“There is a funny quirk about the dwarven people that I noticed during my discrete observations. They all share a reverence of their ‘Stonefather’, the creator and assumed protector of their current lands. This takes the form of reverence of ancient dwarven ‘Gods of Amber’ that hang above many caverns, acting as their hope and beacon of unity. My theory then, is that these Amber Gods are no dwarven Gods, but rather a creation born from Arneathian magicks that have lingered to this day. Crafted by sorcerers that were likely sympathetic to the early dwarven cause. ”
- Kallia A’thenorn, Eryinian Scholar, Arterian Academy of History, “The Gods of Amber: Dwarven Deities? Or Elven Creations?”
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Her arm raised itself in defence, the axe smacking onto her blade as an explosion of darkness briefly stunned both combatants. I… I… it moved itself?!
Focus.
Startled but recovering, Sophie angled her blade and managed to let the dwarf’s axe slide past, giving her room to move. Enraged, the dwarf tried to shield bash her, but she dodged. Creating some distance, she shuffled backwards and found herself sensing the presence within the forge once again. The hatred caught her gaze once more.
Sophie, what the fuck are you doing? Sophia berated her.
I… there’s something… Sophie tried to explain, only to reflexively duck as the dwarf swung. Seizing the opening, she dashed forward and managed another cut against the big creature. Blobs moved to stop her escape and she finally managed to spy an opportunity to make them pay. She agilely darted between them until she spotted one that was out of position, leaping over and plunging her blade down. A mixture of dark and void energies swirled from the blade and the blob seemed to freeze before letting an inhuman shriek from all the stitched together corpses within it. The ear grating cry ended when she twisted the blade back out, the void energy sucking what foul sorcery held the creature together after piercing its core.
The dwarf seemed to be infuriated its comrade had died, now physically stepping over his own allies to get to her. Sensing the imbalance, Sophie let out a dark grin and readied herself, ignoring the two blobs that were now slowly closing on her as well. Waiting till it approached, she feigned retreating from the blobs, prompting the dwarf to charge. Unbeknownst to it, she pivoted back forward to meet his attack, taking advantage of the slightly longer shaft of his axe to render it ineffective. Before the dwarf could react, Sophie sliced at its throat, cutting through sinew and muscle in an expert attack before breaking the rotted bone holding it together. Her eyes twinkled with glee as she watched the dwarf flail around a little before falling, its head flopping over limply with no supports.
Her attention returned to the other pests in the room, a sense of joy overwhelming her at the thought of dispatching them. Without the pressure from the dwarf, the slow moving blobs were no match for her. With ruthless efficiency, she began darting between them and avoiding the grappling limbs, instead puncturing the creatures and shattering the necrotic core holding them together. She even felt a small sense of approval from Sophia as they continued dispatching the now shrieking blobs.
When there were only two left however, the forge fired up again, the lava and water surrounding it bubbling into a boil as the machine hammered down once more. It was like a psychic shock had paralysed her, the overwhelming hatred now actively assaulting her. Lightning seemed to flash all about the room as sparks were sent flying. Gears and mechanisms glowed with an ethereal yellow as they became so electrically charged that Sophie practically saw the static that now ran between them.
With a roar that immediately chilled her, she forced her body to spin around to find the orcish dwarf standing back up. The reddish yellow fire in its eyes now also covered its newly created neck seam in a fiery blaze. Its flesh fused together and the light within the creature’s eyes seemed to intensify. Shit.
The dwarf collapsed on her with a rapid series of blows. Sophie dodged left and right to avoid them. However, whenever there was a chance, she’d tried to strike only to be deflected by its shield. The dwarf had gotten faster. But how? Shouldn’t a re-revied corpse be even weaker than normal? Her eyes honed in on the forge and the machinery around them, unless… some runic magic powers-
Focus!
Sophie jumped back as the dwarf slammed his waraxe onto the ground, his blow sending a dusting of stone and debris flying. She found her footing quickly enough and stabbed, her dark blade piercing the creature’s skull. Without remorse, she swirled it around, making sure to destroy anything left within.
Fuck! Argh! Pull me out!
Surprised and alarmed, Sophie was barely able to do so. Finding Sophia’s form wavering as a jet of red yellow flame moved to fill its now opened skull. What the…? As Sophie connected her thoughts with Sophia’s she could feel the pain and agony that wracked her blade. What happened? She asked.
Gah! Shit! That… that was bad. Sophia replied, divine magic, damn. That hurts.
Sophie pulled back, quickly getting some space while the monster recovered. Her eyes drifted to the forge once more, now more certain than before that it had something to do with it. Do you think… Seeking whatever advantage she could, she laid her free hand on the forge. The metallic exterior was cool, almost unnaturally so. Within it, she could feel it trying to hide, exposing only the faintest trace of mana when compared to her first analysis of it. She knew it was somehow responsible, but she needed to know how.
Curiosity got the better of her and she reached out with her powers, siphoning what she could using the void. But as she felt the first drips of mana reach her, a powerful blast from lightning sent her tumbling back. The hells? Frustrated, she shared her findings with Sophia, only to receive a grim acknowledgement in return.
