze is set around him, just like Edwin''s had been when the projection first came up. ¡°Don''t look at me, Lucien. Jottenhiem decided I needed a tutor.¡± Edwin says, although his tone is rather wry. It didn''t surprise him that Jottenhiem could pull people into this space once given permission. ¡°Ah, just so. I am Jottenhiem. Its a pleasure to finally meet you, Lucien! I''ve been watching you for centuries!¡± The crystal finally speaks up, flashing with a light glow; followed by something that could almost be considered a giggle. Yep, if Jottenhiem had to be anything, it was a woman. And probably a young one at that. ¡°Ah, excuse me. The previous Demon Lords were very strict about my presence. Others besides themselves weren''t allowed in this room; but they''re long gone, so the order has been lifted. I hope you don''t mind, Edwin.¡± The crystal suddenly sounds skittish, as if it had forgotten something. No wonder, really. Heart Crystals are extremely rare, and their users gain immense power over their surroundings. Edwin could just imagine the havoc that could be wrecked if others learned about them. ¡°Its okay, Jottenhiem. I trust Lucien, and at this point, I need help anyway.¡± Edwin says, although admitting such probably cost him a bit. Lucien though barely bats an eye on all of this, and after checking the glowing outlines of several buildings around Jottenhiem and at the nearby village, can just imagine what the thought behind Edwin''s plans were. ¡°Ah, so it isn''t just setting up new work. You also plan to overhaul the economy, my Lord?¡± Lucien asks after a couple of moments of thought, to which Edwin nods. ¡°Yes. Jottenhiem needs more of just about everything. There are too many unemployed people. Too many mouths to feed, and not enough people doing anything about it. The local farmland is in almost utter disuse and banditry is at an all time high.¡± Edwin says, motioning to the great stretches of almost completely barren farmland outside the cities walls; and at the forest where the cross-swords of the bandit symbols float about chaotically. ¡°Jottenhiem can allow me to plan just about anything out here; but actually implementing them is another thing entirely. With Cormic''s Patrol only now being set up, we have no way to police enough land that needs to be cultivated. A single spoiled harvest could destroy everything we''re trying to build here.¡± Edwin explains; although for him its as close to complaining as he''s ever come. It really is too much. Edwin actually grinds his teeth. Lucien though simply looks thoughtful, and after a moment a slight grin has spread across his lips. ¡°Ahem... My lord, why don''t we think of this in a different way? You still need more training yourself, and this could be the perfect way to go about it.¡± Lucien says, although his own tone had turned enigmatic. Apparently the man had an idea of his own. Edwin actually raises an eyebrow before chuckling ruefully. ¡°I walked right into that one, I guess. Very well, lets hear what you have to say, Lucien.¡± Edwin submits with a slight nod of his head. Jottenhiem simply remains silent, watching them for now. ¡°Very well, my lord. First off, like any other trade, Farming and Ranching have their own set of skills. The more work and the higher the skill levels, the better the produce and goods become. Like in crafting, it isn''t an absolute; but provides a bonus to the quality of the goods; along with things like how much soil can be tilled.¡± Lucien explains, part of which Edwin already knew from his lessons on the other crafting skills. He didn''t have them at all at the moment though. Without a lot of time to prepare, Edwin never did actually learn to craft anything himself. ¡°I suggest, my lord, that you learn how to do everything you can. Farming, mining, prospecting and as many crafting skills as you can get your hand on. After seeing you fight just yesterday, I believe you could set up an Absolute Domain out in the fields and use it to practice without risk of anyone disturbing the field. You''ll also gain experience in the Dungeoneering skills that way, too.¡± Lucien''s suggestion was actually rather brilliant. It was an idea based on Edwin''s own; but he''d totally skipped over it as thinking it impractical. But it could really work. And given his ability to control the area within that space, he could easily set up things like irrigation and the like. Edwin actually grins. He has never been afraid of hard work, and although farming isn''t anything he''d done before; there''s no reason not to go with it. ¡°Also, my lord, you can set up the Domain to allow other farmers in; but not thieves or miscreants. Setting up a guarded space is part of the battle in reestablishing working agriculture.¡± Lucien continues with his idea, and Edwin nods. ¡°That is true. My current Dungeoneering size should be enough to get a small sized farm up and going at the moment. Actually getting people to work within it shouldn''t be a problem once they realize that those who''d do harm couldn''t get in.¡± Edwin says, giving his assent to the plan. Jottenhiem takes over then, and soon enough has them zoomed in at the land outside the gates, and has highlighted one of the few still active farms and the fields around it. ¡°This is probably the best place to start, Edwin. Its close to the gates, and within the patrol pattern we discussed before. The farmland is rather rundown, but the family who owns it has been diligent even with the troubles they''ve had. Originally they hired guards of their own; but as the damage kept piling up, they were unable to continue doing so. They eventually formed a local militia-like group with their neighbors; but many soon left as their own lands were disrupted.¡± Jottenhiem explains some of the details, and Edwin frowns a bit. ¡°Why were the...¡± Edwin starts, then stops as an idea comes to him. He curses under his breath. ¡°The nobles did it, didn''t they? To keep the price of food high, so they could rake in larger profits by buying outside crops cheaply and then transporting them here.¡± Edwin is rather mad; and if he hadn''t already killed those responsible, he would have done so now for sure. Food is one of the bare necessities that people need to survive. Without a steady supply, people turn into animals or die out like beasts. ¡°Not just agriculture either, Edwin. There were several large mines and quarries that suffered damages or the loss of workers and were eventually shut down. Logging camps and even several of the largest mills in Lotash were burned down by unknown perpetrators. Rather it was because of the lords wanting more money for themselves or various infightings, I do not know.¡± Jottenhiem explains, although her tone had become somewhat subdued. Edwin has to take a moment to suppress his own feeling of anger, and after several deep breaths could finally think clearly again. Greed was something he''d seen even back on Earth, after all. It shouldn''t be that hard to figure out the same would happen here without any sort of oversight. But he''d already killed them all, so there isn''t anything he could do on that front. ¡°Very well. We have to start somewhere, so we might as well get to it.¡± Edwin eventually says, his words having returned to a somewhat normal tone; much to the relief of both Lucien and Jottenhiem. ¡°I have marked the details as required, Edwin. However, once you leave the chamber here in the tower, I will not be able to assist you further until you return.¡± Jottenhiem says then, sounding rather lonely again. ¡°You cannot leave this place?¡± Edwin asks, for a moment bewildered. But its easy to figure out why. Jottenhiem was a crystal after all. He''d have to carry it around with him everywhere in order to use it. ¡°Yes, Edwin. I was set here because it was the highest point in Jottenhiem (the city), but I can work from any other position as well. There is just no way to hide my presence though.¡± Jottenhiem says, giving for all the world would be a sigh. Edwin frowns and walks back toward the crystal; reaching up with his right hand. For most things, the long trek back up the stairs would be too time consuming. If something critical came up, he''d have no way to get here in time to do anything about it from this standpoint. ''I need Jottenhiem'', he thinks to himself; letting his fingers lightly brush the crystals neatly cut surface. Its cool to the touch, but still rather pleasing. ''She should come with me''. At the thought, the glowing blueprint-like space they were in suddenly disappears, landing them back in the circular chamber at the top of the tower. Even more surprising, the crystal itself had disappeared, too. Edwin feels a cold shiver goes down his spine; along with a sudden burning sensation from the mark on his chest, causing him to gasp and drop to his knees; almost tearing his shirt open to look at his own marked, red skin. In the center of the black and purple-glowing tattoo that was there before, a single blue crystal facet could be seen surrounded by the tattoo on his flesh, and touching it he could ''feel'' the hard surface of the crystal that''s flat against his chest. ¡°What just happened?! Edwin, why am I in your chest!?¡± Jottenhiem''s voice suddenly echoes out, surprising both Edwin and Lucien, who was still in shock. ¡°I don''t know...¡± Edwin says after catching his breath; the pain slowly easing, although it has left him rather shaken and covered in sweat. He doesn''t even notice that Lucien had rushed to him after only a moment, and was looking at Edwin''s chest and the crystal now embedded within it. ¡°I... My lord, I''ve never seen such a thing. That tattoo... I can feel the Void in it.¡± Lucien says after a moment, having to open and close his mouth several times to get his words out. Edwin had previously been examined when he was summoned, and didn''t have such a thing on his body before. *DING*
Void Space Unlocked!
Void Space is a unique ability granted only to the Voids'' representative in the world of Eternia. It is a direct connection back into the nothingness of the Void, and thus is capable of holding any object within itself. Objects stored in the Void Space may be recalled at any time. Similar to the enchanted bags that Adventurers covert for their ability to store a great amount of items; Void Space can hold an unlimited number of things without weight, mass, or other restrictions. Living things stored in the Void Space are put in stasis, thus preserving them until recalled. Time does not affect things within the Void Space. Special objects placed within the Void Space may still be able to interact with the world outside through the users body.
By activating the first Power of the Void, you have gained a greater affinity with the Void
Void Affinity +20
New information about the Power of the Void has been added to the Codex menu.
The Mark of the Void has grown. A new Power of the Void may be unlocked.
Several new status messages pop up as Edwin regains his feet, and he makes sure to read them before giving a grunt of surprise. ¡°Void Space, huh. Ever heard of anything like this, Lucien?¡± Edwin asks after a moment, thinking that it reminds him of things like ''bags of holding'' from the few games he''d played back on Earth. It was a surprisingly useful ability to have. ¡°No, my lord.¡± Lucien answers shortly, not quite sure what is going on or what Edwin is referring to. ¡°Oh, here.¡± Edwin says, having forgotten that he could show the status message to others. He soon opens it back up with a thought, and gives permission for Lucien to read it. Lucien is surprised, but a thoughtful look crosses his face. ¡°I''ve never heard of the Power of the Void before, my lord. But it seems to act like it suggests.¡± Lucien says, giving a somewhat rueful smile. Edwin keeps surprising him. Since when did he gain such a power? It wasn''t anything he''d ever heard before in his rather long life. ¡°Well, no matter. This way Jottenhiem can come with me and no one else would know.¡± Edwin says, flashing another one of his surprisingly boyish grins. ¡°EEEEH! You mean I can come with you, Edwin?!¡± Jottenhiem seems surprised herself, and Edwin actually chuckles. ¡°Yes, Jottenhiem. No more being left up here in the tower. You can come out with me and actually see the world from up close.¡± Edwin says, not at all taken aback by this sudden turn of events. It would definitely be useful to keep the Heart Crystal with him after all. ¡°Yay!¡± Jottenhiem is actually really surprised and happy, as well. She''d been locked in the tower, sometimes literally under lock and guard like some forbidden princess before. The other Demon Lords used her, but also feared her immense ability. In some cases they wouldn''t even visit for years. But Edwin was going to take her out! It was almost a wish come true. With that confirmation, Edwin experiences another flash of heat from his chest; although not a painful one. He looks down only to find the crystal facet in his chest glowing brightly. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. *DING*
Crystal Vision has been learned!
By assimilating the Heart Crystal Jottenhiem and gaining its approval, part of its unique power has been granted to the user. Crystal Vision allows you to share the far-sight of the Heart Crystal within the territory it controls. Skills such as Sneak, Backstab, Ambush and others have become ineffective against the user. Other applications have become available to Crystal Vision. The Jottenhiem Control menus have been assimilated. The Resource menus have been assimilated. Other menus have been assimilated. Crystal Vision is an Ability, and as such does not have an associated skill cost to use. Crystal Vision cannot be used outside of the Heart Crystal''s territory. Expanding the Heart Crystal''s territory will increase the range of Crystal Vision.
New information on the Heart Crystal has been added to the Codex menu.
New information about Crystal Vision has been added to the Codex menu.
New information about Abilities has been added to the Codex menu.
Wow, another bunch of messages has come up, along with an actual Ability, and not just a skill. Lucien had explained to him that past week that abilities were innate things that other people could not learn as Skills. There were all sorts of Abilities, some even harmful to their users. But the Crystal Vision was definitely useful, and Edwin actually laughs as he reads its description. It seems like a personal-use version of the blueprint-like space that Jottenhiem had projected before. Except this time only in Edwin''s mind. He quickly activates it; and feeling another flush of heat from his chest, his green eyes start to shine brightly; his vision having been magnified several times. He can see the outline of everything, and with a thought his vision expands out in 360 degrees, before looking out over the whole of the citadel from his position. ¡°Whoah. That''s cool.¡± He says, which draws Lucien''s attention. Unlike before, there was no outward sign that anything had happened to him, since most status messages had to be shared before others recognized them. But he does notice the magic glow around Edwin''s eyes. ¡°It seems that Allisa is waiting with lunch, and Cormic is already here.¡± Edwin says then, blinking his eyes and they turn to normal before he flashes another grin at Lucien. ¡°I can see that place where we were before, but without Jottenhiem projecting it.¡± Edwin says after catching Lucien''s nonplussed gaze; to which the old man nods, but keeps his mouth firmly shut. Edwin''s new abilities were coming on too fast for him to make sense of. The old man was nervous. ¡°Its a good thing, Lucien. Don''t fret so much.¡± Edwin says with a grin, causing even Jottenhiem to give a giggle from his chest as he buttons back up his shirt before leading them out. The way back down the tower is thankfully swifter than walking up had been, and after arriving to the ground floor, Edwin spots one of the new maids and waves her over. He doesn''t remember her name though. ¡°Please let Allisa know that we''ll be taking lunch in the study. Herself and Cormic are to attend.¡± Edwin says easily, giving the woman a slight smile before leading Lucien to the study after making sure the maid had run off to the kitchen. Once back in that comfortable place, Edwin sets down with a sigh, and looks up at Lucien who''d started to pace back and forth. ¡°What''s eating you, Lucien?¡± Edwin finally asks after the third back and forth motion the old goblinoid had gone through on the carpet. ¡°Ah... I''m sorry, my lord. Its just... Some of these things you''ve learned, I''ve never heard of any of them. When you get to be as old as I am, surprises are not often good things.¡± Lucien finally admits after stopping his stride, turning to look at Edwin with something like chagrin on his face. ¡°Oh, I see. Well, it is understandable.¡± Edwin says, although he isn''t really sure what to do or so about it. But his response got another giggle from Jottenhiem, and she finally speaks up. ¡°Lucien has already forgotten that Edwin was summoned to this world. Like the human Heroes from before and during the Second Eternal War, Edwin has the same knack for gaining power and abilities that go beyond what we are able to do. Skills, abilities and even stats progress far more quickly for summoned beings. Some go so far as to bend or break the laws of the world. Edwin''s ''Power of the Void'' is an example.¡± Jottenhiem says, although thankfully her voice dies away shortly before there''s a knock on the door, before Allisa comes in; this time rolling a cart with four sets of meals. ¡°Hello, Allisa. Come and join us. You too Cormic, we have much to discuss, I imagine.¡± Edwin says easily, waving to the other chairs as Lucien takes his customary seat. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Allisa says, smiling politely this time. Apparently with uncertain company, she isn''t as bubbly or as outgoing. Edwin is fine with that for now; although they will be seeing quite a bit more of Cormic in the coming days. ¡°Hiya lad. How you feelin''? You looked dead on your feet yesterday before leaving after your fight!¡± Cormic, of course, is just as outgoing and loud as before, and Edwin simply nods and gives him a smile. Lucien''s face had gone smooth again; although his eyes seemed merry. ¡°Pretty good, Cormic. Nothing a nights rest didn''t solve.¡± Edwin says, motioning to the seat across from him. ¡°Lucien outlined your letter for me earlier. Did you get my reply?¡± Edwin asks, getting right down to business while Allisa moves around and hands out the plates and silverware for lunch. ¡°Aye. Its a good start, but I''m not sure its enough Patrollers though. We had some trouble simply keeping those houses in Upper Jottenhiem secure last night. None were broken into, but people surely tried.¡± Cormic says with a grunt, and Edwin glances a look at Lucien who nods after a moment. ¡°Very well. I thought a thousand would work for the time being, but if things are as bad as that... Jottenhiem, please pull up the City Status mode.¡± He says, to the surprise of the others in the room. Lucien knew what to expect, but he never thought Edwin would use such a thing here! Edwin simply smiles and watches as the space the four of them are in becomes nondescript and outlined in blue lines and glowing symbols. With a quick motion of his hand, the view zooms out, and there they are, sitting while looking down at the whole of the city. ¡°Agh! Don''t go doing crazy things like that, lad! Dwarfs have no head for heights!¡± Cormic suddenly shouts, his hands like iron on the arms of his seat, although he never did feel anything when coming up so high. ¡°Hah. Sorry, Cormic. This is something I gained just a short while ago.¡± Edwin says, although he matches a smile with Lucien before settling back down. ¡°This place is still the study. We''re simply in a magic projection provided by Jottenhiem. Don''t worry, there''s still solid stone and carpet under your feet.¡± Edwin says then, much to Cormic''s immediate relief as he touches his booted feet to the floor. ¡°Oh lad... Scared me halfway to the voids door already.¡± Cormic mutters, pulling a little on his beard as he looks down at the city though. ¡°This is where you set up the Patrols'' headquarters, Cormic. The green outline is my plan to take several of the neighboring buildings and tearing them down to make space for a proper barracks and training grounds for the Patrol. I''ll take a couple more to enlarge the space.¡± Edwin explains to the dwarf, using his hands to outline the buildings he selects and then does away with them, growing the green-lined space, shifting the barracks a bit before pulling up a new workshop building on the new space. Like police forces back on Earth, there''s quite a bit of need for infrastructure. Workshops, armories, storage. He lines the entire Patrol with its own ten-meter tall walls and adds two fortified gates along the roadways that border the area and then a watch tower that''ll also act as a signal beacon. Cormic finally gets into it after a bit more, and starts pointing out things that Edwin didn''t realize. ¡°Alright lad. That looks like a good start. Should be able to house and train about two thousand and five hundred patrollers there.¡± Cormic says with a nod; but Edwin shakes his head and pulls the view back. ¡°No. We''re going with five thousand, Cormic.¡± Edwin says after a moments thought, before pointing out to several of the other green buildings. ¡°These are Patrol Stations I thought about earlier. Both in Upper Jottenhiem and Lower, and several spaced along the main roads out of the city gates. There''s also going to be a fairly large on at the village of Lotash. They have a bandit problem that needs to be taken care of quickly.¡± Edwin explains then, leaving Cormic a little aghast, but he quickly nods with a thoughtful look. ¡°Aye, that''d be a bit help.¡± Cormic finally says, looking them over. ¡°As much as I could I want the Patrol Stations at the squares, near as many businesses and markets as possible. Security is really bad right now.¡± Edwin says with a sigh, leaning back in his chair. He hadn''t even touched his lunch yet. Even Allisa was looking at him with a worried glance. She hadn''t said anything expect the look of surprise that happened when all of this started. But Edwin was happy simply to have her close by. ¡°Next up, the situation in Lotash...¡± Edwin goes on to explain his plans there, with the food problems, the mills, and his plans with the forest. Most of it Cormic didn''t have much to say about, but he was looking thoughtfully at the bandit symbols floating over top the forest. ¡°Hmm... Perhaps a bounty? Get more people involved and willing to do something about it, and we can sweep the forest clean pretty easily.¡± Cormic suggestions, and Edwin nods with another thoughtful look. ¡°That could work. We could also use it as a test of sorts. I want as many bandits captured alive, and those that prove themselves could be trained as Patrollers themselves.¡± Edwin says, causing Cormic to grunt; but he nods soon after. ¡°That''ll work, my lord.¡± The dwarf says, before grinning into his beard. ¡°Hm. And with convict labor, it''ll be easier and cheaper to open up the old mines or quarries nearby.¡± Edwin says with his own grin. It was a pretty good idea, so long as they can make it work. ¡°Now then, the last part of business. We''ve decided to have an experiment at this farm just outside the city walls. I''m sure you know just how bad and unused the farmland has become lately, so there''s no reason to get into that. But Lucien made the suggestion of using my Dungeoneering skills to help out there. I want to set up a patrol there as quickly as possible.¡± Edwin says, causing Cormic to grunt again. There''s a lot of work, and not enough hands to go around at this point. Edwin doesn''t go into his full plan at the farm though. ¡°Also, I''m going to station about fifty patrollers here at the Citadel, in the guards barracks. With everything going on in the city, the security here needs to be as topnotch as everywhere else.¡± Cormic takes this one with a pinch of salt and simply strokes his beard; thoughtful again with all of this. It was a lot bigger than what he was originally thinking. The previous Demon Lord had simply stationed his armies troops in the city and let them keep the peace. But Edwin wasn''t doing that. He wanted an absolutely local, loyal police force. It was a notion that wasn''t well regarded in Eternal. Too ''modern''. But Cormic''s eyes are bright, and he''s soon nodding his own head. ¡°Okay then. Now to draw up the charter. With the state of the treasury as it is, we aren''t going to be able to pay anything resembling a full wage at the moment. Instead, we''ll be setting up a kitchen and offering two full meals a day along with a minimum of pay. We''ll work out the idea of a badge and a uniform for later; but actually getting enough equipment is going to be a problem right now. Those who can bring their own arms would be a great help. Think of it as setting up a militia and getting them trained first.¡± Edwin lays down the last of the plan, and once Cormic approves he has Lucien write it up properly and notarized with several copies. Edwin signs as best he could, and so does Cormic. Once done, Lucien takes a copy and folds it neatly into a leather folder that he puts away for safe keeping. ¡°Congratulations, Cormic. Commander of the Jottenhiem Patrol.¡± Edwin says, shaking the dwarfs'' large hand, almost flinching at the tightness. ¡°I''ll serve as best I can, my Lord.¡± The dwarf actually says, choking a little on his words. It isn''t surprising. Cormic had just claimed the first appointed position in the city. By the end of the day, everyone would know it, too. The news spreads quickly, and by the time Edwin has climbed back up to his own chambers, he could see the large gathering outside of his window. He actually stops and steps out onto the balcony. The sun was bright and red, slowly sinking behind the mountains; and the city of Jottenhiem was out in mass. He could hear the cheering and could see the torch-holding citizens that''d gathered in Upper Jottenhiem. It was a party going on, and Edwin could simply chuckle. Who would have thought that the creation of a police force would actually bring about a celebration? But for people who''ve been downtrodden for so long... maybe it shouldn''t be so surprising. ¡°It is quite something, Edwin.¡± Jottenhiem''s voice comes from his chest, and Edwin can only nod. ¡°Yes. Things are going to change. They need to change.¡± Edwin says softly, although he sounds weary again after a long day. ¡°And we still have more work tomorrow.¡± -|- -|- -|- Sorry for the long wait guys! Real life kept taking my attention, but here''s Chapter 6! I hope you guys enjoy! I''m going to try to push out Chapter 7 later today as well, to make up for some lost time! I actually had to do a bit of research to work through some of these things. Its quite hard actually learning how to rule! Haha. As always, feel free to leave comments or the like! I''m not going to post updated stats this time around, because Chapter 7 is going to a big mess of them! Also I''m going to have to start writing up more Codex entries too! That''s going to be a hassle, so I''ll work on it one at a time.
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Chapter 7 - The Nature of Farming... And Women!? As always, Edwin woke up early and dressed quickly; but this time more out of embarrassment than anything. Jottenhiem started the day off with a wolf-whistle almost as soon as Edwin had rolled out of bed in nothing but a pair of shorts. If Edwin didn''t know better, he''d think that Jottenhiem was learning bad habits from someone; but given that she watches over the entire bloody city outside of the Citadel, there''s no way to tell what or who she picked it up from. ¡°I know for a fact that you''ve seen me in the nude before, Jottenhiem. So why the cat-calling?¡± He asks with a sigh, running his hand through his fine, white silky hair. For some reason he never had bed-head at all. It was definitely useful. ¡°Heh... heh. Actually, I''m not too sure myself.¡± Jottenhiem finally says after a very awkward moment of silence. But her reply only makes Edwin sigh. ¡°Okay then.¡± Edwin mutters, leaving his chambers. Because today is going to be a busy day, most of it outside of the Citadel, Edwin had chosen a set of durable workman''s-like clothing instead of the usual silk and fluffy goblets and jacket that Allisa usually picks out. It was similar to what he''d worn when he was training with Lucien, actually. Thick, comfortable boots that come half-way up to his knees; slightly baggy brown pants tucked into them; a simple white button-down shirt and a dark green vest tight over his chest with a belt. With his crimson red skin and the black horn jutting out from the center of his forehead, he was definitely eye-catching. He also had a very nice muscle tone, although Edwin doesn''t realize that himself. Just as Jottenhiem and Lucien had discussed the day before, summoned beings have rapid advancement that goes beyond what others born in Eternia could achieve. A single week of training had hardened him up and turned his previously average lanky frame into a toned one. He almost looked like a swimmer or a professional runner. But Edwin had been much too busy to see that sort of gradual change. That didn''t mean others didn''t. Especially with this mornings tight clothing on. Walking into the kitchen, Allisa and Betra were already hard at work, and Edward calls out to them. ¡°Good morning.¡± It was simply, but Betra was the first to turn around from where she was working on scrambling eggs for breakfast for everyone. She doesn''t even say anything, her eyes having gone wide, staring at Edwin. Then her face goes red from bottom to top; and Edwin could almost imagine the steam coming out of her ears. Betra almost faints before Allisa snaps her out of it. ¡°Betra, the eggs are burning!¡± It was a life-saving line for a previously professional chief, and Betra snaps out of it, stammering an apology as she turns back to try to salvage the eggs with a face almost as red as Edwin''s. Edwin, of course, was rather stunned; but shakes it off and takes a seat at the table that''s set up. ¡°What was that about, Allisa?¡± Edwin asks when the blue woman comes over to him, and Allisa huffs for a moment, thinking that Edwin was being rude. But after a look at Edwin''s confused face, she lets out a sigh. ¡°There''s a reason why I take to setting out baggy clothing for you, my lord. You should look at yourself in a mirror every now and again...¡± The Blue Elf woman mutters, although her own gaze is as far from Edwin as possible. But she''s still blushing herself. ¡°Eh? Is something strange?¡± Edwin asks, looking down at himself. Yep, still totally dense when it comes to women. ¡°Oh well. Allisa, I need you to pack up for a picnic today. We''re going out to the farms.¡± Edwin finally says, much to Allisa''s hidden relief. She knew something of Edwin''s plans, so she nods. ¡°A picnic, huh? Sounds like fun!¡± Yep, the woman was definitely the same as always. Maybe Edwin did have bed-head that morning or something? Edwin smiles and nods, waving Allisa away once his meal arrives; thankfully without any burnt eggs. Lucien doesn''t appear until Edwin has almost finished, but he figured that might happen. There''s a lot of work to do today, after all. ¡°The carriage is waiting, my lord. I''ve also sent notice to the farm, but without enough time to get a reply, I''m not sure if they''ll get it in time.¡± Lucien says, politely as ever. But by now Edwin is use to that. ¡°That''s fine. I have Allisa fixing up our lunch, and she''s coming with us.¡± Edwin says, nodding to where Allisa already has several baskets to go and is carefully packing a fourth one. It was quite a bit of food; but with Betra doing most of the actual kitchen work, it was quickly done. ¡°Very well.¡± Lucien says, his eyes softening for a moment before he snaps his attention back to Edwin. ¡°Before we leave though, there is something to tell you.¡± Lucien says with a soft sigh, pulling out a rather large bundle of letters from his coat. With a -thump-, he drops them on the table, and Edwin realizes they''re so tightly bound they''re like a brick. Heavy. ¡°These have been arriving ever since last night. Letters of thanks, mostly. Signing the Jottenhiem Patrol charter made everyone happy. We''ve also been getting applications for those who want to join up, but I''ve forwarded them to Cormic.¡± Lucien says, before stopping, letting out another slight sigh himself. ¡°And... a total of four hundred and sixty three letters asking for you.¡± Lucien finally says, but that only caused Edwin to look at the old man blankly. ¡°For me?... As in proposals?¡± Edwin finally asks, making both himself and Lucien flinch at the words. Across the kitchen, Allisa gives something of a screech and one of the dishes she was holding crashes to the floor, shattering. ¡°Ah! Not another one!¡± Allisa yells, her face once more going red. At least between her and Betra, they get the floor cleaned up again, but Edwin frowns. Marriage or the like wasn''t one of the things he''d been thinking of. Even back on Earth, it wasn''t anything he was really interested in. Having a woman? Sure. Dating? Yes. But marriage? No. He was too much of a workaholic for that. ¡°For the moment, put them away, Lucien. There''s still too much to do. I am not getting married any time soon.¡± Edwin finally says, much to not only Lucien''s relief, but Allisa''s as well; although Edwin doesn''t hear her sigh from across the room. ¡°Very well, my lord. It wasn''t uncommon for the previous Demon Lords to get such letters, either. Many of them took to burning them.¡± Lucien says, but Edwin can only shake his head. He doesn''t have any plans on burning them. At least not until they''re piled in a mountain. Finally though, Allisa is all set, and the three of them make their way out of the Citadel and into the carriage, with Allisa facing Edwin from the front bench. But she keeps her gaze adverted as much as possible, even though they have a bit of a chat about this or that. It was a bit awkward, but Edwin ignores that part of it. It was nice to simply talk to Allisa. The light smile on his lips as he does so makes Allisa all the more dere, stealing glances at him and looking away almost as quickly. Yep, he totally has no clue on what to do with women. Not that there wasn''t a lot to see outside of the carriages window, either. Everyone could now recognize the black, unadorned carriage that rolled out of the Citadel; especially with the crest of the Demon Lord having been engraved into the sides of the carriage after Edwin''s fight for the city. So the streets are lined with people wanting to see him, or simply gawking. Once the carriage passes through Upper Jottenhiem and into the lower city slums, the crowd actually follows and cheers! It wasn''t anything Edwin was expecting. Hell, he didn''t know what the townspeople were expecting, either. Many thought he was going to open a new dungeon, actually. Others thought he was going to start rebuilding Lower Jottenhiem. No one really knew what was going on though, but they all had expectations. And they were surprised when the carriage keeps rolling, all the way out of the city gates and into the desolate farmlands beyond. Not that it stops the people from following. It was becoming another bloody circus. Thankfully the carriage moves faster than the crowds, so by the time they arrive at the farm; rolling to a stop with the soft neighing of the horses. Allisa opens the door and jumps down, bowing for Edwin to do so as well before Lucien pulls the carriage around and finds a nice place to park it and deals with the horses. Edwin though takes the chance to look around, sighing at the broken fences and untilled lands. The few crops he can see are miserly and few and far between. Its obvious that vandals hadn''t left much of anything growing. The farmhouse itself was a two story wooden building, with most of its ground floor windows boarded up. The small stable and barn out back is empty as well. Part of the well had been broken. In short, it was a mess. But Edwin strides toward the front door and knocks. He gets no response though. So he knocks again, louder than before. ¡°WHAT IS IT?! Can''t you read the sign! No trespassing!¡± A voice suddenly booms from inside, forcing even Edwin to take a step back before shaking his head. ¡°I''m Edwin Cast, here to speak with the owner of this farm. A note should have arrived earlier.¡± Edwin calls back, a frown crossing his lips. ¡°EH?!¡± Is the reply from inside, and after a moment of hearing nothing but the jiggle of several locks and bolts and chains, the door finally cracks open. Edwin cannot see who it is that''s looking at him though. But he''s definitely distinctive enough to recognize, so he isn''t worried about his presence being denied. ¡°Wow, you really are the Crimson Demon!¡± The door is suddenly flung open, and out steps a... snake. Rather, a snake-woman slithers out. A lamia, her brown scales with black markings easily put her in the Earth Lamia clan. But its her upper body that catches most of Edwin''s attention. She looks young. Really young. If the girl had been human, she would have been thought of as a young teen or a child. Brown hair, blue yes, a cute face; she had some nice curves; but her breasts were only slightly pert. Dressed in a light leather blouse with a sash belted around her waist; where her human torso is joined to the snakes tail. She''s cute though. Very cute. Edwin has to cough for a moment and nods his head. ¡°I''ve been called that, yes. I''m the Demon Lord, Edwin Cast.¡± He announces again, this time with a proper introduction, along with a slight bow. ¡°Oh ho! Nice to meet ya, my lord! I only received your note about half an hour ago, so I didn''t expect you to arrive so quickly!¡± The girl says, as flamboyant as always, although she''s smiling herself. ¡°I''m Cernette Slitheriene. I own this barren wasteland called a farm here.¡± The woman finally says, motioning around them. ¡°Your note was rather vague though, and spoke only of wanting to ''experiment''. So what is it you want here, my lord?¡± Cernette gets right down to business, her tone turning shrewd. Edwin could appreciate that, and nods his head. ¡°Right. I''m here to learn how to farm.¡± He says, although he actually chuckles a little. ¡°More specifically, I''m here to train my skills while learning to farm, ranching, and anything else that may be available. In return, I''ll be making sure there is no more vandalism to the fields. There will also be patrols coming along to keep things from going bad again.¡± Edwin explains. Cernette actually has a pokerface that could go against Lucien''s at any time, but she''s soon smiling and nods her head. ¡°That works for me! This dust bowl needs some major work, and its been really hard since the farmhands all ran off! So lets see what you can do, my lord.¡± Cernette agrees quite readily, and for a moment Edwin feels a shiver down his spine. He isn''t sure if that''s a good thing. Still, there''s nothing else for it, so he nods. Its only then that he realizes that the crowd from the city is about to catch up with them. Crap. ¡°We need to do this quickly, Cernette. Take me to the nearby field.¡± Edwin says, glancing over his shoulder. The dust the crowd is pushing up is more than easy to see, and Cernette barely glances at it before nodding. Otherwise the entire field would be overrun. ¡°Lucien, send word to Cormic to get some of his men down here, fast.¡± Edwin calls, and Lucien quickly nods and pulls Allisa back to him. It wouldn''t be good to get trapped out here without any reinforcements. But Edwin quickly turns and follows along with Cernette, who is surprisingly fast with her slithering across the ground. She also has a rather nice... ahem. Edwin shakes that thought from his head and soon enough he''s out in the middle of a barren field, looking around. He quickly activates Crystal Vision and takes another glance around, measuring the proper distances and the like before starting to gather up his mana. ¡°I''m going to activate my Dungeoneering skill here, Cernette. It''ll keep everyone else out.¡± He explains, making the lamia-woman blink before nodding. She''d heard of his fight just the other day, and how it had blocked everyone entering or leaving. This time though he''s going with the maximum size he can generate, two thousand square feet, in a perfect cube. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Dungeoneering!¡± He yells as he presses his hand into the ground. Just like before, the space goes white around them, and then the blue outlines of magic track quickly across the land. They''re close enough that even Cernette''s home, the stable, barn, well and other outhouses are caught in it as well. Its a good way of offering Cernette his protection while this ''experiment'' is going on. Cernette though is watching it all unfold with an amazed look on her face. Thankfully the skill finishes before the crowds arrive, pressing up against the now darkened, almost opaque sides. The only part that isn''t covered as such is the ''ceiling'', allowing unfiltered sunlight to stream down on them. ¡°That''s rather... impressive, my lord.¡± Cernette says after a moment, reaching down to touch the unblemished soil. Edwin nods and lets out a sigh of relief. They cannot even hear the cries outside. ¡°Yes. With me at the center point, the dungeon space is two thousand square feet, so it extends both above and below ground. I''ve set it so water and sunlight and air can flow naturally, but no one else can enter.¡± He says, quite pleased with himself. It was the shortest time yet in activating it. A good sign. It also took less mana than before. ¡°Sadly this is the only one I can make right now with my limited skill. Otherwise I''d have set them up over the other farms and gone large.¡± Edwin says with a mutter, but soon enough Cernette snaps him back to reality. ¡°Heh. No worries, my lord! With this, I can finally come out and work! You too, my lord! No slacking off!¡± The woman was really into it, and soon enough she''d rushed to a shed and returns with several farming tools, passing Edwin a couple of them. After that, its time to work and to learn. How to till the soil; how to set up drainage and irrigation; how to remove the rocks that seem to appear out of nowhere. They work on a patch near the farmhouse, and soon enough Edwin''s muscles are screaming at him and he''s covered in sweat. As the sun gets higher and the day gets warmer, he sweats more and more, as well. Lucien and Allisa also arrive before noon, along with Cormic and several of his men, who press into the crowd and push them back a bit. Cormic, Lucien, and Allisa are allowed to pass through the Absolute Domain with the carriage; and the three of them start chatting while Edwin works. Every now and again Allisa would bring Edwin something to drink, and he''d smile and accept it before getting right back to work. By the time his shirt and vest are completely sweat-soaked, he grumbles and pulls the clothing off, folding them over a clothesline and goes bare chested back to work. This, of course, causes Allisa and Cernette to blush rather lividly; but Edwin ignores them and keeps up with his work. His muscles bulge with every motion he takes with the hoe, and just before they stop for lunch, Edwin hears that familiar sound. *DING*
Farming Skill has been learned!
