Day 7
The first thing he heard were the voices, then everything cleared, and he was standing out on a black field of grass. Lightning rolled across the sky, the thunder from it boomed.
“We need to get out of this weather, my Lord” A soldier in chain armor said.
“Where is this?”
“We are in the blight, sire looking for the tooth the goblin mentioned?”
“Tooth?”
“That’s what your daughter said.”
“Where is she?”
“They are with the sixth group.”
The storm above them raged, lightning and thunder ravaged the eyes and the ears. Then the rain started.
There was a bright flash of light and ringing in his ears.
He awoke in a cavern, narrow enough for two people to stand side by side and still not touch. There were soldiers, everyone was soaking wet.
“Your son found it sire, almost like he knew what to look for. The Ice spire he made helped”
“Where is he?”
“Sealing the entrance to keep the rain out, never seen someone use that kind of cold magic before. Are you all right sire?”
“No, A little confused, what happened?”
“The storm sire, it came on us suddenly, you said we needed to split up and look for shelter. The lightning hit close by I thought you had been hit”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“That’s good, we haven’t found the tooth, we can look further when the storm passes.”
“Tooth?”
“The goblin story, waste of time if you ask me.”
“Wake me when the rain stops or if something happens. “
They stood on the hill overlooking a valley, there were ruins everywhere below. A white spire was visible on the other side of the valley. The goblin, was gesturing and talking in its weird speech, to Kuya.
“He says that’s the tooth, it is death to approach it.”
“What the hell does that mean, “ Xach glared at the goblin. The goblin hid behind Kuya muttering in his strange language.
“Um, what?” Kuya said to the goblin. The goblin muttered something barely discernable.
“Stop messing with him Xach.”
“Well we found it now what?” A soldier asked.
“We check it out.” Bloodstone replied. The sun got in his eyes.
The light from the sun was barely illuminating the book from the glass window. He looked back at the thick tome, it was in very small handwriting, it was neat and legible, and very articulate. There was a drawing of an eye in the book, and explanations in the fine writing. Azalar was watching from the edge of the desk. “As you can see my master was quite thorough on his notes. He spent almost four years on this subject, before embarking on his own constructions, the notes are in the next chapter. “
Bloodstone turned the page, and began reading, it was a very detailed explanation on the constructions of human, drake, gnoll,half-elf, cat, eagle, and other eyes that seemed to be out of the norm. “What is this reference to works of Nenebrea the mad, Gaffis the illusionist, and Fre of Whistram.”
“A very thorough research of those in the field of magic and constructs.” Azalar replied.
Bloodstone turned the page, “How come you know so much about the book?”
“I have read all my masters works, it was my suggestion to include all his best works to his offspring.”
“Was this in the box?”
Azalar blinked, “You will have to find out that for yourself”
It was cold, there was a soft blue green light, that seemed to be coming from everywhere.
I see you are awake, you are not one of my workers yet you are part of the hive. How is this possible? A feminine voice said in his mind.
“How did I get here?” He said his voice sounded raspy and harsh.
You were brought here, we had you put you in a healing cocoon. Who are you?
“What happened where is this, when is this” He said spitting up globs of red fluid.
You are injured, we will heal you rest.
He felt his mind try and resist the sleep.
Music was playing, it sounded familiar, it was both loud and annoying. “How is someone supposed to get any sleep around here” He said allowed, his voice sounded strange even to him.
He opened the door into the hallway, the noise was louder and coming from the first floor. He went down the stairs and froze, it was a party, there were drakes, gnolls, antinum, humans, a half-elf over there, a couple of goblins. There were people eating and drinking. There was no one here he recognized. The music was coming from an Ipod on the bar. He took another step down to complain about the noise.
A woman came over to the bottom of the steps, “Sorry did we wake you?”
He nodded not sure how to respond to the woman.
“Well now that your up have some food and drink.”
“Who are you?” He asked.
“I’m the innkeeper, are you feeling all right?”
“No, I’m not. “
There was the sensation of falling, someone caught him, as he fell.
A dozen children of drake, human, gazer and gnoll heritage were standing by the large plaque. An Antium worker was cleaning the floor. A drake woman was giving the tour.
“Who can tell me, who was the Hero that saved Issrysil, at the end of the first age.”
Several children raised their hands.
“Aba” she said
A drake girl, “It was the Horns of Hammerad”
“Someone has been reading ahead, Gillis”
A gnoll boy who was wearing glasses, “While the Horns of Hammerad were instrumental in helping avert the third antinum war, there is one figure who stands out that was the innkeeper Eris Solstice”
“Very good Gillis.”
