Chapter 101: Overdue Books

Chapter 101: Overdue Books

Milo had taken advantage of the relative calm in Harry's area to attempt a visit to his Arcane Library. It was more difficult now. Instead of logging out and getting an option to go to the library, he now had to do a ritual in game that took roughly fifteen minutes. He inscribed a rough circle, and sat and meditated about traveling. Eventually his vision blackened and after a very small bit of queasiness, he was on the doorstep of his Library.

Conscious of how the slaver-mage had met his death, he was careful to open the door and step inside. Who designed these things with a small porch that dropped you into the void? Just bad engineering as far as he was concerned.

Cichol was there, waiting for him. "I'm guessing things are exciting in the waking world? No time for research and learning? And now here you are, finally back, with your magic all twisted and bent. Come in and tell me about it." The old mage who had built the library seemed grumpier than ever. That made Milo happy. He needed some constants along his journey.

It took him a few hours to go through the long story. Cichol had a lot of interruptions, especially when discussing Philistron. Milo had thought long and hard about how much to tell the old spirit, but had finally decided that he needed at least one person to talk to, and the old man couldn't leave the library unless he chose to be reborn as someone else. That felt safe enough to Milo.

The fun part was seeing his face when Milo's Smuggler's Stash was brought out, and opened. Cichol had gazed in wonder at the old books Milo had hastily looted from the slaver-mage's library.

Interspatial Relationships and the Balancing of Aspects Across Barriers

Drakonik for DummiesÑøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Origins of the Machine: A Compilation of Legend and Theory about the golden age of Gnomes

Let the Circle be unbroken: 17 common Hexes for White and Grey Witches

Increase your Star Power!: How to construct an Antennae to the Stars

The Void and what isn't in it.

Music of the Spheres: Tuning your spirit to hear what Celestial Bodies are saying

Did some Orcs devolve and become weak?: A possible origin of humans.

By Imperial Decree!: The building of the first College of the Arcane

Elvish-Drakonic Dictionary.

After that, Cichol took an active hand in helping Milo sort things out. A Staff of Plagues,Helm of Alignment Change, and Vorpal Sword of Betrayal all got tossed into the void by the Cichol. Milo was horrified as the sword sliced through the old ghost's neck, but Cichol just laughed. "Can't kill the dead." The sword whined like a beaten dog after that, promising to be good, before being sent on a one-way trip to oblivion.

Two things remained: A large bone claw, and a gleaming copper sphere about six inches across. Cichol pull out the claw. Milo could see some faded runes moving along the bone, but they avoided coming close to Cichol’s hands. The Bonemancer looked hard at it, before handing it to Milo. "Old, but not nearly as old as the rib we added to you. Some of these creatures still exist, but they prefer the deeper regions. Road-Builders, the dwarves call them. Many dwarven realms were partially created by them as they made tunnels that connected larger caverns.

Milo took the claw from him and studied the runes. Faded magic concentrated where he looked, one old rune overlaying another until finally only one glowing rune was left.

Through study you have learned the Rune of Deep-Digging. You may use this rune to construct spells.

Runes Known: Deep-Digging, Velocity, Strong-Bones, Swift-Swimming, Sharp-Claws, Destruction

Rune Limit: INT/2 + Rank of skill: Ancient Runic Lore (Current limit is 12.)

You have gained 200 experience in Ancient Runic Lore and 200 Experience in INT.

The skill: Ancient Runic Lore has increased to Rank 2

"I think I'll keep this for now." Milo wanted to study the claw more, and he was always going to be in need of good bones. The Sea Hydra had been good for that, at least. His stash had a couple of dozen long bones taken from the flippers that would make excellent harpoons.

Cichol picked up the sphere. "Interesting, it appears to be a non-magical object made of solid Orichalcum, valuable just for the metal. You rarely see it outside of the cities beneath the waves. " He tossed the coppery sphere to Milo.

Milo turned the orb in his hands, staring at it. As far as he could tell, it was a perfect sphere with no imperfections. He was about to put it back in his stash, when the surface changed, and a huge eye opened on the sphere, staring at him. Milo couldn't look away. A scene appeared, projected by the eye, incredibly real.

He was flying over the ocean towards an island of volcanic rock that jutted up from the sea, high into the air. Smoke came from the top and he realized it was an active volcano. Closer and closer he flew, until he could see a lake of molten rock that filled the caldera. In the center was a huge temple made of white marble, carved with scenes of love and battle, celebrating the life of a king.

Gigantic dragons swam in the molten lake, and or lay upon the roof of the building. Milo bared his teeth and growled when he saw the eels. All of the creatures in his view turned towards him, roaring their anger, and some flew up to do battle. Milo dropped the orb, and the vision ended.

For the second time, you hold the Eye of Wonder. Initiating quest for Hoard of King Mattias.

There are currently two other people who have the special skills needed to help you with your quest.

The artifact again appeared as a solid copper ball. Cichol picked it up and set it on his mantle. "I'll put this here for now. I must say, it was amazing to see the sight of so many amazing creatures, I don't blame you for being a little overwhelmed with the wonder of it all."