The farming skill increases the quality of goods that are planted or harvested. It decreases the time required to grow a plant. It decreases the water required for a plant to grow. It offers resistance to most forms of pests or crop blights. At higher skill levels, Farming allows the creation of unique plants or variants. Farming sub-skills also enhance the effect of Farming.
You have gained bonus Stats!
+ 5 Strength +5 Constitution +2 Intelligence
For learning an Earth-based skill, you have gained more Earth Affinity
Earth Affinity +10
A new effect of Earth''s Blessing has been unlocked!
All crops grown by the user will have increased vitality and will grow faster. The Earth has blessed the endeavors of the user, and higher Earth Affinity will increase this bonus. +20% Faster Growing Speed. +20% Chance of Crop Germination. +20% Chance of receiving extra seeds upon harvest. +20% Higher crop quality.
It was what Edwin had been waiting for, and he grins as he sets down the hoe, wiping off his sweat-covered brow. Cernette comes over only a minute later, nodding her head. ¡°Looks like you have a knack for this, my lord! I am quite surprised!¡± Cernette says, smiling and even laughing a bit. ¡°Lets go have lunch and then we''ll actually start planting something! I want to see just how far you can go!¡± The woman is definitely excited, and Edwin nods his head with his own slight smile. Its hard work, and his body is already sore and stiff; but its still kinda nice, all the same. Growing things is rewarding, after all. So he walks over to where Lucien and Allisa are, and they break out the picnic supplies that Allisa had packed. Allisa keeps her gaze adverted from Edwin all over again though, but by now Edwin doesn''t think anything about it. She''d been staring at him almost the entire time he was working, after all. ¡°Oi, lad, I never thought you''d be one to come out and work the fields yourself.¡± Cormic is also cheerful, although he keeps getting messengers that are running back and forth from here back to the new Patrol headquarters. ¡°Its part of the plan to get me trained, Cormic. These skills will come in handy, and I get to train my Dungeoneering skills as well.¡± He says, taking a seat right on the ground. The crowd outside had thinned somewhat over the hours, but there were still hundreds, if not thousands of people outside of his domain. They were watching everything and talking amongst themselves. Just like at the fight, several vendors had set up shop along the road and were selling food and beverages while the Patrollers walk back and forth, keeping an eye on everything. ¡°That''s true, lad! Bloody ingenious, setting up a dungeon here to keep people out.¡± Cormic says with a nod and a gruff laugh. ¡°You can thank Lucien for the idea. He got it from how I used the skills during my fight.¡± Edwin says, shrugging the comment off while Allisa is pulling out plates and food. Soon enough the entire group is munching through a nice lunch of sandwiches and salad. ¡°Oh, Cernette, do you know what the Earth''s Blessing is?¡± Edwin asks about halfway through the meal, finally remembering the information he''d gotten when the Farming skill had been gained. He''d gained the Blessing after his fight, but he still didn''t know what it was. ¡°Earth''s Blessing?! You have something like that?!¡± Cernette though was surprised, and even drops her sandwich; though thankfully it lands on the plate and not the bare earth. Edwin is surprised at her outburst, but nods. ¡°Yeah. I got it after fighting that Rock Demon, Krash before. No information came up with it though, so I don''t know what it means. When I got the farming skill, it gained some effects, like increased growth rate and the like.¡± Edwin says, while Lucien and Allisa share a glance while Cernette goes all silent. ¡°Eh... Blessings are favors granted by elemental spirits. Unlike gods, spirits are part of the natural order of the world, and thus are mostly invisible. Just like magic, there''s a spirit that deals with every element. The earth deals with growing things, the earth itself. The closer the person is to that element, the stronger the Blessing becomes. Its as if you''d caught the attention of the spirit directly, and it assists in whatever you do with that element.¡± Cernette says after a moment, although she gives a bit of a sigh. ¡°The Earth''s Blessing is something all farmers aspire to. It greatly helps in almost every aspect of what we do.¡± Cernette says then, although she''s sounding a bit depressed and more than touch jealous. Edwin doesn''t know what to say to that. ¡°At this point, almost all of my skills are earth-based. Dungeoneering and its sub-skills are all like that. But I also have a rather high Earth Affinity now, too.¡± Edwin admits. With the new points he just gained, he has 110 points of Earth Affinity all together. From what he can figure, every 50 points gives him a 10% bonus to the Earth''s Blessing effects. That thought actually brings something else to mind. ¡°Does the Earth''s Blessing also work with the Mining skill?¡± He asks out loud, and the group around him look at each other before shrugging. ¡°Its possible. Mining is a bit harder than farming though, lad.¡± Cormic is the one to respond, given that he is a dwarf. Most dwarves tend to have something to do with mining, after all. Even Cormic had, before he came to the surface. Edwin simply nods and they hurry up and finish their lunch. Cernette seems to be a bit down though, but once they get back to work she perks back up and goes on to explain how to actually plant seeds, how to properly water them, and various other things. By the time the sun starts to drop downward in the evening, Edwin had learned just about everything he could. But Cernette wasn''t quite done with him yet. In fact, she makes him wait as she rushes back into her house and returns with a book. Another Skill Book, in fact. ¡°Here, my lord. I was holding onto this for any kids I might have, but I think you should take it instead.¡± Cernette says, blushing at the word ''kids'', but Edwin smiles and takes the book. ¡°Thank you, Cernette.¡± He says gently, causing the lamia to blush all over again. Edwin checks out the book then. ''The Earth''s Bounty, Identifying Plants and Seeds''. Whoah, that is useful! Edwin grins and suddenly hugs Cernette against his bare chest. The woman gives a short yell, but soon blushes and tries to laugh it off when Edwin finally releases her. ¡°Thank you again, Cernette.¡± *DING*
By recognizing someone with exceptional Earth-based skills, the Earth''s Blessing has been granted to the recipient.
Cernette Slitheriene has earned the Earth''s Blessing.
Cernette Slitheriene has gained Earth Affinity +50
By sharing the Earth''s Blessing, you have gained new Earth Affinity
Earth Affinity +50
This time the status screen pops up between the two of them, and both blink for a moment before Cernette yells and starts curling around and around on her tail. ¡°I got the Earth''s Blessing!!!¡± The woman really is excited, while Edwin only grins. Checking the Earth''s Blessing effects, he can tell that his idea was correct. Now all of bonuses have risen to 30%. That''s a really nice bonus. But Cernette wasn''t done, and suddenly she''s rushing right at Edwin, who''s too surprised to do anything but let the lamia curl around her. But the kiss she gives him is definitely nice. And hot. He almost feels as if his back is melting; but with her snake tail wrapped around him, he doesn''t drop flat on his ass. ¡°Hehe. Thank you, my lord.¡± The woman says after pulling back, grinning and blushing at the same time. Behind them though Allisa lets out a scream, and the women in the crowd beyond Edwin''s domain does the same. Oops. Edwin is afraid to even look back right then. Cernette only grins and lets Edwin go. ¡°Feel free to come again, my lord. I''ll treat you to something nice.¡± Cernette had definitely just stolen a pass, and Allisa is not about to forget it! Even Edwin can feel the woman''s anger from all the way over here. If he wasn''t already covered in sweat, he''d have broken out in a sheet of it. As it is, he can only give a slight stiff smile before letting out a sigh. Why do women have to be so complicated? -|- -|- -|- Here''s Chapter 7! I hope you guys enjoy it! Once again, feel free to leave comments! Jottenhiem didn''t have much involving her this time, but she was definitely there and saw it all! Edwin is going to be getting it from both of them before the night is over! Hahaha. Chapter 8 is going to be a bit more involved with more skills to learn, too! I''m going to put off posting the updated stat tables just yet. Its a lot of work to get them straight, and I''m in the mood to write more before updating them! Also, I want to know what sort of woman should be suggested next? Mining and smithing are next up on my plans, so suggestions about race and whatnot would be useful!
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Chapter 8 - A Mine Solution (Master of Dungeons has reached 100 pages! Its a great milestone for me!) In a flash an entire week had gone by. It had been a busy time, and there never seemed to be enough time in the day to go around for just about everyone involved with Edwin''s plans. To start with, Cormic''s newly minted Patrol was officially opened, and already the buildings picked out for demolition were being torn down. Carting away the rubble and picking out what could later be re-used was actually an excellent method of physical training, so its no surprise that Cormic had his new recruits out there doing it for hours at a time. It also cut down on the costs, which was a great help to Edwin. Secondly, the Commerce Guild was up for final approval. Edwin had spent more than a few headachy hours mediating over that. To start with, Edwin wants to do away with the current currency. Not literally, of course; but the names were atrocious. Its easy enough to understand that the Demon''s don''t want to use the same ''gold, silver, coppers'' of the Human lands, but it made no sense not to do so. It was one of the things that the Adventurer''s Guild actually agreed about. In terms of the actual minted coins, the amount of gold and silver in the better coins wasn''t that far off from each other to begin with. Forcing adventurers and merchants to exchange them for the demon currency under different names was actually a detriment. So Edwin had given them an ultimatum. Change the names, or do without any oversight over the treasury at all. It was an underhanded way to go about it, but it works. None of the guilds'' being folded into the Commerce Guild wants Edwin to have any more power than he already has. Not that they''d even try to stop him. It was already too late for that. But hashing out all the details for the new Commerce Guild was painfully time consuming. Thankfully Edwin had some help from some surprising places. The estates of all of the nobles that Edwin had done away with were finally audited, and it turned out to be a pretty big haul. Hundreds of thousands worth of golds in valuables and stockpiled resources. Precious metals, gems, antiques, treasures. You name it. And books, journals; and they even managed to find Lord Gallon''s hidden stash. Notes and records going back decades; with detailed information on all of his rival nobles as well as the wealthier merchants and guild leaders. It was an intelligence treasure trove. Edwin even picked up his own efforts in learning the language so we could actually read them himself. It was slow going, but at least he could -read- at this point. Like a child; but it was better than nothing. But the biggest surprise was from the families of the nobles that had accepted Edwin''s offer to stay in the Citadel. Most of the younger kids were great, and Edwin actually smiles at the sound of laughter as the kids played around the large place. At first the widows and distant family members of the nobles had been cold; but with everything going on they got to see Edwin in action and their expressions and demeanors changed bit by bit. Especially after Cormic finally got around to escorting them through the shanty-town of Lower Jottenhiem. The conditions there are horrible, and more than one ''lady'' had to be carried back to the Citadel after fainting. It was that bad. So several of them decided to pitch in. Advise, lectures, information. Several of them had been married for their advisor-like demeanors; and it was easy for Edwin to see why. Even if some of them were just a bit too forward with their interests. It made Edwin break out in a cold sweat down his back just thinking about it. Too many women were after him. And it didn''t matter how many times he said ''no''. More than one nobles'' daughter had been offered to him too. Then there was the issue of the farm. Every afternoon Edwin would ride the carriage down to the aptly named ''dungeon farm'' and work on his own bit of field. As the week had gone by, volunteers had come forward wishing to work, and with Cernette''s approval they were allowed into the Dungeoneering barrier to do so. It was really quite amazing what almost four hundred people could do. The fences were mended, the outbuildings, stable, and barn almost rebuilt from the ground up. The well was repaired. The fields were tilled and fresh crops were already sprouting. It was rather glorious. Edwin''s own part of it was well into middle growth as well. His Earth''s Blessing bonuses were working miracles. Cernette''s wasn''t that far behind either. She probably had even greater Earth affinity than Edwin did. With his constant work, his farming skills had also greatly improved. The sub-skills of Tilling, Watering, Planting, Growing and Harvesting were already levels 7 or 8, while the main skill, Farming, was 9, almost reaching the next skill rank. Not to mention the Identify (Plants) skill. He made sure to use it all the time. Seeds, growing plants, even weeds along the roadway. It was already level 5 itself. He could even identify trees, shrubs, bushes and other things with it now, as well. His stats had also increased with the constant repetitive labor. His Strength and Constitution were up 12 points each, while his Wisdom was up 8 points. Intelligence was raised due to the Identify skill by 6 points. All told, it was a nice bonus on top of everything else. But his time for farming was coming to an end. There was still too much to do. Cernette actually pouted when he told her that he''d be moving on once his first harvest was in. But she understood. Edwin had to push her away to keep her from coiling about him again. She was also rather aggressively forward. But he couldn''t deal with the daggers stared into his back by Allisa every time Cernette tried to kiss him. That was one of the things he''d been forced to recognize as well. As his stats go up, his body grows and changes. He becomes more muscular, gaining hard edges and overall mass. His previous clothing no longer fit, for that matter. It was all too tight around his chest now. And the women seemed to love it. Even his most baggy clothing felt tight and showed off every rippling muscle while he worked. He often took his shirt off due to sweating, and he''d stop only to find that everyone was looking at his red skin. Covered in a sheen of sweat, it was like he''d been oiled up like some Roman gladiator from his old world. Lucien only laughed when Edwin complained to him about it. But there was no helping it. There wasn''t anything they could do about it. Its like Edwin was a teenager coming into a growth period. The cost in mending or producing more clothing for him was bad. Edwin just had to deal with it. But after being hit over the head with the fact that more than one woman was after his favors, he had to deal with that too, on top of everything. Even Jottenhiem had started making comments about his physique. It was more than a tad embarrassing. Two days later, his crops were ready for harvest, and everyone who''d started working the farm had gathered around to watch him. It was easy to pick the crops though, and soon enough several large baskets had been filled with everything from potatoes to carrots, onions and beans, and some very large sweet cabbage. The biggest haul came from the red peppers he''d planted first. Those were bloody huge, and there were hundreds of them on the vines. The tomatoes were almost as big! Each of them was full and ripe and a glorious red color almost as deep as Edwin''s skin. After Cernette tries them out, a very satisfied smile crosses her juice-covered lips. ¡°They''re good to go, my lord!¡± She announces, to the applause and cheers of the other farmers. The quality of them were great too. They''d pick a very nice price in the markets. Edwin grins and cheers with the rest of them. ¡°Thanks for the space, Cernette.¡± Edwin says after the others finally broke up to continue their own work, leaving only him and the lamia together. ¡°No problem, my lord! Whenever you want to give it another go, I''ll be here!¡± Cernette says with a grin of her own, thumping her chest with one of her hands. Even the tip of her tail was flicking back and forth in excitement. Edwin simply chuckles and shakes his head. ¡°I''m sorry to disappoint you, but I''ll probably start a garden up at the Citadel. But I am going to leave this dungeon zone up for a while longer. I doubt I''ll need it at my next job.¡± He says, starting to stretch his body. He wasn''t use to standing in one place anymore. Constantly being bent over while working had limbered him up quite a bit. ¡°Eeeh?! Well, alright then.¡± Cernette says with a slight pout on her lips. Edwin flashes her a grin and straightens up again. ¡°Why don''t you come and visit sometime? Never know, I may hire you as my personal gardener.¡± Edwin says, his tone obviously teasing; although Cernette actually blushes. Like any position at the Citadel, it was a high ranking job. There are actually quite a few run-down gardens in the Citadel''s various courtyards. At the moment they''re full of weeds and overgrown trees and not much else. ¡°I might just do that...¡± Cernette finally says, although her voice isn''t much more than a mutter. Edwin doesn''t catch it at all. ¡°Anyway, why don''t you keep this harvest, Cernette? With the quality, you''ll fetch a good price and it''ll help get you back on your feet here. Might actually be able to start paying these people something.¡± Edwin says then, motioning to the others working the farm. Being volunteers, they were out here day after day, but none of them were being paid. Edwin had set up a kitchen tent and was paying for their meals; but proper workers need a regular pay to survive. Cernette looks like she''s about to argue; but after a moment simply nods. ¡°Alright, my lord. I''ll look into doing that. Some of them are quite good, after all.¡± She finally admits. The woman already has plans. After meeting Edwin, she no longer wants to stay around here and farm on her own anymore. If they can bring in a good enough harvest for the rest of the crops, she''s going to assign the farm to others and become a manager. Edwin doesn''t know that though, and simply nods with a slight smile. ¡°Hopefully I''ll see you soon, Cernette.¡± Edwin says, turning to wave over to Lucien who was waiting with the carriage and the horses. Edwin was looking forward to a bath and a half-day of rest before starting his next project tomorrow. ¡°You will, my lord!¡± Cernette calls as Edwin is climbing into the carriage. He turns and waves bye and then they''re off. ¡°Definitely! I''ll do just that! Hehe!¡± Cernette is speaking to herself while she watches Edwin disappear back into the city. -|- -|- -|- Edwin, on the other hand, doesn''t get any real chance to rest. Almost as soon as he and Lucien arrive back in the Citadel, a messenger shows up from Cormic stating that the first batch of bandits were being carted up there. It seems the bounty had worked rather well in Lotash. Nearly three dozen bandits had already been captured, most of them with only light wounds. It was a good haul, and Edwin is quite pleased. But that changes almost as soon as the carts pull up in Citadel, along with the Patrollers set to guard them. And some of the more exemplary bounty hunters that had been involved. While the prisoners were being offloaded, Jottenhiem''s worried voice whispers to Edwin. ¡°Edwin... Some of them are not bandits...¡± Edwin is surprised, and after a moment of stillness activates his Crystal Vision. It was true. Jottenhiem had already marked those who were bandits, each one with a crossed-swords icon floating above their head. But the others had an odd shackled icon instead. With a thought, Edwin realizes what it means. They were slaves. Villagers or travelers who''d been captured! Edwin''s glowing eyes almost go red at the sight. He does clench his fists tightly enough that his knuckles pop. It seems some of those bounty hunters were willing to use such unscrupulous methods in order to line their own pockets. ¡°Lucien, go and fetch Cormic as quickly as possible. We have a problem.¡± Edwin calls, his tone hard and as cold as Lucien had ever heard it. Lucien simply salutes and starts off to the stables. Within moments, the old man is riding a horse nearly full-steam down into the city to fetch the Patrol Commander. ¡°Keep the prisoners here.¡± Edwin instructs the Patrollers who were getting ready to lead the mass of people into the cells below the guard barracks. His words surprise them, but they salute and instead start lining the prisoners up in several rows. Edwin is seething, and not even breathing deeply is able to calm him as it usually does. But he does eventually start to calm down, looking over the prisoners. The bandits were all men, most of them in their middle ages. Strong backs, wide shoulders. Their faces are gruff and some of them had the cold glint in their eyes that say they relish the pain of others. Others were simply plain, desperate enough to turn to banditry in order to survive. It takes only about ten minutes for Lucien to come back, with Cormic on his own shorter, stouter pony. Its obvious the dwarf doesn''t care to ride; but Edwin''s call was important. ¡°What is it, lad?¡± The dwarf asks, almost as soon as he''d jumped off of his horse. Edwin motions both the Commander and Lucien aside and tells them what he''s found. ¡°About a third of those ''bandits'' are villagers who were kidnapped.¡± Edwin says shortly, making both Cormic and Lucien flinch at his tone. They glance at each other and nods. ¡°Oh stones...¡± Cormic even mutters a curse. They aren''t able to say anything else before Edwin turns around and marches toward the awaiting group, stopping in front of the rows of prisoners and their patroller guards and the bounty hunters. ¡°Patrollers, take the bounty hunters into custody.¡± Edwin calls, and with a quick nod from Cormic, their various weapons are drawn and the bounty hunters are surrounded. ¡°It was foolish to expect you could take villagers and others as prisoners in order to line your own pockets.¡± Edwin calls out, seething all over again. Most of the prisoners are surprised, but those who Edwin was talking about looked up with sudden hope in their eyes. ¡°You, step over here.¡± Edwin says then, pointing to an older woman in the front row. Her clothing was tattered and there was a large bruise on her face. He motions to a spot beside him, and then starts pointing out the other villagers, separating them from the bandits. Each of them showed signs of a scuffle. Unlike the bandits, they didn''t have any signs of being attacked by weapons though. Only fits or blunt weapons. ¡°Each of the bounty hunters brought you?¡± Edwin finally asks when they were all called forth. Two of the hunters were pointed out, and Edwin nods and has the guards cuff them after disarming them. Their possessions were taken, and Lucien notes down their names; along with those of the bandits. ¡°It seems you will have a bit of company to keep. Now then, here''s the deal. You prisoners will not be jailed. Instead, you will sent to one of the nearby mines to work. If you work well, you will be released after six months to a year on probation. You will make a fifth of the wage the regular miners will have; but you will be given proper meals. If you have families, your wages will be sent them; otherwise you''ll be able to collect the full amount upon release.¡± Edwin starts detailing the plan to them. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Several of the bandits hang their heads; but quite a few are glaring at him. Edwin only gives a cheeky grin in response. ¡°You two bounty hunters will be joining them. Except you will be held for two full years, and then you may plead for your case for release.¡± His words shock the two of them, and one starts to shout. One of the Patrollers clout the man over the head with a short wooden rod, knocking the hunter on the ground. ¡°Any other bounty hunter that does the same will share the same fate. Pass the word.¡± Edwin says, glancing at Cormic who nods with his own frowning face. Done with the prisoners, he turns to the villagers who had been taken against their will. ¡°Free them.¡± Edwin says, much to their relief. ¡°Thank you, my lord. We''re all villagers or refugees from Lotash who got separated in the forest and captured.¡± One of the men says, glancing to the others around him. ¡°The patrol will cart you guys back. Once the rest of the bandits have been captured and the forest cleared, there will be new work set up in Lotash.¡± Edwin says, finally relaxing as the Patrollers move along this group, unlocking their shackles. In his sight, the icons disappear one at a time as the chains fall off. ¡°Also, spread the word that farm and mining work is starting up here in Jottenhiem again. Volunteers are welcome, and once things are going they''ll be paid. All workers will also be fed daily until then.¡± Edwin says, and a ragged cheer goes up. Amongst the refugees, there is little chance to find work. Most of them have to forage for food daily in order to survive. Not being paid is only a minor concern, given that Edwin is offering to feed them for working. ¡°Quarrymen, blacksmiths, and other craftspeople should also come forward. Tell them to report here to the Citadel and we''ll find them as much work as we can.¡± Edwin then says, and even he cannot help but smile at the cheer that comes from that as well. ¡°Lucien, please have Allisa start preparing a meal for these people. Anyone who can do kitchen work can go and help, then we''ll send them on their way.¡± Lucien nods and salutes again, although there''s a slight smile on his face as he quickly leaves. Turning to Cormic though, its obvious the dwarf is still in a sour mood. ¡°Its alright Cormic, none of us caught that until they were here in front of me.¡± Edwin says, clasping the short man on one of his broad shoulders. ¡°Aye, lad. But this is an issue we should have considered. The hunters are likely as desperate as anyone else.¡± Cormic says, his gruff tone cold. ¡°That''s true, but I''ll be here to inspect every prisoner as they show up.¡± Edwin says, promising the man that. For a moment Cormic simply looks at him, then nods. ¡°Fair enough, my lord. I''ll get back to the Patrol and make sure the word is spread. I''ll personally beat the next bastard who tries to use others in such a manner.¡± The dwarf says, clenching his fists before saluting himself. This time he rides out on his pony much more willingly. It seems that Cormic has a streak for justice a mile wide. The thought actually brings out a slight grin for Edwin. But he shakes his head and gets back to business. ¡°Take the prisoners to the western mine. Another group of Patrollers have already set up the prisoner camp.¡± Edwin commands, being saluted in return. By the end of the day, he''d get the message that the two hunters had been beaten by several of the prisoners, but they were all put to work under guard. To Edwin, it just meant that justice had been done. The villagers were fed and then sent home with their own messages. By the next morning, a crowd had already gathered outside the Citadel, and Lucien reports that several even larger bands of refugees were making their way to Jottenhiem. People wanted to work and to eat. Edwin nods over his own breakfast in the kitchens. After a couple of minutes a thought, he thinks of a plan. ¡°Alright, Lucien. Have the volunteers separated out by trade. Send the farmers and ranchers to Mistress Cernette''s place. Send her a note telling her to use who she can and open up one of the unowned fields. Tell her to focus on flax and cotton there. Also tell her that we will be buying up all the produce she can produce as quickly as she can produce it. ¡°Also tell her to buy sheep and goats and set up a pasture as quickly as possible. We need weaving materials now too.¡± Edwin instructs, and Lucien notes it all down as quickly as possible. ¡°Next, the miners will be going with me to the western mine. Send the quarrymen to the closest quarry. Also ask the volunteers for cooks to go with them and set up a supply camp there. We don''t have enough Patrollers yet to set up a soup kitchen there yet. Also ask for those with fighting experience to act as unofficial guards for the quarry and the farm. Send the blacksmiths to the mine as well.¡± Edwin pauses for a moment to take a quick drink, his mind rolling over everything else. ¡°Oh, and post a message board here in the front courtyard, just beside the gates. Have the guards here tell the new volunteers to check the board for the job postings as I just instructed.¡± Edwin says then, nodding his head. After that, he cannot think of anything else, and Lucien doesn''t seem to have any ideas either. Together though, Edwin was tempted to call all of these people the ''Jottenhiem Volunteer Army''. The thought almost brings out a chuckle. But then he thinks of something else and curses. ¡°Builders! Damn. Post a notice for builders and architects as well. We need worker barracks at both the quarry and the mine. That''s a priority, and have them use what they can quickly gather from the quarry to do it. Its fine if its a little ratty to start; we can always tear them down and build them again later with proper stone.¡± Edwin says then, causing Lucien to blink before nodding, writing out the new order. With that thought, Edwin activates his Crystal Vision, and looks around at the position of the mine he''d picked out and the quarry on the other side of the city. There''s a small wooded area near the quarry, and after examining it Edwin nods to himself. ¡°Send the woodcutters and carpenters to the woods south of the quarry. Have them clear-cut the woods, and gather everything they can. It looks mostly like new growth, but we''ll need a large amount of firewood and timber anyway. It''ll work for now. Send hunters with them to collect any game they can. We''ll use the meat at the camps.¡± It was getting more and more complex, but Edwin was trying to settle as many issues as he can at a time. After that though, he cannot think of anything else, and quickly finishes up his own breakfast, already late. Once he walks out into the courtyard though, its already plain to see that his orders had been carried out. A brand new notice board had been hammered into the ground, and the volunteers were talking excitedly after reading the notices. They were separating out by ground, and then heading out almost as quickly as new volunteers were showing up. And not just from the refugees at Lotash either. As word spread of work, hundreds of people were showing up from Lower Jottenhiem too. The Patroller-Guards stationed in the Citadel were a bit worried at the crowd, but Edwin can only smile at the excitement going on around him. ¡°Which group is heading to the mine?¡± Edwin soon calls out to the crowd, and the silence that falls makes it easy enough to hear a pen drop. ¡°We are, my lord.¡± A man speaks up after a moment, motioning to himself and several other guys. Some of them are not much older than teens; but many are in their middle ages, and probably have families of their own. Edwin nods and walks down to join them. ¡°We''ll go together then.¡± Edwin announces, unable to help himself from laughing at the looks on their faces. ¡°Come now, it isn''t that surprising. I''m not the sort to sit in the tower up there and fiddle my thumbs.¡± Edwin says, laughing as he points his thumb up to the tower above their heads. The big man who''d answered him gurrufs out a laugh of his own and gives a nod to Edwin. ¡°Fair enough, my lord. The carts should be here in about ten minutes.¡± The man says politely, and several of the others nod as well. All told, Edwin spent the time talking with the men, and once they climb up onto the carts he starts to ask about their lives and their families and what they''ve been doing. Mostly it was the same sad tale. Lost their jobs, their homes. Couldn''t find work or food. Many of them had heard of Edwin''s fight to become Demon Lord, and are plainly surprised that such a man would be talking with them. Edwin for himself actually enjoys it. He''d spent a lot of time cooped up in the Citadel, training for this or that. It was nice to relax and chat with others who didn''t really expect anything from him. Sadly it ends all too quickly as the carters rumble up to where the mine is situated outside of the city. Carved into the solid rock of the mountain slop, several mine-shafts can be seen, along with a great many people gathered about one of the entrances. Edwin jumps down from the cart as soon as it comes to a stop. ¡°Patroller, what''s going on?¡± He calls to one of the men who was stationed here to guard the prisoners. ¡°Ah, my lord.¡± The man says, snapping a quick salute. ¡°We opened up one of the tunnels this morning to start working, and found the place infested with monsters. A contingent of the Patrollers and several of the prisoners willing to fight went through to push them out, and they found a collapsed room with signs of life inside.¡± The man explains, motioning to Edwin to walk with him as they head toward the mass of people. ¡°They opened the room only to find a woman there. She''d been trapped inside for a long while.¡± The patroller says then, and Edwin nods his head. Pushing through the crowd, soon enough a path is opened as people start recognizing Edwin. ¡°What now?! Who the hell are you?!¡± The woman the patroller mentioned is screaming, and finally points out to Edwin. Edwin, of course, is caught back by the woman''s tone; but soon enough sweeps his gaze over her. Standing barely two feet tall, the woman looks almost like a child, even more so than Cernette. Except her skin has a silvery sheen to it and her deep, copper-colored hair looks as fine as wire, hanging all the way down to the ground. Covered in dust and coal soot, her overalls are ripped and torn and barely holding together. But what really surprises Edwin is the two small wings fluttering on her back, and the normal-sized pickax she''s carrying on one shoulder. I''m Edwin Cast, the new Demon Lord of Jottenhiem.¡± Edwin finally responds, being brought back to reality by the woman''s glare. ¡°Demon Lord?! When did that happen?!¡± The woman screams; her wings starting to flap more vigorously until she''s several inches of the ground. ¡°I beat the mercenary Krash a week ago for the title.¡± Edwin says, while many of the people around them nods. ¡°Krash?! That old rocky bastard!¡± Apparently just about everyone knew of Krash. ¡°Yes, now if I may, who are you?¡± Edwin asks, raising one of his brows at the woman. He almost wants to call her a ''kid''. ¡°Me? I''m Deloria Bargest, and this is my mine! Why are all these people here?!¡± The woman introduces herself, and then starts screaming again. Edwin actually frowns. He has a hard time dealing with ''screamers''. ¡°The mine was reported abandoned over six months ago. Just how long were you trapped inside?¡± Edwin finally asks, having to think for a minute to remember what Lucien had told him when he planned to start using this mine. This mine was the closest to the city, and had a rich vein of not only iron, but coal as well. Coal is needed to smelt down iron and could be turned into coke, which is used to make stronger steel. ¡°Six months?! That means I''ve been down there for almost a YEAR!!!¡± Owned property is considered abandoned after four months of unpaid taxes and the owner is nowhere to be found. Edwin also remembered that when he asked about the taxes before. Being abandoned meant that the city gained ownership of the property, to be sold or kept in order to off-set the tax debt. ¡°Hm. So it would seem. These people are here to reopen the mine and to work.¡± Edwin was starting to get another headache. ¡°But... but...¡± First the first time Deloria seems to be unable to say anything, much less scream. That was good, at least in Edwin''s opinion. ¡°There''s a food tent set up over there. Why don''t you go get cleaned up and have a meal? We''ll talk then. Cleaning out the monsters in the mine takes priority at the moment.¡± Edwin says then, which snaps the fairy-looking woman out of her shocked state. ¡°WHAT?! Are you making fun of me?!¡± Another scream, and this time Edwin does sigh, reaching up to massage the bridge of his nose. ¡°GO EAT, NOW!¡± Another voice calls out from behind Edwin, and he jerks around to find Lucien striding toward him. Edwin blinks for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Sorry, my lord. I got word some trouble was brewing here. I didn''t expected to see Deloria out here making trouble.¡± Lucien says, giving a salute and a bow. But the old man turns his gaze to Deloria, who''d suddenly frozen all over again. ¡°Deloria here is an Iron Pixie. Small in size, but with a great amount of strength. She owned this mine and the largest foundry in Jottenhiem at one point in time. But she went missing almost a year ago. I never imagined she''d be trapped in her own mine.¡± Lucien explains, ignoring Deloria''s suddenly glare as she regains herself. ¡°Humph! I was perfectly content in my mine! The monsters couldn''t get to me and I could spend my days mining!¡± The woman yells, sticking her nose up in the air as if it was something to be proud of. Lucien simply gives her another glare. ¡°Fine! I''ll go eat! And you, Mister High-and-Mighty Demon Lord! You better come speak to me as promised!¡± The woman yells even as she flies off toward the cooking tent. Both Edwin and Lucien let out a sigh once she''s gone. ¡°Has she always been that hard to handle?¡± Edwin asks. Lucien rolls his eyes at the question. ¡°You have no idea... my lord.¡± -|- -|- -|- Hey guys, here''s Chapter 8! More of the story is unfolding, and I finally decided on the sort of woman I wanted Deloria to be! Haha. I hope you enjoy it! Now then, I''m not going to post the updated status screens yet; cause I have to work out the math for all the new stat gains, but I''ll add them as I finish them this afternoon! Things are starting to shape up for Jottenhiem, and new information and plots are going to unfold here soon! Also, the first dungeon is going to be started about Chapter 10. Look forward to it! Haha.
