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Everdale visibly sweated and cursed as he went through all the necessary actions to save Kelsana. His strain was visible, and his concern was evident, as he repaired the girl’s wounds as best as he could. The necromantic curse fought his every attempt to fix her. His magic and alchemy failed to make much difference.
Darius simmered at her side, frustrated and angry. The paladin cursed himself, and the dungeon, and (to Everdale’s surprise) he even cursed his most dear idolized deity, Valus.
Inside, Everdale congratulated himself. Everything was going even better than he had planned. His team of “friends” were mere chips to be gambled in his quest for power. Acquiring the Seed of Ao-Dranoth was his first and most important task to help leapfrog those damn cautionary fools that had ousted him from the Academy.
The foolish council, focused on safe magics and orthodox spell-craft, had opposed his advancement as he sought all manner of knowledge. The miserly bastards wanted to hold him back. He would show them all the meaning of true power.
He still ground his teeth in anger every time he thought about his last days at the Academy. In all the stories that he had heard while growing up; the determined mage went to the academy and he pried loose secrets from the hidden tomes in the Academy. His expulsion for doing that very same expected and rational action was an insult and surprise. The forbidden magics begged to be used and those greedy charlatans would keep them hidden.
He fumed. He had yet to learn the essential offensive magics of lightning and fire when he was forced to leave. How could those conservative bastards discard such a promising and talented student just for exercising his natural curiosity?
He seethed but consoled himself that the punishment, while severe, hadn’t stopped his plan…his path forward. When he had delved into the Academy’s forbidden library, he had discovered details on no less than four objects of power. Any alone would make a man a force to be reckoned with in the circles of power. Together, the devices would propel him above his unimaginative teachers.
His so-called team had been remarkably easy to find and join. They followed the failed paladin like simple puppies. All of them entangled in their unrequited love triangle, whose obviousness to Everdale, was both laughable and ridiculous. Kelsana’s curse was the perfect excuse to seek his first item.
He offered subtle suggestions and direction, pushing ever so slightly with magic to enhance the suggestibility of the team. He was glad that Darius had never come to terms with Severus’ claim to his soul. The fool still pined for Valus, the god who wouldn’t recognize him. He denied the god who would be his patron and give him the power to become near unstoppable and incapable of being deceived.
The idiot was incapable of change and thus susceptible to Everdale’s manipulation. Simple suggestions about the healing power of the Seed soon became the whole group's obsession. Everdale’s only real surprise was how easy they were to direct. His talent for magic was barely required as he manipulated the team like a true puppet master.
The idiots never even thought to question deeper regarding his “research” into the dungeon. None thought to seek extra advice from other adventurers or knowledgeable mages in the area. The illiterates surely saw the murals depicting chaos and corruption, but their simple brains couldn’t comprehend the truth hidden in the art.
Their guileless acceptance of his cover story for a benign dungeon grown from a shrine worshiping nature and fertility was proof of their stupidity. All accounts, well known throughout the region, were that this dungeon’s treasure was a death sentence for almost everyone who entered. The dungeon was a twisted and malign pretense steeped in corruption and chaotic intent. The dungeon sometimes allowed but a single survivor to spread its legend with its temptations of immortality.
Everdale’s chances only improved for every one of his “friends” deaths. He would be the only survivor. And in that critical moment when the dungeon thought itself the winner; he would snatch the Seed and escape. Everdale’s magical skills had emphasized hidden movement and action.
He remembered Garett’s “heroic” last act. His sacrifice, throwing himself in front of the scorpion’s sting to save Kelsana was inspired. Everdale’s telekinetic push may have helped quite a bit there. He laughed internally.
Removing the man’s secret antidote had been the frosting on the cake. He almost ruined his stoic and concerned act and grinned at the recollection. Schooling himself, he instead frowned and assumed a grim expression. Everdale wiped the blood from his hands.
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“I’m so very sorry, Darius. I cannot wake her. Her soul lies on the precipice between realms. We mustn’t move her, lest she slip into death. If we are to save her, we have no other recourse. We must finish this dungeon, and soon!” Everdale said.
“But…but she looks so very pale. She isn’t breathing!” Darius cried, tears beginning to well in his eyes. Everdale had to fight to restrain a chuckle.
“My magics are preserving her, my friend. As long as I live, she will have a chance. The Seed can still provide her salvation, but we mustn’t delay.” Everdale spoke with deep empathy and concern, inside his thoughts were very different.
She’s deader than that fool of a thief, you buffoon. I just need you to move along now so you can get me closer to my Seed. True immortality will make gathering all the other Forbidden Artifacts so much easier. But for now, I need my armored “friend” to ensure it’s safe to pass.