“Now five hundred years ago, there was a group who were considered, the founders of modern magic and technology, can you name them”
There were murmurs of confusion, and no one raised their hands.
“That’s a long time ago,” a half-elf girl said.
“Yes, it is and we have someone here, who would like to say a few words to those of you who are at the top of your classes.”
There were gasps, and shock as the students turned.
“Is that really him,” Aba asked.
“Thank you, students for coming here. This is the first time, that races from the continents have been free of war. With the Airlines, and other magical transportation capabilities. We have finally…
There was a massive explosion, tons of rock and debris hung in mid-air above the children. A silver cat, walked through the crowd. The antium worker, was helped back to his feet. The cloud of dust began to settle. “I everyone all right?”
Several of the children were using small devices to record the event.
Azalar asked, “How did you know?”
“You wouldn’t believe me.”
“Hang on!” The antium worker knelt, and began to give first aid.
A young half-elf woman came running into the tent. “I think we found it.”
“Good, good, I will be there shortly”
He hobbled out of the tent into the fresh air, the ground was thick with green and red grass. A large archeological dig was going on.
There were hundreds of people, of various races from across the world, recovering a lost history.
People waved and called out as he descended into the depression.
A drake, approached him, ”How, how did you know this was here.”
“What did you find?”
“We have no idea, it is still covered.”
“Tell them to stop digging, wait till I get there.”
The drake ran back down the incline yelling.
He looked over the site, “Home, or a new adventure?”
There was screaming, it was far off, annoying and constant. There were other voices.
“Hold him”
Bloodstone realized the screaming was from him, and stopped. There were four guardsmen and Gregory holding him down. The King was watching him.
“Are you, all right?” Amethyst asked, holding his head in her lap.
“What happened?”
“Shhhh, you need to give the class back to Isabel.” Amethyst said softly.
“Ok, what class?”
“Seer, hon”
Isabel was kneeling next to him, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry”
“Don’t cry, here have your class back.” He reached out and touched her, and his vision exploded into paths of color.
A voice whispered softly, “you need to keep a level”
“I don’t know how”
Other voices whispered to him, telling him to do various things.
“There is no bacon only gruel.”
“Who left the door open”
“Erin!”
“Kasha mal Dakura”
“Get the dam phone”
Bloodstone tried to recall what he needed to do, something about a class.
“I hate time things, screw that” another voice said.
There was screaming again, the voices wouldn’t leave him alone.
There was a black spot, it kept moving away. He was trying to get up something was holding him down.
“Shhhh, relax, you’re going to hurt yourself if you keep struggling.” His wife’s voice said.
“what happened?”
“Shhhh, you need to give the class back to Isabel.” Amethyst said softly.
“Ok, what class?”
“Seer, hon”
“Why?” He asked. Then the screaming started again.
The same questions kept coming, the same answer, over and over so many times he lost count.
“Can you keep focused?” Amethyst said.
“I think so, what happened?”
“you took her class, don’t you remember”
Then he did remember, and remember the other times, and the times like those and the other one.
“What happened after?”
[skill future sight acquired]
[skill anchor to event acquired]
[skill anchor to time acquired]
[skill return to event acquired]
[skill find the path acquired]
[skill rewind the hour acquired]
[skill rewind the day acquired]
[skill return to anchor acquired]
[sub class psion combined with sub class seer]
[sub class psion 7]
[sub class seer 36]
[sub class Mindseer 1]
[skill sub class psion combined sub class engineer]
[sub class psion 6]
[sub class engineer 4]
[sub class Mindbuilder 1]
[transfer sub class seer 36]
[sub class seer removed]
[skill used :Anchor to time]
[skill used: Anchor to event]
Bloodstone opened his eyes, and Isabel was being held by Gregory, “What did you do to her!”
“That was not fun, not fun at all.” the guardsmen helped him up, and he stood there shakily.
The king nodded, “what happened?”
Isabel woke up, “Did you see?”
“No, I just saw bits and pieces, I would like to ask you about the skills if you are able?”
“No, not today, maybe tomorrow. I am exhausted.”
“Now that you mention it, my head is pounding like someone used it for drum in a twenty-four-hour concert”
The king agreed to see them in the morning.
Bloodstone and the rest retired back to the suite.
Bloodstone awoke, and went out to the main area. Isabel was waiting for him, no one else was up.
“Good morning”
“Morning, you have questions I have the answers, the issue is we have a limited window to talk.”
“How do you know that?”
“The things you need to know, are the day is the moment the sun rises, same with week, month and year.”
“Ok what are anchors, and what’s the rewind skill”
“It allows you to return to that point in your life, if you miss something or want to do something again, differently”
“did you get more skills?”
“Yes, though you kept a level, why?”