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Chapter 9 - Ores and Alloys (Part 1) Status Update ¨C Sorry for the delay in getting these out guys! I''m posting them at the top of Chapter 9 to let everyone check them out! I''m also going to change some of information to make it easier to understand! Status Screen ¨C Chapter 8 Spoiler :
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals493870
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals503745
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals570835570
LeadershipLuck
2160
Unused Stat Points30
Skills ¨C Chapter 8 Spoiler :
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
[table]
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeoneering (Primary)Beginner513.0%
The skill required to create the ''Absolute Domain'' of a dungeon. By using this skill, the Creator has the ability to set the size of the dungeon to be created. The features found in the chosen location will affect the nature of the dungeon created. Strong stone will reduce the effective size, but will increase overall stability. Valuable materials, ores, etc. That are within the chosen location can be harvested as minable materials or incorporated directly into the dungeons design.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon Mining (Sub)Beginner10.0%
The skill required to clear out the interior of the dungeon. Similar to the regular mining skill, this one is specific in its usage within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the dungeon. May be granted to others in order to rapidly create, fix, or change the layout of an already established dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon Filling (Sub)Beginner211.0%
A skill used in conjunction with Dungeon Mining. This skill allows the Creator to close in gaps within the dungeon. Sometimes natural faults or cave-ins cause new parts to be added to the dungeon, in which Dungeon Filling is required to fix. This skill generates material already found in the dungeon based upon its location.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon Trapping (Sub)Beginner10.0%
The skill required to create various physical and magical traps within the Dungeon. Used along with forging skills to create, repair, and replace traps.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon Command (Sub)Beginner10.0%
The skill used to command the various creatures residing within the Dungeon. Within the ''Absolute Domain'' of the Dungeon, the Creator''s words are law, and all creatures set within the dungeon are governed by such law. As skill level increases, more and more powerful beings can be set and commanded within the dungeon. Beings able to overpower the Dungeon Command skill may choose to leave without other considerations. This skill is also used to create Demon Contracts for freelance beings who may choose to join the Dungeon.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Dungeon Treasures (Sub)Beginner10.0%
The unique crafting skill of Dungeon Masters. Along with crafting skills, this skill allows the creation of unique treasures which can be used both inside and out of the dungeon. With every death of a creature within the dungeon, the Treasure stored within the dungeon gets progressively stronger and more valuable. Some are considered to be ''living'', and provide a variety of effects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Combat StanceBeginner24.0%
Proper stance is important in both attacking and defense. Without this foundation, the ability to defend yourself and retaliate against attack is degraded severely.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blunt WeaponBeginner155.0%
The skill that governs the attack attributes of blunt weapons. Increases both attack power and speed, as well as defense when using blunt weapons.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
DefenseBeginner233.0%
An skill that governs all things related to defense. The ability to take hits and remain standing, as well as dodging and parrying. A high defense also raises combat awareness and the ability to see or sense attacks that cannot normally be seen by the eye.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Blow AbsorptionUnique / Beginner293.0%
A unique skill that supplements both Defense and Constitution when it comes to taking blows. Greatly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from blunt weapons. Increases defense when it comes to taking blows from bladed weapons. Slightly increases defense when it comes to taking blows from piercing weapons. Negates part of the damage received from falling or getting struck with non-weapon objects.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Elemental Magic (Primary)Beginner135.0%
The skill that governs the ability to use elemental-type magics. The higher the level, the more powerful that the related spells can be. Part of the Magic series skill set.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Farming (Primary)Intermediate13.0%
This skill is used to govern the ability to grow living things within the ground. Closely related to the Earth, the natural forces of the world honor those who nurture the bounty of the land. The Plant Identification Skill gives a bonus to the Farming Skill.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Tilling (Sub)Beginner877.0%
The skill that governs the ability to accurately till the soil. Higher levels allow harder and more diverse soil types to be set up for cropping, and less stamina is required per action at higher levels.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Watering (Sub)Beginner794.0%
The skill that governs the ability to accurately measure the amount of water each plant requires in order to grow efficiently. Too little water stagnates growth, and too much can cause rot and mold to grow. At higher levels some will be able to forgo watering at all, using the natural world to nurture the plant. The Plant Identification Skill gives a bonus to the Watering Skill
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Planting (Sub)Beginner785.0%
The skill that governs the ability to plant seeds and saplings. Understanding the nature of the crop to be planted is paramount in understanding what sort of soil and conditions is required for it to grow properly. The Plant Identification Skill gives a bonus to the Planting Skill.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Growing (Sub)Beginner974.0%
The skill that governs the growth of planted crops. Tricks such as pruning and cross-pollination are controlled with this skill. Increases the quality of planted crops. The Plant Identification Skill gives a bonus to the Growing Skill.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Harvesting (Sub)Beginner998.0%
The skill that governs the harvesting of crops. Proper technique is required to get the most out of any harvest. Knowing how to handle the crop and the parts to be harvested increases the quantity and quality of crops ready to be harvested. Increases the quality of produce. Increases the quantity of produce. The Plant Identification Skill gives a bonus to the Harvesting Skill.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Identify (Plants)Beginner512.0%
The skill required to Identify plants and trees. Higher levels allow the user to identify more exotic species. Provides a bonus to agricultural-related skills.
Magic Screen ¨C Chapter 8 Spoiler :
MAGIC SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Affinity Levels
VoidFireWaterAir
50 + 120505050
EarthForceCreationDestruction
50 + 110505050
LightDark--
5050--
Usable Magic
VoidBeginnerFireBeginner
WaterBeginnerAirBeginner
EarthBeginnerForceBeginner
CreationBeginnerDestructionBeginner
Blessings Screen
Earth''s Blessing
All crops grown by the user will have increased vitality and will grow faster. The Earth has blessed the endeavors of the user, and higher Earth Affinity will increase this bonus. +30% Faster Growing Speed. +30% Chance of Crop Germination. +30% Chance of receiving extra seeds upon Harvest. +30% Higher Crop quality.
Ability Screen ¨C Chapter 8 Spoiler :
SKILL SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons7
Ability Name:Ability Rank:--
Hide of EarthPassive / Unique--
A unique skill! The Hide of Earth is an advanced form of the common skill ''Stone Skin''. It is also a passive skill, and cannot be leveled up. Greatly increases defense. Greatly reduces fall damage. Objects with a total durability lower than the Constitution stat can be broken on impact with your body!
Ability Name:Ability Rank:--
Void SpaceUnique--
Void Space is a unique ability granted only to the Voids'' representative in the world of Eternia. It is a direct connection back into the nothingness of the Void, and thus is capable of holding any object within itself. Objects stored in the Void Space may be recalled at any time. Similar to the enchanted bags that Adventurers covert for their ability to store a great amount of items; Void Space can hold an unlimited number of things without weight, mass, or other restrictions. Living things stored in the Void Space are put in stasis, thus preserving them until recalled. Time does not affect things within the Void Space. Special objects placed within the Void Space may still be able to interact with the world outside through the users body.
Ability Name:Ability Rank:--
Crystal VisionUnique--
By assimilating the Heart Crystal Jottenhiem and gaining its approval, part of its unique power has been granted to the user. Crystal Vision allows you to share the far-sight of the Heart Crystal within the territory it controls. Skills such as Sneak, Backstab, Ambush and others have become ineffective against the user. Other applications have become available to Crystal Vision. The Jottenhiem Control menus have been assimilated. The Resource menus have been assimilated. Other menus have been assimilated. Crystal Vision is an Ability, and as such does not have an associated skill cost to use. Crystal Vision cannot be used outside of the Heart Crystal''s territory. Expanding the Heart Crystal''s territory will increase the range of Crystal Vision.
-|- -|- -|- Edwin didn''t have time to stop and ask Lucien about Deloria, as another patroller runs up with a report. Edwin motions the man forward, and he salutes, his fist banging over his heart. ¡°Sir! The lower levels of the mine has been taken over by a nest of Cave Spiders. We are currently sweeping them up along with some of the prisoners who volunteered to fight. Because of the veins of coal in the mine, we aren''t able to use fire to burn them out, so the progress is slow. They are making headway, though.¡± The man speaks rapidly, and Edwin nods. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Go speak with the new miner volunteers if you need more manpower. Clearing the mines is first priority. We need the mine to be safe in order to work it properly.¡± Edwin says, and the patroller salutes again, happy to have orders instead of just being yelled at. Even Edwin can see the relieved expression on the man''s face. After the patroller is gone, Edwin turns to Lucien with a raised brow. ¡°Cave Spiders?¡± Of all the monsters it could have been, Edwin has something of a fear of spiders. Lucien, of course, recognizes the uneasy look on Edwin''s face and gives a soft chuckle before replying. ¡°Cave Spiders can grow about as big as a small dog; but thankfully their venom is rather weak. It acts as a paralytic, but wears off after only five minutes or so. Healers can use the venom to help immobilize a patient, while others use it for the same affect.¡± Lucien explains, to which Edwin nods, letting out his own sigh of relief. ¡°Well, at least it could have been worse...¡± But even as he speaks the word, a new yell goes up from the mines entrance, where several patrollers and prisoners come out screaming. What comes out after them though is something out of Edwin''s nightmares. Its a giant bloody spider. ¡°Ah. The Cave Spider Queen...¡± Lucien says nonchalantly; and Edwin has the sudden urge to strangle the older man. Thankfully he doesn''t. There isn''t any reason to loose his cool just yet. Even if the giant freakin'' spider scares the hell out of him. But there''s no real time to be afraid. Already the patrollers are being pushed back, and the Spider Queen is giving as good as it gets, if not more so. It also constantly spawns off large eggs that crack open almost as soon as they hit the ground. Within moments it could be a total mess. ¡°My lord, the hammer.¡± Lucien suddenly says, and within a moment Edwin nods and calls forth the weapon Lucien had just mentioned. Its a good call. As a precaution, Edwin had actually stored several of the weapons in his Void Space, ready to be used at any time. And from watching the fight with the Patrollers, its easy to tell that blades and arrows simply bounce off the hard chitin shell of the Queen''s hide. The weapon Edwin actually summons is a two handed hammer, looking like a cross between a sledge hammer on one side, with a broad flat edge; and a pike on the other, with a curved, wide spike. Good for both brute damage and grappling with larger opponents. Edwin didn''t have much training with the weapon though, but it was easy enough to figure out. So he rushes to join in the fight, shouting several people out of the way as he flanks the 10-foot tall spider to the right. Several of the Patrollers see him coming and figure out his plan, and switch to diversion tactics to keep the Queen''s attention on them. Unlike the regular Cave Spiders, the Queen is able to spit its venom as well as sticky thread. Its just over ten feet tall and nearly twice as long, with a regular segmented body and big red eyes and black fangs sticking out of the front of its head, which is elongated crest-like black thing sticking off the top of its head. It almost looks like a crown. Its legs are long and thick where they connect to the body segments, and yet slim as they reach the ground, with three-clawed ''toes'' that dig into the soil and rock beneath it. Out in the light of day, its shell is smooth and there isn''t any hair on it at all. And its obviously in a bad mood. But as Edwin nears it, the calming battle mentality comes over him, and he forgets his fear and gives a small, feral smile. With a running start, he jumps up and swings the hammer over his head with both hands. ¡°Hah!¡± He yells as he smashes the hammer down on the back leg on the right side right in front of him. With his strength and the weight of his jump and speed from running behind him, the hammer works nicely; and the sudden -CRACK- of shattering chitin is greeted with a cheer from the weary fighters, and a coarse scream from the Queen as it stumbles. With the upper portion of the chitin shattered on its hind leg, its no longer able to support its weight on that leg, which snaps at the lower joint, breaking off and gushing a rather putrid yellow blood that splatters on the ground. Edwin actually jumps away from it. The smell is enough to make him almost gag. But the Queen doesn''t stay off-balance for long, and instead rapidly turns itself on its other seven legs, looking for the one who''d hurt it. Edwin though stays one step ahead, staying along its side and out of its sight for as long as possible. But moving in such a manner means he cannot get up enough strength or speed to attack again, and he grits his teeth. Suddenly though he has to jump back and duck in order to avoid the Queen''s abdomen and its shooting spider''s silk that would have covered him from the chest up. ¡°Whoah, that''s dangerous.¡± He mutters, before grinning all over again. A sudden idea had just come to him, and he''s more than ready to try it out. Dropping the hammer with only one hand, he raises his other hand and focuses his mind on the magic, gathering his mana. ¡°Cage of Earth!¡± He yells, letting lose the mana at the same time. Underneath the Spider Queen, the earth quivers before suddenly sinking down into a pit, a berm of earth and stone being created around its edge to use the displaced earth that is carved out of the center. The Spider Queen is taken by surprise as its footing is suddenly yanked out from under it, and it falls indignantly into the pit. Usually the Cage of Earth is a low tier spell, only enough to drop most enemies to their neck in the ground; and can be used to quickly dodge an incoming attack if cast under the caster. But here Edwin had poured quite a bit of mana into it. Like all spiders, the Queen is able to climb out of it once it regains its footing. But Edwin wasn''t about to allow that to happen. With his face flushed and sweating from the large use of magic, he switches to another spell; this time focusing on water. Water is opposite to the fire magic he''d been taught before by Allisa on the first day of his training, nearly two weeks ago. She only has very little affinity to it though, so was only able to show him some of the most basic spells for that. But Edwin had a clear image in mind, and with a feral grin he holds up his glowing hand toward the pit again. ¡°Freeze!¡± He yells, releasing the built up mana once more. This time, a freezing cold wind blasts out from the pit, and inside of it he can hear the Spider Queen''s sudden scream as the earth and walls of the pit are frozen under a layer of ice so smooth and slippery the Queen cannot get a hold of it. No way out, and no way to keep its balance. Edwin is forced to grit his teeth against the sudden feeling of fatigue and mental haziness that comes from using a lot of magic in a short period of time, but with a viscous shake of his head he dispels the mental fatigue and charges up the rocky berm around the pit. At least this side is still clear of ice. Other Patrollers and fighters join him. Within the pit, the Queen is struggling to stand up, slipping and sliding this way and that on its seven remaining legs. Its quite funny to watch, but the Queen''s red eyes were clearly bloodshot in anger. Edwin pays it little mind though, and instead takes several breaths, checking his remaining mana. Its almost depleted, but there''s enough for a final spell. Thankfully the one he has in mind isn''t that consuming. Its not as flashy as a pit or ice or fire. He holds up his hammer in his hands and with a sudden jump leaps right out into the pit! Swinging the hammer down, he pours magic into it before yelling. ¡°Earth''s Weight!¡± It was another earth spell, but this one changes the weight of an object. It only lasts about five seconds, but when used in a fight can add extra force and weight to a weapons'' strike or increase the durability of a shield against a blow. This time Edwin was going for full offense, and with the sudden increase in weight the hammer slams downward far more quickly than before. The spell had actually increased the ''mass'' of the object, and thus gravity worked to add extra force to it as well. He slams down like a meteorite. The Spider Queen saw him coming though, and tried to twist out of the way; but with its icy footing all it was able to do was crouch down beneath Edwin''s swing. And Edwin was going straight for its head. -CRASH!- Almost squarely between the Queen''s eight eyes, the hammer slams down with enough force to pop several of them, spraying out the nasty yellow blood while also cracking its hard exoskeleton like a brittle egg. And that''s before it hits the ground, slamming against a literal rock and a hard space. Almost instantly the Queen is dead, and its head is quite literally crushed, splattering blood, fangs, eyes and brain matter all over the damned place. Its black chitin is also smashed to bits, and several of the sharper pieces rip holes into Edwin''s clothing. Thankfully his ability ''Hide of Earth'' keeps him from being cut up by the spraying bits. But he''s covered in the spiders'' muck. Even he makes a twisted face at that. Everyone who was watching though doesn''t care. A large cheer goes up, first from the patrollers and fighters who had been struggling against the Cave Spiders and then the Queen; and then the others, miners, patrollers, and prisoners alike join in. No doubt word will spread soon enough to the rest of Jottenhiem. It isn''t every day that people get to watch a Demon Lord fight, after all. Edwin only sighs and hefts his hammer, swinging it to rid it of the layer of muck on it before pulling it back into his Void Space. After that, its only a matter of releasing the magic he''d conjured, and the pit raises up and the ice disappears in a quick swathing of fog that soon disappears in the day''s heat. Tired and mentally exhausted, Edwin waits while Lucien strides over to him. ¡°Butcher the Queen and take everything that can be used. Get another group into the mines and finish up clearing it out. I need to rest and clean up.¡± Edwin says almost as soon as the manservant gets to him, and Lucien nods and bows. ¡°There''s a change of clothing in the carriage, my lord. You can get hot water at the food tent.¡± Lucien says then, turning an oblique eye at Edwin''s kill. Like during the fight with Krash, he''s quite surprised at Edwin''s dept skill of using a variety of abilities to take out his opponent... Even if they often end up a bloody mess because of it. *DING*
You have killed the Cave Spider Queen of the West Jottenhiem Mine!
By killing the Spider Queen, the mine is available to be re-opened. You have unlocked the Mine Management menu. You have unlocked the Mine Resource Survey menu. News of this feat will spread, and new miners will come looking for work.
By killing an enemy 20+ levels above your own, you have gained bonus stats!
+10 Strength +8 Dexterity +8 Constitution +6 Intelligence +4 Wisdom +10 Charisma
By defeating while more than 400 people were watching, you have gained bonus stats!
+5 Charisma +10 Leadership +10 Luck
You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You have gained a level!
You have 45 unused Stat Points available.
Earth Affinity +10 Water Affinity +10
New information about the monster Cave Spiders has been added to the Codex menu.
Several new messages pop up before him, but he waves them off. He''s too worn out to check them right this moment. Instead, he walks through the still cheering crowd, and heads toward the food tent, intent on getting water to clean up with. To bad he happened to run into Deloria before he can get that far. The short Iron Pixie had a rotten look on her face, and as soon as she catches sight of Edwin, she starts in on him. ¡°What the hell do you think you''re doing!? I was planning on dealing with that big spider once I rested a bit!¡± The woman was yelling again, the crowd around them give her stares and glares which she doesn''t seem to recognize at all. Edwin though doesn''t even flinch. Instead, one of his eyes twitches. ¡°After a year stuck in that mine, I was going to kill it myself! UGH! Why did you have to steal my prey?!¡± The woman just didn''t seem to get it, and Edwin''s eye twitches again. Edwin doesn''t say anything though, and instead reaches out and grabs the short woman by the front of her overalls. Lifting her up is surprisingly easy, and within moments her nose is almost touching his own as he stares at her. ¡°You will quit being so selfish. I did what I had to do in order to re-open this mine. I killed that Queen personally, and I will beat your short ass black and blue if you DO NOT STOP YELLING.¡± His words are low and deep and utterly cold. He was tired and worn out and in no mood to entertain someone who acted like a spoiled child. Deloria on the other hand looked like she''d just eaten something disgusting. For a moment her face goes red, as if she were about to yell again, but the look on Edwin''s face; or rather the utter lack of it seems to stop her from speaking a word. Instead, her face goes white and after a moment she nods. Edwin stares at her for a moment longer then slowly drops her back to the ground, letting go of her once once her feet have a firm footing. ¡°Good. Now, I''m going to go clean up, change, and rest for a little bit. Once I get back we will talk, and you will teach me how to mine. If you do not like that, then leave.¡± Edwin says then to the numb-looking woman, and Deloria nods again while keeping her mouth clamped shut. It isn''t a good idea to anger Edwin right now. Even she isn''t dense enough not to catch that point. Hidden behind Edwin, Lucien actually lets out a smile. Pixies are greatly known for the trouble they cause, and Iron Pixies are even worse. With strength on the level of dwarves, they''re hard to deal with both physically and otherwise. Edwin though just doesn''t care at the moment. He walks off toward the cooking tent to get cleaned up. He fails to see that Deloria had started blushing rather brightly as she looks over her shoulder to watch Edwin''s back. -|- -|- -|- ¡°Aaah, I''m alive again!¡± Edwin groans after washing up with hot water and changing his clothing. Back at the cooking tent, he''s sitting at a table and is leaning back on a bench, stretching with his arms above his head. With his stamina and mana both recharged, he definitely feels better than he had after the end of the fight, and around him people are coming and going with the hurried pace of people excited to be working once more. They cooks were also busy at work around several large bonfires and a large grill built of large stones taken from the mine and an iron grate someone managed to find. The smell of stews, grilled meats, and roasting vegetables is enough to make anyones stomach rumble. Even Edwin is tempted to order a bowl; but doesn''t. There isn''t any time to do so. Across from him, Lucien and Deloria are sitting side by side on a bench. Lucien looks quite pleased, but Deloria refuses to look at Edwin. She hadn''t screamed even once since Edwin had warned her off, and instead was almost sulking. So far she''s only answered questions in monosyllables. Well, there''s no helping it. ¡°Okay, how''s it coming along, Lucien?¡± Edwin finally asks, leaning his forearms on the table and asking about what he''d missed while cleaning up and resting. Lucien takes a moment to gather his thoughts then clears his throat. ¡°The mine is officially re-opened, my lord. Without the Queen to spawn new Cave Spiders, the rest were easily routed. Because we weren''t able to set fire to the monsters within the mine due to the veins of coal, we were able to collect quite a lot of spider silk. Four whole carts full, to be honest. I''ve had them shipped to be stored at the Citadel for distribution to the weavers and clothiers later.¡± Lucien gives his report, and Edwin nods. ¡°Good. With that, things are finally back on track.¡± Edwin says, before turning his gaze to Deloria, who''d been listening with something like a surprised look on her face. ¡°You can ask questions, you know. I''m not that secretive of a Demon Lord.¡± Edwin cannot help but tease her, causing Deloria''s face to go red again. She opens her mouth as if she''s about to yell again, but with a look to Edwin snaps her lips closed. ¡°Ah. I was just surprised. Things were bad here even before I got trapped in my own mine. I honestly never expected any of this.¡± Deloria finally says, her tone now almost so soft that Edwin has to strain to catch her words. But she motions around her at all the work that is going on. A bunch of tents are being set up, and several groups are building the sorting and weighing machines needed for any mining operation. Edwin had already seen that the place had been literally picked clean once the mine closed before. Without proper infrastructure, no large scale operation can work, after all. ¡°Hmm. That''s because I''m doing all of this myself. After the fight with Krash, I killed the nobles and took control directly. You could call this an Imperial Project, but it isn''t the only one. The farms outside of Jottenhiem, the quarry in the east and the woods near it, and the problems with the bandits outside of Lotash and the forest there.¡± Edwin says, giving Deloria the short version. The Iron Pixie is surprised again, and this time her mouth hangs open. Even Edwin thinks its a good look for her, but doesn''t say anything. Such thoughts were becoming more and more common. It probably has to do with all the extremely good lookin'' women running around him. ¡°Anyway. Once you teach me mining here, I''m going to need a manager for the mine here. But I also heard that you used to own the biggest foundry in Jottenhiem. So we''ll likely need your skills there as well.¡± Edwin says, and with a look to Lucien, he nods his head. Having Deloria was actually a stroke of good fortune. ¡°I''m going to build an ''Ironworks'' in the western part of Lower Jottenhiem. A massive smelter and foundry all in one, specialized in producing steel.¡± Edwin says then, with his own grin at the surprised look coming from Lucien this time. ¡°Steel? That''s really hard to produce though!¡± This time Deloria forgets herself and yells, but Edwin doesn''t mind. Instead, he gives her a slight grin of his own. ¡°Forging steel is hard because gauging the proper amount of carbon in the iron is almost impossible with the current technology here. But I was summoned from a world where there is no magic, and technology was used for everything.¡± Edwin says then, actually enjoying the startled look from Lucien and Deloria. ¡°Jottenhiem, open the Design menu, please.¡± Edwin says softly, and with a soft chuckle of amusement that brushes his ear, a sudden projection pops up over the table. It was the rough design of a blast furnace. The sort used to smelt large qualities of iron, copper, tin and other metals. Its a really rough draft though. Edwin never worked in a steel mill himself, and instead could only recall what he''d learned in school or during his own studies. But he has the main principle down. Lucien is looking at the design with a critical eye, studying the notes that Edwin had written around it while Deloria is almost too shocked. ¡°This is... a furnace? What the...¡± Deloria mutters to herself, before she shakes her own head and starts really looking at the floating image in front of her. ¡°Iron is a fairly easy metal to deal with. Its fairly easy to pull the impurities out of it, and can be used for a lot of things. But the downside is that its inconsistent from one forge to the next. Some are too brittle, others too soft. ¡°Steel is several times stronger. It can also hold a sharper edge, when used for weapons. Its also far less brittle and isn''t any heavier than regular iron, either. As a material for weapons, armors, and as a construction material, its far superior.¡± Edwin explains after giving the other two a moment to examine the projection. ¡°In order to actually produce steel though takes a far different technique than what is used in regular forging. It also requires other materials as well. This blast furnace is the first step in doing that. By blowing a certain amount of air upward into the molten metal, you can draw off far more carbon and impurities than otherwise while using less fuel. Once that''s done, its easy enough to add in the trace carbon, usually from coal or other carbon-rich minerals along with the other materials to create a consistent steel alloy.¡± It was a technology that Eternia had never seen before, and even Deloria was having a hard time grasping it. ¡°Blowing air... upwards?¡± She finally asks, and Edwin nods, motioning to the lower part of the furnace. ¡°When you work a forge, you pump bellows in order to give the fuel enough air to get to temperatures hot enough to melt the metal, either out of its raw ore form or already formed ingots. The blast furnace on the other hand doesn''t blow air into the fuel; but into the metal itself. The oxygen in the air binds more readily with the impurities in iron at high temperatures, and bubbles up to the top. ¡°Scooping it out like cream from milk, and you can separate trace metals like copper, tin and others.¡± It was an advanced technique, but as Edwin explains Deloria''s face becomes bright and excited. ¡°It will take a lot of work to set up though. And a lot of experimentation. I know the basis of it, but I don''t know the specifics. So to start with we''ll build it and work on it while also using regular forging techniques to produce the metal we need right now as rapidly as we can.¡± Edwin says then, cutting Deloria off before she could comment. Deloria takes a moment to collect herself instead of screaming again and nods her head. Smiling, Edwin has Jottenhiem stop the projection, and stands up. ¡°Now then, its time for me to get to work as well. Teach me everything you can, Deloria!¡± -|- -|- -|- Hi guys! This is the first part of chapter 9! It ended up being larger and longer than I had imagined, so I decided to split the chapter into 2 parts. Things are progressing nicely in Jottenhiem, and this chapter even had a bit more action! I hope you enjoy it! As always, feel free to leave comments or the like!
