Alistair dismissed the prompt with a lazy gesture, as he thought about Erissa, Goddess of Chaos and Strife. The visions that he had seen while under the influence of the centipede’s poison scared him and yet could he trust them? Afterall when he first learned of the Lava Tube Centipede their poison was to cause hallucations, yet the Scaling Dagger of Truth seemed almost a gift from the Erissa and like every gift from the Goddess of Chaos and Strife it was made for one reason, to spread trouble where ever they go. The last gift that humankind had received had caused a civil war that had made a rich farmland into a barren desert.
Still how could a dagger that caused a person to tell the absolute truth for an hour cause strife? Alistair thought about how it could be used as a tool for constables or a ruler could use it to root out spies and find who was loyal to them. Surely, any item that would cause people to stop lying would be a tool for good?
Callum appeared in his normal spot as Alistair paced about the summoning circle. “My Lord? Something has happened in the pocket dimension?” The ball of fire seemed to grow dull as he spoke. Alistair asked his friend what was the problem and the ball replied. “A steel gate bearing words has appeared at the entrance to our pocket dimension. Written in ancient script are the following words:”
“Truth cuts to the heart.
Truth scars those who are ignorant.
It’s a double blade that cuts ones enemies as it cuts the wielder.
For those that keep the Truth stealthed,
You will find that its blade will never rust,
It will never dull only become sharper till it is used.
Truth’s Hardness is that it is unbendable.
Truth’s Strength is that it is pure.
Truth’s Weakness is that it is unchangeable.
If you seek to weild Truth:
Cut all the lies surrounding you,
And walk its razor edge.”
Callum spun as he spoke, “My lord, Toji says that we have gained a scaling item in the dungeon. He has also checked the weavers hut and has found two grand tapestries.” At the mention of the two taperstries a prompt came up.
Event! New Spells have been Created!Spell Name:Rolling Fire WallSpell Mastery:0Spell Cost:200 manaSpell Description:Using the combination of Air, Fire and Earth mana a wall of fire (10’ x 20’ x 4’) will arise in front of the caster and slowly start moving forward. Due to the specific mana threads in the weave, the Wall of Fire will consume all that is in its path. Whether it be magic, toxins, or material. After 100 feet it will burn itself out, futher levels in spell mastery will increase its length, duration, and less the cost of mana.Spell Name:Rolling Fog of DecaySpell Mastery:0Spell Cost:200 manaSpell Description:Using the combination of Death, Air, and Earth mana a fog will appear in front of the caster (5’ x 20’ x 10’). The fog will then began to spread outward from the caster, as the fog itself is toxic and heavier then air, it will continue on till it annihilates 200 Life Mana stored in ones soul.Would you like to share these new spells with the leaders of your Alliance and Partners?YesNo
Alistair reviewed the prompt and remembered the vision from Erissa. Out on a long desotate plain, grey like plants and dried crack dirt filled vision between two entrenched armies. Groups of humans, dwarves, elves, and golems squatting over low fires cooking on small metal pots. Horns began to sound as a green fog, a Rolling Fog of Decay, began to move forward from the enemy trench. Soldiers began equipping leather masks that Alistair could now see would better fit an orc then an elf. Runes began to glow as soldiers without masks began to scramble out of the trench to get to higher ground. Axes began flying through the air burying themselves into the backs of the fleeing soldiers as Orcs, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Undead, and Trolls began coming out of the fog. Silent and terrifying, the horde began to jump down in trenches and pitch battles began. Human and Elf mages cast Rolling Wall of Fire as large flames arose in front of them. The flames were so hot that they appeared blue as they began pushing forward. The enemies’ horns sounded, as the flames began to burn off the fog and caught slow moving orcs, goblins, and undead. Their flesh and finally bones turned to ash, covering the ground with more grey ash as the army retreated. As the vision faded from his memory, Alistair saw that the prompt was only giving him one choice.
Rage pumped throughout Alistair blood stream. It seemed like Erissa wanted him to share his gifts with his alliance. Alistair first tried to dismiss the prompt as if to say that he would rather make no choice then the one he was given. As the prompt was dismissed another one took its place, so instead he mashed down on the ‘No’ button doing his best to force a different choice then what he was given. Finally, after a full thirty seconds of pressing another prompt popped up to its left.
