Grobnozz the Greedy POV
“ALRIGHT YOU GITS! GET MOVING!” My voice boomed over the amplifier spreading my command through the whole fortress. Today was trading day, our caravan needed to be at the base of the mountain well before sunup or else we wouldn’t be able to ascend till the next day.
I certainly didn’t want to wait a day. The Spiritkin were very particular about keeping schedules and it would spell the doom of warband to be banned from their tradehalls. I shouted more encouraging orders through the amplifier before moving off my throne and out of the grand hall. I took a nice long stroll through the halls of my inner keep, making sure to kick any servant that got in my way. As I exited my sanctum I motioned my Chief of Headsmashing, Boz, forwards.
“Alright Boz listen up, I’ll be taking da boyz to Spirit Mountain for trade day. Choose a crew a’ four dozen to man Scraphold while we’z gone. Till I get back, ur in charge. Got it?” I said to the large ogre.
“Yeah boss, I’ll watch ova’ tings while youz gone. Any Boggerz come by, and I’ll smash em’” He responded while smacking his club into his hand.
I gave him an approving nod and moved on towards the southern gate while Boz started shouting out orders to the lads he was keeping. As I approached the gate I saw that the Rider Boyz had already started filling up the steamer wagons. We would need a lot of fire mana to keep the whole caravan fueled up, luckily we had gotten a good haul from the last four flares.
The Boyz that noticed me started saluting and I gave each one a nod of approval letting them know to return to work. I started randomly checking certain wagons along with the equipment of some of my Boyz, doing random checks was a good way to ensure things were kept in top shape. My moniker was `the Greedy` cause I like stuff so much, and I like my stuff to be in pristine condition.
“Liuetenant Stabbins! How soon until the caravan is ready to depart!” I shout at my top Rider Lieutenant who’s currently mounted on his Titan Buzzard.
“We should be ready to go in twenty, Warlord!” He responds from his position on the saddle as he looks over the whole caravan.
“Good.” I tell him with a nod before turning towards some of the grunts and ordering them to bring me my mount.
Every member of the caravan needs to be on mount or in the wagons otherwise they’ll be too slow to make it in time. We have exactly 16 hours until sunup and the whole caravan needs to be on Spirit Mountain and above the burn line before the first flare. It’d be easier to do things if the flares weren’t so random, all we know about them is that if the Sun’s up the flares can happen. Used to be just one flare a day nowadays though, three or even four flares will ignite per day. This means we have to monitor the accumulators closely or else we’ll burn them out.
I open the central wagon to check the best of our materials. The bed of the steam wagon is filled with gleaming gemstones and processed metal pounded into ingots. Due to the increase in flares my fortress has already lost six of our ten accumulators and the only way to replace them is with the help of a Spiritkin enchanter. I’ve been hoping one of my Boyz would unlock the potential to do the enchanting themselves, but so far that’s been a bust. Now I’ve got to give up some of my precious collection so that the fortress can keep running.
I quickly close up the wagon and move away before my mood can sour further. I’ve already taken enough out on the men today, better to spare them my ire to keep morale up. We’ve got a long slog of marching ahead of us and the boyz hate being stuck inside the wagons. I’m broken out of my thoughts by the ferocious roars of my mount, Gnasher, as she breaks free from her bindings and starts mauling one of the hobs. Seeing her go wild brings a smile to my face and I start moving towards her. As I approach the rest of the boyz move back to give me space.
“Dere’s my girl! Gnasher come gib me some loving!” I spread my arms out while spinning up my core sending my mana through my whole body.
Gnasher roars at me and charges forwards on six of her legs raising her front two to run me through with her claws. As she gets in range I move. My arms snap out grappling her raised forelimbs as my feet plant into the ground. I heave with my muscles and mana throwing the 24 foot long Viper Tarantula over my body and sending her back first to the ground. As soon as she’s down I jump on top of her exposed belly and start asserting my dominance by beating her into submission.
Each blow of my fist sends mana coursing into her body forcing her animalistic mind to acknowledge me as her master. After a short beating she stops resisting and simply accepts that she’s my pet. I flip her back over with ease, hiding any signs of strain so as not to show weakness.
“Dere’s a gud girl, much betta” I speak gently to her while stroking her head.
All the boyz stop staring and return to what they were doing, confident that I now have things under control. I call over two more hobs to finish saddling up Gnasher now that she’s calm. By the time we’ve finished the caravan is ready to go, everyone waiting on my orders. I grin while observing my troops before drawing my greataxe with one hand and raising it up to the sky.
“Alright boyz! Let’s get movin`!” I shout out and with a nudge of my foot Gnasher gives another mighty roar.