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Chapter 9 - Ores and Alloys (Part 2) The Western Jottenhiem Mine, which once upon a time had an official name, had recently been nicknamed ''The Vanquished Queen''s Mine'' after the fight with the giant Cave Spider Queen. After nearly a year in disuse, the place had been ransacked and everything of value, and just about everything else had been dragged out. The mine, at this point, was little more than a barren hole in the ground. Several large mine-shafts open into a half-circle area that once held the mine cart tracks, sorting machines, and grinding machine. Iron ore and coal used to be brought up in large quantities for smelting and other economic uses. Now though, the place was surrounded by a tent camp for the volunteer miners and a larger encampment for the convict labor and the patrollers stationed there to both safeguard the mine and keep the prisoners in order. That had been a problem the first couple of days, until Edwin decided on an appropriate punishment. Hauling duty. Without proper tracks and carts, the absolutely vast amount of rubble that was mined out of the walls of the mine had to be hauled out by hand; usually in a large wicker-basket strapped to a persons back. It proved to be extremely effective in deterring would-be escapists and other criminal activities; even amongst the regular miners. And given that three full meals a day were provided for what was basically free, even the prisoners have it better than the refugees out of Lotash and the shanty-town portions of Lower Jottenhiem. So many people showed up for work, in fact, that Edwin had to spend two days dealing with administrative issues before he could even get in to learn the work himself. Not that Deloria seemed to mind. She went in with the earliest shift and didn''t come out of the mine until the last people were leaving for the night. Apparently she''d atrophied a bit while caught in her own tunnel almost a year before, but still had the skills and strength to beat any of the other miners in quota by nearly two or three times, at least. Not only that, but after two days of regular meals and rest, the Iron Pixie was also looking different. When she''d first came out of the tunnels, her skin was pale with only a slight silvery sheen to it and her hair had been long, ragged, and unkempt, if still still shiny like brushed metal wire. Now though her skin was almost a pearlesque silver, casting a soft glow. Her hair had been cut down to just below her shoulder blades, and brushed in such a way to fit a miners helmet. Every time he sees it, Edwin always things she has a head of very fine copper wire instead of hair. With her wings, Deloria is almost dangerously cute and exotic at the same time. When Edwin finally asked Lucien about Deloria''s rather weird constitution, Lucien actually laughed and explained that like the other highly magical races, Iron Pixie''s have an extremely high affinity with the earth. Its possible to use raw magical power (aka: mana) to keep yourself alive for a time, so long as you consume it slower than you generate it. According to him, Deloria probably could have survived two or three years total. That was a bit surprising, but easy enough to understand. On the morning of the third day Edwin finally gets the chance to go to work himself in the mine, and after getting his own helmet and pickaxe, sets out with Deloria, who was in high spirits. She was quite literally flying a couple of inches off the ground. ¡°I haven''t seen this place so busy in decades! With all these people and the miners it feels like life has come back!¡± Of course, she was back to screaming out her every word; but so long as she wasn''t directly screaming at him, Edwin decides to ignore it. ¡°I''m glad you like the atmosphere, but how''s the mine doing actually? Rebuilding the infrastructure is going to be a large undertaking all by itself, and everything we are pulling out of the mine right now is going into that.¡± Edwin replies, his tone only slightly wry as he makes his way toward the nearest mineshaft with Deloria. ¡°Eck. Yeah, that''s something of a problem! With proper tracks and carts and all the machines, all this manpower could probably have tripled the quota of what we used to pull out of the ground when I ran the mine! But we''re barely pulling out a third of that now.¡± Deloria''s report was rather spot on, and even Edwin cannot help but flinch at it. Simply getting even the most basic of infrastructure into place for the mine is already a major headache. There simply weren''t enough smiths, furnaces, or metalworkers available to do the work. Thousands of feet of track by itself is expected to take weeks to produce, much less lay down. The multi-hinged carts are going to take even longer. Simply getting enough pickaxes, shovels, and helmets and mine-safe light sources was already a big hassle. And the repair rate for what they already have was atrocious. For the most part he''d simply dropped the whole bag of worms on Deloria. At least it was something she had handled before. But starting a business and going big is a totally different ball game from starting what is basically an Imperial Project from the ground up. It was arguably an even harder endeavor than building the Great Pyramids back on Earth had been. But there wasn''t anything Edwin could do about it right this moment. Instead he decides to devote himself to doing his own work and learning all that he can. Walking toward the mine entrance, Edwin gets a good view of everything that is going on. Miners coming and going, new tents being set up or old ones being pulled down; there''s already several wood-framed buildings being constructed, using stone from the quarry on the other side of the city and from what is being brought out from the mine. Most of all there''s long lines of men carrying heavily laden wicker baskets on their backs, hauling out the rubble in one line and ore or coal on the other. There''s only a handful of mules or pack horses carrying even larger loads; all of them heading toward either the waste pit or the small, quickly built ore crusher. Near the entrance to the mine several simple furnaces had already been set up, and almost all the coal and the ore is being used there. Given the lack of equipment, what''s being pulled out of the furnaces is low in quality; but its a lot easier to store in ingots than it is in raw ore form. And it can later be re-smelted into higher quality materials. Several of the blacksmiths operating the furnaces are also building a number more. Almost the entire output of the mine is being channeled through them now. All told, there are almost three thousand people of all shapes and sizes running around. Most of them are carrying the tools needed for mining and are wearing treated leather hard-hats, almost like the old football helmets from back in his own world. Given the heavy amount of coal in the mine, each miner is also carrying either a glowing crystal or a magic lantern. Although not all of them have access to such. The expenses are almost mind boggling with all the equipment needed to run the mine safely. But even Edwin was wearing his own helmet; fitted around his large horn. It actually had a surprisingly good amount of defense when he checked it earlier. He also has a decent pick and shovel in his Void Space, ready to use. Wearing boots and tight fitted clothing, he looks like a muscular giant next to the flying Iron Pixie. But he isn''t the most muscular or even the largest guy around. The day before three half-Rock Giant brothers had shown up, eager to work. They''d come up here from a town even further south than Lotash, having heard about the projects going on. Deloria had taken a liking to them almost instantly, and put them in control of the noon and afternoon shifts as well as working themselves during the morning. Given their great strength and endurance, they got into it without an issue, and were leaving most of the regular miners in the dust. Only Deloria herself could out-mine them. ¡°Here we go! I hope you aren''t afraid of getting dirty! Hahaha!¡± Deloria yells at him as they finally pass into the mine with the next group of miners; most of them who are actively staring at Edwin. He simply smiles and walks along with them. The mine itself is a complex system of shafts, graded holes, tunnels and pits. The air is heavy and filled with dust, and proper light sources are few and far between, mounted on the walls. Part of the mine is obviously set up to get at the back seams of coal; while the other part are after the chunks of iron-bound rock. There are also a scattering of other minerals and metals; but not enough to be anything more than a bonus here. That''s quite alright though. At the moment iron is what is needed the most. ¡°We''re going to start out working with coal. The iron is a lot harder, and isn''t a good starting material for learning mining. Tin or copper would have been better.¡± Inside the mine Deloria takes on a quieter tone, and even to Edwin it seems that she''s a lot calmer, less flighty or flustered. It was an interesting transformation. Another thing he noted is that her silvery skin also gives off a glow bright enough to be seen in the darkness. As he follows her deeper in, she also seems to get brighter and brighter, as well. She was like a natural light source down here. Soon enough they''d left the most active part of this mineshaft, and finally stop at what seems to be a dead end in a tunnel that hadn''t been finished. The ceiling is almost too low for Edwin to stand straight in, much less heft his pick. His horn actually scrapes the ceiling in places. ¡°Here, that entire wall is one large vein of coal. The starting principle of mining is having enough space to do the work. Having a circular area around you that you can swing your pickaxe freely in any direction is key. Without that, you might as well hack at the stone with a knife.¡± Deloria starts explaining, having landed on her feet as the ceiling dropped lower. But she pulls out her own pick and shows Edwin that there''s just enough room for her to swing it around without hitting anything. With him being so much bigger, he couldn''t do the same. But at the same time he could reach more material than she could, too. So he pulls out his own pickaxe and backs up to where he can reach the pick over his head. ¡°Good, now swing it like this.¡± The woman starts to instruct him, and he follows as precisely as he can; swinging the pickaxe over his head and gouging into the coal-laced rock of the ceiling, shattering it fairly easily with every swing. Because he was so much larger than Deloria, it takes him longer to open up the shaft to his size; but because it was a rich vein, there wasn''t much waste rock. Just like with the farm work, it was hard work physically, and soon enough his shirt was damp and sticking to his bulging muscles as he sweats. The coal dust was also forming running streaks down his red skinned face and neck as well. But he does what he has to do in order to open up the area large enough for him to work him, and quite a pile of coal is building up at his feet. Unlike the modern practice of using explosives and large scoops to extract large amounts of material at once; this is backbreaking, slow work of the most physical kind. But it still felt good to him. Physical work was rewarding all on its own. It isn''t until he''d already finished opening up his area and the first loaders had come and shoveled up his mined coal and he''d already started working into the wall where the rich vein was that he got the notification he was waiting for. **DING**
Mining Skill has been learned!
The mining skill increases the speed and the quality of mined resources. It decreases the time required to mine. It decreases the strength required to mine. It decreases the stamina usage for each mining action. It provides a bonus to the quality of mined resources. It may expose rare or unique resources that can be mined at higher levels. Mining sub-skills also enhance the effect of Mining.
You have gained bonus Stats!
+ 5 Strength +5 Constitution +2 Intelligence
For learning an Earth-based skill, you have gained more Earth Affinity
Earth Affinity +10
A new effect of Earth''s Blessing has been unlocked!
All mining actions require less time and effort. Bonus resources may be acquired during mining. The Earth has blessed the endeavors of the user, and higher Earth Affinity will increase this bonus. +30% Mining Speed. +30% Resource Quantity. +30% Higher Resource Quality. -30% Strength and Stamina Required.
Edwin can only blink at the messages that had popped up. Just like with farming, he also gained more Earth Affinity and unlocked very large bonuses to his Earth''s Blessing. He could almost have called it overkill, except all he can do is chuckle while shaking his head. His surprise didn''t last that long though, and he calls Deloria after reading everything the messages had said. ¡°I learned the Mining Skill.¡± He says simply, giving a slight chuckle as he looks at the dumbfounded Pixie. ¡°WHAT?! ALREADY!? It can take up to a week for others to get it!¡± The woman starts yelling again, this time her words echoing through the mine and causing not only Edwin, but almost everyone else to clasp their hands over their ears. She was simply far too loud! ¡°Be quiet!¡± Edwin hisses at her, careful to control his own volume while glaring at the short woman; who suddenly snaps her mouth shut again as if afraid that Edwin was going to snap at her right then and there. Edwin though wasn''t going to do so. At least not yet. But he was getting very, very tired of being yelled at. He understands that its a personality quirk of hers; but it was driving him even more crazy than the way that other women respond to him. ¡°Yes, I have it now. I also have the Earth''s Blessing bonuses for it. But I want to learn the rest of the sub-skills and then work in here for a while.¡± He says in a short, cold tone, eying the woman who''s lower jaw had just started hanging open. Just like Cernette, Deloria couldn''t imagine him already having the Earth''s Blessing as well. ¡°Oooh? The Earth''s Blessing, too? You''re going to put me out of business.¡± The Iron Pixie mutters, although she keeps herself from yelling, even though her face had gone red. Rather it was embarrassment or anger or something else, Edwin couldn''t tell. ¡°Very well. Come here then, I''ll show you the sub-skills.¡± The woman finally says, drawing Edwin back into the work. For the rest of that day then the next, Edwin learns everything he can about mining from Deloria. The proper way of handling a pickaxe, the shovel, how to haul loads without hurting himself, and prospecting. She lead him around the mine and showed him various types of rock and ores and other minerals and the most likely places they could be found. Edwin learns everything, soaking it up like a sponge and gaining the skills in only part of the time required for the other miners. And the levels in them. And increases in his stats, too. His strength, constitution, and dexterity all raise by ten points apiece, and his intelligence raises by five points due to the Surveying skill, and his wisdom raises by two points as well. Its a rather large gain for acquiring the skills; but afterwards its even harder to raise them through the actual work. Thinking about it while his mind has time to wander while his body works, the conclusion Edwin draws is that the skills absorb some of the ''potential'' that can be gained through physical work and turn into direct bonuses instead of a continuous allotment of pure stats. He''ll have to ask Lucien about that later. -|- -|- -|- In this manner an entire week passes by, with Edwin fulfilling his management duties in the mornings and the late evenings and working in the mine during the afternoons. The large increase of the number of sponsored jobs had put a very large claim on his time and energy, but he never neglected to work personally himself. But it also meant that he didn''t have a whole lot of time to devote to the development of his skills, either. Just like with farming, he ends up not even breaching into the Intermediate ranks when its finally time to put down his shovel and pick. But he was still happy with what he''d done. He''d finally gotten to the level of the half-Rock Giants, and had even greater gains in terms of overall quality, as well. That was mostly thanks to his Earth''s Blessing, but he''d take every advantage he could. Deloria in the meantime had gotten even wilder, and much more aggressive with her own work. According to Lucien, Deloria wasn''t used to feeling threatened when it comes to her skills. She''d come to see Edwin as a rival; even though Edwin had no intention of taking her job. His own responsibilities were more than enough, thank you very much. Still, the week had been a busy time, and the mine itself was progressing nicely. Already several of the machines that had been torn down and looted before had been rebuilt, greatly increasing overall productivity and quality of the ore pulled from the earth. That and the starting forging area had already been expanded twice, with almost every blacksmith in Jottenhiem coming to take up the work. Already there were work crews laying down the first cart track. On the other side of the city, the quarry was also a big mass of laboring men and women, pulling raw stone blocks of granite, basalt, and other stone from the mountain. Starting with giant, multi-ton blocks that they roll out on smoothly carved and sanded wooden rollers, the blocks are chiseled into neat perfection of various shapes and sizes. Some are little bigger than bricks, while others are big enough to carve entire homes into. Most of the bigger blocks are set up in storage, while the smaller ones are taken up by order almost as fast as they are being produced. Without modern hand tools or technology, everything has to be done by hand though, and there never seemed to be enough trained hands for the work. But Edwin would take anyone willing to work, and reports of rapid skill advancement have already started to reach the Citadel. It was a good sign, all in all, and already in some places in Jottenhiem rebuilding has already begun. Especially the new Patrol headquarters and the Patroller posts throughout both upper and lower Jottenhiem. Also there''s almost daily convoys of materials flowing toward Lotash, as well. The foundation for the Patroller Post in the village has already been built. To the villagers and the refugees that are still huddled there, the Post was seen as a bit of god-sent fortune, especially when they heard that the bounty set for the bandits in the nearby forest had been changed to outlaw the taking of innocents. During the week two more transports of captured bandits had arrived under armed guard as well; and were given the same details and work as the rest. Thankfully there wasn''t the same issues now as when the prisoner camp was first set up. Things were running smoothly. According to Cormic, some bandits have even turned themselves in for the chance for work and food on their own! It just goes to show how desperate things have gotten. In Lower Jottenhiem, several soup kitchens were working around the clock, and the residents there had turned out in droves to help and to eat. It was barely subsistence living; but it was far better than what had been available before. Crime had dropped by a massive percentage. Edwin was even in the process of writing up a charter for a school, as well. But that would take far more work before it was ever implemented. The farms, on the other hand, were doing great. Led by Cernette with her own Earth''s Blessing, the farmland that was actively being cultivated had already spilled far beyond the original farming-dungeon area that Edwin had set up. Those who had the skills and the willingness to work the other barren fields were being gifted that otherwise unused and city-owned land after bringing in their first harvest. It was an idea that Edwin had thought of together with Lucien; and just how the United States had done it back in his old world during the migration period into the mid-west, anyone could claim a plot of land so long as they showed good results. The harvest had to be both of an acceptable amount and quality. Some were struggling with more than they could chew, but most were doing just fine. The one downside to that though was the increase in water usage. It was rapidly draining the few remaining irrigation channels, so construction plans for more, along with a large water reservoir was already in the works, although the demand for resources for it had more than tripled the amount of resources already set aside for emergencies. But what really had Edwin''s attention at this point was the Ironworks. The foundation was already being built, after tearing down a huge number of dilapidated buildings in the western portion of Lower Jottenhiem, close to the mines that''ll feed it. In terms of pure area that Edwin had set out for it, the Ironworks is going to be bigger than even the Citadel itself. It was a joy to watch the work on it. But Edwin finally turns back to find Deloria already waiting for him; but today he''s without his mining helmet and mining tools. ¡°Good timing, Deloria. I need to speak with you.¡± Edwin says, although Deloria only frowns a bit before walking to face him. ¡°Well, don''t leave me hanging.¡± The Iron Pixie was still careful when talking to Edwin. In more than one way, she''s a bit scared of the otherwise good-natured Demon Lord. But his prowess against Spider Queen and his very cold personality when it comes to disobedience was a side of his personality she just couldn''t seem to get comfortable with. ¡°Its time I move on to learning how to blacksmith. So I just wanted to say thanks for teaching me mining.¡± Edwin says with a slight smile; although for some reason Deloria''s face had gone red. ¡°WHAT?! Smithing? You can''t be serious! You haven''t even mastered mining yet!¡± Deloria''s mask had cracked, and she started screaming at him without any sort of warning. Edwin''s left eye twitches, and the smile is gone in an instant. ¡°I warned you about yelling at me, Deloria.¡± Edwin replies coldly, although in his head he isn''t able to understand what had the woman so riled up. If anything, he figured she''d be happy not having him around. ¡°Like I give a fuck! I was planning to crush you during a mining contest once you got your skills up to my level! I was going to beat the shit out of you and keep my title as the best miner around!¡± She declares without any hesitation, yelling all over again. The workers around them had already stopped in their tracks and was watching the two of them in surprise. While it was common to hear Deloria scream and even cuss while she''s working or directing the mining crews under her command, actually yelling at Edwin Cast was like trying to sign your own death warrant. It left them all in shock. ¡°Eh. So that''s what you had planned.¡± Edwin says, although the frown on his face had gone stiff for a moment. He''d never had any intention of fighting Deloria. But he simply couldn''t stand her belligerent tone toward him. For some reason it ticks him off to no end. ¡°Fine. I already warned you, so I''m not going to show you any mercy. I''m going to beat your ass.¡± Edwin finally says, causing Deloria''s face to grow even redder, if it was at all possible. ¡°But it won''t be in mining. I want to see just how good you are in a real fight. If I win, you''ll never yell at me, EVER again.¡± Edwin says, crossing his large arms over his equally large chest, looking down at the smaller woman with a chilly little grin on his lips. The look of a rabid predator that makes everyone who sees it, including Deloria herself, shiver. ¡°Humph! Fine, asshole! But if I win... You''ll stay and level up your skills in mining and then fight me for real! I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO SMEAR MY NAME, BASTARD!¡± He yells right back at him, and the crowd cannot help but gasp. A fight between the Iron Pixie Deloria and the Demon Lord. No one would have foreseen that. And many were wanting to actually see the fight. Edwin had other plans though. ¡°Lucien! Get these men back to work!¡± Edwin calls out, and without even batting an eye, Lucien starts to order the men back into doing their jobs. Edwin turns back to Deloria and makes a motion with his hand. ¡°Follow me. We''ll do this away from these people. No use in reducing productivity.¡± He says, although his voice had gone toneless; like it always does when facing an enemy. The predatory smile had also disappeared, leaving his face blank. Its probably what scares Deloria the most about Edwin; that cold, calculating calm that comes over him before every fight. But Edwin turns and is already walking off toward the far abutment of the mine, close to where the large gravel pits had been set for all the stone waste that was pulled out of the mountainside. He didn''t even notice that Deloria had broken out in a silent, cold sweat. But she still follows him after gathering her courage again. Lucien makes as if to follow them though, but Edwin shakes his head and sends the older goblinoid back to watching over the mine while the two of them were gone. He didn''t want witnesses for this one. This was a purely personal matter for Edwin. It only takes about ten minutes to reach the barren slate of rock, out of sight of the mine that Edwin had picked out. The terrain was mostly flat, with only a handful of large boulders and rocky outcroppings on three sides. It was shaped almost like the stage of an amphitheater, in fact. Edwin glances around and makes sure everything is in order, and Deloria does the same; clicking her tongue. But Edwin also has something to do first, so he lifts his right hand and looks at the crystal embedded in his wrist. ¡°Status Screen.¡±
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons10
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals745693
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals634360
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals750920750
LeadershipLuck
3170
Unused Stat Points45
He''d gotten quite a number of bonus stats ever since his fight with the Spider Queen a week ago, and he even purses his lips a little at the amount of mana he already had. Very close to a total of a thousand. It was very nice. He also has a number of unused stat points, which he''d been wondering about. He quickly clicks that line of his menu, pulling up another screen.
Information Screen ¨C Unused Stat Points
Every level grants 5 stat points which can be put into any stat. All unlocked stats may be boosted in this manner; but once decided re-selection is not possible. Some Stats may be changed or expanded once enough points have been invested into them and other unknown requirements are fulfilled. Due to your unique class special bonuses or passive abilities may become unlocked with unused stat points.. Due to your unique race special bonuses or passive abilities may become unlocked with unused stat points. Check the Purchase Traits menu for more information.
That was something Edwin had not expected. Purchasing traits or passive abilities? He''d never heard of anything like that. Lucien had not even hinted on anything of that sort. It caught his interest though, so he holds up his hand to Deloria, who was already glaring at him for taking so long. ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± He says simply, before clicking the Purchase Traits button. An entire new screen opens up in front of his eyes.
Purchase Traits Screen
Traits are racial or class characteristics that provide different bonuses or effects. For beings born in the world of Eternia, they are chosen randomly at birth through a system that ranks their parents abilities and the child''s natural characteristics. Summoned beings are free of this restriction. You may freely pick any trait listed, so long as you meet the requirements and have the necessary points required to purchase them. Purchases cannot be refunded. Some may become unlocked due to personal actions or achievements. They will be highlighted with a * symbol.
Unused Stat Points45
Traits Selection Screen
Available Racial TraitsPoint Cost
Racial Trait ¨C Smoldering Skin10
Smoldering Skin is a trait that causes your skin to exert a slight heat that changes temperature due to your mood. It provides a bonus to both heat and cold resistance. It cannot be used alongside the Freezing Skin trait.
Racial Trait ¨C Freezing Skin10
Freezing Skin is a trait that causes your skin to exert a slight cold feeling that changes temperature due to your mood. It provides a bonus to both heat and cold resistance. It cannot be used alongside the Smoldering Skin trait.
Racial Trait ¨C Dragon Scales50
Dragon Scales allows the growth of armored scales that can be used to boost defense during combat. Unlocks the ability ''Hardened Defense'' when activated.
Racial Trait ¨C Razor Horn5
Your horn has turned wickedly sharp, and can be used both to slice and pierce your enemies. Amongst other things.
Racial Trait ¨C Dual Horns20
Dual Horns causes your distinctive single horn to grow a mate and migrate to either side of your head. It unlocks the skill ''Horn Sensitivity'', which provides a similar function to the ''Detect Presence'' ability.
Racial Trait ¨C Devil''s Tail10
The Devil''s Tail is a trait that causes the you to grow a long, fully prehensile tail that can be used as an extra limb when it comes to grabbing and manipulating objects. It also unlocks the ''Tail Whip'' and ''Tail Manipulation'' skills. This trait can be taken twice, either doubling the number of tails or allowing a shape-changing ability; but at a greater price of points.
Racial Trait ¨C Tail Growth10
Tail Growth allows the growing of a single whip-like non-prehensile tail that can be used in combat. Its size can be changed with a thought. It unlocks the ''Tail Whip'' skill. When taken together with either the first or second tier of Devil''s Tail, the traits combine into a third, stronger version.
Racial Trait ¨C Demon Eye15
Demon Eyes carry a variety of traits; ranging from seeing mana to seeing into the future or identification. Only one eye may be a Demon Eye, as the effect is hard to control without proper training. Depending upon which type of eye is chosen, the associated skill is unlocked. It consumes mana to activate.
Racial Trait ¨C Third Eye100
The Third Eye trait causes the creation of a third eye somewhere on the body. The third eye is a combination of various demon eyes; but consumes a great amount of mana to use. If taken along with the Demon Eye trait, the traits merge and create a new eye, the ''Eye of the Overlord'', which is extremely powerful but consumes vast amounts of mana to use. The skill ''Beholder of the Third Eye'' is unlocked.
Racial Trait ¨C Demon Wings20
Demon Wings are either leathery or darkly feathered wings that allow for flight. They provide a bonus to air resistance. Unlocks the skills ''Flight'' and ''Glide''.
Racial Trait ¨C Dragon Wings50
Dragon Wings are vast leathery wings that allow flight. They are tipped with sharp talons that allow wing attacks during combat. If taken along with Demon Wings, the two traits merge to create a vast pair of wings that can be used for defense as well as flight, and carrying of passengers. Unlocks the skills ''Flight'', ''Glide'', and ''Wing Combat''.
Racial Trait ¨C Wing Growth10
Wing Growth allows the you to grow a pair of wings of various types. The wings are too weak to allow flight, but do allow you to glide. The size, shape, and type of wings can be freely chosen. If taken alongside either Demon Wings, Dragon Wings, or both, the traits are combined to allow complete control of the wings. Unlocks the ''Glide'' skill.
Racial Trait ¨C Greater Void Demon500
An evolution trait that causes the growth from a regular Void Demon to a Greater Void Demon. Enhances Void Affinity, generates greater resistances, boosts stats and provides other unknown bonuses. Can be unlocked through an unknown sequence of actions without purchasing.
Racial Trait ¨C Morph5
A single-use trait that can be taken several times. Each purchase allows you to change a physical characteristic of your body; including but not limited to height, weight, proportions, eye color, hair color and other features. Provides no other bonuses.
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Traits Selection Screen
Available Class TraitsPoint Cost
Class Trait ¨C-
There were quite too many options to go into at this point, but something on the racial traits list caught his attention. Hm. A tail? A tail could definitely be useful; and after reading the description, a slight grin crosses his lips. Why the hell not give it a try? Especially a prehensile tail, which can be used as a third hand when needed. But the other one, the Tail Growth trait was also interesting, and could even combine. He really doesn''t give it much thought and selects several options all at once. *DING*
Traits Purchased
Devil''s Tail ¨C Rank 1 Purchased. Devil''s Tail ¨C Rank 2 Purchased. Tail Shapeshifting ability chosen. Tail Growth ¨C Purchased. Devil''s Tail and Tail Growth have combined into the Demon''s Tail Trait. Total Stat Point Cost: 40 Remaining Unused Stat Points: 5
Demon''s Tail Trait
Demon''s Tail is a unique combined trait that allows the growth of a freely shapeshifting, prehensile tail; which can be used both in combat and out. The tails limitations are directly connected to the levels of the skills associated with it. Skills unlocked: Tail Whip, Tail Manipulation, Tail Enhancement, Tail Morphing.
