The seven of us practice a few times to get the hang of entering the stronghold though the balconies. After that we hanged around the base attacking any herds that get to close. I have Canis stay in the stronghold to cast spells. If it got too hairy, we jump up into the balconies and fight from there while the summons continue to fight just below the balconies. With our enchanted medallions, we can resummon our lost troops since the medallions provide us an endless supply of mana.

The easiest rank two souls I got was when the beast chased me into a balcony and could only fit his head inside and tried to spear me with it's horn. It's horn get wedge into the ceiling and like a simple beast used all it's strength to remove it's head but made it even worse. A few quick stabs from my team was all it took collect a new rank two soul.

I took regular breaks to insure the followers keep their personality from falling into killing mode. Defending this piece of rock mean following orders, and while killing mode is great but it don't allow them to retreat in battle. I decided to stay here until I lose a follower.

To avoid that fate I need them to follow orders and also decided I needed to fortify this place a bit more. So I pulled my enchanted supplies and grab and ten spare daggers, my Jewel crafting I change the pummel weight into a socket for a magic gem. I installed a second gem into it's cross guard and a third gem on the other side of the cross guard.

I learned the maximum number of added effects I can add to a enchantment is ten times my soul rank, so I burn twenty extra mana for added effects.

For the the gem in the pummel I put in level four Forked Lightning spell with added effect to give it five element attack against thirty two targets for ten mana. Then I add in some specialize added effects to customized the spell to my liking. First I add in Spread Outwards to keep the discharging lightning to coming back towards the defenders. Then I give it a damage over time effect by giving it three levels added effect Extra Duration to make it last for the rest of the exchange. So every time my target makes a move he suffers the effect of this spells debuff. The strength of the debuff is simular to poison is that the initial damage would be the amount the target needed to resolve before making a move during an exchange. This leaves me with six mana to burn, so I put it all into spell strength and boost the level four attack to a level ten attack.

For the Second gem I enchanted with a level one Soul Cage so I can use a rank one soul as a controller. I burn eight extra mana to raise the added effect to level ten Dutiful that will make the soul work more efficiently within the Soul Slave enchantment restrictions. The third gem I put in level two Soul Bank to capture up to rank two souls that it defeats, however since it's a level three magic gem, it can only hold a maxium thirty souls at a times. So I put in Void Bank added effect and burned twenty mana to increase the compacity to twenty two. So now it can hold fifty two souls that the tool manages to gain from a the killing blow.

Next I enchant the daggers with level two Stonemeld with added effect Command Word activation 'Meld' which will allow me to plant the entire blade into stone leaving the hilt sticking out. I burn all twenty mana to raise the Stonemeld strength to twenty two so it a good chance in melding into even the hardest magical surface. I keep it simple and will use the same command for removal.

The second enchantment is the all important level two Soul Slave, a necessary step if I want to use up to a rank two soul to create a semi autonomous tool that follow simple orders. Each simple order cost me to burn one mana as an added effect. One, provide support fire to those living inside this stronghold when they retreat to the balconies. Two, provide support fire when command "Fire at will." Three, do not fire when told "Hold fire." Four, when no one lives in the stronghold, go to sleep until new occupants have set up camp inside. You don't want to give a controller soul to much freedom of thought, else they may develop into a deviant soul that barely gets the job done. Forming this simple loop is the key to making souls perform well as a controller.

Next I needed some control functions so I use the added effect Mana Bank Controls to control the mana of all available gems for use for the enslaved soul. Then I use the added effect Soul Bank Controls with orders only keep the strongest fifty two souls collected. That way when I return to harvest these daggers of the collected souls it should have quite a few rank two souls in them and the rank ones should be one close to ranking up.

Then put in rank one mage souls into the soul gems to complete these ten evocation traps. Then I had Canis change into her hawkwomen form and plant the ten daggers evenly around the outcrop about ten meters above the balconies.

After that I had the Rockmen create three alcoves in the round circular tunnel. Each one I inscribe a summoning circle and place three magical gems in each. The first is a Soul Cage with level ten Dutiful and put in a Darvaset soul. The second gem I put Summon spell using the Darvaset as the template with added effect Set Summoning ritual to upgrade Actions to three, Strength to four and use the three added effect of the rank three gem for extra duration. The third is of course the much needed Soul Bank to collect the souls the Darvasets has defeated.