“It merged with psion class, no skill popped up though”
Azalar jumped onto the table, between them. “Where is the box now?”
“I put it in my room, I had a conversation with you.”
“I doubt that, you are so droll as to be laughable.”
“Nenebrea the mad, any idea if those works are here in Rhir”
“How would I know, go check yourself.” Azalar turned and hopped off the table and stood by the closed door to Bloodstones room.
“I’m not letting you in there” Bloodstone said to the cat.
“It matters little what you want.” The cat replied without looking at him.
“You should use the anchors, we can always talk here if we need to.”
“How long before you can see”
Isabel bit her lower lip, “If I tell you, you keep changing the time. I can wait.”
“What else can you tell me?”
“I can tell you after you experience things, otherwise it gets confusing.”
The day maid came in, with two other maids. They brought breakfast, and began setting it out. “The king will be here shortly, he awoke about a half hour ago.”
There was a light rap on the door, and two soldiers stepped in followed by the king. Two more soldiers remained outside. “Good morning, Ahh they did sent breakfast. I hope this is not to inconvenient.”
“Not at all your Majesty, I don’t recall you ever visiting in the morning.” Bloodstone replied as the maid set out food.
“State affairs, and other things. However, your strange class, has me intrigued.”
“Why is that.”
“You have the power to reshape the class system, if for example I wanted to remove all the classes I have but the king class, I could become a better king. I could give my king levels to my son and work on other things. The possibilities, I have sworn my soldiers to secrecy, and they only others who know are the three prisoners and that ship’s captain. I trust that your associates can be trusted with the secret as well.”
“I don’t think they will say anything, it’s not like I can’t defend myself.”
“The ruling class, has a few rules we tell our children, don’t take unnecessary classes, stay true to the people you oversee, and don’t take more than three classes. Most listen, there have been some in the past who didn’t but that worked out. I have only two classes, myself. [Swordsman] and [King]. I keep those levels a state secret.”
They three of them ate, in silence. Amethyst came in and sat down, yawned, stretched and grabbed a plate. One by one the rest of the group sat down with food.
The king looked at Bloodstone, then one by one to the rest of the group. “Each of you has skills and knowledge that I am reluctant to put out by the wall. As I told most of you yesterday, I need to weigh the needs of the kingdom first, as a group you are in my estimation ready to go and get the infrastructure ready, to make these trains and concrete. It will easy my mind having two groups of heroes on each side of the wall. I take it you were able to make accommodations for your trip?”
Bloodstone nodded, “I purchased sixteen horses, yesterday, with feed and saddlebags. Though I think we will be short a number of mounts.”
“I will be sending the maids with you, since they are aware of your unusual skills. There are two things I will need to speak with you about later this evening, before you leave Bloodstone”
It was at that moment the cat jumped onto the table, avoiding the dishes, with an uncanny agility.
“This must be the strange cat, the maids mentioned.”
“Your Majesty, would you be so kind as to inform your mage that Azalar Gin Evazes, House protector of the Wizard, Amalathian Teivel bids him greetings, and if he is able to retrieve the contents of the box, I would be willing to serve.”
The king laughed, “It talks, I though the maids were jesting, when they told me that.”
The cat sat down, between two plates, ”Your subject” , the cat used its tail to point at Bloodstone, “Is in current possession of the box.”
“Well then what box would this be?” He looked at Bloodstone.
“I’ll get it,” He said heading to his room.
“I will not be ignored!” The cat hissed.
“Silence” The king said to the cat.
Bloodstone brought the strange box and handed it to the king.
The king looked it over, carefully. “So how did you open it before?”
Everyone looked at Kuya. “Neo did it.”
“Who is Neo?” The king said confused.
A small ball of light floated in front of the king, and then zipped back to Kuya, and floated above her head. “That’s Neo”
“Have him open it again,” The king suggested.
“We tried, doesn’t see to work.” Eve said, joining the conversation.
The king handed the box back to Bloodstone. “I have heard tales of the box of Teivel, I am sure there is an interesting story on how you acquired it.”
“They did, it is my fault the box is closed.” He said staring at the cat.
“I must protest, this is not his property.” Azalar said to the king.
“Protest all you want Azalar, by right it is his property, unless you wish to formally contest ownership.”
“I will protest! By what right does he keep my masters box”
Newton had pulled out his phone and played a recording, for the king.
“That is astonishing, I had no idea your glass device could do that, what else can you display?”
“This is just a recording, I can show you pictures.” Newton started flipping through the pictures, on his phone.
“I knew that it could capture images, I did not know you could capture motion as well. I have one of them, but it does not seem to work, even after the repair spell was used on it.”