Quite a few new screens popped up in front of him, but he didn''t really have the time to do much more than scan through them. A slight grin comes across his lips though. At least until a burning pain right at the top of his tailbone starts shooting up his spine. He grunts, and shudders a little as a sudden sweat breaks out across his forehead as the change in his body takes place. It takes several minutes for it to stop, and even Deloria was glancing at him worriedly. ¡°What the hell is the hold up?!¡± She finally snaps as Edwin was taking a slow, deep breath. The pain had stopped, but now he could clearly feel the difference. There''s an unusual bulge where normally a person would have a divot where the spine meets the pelvis, and with a thought he could feel what he could do with the hidden tail. It definitely felt weird though. ¡°I was updating my stats.¡± Edwin finally says after a moment of experimenting. There''s just enough wiggle room in his pants to bring the tail out; but he keeps it hidden for the moment. Deloria though simply grunts and lifts the pickax from her shoulder, swinging it back and forth fast enough and hard enough to cause a steady whistling in the air. Edwin arches a brow at her before shrugging, taking a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow. Thankfully the transformation hadn''t dropped any of his health or stamina. He still had to fight, after all. ¡°Fine! You ready yet? I''m tired of standing here!¡± The short woman yells, a mask of anger falling over her otherwise cute features. The earth under Edwin''s feet seems to rumble at the same time; although he remains as steady as a boulder in the face of it. Deloria really was extremely skilled with Earth-based abilities. But that wasn''t anything that Edwin hadn''t known himself. ¡°Yep. Come at me.¡± He finally says, showing an almost disinterested smirk on his lips. It only proves to anger the small woman further, and instead of running her wings open wide as she makes a mad rush right at him. Just like others who were only interested in brute strength, she didn''t even bother with tactics or feints. She reminds him of Krash in that manner. So he simply stood there and waits; seemingly infinitely patient and unconcerned. But her speed in the air was faster than Krash''s on the ground had been. She was before him in moments, swinging her pick wildly at him. He doesn''t even move. But Deloria is jerked to the right by a sudden force and her strike misses him by inches. Even before she could realize what had happened, she''s jerked in the other direction. During the space of a breath, while she''s totally distracted, Edwin steps forward and raises his large fist; slamming it into her left cheek even as a sudden lash seems to comes down across her back, cutting through the same overalls she''s been wearing the entire time that Edwin had known her. Deloria screams at the pain, and her wings spasm in motion as they try to pull her back. But Edwin was already in control of the pace of the fight, and jerks her forward toward him again with another jerk. Its only then that she realizes what''s going on. Something is wrapped around her waist! She doesn''t have much more time to figure out what it was though, as Edwin''s right fist slams into her other cheek with a solid ''WRACK'' of sound that threatens to unbalance her. But with his hold around her waist, he keeps her standing and instead starts punching her over and over again. He wasn''t even bothering to use any weapons, just his body against her. Each punch was like being hit by a hammer, as well. During the past few weeks, he''d raised his strength several times, and it showed with every WHAM! he made against her body. Only after six or so more punches does she find herself being tossed backward by his tail, which had suddenly released her. She can do little more but try to correct her fall with her wings; but he chases after her and his tail blurs into action, whipping at her body with slashes that cleanly cut through her clothing and leave long welts on her small, silvery-skinned body. Its only when she hits the ground on her back does she seem to wake up from her surprise, and screams. The earth underneath her responds, and raises in a solid wall a foot think between them; reflecting Edwin''s tail attack. ¡°BREAK!¡± He yells as he slams into the wall though, and through a combination of his strength, constitution, and the Hide of Earth ability, he basically barrels right through the wall as if it were paper. It did take a chunk out of his health though, but it was more than satisfying to see the look of utter surprise on Deloria''s face as her wall crumbles and he''s left standing there, only just slightly panting. Now though, behind him a slim tail is whipping back and forth in the air. Its as red as the rest of his body, and its length is tapered down almost to a sharp point, and surprisingly thin. It was enough to cut through clothing and flesh if he swung it at full force. ¡°I told you what would happen if you continued to yell at me, Deloria.¡± He growls, and his tail whips out again, making another slice through her clothing and against her flesh; opening up the front of her overalls from the top almost to her naval. The flesh beneath was raised and red. But he wasn''t done, even if his opponent was shocked. So he steps forward as his tail wraps around her waist again, lifting her up with much more strength than a tail that size should be able to exert. It was part of the hidden bonuses of the combined traits he''d unlocked. He''s able to exert 100% of his strength, dexterity, and constitution stats with his tail as if it really was a new limb. Deloria is so surprised that she even let go of her pickax, which clangs on the ground. Her eyes open wide, she stares at Edwin. If he didn''t know better, he''d almost think that she''d fainted on him. In truth she''d been hit with the Stun status, and it was still ticking down for her, leaving her almost completely unable to resist. Not that it matters. He flips her over and raises her ass toward him. This was really no longer a fight. It was a beating, one she rightfully deserved, in Edwin''s opinion. Many others would also agree with him. ¡°You.¡± He slaps her ass hard with his open hand. ¡°Act.¡± Slap again. ¡°Like¡± Another hard slap. ¡°A¡± This time she actually cries out as he spanks her ass like a kid. ¡°Child.¡± Another hard slap, this time alternating with his other hand. ¡°Then.¡± Slap. ¡°I''m¡± Slap. ¡°Going.¡± Slap. ¡°To.¡± Back to the other hand, which one getting progressively harder. ¡°Treat.¡± Slap! ¡°You.¡± Slap! Deloria suddenly screams out with this one. ¡°LIKE!¡± SLAP! ¡°ONE!¡± He spanks her ass for the last time, and suddenly drops her onto the ground. Deloria is crying, and her bottom is hurting and he hadn''t held back one bit. But more than that, she was utterly embarrassed. It wasn''t just because he''d fulfilled the punishment he''d promised her when they first me, either. She''d thought that he''d just beat her and be done with it. But she never imagined that he''d literally whip her ass black and blue. No doubt she''d have a hard time sitting for days if not a full week. But more than that, well... She had orgasmed in her overalls while he was doing it! Her face was red in more than one way; but all Edwin does is stare down at her. He hadn''t noticed, and instead was waiting to see what she had to say for herself next. His cold, indifferent stare only served to make her grind her thighs together more so. Finally though she calms down after a few minutes, and rolls over to sprawl on her side, grimacing at where her bottom comes into contact with the ground. She looks at him, her eyes red and her long hair a mess; but bites her lip for a moment. Edwin though was done. The battle rage had left him as they both calmed down, so he turns and starts walking back toward the mine. He could at least salvage the rest of his day. ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Deloria suddenly calls to him, although it wasn''t one of her usual screams. ¡°What, Deloria? I am busy, you know.¡± Edwin calls back, stopping and looking over his shoulder at her. ¡°You... you... You! Take responsibility!¡± She yells at him suddenly, although her face goes even redder than before. She hadn''t meant to say it like that! ¡°Huh?¡± Okay, Edwin is more than a little dense, but he doesn''t get what she''s referring to. ¡°Don''t ''huh'' me! You...! You! Treating me like a little girl! You even made me..!¡± She snaps her mouth shut at that, and Edwin turns and stares at her again, more than tired of being yelled at. Before Deloria could say anything else, he marches right back up in front of her, and his tail whips again, this time cross-wise right under her breasts; leaving another clean cut in her overalls and this time leaving another welt stripe just below her breasts. With the cross-shaped cut in the front of her overalls now, the hanging material suddenly falls, exposing most of her bare stomach and the bottom reaches of her breasts. They are quite large, especially for her otherwise small body. But what really catches Edwin''s attention is the fact that Deloria didn''t scream. Or cry. No, she moaned. And shuddered, clenching her legs tightly together, her hands pressed against her lower stomach. Her face going beet red again, she simply stares at Edwin in shock. In truth, he stares right back, this time in surprise though. Oh boy. He really doesn''t know how to react to that. But this time even he''s able to tell what''s going on. She''d just got off from being hit. Even he cannot escape the great pile of figurative bricks that comes crashing down right on his head. Hahahahahaha! He cannot help but break out in laughter. It was just too unexpected to him. Maybe it shouldn''t surprise him, but it did. (This is the start of the first sex scene. For those who do not wish to read it, I am going to put it in spoilers, so you can skip it to have it fade-to-black. For the rest of you, feel free to read on!) Spoiler : (Warning ¨C Masochism and rough sex are involved. If you do not like that sort of play, read no further!) ¡°Hey! Don''t stand there laughing! Take responsibility!¡± Deloria yells at him, suddenly seemingly angry again, although her face was red from embarrassment and her body was hot. Almost burning up. The whipping he''d given her, then the spanking... She''d never gone through anything like it. For the most part, she hadn''t been interested in guys at all. Only big men like Krash and the half-trolls had ever gotten even a bit of interest from her. She was far too involved with her work and her skills to chase after sex, much less love. But now, there was no way for her to deny it. Edwin had beaten her handily in a fight; and then proceeded to beat her personally. The sting of the whip against her body, his large, powerful hands on her ass... None of it really phased her pain-wise. But her body responded to it all the same. The rougher he got, the harder he got, the more her body responded. She''d noticed while she was stunned by his attack that she was wet. Soaking wet. Wet enough that he could feel it dripping down her thighs when she was lifted up again. The dark color of her overalls, and the dust in them kept Edwin from noticing the effect it was having on her; but it did nothing to hide her own embarrassment. And then she''d orgasmed during the spanking. If it wasn''t for the fact that he''d hit her twice more during that time, she probably would have fainted. Even now, laying sideways on the stony earth, her body was hot and tingly. He''d hit her again with his tail; another whip that this time had even touched her breasts. She''d came again. And there was no way to suppress the moan of pleasure that left her throat. The copper-haired, silver-skinned Iron Pixie was a closet masochist. Even she didn''t know it. She''d never minded pain; but this was the first time it had ever made her respond like this. It made her want to curl up or burrow into the earth and never come out! But the embarrassment didn''t stop her from demanding Edwin to finish what he''d started. Even she didn''t realize that was what she was yelling about. Edwin though also realized it; and after the surprise wore off, he couldn''t help but give a grin that could only be called devilish. Or demonic. Definitely demonic. ¡°So the loud-mouthed child is a masochist... That is a twist I definitely didn''t foresee.¡± He says coldly. Looking down at her acting like that, it was like something in his head had switched into the ''On'' position. Edwin could never had been said to be anything like a sadist; but he was tired and angry and more than a little pent up himself. You could say it was an unknown characteristic of being reborn as a Demon. After all, most Demons don''t hold many morals when it comes to sex. Or desire, for that matter. ¡°I AM NOT A CHILD!¡± Deloria yells at him again though; but even before she''d finished screaming his tail was already slashing at her; this time a stroke right across both of her breasts, almost in a perfectly straight line. She screams and moans again, her body shuddering even as he hits her again and again and again; each slash cutting through her clothing around her breasts and then down her thighs; exposing more and more of her flesh and with enough force to roll her over onto her back. She screams even louder when her already abused ass rubs against the rough ground; and once again her body shudders roughly. This time though it doesn''t stop with an orgasm. Spreading out on the ground between her thighs a rapidly spreading puddle glistens in the sunlight. Deloria had pissed herself, and her face goes even more red, if it were at all possible. Her face is almost the same red as Edwin''s skin by now. ¡°No!!!¡± She finally cries; even as she shudders and tries to sit up. But she cannot even get up; the sudden pain and flash of pleasure forcing her body to shudder and collapse once again. This time it causes her to wiggle across the ground, driving her further and further into painful bliss. Edwin though isn''t done with her; so his tail whips around one of her wrists, then the other, and suddenly lifts her light body into the air. But with her clothing in tatters, there isn''t much separating her bare skin from Edwin''s hungry gaze. ¡°Look at you. You don''t even wear underwear, do you?¡± Edwin teases her with his cold tone, and reaches out and grabs one side of her overalls; and with a sudden twist and a jerk of his strength, he tears the material from her; leaving roughened scratches against her skin; especially along her thighs and between her legs, where the most material remained. Deloria is utterly unable to respond as she''s suddenly bared to him; simply grasping and shuddering slightly; so so close to orgasm again. She''s almost desperate, and doesn''t even try to close her legs, either. All she can do is look away and bite her lower lip. Barely two feet tall, her baggy overalls had been hiding all the right curves for a much more attractive woman. Her breasts are at least a large C-cup, if not D in their own right; and perfectly pert, too. Cross-crossed in red welts against the silvery flesh; it makes a nice contrast that fits her quite perfectly as well. She even has rather large nipples; and they''re hard and standing out proudly, pointing just slightly upward from the center swell. Edwin doesn''t even say anything back when he reaches out and grabs those glorious breasts in front of him with his rough grip; squeezing and massaging her firm, yet very soft flesh even as his palms slowly, but roughly grind across her hard, sensitive nubs. Deloria groans, and is unable to do anything but whimper and try to arch her chest more into his grip. She wasn''t even resisting, and instead opens her mouth to pant; her eyes half-closed as if in delirium. Or lust. Maybe a mix of both. But the slight string of saliva that was visible on her lip drew Edwin in, and he kisses her hard; roughly; his tongue pushing into her mouth with a passion that surprised them body. Tasting her, teasing his tongue against her own in a rough wrestling match; soon enough she''s moaning into his mouth and trying desperately to push herself closer, even as he holds her up by her wrists above her head. He pulls away after only a couple of moments though, and she moans even more when he nips her lower lip hard enough to draw blood. Edwin actually grins, licking her lip and is quite surprised at the sweet, coppery taste. Hm. But soon enough he is drawn back to what he''s done when Deloria starts to shudder harder in his hands, and this time he gets to watch as she orgasms; a slight spray of misty fluids being ejected from between her thighs. He simply grins though; but even before she''s done his hands move, and suddenly her hard nipples are pinched between his fingers; twisting them with a rough, sure grip back and forth. This causes Deloria to scream and arch back further; her legs starting to kick as the orgasm she was already experiencing doubles in pressure. If she hadn''t already emptied her bladder on the ground, she probably would have lost it right then and there, as well. ¡°Ooooh... Oh... My... My Lord, please... Please.¡± She finally finds her voice, although its as low as a whisper. She almost never called him that, as well. But at least she wasn''t yelling at him now. But she still wasn''t looking him in the face. Edwin though knows what she wants, and after another rough twist to her nipples followed by a tug, he lets go of her breasts and instead starts pulling off his own clothing. The sound of it catches Deloria''s attention, and she gasps as he pulls off his under shirt, exposing his broad, muscular chest and the eight pack he''s sporting underneath. His arms are likewise muscular and thick; the sharply defined edges of them pressing up underneath his blood-red skin in sharp contrast. Her gaze seems almost to be glued to him; but she does follow his hands as he starts working at his belt and trousers; which are looser and thinner than the normal ones he''d wear around the Citadel. Its really too hot underground to want to wear heavy thread. Kicking off his boots, followed by his trousers and then the under-shorts he''s wearing, Deloria''s panting has only gotten heavier, her body red with need with every inch of skin he exposes. She was almost burning up from the inside, and was already sweating, even though the sweat stings every time it touches one of the red welts that criss-cross her flesh. All it did was make her burn even more. And finally Edwin is just as bare as she is, his clothing tossed into a pile nearby, along with her own utterly shredded garment. Deloria''s gaze wasn''t interested in such matters though. Instead she was staring rather intently at a single part of Edwin''s body. Her mouth was hanging open, as well. When Edwin was still a human, he''d only an above average endowment, but after being reborn and growing... Well, like the rest of him, his cock had grown too. And it was almost more ''hammer'' than ''rod'', to boot. Screw male enhancement commercials, we should all find out what Edwin''s been eating. Like with every other physical feature he has, its the same blood red colored as the rest of him, and is seemingly perfectly proportional to the rest of his body. And it seems to drive Deloria crazy; so much so that she even tries to move her arms as if to touch it. But with her arms locked above her head, all she can do is groan with need. Edwin himself though was more than ready to get his own relief, and with a grin on his lips he glances around, finding a nice place in the lee of a large boulder that''s reclined enough for him to sit up against. Walking toward it with the pixie hanging from his grasp would have been an amusing thing to see, if others had any idea what was going on. In fact, the only one who even knew was in a sulky mood, watching from crystal facet set above Edwin''s heart in his chest. Finally though Deloria is released as Edwin sits down in the spot he''d picked out, leaving the woman straddling his stomach; watching with some detached amusement as she groans and arches up against him; her face looking as if his touch was both burning her and pushing her rapidly toward ultimate bliss. ¡°Come now, Deloria, control yourself! Show me that you want it right now; or I''m going to leave you here naked and exposed for the first group of vultures to come along to take a bite out of you!¡± Edwin almost yells at her; his tone cold and commanding and ruthless; his words spoken with more than a little truth. He wants to see just how far she''d go, and how far he could push her. For the most part, Deloria is captivated by the idea; except she has absolutely no interest in anyone else. Being watched is one thing. Allowing others to touch her? Completely another. ¡°Aaah... Yessss. My Lord...¡± She gasps between breaths as she tries to regain control of herself, and with slow, almost painful movements she slides down his sculpted body, until she''s finally ground right up against his hard length; and she gasps and groans again, sounding close to crying again as she works herself just slightly against his head. Edwin though was watching her; letting her down it herself. If she really wanted it, she''d take it and then Edwin would take control again. If not, then he''d drop her and move on to find someone else to sate his need. His thoughts are cold and ruthless, without any of the usual kindness or charm. But that only served to excite Deloria more; and she finally reaches down with trembling hands between their bodies; grasping at him with oddly feather-light touches before grinding herself more so down on him. ¡°Ah. Ah... Aaaaahhh... Please.¡± She groans as she presses her, wiggling her small body on him now; more desperate and wanting than even when he was hitting her. That had given her pleasure and bliss and pain in equal measure. But now she needed something more. The burning in her body and her core wouldn''t be squelched until then. She knew it instinctively, and Edwin knew it with a look. Neither of them really had it right, though. Deloria''s small body was having some troubles though, so Edwin finally decides to provide her with a bit of help; and grins as his hands come up to take her just above her hips; holding her tightly even as he pushes her down; and thrusts upwards at the same time. This time Deloria screams loud enough to draw attention as he penetrates roughly into her body; only to groan and gasp and wiggle herself in spasm after spasm. He also groans; feeling her tightness and wetness and the heat of her body around him. It was bliss; but he was wanting more. Far, far more. So he starts to use her to get it; thrusting and pulling her down even harder in rhythm, grunting with each piston in and out of her folds. He''d taken her virginity, and stretched her wide open; and yet Deloria didn''t even resist; and instead was riding one orgasm after another; coating Edwin in her juices while her body almost goes beyond any sense of control. ¡°Yess...¡± Edwin groans; even as turns into a hard, rough, deep fucking; no longer playful or even masochistic. Deloria was in as much pain and discomfort as she could handle; and was loving every moment of it even if she wasn''t quite coherent. Edwin on the other hand was rushing headlong toward his own bliss with an animalistic need that would have been shocking to see, much less experience. But like all first times, it comes to an end rather quickly; with Edwin pushing and thrusting as deeply as he could before spraying deep into Deloria''s belly; having broken into her womb long before. The roughness of the penetration and then the sudden rush of heat into her stomach though simply skyrockets her into another round of orgasms; no longer able to scream or do more than gasp for breath after so long. They end up staying that way for quite a while, even as Edwin softens and slips from her body; and Deloria catches her breath and calmness and lays across Edwin''s stomach and chest, utterly spent and exhausted. Both of them continue to pant for a bit longer though. (End of true sex scene; although there is a bit of ero to continue the story from where it left off.) The two of them lay panting and sweating side-by-side on the ground; although Edwin was laid back against a boulder, as if lounging in a recliner. Deloria was up against his side, having rolled herself off of him only moments before. Neither of the are speaking for the moment; and the desire and need that had burned bright in the two of them was slowly dimming, having been sated, in more ways than one. At least until Deloria gently strokes her only stomach; only to find it bloating against her fingers. ¡°EH!?¡± She suddenly tries to yell; except her throat is so parched and raw that she almost cannot make any sound at all. Edwin had quite literally almost whipped the voice from her. But its still loud enough to catch his attention, and he looks down to see where she''s staring. Even in front of his eyes, Deloria''s belly was swelling rapidly; and for a moment he has another of those dumb-surprised moments, where he can only blink. ¡°What the hell?¡± He finally says, before he too reaches down to rub her bare stomach. He''s surprised though that his hand meets a hard resistance just under her flesh and muscle, and he frowns for a moment. ¡°An egg?¡± He mutters. ¡°Do Pixie''s even lay eggs?¡± He finally asks over his surprise; but Deloria is still staring at her stomach in shock. ¡°Deloria! Hey!¡± He shouts and shakes her shoulder at the same time, finally snapping her out of it. ¡°Do pixies lay eggs?¡± He asks, to which she suddenly nods; although there''s a look of surprise on her face. ¡°Pureblood pixies lay eggs; but I''m an Iron Pixie. A mutation. Iron Pixies are infertile.¡± She finally speaks after a moment, although her eyes had once more centered on her stomach. *DING*
With a combination of lust, desire, need and rampant mana, Deloria Bargest has formed a Mana Egg after mating with the Demon Lord, Edwin Cast. Mana Eggs are extremely powerful and rare, consisting of raw power of one or more elemental types that has been crystallized into a solid chunk of mana. Only beings with a large affinity in one of the elements represented in the egg may touch the Mana Egg. The Mana Egg may be used in magic or alchemy, and can have various properties depending upon its size, shape, and purity. Other effects may be possible as not a lot is known about Mana Eggs.
The sudden message surprises Edwin, and he''s about to swipe it away when he finally realizes what it is about. Deloria though has no clue until Edwin brings her attention to him with a pat on her shoulder. ¡°Show message.¡± He says, allowing his Status Crystal to project the message for her. Deloria gasps, but groans again as the egg continues to get larger within her. ¡°A Mana Egg?! But its so big!¡± She groans; although not from any pain. Its like her lower body is paralyzed, leaving her with only a feeling of vague discomfort. Its even more mysterious when she births it only minutes later; with only a slight grunt of pressure. It seemed to just pass right through her. ¡°Whoah...¡± Edwin cannot help but blink as the ''egg'' comes to rest between Deloria''s thighs. Its almost as big as Edwin''s head is, and given its weight when it hits the ground with a rumble, would be hard to have almost anyone pick it up, even if they could touch it. But its color definitely isn''t what either of them had expected. Its almost completely black, streaked through with the same blood red color as Edwin''s skin. Simply looking at it made Edwin feel like he was back in the Void. It has the same dark, empty, endless feeling to it. ¡°The Void...¡± He mutters, and reaches out to touch it with his right hand before he even realizes what he is doing. ZZZZPH! It shocks him as soon as his flesh touches the oddly cool surface; and Edwin cannot help screaming in sudden agony that seems to burn into his veins, turning his blood into fire. He''s knocked unconscious even before the scream has finished leaving his throat. ¡°EDWIN!¡± -|- -|- -|- Hey guys, its me again with another REALLY LONG post! Part 2 of Chapter 9 took a long time to finally finish writing; but here it is! I hope you guys enjoy! There''s plenty more to come with Part 3 though, so stay tuned! Mwhahahaha! Let me know what you guys thought of the sex scene as well. As you can tell, I tend to be rather descriptive, but doing so adds more length; and I''m already pushing 16 pages for Part 2 by itself! So I did cut it a bit short at the end, sorry! Also, I need to make something of a confession here. My real life has not been a steady, pleasing thing for the past month or so. Problems with family, life, and work have kept me constantly distracted, worried, and more than a little depressed and even more worried. So I''m going to ask you guys for help. I received permission earlier today to put up a Donation button in my posts, so I''m asking you guys to help a fellow reader and writer out. I plan to continue writing regardless, but every dollar will provide some relief, and if I can finally put things to rest I can devote even more time to writing! Thank you, guys!
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Announcements [2/24/15] Hiya guys! Its been a while. The past week has been... bad. Major snow storms, more than a foot of snow followed by freezing rain and sleet and then more than 6 inches of regular rain to top it all off, which promptly froze back up. I''ve spent most of the week without internet, and then the last part of the week without power at all. That last bit is the kicker though. I''d been writing up the new chapter post for Master of Dungeons in a text file when the power went out. >.<'''' No auto-backup, nadda. Its all gooooooone. 17 pages worth of writing went poof at all once. I was pisssssssed and more than a little... blah. Basically, I don''t have the drive to pick it back up right now. Re-writing the whole thing is going to be a bitch and a half. So this is my announcement of a hiatus from Master of Dungeons. I originally put it off when I got the idea for Universe Online, but for the next few weeks or so I''m just not going to deal with it. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Sorry guys! That being said, I''m going to start posting Universe Online volume 2 chapters within the next day or two. You guys can come check it out with the rest of the sci-fi fanatics if you reallllly need your Viken fix. Mwhahaha. However, I will be returning to MoD. The project hasn''t been abandoned! I will returrrrrrrrrrrrrrn! Okay, feel free to leave comments, messages and whatever else you want in this thread. I''m probably going to get a scolding, but whatever. Oh! Universe Online is sitting at the Top 11 spot. I want to see just what it''d take to kick it into the top 10! There''s only 10 chapters so far, so rank 11 is awesome! Haha. Interest Check + Poll Hi guys! It has been a while. I finished up Volume 2 of Universe Online, so I''m debating on rather or not to jump back into Master of Dungeons in order to flesh it out to at least Chapter 10. So I''m going to put this poll up here and see just how many people would like that. I''m also going to try to get donations going here, cause I rather need to help. As most of you know, I put the first half of Universe Online Volume 1 up on Kindle, but what I didn''t realize until afterwards is that the royalty payments don''t start for 90 days. So I''m in a bit of a bind. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. So any help you guys offer would be great! And would keep me out of the doghouse, quite literally. Heh. Anyway, which do you want? More Universe Online or a restart of Master of Dungeons? Chapter 9 - Ores and Alloys (Part 3) Edwin was once more in darkness. Thick and viscous, it was a far cry from the dream he''d had of this place before. It was like his entire body was weighed down. He couldn''t hardly move. Even breathing was difficult. Unlike last time though, there isn''t anything there to greet his presence, and the void was so dark that he could barely make out his own body at all; a bare outline that had gone so pale that even the red was missing from his skin. He looked like a ghost. ¡°He... hello?¡± He finally sputters, but his voice was just as weak and soft as the rest of him. -You have returned, Edwin Cast. But you are close to death. The mysterious voice comes out of the darkness again, and for a moment Edwin cannot do anything but twist up his face. He was dying? He could still remember the pain that had ravaged his body, as if his blood had turned into fire running through the whole of him. No part of him was spared. But he still couldn''t say anything. Simply trying to open his mouth was as physically draining as if he were climbing a mountain. -Do not try to speak. I know what has transpired. The Mana Egg that you caused to birth was unexpected, and contained a very large amount of the power I had put to slumber in your body. You were not ready for it. The voice that echoes in the Void seemed to know what was going on, so all Edwin can do is give a slight nod. Trying to do any more would have taken far too much effort. -You will not die, Edwin Cast. But you will not be the same as you were, either. That power was far too great for you to touch this early, so it has warped you... That didn''t sound good. Not good at all. Edwin desperately tries to talk, to ask about what was going on, but even with his mouth open, no sound came out. Only a croak little more than a sigh, not even a whisper. -Do not fear. The power will settle in time, and as you grow strong enough to use it, your body will return to what it properly was. You should be grateful to that girl, Deloria Bargest, for she saved you from complete annihilation. The mixed elements of the Void, and the Fire and Earth that flows through her veins kept you from disappearing completely. Now go, sleep and regain your strength. We will meet again soon. The voice was quite a bit more talkative than last time, but at the same time its tone had turned curt and just a tad sour. Like a god, it didn''t enjoy unexpected surprises. But Edwin was thankful all the same as he fell back into the blackness of unconsciousness. He slept for two whole weeks. -|- -|- -|- Waking felt far more natural this time, even though the room was shrouded in darkness. He could make out the shape and the furniture though, and thus could tell that it was his chamber within the Citadel. But the windows were thickly covered, and there wasn''t a single candle to be found in the room. Nor lamp for that matter. He felt fine though, as if he had just woken from a restful nap instead of having been in utter unconsciousness. At least until he tries to sit up. And couldn''t. Not only could he not sit up, he couldn''t feel his arms or his legs, just a silky sort of sensation running up and down his otherwise working nerves. His shifting is enough to awake someone else, and suddenly a soft blue glow erupts from his chest, casting just enough light to see by. ¡°Edwin! You''re awake!¡± The voice was that of Jottenhiem, coming from the crystal facet buried in the flesh of his chest, above his head. ¡°Ah... Yeah. I''m awake, Jottenhiem. How long was I out for?¡± Edwin asks, although his throat was dry, and thus his voice was scratchy and thin at best. But it wasn''t until he''d already asked the question that he notices that he couldn''t even see his limbs. Instead there seemed to be some sort of black, foggy gauze covering most of his body, up to his mid-chest. He could neither feel nor see anything that lies beneath it. ¡°Oh... Um... You''ve been unconscious for two weeks.¡± Jottenhiem''s tone suddenly became soft and even a touch fearful. ¡°If that wasn''t bad enough... most of your body has disappeared.¡± She finally finishes, although her words had gone almost so soft that even Edwin couldn''t hear her. ¡°Disappeared?¡± He blurts out, trying to move his arms again. This time though, he notices a slight ripple in the black foggy -stuff- that covers him, and that''s when it sinks in. It wasn''t clothe, or even gauze. It wasn''t any sort of covering at all. It was like an inky black fog. It was the change that the voice in the Void had told him about. Most of his body had turned into fog. *DING*
You have consumed the Mana Egg of the Void!
By touching the Mana Egg of the Void you have absorbed it. The power was too great for your body due to your lack of Void Affinity, forcing a transformation to accommodate itself. The characteristics of this transformation are currently Unknown.
Void Affinity +200
Void Transformation (Incomplete)
The Void Transformation is the second Power of the Void. It turns the body into a black vapor or fog, immune to the effects of the physical world. Only mana and magic can affect this form. It allows the user to pass through the tiniest crack or hole, and with a high level of practice can even pass through solid objects altogether. But because this transformation was forced it is incomplete, and thus a part of the body is not able to properly transform. Movement penalties have been applied. Stat penalties have been applied. -95% Movement. -64 Strength. -46 Dexterity. -73 Constitution. You have gained a weakness to bright lights and sunlight. Strong light will cause the dispersion of your Void form, damaging your health. Once the light is removed, the mist will gradually rebuild as you regain your health. Applied Attributes are unaffected. Mental Attributes are unaffected. Leadership and Luck are unaffected.
The Void Form (Incomplete) Ability has been Unlocked!
The Void Movement Skill has been Unlocked!
