With the passage open, the perception blocking enchantments were broken and I saw what was behind them. The underground area was spacious and ornately decorated. Like at the libraries, the furniture and ornaments were still in good condition. Important areas had obviously been under some strong preservation enchantments.
A corkscrew ramp led down. I was glad for that as I wasn't certain how I would handle stairs yet. With eight legs, stability shouldn't be a problem but coordination might.
"Huh," Vel said, "a ramp. I guess they thought things through."
"Probably didn't want the freshly ascended members to trip down a flight of stairs."
"Can you even trip with so many legs?"
"Four time more leg to trip over," I said with a cheeky grin.
Vel stepped forward and I followed her down the ramp. It took me a few steps to adjust to the slope but it was smooth sailing after that. There were two and a half turns of the screw before we found ourselves in the chamber.
The chamber itself was composed of many hexagonal alcoves placed next to each other with walking paths allowing access. Everything was Arachne sized except for a few hidden passages probably meant for servants. Each section was delimited by thick wooden walls, of the same kind I had seen in the library, and had a disproportionate amount of large cushions everywhere.
Soft mana lamps placed along the walls provided light.
"Looks … cozy," Vel said as she walked toward the nearest alcove.
"Those pillows do look comfortable," I said.
I lowered myself down into the cushions and they were. I could fit my legs between them with no issues and they kept my body high enough that they weren't bent at an uncomfortable angle. Not as good as a web but a very close second. Vel had simply thrown herself into the pile.
"I'm taking a few of these with me," she said.
"I am too," I smiled, "they make for an excellent spider-chair."
I pulled two cups from storage and poured each of us some a cold infusion from one of my water skins. The few alcoves near the entrance were all laid out the same with a table at the center and a ring of cushions around them, their openings all faced each other which made me think it was a dedicated rest area. The out of the way kitchen accessible only to servants reinforced this idea.
The description of the Arachne class mentioned it was high priestesses who were transformed, and they were likely at the head of the temple. Which meant this was probably where the most important members did their business. I could see some offices further down as well as some rooms with a large amount of cushions at the center and some furniture along the side, likely bedrooms.
As I let my mind wander through the offices, I spotted another of the wooden boxes. I focused my attention on it and looked inside. Of the same metal as there rest of the set was a necklace or choker. At the front were three circular plates with polished gems attached to silver silk band, smaller plates were attached at regular interval on each side.
Identify
[Ravri Ritual Band (Bound, Durability, Storage, Stasis, ???; 0/200)]
Another storage item. What was the obsession with using necklaces as storage items?
"I found another piece of the set," I said, "it's a neck band."
"Think it's the last?"
"I hope, not a lot of places to put more jewelry."
"Maybe a ring?"
"Possible. Hopefully not."
"Let's see then."
I vanished our mugs and stored a good amount of pillows as we left. The office was the third on the right, the door opened without issues and I skittered directly to the desk. I pulled the box out with trepidation and opened it.
"It's beautiful," Vel said, "almost as much as you."
"You're even more beautiful," I gave her a kiss.
"Stop flirting and put it on," Vel grinned, "the wait is killing me."
I obliged and put the small band around my neck. The small latch clicked in place and the system message appeared.
System Action
Bind Item [Ravri Ritual Band]
Cost: 250 MP
Confirm [Y/N]
I accepted without a thought and received another message.
System Log
Item Set [Ravri Ritual Set] Acquired
Hidden Enchantments Revealed
[Ravri Ritual Bracer (Bound, Durability, Key, Spell Slots, Mana Battery, System Interface, Reliquary; 0/9 spells, 0/1000 MP, 0/5 relics)]
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
[Ravri Ritual Bracelet (Bound, Durability, System Core, System Interface, Reliquary; 0/5 relics)]
[Ravri Ritual Focus (Bound, Durability, Levitation, Magic Focus, Magic Enhancement, Reliquary; Nature, Divine; 0/5 relics)]
[Ravri Ritual Circlet (Bound, Durability, Mental Defense, Reliquary; 0/5 relics)]
[Ravri Ritual Band (Bound, Durability, Storage, Stasis, Reliquary; 0/200, 0/5 relics)]
I blinked. What were those enchantments, I had never heard of them. On a whim, I used Identify on them to see if the system would provide information.