“Could be any number of reasons, do you want us to take a look at it?” Bloodstone asked
“It is back in my chambers, I can send one of the maids to fetch it. Bridgette would you retrieve the glass device in my top drawer”
“At once you’re Majesty,” The maid curtsied and left the room.
“Well according to the glass device the box was given to Sir Newton, and he presented it to Lord Bloodstone. Unless your able to open the box, and prove you are the owner, your request is rejected construct.”
“Why not just tell us how to open the box,” Kuya asked.
The cat looked at her,” I do not know how to open it”
Bloodstone moved some of the plates on the table, and set the box down. “Your majesty, can you see the classes on this construct?”
The king looked at the construct, “No, it is not a subject of mine, so my skill does not work, or it has no classes”
“Azalar, would you allow me to pick you up for a moment?” Bloodstone asked
The cat looked at him, “I would prefer not to be touched”
“That’s not what I asked you.”
“I will not be man handled” The cat say showing silver claws
“I just want to see how much you weigh”
The cat sniffed, “I would like to see how much you bleed”
“Once I get that box open everything in it is coming out and you’re going in and getting dropped in the ocean.” Bloodstone threatened.
“The box floats”
Bloodstone reach out to grab Azalar, the claws met air as he withdrew his hand. “You are such a pain in the ass”
Azalar ignored him, jumped onto the box and settled down on it. He opened one eye as Bloodstone started to reach out and picked up a cup of tea from the table.
Kuya grabbed Azalar from behind and lifted him up a few inches off the box. “He’s so soft”
“Unhand me woman!” The cat hissed. He struggled before being dropped back on the box.
“He weighs about what a cat would weigh, and he so soft and fluffy” Azalar bounded down off the box off the table and took up a spot on the far side of the room glaring at Kuya.
The maid returned and handed the object to the king. She then stood off to the side awaiting further instructions.
“Here is the device, it was given to me, by one of those who died.” He put the black phone on the table.
Bloodstone, Newton and Beth all looked at it, Newton picked it up and looked it over. “I don’t recognize it, might be an android phone, not powering on” He said pressing the button on the side. “It’s dead, can you cast that spell on it, that recharges it”
Beth grabbed the phone “Really you have the book, as well Newton”, she cast the repair spell on the phone. She then tried to power it on, nothing happened. “It’s dead. Let’s take off this Samsung’s shell and see what kind of phone this is.” Beth stripped off the plastic shell and noticed that the back came off. “Found the problem, no battery, there is a memory card and a sim card, so it must have worked at one point. I wonder why its missing it battery.”
“I didn’t know anyone else had a phone, I wonder if he left it here with the king for safe keeping. What happened to the battery?” Sarah asked.
“Let’s check the SD card, maybe we can identify the owner” Newton looked at the king, “You said he was already dead, did he have anything unusual on him?”
“No, if they had they would have brought it to my attention. I will have them recheck the body.” The king nodded to one of the soldiers, who then stepped outside to relay the king’s orders.
Beth held up a small SD card, smaller than a thumb nail. “Who wants it?”
The king looked over, and asked, “What is it?”
“It’s a memory card, your Majesty,” Newton said holding out his hand. Beth dropped in into his open palm. Newton brought it over to where the king could see it.
“I don’t know what that is, and it seems very small.”
“It stores information, not all the information on a cell phone, but it makes it have more room. I would have to explain about how memory works, in a phone. Blood do you have a card reader?”
“Let me get the laptop, I have a couple we can try.” Bloodstone returned to his room and brought out the black bag, with the laptop. It took a few minutes to get it powered up. “Let’s try the usb one first.” Bloodstone dropped another tiny black object on the table. And inserted the new SD card into it. He then plugged it into the side of the laptop and a chime sounded. Newton in control turned the screen so that the king could see as well. Everyone started to crowd around to see what was on it.
“Pictures, pictures, more pictures. Some videos.” Newton said looking at the files. “Oh wait these look recent, at least according to the time stamp” Newton clicked on the file.
The video started with a dark haired you man staring at the camera, “Ok I am just documenting this, I want to see what I do after the acid.” He held up a small piece of paper. The background appeared to be wooded, and sunny out. “He stuck the paper in his mouth and sucked on it. “Bleah, gross, don’t feel any different.” He still looked at the camera, “Ohhhh, now ohhhhh.” The camera wobbled in and out of focus, “Colors, and trails weeeee” The phone was set down lookup up at the sky. “Where’s my phone!” The man screamed, there was fumbling with the camera. “Look at all the pretty colors and trails” the phone was panned around, it was a secluded wooded area. There was a moment of blackness, colors, and then a familiar site in the ball room, “Whoa!, this stuff is awesome!” he walked around and after a few minutes the camera was turned off.