Several things had popped up, and instead of losing his cool, he simply takes a couple of deep breaths. Okay, so it was bad. Worse than he''d imagined after his very strange dream back in the Void. But he''d been told that he''d almost died, and yet would remain alive but changed. But he was alive. So that''s a plus. ¡°Thank you, Jottenhiem. I''m okay. Just trying to catch up with everything.¡± He says after a moment, after hearing the spirit trying to hide a choking sob coming from the crystal in his chest. ¡°It seems something bad happened, and now I''m stuck between forms. But apparently I am still able to complete it and reverse it after a while.¡± He isn''t so sure about that, but its better than thinking negatively about it, right? The drop in his stats was a big hit though. He was basically down to level 1 again. But his overall health, mana and stamina remained the same. It also didn''t affect any of his mentality, either. Moving though was going to be a big problem. In truth, it was going to be a major pain in the ass. ¡°Ah. None of us knew what was going on. It started at your fingers, where you''d touched that really big Mana Egg, and then slowly crept up your body. By the time we got you back to the Citadel, you were almost dead from the light exposure.¡± Jottenhiem finally starts speaking up about what happened. ¡°I see. So it wasn''t just the pain.¡± He says, giving a slight nod to his head. At least he could do that, and even look around. But more than that, his mind was working furiously. This was a major setback for both his plans and his own work. He wasn''t the sort to take rest days or use his vacation time unless ordered to or was very sick. This basically qualifies, but there''s still too much to do. While thinking that, Edwin notices a small bell that''s been hung up by a string hanging over his head, connected to the large ornate headboard. For a moment a large question mark appears over his head, before he realizes what it is for. To alert others that he''s awake. Unable to move much from his position, he takes a deep breath and blows; causing the bell to jingle just a little. But the small runic script engraved on the bells surface casts a soft glow, and outside his chambers'' door he can hear someone suddenly shouting. Too bad Edwin cannot make out the words. But that bell is neat. Almost like a trap. Hm. He''ll have to save that information for later. Within moments the door bangs open, but there''s a thick sheet covering the outside to keep out any light. But the one who rushes in is Allisa, and not Lucien, whom Edwin had been expecting. ¡°AAAH! My Lord!¡± The blue elf is basically in tears, and doesn''t hold back at all as she flops onto his chest with a hug that would have been crushing... except her arms pass right through the black fog. He barely feels a tingle. ¡°I''m okay, Allisa, really.¡± He says soothingly after a moment, more than a little taken aback at her sobs. It was bad enough not knowing what to do about a crying woman, but not being able offer even a soothing touch was more than a little heartbreaking. ¡°Awwwh! You idiot!¡± Allisa''s yell is muffled against his chest, and all Edwin can do is sigh. It takes the Head Maid more than a few minutes to finally calm down and come to her senses, pulling back while wiping her eyes with the back of her hands between sniffles. ¡°Yes, yes. It is alright, Allisa. I''m an idiot.¡± He says gently, trying to placate the still crying blue elf while also shifting a little using his shoulders. She is surprisingly heavy on his chest, although he barely feels anything where her touch passes right through the fog-form that the rest of his body is. ¡°I know it looks bad, but it is reversible once the transformation finishes.¡± Those words snap the blue elf out of her stress and worry induced cry, and she suddenly jerks up and looks down at him with a stern gaze. ¡°You think the fact that you almost died is the only thing you have to apologize for?! Sleeping with that pixie hussy and then almost getting killed and worrying us all to death is only part of the problem!¡± It seems that Allisa isn''t her usual self. That causes Edwin to flinch a bit at her tone. Still, he meets her stern gaze evenly, as well as he could before he bobs one of his shoulders, which far less range of motion than he''d have if he was still able to move his arm. That in itself proves that there is still substance there, connected to the joint, cause it does cause a slight shifting in the fog that covers where his arm had been. It was slight, but it does catch his gaze out of the corner of his eye. ¡°That hussy didn''t do anything wrong besides getting on my nerves. But I do apologize for all of this.¡± His voice is still rough and scratchy, his throat still very much dry, but something in his tone causes Allisa''s features to soften a little, before firming back up as she looks at him. Her quivering chin however shows that she isn''t nearly as composed as she seems now, however. ¡°If you''d wanted to sleep with someone you should have come to me first. Idiot.¡± Allisa says, although she mutters the first part, which Edwin almost misses. Still, his brows raise at her, causing the blue elf to blush so much that her face nearly goes violet in color. Blue skin and red blood would do that to a person. ¡°Ah, there you are, Allisa. I hope I''m not interrupting.¡± The dry, amused voice jerks both Allisa and Edwin to look at the doorway, where Lucien has stepped in through the curtain with a slight smirk on his otherwise placid features. Edwin is thankful for the interruption, given the subject matter that Allisa had just brought up. It wasn''t really a conversation he was ready to have, and no doubt Allisa was just as thankful to have a reason to pretend she hadn''t said anything either. But that is one secret that''s out of the bag. ¡°Allisa, can you please get me something to drink? Lucien, I need an update. Jottenhiem said that I''d been out of it for two weeks now, and I have no idea what''s been going on.¡± Edwin steps in before anything else could be said, bringing the subject back around and taking that ''work now'' tone he uses without realizing it when he''s slipped into command. Allisa simply nods and removes herself from him, giving a slight bow without really looking in his direction, still blushing as she makes a beeline for the door even as Lucien steps aside, still looking slightly amused although it doesn''t reach his eyes. That wasn''t a good sign, from Edwin''s perspective. It means trouble. ¡°Things have been progressing as well as expected without you. We''ve kept most of the plans on track, except Miss Bargest has been here in the Citadel, under house arrest. Things have gotten complicated concerning what lead to your... injury.¡± Edwin lets out a sigh and nods, although he blows out a breath before looking down at his chest, where Jottenhiem''s crystal is still glowing slightly. ¡°I take it Jottenhiem was able to fill you in?¡± ¡°No, my lord. While you were unconscious we weren''t able to contact Jottenhiem at all. She''s been active, aware, as far as we can tell, but unresponsive.¡± That causes Edwin to blink, but he doesn''t get the chance to respond when Jottenhiem''s voice echoes out from his chest again. ¡°While you were unconscious I wasn''t able to speak, Edwin. The connection of your Void Space closed down almost completely during that time. I''ve been able to see out, but nothing else.¡± Jottenhiem''s tone is apologetic, but Edwin just scuffs instead of waving it off, although he was tempted to try; not that he could move at the moment. ¡°Okay, so I didn''t know that would happen. Now, how is Deloria? I hope Cormic didn''t treat her too harshly if she ended up under arrest.¡± That finally gets a laugh out of Lucien, who shakes his head, even as the goblinoid steps up to Edwin''s bedside. ¡°Deloria is fine. She requested the house arrest because everyone found out that you''d laid her.¡± This time the old manservant is smirking a bit, although Edwin can only roll his eyes at that. ¡°She rushed off to get help almost as soon as you consumed the Mana Egg, which she said was very large. Your screaming had already drew attention, but she got you help within moments of you passing out and started to transform. Without her there you likely would have died before anyone knew what was going on. She''s just been kept here in the Citadel to keep the other women away.¡± Oh, great. So not only had he been unconscious for two weeks, everyone knew that he''d fucked the Iron Pixie. After beating the crap out of her, as well. At least she wasn''t in any serious trouble, which he is thankful for. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Okay...¡± He stops when Allisa comes back in, carrying a tray with a large pitcher of cold water and a bit of food, which scent causes his stomach to rumble with a sudden need. It is loud enough that all three of them hear it, causing a smattering of chuckles to erupt. ¡°Seems I''m just in time. We haven''t really been able to feed you while you were out, so I thought you might get hungry. It is simple soup and warm bread fresh from the kitchens, but one of us will have to feed you~ Hehe.¡± Now that Allisa had gotten over her outburst, she''s almost bubbly again, and taking far too much amusement out of Edwin''s emancipated state than he''d prefer. He ends up scowling up at the blue elf head maid, which causes her to grin cheekily and dimple a bit. Lucien simply looks amused again. ¡°Fine. Feed me then so we can get back to work. I''m not going to be staying in this bed however. I''ve learned that it is possible to move in this situation, just rather slowly. Lucien, I need a heavy cloak or robe that''ll cover me completely. Any bright light or sunlight will hurt me right now.¡± ¡°I''ll see to it personally.¡± That snaps both Lucien and Allisa into action, with the goblinoid manservant quickly retreating to see to getting something usable for Edwin while Allisa sets about to feed him. The first bites are heavenly, but Edwin soon finds that he shouldn''t eat too fast, and ends up being fed little by little over a short while along with gentle sips of water from a small cup. Edwin is of serious mind of bringing in the notion of ''straws'' to this world, if only to make the bedside manner much more hospitable. Spilling half the cup of water down his chest almost convinced him of that. He didn''t get back to work that day, however. -|- -|- -|- Edwin was out of bed, and moving. If slowly. Very, very slowly. He was wearing a thick, heavy black robe, although he could only feel it down his shoulders and across his chest and back that remains. That, along with the deep hood that''d been enchanted to shield him completely in shadow gave him a creeping, almost ghostly appearance. Especially given that the hood was extra large, in order to fit around his horns without letting them peak through. They''d tried that at first, leaving his head bare. The light still hurt though, with anything over a dim glow causing him damage. Not to mention the pain it brought, which was kinda ridiculous. It was like having sandpaper being ground against his flesh. So the hood had been a necessity along with the rest of his robes. Moving proved to be the next obstacle, one that took several hours to figure out. If left alone, the black fog that the rest of his body has transformed into doesn''t have a ''form'' stiff enough to support his own weight, much less move with. But it is affected and can be somewhat condensed with mana. It had taken Edwin, Allisa, and Lucien quite a while to figure out the trick of manipulating Edwin''s mana until he could affect himself. He had to create a cage of mana around himself that pulled his fog into two thick, stiff legs attached to the bare part of his waist that remained solid. It was awkward, but it allowed him a slow, stiff gait that was basically a shuffle. Like a zombie who''s legs were petrified stiff. It did allow him to move around his chambers without assistance, however, and once he had the robe on it actually turned out to be a bit easier. He could expand the fog all the way against the cloth and then just sorta glide along across the floor. Balance was an issue there, cause he wasn''t really walking and instead using the contact to the floor to pull him along. Which was very jerky at first. Edwin also found that he could generate more of the fog by pouring mana into it, essentially filling it out with power that allowed him a bit more sturdiness and control. It was very draining however, and left him more than a little weary. But learning to control it, even in this limited fashion helped. It also let him finally venture out of his chambers and into the Citadel itself, although not far or fast. Going down the stairways also proved to be an interesting challenge in and of itself. But he was much more comfortable once he reached his destination in the study, closer to everything that has been going on. During his absence it had been partially converted into an office, where Lucien spent most of his time organizing and keeping track of everything going on in and around Jottenhiem. Two weeks isn''t a whole lot of time, but things have been progressing at a breakneck pace as one part of the infrastructure was built and used to expand the next. There are also quite a few new people running around, both in the Citadel itself and in the study. Many of them are carrying reports written on parchment or magic slates that can be copied to paper with a touch. They all make way for Edwin though, as he ghosts up into the room and looks around, so silent that many of them didn''t realize he was there until they nearly ran into him. ¡°Ah, Lord Edwin, please take a seat. Allisa should be around shortly with food and drink, and I''ve already invited Deloria, Cormic, and Cernette to attend in order to fill you in on what''s been going on during your absence. Also, please excuse the fact that I haven''t introduced you to my new staff. Things have progressed at such a pace that I required assistance in order to keep track of it all. Most of these are pages and scribes.¡± Lucien calls from where he''s leaned over a nearby table, not even bothering to look up from the scroll he''s jotting down on with a quill, although the inkwell beside him is nearly empty. Where before the study had been almost barren, with the bookshelves nearly empty, now many of them are stuffed with sheets of paper or parchment that are all individually marked and cataloged. There''s also several large tomes set about open on various desks that have been set up around the space, holding records and the bookkeeping required to keep track of everything. It is far more busy than Edwin is used to, but he slides himself toward his customary seat that had been moved along with the others and the coffee table that had once barely filled up the room. They''d been shunted toward the back of the study, near the fireplace. Actually sitting down proves to be far more of a issue though, given that he doesn''t have any thighs or arms, and nearly tilts over more than once as he backs himself up and ends up cutting himself off at the figurative knees. This his landing is heavy, which draws more than a few glances in his direction although Lucien''s stern look up from what he''s doing keeps the others from snickering and sends them hurrying to get back to work. Edwin still ends up blowing out a breath and giving his own rueful chuckle. ¡°It seems that learning to move around like this is proving to be more of a challenge than I''d bargained for.¡± Edwin''s tone is a bit wry, but without any hint of recrimination. Only determination. ¡°Yes, I imagine it is. I''ve already taken the initiative of finding you a trainer, however. A Spectre is already on the way, and should arrive by the evening. Or rather, a half-Spectre. She has some of the same issues that your current state has, being half corporal, so she should have some useful insights to teach you, my lord.¡± That gets Edwin''s attention, and he turns his hooded head toward Lucien. ¡°Spectre? As in a ghost or phantom?¡± Lucien ends up snorting and shakes his head, although he doesn''t stop working even before starting to explain. ¡°Different sorts of beings, my lord. Ghosts are dispossessed spirits of previous living beings. Phantoms are a type of spirit, similar to Spectres but of a different breed. Spectres are spirits that are able to retain a physical form for a period of time, using their magic. They are fairly rare, as are all spirits, because they tend to gradually weaken the longer they remain away from the Underworld.¡± That was news to Edwin, but he nods and decides to save his questions for later. Thankfully he doesn''t have long to wait in silence as Allisa shows up with Deloria in tow. The two of them are actually talking and giggling, which is odd, especially because Deloria isn''t yelling or being bossy. Nor is she carrying her pickaxe. That isn''t something Edwin is used to. Instead the two of them are carrying covered trays of food, which smell very nice, at least in Edwin''s opinion. It doesn''t take much to verify that either, as several scribes turn their longing gazes to the coffee table when Allisa sets the trays expertly on it. Allisa smiles at Edwin though, still wearing her usual maids outfit. Deloria however isn''t, and instead is wearing a short robe of browns and grays that hangs around her ankles as she flutters a couple of inches off the floor. She barely looks at Edwin however, and every time she does her cheeks flush and her wings flutter a bit more, causing her to bob up and down in the air. ¡°Thank you Allisa, Deloria. It is nice to see you, and that you are doing alright.¡± Edwin says tactfully, not really understanding the dynamic between Allisa and Deloria or why the latter is acting the way she is. He expected shouting and demands to know what is going on or something similar, not giggling and blushing. ¡°Of course, my lord. Cormic should arrive any time now, and Cernette is being picked up now by carriage. She had a few things left to handle on the farms and sent word that she had to clean up before making an appearance.¡± Allisa says respectfully, although Deloria doesn''t do much more than bob her head before turning back to whisper at Allisa, who giggles again. Okay, that''s sorta creepy. Thankfully Cormic shows up only minutes later, barging into the study and looking just as gruff as always. His uniform is a new touch, however, as is the gleaming burnished iron chainmail and boots he''s wearing, along with the skullcap helmet covering his head. ¡°Edwin! Finally out of that bed, aye? About time! A dwarf wouldn''t be caught dead nappin'' for two weeks!¡± The man booms, which draws a laugh out of Edwin. ¡°Except when you get so drunk that you cannot stand on your own feet, Cormic.¡± Edwin replies, amused. That causes both Allisa and Deloria to break out laughing, and Cormic actually cracks something of a grin as he moves to claim another chair, although he has to hop up onto it due to the normal height. ¡°Aye, lad. But a glorious night it would be to get drunk enough to sleep it off for two weeks. I wouldn''t want to deal with the hangover afterwards, though.¡± Lucien cracks his own grin at that, finally rolling up the scroll he''d been working on and straightening up from where he''d been bent over, handing it to one of the pages running around before stepping up into the group. ¡°Don''t make excuses, Cormic. You were out of it for four days after the Labyrinth raid, when you got a hold of that bottle of Fire Troll whiskey.¡± Lucien smoothly shoots back at the dwarf, which causes Edwin to laugh again while both Allisa and Deloria snicker. ¡°At least I didn''t pass out after only a single shot, Lucien. What''s your excuse, eh?¡± The small talk and jabber carried on for another twenty minutes or so, while Allisa finally opened up the trays and started handing out small plates of freshly baked goodies for the others while the group waited for Cernette. Edwin ends up not taking anything, mainly for the fact that he still couldn''t feed himself and wasn''t about to publicly announce that fact. Cernette showed up and slithered in, after being escorted to the study by one of the other servants. She was the same as always, and seemed a bit amazed as she looked around. As far as Edwin knew she''d never been inside the Citadel, much less in one of the personal studies. ¡°Ah, good. Everyone is here. You may leave. Go grab some food from the kitchens.¡± Lucien takes over and shoos the scribes and pages out, then closes and locks the door behind him with a slight flourish. Edwin though didn''t miss the sudden tense looks that crosses everyones faces once they were alone, and a shiver runs down his spine heralding the feeling that things weren''t as good as they had made it out to be. Lucien is the first to speak into the sudden silence, after audibly clearing his throat. ¡°We have a problem, Edwin. Things are going well for Jottenhiem''s reconstruction, so it doesn''t concern that, however.¡± The others nod and even Cernette lets out a slight hiss as she curls her long tail up and sits on it instead of taking a seat in one of the chairs. None of them volunteer any information, though. ¡°Okay, you have my attention. What''s up?¡± Edwin finally asks, shifting his head enough to look at Lucien, who doesn''t miss his gaze. ¡°Adventurers, Edwin. A group of twenty five of them. They showed up a week ago, after hearing about you through the small Adventurer''s Guild that remains within Jottenhiem. They wish to test the newest Master of Dungeons... Except that''s a problem.¡± Lucien sounds both bitter and angry, and for a moment Edwin doesn''t understand why. It isn''t about his physical condition, which is bad, but not what is obviously wrong. ¡°Oh, tell him already!¡± Cormic is the one that comes out and prods the goblinoid, although even he is tugging on his braided beard in agitation. ¡°One of the Adventurer''s is the Imperium''s Princesses, Angela Harper Steele. She''s a Priestess of some renown, and third in line for the Imperium throne. If you build a dungeon for them, and succeed... she''s likely to be killed...¡± There''s definitely a growing sense of frustration there, and even Edwin ends up grinding his teeth a little at the revelation. If he crafts the dungeon and they fail, then Jottenhiem is likely finished. They don''t have the resources or the golds put aside to go into debt. If they succeed, they risk war with the Southern Land''s Imperium over the death of a princess. ¡°Between a rock and a hard place... Great.¡± It seems there is even more work to do, and a whole lot more riding on it than what Edwin had thought. -|- -|- -|- Hi guys! It has been a while, but I finally completed the chapter! Hahahahaha. It took a while to re-write what I had lost previously, so I apologize for that! It wasn''t as clean as I''d have liked to have gotten it, but it''ll work and picks up the important threads of what I had in mind. I hope you guys enjoy! I''m going to try to get donations going back here on the MoD posts, because I could use the help again. I''ve been working a lot in real life, but I''m still a bit short for the month, which sucks on my end. So any support you guys can offer would be great! But otherwise I hope you enjoy the story! Next up is going ot be a treat! Hahaha. An Imperial Princess and a dungeon to build! Hehehehehehe.
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Chapter 10 - Dungeons and Princesses Hi guys! It is Author-sama, and this is Chapter 10 of Master of Dungeons! I hope you enjoy! In this chapter I introduce a few new characters, along with another potential woman for Edwin. Hehehehe. Let me know what you think! On to other news, the first of which is that I recently started my new job as a Minit Mart cashier on 3rd shift, working from 10PM to 6AM. It is a full time job, of which I''d just worked 6 days in a row on. To say that I''m actually quite tired and sore would be an understatement. Ugh. My paycheck is also still two weeks away, so I''mma going to ask for some more help here while I have the chance. One of you guys made a donation of about $22 late last month, and then canceled it at the first of the month. I''d already used the money to pay my part of the household bills, and now Paypal keeps trying to dock my bank account for it. Every time it bounces I get hit with an overdraft fee, which has already reached almost $60 in debt. It will continue to do so until the account is terminated, and I cringe every time I get my morning email from them. By the time I get paid on the 16th, it is likely to be all used up just clearing the debt. It is quite the hassle, and more than a little annoying to think about that it has gotten that bad, but I really haven''t had any time to sit down and write to continue getting the support from the RRL community. I''m now on my weekend though, so I''m posting this chapter here, and I plan on writing up and posting another Universe Online short story tomorrow as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated! If worse comes to worse you guys may not hear from me for a while, and if so I apologize in advance for that. However! I''ve recently started a Twitter account in which I plan to post almost daily updates on what I have going on as well as the development of Master of Dungeons and Universe Online. You guys that hang around there can find me at @VikenHenning. As always, feel free to leave comments, suggestions, or criticisms in the forum here! Also, I do not plan to end the volume here at Chapter 10, and will continue it until I feel satisfied. So what other types of women would you enjoy seeing be added to the story? We got a Princess Priestess now... along with an upcoming half-Spectre in the works. I was thinking of a witch next; but what do you guys think? Let me know! -|- -|- -|- The public announcement that Edwin was awake and already back to work was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm in Jottenhiem, as nearly the entire population boiled out of the rapidly rebuilding city to cheer at the gates of the Citadel. It also brought some other attention in his direction, not the least of which was the leading group of the Adventurer''s. Their presence at the gates of the Citadel didn''t go unnoticed either, but they were denied entrance all the same. It infuriated a few of them, but as Adventurer''s they were treated as guests without any official capacity. Not even the Princess could assert her authority while being registered in her Adventurer party. That was only able to waylay them for a short time however, and after Lucien told him that they''d be back Edwin could only agree. After that, it was another matter entirely and one that was most significant to Edwin personally. Miss half-Spectre had arrived the evening before and had begged off for a full nights rest before finally meeting Edwin. Down in the dungeons, below the Citadel itself. A place even Lucien hesitated to take him long enough that it was easily noticeable by Edwin. ¡°What has you so jumpy, Lucien? Usually you are much more direct and efficient.¡± Edwin''s words earn him a scowl before it melts off the older Goblinoids face with a rueful look before he blows out a breath. He stops his slow, if steady pace besides Edwin and turns to face the dangerously weakened Demon Lord. Edwin had been able to manage getting around on his own, for the most part, but he is damned slow at it and still sometimes gets tripped up over his own two feed. But the constant glide across most even surfaces is surprisingly easy. Just slow. ¡°The dungeons we are going to isn''t just a prison built underneath the Citadel. It is a proper Dungeon, the first of them, actually. Back when the magic wasn''t as structured and codified as it is now, lots of people had to be used in its construction while its Heart was magically bound. For the most part is it secure, but its Dungeon Heart is still active, if greatly weakened over time. It can be dangerous, and I do not like putting you so close to it if there was any other choice.¡± Lucien''s voice and tone is more than a little candid, and even Edwin is surprised by the admission. Less so about the personal danger he may be in, and more so about Lucien''s over-protectiveness. Always before Lucien had been a paragon of efficiency and driven to do whatever it took to succeed in his goals. For the most part they coincide with Edwin''s own, but not always or in the particulars of it. This though was something else, and Edwin takes a moment to force his body into immobility so he can raise up a ghostly fog arm and push it through the empty ''sleeve'' on the right side of his long robe, slowly making a familiar ''go on'' motion. It was so damned slow compared to the instantaneous signs and body language others are able to do without conscious thought, but he can do it with enough time. It just takes a long time for him to channel his mana into pushing his amorphous fog-form into doing what he wants. For Lucien''s part he doesn''t even blink an eye at Edwin feeling the need to communicate physically without saying anything. ¡°The Dungeon is still active, in a limited fashion, my Lord. Those creatures and others the first Master of Dungeons bound to it are still there, reviving over and over again as they are perished. The Dungeon sustains them, but it is slowly losing its power and going... feral, in a sense. It is difficult to explain, because I do not have the skills to interpret what is going on. Most of it is safe, and we''ve added the traditional prison dungeon as our needs required, but even now it is only lightly patrolled and I do not like the idea of yourself being in a place that we cannot secure.¡± Edwin is silent for a long few minutes before he bobs his shoulder. ¡°Nothing we can do about that now. I may be able to do something about it, but not now. I need to meet this trainer you sent for, and she all but sent Alissa packing up here with that ultimatum that I have to come down there. There isn''t any real choice in the matter now.¡± He starts gliding forward, although he does crack a slight grin, even if it is hidden behind his thick hood. ¡°But if that Dungeon is still active, it is possible that I may be able to use it instead of building an entirely new one from scratch. That is appealing, due to my limited skill in that.¡± Edwin''s suggestion is brilliant, and it catches Lucien off guard for a moment before he gives a slight chuckle and cracks one of his rare smiles. ¡°It would at that, my Lord. To my knowledge it has never happened, but none of the previous Demon Lords saw fit to destroy or remove it, either.¡± ¡°That''s because they all used it for various things,¡± the drifting voice of Jottenhiem says, although the usual glow of her crystal is hidden behind Edwin''s thick robe. ¡°Some of them used it for storage, others for training. They fed it raw mana over time to keep it active and ready for whatever use they may have of it. Compared to the later Dungeons, which were crafted properly through the Dungeon Magic, the Jottenhiem Citadel Dungeon is much more primitive. It is also unique, and actively hides itself from my and all other attempts to view its depths.¡± It takes Edwin only a few moments to figure out what is wrong with that, cause he''d yet to delve that far into his own abilities of crafting a dungeon. Both something that Lucien said as well as something Jottenhiem let out on, but for a long moment he cannot figure out what exactly it is. When he does it nearly knocks him off his feet, figuratively, as it were. ¡°Wait a minute. You said this dungeon has a Heart. Mine don''t. I control the area of the dungeon and everything inside exclusively. That was all part of what I learned when I gained the Dungeoneering skillset from that tome. There wasn''t one thing in it that ever mentioned a Dungeon Heart.¡± His sudden question startles both Lucien and Jottenhiem, and Lucien blinks a moment before a look of confusion crosses his face. But his next words only increase the confusion and sudden tripadation that Edwin has. ¡°Dungeon... Heart? Yes, I... I did say that, but I do not know why.¡± Lucien suddenly looks lost, even though his brow furrows in rapid thought. Jottenhiem, on the other hand, ''hmmmms'' and digs into that herself. Even she hadn''t caught the slip that Lucien made or the reason he seems unable to remember its significance. Edwin however doesn''t miss it, and like a light-bulb going off in his head it strikes him. ¡°Oh... It is a Heart Crystal placed at the center of the dungeon.¡± He would have facepalmed, if he could have. It was obvious, once he thought about it. Jottenhiem herself is one such crystal, a sentient thing like a computer. If one was magically bound to a dungeon, it could potentially do all the same things that a Master of Dungeons does now, except without requiring constant oversight. Lucien also stops along with Edwin and his face twists up. The old goblinoid should have known that, or be able to put the dots together, but for some reason even thinking about it is hard, as if actively resisting being brought to the surface. Subconsciously he knows, but he doesn''t know that he knows, and the nagging feeling inside of him causes him to grimace. Jottenhiem, on the other hand, has gone very quiet although Edwin could feel her actively probing with her own senses and power. So much so that he can feel her drawing upon his own mana to try to push it. He didn''t know much about Heart Crystals, nor the relevance of what they are or why one was placed in the heart of a Dungeon, but he does understand one thing. And it changes their current plans. ¡°Lucien, go round up a squad of guards. Send word to Cormic, Cernette and Deloria and have them come here along with Alissa. We have to deal with this first. Send a message to the trainer down there and tell her we are coming, but not to train. If there is a Heart Crystal down there we need to get to it, fast. It has been alone for a long time, without the same range or power that Jottenhiem has had.¡± It only takes a bare moment for Lucien to jerk up in sudden understanding, and he nods before quickly trotting off, his long strides carrying him away far faster than Edwin could move at present. Heart Crystals are rare and innately powerful, but they are bound to their position and whatever task is set to them. They are however truly sentient, and as such require connections to others. Conversation and the like, just like any person. Edwin suddenly fears what a Crystal Heart could become if it had gone insane. That would be a very, very bad thing, and he forms a sudden queasy feeling in his gut. ¡°LUCIEN! Call those Adventurer''s here, too!¡± -|- -|- -|- The throne room hasn''t been used even once since Edwin had claimed the city as his own. It had been kept ready for just the chance to be put to use, but the large hall was almost awkwardly bare. It is a vivid reminder of the hard times the Demon Lands have gone through in recent years. Once, there were hundreds of tapestries, banners, and pieces of art scattered around and even a handful of precious treasures set out on display for all to see. Now, the room barely has a handful of banners remaining and only threadbare rugs on the cold stone floor. The throne itself though hadn''t changed, being a massive edifice carved out of black obsidian and stone that has been left spiked and jagged on the top, depicting nineteen points that jut upward into the air like the points of some ornate crown. The glossy reflectivity of the stone causes the whole construct to shimmer a little in the torch and candle light; although it is only an optical illusion. Thankfully the seat itself is padded, but nowhere near enough to be considered comfortable for any length of time. Edwin doesn''t have a problem with that currently, however, given that he cannot really even feel the seat beneath him. His mist-form is barely sensitive enough to feel the hard stone, but there isn''t any real sense of pressure or hardness to it. Just a sense of presence that he isn''t able to penetrate. It did leave him grateful about getting off his ''feet'' for even a short while, however. Gliding around without any legs is quite arduous all by itself, and his inherent lack of coordination and balance only makes it worse. A person is not meant to be only half-solid, after all. However, most of Edwin''s attention is on his guests, which had shown up quite rapidly at his summons. The stocky and dour dwarf Cormic, the rambunctious and industrious iron pixie Deloria, and the flirty lamia Cernette. Lucien and Allisa are still seeing to the other matters, but the group already assembled are sitting in chairs provided for their comfort while Edwin outlines what he found out and what he feels that he needs to do. ¡°We have a rogue Dungeon underneath the Citadel, and we need to get to its heart as quickly as possible. I have reason to believe that there''s a Heart Crystal in the center of it, sealed and left captive by some sort of magic. If this is true then it is a serious problem that needs to be taken care of.¡± Several of the others flinch at the thought of what Edwin was explaining, and for several long moments none of them utter a sound. At least until Jottenhiem herself speaks up from Edwin''s chest. ¡°Heart Crystal''s are born when an area accumulates enough mana, either through natural means or through the advent of sentient people all living in an area. When a crystal first forms it isn''t sentient, and merely reacts to outside stimulus out of impulse. Call it instinct, if you''d like. As it draws in more mana and grows larger, it gets smarter until it forms a complete individual. The size and structure of the crystal itself depicts what sort of personality it gains, and it can both grow and decline over time as circumstances change.¡± That was a bit of information that gets everyone''s attention, including Edwin''s. He''d known that most people didn''t even know as much about the Heart Crystals as he did, but he hadn''t expected for Jottenhiem to reveal any more without quite a bit of prodding. But Edwin soon realizes the downside to such an existence, and his worried look is mirrored on the others faces; although none of them can see his through his enchanted hood. ¡°You mean that the reverse process is also true, right? If there isn''t enough mana to feed the Heart Crystal, it''ll slowly grow weaker and less intelligent until it loses it''s ability to think?¡± Cernette is the one who finally speaks up, and causes the others to stir visibly even as Edwin hears the crystal buried in his chest give out something like a sigh. ¡°That is correct. It is why larger and more powerful Heart Crystal''s seek out and make contracts with strong beings within their area of influence. It allows us to access our contractor''s internal pool of mana, which continuously regenerates over short periods of time instead of simply trying to draw in the ambient mana that exists in its raw state. It isn''t nearly as powerful, but it is a constant source of energy that is far more preferable. Wild Heart Crystal''s never get as large as myself for that reason.¡± ¡°That said, the more beings and creatures that live within our area of influence the more mana we can gather. All living things produce mana, and all of them generate it. What they cannot collect in their internal pool is released into the ether, like a mist that slowly works itself into the raw form we typically draw from. Plants, animals, monsters, humans, demons... It doesn''t matter who or what is there. Just so long as there is enough living presence we can at the very least maintain our state at that time, if not allow further growth no matter how slowly.