Of course I have to use a Soul Slave with these restrictions. One when summoned defend this stronghold and obey it's inhabitants. Two, when there is no inhabitants, go to sleep until new inhabitants set up camp inside. Three, When the inhabitants are fighting a herd, summon copies of yourself to assist them in battle. Then added in required Mana Bank and Soul Bank Controls to make this a functional generator.

Then I magically etch 'Darvaset Generator' above all of three alcoves. Then etch the three command rules so the future users of this outcrop will know what up without being surprised by Darvasets charging into battle.

Darvaset are often use as guard pets and hunting pets. These armored raptors are also a favorite riding mount for noble children as they are known to fight to the death to protect their owners. Their loyalty is the reason I choose them and by setting their 'owner' to 'inhabitant' of the stronghold makes them ideal support summon. They do what comes naturally to them and protect their new 'inhabitant' owners to the death willing rather than magical forced too by a spell.

Now that I think about it, if you really hate someone so much might as well use their soul as a controller and basically torture them by forcing them to do stuff they wouldn't do in life. That is really too hateful, glad I only a have a few I can think off hand at the moment. Anyways, see you when you die and come to the Underworld as all souls must go. When you come here, feel free to hunt down your enemy's souls to use as you please. Just keep this in mind, you will be hunted as well. Mostly by farmers, but occasionally you may meet an enemy looking to use your soul for nefarious means.

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Back to the story at hand, as you can see the stronghold is coming along and my evocation traps and generators are just silently charging for the first time. With my mage vision, I can see tiny magical vortexes as the magic gems suck latent arcane energies in. It doesn't take to long for all the magical gems to be fully charged and waiting for the next herd to come through.

I am more subdued in spellcasting when my brothers and sisters pass by looking for a rock to defend. I also notice none of my brothers and sisters were burning mana heavily when casting spells when I pass them by those days searching for this rock. I ponder some more then came up with maybe there is a unwritten rule not to be too extravagant with spells? If that's the case I don't want break this rule and look even more of a noob. So I order my followers and pet to burn only three mana per spell while at this stronghold, this was the medallions will be fully charged when a emergency erupts.

It's been twenty eight sun cycles since I chosen this piece of rock to defend when the unexpected happens. A tide of Springtails were sweeping though the other herds, nimbly jumping over and around the other herd members. It was a like a locus swarm, the other herds continue their business as millions of Springtails jump over them.

It didn't take long for them to be racing past my rock. Off at a distance a massive concussion ran out as one of my brother or sisters cut loose with a big spell that disintegrated a large chunk of Springtails around his rock. I smile as a symphony of the sound magical explosions filled the air. So led my team to the top of the stronghold while the troops fight below. Then I ordered my followers cut loose with mana towards the sides of the stronghold while I take the front.

I double tap a barrage of full element boltstorm with max range and left overs went into damage to incinerate all the soulbeasts in ninety degree arc before me and collect two hundred mixed souls. My rank limits the numbers of souls I can collect at one time to two hundred. So I begin dialing down the mana usage to see just how much mana I can save to get two hundred souls.

When you use more than ten mana points to boost the added effects of a spell changes it to a greater spell and has all sorts of magical phenomenon associated with each individual, but a temporal freeze and to be able to hear the spell as if it was whispered directedly to your ear. But as you hear and understand the mystical chant it disappears from your mind just as quick. This is when you know you are a victim of this spell but you can't even move to save your ass because of the temporal freeze.

I've been conservative with my spells as I don't see the tide of springtails ending soon. With my arcanum at level four, I recover four mana a the beginning of each round. So I've been farming with greater spell with an eighteen mana boost and three normal spells for the first round. On the second round I just use four normal spells and repeat. I have full mana each round and the mana bank recovers fully by the time I cast it again, so the mana bank never goes below twenty seven. Which is fine, it usually take that long to fill the area in front of me again. So it's a perfect farming cycle.