“Whoa, did you see that!?” Beth asked.
“What the dumb druggy?” Eve said sitting back down
“He caught himself being summoned, on camera.” Beth said.
“So?” Kuya said
“Well it is interesting”, Beth replied.
“Play the next one” Beth suggested.
Newton clicked on the next link and everyone moved closer to see.
The same guy was sitting in a room, he panned around showing the bed, and amenities of the room, “It’s been a couple of days, I want to get this documented, so that if anyone ever finds this they know what happened. I thought I was having a bad trip, I was but not the kind I expected. We have been abducted me and a few other people, Where here is I have no idea, I don’t have a lot of battery life left, so we are supposedly going out to the countryside to get a lay of the land, and training. I’m going to remove the battery, once its dead, and going to leave it here in the room, if someone can recharge it, they can access the phone. Only one other person has a phone, I think it’s an apple, I haven’t really let the others know I have an android, and there are no power plugs here. Ok going to turn this off and try and get some footage of the countryside.”
There was an image of him toughing the phone and the video ended.
“There’s more” Newton said.
“Play it, let’s see what he got on the camera.” Beth said
Newton played the next recording.
The dark haired man was looking at the camera. “Take a look, where the hell is this, black grass”
The view panned around, it was a wasteland, of sorts. A light fog obscured everything beyond forty feet, and black grass a foot or so high was visible. There were other voices.
“You done over there?”, someone called.
“Yeah!” the dark haired guy replied and the video ended.
Newton played the next one.
I showed the backs of a few adults, walking along, looking side to side they were calf deep in swampy water, sloshing through, leaving swirls of dark gray and black mud in the water. The sky is fairly bright, and the sun it is reflected on the water before its distorted by ripples.
“This is so boring!” someone said nearby. There is the sound of others walking and the video ends.
“Next one” Newton said clicking on the video
It was more towards evening, the sun had gone down, it’s was much darker. The camera panned around showing a group in the early evening walking.
“Oh these bugs, I wish I had some off” A voice said.
“How much further is the fortress?” Someone else asked.
“Hey is that a phone” someone else said louder.
“No,” and the video ended.
Sarah watching the video, said, ”I remember that, I don’t recall his name but there was an argument that he had a phone, they were going to search him, and we got attack not to long after that.”
“There is one more video”, Newton said clicking on it.
There was heavy breathing and all it showed was the ground. There was the sound of fighting, and metal on metal. A scream, shouting. The cameral kept moving through the darkness with the heavy breathing.
Another voice nearby, “What the hell was that!?”
A roar, of some kind, more shouting, “You there, turn off that light, Argh.” The camera turned and there could be seen a soldier impaled on a spear. “Shit shit shit.” The dark haired guy said. There was more running and heavy breathing. The camera fell and went dark. More screams, and shouting, metal on metal, and heavy breathing. There was a wet sound, as the camera was lifted and a hand wiped off the lens it was panned around. It was very dark. Shouting could be heard, as well as a scream, or someone calling for help.
“Turn it off” Sarah begged.
Newton stopped the video
“Sorry I still have nightmares about that evening”, Sarah said.
“What happened?” Eve asked.
“Ask him” Sarah said looking at the king.
“It was a miscalculation on my part; I thought that they as heroes would be able to handle a trip into the blight with enough of an escort.” The king said.
“Miscalulation? Miscalulation!, they died there, then you tried to get us to kill monster you captured.” Sarah accused the king.
“As I said it was a miscalculation and a regrettable situation, I am just glad more of you were not killed in that first encounter. Can you get the device to work properly now?”
“Still need the battery” Newton tried to explain.
“I see could I not borrow one of these batteries from your device?” He asked.
“No they don’t come out at least in the phone I have, how about the rest of you?”
“Nope built in, wife and Xach have the same phone. Kuya has a way different phone so that won’t work either” Bloodstone said.
“I have an apple phone”, Eve replied.
“No I have a newer phone, as well” Beth said pulling out her phone to show them.
“Newton copy that SD card there should be enough room on the hard drive.” Bloodstone suggested.
Newton dragged the files over and made a copy.
There was a knock on the door, and one of the maids answered it. A soldier handed her something small and gray. She brought it over to the table after closing the door. The object was placed on an empty plate.
“That looks like the battery, let us see if we can charge it”, Newton suggested.
Beth picked it up and cast the spell on the battery, “You want to put the SD card back in?”
“Let it finish copying, “ Newton said watching the bar.
Beth put the battery in the phone and closed the back. She pressed the button and the phone powered up. “Here you go your majesty”
The king smiled, and looked at the screen. “Can you show me how to use this device?”
