Chapter 101

Jay's hair stood on end as he approached the table.

Aiden grinned, “Find some treasure?”

Jay shook his head, “I haven't even turned on the ability yet. This is all just from the coil. It's generating static electricity, enough that we can zap each other with it.”

The rest of the group spread out. M'redith took one wall of cabinets while Norri took another. Glenda was studying the drawings and writing on the walls while Aiden and Jay inspected the table in the middle of the room with the large upright metal coil resting on its surface. The surface of the table was metal and was stuck fast to the table itself.

Occasionally someone would say “Ow!” as they got zapped by static electricity after touching something. The coil in the center of the room would turn on for a few seconds every minute or so and when it did the group could almost feel the electricity in the air.

“What was this even for?” M'redith wondered out loud as she opened a cabinet and searched inside. She found nothing and moved on to the next one.

“Research.” Glenda answered simply.

“I mean, I think we had all figured that out already. Research for what though?” Aiden muttered as he began to inspect the base of the table as Jay turned on his Treasure Sense ability.

Immediately Jay got a hit off of the center table. Jay walked around the walls and the cabinets but found nothing. The only hidden treasure he could detect was coming from the center table.

Jay inspected it closer, it was made out of heavy wood and each table leg was at least six inches by six inches – quite thick for a table leg. The sides were completely covered with wood paneling and various designs. On closer inspection it appeared that the table was somehow attached to the floor.

“Got something here when you all finish searching.” Jay called out.

He waited until everyone had finished their searches. No one else had found anything interesting in the room. The cabinets were all empty and showed signs of being looted long ago. Everything was coated in a thick layer of dust and Jay found that he had to wipe the table clean sometimes just to make out fine details in the wood.

The entire group bunched up to inspect the table until the coil activated once again and everyone got shocked from being too close to each other as well as touching the table. After that initial jolt everyone spread out to different sides and made room for each other.

When the coil activated again a minute later no one got shocked except for Aiden. Norri had leaned over and tapped the back of his hand with one finger and caused a tiny spark of static electricity to zap him. Aiden jumped but smiled at Norri. “I'll get even eventually you know.” Aiden said with a smile.

Norri grinned and shrugged, “Pay attention to the table!” she said, ignoring his look as she focused on the table in front of her.

They tried forcefully pushing the table about and found that no one, not even M'redith or even Glenda could move the table. It was absolutely not moving by force alone.

Jay looked closer at the table and found a number of details that were actually melted metal that had been worked in to the table's complicated ornamental designs. There weren't many of them, it seemed that there was one on each side.

The coil discharged once again as a full minute had passed and the air felt once again electrified.

Jay pursed his lips. “I have an idea but it seems silly.”

“Love it. Tell us all about it,” Aiden insisted with a grin.

Norri pushed Aiden playfully but not strongly enough to ruin his balance.

“Ok, so everyone pick a different side. I guess Glenda can watch since there is five of us. Everyone else pick a side.”

The group did so. It was Jay, M'redith to his right, then Norri, then Aiden.

“Ok, now if you look at your side of the table do you all see a repeating swirling pattern? Like an opened rose?” Jay asked.

Norri nodded, “Yes. It's like a flower but with swirls.”

Everyone else found the pattern on their side of the table. Jay waited until everyone had nodded.

“So the center of that flower looks like it's metal, not painted wood. See how it feels cold to the touch and makes a clink sound when you tap it with your nail?” Jay said as he demonstrated, tapping the spot with his nail and producing a tiny but clear clink sound.

The rest of the group around the table repeated his experiment on their sides and were pleasantly surprised to find that there was something odd about the center of the design.

“Why use metal? Everything else is painted or stained wood. So what I want to try is everyone put one hand on the top of the table while they use a finger from their other hand to touch the center of the swirly flower design, the metal part.” Jay said as he showed what he meant.

“If I get killed from this I'm going to haunt you forever, just so you know.” Aiden muttered but did as Jay asked.

Norri chuckled and placed her hands in the correct spots on her side of the table.

M'redith had already placed her hands in the correct positions before Jay had even stopped talking.

The group stood there motionless with their hands pressed to the surface and sides of the table until Aiden spoke up.

“How long do we have to do this for?” Aiden asked.

The metal coil on the table began to charge with a whine that increased in pitch the longer it went on. As the pitch reached a high note that made everyone wince slightly the coil discharged and everyone yelped.

They yelped but kept their hands placed in the correct positions and were rewarded with the metal coil powering down. A loud click sounded, then another, then silence.

“Great. You broke it Jay.” Aiden whispered.

His comment caught M'redith by surprise and she laughed.

“Can we let go now?” Norri asked.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Right as she spoke the table began moving towards Norri and she yelped and jumped out of the way. Everyone let go too as the entire table slid to the side. The movement revealed a trap door which slid open after the table stopped moving.

The group peered over the hole and found that a ladder led down a level.

Just inside the opening someone had fastened a peg to the side of the ladder and a bag hung from the peg and dangled precariously over open air. Jay lay on the floor and leaned over the hole to retrieve the bag.

It had a single strap and was about six inches by ten inches. It was shut tight. He opened the top and found some papers that had already rotted, some coins, and a palm sized book.

The group stood as Jay passed the items around. The pack appeared water proof and had a section inside that was specifically designed to accommodate the book and protect it. There was a button pouch for coins and a pocket for papers. Once it was cleaned out of the rotted papers it would be quite usable.

Glenda grinned and pointed at Jay, “Good book?”

Jay shrugged, “I can't tell, let me try inspecting it.”

Jay had found that inspecting things could take time, sometimes up to ten or so seconds. He had to stay still and concentrate on what he was doing. He had tried a few times to inspect enemies but he rarely was able to stay still and concentrate long enough for it to work. Items were far easier as long as nothing was chasing him at the time.