Since I actually recover an extra four mana in my farming cycle, I decided to boost the number of exchanges I can have with Addition Strike cast each round. Just so I have an extra exchange to spend on if something manage to survive my greater spells. It was about ten minutes in when I finally discover something still alive from my recent spell.

"Bully, soulfire pillar his sorry ass" I announce gleefully.

"There you go boss!" as Bully promptly responds with his racial skill. Then I thought how can I get rid of Bully? His soulfire pillar makes me laugh!

I focus on the new target as it pushes itself off the ground and glares at me. I thought what's his weakness, my mind traces back instantly through the greater spell and I know his weakness are cold and poison, and can see his soul aura is already corroding. So I help him along and boost a normal magical bolt with added affect in the shape of a white serpentine dragon with black teeth and claws and attacks with a duo cold and poison breath attack. Then I sent the evocation spell along to see if it can survive my next move.

It's a Lycanthrope as I watch the soulbeast roar at me and turn humanoid and encants a barrier spell around him. My level two magic talent cut through his defenses as I see his soul corroding much faster than before. He responds by cast a healing spell that also slows down the corrosion at little.

My appraisal tells me 'Shaman?' Then I agree with 'possible.'

Since he is on the defensive, for my third move I repeat the spell but play around with added effect, this time I create a giant meteorite of poison and ice and drop it on his head. He responds by eating a pill that removes most of the poison and create another barrier for protection. When I can see him again after the flashy spell subsides, I see his aura quickly darkens as the poison is strengthen.

I wonder how many pills he's got as I wind up another spell for my fourth and last move of the first exchange. This time I raise an icy wyrm to my right and a inky wyrm to my left. Then made the two towering serpent creatures breath ice and poison respectfully. Then I wave at him goodbye as I see his terror stricken face as he realize he isn't skilled enough to cast another barrier spell.

Then I watch the last of his aura turn black and he soulmisted back to his shrine to deliver himself a present. Then I praise Bully for using his skill, which he bows in gratitude. My awareness instantly investigate my mana bank and know it has twenty seven charges remaining. I smile as the farming continues as planned, but slightly sadden as I see no survivors in my killing field.

So my team continue the farming routine, but I keep a close eye out in the sky for new flying pets. Allcora, Behzulhoth, Dragonbats, Griffons, Manta Sharks, Nargh, Pegasus and Vespur became my main targets of interest. With the same mana banks, my followers do as I do, but occasionally summon new troops to fight below. I have my Gorgasaurs fly over the killing fields looking for loot.

It was like a ground level continuous firework display the never stopped until the the edge of the Springtails herd finally raced past. I couldn't help to look towards the depths of this grassland zone and wonder how long it takes for that herd of Springtails to pass though where my higher ranking brothers and sisters are defending.

I grin and hope my other selves are not viewing though my eyes as I stare at the twenty four thousand rank one souls I am now holding in my soul after my followers and pet dump me my share. When my true self finds out my farming method, he should be pleased. Then my eyes pop open at seeing the one hundred and twelve rank two Springtails also collected.

I watch the magical attacks pitter out as the springtails pass the strongholds to my right. I see the other herds at the distance still marching around, so used to the springtails they just ignore them. Most likely they consider it a time where they can march along under some kind of shade for nearly an hour.

It was day thirty six when I finally lost Rymon to a Wyvern attacking one early morning. He was up top checking for the Springtails when I received a notice that he died. I was organizing the souls and placing the stronger ones into a new tab I named 'veterans' who have earn at least one hundred points of upgrades. When I reach to the top I could only watch as a rank three wyvern has already making an attack run on the stronghold to my distant right. So I collect Rymon's dropped gears and sent a telepathic message to my team 'alright pack up and lets head home'.

In the end I head back home with thirty one thousand rank one souls, of which twenty three thousand were springtails. Of the rank two souls I collected one hundred and forty three total, and the three most interesting of them was the Lycanthope I fought, a Harvester Queen that happened fly to close to my stronghold and a Ras'kun who lead an attack one early morning. All three had over one hundred upgrade points, making them a bit more stronger than Bully who has about fifty upgrades to his credit.