¡± Edwin nods his head in a visible bob that catches the others attentions. He''d noticed whenever Jottenhiem pulled from his own mana, although it was never as much as he could do himself, but the information she''d just provided made a lot more sense now. That also meant that they may have a serious problem in the dungeon beneath the citadel. They aren''t able to continue the conversation however, cause the large set of iron-bound double-doors at the end of the hall are flung open suddenly with a violent crash and several people are seen marching in. It was quite the entrance, but it caused more than a few scowls to form as Edwin and his group of friends and confidants turn to find out what all the ruckus was about. The Adventurer''s had arrived. At the front of their group of twenty five is a blonde haired man wearing an innate set of silver armor that is so shined that it is almost possible to use it as a mirror. He''s carrying a pack on his back, and a helmet under one arm. His other hand however is resting upon the pommel of a rather thin sword, almost looking to be a rapier sheathed at his waist. He has nearly sky-light blue eyes that don''t seem none too friendly, and an arrogant, twisted air of a noble who was born into everything he has and believes he deserves every bit of it. In a word, he''s a typical prick. Edwin wasn''t usually the sort to make that sort of judgment, except for the smirk on the human man''s rather pretty-boy face. It made him want to punch that look off of it himself. It is the woman walking to his right and just behind him however that really catches attention. A beautiful young woman with straight black hair and gorgeous gray eyes. She''s wearing a priestesses robes, marked with one of the myriad of gods that Edwin hadn''t yet had the chance to learn about. Her hair is tied back in a long ponytail that hangs around her mid-back, but upon her brow is a tiara with a single large green gem in it. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. That alone marks her as the Imperial Princess, Angela Harper Steele. Like the others she''s also carrying a pack and has a long staff strapped to her back. Edwin does notice that hers and the others are quite a bit larger than the front man is carrying, however. But unlike him she and the others appear to be much less inhospitable. The other twenty three carry an assortment of weapons, gear, and armor. They all look professional and strong, but at the same time there''s a look of eagerness there that is usually missing from professional soldiers and guards; like Cormic''s own men. They are also young, and Edwin doubts if they''d ever really been bloodied before. However, the fact that they are all human does quite a bit of a stir, especially for Edwin. He''d been a demon so long now that he hasn''t even noticed the fact of just how different he is now compared to what he''d been like before. Seeing these humans marching down through the throne room brings that back into focus, and he grimaces a little. There''s a lot of bad memories there, most of which he has to push out of his mind in order not to get angry. Rather that is with himself or these in front of him, he cannot really tell though. Thankfully Edwin spots Lucien and Allisa coming up behind the group of adventurers, looking harried and hurried. Allisa herself looks ready to go run and hide, but Lucien seems rather livid, his face flushed along with the angry look in his eyes that Edwin doesn''t miss. It seems inviting the Adventurer''s had caused quite a bit of trouble, although as of yet Edwin doesn''t know in what form. He isn''t even sure he wants to know at the moment. He doesn''t really get the chance to not learn when the group finally reaches them, with the blonde man stepping forward only to spit on the floor. ¡°Have you finally decided to take up our challenge, o'' Demon Lord? Or have you summoned us here to tell us off like your lackey''s have been for weeks?¡± The man is smirking and his tone is more than just rude, it is right out obnoxious. The man shows no sense of formality or hospitality, much less offers any respect. It instantly causes the others with Edwin to tense up, but Edwin cuts them off by clearing his throat audibly. Instead of replying, however, he lifts one of his ''hands'' and uses it to pull down his hood, forcing himself to hide the grimace as pike strikes through his flesh as the firelight within the room starts to make him feel as if he''s being badly sunburned. Or rather baked. It isn''t enough to cause him damage, however, so he puts up with it as he turns his gaze away from the man. ¡°I am Edwin Cast, Demon Lord of Jottenhiem, and I formally welcome Princess Angela Steele of the South Land''s Imperium.¡± Edwin calls out in a clear, strong voice, hiding his growing angst and pain while the blonde man gapes at Edwin''s red skin and horns. It seems to take him moment''s to realize the snub Edwin had just set in front of him, and blushes furiously. Thankfully he is cut off himself before he can make any further retort. This time it is from his own companion, who''d stepped up beside then in front of him. The Princess has kept her face carefully blank, but there is a hint of amusement in her eyes as she sweeps herself into a deep curtsy. ¡°I thank you for your graceful welcome, Demon Lord Edwin. I have heard a great many things about you since we came here, and I have seen first hand how you''ve been working to set your own kingdom back on the path to prosperity. Please forgive my... cousin, for his tongue is often too sharp for his own good.¡± Edwin simply waves his hand again, albeit slowly. ¡°Please, you do not need to curtsy to me. I am not as stiff and formal as other nobles. As for your cousin, his insults are his own; so you have no need to apologize for them yourself. He is noble born, as are you, but your status is greater than his own, therefor my greeting goes to you instead.¡± This causes the blonde man to blush even more so, but Angela cuts him off with a short look over her shoulder. The others in their party however aren''t particularly quiet as they start whispering amongst themselves. Edwin cannot hear them, and yet Jottenhiem can and she starts to whisper him their conversation herself. It seems that the blonde man is Angela Steele''s second cousin, and was sent with her as her chaperone. Their parent''s are also considering a marriage between them, which he''s tried to take advantage of several times. Only the support of her older brother, the Crown Prince has given her the ability to resist the political force pushing her to do so, even though she''d devoted herself to being an Adventurer and a Priestess in her own right. It is also revealed that the Imperium is quite the chauvinistic society, where women were looked upon as second class citizens at best. That in itself makes one of Edwin''s eyes twitch. ¡°My... That is quite the divergence from the norm. Most rulers prefer to deal with my cousin instead, including several of the lesser Demon Lord''s we''d met while journeying through the Northern Lands.¡± Edwin picks up the humor in her tone and returns it with a slight smile before shrugging. ¡°The world I originally came from had a much more open view concerning things like women''s rights. I don''t have a problem with treating women as peers, equal, or even as superiors. So feel free to take this as my invitation to relax and do as you will.¡± His words cause a bit more ruckus, but he can see the fleeting smile crossing Angela''s face for a bare moment before it disappears back into the mask she''s been wearing ever since he''d first seen her. Off to his side both Delora and Allisa are blushing, and Cernette is nodding her own head. All three of them had experienced that viewpoint of Edwin''s personally. He''d never once mistreated Allisa, regardless of her status as a servant. Cernette had gotten every respect she was due when she was teaching him. Delora on the other hand had learned the hard way that while he will treat her with respect due to her skill and knowledge, he won''t be bullied into accepting any reverse abuse from her or anyone else. The interplay between the three women at Edwin''s side isn''t missed by Angela, although she isn''t able to figure out what had gone on between them. All she knew were the rumors of a fight between Edwin himself and Delora, who runs Jottenhiem''s mining operations and had been involved in the accident that struck Edwin potentially impotent. And yet the Iron Pixie isn''t in chains or in jail, which Angela considers more than a little odd. She doesn''t appear starved, beaten, or otherwise harmed. If anything Delora is missing the rambunctious nature she''d heard so much about from the gossip. There was definitely more going on than just what the rumors had reported, and it made the Princess quite curious as to what it was. ¡°I had heard that you were a summon, but I hadn''t realized that you''d retained your memory of your former self and home. It does please me however to speak thus, so I shall accept your hospitality gratefully. We do have business to discuss, however. My cousin spoke poorly, but we are interested in what you have to say regarding the challenge we seek.¡± Angela brings the conversation back around, and Edwin nods and gives her another slight smile before using his magic to pull his hood back over his face, once more secluding himself in darkness and almost instantly getting rid of the pain the light had continued to cause him. It is such a sudden relief that he almost sighs from it. ¡°Very well. Currently I am unable to construct any new dungeons. Jottenhiem does not have the resources to construct even a small, simple one; much less one that''d challenge your party''s skill. Beyond that, I have also been greatly weakened due to a magical mishap, which is why I have not been able to greet you all personally until now.¡± This time he causes quite a bit of derisive motion in the group, including from Angela''s blonde cousin who is grinning almost triumphantly, as if he''d just won something quite important. Edwin just rolls his eyes, hidden from view as he is at the moment. ¡°However... There is a Dungeon already here, underneath the Citadel itself.¡± This time silence falls at the end of his words, and many of the adventurer''s start looking both eager and worried. ¡°I have only just learned of it myself, and it does not have a Master. From what the records say, the Citadel Dungeon was the first Dungeon ever constructed, before the skills and magic was developed to create Master of Dungeons. Instead a Heart Crystal was bound to the construct artificially. We have come to believe that it has become wild due to isolation and abandonment. Which is why I''ve called you all here.¡± Edwin sits up a little straighter on the throne, to add emphasis to what he is saying. ¡°To this end I am calling upon your party of Adventurer''s to help us conquer the Dungeon and retrieve the Heart Crystal. All of us here, including a gathering group of armed and armored guards are going to descend into the dungeon to do this single task. The bounty for this task will be split from loot gathered within, split between our two groups at a 60/40 rate, with your party taking the greater.¡± This definitely gets their attention, and even the blonde man''s look has turned from being disgusted to being outright greedy. The others behind him likewise start to talk amongst themselves over the prospect, but Angela doesn''t join in. Instead, she''s looking at him and the others gathered with him, and seems to share the same sort of worry Edwin''s own companions are expressing. She knows the power a Heart Crystal can contain, and how it can use its own abilities within the territory it controls. An unbound, wild Heart Crystal could be capable of anything, no matter how dumb or weakened it is. Their power rivals that of the gods themselves, from what she has heard. ¡°We do not have a map of the Dungeon, nor any way of knowing how big it has grown without oversight. We likewise do not know what sort of creatures or monsters have been summoned, therefore we cannot accurately judge the strength of this dungeon. I am requesting that we work together to do this, and am offering to open our stores to your party at only a quarter of the price for any and all equipment, arms and armor we can provide.¡± ¡°We will only wait for another day before launching our assault. Take your time and prepare as you may in the meantime.¡± Angela is able to see what Edwin is doing, and only responds with a nod while the rest of her party has grown animated and quite loud as they talk over each other; although it is obvious what the consensus would be. The Princesses'' cousin steps forward and is openly grinning. ¡°We accept.¡± Angela doesn''t even bother looking at him and simply nods again. Edwin returns the same and holds up one of his robed hands again. ¡°Lucien, see to it that the Adventurer''s are roomed here and instruct them to where they may purchase whatever they require. Cormic, make sure your men are ready to head out at that time. We have a Dungeon to raid, and I will not delay.¡± ¡°¡±Yes, my lord.¡±¡± The two of them echo together, although they both share a weary look that Edwin doesn''t miss. -|- -|- -|- ¡°That was well played, Edwin Cast.¡± The soft voice from behind causes him to turn around only to find Princess Angela herself standing there at the doors to the balcony, with him only feet away, looking over the railing to the glowing outline of the city beyond. Night had already fallen, and it is dark enough for him to go without the hood. He''d also relaxed his hold on his mist, which has left him shrunken a couple of inches even as it spread out from under his robe, making him appear half-obscured in blackness. Not that many could see it in the darkness of the night, with only a few spots of light from the city below to dispel it. The stars however are quite bright, and he''s been relishing just looking up at them. One of them, somewhere, may have even been the star Sol, around which his old home, Earth, orbits. Too bad that no one here even realizes that there are other planets out there, much less other suns and perhaps species far more alien than just humans and demon-kind. ¡°Thank you, Princess Angela. Your cousin is quite the glory hound, and the others are greedy enough to jump at the chance to tackle possibly the most difficult Dungeon ever built.¡± His words are serious, but there is enough humor in his words to make Angela crack a slightly bitter smile of her own. ¡°Believe me, I know. When I originally started as an Adventurer, I joined a group that slowly disbanded as the money dried up. This one is mostly paid by my family, mostly because I relish the chance to go out and see the world instead of being stuck as a Princess at home.¡± Her words were candid enough to catch his attention, but he nods all the same before he nods out to Jottenhiem beyond and below with his chin. ¡°Responsibility isn''t for everyone. It is far more work to take care of a thousand people than it is for only yourself. I''m attempting to do that here, working with the rotting remains of what had once been a great empire. It is no easy task, and my reach has yet to go out to all but the closest of the neighboring villages. But I imagine that I have far more help than you have had. People I trust to do the jobs that need to be done instead of just those seeking to forward their own positions and wealth.¡± Angela snorts at that, but soon follows it with a nod as she walks out onto the balcony with Edwin and looks over the dark outline of the city below. ¡°I have heard of your fight to win control of the city, and what you did with the nobles afterwards. I wish I had such an option. If anything, I''m amazed you''ve gotten as far as you have without noble support. The Imperium is full of bickering and infighting between allied families, most of which only seek to forward their own agenda.¡± This time it is Edwin''s turn to nod, although the motion is caught halfway on the back stroke when he realizes that he has an itch on his chin that he cannot scratch without rubbing his face on his robe, which is much harder to do than one would think. ¡°My old world was like that. Countries filled with differing political parties and groups that wanted nothing more to advance themselves at the expense of others. It is part of why I refused to allow it here. I killed them all, and confiscated everything they owned. Their families survived, and several of them are still housed here in the Citadel as my guests. Several of them were much like yourself, the wives and lovers of nobles who used their position to keep them caged. They''re some of my best advisors, actually. The others have been exiled of their own choice.¡± ¡°You are far more generous than I would have been. At the same time I look out at what you''ve accomplished and cannot help but be impressed. You have taken only months to do what it would have taken another noble or ruler twenty years. Your farming efforts alone are more productive than any twenty villages right now, and I heard they are only continuing to get larger.¡± Edwin smirks at that, but shakes his head a little. ¡°Don''t look at me. I left Cernette in control of that aspect. She''s done great things with training new farmers and making sure we have enough crops and produce for the population. The excess is sold on the open market for as cheap as we can make it, which makes the people both happier and healthier. We also give out meals at all the work sites, free of charge, in order to make sure our workers can actually work instead of withering away. That has increased productivity greatly. My old world learned long ago that you can feed a person for a day by giving them a fish, but training the same person to fish for himself and he could not only feed himself, but his family and others as well.¡± Edwin knew he butchered the old saying, but it didn''t make it any less true. Angela however seemed surprised and turns to look at Edwin, this time with her mask falling just enough to let him know. Thankfully she didn''t leave him guessing at to what she''s thinking. ¡°How odd. Most of the Demon Lord''s we''d met on our journey were savages. Personally powerful, but little smarter than a rock in some cases. People flock to them out of protection or greed, hoping to be rewarded for being good lackey''s, but here you are, with holdings already far larger and more advanced than their own because you are both strong and smart.¡± Her words were derisive, but it wasn''t pointed toward him and her wondering tone does make him break out into a grin. ¡°Stick around, Princess. There''s a lot more where that came from.¡± Her own words make her snort, but soon enough the expressions leave her face once more a blank mask and Edwin could feel the heavy atmosphere that sudden falls over her. ¡°You know this quest you set us on is going to get us all killed, don''t you?¡± Her question was spoken softly, and for a moment Edwin wasn''t sure he''d even heard her right as he turns to look at her again. Her face is the same... ¡­ Except for her eyes, which has turned golden in color and glow slightly in the darkness. He doesn''t say anything for a long moment, before dropping his head in a nod that is followed by a sigh. ¡°I fear so, yes. Goddess Urmis.¡± -|- -|- -|-
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Chapter 11 - The First Dungeon (Part 1) Hi guys! It is Author-sama again. I am sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter out, but here you go! Ten pages of prime writing, straight from me to you! Hahahaha. In case any of you guys haven''t heard the news yet, my computer is basically dead. The fan in my graphics card died over a month ago, and I ended up setting a big box fan up against the open side of my tower to keep it cool enough to function. That worked for a while, but my graphics card finally kicked the bucket. I don''t have any integrated graphics, so my computer is all but useless at the moment. I''ve been stuck writing on my mom''s old All-In-One PC, but I don''t get to use it as much as I''d like between working and all the time her or her new fiance are on it. I just finally got this chapter finished this morning after working on it in bits and pieces for a while now. I''m not going to ask for help getting a new one though. I''ve already earmarked over $1000 at the start of August to do a complete rebuild of my computer. The pieces I have chosen on NewEgg.com is going to make it beastly. Haha. New motherboard, CPU, RAM, harddrives and graphics card. Just about everything but the tower and the power supply. If anyone is into Geek Speak, let me know and I''ll be more than willing to over my rebuild. Otherwise I''m going to leave out the nerd talk here. Lol. This chapter does answer some of the questions left over from the last one, and digs a bit deeper into the world of Eternia as well. There isn''t any action yet, but it is coming, and soon! The world will shake and tremble and things will go horribly wrong! Hehehehehehehe. As for other news, I''ve hired someone to do some real proofreading/editing on Part 2 of Universe Online for me, so I''m hoping to have that up on Amazon by the end of the month or the start of next. As always, thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy the chapter! -|- -|- -|- ¡°You know this quest you set us on is going to get us all killed, don''t you?¡± Her question was spoken softly, and for a moment Edwin wasn''t sure he''d even heard her right as he turns to look at her again. Her face was the same... ¡­ Except for her eyes, which has turned golden in color and glow slightly in the darkness. He doesn''t say anything for a long moment, before dropping his head in a nod that is followed by a sigh. ¡°I fear so, yes. Goddess Urmis.¡± The rich, full laugh that comes from the Princess/Goddess actually startles Edwin a bit, but he still ends up cracking a grin of his own. ¡°It seems you are more knowledgeable than I anticipated, Edwin Cast. It has been centuries since I last spoke in the mortal world, much less with a Demon Lord.¡± The Goddesses tone is amused and wry, but there is a hint of exasperation there, as well. ¡°You can thank my manservant, Lucien. He informed me earlier that he thought the Princess may not just be a Priestess, but a medium as well. It seems he had met another one a long time ago, of the god Kritin.¡± ¡°Ssssh!¡± She snaps at him, coming around to place a small, almost delicate hand against his lips. ¡°Be careful what names you say around a medium! It can draw unwanted attention.¡± Edwin freezes up for a moment, having gotten a sudden chill down his back. The goddess had moved much more quickly than he''d expected, and there''s a steely, powerful tone in her voice that makes him want to obey without thinking. He does eventually force himself to nod and she slowly removes her hand. ¡°Mediums are not limited to the possession of only one god. Angela''s faith makes it easier for me to do so, but others can still force their way in if given cause. The god whose name you just mentioned is one of those that does not care regarding the damage they can cause to the vessel, which tends to happen when two of us fight over a medium.¡± Aaah. He nods again, this time more forcefully. ¡°I understand. Truth be told, I''m still not quite used to the idea that the gods are real and physically active in the world. The world I came from has had many come and go, but more from a philosophical standpoint. We''d found no evidence that they''d literally walked the earth.¡± Edwin''s words get another, softer chuckle of amusement from Urmis, and she does seem to relax a bit and turns back to looking out across Jottenhiem as it stretches out below them. ¡°I figured as much. We have heard other stories of such, from other travelers from other worlds. The consensus is that their worlds do have their own gods, but they are unable to manifest due to a lack of mana. The faith of their worshipers feed them, but it is never really enough to do more than influence the physical world. Eternia is something of an oddity; a wellspring of mana that tends to be rare elsewhere.¡± Edwin listens to her, his face taking on the thoughtful cast of a man who''d just learned something. In a way it made sense, but he had never been overly religious. Lip service, to be sure. He knew a bit about Earth mythology, and the idea that every god from every pantheon was once a living being was a new take on what otherwise had just been a curiosity for him. It would take him quite a while to ponder through all of that, one way or another. *DING*
The Gods of Eternia
New Codex Entry
There are many gods within the world of Eternia. Some are bound to specific places, and others are bound to ideals or ideologies. Very few walk the world, however, as manifesting takes a great amount of power and stored magic in the form of mana. People who are ''mediums'' allow for a middle ground, as a god can possess their bodies for a time with a limited amount of power. Many high ranking priests and priestesses are mediums for this very reason. You currently know of two gods: Kritin, God of Blood and Warfare. Urmis, Goddess of Healing.
+1 Intelligence +1 Wisdom
New information about the Gods of Eternia has been added to the Codex menu.
Edwin''s thoughts are interrupted when a new message pops up in front of him, and it brings him back to the here and now as he reads it quickly then swipes it away. For the moment the only god that matters is the one speaking with him. That thought brings back a sobering thought of its own, and he quickly turns to look at Urmis, who''s residing in the very lovely body of an Imperium Princess. ¡°What do you know about the Citadel Dungeon, Goddess Urmis? Outside of some old records, we really don''t have much to go on, and anything you may know could mean a big difference once we make our raid.¡± He finally gets back to the topic at hand, shunting the other thoughts aside so he can think about them later instead of wasting the opportunity he has right now. ¡°The Dungeon of Parin Dark is the first Dungeon ever constructed, as a experiment to the viability of the idea. The Citadel was built on top of it to seal it, and Jottenhiem was originally built as the city to support it. Unlike the other dungeons, this one has no oversight, and grows over time. Its tunnels go far and deep in and under the mountains. The Heart Crystal at its center is old and weathered, nearly mad from isolation and the magic that bids it in place. Parin has become twisted, corrupted with the magic that bound it here. She is weakened, but has found ways of siphoning off the mana of the creatures she binds to the dungeon.¡± Edwin isn''t the only one to cringe at that thought, with Urmis/Angela also making a very real look of distaste on her face. ¡°Her minions are barely living things any more. She has forcefully absorbed so much mana from them overtime that they have become empty vessels, without conscious thought. This has made them unique, however, when combined with the original magic of the Dungeon. They fear no pain or death, and thus can only be de-summoned for a time. The cost to re-summon them is very low because they are merely shadows of what they once were. And they are many.¡± ¡°But more than that, Parin has learned to gain greater influence over the Dungeon and the area surrounding it, including the Citadel here. The reason why it was forgotten that a Heart Crystal was at the center of it was because of her influence. She makes it difficult to remember or recall, and this influence will only get stronger as you work your way deeper into the depths. Parin will seek to trap you with illusions. Thankfully her domain has to be physically mined out instead of shifted with magic, so she cannot make the Dungeon itself change.¡± Edwin blows out a breath and bows his head, closing his eyes for a moment in the cool night air as he listens to the goddess explain the things he''d only been able to guess at. The real question, however, is what to do once they get into the Dungeon. It was a question that has been nagging at him ever since he offered up this quest. ¡°You do not need to show mercy, Demon Lord.¡± Urmis'' voice causes him to look up again at her, a startled look on his face that makes her giggle rather cutely. ¡°Parin offered herself up to help control this Dungeon, and in that she acquitted her duty. The neglect and abandonment that followed was not of your doing, thus you need not be crushed under the guilt of ending it regardless of how much it may pain you. There are no easy answers in this situation.¡± Edwin however cannot help but frown, before he shrugs one of his shoulders. His face turns into a mask of concentration as he uses his mana to gather up enough of his mist to pull open the top of his robe, exposing the vivid black markings circling around his chest along with the shining blue facet of the crystal embedded just over his heart. Urmis sees it and lets out a hiss of surprise, blinking her golden hues before leaning over to look closer, one of her small hands reaching up as if to touch it, although she does refrain after a moment of hesitation. ¡°I''m already carrying Jottenhiem. I was hoping to take Parin, too. I am not sure if it would be enough to break the magic that binds her to the dungeon, but leaving her alone is no longer an option. But if she is as corrupted as you said, then I fear that her death may be the only way to salvage the situation.¡± He cannot help but admit to what he had in mind, although he isn''t sure if he could do it at all. Taking Jottenhiem had been a fluke, if nothing else, and he still doesn''t understand that part of his power. But it is still an option, at least to him. ¡°I have never seen such a thing before... Nor the black markings, which are of a sigil I''ve never seen either. You are full of surprises, Edwin. If you believe that you can take Parin without being forced to destroy her, then do it. Heart Crystal''s are rare, far more rare than gods, and are powerful in their own right. However, know that I will not blame you if you are forced to come to a different decision.¡± She looks honestly surprised, and stares at his broad, muscular chest for several longer moments before looking away. ¡°My time grows short, and I have something else to tell you. Do not trust Justin Steele, Angela''s cousin. He seeks fame and glory above all other, and sees both you and Angela here as stepping stones to gain what should rightfully be his. At least in his own mind. He will go forward into this endeavor in order to gain access to the riches held within the Dungeon, but he may also decide to sabotage anything you wish to do contrary to his own desire. Be careful.¡± Edwin also agrees with Urmis'' take on Angela''s cousin, although more for the fact that he seems like an asshole and a prick than anything truly dangerous. Then again, he''d died previously from the same sort of people, so he plans to keep a watchful eye on Justin all the same. ¡°I understand. I''ll be careful.¡± Urmis nods to him then smiles, looking up at Edwin. ¡°Please look after Angela here, as well. She can be headstrong or demure as the situation calls for it, but she just truly wishes for the independence she''s been denied as part of the royal family. I''d rather not see her hurt. I''ve become quite fond of my Priestess.¡± Urmis steps back from the railing and swirls around as if taking a dancing step, causing the end of her robes to flutter up in the breeze like a skirt. At the same time she''s raised her arms above her head and gives Edwin a look of like ''Isn''t she just so cute?''. Edwin actually chuckles a little once he''s turned around to watch her. ¡°Oh, one last thing. Think of it as a gift.¡± Urmis says, stopping her light playing and suddenly stepping up toward Edwin. Before he could stop her she''s reached up and grabbed his face, only to follow her hands and kiss him fully on the lips. He''s so startled that he isn''t able to respond. That moment of hesitation gives her more than enough time to bite his lower lip, drawing just a drop of his blood which she licks before pulling back. ¡°Don''t neglect your growing harem too much, ''kay? Your current form not withstanding, you make more than a few women quite happy.¡± The bite on his lip heals over quickly, and for a moment all he can do is stare at her dumbly, which brings another girlish giggle from Urmis before she winks at him. Then, just as suddenly as she had appeared, the golden hue of her eyes switch off back to Angela''s more normal gray-silver color. ¡°She... she didn''t! Oh, Urmis! Tease! Flirt! Get back here!¡± Yep, Angela is definitely back, and apparently knows what all had happened. Especially because Angela is blushing furiously and looking both shy and angry at the same time. Edwin though just shakes his head while blowing out his breath. It helps to cover up the chuckle that he felt obliqued to squash. He has no idea what the goddess was hinting at, however. He isn''t dense, and knows that several of the women around him are interested, but Delora was the only one he''d ever felt the need to push into a physical relationship with. No doubt the three girls on his list are making plans of their own now that he''s shown to be sexually interested, however. No doubt the fight between Delora, Cernette, and Allisa is going to be intense. At least once he gets his body back anyway. *DING*
You have gained the Goddess Urmis'' blessing!
Health regeneration is doubled so long as you continue to maintain the Goddess Urmis blessing. Unknown. Unknown.
¡°Urmis is definitely something.¡± Edwin cannot help but point out once he dismisses the notification. Health regeneration is a good bonus to have, regardless of what it casted him. That and the fact that Urmis'' kiss had not been chaste in any way, shape, or form. ¡°She''s a nosy busybody is what she is! If I didn''t like healing others so much I''d seek service with another goddess to get away from her and her pranks.¡± Angela is still huffing and has already started to pace back and forth across the balcony, only to blush again every time she sees Edwin standing there, watching her. She can definitely tell he is amused, but is quite thankful that he isn''t poking fun at her for it. If anything, he''s shown admirable restraint, and isn''t even blushing himself. ¡°Well, giving a kiss was more than worth gaining Urmis'' blessing. That and she didn''t act all high-and-mighty. I''d probably kick a more self-important god.¡± That makes Angela snort and finally stop her pacing, although she is now refusing to look at Edwin at all. ¡°There are quite a few of those out there, Edwin. Urmis is more levelheaded and compassionate by comparison. You should be thankful for that.¡± She tells him quite openly, even dismissively when she mentioned the other ''gods''. He doesn''t miss that, and a slight frown crosses his lips before he shrugs. ¡°Back on my world there were two major religions that both had various offshoots and sects within them. Both of them were monotheist, and the worshipers practically despised one another. Several of our largest and longest wars happened between the two. When neither side could destroy the other outright, they turned to small teams of terrorists, saboteurs to inflict as much economic and social damage as possible against the other. And to scare the masses that had started to slowly move away from religion all together. It was all a big mess. I imagine it is quite different and yet similar here.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Edwin really doesn''t know why he''s even talking about it, to be honest. He''d never been overly religious, with one church seeming just the same as any other, regardless of which god, messiah, or incarnation of the same damned thing they represented. At least Christians had stopped the whole hanging, beheading, and burning at the stake thing. Islam still has a way to go in that regard, at least with the extremists that had still been a problem when he was alive on Earth. ¡°Yes. It has been a long time since there''s been any real fighting between the churches of the various gods here, but it has happened. The kingdoms of the Southern Land tend to be more interested in trying to fight over the Spine than within their borders, even if it is against each other. I cannot say for sure, but I know the various demon cities and clans and races also fight amongst themselves, but as individual warriors instead of with armies. Similar to the Trail of Strength I heard you underwent soon after arriving here.¡± Angela''s admittance wasn''t really that much of a shock to him by now. In a way, the Southern Land kingdoms remind him of Rome, where almost all the fighting was done on the borders, well away from the civilian populations so they wouldn''t have to see the carnage. No doubt that kept most of the commoners well away from the evil ''demons'', even though one kingdom may be fighting another on land they don''t even own. It makes him sigh. ¡°Good to know that the humans here can be just as messed up as the demons, and that both are just as bad as the humans from my old world.¡± Angela looks thoughtful for a moment, but simply nods, not able to say anything back about that. ¡°We have work to do in the morning, so it is time to get some rest. We have a dungeon to raid.¡± Edwin finally says after a few moments of awkward silence, turning from the railing of the balcony overlooking the city. He summons his mana to pull his mists back together then starts to float his way back inside, leaving the priestess to watch him go. -|- -|- -|- The next morning the Citadel was bustling with activity, even more so than was normal. A lot of people knew something was up, and that it involved the Adventurers that had been called in the day before. Something was going on, and people being the naturally nosy beings they are, many of them wanted to find out what it was all about. Those involved however had been instructed not to say a thing. That included the fully armored and armored contingent of Jottenhiem guards that had been billeted in the little-used barracks the night before. The stragglers took a while to get there, having been so spread out in their various tasks. The guards just didn''t have enough trained troops yet, and with quite a lot of area to patrol they had been spread out far and wide to maximize their effectiveness. That, however, meant that it could take a while for messages to reach them, and then even longer for them to report in to find out what was going on. Thankfully the entire group hand picked by Cormic was professional, so none of them complained even if not all of them had been allowed a full nights rest. Everyone did get a big, hearty breakfast, and was allowed a few hours of free time to rest up or restock whatever necessities they required for the days ahead. The others were catered to as they required, with the Citadel''s quartermaster making quite a bit of gold off of everything sold from the stores, limited as they had been. Potions, weapons, gear... the human Adventurer''s and the guards went through it all and what wasn''t in stock was quickly ordered from places down in the city. Lucien had set the budget for all of that, but did let slip that Edwin was basically paying himself back for everything the guards and Adventurer''s purchased. That had drawn a bit of a chuckle from, the two of them. Still, the atmosphere was heavy and tense, expectant on the outside and focused on the inside. Even though Edwin had managed to sleep quite well the night before, he hadn''t forgotten the Goddess Urmis'' rather dire warning. And that worry was eating at him quite a bit even though he could do nothing else about it. They were all going to die. However, Angela had admitted that such portents are not really prophecies, or set in stone. They tend to be more of a feeling, a hunch that could go either way. She wasn''t overly worried, although she had blushed when he''d cornered her to ask just before breakfast. Edwin had eaten in his study, while the Adventurer''s and guards had eaten in the hall off the kitchens. Mostly it had been for a moment of privacy, something he hadn''t really had since he woke up to his change. Lucien or one of the others had constantly been around him, making sure he didn''t get hurt or something equally unpleasant happened to their weakened ruler... but Edwin had needed some time and space to simply sit and think. The fact that everyone was almost outrageously busy this morning gave him the perfect excuse for that. First thing Edwin had done was pull up his Status Screen, which he''d been almost hiding from. He knew that things were bad, and didn''t really want to face just how bad they are. But here, by himself, he finally bites the bullet and checks to see just how far he''d fallen.
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons10
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals74 (10)56 (10)93 (20)
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals644460
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals750930750
LeadershipLuck
3170
Unused Stat Points5
TRAITS
(LOCKED) Demon''s Tail is a unique combination trait that allows the growth of a freely shape-shifting, prehensile tail; which can be used both in combat and out. The tails limitations are directly connected to the levels of the skills associated with it. Skills unlocked: Tail Whip, Tail Manipulation, Tail Enhancement, Tail Morphing.
Blessings
Blessing of Goddess Urmis''.
Health regeneration is doubled so long as you continue to maintain the Goddess Urmis blessing. Unknown. Unknown.
