Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Vito, Raven, and I were working on a diagram for a ritual on a large, smooth stone wall that we were using like a whiteboard on the harbor floor, which we had made our primary residence. Another week had passed since we discovered what Mercy was in the tomb of the Nephelium, and Vito continued to push us in our training.

Maxwell was playing a soft tune, his skill over the orchestra in a constant flux of improvement.

Maxwell, stop! I shouted, my non-existent heart going from zero to sixty.

Whats wrong? Raven asked.

I dont know. The beat of Maxwells song faded, and Id hoped to be able to hear something, but only the sound of lapping water reached me. Something is wrong, like theres a presence that suddenly arrived.

Do you know which direction its in, my lord? Vito didnt seem concerned.

I focused on the feeling for a moment then pointed up. From the top.

It looks like we have been discovered. Vito stood and stretched. Lets go see our first customers. This is why we went through all the effort to get your mounts and pets down to this floor.

The four of us ascended the ziggurat. Crossing through the mushroom floor, I noted the first round of micilium were beginning to take shape. It wouldnt be long before they were stretching their legs. The ones who hadnt begun a reproduction cycle were also showing signs of absorbing the magic, but many of them also looked ill.

Michael saw us rushing through and joined us. Is something the matter? His mastery of the common language had rapidly developed as soon as he had completed his vocal box. Now he sounded quite human, with a smooth tone that fit him as a mushroom person.

Intruders, Raven said. Dont worry, we wont let them get to your people.

Wed had discussions about how to protect the micilium colony if this ever became a dungeon or was invaded. Our best idea was to collapse the entrances to the level and figure out a way to bypass it. I had some ideas, but for now, it was too much work. Vito and Damien both promised that once it became a dungeon, I would have far more control, and the plans wouldnt be an issue.

***

That pretty much confirms it. I let out a long sigh. It was bound to happen eventually.

Yeah, they were definitely sent by Olattee, Maxwell agreed. That cleric kept going on and on about how they were here to purify this unclean place.

They werent very strong, Raven complained. They didnt even make it past the fourth floor.

Yes, I agreed. But theyll be respawning back in the cities, and no doubt word of our little home will spread and well be getting much more powerful players on their way here to hunt down whatever treasure they think is hidden here.

This place is full of valuable stuff, Vito chuckled.

They will probably figure that out, I sighed. Lets get the critters restored so our defenses are in place.

Why not just collapse the first couple of floors and put super strong monsters there so they will be discouraged? Raven asked.

I let out a soft chuckle. You dont understand players. Once they realize something is here, they wont stop trying to get in. Even if we were to collapse the first two floors, they would eventually find a way down. Keeping weak monsters near the top will cost us a certain amount of upkeep time, but it will keep the stronger parties from taking notice right away.

Besides, Vito smiled. The more adventurers that die inside these walls, the stronger your lair becomes, and that hastens the process at which we become a dungeon.

Vito and I proceeded to resurrect and repair all the fallen undead. To my surprise they werent degraded like they normally were once undead had been slain once. Vito explained that was because theyd been killed by adventurers trespassing in the lair. We kept the first three floors at levels roughly equal to the skink king and queen that lived at the top.

When I remembered them, we also went up and turned them into undead. To my surprise, I was able to claim the entrance room as well. After some deliberation we made the skinks that lived there quite a bit more powerful. The room wasnt like the rest of the dungeon and would essentially serve as a gateway.

After we were satisfied with our work, we returned deep within the ziggurat.

This forge once contained the souls of countless sacrificed victims. They were finally released from their torment thanks to the eldritch power of a Lich and his vampire companion during the process of converting this accursed object into death. They have found peace. Though the souls are now free, their presence has left a mark on this forge. It will burn perpetually as the soul energy contained within will power it. This was a gift left by the parting souls.

From this forge weapons and many other things of both eldritch and death nature can be created. The soothing presence of souls finally granted rest will remove, or lessen, many of the unwanted negative side effects of these two magics.

Undead created using the power of this forge will always contain the potential to become living dead thanks to the power of this forge.

The power of this forge will also serve the lair it is located in by providing a steady stream of dungeon energy for the utilization of the lair. Any creatures not already bound to the lair or slain within its sphere of influence will have their death energy harvested by the forge. That energy can be used by the smith or will be used by the forge to passively restore and rebuild fallen beings tied to the dungeon. This excludes the boss of the dungeon.

If the lair progresses to a dungeon, the forge will grow in power. As long as the forge exists the dungeon will also exist. If given a permanently bound smith, the latent intelligence within the forge will be fully brought to life and the two will work together to grow the power of the dungeon.

This is a mythical forge, but the power of the creations is based on the user. Due to the magical nature of this forge, while traditional smithing skills are equally applicable, so are skills with ritual magic.

Holy crap, Vito, what the fuck did we just make? I asked, completely stunned. I knew there was something wrong about the forge, but souls having been imprisoned inside of it was not what I expected. I relayed what I had read.

I believe that settles it, I am never leaving this place. Vito began to laugh. Though that might not be true, if I stay here and this does become a dungeon, things will become more complicated. Im far too powerful and it would throw the balance of this area out of whack.

Still Already I could sense the death magic flooding up through the rest of the ziggurat. You sure we can figure out a way to access this without having to remain part of the dungeon? Unfortunately, I dont think I can stay here forever.

If you remain as master of this place, it will be no problem, Vito assured me.

***

The effects of the conversion of the forge were evident nearly immediately. Vito and I traveled back up to the upper reaches of the ziggurat after gathering our supplies. Some of the micilium had already finished their reproductive cycle and we had a new group of death micilium tending to the biome floor.

On our way through we broke down the rituals that had been powering the fountain, since they were no longer needed. The death magic flooding through the ziggurat was already changing things. My zombies moved around better than Id ever seen them do before. I was worried how it would affect Maxwell and Raven. But when we found them on the fifth floor, nothing was wrong.

In the few hours it had taken the four of us to reach the top of the ziggurat, the fountain no longer disgorged the thick blood-like liquid. Now a much less viscous black fluid specked with purple sparks of eldritch light flooded out of the fountain. We followed it and looked out down the side of the hill.

The black fluid ran into the water at the base spreading out like a cloud. Monsters of the marsh fled before it, though some curiously dove into it. Fish that had been floating belly up in the black water stirred to life and swam back underneath.

You see that, I asked.

I do, Vito said. You told me you had a zombie-creating disease. Did you somehow work that into the ritual of the forge?

I shook my head. No, that was complicated enough without having that.

Maybe it has something to do with the soul aspect of the forge now? Raven suggested.

It must, I dont know why else things would be animating. I looked back at the black fluid. Either that, or the eldritch magic is having an unforeseen effect. Either way, I am very thankful.

Yeah, it means we still have things to hunt, and this wont become a desolate wasteland as we wait for new creatures take it over, Maxwell chuckled. It will make it a lot more difficult to reach us.

Raven shuttered a little. In there it doesnt appear to affect me, but out here the death magic is definitely affecting me.

It must be because the forge sees you as part of the lair, Vito suggested. Its interesting that it can already discern that much. The latent self-awareness mentioned must be quite advanced.

Im just excited Im going to be able to explore a death biome. Id been fascinated by some of the things I had seen when I first fled out of Dothar.

Me too, Raven said happily.