Darius put on a brave face, wiping away his tears. He stood looking angrily at the door. He picked up the golden key from where Kelsana had dropped it and made a vow.
“I so swear, I will do it! Valus, the god of mercy, has shown very little of it to me today; but I will find a way!” Darius said and began marching forward. Everdale packed his alchemical supplies quickly and followed. He stopped briefly and smirked. Roots were already growing up around and into Kelsana’s bloody side, unseen by the emotional warrior. The dungeon was eager to claim her body. He hurried away after the warrior. The woman no longer mattered. Nothing but his prize mattered.
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“Left!” Everdale screamed as he ducked behind the warrior. The large minotaur’s descending flaming ax was knocked to the side at the last moment by Darius’ shield.
“Die! Foul beast, you’ll get no mercy from me!” He screamed as he plunged his sword into its neck. For all the magical strength of the creature, the powerful blow was quite fatal. Darius staggered back as he pulled his sword free. The minotaur’s leg twitched a few times but then stilled. Everdale looked forward while Darius tightened the bandage on his leg.
The massive hall was long and laden with rank after rank of large tiles making it resemble a monstrous chess board. Everdale sneered, the dungeon was not very imaginative. Every couple of rows had a life-sized “game piece” for them, or more specifically, for Darius to fight.
Each game piece was a different monster. While Darius certainly provided the brawn, Everdale was often able to offer advice useful in defeating the foe. Everdale was also on alert for magical glyph traps and mundane traps as well. Dairus’s leg wound was from an arrow trap and his whole left side was blistered and burned when a column of fire had erupted beneath his feet.
Long gone were Everdale’s healing potions, and they were only halfway down the hall’s massive playing surface. Darius sheathed his sword and hefted the minotaur’s ax. Its blade still alight with mystical flames.
“Check it, mage!” Darius growled impatiently.
Everdale inspected the tiles carefully. There were no magic sigils evident and no obvious tripwires. He focused on the tiles as he pushed out his mana in a wave trying to elicit a magical response.
“I don’t see anything.” Everdale said. Darius stared angrily at him for a moment, remembering that last all-clear that had resulted in a lightning blast tearing his right pauldron off. The dungeon was crafty with its traps.
“It’s not my fault. That tile didn’t reflect any magic. My telekinesis must not have been enough force to trigger it. Maybe you could step lighter?” He suggested.
Three rows further down, a trio of Kobold statues were positioned. The second Darius stepped upon the adjacent tiles, they would all come to life. He hefted the ax, confident in victory, as long as no extra surprises worked against him.
Darius slammed the axe head against the tile in front of him. He frowned and then stepped forward and repeated the action, grimacing as the burns on his left side ached. Darius was about to advance further and trigger the kobolds when behind him he heard a loud “thunk” noise. The torches at the entryway had been extinguished, hiding their entryway in shadow. He looked to Everdale.
“What’s going on?” Darius said, his eyes glowing red in the torchlight.
“I don’t know, the dungeon must be impatient and is changing its rules.” Everdale said, but in his thoughts he added more.
It’s about time. All the adventure guild's accounts had said the dungeon wouldn’t put up with delays for long. We need to pick up the pace and get my prize.
“I sense that you LIE!” Darius’s eyes flashed angrily, he turned and took a step toward Everdale. The mage blanched, sensing something new. Divine energy cloaked the paladin now!
Has he made his peace with Severus? This changes things. Everdale thought.
He cringed back from Darius’s rage. He started to prepare a spell, but he was interrupted. Behind Darius, the kobolds screamed and woke. The paladin’s face contorted in rage, and he whirled back to the kobold group as they drew their weapons.
“This dungeon cheats! I will bring it down! Too long have we played its twisted and unfair game!” Darius screamed and crashed forward into battle. Everdale, cautious as always, followed close. He subtly twisted and confounded the kobolds' attacks to help his pathbreaker. He was careful to step only where Darius had stepped already. Traps could still be hidden.
Another clang and another set of lights extinguished. Screams roared and echoed in the hall as Darius advanced in a rage. The enraged paladin charged forward triggering an arrow trap that narrowly missed him and took one of the Kobolds in the throat. Darius smiled and screamed in defiance and continued his charge toward the goal. He fought forward, heedless of the traps and the growing force of monsters.
Everdale knew his relationship with Darius had just changed. Darius was distracted for the moment but wouldn’t likely forget him forever. His timing would need to be perfect. He smiled, eager to walk the razor’s edge. He was close.
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