Beth and Eve began explaining how the phone work and swiping left and right and how to start and stop apps, Eve also explained that there were other functions the phone had but would not work here, such as GPS and internet.
“Your majesty, I have a question, something that’s been bugging me for a while.” Newton said interrupting the king and Beth.
The king looked up from the phone, ”What”
“Me and Beth have been looking over all the books in your library, one of the things Bloodstone asked us to look for is creation myths, “We couldn’t find any and your sister in law, had no idea what we were looking for.”
“Creation myths?”, he asked.
“Back home there are at least half a dozen creation myths,“ Bloodstone said. “For example the Christian fail has the Genesis, it says that god created the universe in seven days. It goes through each day as to what was done, it explains why we have seven days on the calendar and why the last day is a rest day.”
“We have no gods, they are dead.” The king replied.
“About that do you know who or what killed them, or why?” . Bloodstone asked.
“It makes no difference they are dead, there are no stories, that I am aware of that would name those gods or what the conflict was about.”
“Makes sense, you can’t talk about them or rebuild a religion around them if no one knows their names, or history. Do you know how big the world is?”
“There are maps, beyond that no one has journeyed beyond the eastern sea, at least no one has ever written a book about it. There are tales of captains going to the edges of the world, where the sea disappears into the void. I have never met a captain who has done that.”
“Disk world?”, Newton blurted out.
“It is possible, who knows what laws there are here magic allows some strange effects. The lack of a creation myth or myths really bugs me.” Bloodstone said. “Could this be a created world, in its own pocket reality?”
“Huh?”, Newton asked.
“Sorry, thinking out loud the Game Master in me trying to sort some things out in my head.”
“I did notice you had a bunch of role playing pdfs I meant to ask you about them”, Newton said as the copying finished.
“Well it’s easier than carrying around a half done heavy books.”
“Whats in the two folders you had on the desktop,” Newton asked.
“Oh my campaign folders, Eden and Istonia”, Bloodstone replied.
“Ahh you were in campaigns in your world! Did you fight many battles?” The king asked.
Bloodstone laughed,” Not military campaigns, it’s a game.”
The king looked confused.
“I ran a game, where people pretended they had levels, and rolled dice.”
The king waved him off, “I am not interested in games. If you are done here I would like to put your strange classes to use.”
“Newton can you put the laptop away, throw the cat out and put the box in my room?”
“Try it!” Azalar said.
Newton looked at the cat and the box,”Yeah I can take care of the laptop; you deal with Azalar and his cat box.”
“Then let us be off” The king said rising to his feet he held the phone in his hand. He led them out of the suite.
They walked through the corridors, and began to go down a flight of steps, then another. Only his four personal guards stayed with them.
They got to a door where two guardsmen were; one of them unlocked the door, and allowed them through. The door was closed behind them.
“Where are we going?”
“To deal with my steward,” the king replied with a touch of sadness.
They walked through dimly lit corridors and passages. Mage light illuminated everything in a soft blue glow.
They came to a bound metal door; the king retrieved a key and unlocked it. The guardsmen remained at the door, and the door was locked behind them.
“I don’t know why you need me?”
“You are going to take his levels from him. My torturer has had no luck finding out who he really serves.”
They walked along the underground corridor, to a lit room, a man in a leather mask and leather apron dyed deep brown knelt when the king entered. “Your majesty, I regret that I still have not been able to break him.”
“It is no matter, we will break him today.”
“Is this a new one to break?” He said looking at Bloodstone.
“I would not recommend it, he has strange powers and I would not want you to be harmed.”
“As you wish your majesty”
The king walked to one side of the larger room, and through a wooden door. The steward lay strapped to a table, burns and cuts were visible across his body. He looked over at the king.
“Is this really necessary?” Bloodstone asked.
“Yes, I would know who my enemies are.”
The steward started laughing, “You can’t stop him, he will come he is awake!”
“Who?” Bloodstone asked.
There was more laughing, “The king of destruction, he will burn across the world and lay this kingdom low, you too will bow to his magnificence! When he comes with his seven none will oppose him”
“Who is he talking about?”
“The king of Reim, a far off continent, he was supposed to be some great king, and then he just stopped. This fool came to me saying he fled from there, now I know how much a lie that was. Now I know he is a spy and a steward. Do it.”
Bloodstone looked reluctant and touched the steward’s sweaty brow, and activated the skill.
[sub class spy 33 acquired]
[sub class steward 28 acquired]
The steward started to convulse, and foam at the mouth.
“How many levels” The king asked.
“Hold on, spy thirty three and steward twenty eight, I think I am going to be sick, I may pass out when the skills hit.”