Event!At all times Freewill must be observed!It has come to the attention of the Gods and Goddesses that you seek to exercise your freewill. As such the opition of No has been Unlocked.Message from Erissa: You might reget this decision, Alistiar!
Alistair dismissed the prompt and hit the ‘No’ button as soon as it lit up. The prompts went away as Alistair heard laughter echoing in his dungeon. Paranoid fear crept into his mind as he somehow thought that he had done what Erissa wanted. Turning to Callum, Alistair smiled if Erissa wanted to play Goddess who knew everything then he was sure she saw what he was going to do next. “Callum go and destroy those two tapestries right now! Don’t even wait for me, you go ahead and just destroy them now!” Callum popped out of existence as he went to carry out Alistair’s command.
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Location: Alistair Pocket Dimension
Alistair awoke in his bed as he hopped up immediately to catch on the fire. He was going to make sure that Erissa didn’t get her way. Hopping up from the bed, Alistair moved out of his house to the middle of the square where Callum and Toji were building a fire. The fire had several small broken wooden pieces, as they were catching the kindling on fire. Toji looked up from blowing on the fire and spoke, “Alistair, we tried cutting them with scissors and even a knife, but for some reason we can’t even make a scratch. I tried to soak them in the fountain hoping that the mana threads would dissolve back into mana, but no such luck. Right now we are trying to create a bonfire, the tapestries are so heavy that if the fire isn’t roaring it will never catch.”
A loud crash of metal echoed throughout the town, Alistair turned his head toward the road that led out of the dimension pocket. As one Alistair, Callum, and Toji started running to the road. In the distance, he saw Helga and Joshin lifting a steel bar trying to lock the doors into place. Herma was digging her heels into the hard dirt of the road as she tried to brace the doors shut. Another crash of metal happened as a reptillian arm shot out between steel doors reaching around with black claws. Helga dropped the steel bar and ran over to the arm. She began hitting and biting the arm as Alistair began shouting for Helga to get back, it was then that the hand reached around her throat. Black claws began to puncture her throat as she screamed out.
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A reptillian face poked its way through, as Alistair was within twenty feet of the gate. “Open the gate now, or I kill the Dwarf!” Alistair skidded to a stop as he looked at Herma and Joshin. He nodded and they stepped away from the gates. Slowly a lizardman stepped out from the gate as it swung open. He appeared to be seven feet tall and heavily muscled dressed in leather armor. He lifted Helga up with one arm as blood began to run down the front of her dress. “Alright boys, come on and bring in the wagon.” The steel doors to the gate opened and three more Lizardmen were on the wagon in armor. Behind them was a Iron Cage with various humanoids in it.
The Lizardman who held Helga began to smile as his black tongue came out licking the air. The Lizardman driving the wagon sat forward on the bench and pulled on the reins to the two great velicoraptors tied to the wagon. “Well Hassil what do we have here?”
Hassil chuckled as Helga kept grabbing at his arm to keep the claws from ripping out her throat. “Well Galzra, we have that new dungeon we were looking for and it seems the quest was right. I mean I don’t see any lizardfolk around here.” Hassil waved his arm around the area. Toji snorted for a moment and then his features began to change, his nose became a long snout while his skin began to flake to reveal black scales underneath with white dots that glittered. The gnome had turned into a Celestial Kobold as he snared, yellowed aged teeth could be seen on black gums. Hassil, Galzra, and the third Lizardman began to laugh at Toji as tears came down Helga’s face.
Alistair took a step forward and Hassil squeezed his grip on Helga’s throat, a slow whimper came from her as Alistair stopped in his tracks. “What do you want?!” Alistair screamed at Galzra, his fist clenching.
Hassil looked up at Galzra, and the Lizardman gave him a nod. Hassil put Helga on ground but didn’t let up his grip from her throat. Galzra in a clear and simple voice spoke, “Well since you have a Celestial Kobold with you that must mean you are allied with the Dragonkin. Guess what? We are as well! So it’s your lucky day that we can by.” Galzra pulled his mouth back in what could only be a smile, but looked like a bloodthirsty snarl. “As for what we want, it’s pretty simple; One, we want that pretty new spell that you have created. Two, we want to make sure that you agreed to the laws of the land.” The Lizardmen started laughing once again, as Alistair grimaced.
