Chapter 28: Alma Again
After her failure at the fort she had returned to her mistress. Camille was kind and understanding but Alma couldn’t stop beater herself up over the loss, she hadn't even tried. She waited for a while with Camille to observe Orlando. He arrived at the fort, decked out in shining golden armour, no doubt bought with gold extorted from common folk. He strutted about the place with only the confidence someone who’d never seen the realities of l...
2024-06-23 01:21:28 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 27: The Ghibellines
Something deep within Dante’s soul teared desperately at its enclosure when he saw his lute brake. The ghost had seemed trustworth even if Sqwent was screaming the opposite in his head. Why would he trust a demon over someone who had been entrusted with a noble title. Now more than an instrument was broken.
He could not hear the words that the hidden part of him screamed, he could not yet remember, but the emotions passed that invi...
2024-06-22 17:01:31 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty Six: The Magic of an Archmagus.
I might have stood by, watched the child get killed for his stupidity and looted the magical items I felt were stored below when the coast was clear. I might have, if not for Vento. He sensed in the lad, as in himself, a pure soul. I could feel his need to help the pair and I wasn’t so cruel as to ignore his desire.
I conveyed to Vento what I wanted of him, pulled the fire mana gem from my knapsack and bega...
2024-06-20 00:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty Five: What Lies Beneath.
I was given directions to the nearest sewer access point and was eager to get my first payday in centuries. As the wealthy know wealth begets wealth and I owned a number of businesses in life which provided more than enough income to maintain my experiments.
As I strode through the throngs of groggy city folk I tried again to use Wind Domain but was again overwhelmed by sensation. Eventually I was a...
2024-06-19 16:33:25 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty Four: First Quest
Wind Domain was a strange spell. It was less of a spell and more of a technique. It turned the air around me into an extension of my mana network. If I could learn to use it accurately I would be able to cast from any direction around me at reduced mana cast as none would leak to the ambient mana and I would be able to recycle any residual mana. Right now however it felt as though I had sprouted a dozen waving tentacl...
2024-06-18 19:32:35 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty Three: Adventurer
There were a number of particularly nasty death magic spells I knew that would only use a little of my ectoplasm. I could cut the priest in half with a Wind Blade or crush him with a Rock Throw. I could release my illusion and take the man by surprise with my Bone Claws.
I could but should I? I may be an undead Lich but that didn’t mean I was evil. I had...
2024-06-17 19:22:44 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty Two: A City Named Wiccawich.
“I see her face, when I see my lute. She’s pale and gaunt. I need to see her.” Dante mumbled. I tried to get him to elaborate but he refused to speak more, although unlife did return to his eyes. After this odd statement he seemed to be conversing with his inner demon but still not with. I was not totally comfortable with the arrangement but I thought it best to let sleeping dragons lie.
The road, even at ...
2024-06-17 10:22:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty One: Ghost Busting.
When the two boys finally made it through the dark maze and caught sight of the glowing spirit. Wand was the first to react, firing off a Wind Blade with much more power than before. It slid through the apparition with barely any effect before slicing a dust sheet and the portrait beneath. When he caught my eye he seemed rather sheepish.
“You can’t hurt me the great and powerful…” The Rat be...
2024-06-16 18:40:33 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twenty: Woden’s School
“If you must know, I am undercover.” I lied, smoothly, much as my master would have. This seemed to put the two apprentices at ease.
“Why did you show yourself then?” The braver, Staff, asked.
“I no longer believe you are capable of conducting this task unaccompanied.” I responded.
“What, just for that.” Staff said, pointing at Wand’s head. Wand seemed destressed, trying to get the other boy to shut...
2024-06-14 22:44:23 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Nineteen: Staff or wand?
The next few days of travel were harsh on my old bones. We walkinging through the underbrush, avoiding the roads. Although I now had a spell that allowed me to disguise myself this part of the kingdom was quiet enough that any travellers would be worthy of investigation and I didn’t know how well an illusion might fool a Paladin of a light god with truth sensing abilities.
Dante still wasn’t talking to me. H...