The boyz all give their battlecry in return before piling into the steam wagons or mounting up on their beasts. We got 16 hours to make it up Spirit Mountain and every monster and rival on the way is gonna try and slow us down. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Aika POV
I moved through the town on another one of my routine patrols. Ever since I had become the Chosen of Lord Eternal I had taken on responsibility for my people. It was the role I had desired. I wanted to protect both the Spiritkin and Lord Eternal, a task that wasn’t too challenging at the moment due to Lord Eternals immense power. However I wanted to be ready for when a real threat would appear and I would need to fight them.
So far I’ve been having trouble with my fighting prowess. The only partner that can reliably put up a good fight is Lord Eternals First Warrior, who has enough combat experience to put me in the dirt. I’ve yet to beat Bellator, his mastery over the affinities of Lord Eternal is far beyond my own. He is also a creature built solely to fight and kill making him far more proficient than myself.
That being said, my innate ability does trip him up every now and again. My ability to manipulate the forces of non-mana energy can let me do some crazy maneuvers that he doesn’t expect. The first time I made my bladed whip move against the flow of my arms I was able to sever an entire leg. Bellator regenerated it and proceeded to smash me into the dirt for the rest of the sparring session.
While he may be completely ruthless, I also find Bellator to be an excellent conversational partner. We often speak to one another via our connection to Lord Eternal, which seems to give us some level of telepathy and control over the other dungeon creatures. Bellator was ready and prepared for his place as the first warrior, unlike me he hasn’t had to adapt to being a whole new person after waking up from an evolution.
Despite our differences he still manages to give me great insight into my issues and is always willing to listen to me. I think part of that also stems from the fact that he’s newly sapient and doesn’t have many other conversation partners on his same level. I do know that he’s currently been training another prowler to take his place in preparation for when Bellator inevitably moves to another floor. I’m lucky in that regard since the Spiritkin are far less limited in our movements.
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I recently visited the new fourth floor when I escorted a group of Spiritkin who would be living there. The way that Lord Eternal can make entire realms on a whim is truly awe inspiring. Whenever I start to doubt myself I simply think of Lord Eternals immense power and how he is supporting me, it always helps to steady my mind. I’m pulled from my thoughts as I enter a more populated area of the town.
I give curt nods or short waves in acknowledgement as various Spiritkin that I pass by notice me. They still won’t stop bowing, but at least it’s a more reserved bow now instead of the full 90 degrees. The token bearers have noticed my presence and several of them have tried speaking with me. I always minimize our conversation and never speak more than the bare minimum, I dislike those not of the dungeon. I’m not sure if it's an ingrained instinct from being Lord Eternals first protector or just how I am, but I don’t really care either way.
Those not of the dungeon are really the only source of problems as they do not worship the Lord Eternal. I have to limit some of what I say to them as Lord Eternal doesn’t wish to break their `immersion`, which to my knowledge is like an illusion created by tricking them that helps to keep their focus. It is an effective trick to corralling the token bearers and it helps make many of them ignore the Spiritkin for the most part.
“Hey there pretty lady” The horrid voice of a Token bearer calls out to me. I glance in the man's direction to assess his threat level before ignoring him completely.
This apparently displeases him greatly, his face twists into a scowl that I can see through the corner of my eye. He starts walking towards me and places himself directly in my path forcing me to stop lest I run into him.
“Move aside Token Bearer, I have little patience for your kind today” I say my voice laced with contempt and disgust.
“How DARE YOU speak to me that way! Do you know who I am? I am the son of Viscount Conroy, Adle Conroy the third!” He says with a twisted smile. “Now grovel before my feet and I may forgive this trespass against my noble self” He makes a motion to grab for one of my tails.
I flick my left hand and my bladed whip coils around his arm before snaking upwards to rest upon his neck. His motion is completely halted as my ability drains away any energy he attempts to muster for movement.
“You are in the realm of the World Tree Wyla, and the Eternal Lord is the only one who can be considered noble here. I am the Eternal Lords Chosen and therefore you, token bearer, are beneath me.” I sneer at him, thoroughly enjoying getting to take my frustrations out on one of these outsiders.
I lean in close to his ear and change my voice to a bare whisper. “You should remember your place before I send you to your final death” I whisper to him, I can feel his entire body shaking with fear.
I lean back once more and retract my bladed whip. Giving him a sinister smile before continuing my patrol. From the corners of my eyes I can see other token bearers were watching the whole exchange and several of them are already starting to approach the man who accosted me. I can also see all the nearby Spiritkin memorizing the man's face and name so that they can take out their own petty vengeance on him.
The love of my people brings a smile to my face as I continue to walk my patrol.
Third Floor of the Eternal Dungeon
The Kobolds grew restless. From the beginning of time there have only been the twelve clans who were the nobility of the Great Wyrm of Duality. However now the chatter of intruders echoes down the caverns and halls. The outcasts, sent to mine what little is left of the upper layers, send back word of outsiders intruding upon the sacred halls. It has happened once before, those ones were pushed back just as these ones shall be. These sacred halls and caverns are property of the Wyrm!