That… that’s what I felt, but a little less. Electrifying but with a burning sensation that had a tinge of divine.
Divine? That doesn’t sound encouraging. Do you think-
Absolutely connected. The question is how do we deal with it?
Sophie tensed, watching the dwarf as it recovered. We’ll have to fight him but I’ll need to drain at the same time. When she informed Sophia, instead of concern, she felt a more quiet contemplation coming from the blade. Sophia?
I might have a solution, but you won’t like it.
How so?
The moment she asked, she felt herself stop moving, her legs coming to a sudden stop. Her alarm only lasted for a brief second, replaced by a chilling demonstration of her counterpart’s power.
If you surrender your body, I can direct it while you deal with the forge. Sophia stated matter-of-factly.
Wha-what? Sophie’s expressions were tinged with a layer of fear. The sudden confirmation that her sword arm had moved on its own earlier worried her more than being injured. Knowledge that she could be the passenger in her own body somehow frightened her. Yet she could feel the call to action, a burning desire to conquer the power that denied her.
Time was running out, the dwarf was now back on its feet fully, though still seemingly a little dazed from the swirl that Sophie performed in its skull. Unwilling to let the chance slip, she launched another attack, moving low and stabbing at its ankles. Caught off guard, the dwarf only managed to respond with a shield bash, Sophie committing to the attack and taking the hit on her shoulder. Though she was staggered, she managed to cut into the dwarf’s muscular tendons, barely able to sever some of the muscle tissue. Seeing it unbalanced, she shrugged off the rattling in her bones from the bash, pushing through the pain and attacking once more. She jabbed at its exposed sides. The dwarf swung wildly, forcing her to alter her path, but Sophie had enough energy to at least cut its other tendon even while she ducked, crippling the creature once more.
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It roared in dissatisfaction, the fires that burned within it only growing more luminescent. Earning herself a little breathing room, she finally let the shield blow shock her body, her shoulder having fractured from the blow. Hurt, she pulled back to the forge, sending her silent affirmation to Sophia.
Good idea buying us some time, Sophia responded, now, drain it. Just remember I can’t shield your mind when you’re doing that. You'll be on your own.
Fair enough, Sophie gritted her teeth. With an outstretched arm, she felt the cold icy surface of the forge once more, concentrating until she found the trail of mana. Letting out a quiet grunt, she willed her mind to tug at the energy, to pull and absorb the essence. There was a small tug of war, a resistance to its movement. Undeterred, she continued trying until she felt it get shaken, and pulled with all her mental might. It was only when she felt the first mote of mana enter her that horror struck her heart. Without warning, it pulled back. Unprepared, she could only send a silent thought of alarm at Sophia before she was ripped into the forge, blinded by an electrifying white light.
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A nebulous darkness shrouded her and she felt something yanking her forward. She tried to resist the intrusive sensation but floated forward nonetheless. Desperate, she mentally tried to will herself to return to her body, only to find herself lost. A far more determined attack on her soon came, threatening to tear her limb from limb. Caught in the clutches of some unseen foe, she cried out in despair, her pleas barely even reaching her own ears.
In the darkness there was a light, but it was not salvation, it was one that carried the hatred of generations behind it. Fearful, she tried to escape to no avail. As it reached out to seize her, she could feel the immense strength that shattered what little defences she had. Yet, when it wrapped around her, when the light sought to surround her, she could feel something else. Something more ancient and powerful lurked beyond the darkness, one that even the light seemed to shrink from. A familiar trill entered her mind and then she saw nothing more.
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“Gah, fuck.” Sophie gasped as she awoke. A dull ache pounding within her head. Her body was sore, every muscle and bone only now slowly rousing themselves from whatever slumber she had entered.
Beneath her she felt the cold rocky ground of the cavern. Around her, a few glow shrooms swayed wearily, some crystals and creatures hung about on the roof of the cavern far above. A dull orange glow came from somewhere in the distance and she groggily pushed herself off the ground.
Bathed in the orange glow, she found a heavily armoured dwarf standing on the edge of a cliff, his gauntleted hands crossed behind his back. Curious, she moved closer, her stirring provoking the slightest of movements from the dwarf. Catching a brief glance of his narrowed eyes, Sophie just knew that this was the source of the hatred, the anger that permeated the forge and the city.
“Well foul fiend? Here to finish the job?” The dwarf’s booming voice growled, “Let’s get it done then.”
Baffled, she just stood there and waited. In turn, so did the dwarf, the two just standing there. In the meantime, Sophie managed to peek over the dwarf’s shoulder to see a city illuminated by the orange glow. Countless immaculate buildings of stone rose up towards the top of the cavern. Streetlights and bustle of life sounded so different from the hollow silence that echoed in the caverns before. Sounds of forges, commerce and chatter reverberated in the air, the normality of it all making Sophie suspicious.
“What… what’s going on? Where are we? Who are you?” Sophie finally managed to ask.