Little Book of Unique Professions – Very Rare

This book when read bestows upon the user their choice from a selection of advanced professions. The profession learned will be magical in nature and may come with additional abilities outside of what a normal profession would have. Although the listed profession titles are of common professions be assured that this book will only award advanced and magical versions of the listed mundane professions.

To use the book the owner must bind it first. It can be used by anyone after that so long as the bound owner agrees to allow it. To use the book a single gold piece is placed inside the front cover then held between both hands. After doing so the user will be given a choice from the following list: Cobbler, Fletcher, Manicurist, Bodger, Saddler, Couturier, Potter, Mason, Higgler, Farrier.

Once a profession is gained in this manner the book may not be used to gain a second profession. Any selection made is final. The bound owner of the book may use it or allow others to use it so long as it has an available charge. This item currently has at least one charge remaining. This item must be bound before use.

Jay read out the long description and everyone cheered or grinned. It was a very good item. It was of very-rare rarity, an amazing find. The fact that it could bestow unique professions made the book a true treasure.

“What in Goddess' name is a higgler?” Aiden asked.

Norri responded right away, “They buy poultry and dairy from farms and then sell the farms little items from the shops in town so the farmer doesn't have to go himself.”

M'redith nodded as if she was familiar with the term as well.

Aiden grunted, “Ok, well then what about Bodger?”

“Er.. don't they make chairs out of trees?” Norri asked uncertainly.

“That doesn't sound like a very fun profession. What would a magical tree chair making profession even look like?” Aiden said with a raised eyebrow.

Norri shrugged. She didn't know either.

“Ok, let's see. The only other one I'm not sure of is Couturier. What do they make?” Aiden asked.

M'redith smiled, “They make fashionable clothing for women. I'm not surprised you aren't familiar with them. How would you be?”

Aiden thought about the list once again. “I don't want to be any of those things.”

Jay laughed, “Sure, you say that now, but what will you say when someone else uses it and can suddenly make horseshoes that let horses run faster or saddles that keep you cool in summer and warm in winter?”

Aiden looked over at Jay, “Are those actual things?”

Everyone looked at Jay who shrugged, “I don't know, just making things up as I go, who knows what magical effects the profession will have.”

Aiden shook his head, “Nope. I'm good. I don't want to do any of those things.”

“Anyone else?” Jay asked.

The group thought about the options but no one seemed interested in being a farrier, or a bodger, or a manicurist. Everyone was already doing what they wanted to do most: Adventuring.

“Ok, so no one really wants this. What if we sell it and split the money? There has to be somewhere to auction this off right?”

M'redith nodded and laughed, “Boy do you forget things quickly. Don't you remember that ring you found and returned? To the Stringe family?”

“Oh yeah! What was her name again..” Jay said as he bent his head in thought.

M'redith shook her head in mock disapproval. “Constance. Her name was and still is Constance. Her family owns a number of auction houses. She would certainly be able to help us out after you found that ring for her.”

Jay grinned, “Great! We'll set that aside to sell then.”

Jay put the book back in to the pack and used a button flap to attach it to the right side of his belt just behind where a person would normally wear their sword. Jay didn't use a sword so the spot was free.

The rotten paper had already been shaken out of the pack and was left on the floor. The money was divided out among the group. It totaled ten silver so everyone got two. Jay passed the coins about and finally looked back at the darkness inside the open trap door on the floor.

Everyone was still excited over their find – the book wasn't in some strange language like the rest of the books in Ashagi. Even more exciting the book was of very-rare rarity and worth quite a lot of money.

The only door to the room other than the trap door shuddered as something huge smashed against it. The door jumped in its frame and the group could hear screams drawing closer. Something wet and sticky dribbled under the door frame and it gave off an unpleasant pungent odor. The banging continued as whatever was out there focused on getting inside the room.

The group went quiet. Sometimes the monsters would get bored and go away. Not this time. Apparently a large number of monsters had all arrived outside the door and gurgles and screams could be heard as the large monsters tried to eat the smaller monsters. The door shuddered once more as something heavy hit it and stayed there, pressing up against the outside of the door.

The door opened inwards in to the room but was thankfully barred shut thanks to Glenda.

“Anyone feel like leaving now?” Aiden asked and the rest of the group chuckled.

Glenda nodded and quietly removed a hand lantern from her pack. Lighting it she passed it to M'redith before taking another out of her pack and lighting that one as well. Glenda kept the second lantern so the group would have light in front and behind them as they moved.

“Only one way out right now unless you guys want to go see what was just fighting outside.” Norri said with a shrug.

The group all stared down in to the blackness before M'redith shrugged and clipped the lantern to her belt. Grabbing the ladder she began climbing down, and the rest of the group quickly followed her.

The base of the ladder was in a square room with a hallway leading off to the north and south. The walls appeared to be stone and were all slightly damp. The ceilings were hung low and Glenda had to stoop as she stepped off the ladder and to the side to avoid hitting her head.

As Glenda, the last person on the ladder, let go and stepped to the side the group heard a loud click. The light above them began to recede as the trapdoor shut and the table above slid over the opening, sealing it shut once again.

The catacomb like area they now found themselves in was lined with damp stone that seemed to press in from all sides. The darkness was almost absolute and Glenda and M'redith had to hold their lamps high to provide enough light for everyone to see by. The light jumped across the ceiling and walls as the two moved about, the lanterns swinging wildly no matter how still they attempted to hold them. It was a dizzying sight and everyone hunched slightly in their armor due to the overall oppressive feeling.

They were trapped.

“Well - crap.” Jay said.