“Over sixty levels, that is not what I expected.”
The steward tensed up and then relaxed, just as the skill wave hit.
[skill Mask presence acquired]
[skill Etiquette acquired]
[skill Hand to hand acquired]
[skill Threat detection acquired]
[skill Obfuscation of the truth acquired]
[skill Detect deception acquired]
[skill Active listener acquired]
[skill logistics acquired]
[skill voice of authority acquired]
[skill knowledge of stewardship acquired]
Bloodstone staggered and leaned against the wall for a few minutes catching his breath.
“It’s odd, I do not see the levels, yet you are able to remove them from someone and give them to another. What class can do that?”
“It’s not really a class, its part of what I was telling your son about.”
“What were you telling him?”
“Not important, I think I am ok now.”
“Well we are done here it looks like the strain was too much for him he’s dead. Now follow me I have a use for those classes.”
Bloodstone wordlessly followed, and twice the king looked back around to see if he was still there. They went back through the wooden door, and the king told the torturer that the steward was dead and to take care of the body. They returned to the metal door and the guardsmen fell in around the king. “theres something different about you” The king said.
“How so?”
“What skills did you get?” he asked.
“Only a few one that even seem interesting, like threat detection””
The king smiled, “Yes that’s a useful skill”
He followed the king back to an area he hadn’t been before. There were an number of servants, and maids in attendance. “Where are Yevett and her brother?” The king asked a maid.
“They are working as they are supposed to be my lord”
“Well go get them”
“As you command” the maid said and ran off down the hallway.
She came back with two teenagers, who were wearing servant clothes The girl was somewhat attractive, in the maid outfit, and the boy’s suit was a little tight on his skinny frame. They both knelt,” You sent for us?”
“The one time I got to leave Rhir, was a few years ago. I happened to find these two in a slavers pen, well that’s not important. They looked miserable and for a few gold coins they were turned over to me.”
“Seriously?” Bloodstone asked a little angry.
“Yes it happens in some places, it’s up to those of us who are able to protect our people from that kind of abuse. I have been looking after them, I had no plans for them until now.”
“You’re going to have me level them up?”
“Of course, they have not taken any levels, since they came under my protection.”
“Ok who gets what class?”
“Split the classes, give each of them half.”
“I am not sure how to do that?”
“Try”
Bloodstone reached out and touched both of them on the head, and used the transfer skill.
[sub class spy removed]
[sub class spy removed]
[sub class Steward removed]
[sub class Steward removed]
It felt weird as the classes went out of his mind,”its done”
“Ahh that seemed to do it, now what levels are you two?
“Steward fourteen and spy sixteen” the boy said.
“Steward fourteen and spy seventeen” The girl said.
“Excellent, return to your duties, and you will tell me of the skill you acquire”
The both stood back up and hurried down the hallway.
“I am a bit upset your majesty”
“What are you upset about?”
“Are you keeping slaves?”
“No, they are under my care, they are free to do what they want, and I took two valuable classes and gave them to people who deserve them and will help the kingdom.”
“Slavery It seems that there is darkness in this world I didn’t expect”
“I don’t allow it here on Rhir, other kingdoms on the other continents are not so enlightened. The first wall was built with slaves, they were forced to build it. It was necessary at the time.”
“That’s good to hear, I find it repugnant, as a concept.”
“Well not all the kings that have ruled Rhir have been so enlightened. We have one more stop to make.” The king dismissed his guards, and headed off down the hallway.
“I have been thinking of your conversation about the antinum, there is something I want to show you.” He walked though a large hall, and through two large doors four soldiers stood at the doors.
“Your majesty is there a problem?” One of them asked.
“No, I have business in the fortress today” he replied to the soldier
They relaxed slightly, catching bloodstone behind the king, “Who is this?”
“This is Lord Bloodstone, one of the heroes; I want to show him some of the artifacts from the antinuim war”
They nodded, and watched Bloodstone as they passed through the doors. “What was that all about?”
“Oh the guards, they are on watch for anything strange, we had a shape shifter try and break in to the fortress a few years back.”
“Impersonating you I am guessing?” He said fooling him thought the large hallways.
“No, another soldier that wasn’t supposed to be here. I tightened the security and they question everyone. This is the last line of defense if something attacks from the blight.”
They came to a small door the king retrieved a small key and opened it. Inside were potions and lanterns and oil for the lanterns. He took two of them out filled them, lit them both and handed one to Bloodstone. “We are going to a place very few even know exist, please keep it to yourself, what I am about to show you”
He closed the small door and looked up and down the hallway, turned a sconce next to the door slightly, there was a sliding noise. He opened the door again and steps led down into the darkness. He went down and closed the door behind them. They went down about ten steps to a landing the king moved a sconce and the stairs shifted up.
