Alden began speaking as his eyes wandered. “I make this offer without any threat of retribution. Should you decline, I will merely continue on my way.” Ol’Finch quirked his lips at that. “I need a place to build a few things. I wish to dabble some in alchemy and enchantment and this place could be excellent. In exchange I would be more than willing than help you solve some of your issues here.” Ol’Finch narrowed his eyes. “That is an… interesting offer. Generous, even.” Alden just smiled slightly as he stared at Ol’Finch. “This was not the only place that I planned on stopping by. There are numerous towns nearby that I could buy from, or perhaps I could convince someone closer to my destination. I merely came because I heard some rather unique tales about this place. While I cannot speak to other mages, I can confidently say that I love a good mystery.” Ol’Finch snorted. “That all seems nice enough, but this land has been in my family for generation. I believe I may decline.” Alden just smiled a little wider. “Yes and were I coming for your land I would leave. But I do not want this land here. I want something else, something I believe you may know.” Alden reached into his bag and pulled out the book of Gelid cultures and peoples. Flipping it open he came to a section on various liches. Another book appeared on the table. Then another. Soon the table was covered in opened books, passages highlighted and marked up. Alden slid the largest one, The Treaties of Gelid Cultures by Book’an. “When I started my search, Liches were among my most wished for positions. Their way of caring for their demesne, and the way they aggregate Aether was of key interest to me. As I searched for different Liches, I stumbled upon Azer.” Alden’s thumb tapped a picture of an obscured mushroom. “A mushroom lich. Something so rare that this is the only example I have ever heard of. Master of at least a half-dozen mushroom or related affinities. A lich once renowned for their mastery of alchemy and fungiculture. Yet this lich disappeared from their demesne, something that should have been impossible. Azer was assumed dead.” Alden stared straight into Ol’Finch’s eyes. “Azer’s here, isn’t he? I could walk you through the dozens of obscure comments, small clues or different signs. But instead, I will merely ask you to tell me truly; is he here?” As Ol’Finch opened his mouth Alden helped a hand. “I understand that this is something you wish to keep secret. So, I shall extend some equal trust.” Alden placed down a small ring on the table. It had the sigil of a labyrinth, a fist clenched around it. “My mother and father were both delivers.” He ignored the sharp intake of breath, saying, “My mother was from Tunk’lan, my father from the Khanstulate. I believe you know what that means.” A slow nod was his only answer. “So now that you know some of my story, I ask you truly; is Azer here? And can you arrange a meeting with him?” Ol’Finch stared at him steadily for a moment before slowly exhaling. “You are far too strange, boy. But no one would claim what you just did unless it was true, or they were hiding a much worse secret. I write a letter to the Inquisitors or Cadre Legionem and you’re a dead man.” Alden merely stared straight into his eyes. Ol’Finch exhaled once again before abruptly standing. “Very well. I suppose there’s nothing else to it. Follow me then.” He spun around and disappeared into the maze of a house, Alden following quickly behind.

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They moved quickly, Ol’Finch grunting as he opened up a dusty trapdoor. He began to climb downwards, Alden moving to follow him. They moved through small, cramped stone hallways filled with cobwebs. They moved steadily for what had to be at least half an hour. Alden looked to his right, seeing the lines of silver and chalk intertwining on the walls. He looked back onto the path they were walking.

It couldn’t have been more than 30 minutes of walking that Ol’Finch stopped. They were at a T-intersection, one just like the other hundred they had passed. He moved towards a brick, knocking gently on it. Nothing. He waited, lamp swinging slightly in his hands. A low wind began to blow. The brick grinded out, before a whole section of the wall swung inwards. What greeted them was mushrooms. Hundreds upon hundreds of mushrooms growing out of the walls, the ceiling, the floor. Ol’Finch stepped onto them without hesitating, Alden staring at them for a moment before he reached out his foot and stepped onto the mushroom path. They once again continued onwards, a grinding noise heralding their descent deeper into the depths.

“We’re here.” Ol’Finch’s voice broke the silence that had descended upon them as they came to stand right before a huge mushroom. It towered, nearly reaching the roof of the cavernous room. Alden had to crane his neck to be able to see the edge of the cap. Ol’Finch grumbled as he sat on a red-white spotted mushroom. He sighed as leaned against it, Alden feeling a bit of jealousy. “Who comes before me?” Alden glanced at Ol’Finch who just waved his hands at him in a flurry of motion. Alden responded, staring upwards at the massive mushroom. “Alden, the Chicken Mage.” A rumbling shook the cavern, heaving in and out. “A Chicken Mage? Why has a Chicken Mage come before me? Speak quickly child. My patience is not infinite.” Alden spoke at the same clip, idly rubbing his ring of thorns. “I have come to make a bargain.” “What kind of bargain?” “I wish to have a place to practice my experiments and plenty of resources. In exchange I offer knowledge.” The answer was slow, coming out after a few seconds. “What knowledge could you offer me, Alden the Chicken Mage?” Alden just smiled before he reached into that place that he had ignored for so long now. A wind blew. The flame went out. And Alden took the Lich’s mind in hand, gently pressing down upon it. It was nothing more than a gentle touch, a nudge. Yet he could feel that mind recoil in horror at the sensation. The wind faded. The flame flickered back to life. Alden swept that part of himself back into its little corner, squirming slightly at the feeling. Ol’Finch stared at him. Silence engulfed them. Finally, the world once again rumbled. “Very well Alden the… Chicken Mage… I accept your bargain. Come back on the morrow and I shall show you where you will reside in.” Alden smiled as Ol’Finch lumbered back onto his feet and began to limp back into the tunnels. Alden followed.