The First Lich Lord

Chapter 109

Why dont you have Vito take your phylactery when he goes? Raven suggested as she was recovering from her latest attempt to practice what Ilore had been teaching her.

Thats not a terrible idea, Vito said thoughtfully. He was helping Raven practice; while he did not use time magic, his expertise in magical theory certainly helped. I could venture down into Tehomal and build a refuge for you underneath this ziggurat. I would still be close enough to have access to the forge if I needed it, but deep enough and well enough fortified that the phylactery would be quite safe.

Yeah, that and a level 200 plus vampire would be there to protect it, Maxwell chimed in.

What do you think, my lord? Vito pressed. Over the last week he had been pestering me about the fact my phylactery was not charged. He wanted to change that.

You sure you dont want to just go down and build your own little empire under the ground? I asked, trying to narrow my eyes, but I still lacked the flesh for that.

Well, there is that. Vito gave me a winning smile. I promise I would be selective in other vampires I created, and I would try to follow your ideals of not being too evil.

Although he was being sarcastic, Vito meant what he said. It is a good idea, I agreed. It would also fortify the back entrance to the ziggurat.

Wonderful! Is that a yes? Vito asked.

It is. And to remove any potential issues, if I somehow end up getting myself killed and stuck in that phylactery, you have my permission to do whatever you see fit until I return.

Vito nodded solemnly. As you command. I do believe I know the perfect place. I spotted it on my way here. Just remember, my lord, Tehomal, especially in this region, is a very vicious and dark place, and I do mean the literal sense.

I felt another presence and glanced up to the top of the ziggurat. Another group had just entered. Over the last week wed had one or two groups coming into the lair per day. They never made it past the biome floor, but it was only a matter of time before they did.

I wanted to protect the micilium, which were not strong fighters. What we needed to do was convert the dungeon. The reproductive cycle of the second group of micilium had gone exponentially faster than the last. My guess was the forge had something to do with it. All of them were now of the eldritch death subspecies.

Michael patrolled the biome floor. He was the only one strong enough to contend with the invading players. A few of the groups, the smarter and more experienced ones, had only pushed in a little way before retreating. From what Raven had overheard, it appeared that they were finding valuable material in some of my creatures.

I was more than happy to trade the resources they were taking for the death energy the stupid parties were leaving behind. The lair was at its limit. I could feel it was ready to transform into a dungeon. In preparation, we had moved our residence to the tunnel that connected to the Altar of Creation. It was also the same tunnel Vito was planning on leaving through. The control of the lair had expanded out into the tunnel, allowing me to restructure the stone walls and make them into a habitable area for us and our animals.

Id done my best to hide the entrance, but I was not satisfied. My goal was to redirect that tunnel and close off the ziggurat there. I was going to connect the tunnel deeper down on the lowest floor, where the necropolis connected.

Another group? Vito asked. I guess I should not just talk about heading out then. I will feel much more comfortable with leaving if I can take your phylactery.

Ill make sure the path to wherever you set up is secure somehow, I said. Just in case Raven needs your help with time magic.

And I want to be there whenever you decide what to do with those Nephelium, Vito said. Using the forge to create them will result in something rather unique and powerful. I will do what I can to secure it from my end as well.

Michael will be happy that were finally doing this, Maxwell said. I know hes been getting worried about the players encroaching on his village.

Vito headed for the stairs leading up. I joined him, figuring I should let Michael know what was about to happen.

A moment later, Raven and Maxwell followed along. By the time we made it up to the micilium floor, Michael had already gone up to the biome floor. All of the micilium now spoke, and we learned from them that this group of players was moving fairly quickly. That indicated power, if nothing else.

We moved to the biome floor where Michael stood near the fountain that fed the floor. I had a sense of the progress groups were making in my lair, and knew we had time.

Michael, is it possible for me to take a sample of the mycelium of your colony and cultivate it someplace else? Vito asked.

Of course. Michael bobbed his large black mushroom cap head. But why?

Simply put, I am leaving. I need to for the lair to evolve to a dungeon, Vito said. My hope is to cultivate an area where I could start my own micilium colony.

You are trying to get around young ones not being able to leave the network, Michael nodded. Yes, that would work. Unfortunately, because we just went through the reproductive cycle no one aside from me will be old enough for quite some time.

I have a feeling that might not be as true as you think, Vito said. Think about how fast that last reproductive cycle went, and this place is about to become a dungeon which further changes the rules.