The light from the lanterns showed a blank wall, and more stairs leading down. “It’s somewhat of a maze down here so stick close, I lost a soldier once down here, I still haven’t found him. Bloodstone followed down the steps there were landings and branching corridors every so often.
“Ok I lost count, I hope you know where you are going” Bloodstone admitted.
“I spent a couple of months down here, when I was younger. I have the maps in my head so I know where we need to go.”
Down and down they went, it started to get warmer. The king took a corridor and there was a large metal door at the end. “Listen being here is dangerous, don’t come inside unless I tell you and if your danger sense goes off get out of the room.” He unlocked the door.
It was dark, there was a strange smell from the large room. The sounds of metal shifting off to one side the king turned the lantern. “There were a number of ships that left Rhir after the antinum wars, one of the captains, found this ship after a storm, the ship was sinking and had been adrift for at least three months, the only thing they found on that ship was this creature. The light illuminated the creature, it was green and looked insect like, almost like a praying mantis. There were chains around its arms and steel bands attached to the chains, one around the creature’s neck. It clicked and hissed. I tried to move towards the king and only got a few feet before the chains went tight.
“It not like a normal antinuim its thinner, and well it can move really fast. It has geomancer magic, so the bands have runes that drain it magic.”
“Has it been here forty years?”
“Mostly yes, I have some men who feed it, but we haven’t been able to communicate with it.”
“What classes does it have?”
“Geomancer, and Pyromancer, my father was the one who put it here. I haven’t been able to figure out how to move it.”
“You want me to take its classes and levels?”
“Maybe, I thought you might be able to communicate with it?”
“Let me try”
Bloodstone focused his thoughts onto the creature.
Can you hear me, can you understand, he sent at the creature.
There was a series of clicks, and the creature backed up slightly.
You are not of the hive. The creature thought back at him.
“It understands, not sure if it will talk” Bloodstone said to the king.
“Ask it why it left Rhir”
Your kind left these lands why?
How are you able to use the mind speech, your kind does not have this ability.
I am special, who are you?
Special who is not of the hive, I will tell you, I am Lvrmnx of the great hive, we were escaping to rebuild.
“Its name is Lvrmxn, they were escaping Rhir to rebuild.”
“Why did they attack the kingdom of men”
Why did your kind attack the kingdom of men, and then stop?
The hive needed resources, we collected them. Now there are no hives they all perished on the deep water. Why have I been imprisoned?
“They needed resources it wants to know why it is imprisoned”
The king looked over at the creature, “Tell it about the hives on Issrysil, and that its kind is an enemy.”
Some of your kind survived the trip and waged wars in another land your kind is an enemy of men.
Truly, then I do not need to carry this burden, Special would you allow me to die, or return me to one of those hives.
“It wants to die, or be returned.”
The king was silent for a few minutes and set the light down. “I cannot let this creature return, takes its classes, I will kill it after that is done.”
You possess great power, we will not allow it to leave, and there is nothing I can do for you.
Special, that you have spoken with me is a gift, I do not fear oblivion I embrace it. I only wish there were a way to use my magic I could impart my knowledge to you. These metal bands drain my magic; I am unable to use my powers.
“It is not afraid to die; I think it is trying to trick me into freeing it.”
“Do what you need to do”, the king dropped a key to the ground.
I can remove the chains.
The do so Special.
Bloodstone picked up the key, and stepped into the room, the creature clicked at him and watch him with its compound eyes. He took several steps forward and the creature didn’t react. He got closer and the smell the creature exuded was unpleasant. Halfway across the room, the creature moved towards him making the chains tight. Still he came forward and was feet from the creature. He could feel it watching him.
He reached out with the key to the lock, the creature shifted its arms the lock so it was closer. Getting a better look at it with the lantern, it was larger than a human, but as it was bent and folded almost squatting it looked smaller. Bloodstone inched closer and set the lantern down. He reached out and touched the creature. The king was still by the door. he brought the key closer to the lock and activated his skill.
[sub class Geomancer 44 acquired]
[sub class Pyromancer 22 acquired]
The creature thrashed and hit Bloodstone. It knocked the key to the ground.
Deceiver! Thief! I will kill you!
Bloodstone dashed for the door.
Good luck with that, Lvrmnx, I have your classes and the levels you know how to fight me without your magic?
There was a keening angry wail from the creature.
“It’s done your Majesty forty four geo and twenty two pyro.”
“You have done me a service today, keep them do with them as you wish?”
“Skill wave, this is going to hurt”
Bloodstone passed out after the wave hit.