Identify
Reliquary
This enchantment allows the object to absorb another enchanted item of the same tier or lower into itself and give the benefits to the wearer. Can hold up to 5 items. Cannot absorb other items of the same set.
System Core
Portable system kernel and core modules.
System Interface
Allows projecting an interface for connected systems.
The first enchantment was fairly straightforward. And useful, wearing many magic items at once was a challenge and potentially hazardous as the enchantments could interfere with each other. I hadn't reached that point yet, still I was glad to have a solution.
The other two, however, were a complete mystery. The terminology was very computer-like. I looked at my wrist where the bracelet lay, the magical activity had increased at least a hundred fold. The thousands of tiny enchantments were flashing in my sight.
Had the builder accidentally created a magical computer when trying to re-create the system for themselves?
"So?" Vel broke me out of my thoughts.
"It's a set," I said with a smile, "and the hidden enchantments were revealed. The main one is Reliquary, it can store magic items and give their effect."
"Very useful, I kind of want one now …" Vel pouted.
"Maybe we can find you some of the missing pieces," I gave her a hug in consolation. "Or I can build them myself. I can see the enchantments so copying them should be possible."
"You'd do it?"
"For you, yes. You deserve it." I gave her the top of her head a soft kiss.
"And the other ones? Do they have to do with the bracelet?"
"Yes, something called System Core and System Interface. The explanation is … short and lacking. I think Identify has trouble with them."
"Why would it have trouble?"
"Complexity I think," I shrugged, "they are very, very complex. But I have a theory."
I poked at the enchantments as if I were activating a skill. My intent slid off System Core but the other one answered eagerly. An illusion appeared around my wrist, a gauntlet of silver light hovered a centimeter or so over my forearm and hand. It looked similar to the one on my other arm. Above my hand was a circular wheel with many icons, while on my forearm was something that was pretty clearly a screen.
The background showed two Arachne being … very familiar with each other. They were wearing ornate light grey robes with black and gold accents, likely a priestess garb. Over them were a few widgets on the screen. Unfortunately, the entire interface was written in the Ravri language that I couldn't understand.
"Wow," Vel said with a grin, "those two are … friendly."
I dismissed the interface.
"It this like one of those com-pu-ter things from your old life?"
"Kind of," I confirmed. "I guess I need to learn the language," I sighed, "but Let's get out of here first."
----------------------------------------
It took us around two hours to explore the rest of the chamber. The offices were emptied of their books and any contraption we found. We took some of the furniture as well, the wood was of high quality and it would probably sell for a good price to the adventurers.
System Action
Store [Lesser Bracelet of Strength] in reliquary [Ravri Ritual Bracelet]
Store [Lesser Ring of Mana] in reliquary [Ravri Ritual Bracer]
Store [Lesser Ring of Health] in reliquary [Ravri Ritual Bracer]
Divert 150 MP/min to [Ravri Ritual Bracer]
Confirm [Y/N]
I consolidated my items as well and diverted half of the bonus from my ring of mana to charge the bracer. Vel finally relented and accepted my spare storage necklace, not the Amulet of Inazesa as I had originally wanted but the one Breknir had gifted me. I really needed to learn enchanting and create something nice for her.
After the offices, we visited the bedrooms but they didn't have much of interest. I nabbed a few more pillows, mostly small ones, to add to a future web hammock for additional comfiness. After the bedrooms, we found some workshops. I packed as much of the alchemy and enchanting workshops as I could into crates and took it with me.
There was also one filled with precision tools, screwdrivers, wrenches, small pliers, and more. There was even a small desk lathe. It felt out of place among the mostly magic-based technology, maybe one of the priestesses had an interest in mechanical engineering? I carefully packed this workshop as well. I wasn't much of a tinkerer but maybe it would come in handy at some point.
There were several passages leading out of the chamber, two too small for me to fit through and three that were. From my estimation, they led to other places in the temple. I was curious to know why I hadn't noticed them when we had explored.
"Before we go further," Vel said, "let's take a break to eat."
"We can use the rest area, there was a hidden kitchen area."
"A real kitchen? Where?" Vel asked with enthusiasm.
"I'll show you," I started to walk back, "it's only accessible by what I call the 'servant hallways' since they're too narrow for Arachne to fit through. The entrance is behind a false panel."
"This place is full of surprises," she twirled around, "maybe not for you."
"I like not being surprised by ambushes," I replied.