2024-06-14 19:26:44 +0000 UTC
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Status 3.0:
Name: Osseus
Titles:
Archmagus(ish): Unique
With the knowledge and experience one hundred times that of
a common mage with the power to mach one is granted the
Title of Archmagus, lacking experience in this worl...
2024-06-13 20:54:48 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Eighteen: Blood and Demons.
I was being marched across a wheat field towards the waking demon, trying to figure how I could save Dante when something in the ambient mana changed. It took me a moment to recognize the feeling but soon it hit me. Years ago when I had been studying aquatic buffalo to discover how they seemingly parted the water as they ran across its surface. I had discovered the giant effect was not a continuous spell on their part but a natural...
2024-06-12 16:02:11 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Seventeen: Escape?
Nine pairs of eyes stared at me, uncomprehending. I was surrounded. Slowly I reached out a reboneified hand toward the unspilt glass of holy water. Lifting it gentilly from the side table, with my other hand I took the coaster it had been resting on and held it on top. That was as far as I got before all hell broke loose.
David Wainwright was the first to react, as before. Brandishing his ash covered table leg he charged in. With re...
2024-06-10 17:19:11 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Sixteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Final Part.
The sound of bone bouncing of stone brought some of me back to my senses, unfortunately I wasn’t the only one to hear it.
“Coming.” A reedy voice announced, followed by slapping foot steps not feet inside. Slightly panicking I hid my shortened finger behind my back, just in time as seconds later a tall and sallow man rounded a pew and smiled weakly at me.
“Mr. Hill I presume?” I asked, my ha...
2024-06-09 13:18:55 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Fifteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 4
My Life Sense had allowed me to notice the woman as soon as I entered the room so when Joseph asked, open mouthed, “How?” I was forced to just smile.
“Wow!” David exclaimed, “I knew your Detection skill was something but how? I didn’t see anything.”
Jumping on the excuse I replied, “You’ll get there some day.”
After another couple of seconds ...
2024-06-09 13:17:13 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Fourteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 3
I wanted to declare the case closed, wrap this whole thing up and get my holy water. I was about to open my mouth to do just that when what came out was not what I expected.
“Vicar, would you be so kind as to retire to the other room with the others? I believe Mr. Cain and I need to have a little chat.” I asked with uncharacteristic politeness.
After the Vicar had dismissed his look of incredulity he ...
2024-06-09 13:12:20 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Thirteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 2
I bounced nervously on the balls of my feet. Part of me wanted desperately to barge past the guard and make my way into the town, his words finally registered and I chose to follow the man. It wasn’t that I cared much for this town's criminal matters but he had indicated that this murder had happened at the vicarage and I needed holy water.
The guard led me through the town towards the centre, I must have app...
2024-06-09 13:09:52 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Twelve: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 1
The fleeting hours of the night went by in a mutual silence. On my part caused by Dante’s disrespectful comment having hit a deeply buried insecurity about my current condition. In his case it was caused by a mixture of embarrassment and worry.
Not long before dawn we found a suitable place to make camp, having been unable to find any camping supplies in fort Far-Reach, Orlando had been kind enough to lend us a...
2024-06-09 13:08:38 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Eleven: Orlando Roncevaux Shall Pass
“You seem to have saved us monk, allow me to congratulate you.” The mountain of a man said, breaking into an equally giant grin.
The startlement wore off, melted by this man’s earnest warmth.
“Osseus.” I announced, sticking out a bony hand and immediately regretting it.
“As soon as he grasps hand he’ll know I’m nought but bones.” I thought, desperately trying to pull my hand back. I wa...
2024-06-09 13:07:17 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Ten: The Dark Forest
I plodded along, crossbow swaying on my back. The thousand elephants that were using my skull to practise stampeding didn’t appreciate Dante's insistent strumming.
Still I didn’t complain as I was observing an interesting phenomena. It appeared that because Dante was composing a piece rather than playing one it had absolutely no effect on my body.
Now that I could listen to his playing directly I was able to learn a lot....