Hearing this, the dwarf seemed to twitch with annoyance, but contained himself quickly enough. “I suppose it must be disorientating. But there is not much to it now. If you’ve made it this far, there is no reason to resist anymore.” The dwarf sighed, equal parts hatred and tiredness, “If this is my fate then so be it. Finish my penance, for my sins deservse nothing but the final forgiveness, child of the first blood. Fulfil your destiny.” The dwarf stared at the city with outstretched arms.
Even more confused than before, Sophie just frowned and stared, wondering if the dwarf had descended into insanity. Taking this moment to observe the dwarf more closely, she could feel the traces of electrified divine mana. It was unmistakable, the dwarf was the source of the forge. Perhaps sensing the silence, the dwarf finally turned around to face her.
“Why the hesitation? Even in death your kind would humiliate me?!” The dwarf yelled.
Sophie winced at the dwarf’s voice, retreating slightly and shaking her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s even happening?” She shouted back.
Annoyed and perplexed, the dwarf paused, his beady eyes regarding her with no small amount of suspicion. Eventually having decided something, he took a step forward, making her wary of a potential fight. He seemed more disappointed than anything though, lowering his arms and crossing them.
“So they send a mere child to finish me off? Heh, how surprising but not unexpected. Bet you don’t even know who I am?” The dwarf grunted dejectedly.
“No?” Sophie answered.
“And a tainted one too…” He continued grumbling, ignoring her, “Why have you forsaken me so? Is my penance not enough?” The dwarf looked to the cavern roof, “To send not just a child. But a tainted of the first blood, what mockery is this supposed to be?”
“Huh? First blood? What?”
Now the dwarf really stared at her, his brows furrowing tightly together. Sophie could feel something prying into her soul, an unpleasant feeling that she could do nothing to prevent. Incensed and a little peeved, she tried to close her mind and surround herself with void energy. Channeling her powers and trying to shield herself by aiming for the same feeling that Sophia had done for her, she grunted with exertion as her concentration hardened. The dwarf stumbled backwards, evidently deflected by the unexpected mental barrier that nullified whatever magic he performed. He scowled, but soon took on a more curious expression.
“A lost first blood… curious…” He stroked his beard, "And able to resist, how curious."
Sophie tried her best to hide a small smirk, wiping it off her face before looking back at the dwarf. Catching her eye, the dwarf snarled, "Well? Speak first blood."
“What’s a first blood?” She asked.
“Surely you jest. You are a first blood.” The dwarf looked at her incredulously.
“Yes, whatever that is. But what does it mean?”
“That you… are… that you…” The dwarf seemed to splutter, more aghast at her ignorance than anything, “That you are one of the blood of the first born and the first men.” He stated matter of factly.
“Of the… first born and first men?”
“Aye, are you daft?” He scowled, “Of the Arneathians and the Aetosi. Is this some sort of jest? If it is, then end me. For I have nothing left to give.” He reached for a knife and chucked it at Sophie’s feet, “Go on.”
Sophie reached for the knife before she froze, the lag in her brain’s processing power finally catching up to his words. She recognized those words, and as the dots connected together, her mind went into overdrive. “Arneathians… the Myndir… does that mean… I guessed as much but…” she mumbled to herself, her eyes darting back and forth as she searched her own mind for answers.
Her display seemed to annoy the dwarf even more, but as he took another step closer, he too paused. He looked at her once more, before a look of pure surprise took hold. “By the Stonefather.” He hissed, “Ye really are that daft…”
“Aetosi, Aestosi, where have I heard that before? I just know…” Sophie continued to mumble.
“Lass. Lass!” The dwarf’s voice boomed, deafening both her ears and her mind.
“Gah!” Sophie fell backwards, startled.
“Who the hells are you?” The dwarf demanded, “And why the hells are you here?”
“Sophie. I’m Sophie as far as I know.” She replied, shaking with sudden anxiety, her eyes still blinking in surprise, “I just… we just… needed to use the lift. To-to go up. That’s all.”
This time her mental state proved inadequate and she didn’t even provide a defence when he probed her mind once more. The dwarf seemed to concentrate hard before reeling back and sucking in a deep breath. “Stonefather… ye aren’t even lying.” He whispered, “How’d ye even get this far?”
“H-huh? Umm, well-”
“Rhetorical question.” He grumbled, looking off into the distance, “Well... it seems many things have changed." He hummed to himself, "Follow me. It seems… it seems the world has changed much since I last knew it to be.” He declared haughtily and started walking back towards the edge of the cliff.
Confused but now sensing herself closer to answers to questions long buried, Sophie obediently followed. She stayed a few paces behind the dwarf, only stopping when he reached his spot on the cliff once more. A heavy sigh escaped the dwarf's lips, and Sophie followed his gaze down to the lively city below them. It suddenly exploded in a flash of light, half of the landscape before them vaporising into a far more familiar sight. Though the city was still mostly standing, half of it was now gone, replaced by the rocky landscape and outcropping that Sophie first observed the city from.
"Of all the ways my saga ends. Hah! What a jest by the Gods!" The dwarf began cackling maniacally.