I see your point, Michael said. From what I understand, taking things from the dungeon still alive can be troublesome. Especially if they are born or created by the dungeon.

There are ways around it, Vito assured him.

You seem awfully okay with becoming part of a dungeon, Maxwell said. Its one thing to be in this layer, but its like you look forward to the dungeon.

Michael shrugged. What is there to dislike? Yes, there will be constant fighting, but my lord has promised to do his best to shelter us. All we have to do is help maintain the dungeon. With the power of the forge below, there is potential for us to accomplish great things. And once it truly becomes a dungeon, all of us will enjoy a kind of immortality, not the same as you bound souls, but more than most can dream of.

Put that way, I guess I see your point, Maxwell nodded in thought.

Vito, you should go, I said. This group is getting close. I think Im going to fight this one myself. Theyre stronger than the others, judging by their speed, but nothing I wont be able to handle.

As you say, my lord. Vito bowed, but I pulled him into a hug.

Not trying to get rid of you, my friend. Its been good to have you here, I assured him.

Where would be the best area to take a sample of the network? Vito asked.

Ask someone to take you to a node, Michael said. If its on the edge, feel free to take the node with you.

Vito said his goodbyes to the others before he headed back down. Not keeping pace with us anymore, Vito moved at his natural walking speed, which was faster than I could run. I forgot the difference in power between us sometimes. Not all high-level creatures speed around like that, but Vito was a vampire, speed and power were kind of one of their main traits.

Michael, I drew miciliums attention. Once this group is done, I plan on evolving the lair into a dungeon. Are your people ready?

They are, Michael said. Do you want my assistance in this fight?

I closed my eyes in concentration, focused on what I sensed through my lair. The feeling wasnt clear, but I got a decent comparison between this group coming down and how they compared to the monsters above. Since they were my own creations, it gave me a fairly good read.

No, well be fine. Ill pull back the watchers on this floor, no point in wasting the resources in repairing the damage done.

Raven, Maxwell, and I moved down the hill, through the valley, and up the other side. I stretched out my will and ordered all the creatures of this floor to congregate around the fountain on the other side where Michael would keep an eye on them.

The group had just entered the floor above us. There was a pile of bones near the top of the hill, left over from either a meal or creation, and I smiled. What you say we put on a show for these fine folk.

Maxwell and Raven gave me an odd look, and I just chuckled as I extended my will and began to shape the bones.

Maxwell came up beside me. Give me a chance to talk, at least for a moment.

Why would we talk? Raven asked. Theyre here to kill us, so we kill them first, simple.

Because these players might be aligned with Olattee, but theyre still players, Maxwell said. Its a risk, but if we can convince them that Ezekiel is from Earth, that might be a good thing for us. If nothing else, it would be nice to form some kind of repertoire between us and whatever guild ends up setting up on top of this place.

That will happen? Raven asked.

It always happens, Maxwell explained. Guilds claim dungeons. Some of them are lenient and let others use them, but some control them and exploit them for their own gains. Its actually not a bad thing, it could provide protection against the church if the guild is powerful enough.

It would take a mighty powerful guild indeed to be able to keep Olattee from trying to kill me, I grumbled.

Maybe, maybe not, Maxwell shrugged. It depends on a lot of different things.

***

The group of five cautiously moved out of the landing room. They didnt see us, a cloud of obscuring black magic from Raven hid us. The group nervously looked around, on edge and ready for a fight. I could tell from experience that this was a very competent group that was used to working together.

Their armor wasnt flashy, but it was well maintained, as were their weapons. It was a standard adventuring party layout, with two members in heavy armor, one with a large tower shield and an ax, and the other with a great sword. To rear players, one was some kind of cleric and the other was an archer, the fifth player was some kind of stealth fighter, I could see them trying to hide in a shadow.

I nodded at Maxwell. He stepped forward out of Ravens spell. He wore a broad smile with his guitar strapped to his back, a large-brimmed hat with a feather in it, and several other accouterments that fit with his barred role well. Greetings, welcome to the lair of Ezekiel the Lich.

The group tensed as Maxwell appeared. Silence stretched as they didnt quite know what to do before the woman archer stepped forward. She had a confident resolved look on her face, and the others moved to let her talk, subconsciously giving heed to her. She was clearly their leader.

Who might you be? she asked in a soft but commanding tone, this was a woman used to being obeyed.