2024-06-09 13:05:29 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Nine: Bioremediation
I stumbled, nearly falling, before I was able to catch myself. My Life Sense swam as I staggered from the circle of ash.
Skull throbbing, I made my way to Dante who was still frozen. Sitting next to him on the steps I rubbed my sphenoids.
This was probably the worst case of mana sickness I had ever experienced, frankly I was surprised my current form was able to experience the same sensations.
“What ...
2024-06-09 13:04:00 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Eight: Alma
Alma was a good girl, or so she would have you believe. Born to a mother she’d never met and a father she’d never known she had little by the way of role models, only the Church.
A Church who outwardly promised salvation, helped raise orphans, and fed the homeless.
Behind closed doors however it was that same church who ransomed people’s afterlives so much that many went hungry.
That same Church who beat any orphan under ...
2024-06-09 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Status 2.0:
Name: Osseus
Title: Archmagus(ish)
Lord of Far-Reach Fort
Spell Slinger
Savant
Archmagus(ish): Unique
With the knowledge and experience one hundred times that of a common mage
with the power to mach one is granted the Title of Archmagus, lacking
experience in this worlds magic and with power still to be tested one (and only
one) is granted the title Archmagu...
2024-06-09 12:58:43 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Seven: Underlord
Pater’s plan was obvious; first he showed me the carrot - the skill of this group’s leader, their ability to defeat a well defended enemy, and their willingness to provide me with luxuries. Now he was showing me the stick, trying to prove that he was in charge and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
It may have worked had not just shown me all the people he’d killed and resurrected. I held the title of Archmagus and tha...
2024-06-09 12:57:14 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Six: If Both of Them are Dead
Dante was a rather stranger person, not that I was the best judge of character. I only ever had time for magic and the secrets of the universe.
Dante seemed incredibly helpful, kind even, but even at the mention of hurting Pater (someone whom he never spoke ill off) his teeth would sharpen, his eyes squint, and he would affect a devilish smile. He didn’t even seem to know it was happening. This raised him slightly in my...
2024-06-09 12:55:53 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Five: Two Can Keep a Secret
As I walked along the hallway, cells to my right a stone wall to my left, The whistling tune changed from a happy melody to a chilling lament.
The tune had a weird effect, I had never known much about music but my brain told me the inconsistent tone and occasional squeaking combined to make a horrible sound. Yet my undead body responded positively to its frequency. Was this perhaps the result of the Charisma attribute.
<...
2024-06-09 12:54:16 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Four: An Infernal Comedy
Dante was born to a loving mother with little means and a father she always claimed died in the last war but Dante always heard the rumours, that he was the bastard of the local lord. Heard them and dismissed them, he was content to believe his mother’s story.
Growing up he was regarded as a good if naive boy, he wasn’t, he just chose to see the best in people. It was what his mother had taught him after all.
He had ...
2024-06-09 12:53:02 +0000 UTC
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Status 1.0:
Name: Osseus
Title: Archmagus(ish):
Archmagus(ish): Unique
With the knowledge and experience one hundred times that of a common mage
with the power to mach one is granted the Title of Archmagus, lacking
experience in this worlds magic and with power still to be tested one (and only
one) is granted the title Archmagus(ish). This Title grants:
I 20 10 Intelligence I 20 10...
2024-06-09 12:50:26 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Three: Temptations of the Flesh
My first thought was to use the air around me as the material for a wind blade spell. It would be horribly inefficient and require a ridiculous amount of my mana to function that way. Luckily I wasn’t forced to waste my mana as the Zombie's hammer caught in a hole in the floor, yanking him backward, laying him out flat on his face.
Given a moment to prepare I decided now would be a perfect time to perform some more te...
2024-06-09 12:40:44 +0000 UTC
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Chapter Two: Undeath
I awoke, to my surprise, without any pain. Without any sensation whatsoever.
“Is this death?” I thought to myself.
I didn’t expect a response so I was surprised when out of the darkness came green text:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welcome to world BCT-175
Local designation: Cosmo-Osto
2024-06-09 12:37:30 +0000 UTC
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