Toji snared and spoke, “How could you know about the spell we created? It just appeared.”
Galzra looked down at the Kobold with a look of disgust. “Well… we were two days away from here when a Quest popped up telling us that we needed to be here to receive the weave of a new spell that was created. Seems like the Gods and Goddesses just love us.” At that remark the gales of laughter came from all the lizardmen. “Told us where to find you and make sure you hand over this spell of Death fog or something. Now why don’t you run off and get that spell for us.” Galzra stared down at Toji.
Toji looked up at Alistair as if asking him what to do. Alistair couldn’t take his eyes away from Helga, her tear stained cheeks and soft whimpers burned its image into his soul. He knew that if the spell left his possession than Erissa’s vision would come true. Yet what could he do? If he fought the first causality would be Helga. Herma might be able to keep her own, but Joshin and Toji would be dead or destoried. He needed something to change or create an advantage for him. He nodded to Toji as the gnome turned Kobold left. Galzra turned his head to Herma and spoke, “Now, a free soul here? Why don’t you be nice and turn into your monster self so that we don’t have any surprises?”
Herma didn’t look at Alistair for permission but pushed Joshin behind her as she started to transform. First her body elongated and became that of a lion with a repetilian tail. Long batlike wings broke out from her back and her head split into three. The head to the right was of a horned ram, while the one to the left was that of a wyrven, and finally the one in the middle was that of a lioness. The Dragon head let out a burst of flame, as the ram bayed out a cloud of red mist. Alistair was surprised that Herma appeared to be that of a great Chimera. A magical beast that had killed many experienced Adventurer teams.
“Deval, go ahead and change. We shouldn’t have any secrets from our allies.” Deval began to lengthen and grow. At first he appeared to grow taller, when his heads began to spilt into nine different necks and dragon heads. Alistair immediately knew what type of monster Deval was… a Hydra. Whatever advantage they had gained from Herma being a powerful magical beast was neglected by Deval. Nine heads meant that it had at least three to four breath weapons, and several different type of poison attacks. His tail that began to gain spikes and thick scale plates meant that Deval was an old if not ancient beast. At that point Alistair knew that these Lizardmen could have taken whatever they wanted to.
“See, everything is now nice and in the open.” Galzra saw Toji bringing the tapestry in the distance as he continued to speak. “Well, my friend we just have one more piece of business to conduct and once that spell is in our possession we will be on our way.” With a wave of Galzra’s hand, Alistair saw a prompt pop up in front of him.
Laws of the Dragonkin RaceAll Allies and Members of the Dragonkin Race must accept the following Laws:Article 1 – One tenth of all mana generated by a Dungeon or Individual will be taxed and given to designated Dragonkin Representative to be used to further the goals of the Race.
Article 2 – All souls bound in dungeons will be designated as slaves, unless recognized as belonging to one of the protected Dragonkin races.
Article 3 – All loot generated by a Dungeon will contain a spell that lessen damage against Dragons. All Dungeon Demons will be provided with the spell form and knowledge to create it.
Article 4 – If a Dungeon has less then 200 levels a Representative from the Dragonkin races will oversee the Dungeon Demon until such a time as the Dungeon Demon has been deem fit to be independent.
Article 5 – At any time the Dungeon will provide souls for wartime equal to one half of its population.
Article 6 – If a Dungeon or Individual is caught in rebellion to the Dragonkin Races all their belongings and mana will be forfeit to the Dragonkin Race.Do you accept the terms of membership in the Dragonkin Race?YesNo
Galzra looked at Alistair and then nodded his head to Helga. Hassin squeeze slightly more and another whimper came out of Helga as Alistair pressed accept on the terms of membership. The prompt was dismissed and they all stood in silence till Toji finally handed over the spell to Galzra. With a smug smile Galzra waved his hand and said, “A Representative will be with you in the next few days.” Hassin let go of Helga and the girl ran to Herma as the Lizardmen began to leave.
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Author's note: I wanted to share something with you all. Someone over the last couple of days made a comment that I treated my readers like family, and in a way that is very true. Part of me wants to just write this story all day and let wonder and excitement fill my readers lives. I also want my stories to reflect knowledge and wisdom gained, so that my readers don't have to make the same mistakes I made. I wanted to say thank you to that person and to everyone here, it got me through some rough couple of hours these past few days.