My name is Maxwell Cromwell. He gave a flourishing bow with his hat. I do believe I know that tone though. Livia, is that you? I cant tell in this dreadful light.

Cromwell, Livias voice took on a slightly annoyed tone that I could relate with sometimes. I wondered where you snuck off to. I heard there was a bard traveling with that Lich, I didnt realize it was you.

I am just making do as I can, Maxwell said. I see the rest of your group is doing well. Did you ever start that guild you are thinking about?

I did, Livia said. She smiled, and her tone became silky smooth, the sternness gone. So, what can you tell me about this place?

There is a lot I could tell you, Maxwell said in a mysterious tone. Most of it youll have to find out on your own, and much of it you wont believe.

Just a small tidbit of something would buy you a lot of favor. I get the feeling were on top of something big, Livia said.

Come on, Max, the man wielding the great sword chimed in. For old times sake.

Because you asked so nice, Derek, Ill give you three things, one of them is a lie, Maxwell smiled at them. The first is that this place will become a source of great power and even greater loot if given time to grow. Second is that hidden within these halls is evidence that Olattee is corrupt to the core. Finally, third, Ezekiel the Lich is from Earth.

I heard scoffs come from the group at the last one. You couldve just told us the two things you wanted to, the cleric said scornfully.

I did, Maribel, Maxwell replied, as smooth as ever. Whether or not you figure out what those two things are is up to you.

We had chosen that question because if we came out and told them that I was from Earth, no one would believe me. But if we gave them both a reason to protect this place and plant the idea that I was from Earth in their head, we could drop hints about it, slowly directing them toward that conclusion. When people thought they had come up with the idea themselves, they were more likely to believe what you wanted them to.

Whatever, Maribel sneered. She clearly didnt like Maxwell.

I reshaped Mercy and pointed it at her, still hidden within Ravens spell. Mercy was already charged, so it took no time for me to be ready. I fired, and the blast of death and eldritch magic erupted from the spell Raven had wrapped around us. The blast took Maribel in the chest and blew a hole straight through her. She was dead in an instant.

Stunned silence held Livias group as they tried to figure out what to do.

In that moment I spoke, still shrouded in shadows, though they were fading fast. What a bitch, my deep voice rolled out of the shadows. I put Mercys butt on the ground next to me and reshaped it into a scythe that arched over my head and glowed with purple eldritch magic. You really shouldnt let people talk to you like that, Max. The shadows lifted and revealed myself and Raven sitting in chairs made of bones.

You monster! Livia exclaimed as she leapt back, already fixing an arrow to her bow.

You have no idea what monsters are, I sneered. Besides, you and I both know shell be back within four hours at whatever altar you bound at previously. All shes going to do is lose some gear.

Livia screamed and released the arrow, coated in silver energy. It slammed into a wall of eldritch power that I raised with the activation of a ring on my hand.

Now is when you should run, Maxwell suggested helpfully, pulling out his guitar and beginning to play a plucky tune.

Thats no fun though, Raven said, her form becoming faded. There was a gasp the moment she appeared in the shadows, driving her dagger through the rogues head.

Good point, and I can always use the bodies, I said as magic swirled around me.

Right as Livia was about to release another arrow, Maribels body stirred and grabbed her legs. The tank and Derek were now rushing forward, rapidly closing the short distance between us. I wasnt concerned, not even getting up I reshaped Mercy and threw it like a javelin at Derek. He tried to block, but with the flex of my will I diverted Mercys course just a bit and it passed through his guard and slammed into the joint between his chest piece and neck.

Poison flooded out of Mercy. Derek was dead even before I called my weapon back to my hand. Raven appeared behind the tank, slashing out his Achilles heel. The fight was over before it began. The tank fell with a few more precise blows from Raven.

I got up from my chair and walked over to where Livia was still struggling with my zombie. With a wave of my hand, I pulled the power of the zombie and it collapsed. I then got right in her face. She reeled back from the visage I bore. Welcome to the thunderdome.

I didnt even bother killing her. I grabbed her and poured death energy into her body, turning her into a zombie right on the spot. It still killed her, I wasnt going to forcibly change the race of a player for no reason. Though I felt I could if I wanted to, that was an ability I should keep to myself.

With the fight over, we looked around. How do you think that worked?

Well, they wont forget that fight very soon, Maxwell shook his head. The thunderdome bit was a nice touch.

Hopefully theyre smart. Now lets go make this into a dungeon.