The Twelve Immortal Clan Heads have gathered in the lowest of layers, bowing in reverence outside of the Great Wyrms lair. They have come to this most sacred of places in order to receive the will of their scaled master. None of them dare to speak, nor move, even after waiting for several hours while holding their kowtows. However their wait has finally ended as movement can be seen from the entrance of the lair.
Gemstones and gleaming ingots spill outwards as the mighty Wyrm swims through its hoard. Its head reaches the edge of its domain, rising up and towering over the kobold leaders. Its piercing eyes the color of its affinity, currently shining green.
“The Clans shall prepare themselves for the intruders. Should they pass the outcasts and reach the Wyrmscale Caverns you shall rise to stop them. Ready your warriors, allow none of them to leave unscathed. I demand their belongings as tribute to the hoard and their blood as tribute to the Eternal Lord” The Great Wyrm of Duality spoke with two voices, one deep and booming the other high and raspy.
The twelve Clan Heads accepted their masters' will without resistance. If both the master and the Lord had declared this to be their duty, then they shall see it complete. The Clan Heads waited for the Great Wyrm to move back into its lair before moving from their prostrated positions and returning to their clans. They had many preparations to make if they wished to be ready for the intruders. None shall make it the Great Wyrms lair!
Bellator POV
A swipe of my spatial edged claws decapitates the last of the party. I watch in satisfaction as the five level 50’s dissolve into motes of light as Lord Eternal respawns them at the World Tree. Fools dared to think that they could wander my domain freely. I protected the path to Lord Eternal’s Core and none would pass me alive.
Lately higher and higher level Adventurers had been intruding into Lord Eternal’s realm. So far I’ve been able to defeat them due to a mixture of my Mythical Rank and the fact that lower level adventurers all have the same weaknesses as normal humans. They can’t survive without a head or heart and my Spatial Edge can cut through anything less mana-dense than it. Since it’s a Mythical Skill one of the adventurers would need a much higher level than my own to defend against it.
I hear a gentle chuff behind me. One of my original pride mates is calling out to me. I break free from my errant thoughts, shelving them for later, and turn my attention to my pride mate. I’ve been giving all of them training recently. Trying to get one to evolve into an Eternal Prowler so that they can take up the mantle of boss once I inevitably have to move on.
As I reach the edge of the clearing that my battle took place in I see all four of my original pride members waiting patiently. The one who called for me is the youngest of them and I can already see his excitement at getting to continue his training. I chuff, ordering them to follow me towards the training area in the Borderlands. It’s safer than being in an area that adventurers can easily access.
So far all of them have shown promise in different areas. Some excel in their given affinities while others have mastered the use of their natural weapons. The youngest has shown the most potential for utilizing both magic and physical prowess in combat with the other three all overly reliant on just one form of fighting.
As we walk towards our destination I peer into my connection with Lord Eternal. I recently learned that I had some limited control over the realm, like a weaker version of Lord Eternal’s Power. I used my limited ability to renovate my den and to ensure my best prowlers respawned in order to keep increasing their battle prowess. This has allowed me to slowly train up elites who, like myself, excel at fighting adventurers.
As I look into my connection with my Lord I pull a strand of his attention down upon myself to ask if there are any other intruders I need to deal with. I don’t want to be occupied with training when more adventurers enter into my domain. Lord Eternal’s small bit of attention helpfully informs me that the rest of the adventurers are staying away after seeing the last group get respawned. I give him my thanks and return my attention to my pride.
We reach my designated training area and they array themselves into a formation in front of me. The adventurers had kept to a regular schedule recently, which means I have a day before they attempt to enter my domain again. I fully intend to have at least one of my pride mates evolve by then. I tell them to prepare themselves as I do not intend to go easy.
North, just beyond the Brahm Viscounty
Two men dressed in purple robes that shimmer with enchantments watch from within a camouflage spell as a large group passes by. They’ve been tracking the movements of the bandit groups for the last week and have finally managed to locate their leaders. Hidden by a Legendary Rank spell crafted by one of their fellow nobles, they carefully observe the movements of the criminals.
“Do we know how they reached the eastern lands without being noticed sooner?” The older of the two asks in a low voice
“No, however I have suspicion that it involves an unknown underpass” The younger of the two responds in a similarly quiet tone.
“I thought all of those ancient caverns were sealed. How was one discovered this long after the founding?”
“Perhaps a new skill or more likely an innate ability came into play?”
The two continue their quiet conversation attempting to discern the nature of the threat and how it came to be. Eventually the bandit force passes completely and they end their discussion. It was time for them to act, no bandits would be allowed to besiege the home of the Brahm family.