He was quite surprised at the much bigger holographic blue panel that pops up in front of him, and it takes him a moment to realize that the new additions show his purchased traits, of which his tail is currently locked, as well as Urmis'' blessing. It shows permanent editions. That is pretty cool. Just like he had thought however, his physical attributes are all in the tank. It has barely left him as strong as he had been when he was first summoned to this world. Only his constitution is greater than that starting point, but even then it is offset by his current weakness to light. He does make sure to read over everything, before finally dismissing it with a thought. There''s no reason for him to become despondent simply because of a temporary situation, right? He has to force himself to not fall into a depressed spunk by blowing out a hard breath and sitting up straighter in his chair. There''s still work to be done, and he isn''t about to fall behind by becoming depressed over what is already arguably spilled milk. Heh. Do they even have that saying here in Eternia? Edwin isn''t sure, which brings a chuckle of the ribald humor to his lips. He finishes eating and then sets the plate and cup aside on the coffee table in front of his usual chair, then forces himself up and out of his seat. It is time to prepare, and now that he''s done with his moping, he''s already starting to think about how he can be of use without physically being able to take action. The one thing he thinks of is using his magic. His magic is the one thing that the incomplete transformation he''s undergoing hasn''t tampered with, and he tests it to make sure by summoning a ball of flame that winks into existence in front of his hooded face. It works just fine, and he dismisses it even while producing a wide, feral grin. Which thankfully no one is able to see. He can use that. ¡°Jottenhiem, is there any way to store spells for later use? Like a scroll or a gem that someone can make?¡± His sudden question of his full time companion causes a startled reaction that he can feel in his chest, before he hears the ''hmmm'' of thinking echoing up to his ears. ¡°There are, but none you are able to produce at the moment. Scroll Making is a delicate, time consuming process that most magic users scuff at. Alchemists make low level ones to sell to the general population or guards or Adventurer''s; but they are limited due to how much mana and resources they have on hand. I don''t think that is what you have in mind, however.¡± Well, if nothing else, Edwin got to learn something new today. Although it shouldn''t have surprised him that there was alchemy in this world, it was the first he''d heard of it. He does doubt that it is anything like what he is familiar with, as well. ¡°Yeah... I need a way to store an already prepared and casted spell for later use so I can preserve my mana. Moving around actively requires to me to use my mana, which means that if I run out I''ll be immobilized, and yet not being able to assist in the fighting is a bit much for me.¡± He explains his thought, and is a bit taken back when Jottenhiem breaks out in childishly cute giggles. What''d he say? ¡°Oh, sorry, Edwin. I thought you were just being funny there for a moment. All you need is a Mana Crystal to store your excess mana so you can use it later when you need to. It is much more efficient than making something to store spells.¡± He could clearly still hear the humor in her tone though, and he has to shake his head to keep a frown from forming. It seems that Jottenhiem wants to drag this out for some odd reason. ¡°Yeah, that''d definitely be helpful. Any idea on where I can find one of those?¡± His own wry tone makes her laugh even more, the brightened blue glow of her amusement shines even through his black robe. Thankfully it doesn''t hurt him, although it should. ¡°You already have one, silly! I possess the same ability to store mana that Mana Crystal''s do, but in far larger quantities. Hahaha. So sit back down and I''ll show you how to do it. Where did you think I put all the mana I siphon off of you ever since we bonded?¡± Edwin does as directed, and learns how to open himself up enough to directly connect to the Heart Crystal embedded in his chest. The process turns out to be quite simple, if a little involved. He simply ends up thinking of it like having a battery inside of his body where he can store the excess power. He ends up staying there for several hours, pouring almost every drop of his mana into Jottenhiem''s crystal and feeling that he''d barely poured a cup of water into the parched desert. She literally sucked every bit of it up and still had room for more. And more. And more. And even more. Putting mana in was easy enough, but getting it out again was a tad trickier. Jottenhiem really couldn''t help him there, because it was something she''d never tried before, either. All of her contractors put mana in, but only Edwin had ever tried to pull mana out. He does eventually figure out how to do it, and is more than a little surprised when it finally occurs. *DING* [tr][td4]You have gained the Mana Manipulation skill!
By practicing a way to store and draw mana from the Heart Crystal Jottenhiem, you have gained an innate understanding of the structure of mana and how it is used both inside the body and out.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:
Mana ManipulationBeginner111.0%
The skill that governs your understanding of mana and it''s aspects that affect both the living and the inanimate world around you. A very useful skill to have for the aspiring magic user, but also for those involved in Alchemy and other scholarly pursuits. Increases the efficiency of magic. Increases the regeneration of mana. Increases the ability to use raw mana. Increased sensitivity to the flow and control of mana. Mana Sight (10 feet).
Almost as soon as the message pops up in front of him, his entire view of the world changes. Where before he could see everything physical, now it was like a lense had been put in front of his eyes. Vivid colors that seem to flow like currents pushed about by the air swirl in every direction. Some squirm, some wiggle. Others are dispersed like clouds or mists. Some of them worm away in converted patterns while still others drift or seem to strain to remain stationary in the air. Everything is covered in riot of colors, which of which have their own textures. Even his body is covered in the colors, and looking down at his chest and stomach he can see the hazy soup of black that hangs heavy and limp. The parts of his body that is currently mist gives off an almost black light glow, while what he could see of his remaining flesh gives off a steady pulse of the same color. ¡°Cool... Now how do I turn it off?¡± He cannot help but mutter to himself, although there''s a slight grin stretched across his lips. He looks back at the panel, which he hadn''t closed yet, and tries to touch the Mana Sight segment. But nothing else comes up. There isn''t any other information at all available, nor does it say rather or not the Sight is an ability or a skill in and of itself. That is a tad confusing, and more than a little disconcerting. One thing is immediately clear though. The different colors of the mana he can now see corresponds to the elemental affinity of that mana. And if there''s raw mana in the atmosphere, why can''t someone use it instead of their internal stores? Something to work on later, at any rate. -|- -|- -|- Announcement [7/17/15] Hi guys, it is Author-sama here! Things have been more than a little crazy in my life, between the death of my beloved computer and my full time job eating me basically alive. Two weeks ago tonight my shift leader got fired after being egged upon by someone who''s been stealing shit from stores around the area over the phone. She ended up costing the store nearly 800$ in cellphone prepaid cards so she was fired literally on the spot. So I''ve been filling in and trying to help train a new guy, although that still only leaves 3 of us on 3rd shift, which goes from 10PM to 6AM central standard (US) time. I finally got a day off, so that is something! I can finally rest and recharge a bit. I have not been idle though, even though I''m not able to write anywhere near as much as I''d usually like to. To make up for this, I''ve decided to jump into writing something directly based upon my experience working at that hellish place. I''m calling the new story World Seed, and if any of you enjoy the stories of Origin A.R.S., Blackthorne, or Change: New World or the like then you''ll definitely also like World Seed. Well, without the virtual reality aspect, anyway. Lol. World Seed is a mixture of adventure, action, fantasy, harem and a slight touch of comedy and mature content. I started playing around with the idea of it while reading Riddick/Against Heaven while on break at work and it just sorta stuck with me all last night so I decided why to not at least try. If nothing else it''ll be something to sink my teeth into while I''m waiting and working. It probably won''t get as explosive as Master of Dungeons or Universe Online however. If my computer hadn''t died I would still be all over them and not working my ass off. As it is I''m getting ready to request going to part time so I''ll have more time to write and deal with everything else that has backed up on me recently. And finally, I have an excerpt from World Seed to share with you all! It is the first few pages of the first chapter. Hehehe. Here you go: Chapter 1 - The Update He could almost feel it happening, the same way you¡¯d get that shiver down your spine everytime someone walks over your potential grave. It was a depressing feeling, but at the same time he was convinced that it was very much real. The feeling of this gods damned job sucking the very soul from him; one tiny bit at a time. He¡¯d been here for only about three months now, and already he despises the place, even though the sad fact is is that he¡¯d originally jumped at the chance to work there full time. As a cashier in a convenience store. It however is not one of those 24/7 shops where a person can run in, get what they want and get out as quickly as possible. Oh no. That¡¯d be far too easy on the ¡®customers¡¯. Instead, the Minut Mart store is a gas station, truck stop, convenience store and grocery all rolled into one. Each and every surface, countertop, and isle is set so that it¡¯ll slowly bleed the unwary customers of both their hard earned money and motivation to live. Kolan Mists was definitely convinced that there was some sort of witchcraft or Voodoo involved in the construction of the place, given how obvious the change comes over those who come through the doors. Happy and cheerful on the outside, the smiles soon fade and the ever increasing lines of worry appear upon the foreheads of those who take a chance to glance around. It is the same almost each and every time. By now, Kolan knew that look, and what it meant. It was the worry of not knowing what specifically to get, and the fact that the customer will be seemingly trapped in an endless hunt of going through brightly lit, colorful, and extravagant isles marked with propaganda and advertisements to find just the thing to fill that uncertain need they have. Only those few who already have a list and know what the hell they want can come out of the start of the Maze untouched by the dread that comes to the others. Or those who¡¯ve just run inside to get a specific amount of gas without paying at the twenty pumps outside. Those people tend to have a look of fear on their faces; the fear of paying too much with their credit or debit cards that they all somehow believe can be hacked through the pumps themselves. Even then, those that pay in cash may be better off¡­ except they are often coerced into buying a bottle of soda, or a chocolate bar, or a pack of cigarettes at the counter. The entire Minut Mart enterprise is a massive scheme designed to take every single dollar it can, and Kolan has been there long enough to have even felt that pull himself. It is so devious that even the employees end up buying this and that with their own paychecks! It is a nightmare, and Kolan hates it. But even more than that, he has come to hate two very specific things. The first is breaking twenty dollar bills for a pittance. People who break a 20 for a 50 cent piece of chocolate, for example. Or for a bottle of coke for $1.05. It drives him crazy and makes him dive straight for the safe to float out fives, ones, and quarters on a near constant basis. All while the shift lead is eyeballing him as if he is doing something wrong. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The second is cleaning up after 2nd Shift. Those slobs almost never get their fuckin¡¯ jobs done properly. They never clean the bathrooms, restock the soda fountain area, or make fresh coffee. They generally don¡¯t take out the garbage or do their cigarette counts either. And don¡¯t even start on the time they had gotten an order for 16 six inch cold cut subs and didn¡¯t do them before clocking out without even warning Kolan or the rest of 3rd Shift that the customers were waiting for them! 2nd Shift has thirteen full time employees on it, including the evening manager, and yet they never do the jobs they are supposed to do! Yet the general manager and shift leads look the other way because they bring in the highest sales of all three shifts. They were like the golden goose that the managers don¡¯t want to get rid of, even though it is breathing fire and constantly getting into trouble like some magical beast out of hell! It was enough to give the 26 year old grey hair after only three months. Tonight at least Kolan had something to look forward to, given that he had an entire week off after the night. A full seven days and seven nights of freedom! He¡¯d finally be able to play those games, watch those animes, and read those books he¡¯d been putting off ever since he started working in this miserable place. It was enough to make him smile in obvious defiance against the curse of the Minut Mart. For all of five minutes, right up until the shift lead Cindy shows up at his register. ¡°Kolan, I need you to go clean up the men¡¯s bathroom. Something is wrong with the urinal and it won¡¯t flush.¡± (Cindy) *Sigh* ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll check it out. But if someone tried to flush another wrapper down it to hide the theft I¡¯m going to start wracking people on the back of the head¡­¡± (Kolan) ¡°Yeah, whatever. Just get it done and make sure you mop up the mess on the floor.¡± (Cindy) Cindy¡¯s disinterested voice was mirrored by the lack of even a glance from his two fellow co-workers. Kolan couldn¡¯t really blame them, given that it could have just as easily been one of them who¡¯d been picked to clean up the mess. Especially the new guy, who¡¯s old enough to be Kolan¡¯s grandfather. At least it gets him away from the register and those accursed 20 dollar bills, right?! He desperately tries to hold onto that feeling as he moves into the back room, through rows and rows of boxes and shelves holding all the inventory. It is in the opposite direction from the kitchen, which thankfully 3rd shift doesn¡¯t really use much. Besides the pizza rolls, which are in constant demand. Those things disappear out of the heat boxes with distressing regularity. Still, coming into the ¡®cleaning room¡¯, as it is joking referred to, Kolan grabs up the kit usually used to clean up the bathrooms and even goes ahead and fills up the mop bucket. It is one of those wheeled ones, so it is fairly easy to move across the store. He does have to hold the button down on the dispenser though, given that the latch is broken and the company hasn¡¯t seen fit to pay out for a new one. That leaves him leaning against the wall when something just seems to shudder. For a moment Kolan thought it was him, but he notices that he moved, along with some of the shelves and the brooms hanging on their rack nearby. It was low, not even an earthquake, but it persists for several long moments before suddenly his vision also seems to shudder.
|+|+|+| Warning: World Seed Update in Progress Please sit down and stop all movement in two minutes for the update. Do not be alarmed. Everything will be just fine. |+|+|+|
A glowing blue text box just pops up in front of him, and for several moments all he could do is stare at it dumbly. He¡¯s so entranced that he doesn¡¯t even notice the short scream that echoes through the back room as one of the others also notices it, or the sudden silence that comes from the store proper as every single person gets the same message. Then it disappears, as if it had never been at all, and for a moment all Kolan can do is blink before he shakes his head. ¡°What the hell?¡± He mutters to himself, but shakes it off. It just had to be his mind messing with him, right? RIGHT?! There is no way in hell something like that could happen in real life. It was like out of those stories he fancies online. So just like the dumbass he is sometimes, he dismisses it and only then realizes that his mop bucket is overflowing and leaking onto the floor around his feet! ¡°CRAP!!!¡± + | + | + There you go! What do you guys think? Let me know. Hehe. I''ll be finishing up the chapter in a couple of hours and posting it, so I''ll update the Announcement here with the link then. Here you go guys, the linky to World Seed! It was just approved. Hehehehehe. World Seed Chapter 11 - The First Dungeon (Part 2) Hi guys, it is Author-sama! I hope you enjoy this part of the chapter! I thought about going ahead and writing the rest in one go, but after about eight pages I decided it was a good stopping point for now, so I''ll give you all I have for the moment. I am sorry it took so long. Okay, now for a bit of catching up. After working full time for about two and a half months, I have lost my job. It is all a bunch of drama, so I''m not going to get into it. I am back into looking for more work. In the mean time, I will be catching up with writing here, and will finally be pushing toward getting the rest of UO published on Amazon. I simply haven''t had the time, energy, or will to finish up with all the editing and making sure the tables work right lately. On that note I still haven''t gotten my big first paycheck from Amazon, but I was informed that they fixed the issue, so it should all come in by the end of the month. With my computers graphics card dead, I''ve been writing on my mom''s old rust bucket. This thing is rather slow, but it''ll do the job for now. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the continuation of the chapter! As always, leave comments, questions and other such goodies if you want. Also, thank you all who have donated or will continue to do so. I greatly appreciate the generousity and help! -|- -|- -|- The preparations are complete. Everyone had just about everything they could think of, and more than a few had quite a few things that may only be marginally helpful stashed in their packs. Edwin himself was carrying literally an armory, smithy, and apothecary full of stuff in his Void Space. Not to mention a whole bunch of hot, freshly prepared food and drink from the kitchens, courtesy of Allisa. Edwin himself wasn''t sure if it would work, but after looking up the information on his Void Space ability, he was willing to give it a try. Turns out that any food stored within that place retains the exact same conditions they had going in. So Edwin had literally stocked up on as much fresh, hot food and drink as possible. Mostly finished portions already on plates or in bowls. That meant that when he pulled it out everything was still steaming and fresh. Or nicely chilled, in the case of the mugs of ale and tea he''d had prepared as well. It was a great find, to be honest. The other things that had been left undone were also completed in a generally satisfactory manner. Edwin''s new Mana Sight ability was more under his control, which allowed him to phase it into the background of his usual sight, or to be combined with the Crystal Vision gained from Jottenhiem. Edwin had literally spent all morning exploring the ability, and even learned a bit about all the mana around him. He could now figure out which type of mana was which based upon its color, as well as what it was most likely doing depending upon the specific texture or movement. Stationary mana tends to correspond with objects that are likewise unmoving, such as the earth mana inside of a stone wall. There is still a bit of movement, a little wiggle room, but not much. The flickering of the torches, however, tends to cast out spirals and wiggles of fire mana in the form of heat and light. Not to mention the counter-movements of shadow and dark mana. That was one thing that had surprised Edwin, when he finally realized what he was looking at. One type of mana can turn into a different type due to natural processes. A torch creates both heat and light, which different from each other noticeably while being mirrors of each other. Shadows and general darkness also give off their own sort of mana, which Edwin dubbed ''dark'' mana, which seems to convert other types of mana within its home shadow into more of itself. The darker the shadow, the more dark mana it produces. Earth and water mana in the ground and the air turns into a green sort of ''nature'' mana within a plant, as well. Realizing all of that and more had actually been quite interesting, and had kept him busy for so long that Lucien actually had to drag him back to reality while he was studying everything he could see. It wouldn''t do to have the Demon Lord late for his own sanctioned quest, after all. The other point of interest is what Edwin had learned when casting his own magic. It was much harder to understand however, and took him several tries to finally realize what he''d witnessed every time he invoked a spell. When using magic, his mana had partially transformed into the corresponding mana of the types required by the spell, and then used itself to draw in outside mana of the same type to complete the spell. Like an anchor point and magnet. The amount of outside mana that could be drawn within a given time frame directly related to how much mana he put towards the spell. A lot of mana would draw outside mana in very rapidly, thus completing the spell faster. Less would take a lot longer to finish. Not using enough of his mana to attract outside mana would cause the spell to either fizzle or to be a very weakened version of the original spell. Also if there isn''t enough of the required outside mana to complete the spell, it would fizzle anyway. That means that the environment was a factor when it comes to casting different types of spells. That said, Edwin had learned a trick after realizing all of that. He could compensate for the lack of a type of mana by adding in the element that naturally fed the type of mana he required. Say he wanted to cast a fireball under water, where there is very little natural fire mana around. He could simply feed the spell air mana in order to generate the required amount of fire mana needed. The rough ratio he was able to come up with is about 1 air mana per 1.2 fire mana required. He was still getting more out of it than he had to put in, due to the natural feeding of the different types of mana, but actually adding that extra mana to a spell that''s already in progress is far, far more costly than simply being able to cast the spell naturally. Testing it in a bucket of water cost him nearly three times as much mana as usual in order to conjure a simple flame that burned even under the water. The flame had only lasted a few seconds, but that was more than enough for Edwin to realize that if he needed to he could use just about any type of magic under his command regardless of the circumstances. His experimentation also gave him an even greater reward, which was more than satisfactory for a morning that was basically wasted regarding everything that had been going on in the Citadel.
You have gained!
+6 Intelligence +2 Wisdom Skill Rank Up!
[quart=Skill Name:,Skill Level:]Skill Rank:,Skill Experience:[/quart] [quart=Mana Manipulation,2]Apprentice,7.13%[/quart]
The skill that governs your understanding of mana and it''s aspects that affect both the living and the inanimate world around you. A very useful skill to have for the aspiring magic user, but also for those involved in Alchemy and other scholarly pursuits. Increases the efficiency of magic (mana cost down). Increases the regeneration of mana (mana regen up). Increases the ability to use raw mana. Increased sensitivity to the flow and control of mana. Mana Sight (20 feet). Basic ability to distinguish one type of mana from another. Increasing your understanding of mana and how it interacts with the world will increase this skills level.
For some reason Edwin''s mana manipulation skill had gained a whole bunch of levels during his experimentation, and after reaching level 10 had ranked up, which he had never had happen to him before. The sudden boost in his sight ability alone was almost overwhelming, as was the new information presented to him in the skill screen. The more he learns about his skills, the more information is available to him, apparently. More than that though, he got a hefty amount of stat gains, which make the time spent experimenting more than worth it.
STATUS SCREEN
NAMEEdwin CastRACEVoid Demon
CLASSLEVEL
Demon Lord / Master of Dungeons10
Physical AttributesStrengthDexterityConstitution
Totals74 (10)56 (10)93 (20)
Mental AttributesIntelligenceWisdomCharisma
Totals704660
Applied AttributesHealthManaStamina
Totals750890750
LeadershipLuck
3170
Unused Stat Points5
TRAITS
(LOCKED) Demon''s Tail is a unique combination trait that allows the growth of a freely shape-shifting, prehensile tail; which can be used both in combat and out. The tails limitations are directly connected to the levels of the skills associated with it. Skills unlocked: Tail Whip, Tail Manipulation, Tail Enhancement, Tail Morphing.
Blessings
Blessing of Goddess Urmis''.
Health regeneration is doubled so long as you continue to maintain the Goddess Urmis blessing. Unknown. Unknown.
(Yes, I realized I had messed up the math on how much mana Edwin had while I was working on this part of the chapter. It has been changed to the proper value. Let me know if I have messed up anywhere else!) If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. All in all, Edwin was pleased and used the extra mana and his even faster regeneration rate to pour even more of his power into Jottenhiem. At least in the time that still remained to do so. Of course he also spent that same time, slowly gliding toward the throne room pouring mana into Jottenhiem and then extracting it in order to get a better feel of it and hopefully increase the amount he could withdraw at any one time. As it stands, he can pull about 50 mana per second from the Heart Crystal. It wasn''t a large amount, but it was fairly steady so long as he was able to concentrate on the task. Especially given that he had poured literally thousands of mana points into the crystal over the night and morning. Edwin wasn''t sure about the exact amount, however. He had no way of measuring it outside of what dropped out of his own mana bar when he was paying attention. Which wasn''t very often. Getting to the throne room was both tense and maybe a bit silly. The great hall had various groups of people milling around. To one side were the girls, Allisa, Cernette and Deloria. They were all decked out in their preferred weapons and armor. Allisa were a slim robe that hugged her curves and then bellowed out a bit around her waist, offering her a decent range of motion. She was holding a long staffed topped with a gently glowing blue crystal. It was definitely a far cry from her usual maids outfit that she tended to flaunt around in. Cernette was wearing leather armor that was thick around her stomach and then up across her chest, abutting into iron pauldrons (shoulder guards) across her shoulders. She had a bow hung over one arm, and was holding a long spear in the other with a wicked serrated tip of some sort of black metal. Her long tail was also affixed into some sort of leather battle harness that criss-crossed its long length, ending with a pointed metal cap at the tip that appears rather heavy, almost the ball end of a mace. No doubt being hit with that would hurt like hell. Deloria though was decked out in chainmail with pieces of iron plate armor thrown in. Pauldrons, greaves, gauntlets and heavy boots. Underneath the chainmail Edwin could see a layer of leather as well, most likely used for padding and extra armor. She was also wielding her most trusted weapon, a pickaxe tipped with a spike at the end. All told the three women look like seasoned veterans, and Deloria was even strong enough to maintain her hover over the ground with her wings even when wearing so much weight. It was kind of absurd. The next group to catch Edwin''s attention was the guards. They each wore their own medley of favored armor pieces and their preferred weapons. Many of them were also carrying various types of shields, and a group of them had either bows or crossbows slung across their backs. Edwin is able to spy an avid mix of goblins, hobgoblins, two wood elves and even a troll within that group. All of them also carried their packs and were checking their weapons and gear while Cormic watches over them from the sidelines, burly arms crossed and his classical scowl on his face. The last group were the Adventurers. An even more varied mix of peoples, all of them of human origin. Edwin didn''t really pay them much attention, except to spy Angela and her cousin, Justin arguing heatedly over something in the background. He isn''t able to tell what they are talking about, and even Jottenhiem says that they are talking too lowly for her to listen in. Neither of them look very pleased when Edwin walks, or rather glides, into the room. Justin''s face is twisted into a angered sneer and Angela looks simply impassive. It doesn''t stop the two of them from making their way to him though, with Justin trying to step in front of Angela the entire time while glaring at Edwin. Edwin simply stops and waits for them, with Lucien stepping back two paces to give them a little privacy, even though he watches over them with sharp eyes. ¡°Edwin, I have decided that it is in our best interest to go with your group and soldiers. From what I could tell your group doesn''t have any real healers, so I''d like to offer...¡± Angela starts, only to be cut off by her cousin whose shout draws the attention of everyone. ¡°Gods above, no! I am not going to allow you to follow such rabble into the dungeon!¡± Edwin''s face isn''t the only one to darken at the nobles disrespecting tone, and he definitely wasn''t the only one who was about to retort. Thankfully the words never leave his lips, cause Angela turns around and smacks her cousin right then and there with enough force to jerk his head around. It brings a rather awed silence to the throne room as everyone watches on. ¡°I care not if you are my cousin, Justin! Such disrespect will not be tolerated in front of one whose station is considered as high as our own King. Demon Lord Edwin has proved to be honorable and more virtuous than most. If you cannot abide by the Accord, then you can remain here until the quest is complete.¡± ''Oooooooooooh,'' erupts from the rest of those gathered, and more than one whispered conversation breaks out at Angela''s declaration. Justin himself flushes crimson, and his hand falls onto the pommel of his sword. Most of Edwin''s men look amused, while several of the human adventurers have gone either pale or angry themselves. No one else dares to talk or interfere however, and after a moment the pompous noble regains his calm and removes his hand. ¡°This isn''t over, Angela, but you will get your way. This time.¡± Justin sneers, before turning and marching to back to his group, his back stiff and his anger clearly seen in his eyes. No doubt he is going to be a major headache later. Edwin though just blows out a sigh and glances over his shoulder to Lucien who gives a nod. ¡°I accept the offer of your services, Angela. Truth be told, a healer would be greatly appreciated. Allisa knows some healing magic, given her affinity of water magic, but outside of a handful of medics who don''t have anyone who can use healing magics.¡± She looks pleased for a moment, but quickly looks the other way and covers over the look with her usual impassive mask. Edwin still catches it, and couldn''t help a brief grin before turning back toward the rest of the room. After a moment of looking he nods his head and start to glide toward the center of the chamber. ¡°Everyone! We are almost ready to begin. Before we descend, however, I need to inform you all that there is still one other person who will be joining us. A half-Spectre has been hired to scout out part of the dungeon, and will be meeting us at the entrance in order to hand out copies of a map she has created during the last few days. Afterwards she will be joining my group.¡± He gives a short speech and draw the groups together. ¡°To expedite this quest, we are going to split into two different groups. The Adventurers will follow one path, and my group along with thirty or so of the guards will go another. The rest will remain at the entrance to provide a safe means of exit or escape, as the case may be. From what we have found, the monsters within the dungeon are weak, but numerous and are rapidly re-summoned after death. We will likely have to destroy hordes of them to finally reach the central chamber, where the Heart Crystal is.¡± Edwin waits for everyone to settle down, given the outbreak of discussions from both sides. Still, he sees very little fear, and many from the adventurers actually seem excited. That''s good, at least for now. ¡°Last thing to note is that I plan to capture the Heart Crystal instead of destroying it. It is old and weak and probably more than a little mad, but that doesn''t mean that it cannot be saved. To that end I''ll personally reward whichever group arrives and secures the dungeon heart without damaging it. Once that is accomplished, we will send a small group out to contact the other group to inform them of the location and to guide them there. I will take over after that is done.¡± He says, getting a few ''aaaahs!'' out of the gathered men and women. No doubt they all have different ideas of what sort of reward Edwin would offer up. Looking around however, Edwin notices that Justin has an almost evil sneer on his face, and a shiver runs down his spine at the look that is quickly hidden. That doesn''t bode well at all. ¡°Very well, that is all. Make the last of your preparations and meet us at the entrance. Lucien, please have servants standing by to show them the way. Everyone else, we are going now.¡± Edwin says the last and turns around, followed by a large group of his guard along with the women who soon start chatting with Angela over this and that. Lucien himself leads them down into the under-croft of the citadel, then into the dungeons before going even further down. Edwin, having never ventured below the citadel, takes the time to look over everything and asks a few questions along the way. Like any fortress, the under-croft of the citadel holds a vast amount of storage space as well as its aquifer for a steady supply of fresh water. Along with barracks, bunkers and a variety of nasty traps. Most of which are so old and unmaintained that they are rusted and utterly useless. The place is also almost completely barren, the stores emptied long ago. Just another sign of how far things have fallen. If attacked, Jottenhiem would have almost no means of holding out against a siege. It was a depressing thought in and of itself. Finally they arrive at the heavily bared entrance of the dungeon, but they pause long enough for Lucien to retreat into a side room to change. When he returns Edwin is quite surprised, because he''d never seen Lucien wear anything other than the butler-like clothing of a manservant. Now however the older goblinoid is decked out in his own version of chainmail and leathers, along with an iron skullcap on his head. Lucien also has a slim, round buckler strapped to his left arm and a long, slim sword sheathed at his waist. A rapier, perhaps. Definitely a gentleman''s weapon. He also has a whip curled up on his other hip. Edwin isn''t surprised that Lucien notices his rather shocked gaze, and instead gives a wry smile before shrugging his shoulders. ¡°You thought I''d fight in my best set of clothing? Foolish, my lord. A good fight requires good armor and weapons. Otherwise it wouldn''t be a good fight.¡± Cormic bursts out laughing at that, and several others snicker a bit while Edwin shakes his head. ¡°Just never thought I''d see you in anything that was missing twin coat tails, Lucien. But if you are ready, then we should be on our way.¡± Edwin says with a slight grin, before he ''reaches'' up and pulls back down his hood, casting himself back into shadows so we can concentrate without the nagging pain. ¡°You heard the Demon Lord, boys! Let''s get this party started!¡± Cormic yells out, while the guards give a rather cheerful and loud roar. -|- -|- -|- Announcement [1/19/2016] Hi guys! It''s been a while. As many of you know, I haven''t been posting anything lately. I get about two or three PM''s a week asking what I''m up to and if I''m going to continue updating my various stories. Well, I''m going to answer that question, and explain why as well. To the short, the answer is yes, I''m still writing my stories. The long answer however is that I''m not likely to be posting them here on RRL anymore. Or rather post them online at all. Which will no doubt cause quite a few to break down and cry, but that''s the way life works. Now for the explanation. Back in August my mother started getting sick. Those of you who''ve read my previous announcements will know that. She ended up losing a kidney, and those was basically bedridden and out of work for a while. In October, she got married to the guy she''d been dating a little over a year. Thing''s were going okay after that, but at the start of December things wen''t down hill again. My mom suffered a heart attack, and had to have a stint put in. Missing a kidney does all sorts of things to a persons blood pressure, at least for a while. So she was out of more work and bedridden again. She finally was allowed to go back to work the week before Christmas. However, she had arranged for an appointment at the local OBGYN because of excessive bleeding on the 26th. We had assumed it was because of the blood thinners. The news, however, really messed everything up. To put it shortly, my mom has Stage 4 cervical cancer. She has a life expectancy of less than 15% for five years. That''s the average, with full chemo and radiation therapies. For those of you who know what I''m talkin'' about, then you know how bad that is. For those of you who don''t... It''s a bad situation. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The doctors cannot remove the cancer with surgery, nor can they kill it with radiation or chemo. All they can hope to do is control the spread of it. My mother can never be cancer free again, and even if the cancer responds to the treatment, it will still kill her as it slowly spreads. The fact that she already has a tumor large enough to be seen with the naked eye pressing against her bladder is just the icing on the cake. She cannot hardly sit up straight anymore. We had to move a bed into the livingroom for her, which is all kinds of ghetto, yo. XD So no, I don''t really have enough time to write and whatnot at the moment. Well, I am still writing a bit, but it''s all going towards getting my stories published as quickly as possible. At the moment, my royalty payments are roughly minimum wage, but that rises and falls as sales go up and down. That''s nowhere near enough to supplement what my mom was making before. Just paying for her medical insurance alone is 125 USD a week. So in all likihood, you guys will be seeing volumes of UO, Master of Dungeons, and others appearing on Amazon within the next couple of months. I''m sorry I''m no longer able to push forward with my original plan, and post those chapters here on RRL as I write them. No plan survives contact with a battlefield, and life is one big battlefield we all have to struggle on. Thank you all though for listening to me rant for a bit, and for your continued support. You guys are great, and once more I apologize for not being able to continue as we previously had wanted. - Ryan ''Viken'' Henning, Author-sama.