Book of The Dead

Tyron slumped down at the bloodstained workbench, heaving in breaths.

“It’s strange. I almost can’t remember what it felt like to be out of breath,” Filetta observed from the doorway. “I haven’t even been dead that long… have I? My sense of time isn’t what it used to be.”

“No, you haven’t been dead that long,” Tyron rasped. “I think dying… has some effect on your consciousness… and perception of… the world.”

“Stop talking, you sound like a dying fish. Was it really necessary to run all the way here?”

The journey through the sewers took them through a long and winding path through crumbling tunnels and rank pipes. Under normal circumstances, it was a trip that took hours, but that was time that Tyron couldn’t afford.

He took several more deep breaths to steady his breathing.

“By now, they know my shop is connected to the city’s sewer, and soon they’ll put together that I worked at the Red Tower. I have to move quickly before they can start to track me down.”

Right now, he was in the underground workshop beneath the warehouse within which his butchers had been hard at work.

The ghosts would work as a delay, certainly, but he couldn’t count on them to achieve much. Spirits were far from indestructible, even if they couldn’t be harmed by unenchanted weapons. If any had escaped to roam wild through Shadetown, he hoped that the near desertion of the market district would avoid too many suffering needlessly. The people he was after were inside the walls, not out of them.

After another minute, Tyron felt he was finally calm and in control of himself enough to move to the next step.

“Filetta, can you guard the perimeter?”

The wight turned to him.

“The others aren’t enough? How many skeletons do you even have in the sewers around here?”

Tyron frowned.

“I would simply prefer to be alone while I perform the status ritual.”

“You’re weird. Have it your way.”

She turned and made a decent attempt at a swaying strut out of the room. Why she bothered, the Necromancer had no idea.

Once he was alone, Tyron withdrew the page he had folded into the inner pocket of his cloak for exactly this purpose and laid it down on the bloodstained table.

For a long moment, he simply stared at it. Now that the moment had arrived, he suddenly felt the need to question every decision he had made to reach this moment. Had he been right to push as aggressively as he had? Was he truly as prepared as he believed he was? Over the last few weeks, he had worked as hard as he possibly could, doing everything he could to ensure he pushed his abilities to their limits.

Had it been enough? Could he have gone more slowly?

These were arguments he’d hashed out with himself hundreds of times. The risk of waiting, the threat of discovery, the rebellion. If he waited too long, he would eventually have been found out. Ever since he started attacking patrols on the roads, the security around Kenmor had begun to grow tighter and tighter. If he didn’t act, then the rebels would have come under tremendous pressure and crumbled before they could properly organise. After the events at the Jorlin estate, how many Soldiers and Magisters had been pulled back to the city?

No, he’d done the right thing. He’d done everything he reasonably could to prepare himself. The time was now.

Tyron reached down, drew his knife from the sheath on his belt, contemplated the glittering edge for a moment, then pressed the edge into his palm.

He was going to need a lot of blood for this one.

Pressing his hand against the page, he spoke the words and enacted the status ritual. As expected, the flow of blood was swift, draining out of him and soaking into the paper. He tried not to let his nerves bother him as he waited patiently for the process to complete, then leaned down to read what the Unseen had in store for him.

His eyes raced through the Skill notifications, looking for those key abilities he’d hoped to max.

Your manifestation and manipulation of Spirit Flesh has improved your proficiency. Spirit Flesh Formation has reached Level 10 (Max)

Practice and honing your expertise has improved your proficiency. Advanced Spirit Binding has reached Level 20 (Max)

You have continued to master your pocket within the Dimensional Weave. Summon the Ossuary has reached Level 10 (Max)

The more of your power you pour into your undead, the better they will serve. Anoint Undead has reached Level 10 (Max)

Your grasp over the intricacies of Death has deepened. Expert Death Magick has reached Level 30 (Max)

These were the key abilities he’d aimed to improve, and it was edifying to see they had. Tyron was far less concerned with his combat spells. So long as his ability to craft minions was as good as it could be, he was confident his Gold Ranked offerings would include something that suited him.

Next his eyes slid down to his Class notifications.

You have raised the dead and driven them to fight in your service, building a great sanctuary within the Ossuary. Your mastery of bones has risen to great heights, empowering your minions beyond their normal limitations.

Lord of the Ossuary has reached level 60. You have received +14 Strength, +14 Dexterity, +21 Constitution, +21 Intelligence, +14 Wisdom, +14 Willpower, +14 Manipulation, +21 Poise.

Your patrons marvel at the chaos you have sewn in their service. The Old Gods can sense the fear of their enemies and are filled with delight. The Abyss has tasted the richness of your harvest and yearns for more. The Scarlet Court can sense the ocean of blood that will soon be spilled and are content, sure they will collect their share.

Forbidden One has reached level 40. You have received +8 Manipulation, +16 Constitution, +16 Intelligence, +16 Willpower, +8 Poise

You have utilised the power of Death Magick against your foes. Death has become your closest friend and most trusted companion.

Death Mage has reached level 20. You have received +8 Constitution, +8 Willpower, +8 Poise.

That was… significantly more levels than he’d expected. Lord of the Ossuary reaching sixty was expected, desirable even, and eight levels of Death Mage wasn’t too surprising, considering just what he’d been doing and the sheer volume of Death Magick he’d been working with. However, he was instantly suspicious of the eight levels of Forbidden One he’d received.

Were the patrons really that pleased with his actions? Even the Scarlet Court? The Three were probably delighted with current events, but the other two? He suspected that perhaps some fingers had been placed on the scale, giving him greater power in the hopes that he would survive the upcoming chaos and give them some return for their investment.

The next notification was yet another surprise.

Yours is a mind well suited to the pursuit of Magick, but also to the pursuit of Death. The more you experience it, the more you inflict it, the less you fear it, the greater your understanding grows. Continue to stride forward, brave the darkness, and you will be rewarded. Mystery: Essence of Death has grown to Advanced. Mystery: Soul Magick has grown to Advanced.

His Mysteries continued to grow, further propelling him forward and tipping the balance in his favour. Tyron welcomed it, despite the somewhat ominous message from the Unseen.

He released the breath he’d been holding, and allowed himself to scan down the rest of the page.

Name: Tyron Steelarm.

Age: 24

Race: Human (Level 21)

Class:

Lord of the Ossuary (Level 60)

Sub-Classes:

• Forbidden One (Level 40)
• Focused Enchanter (Level 40)
• Death Mage (Level 20)

Racial Feats:

Level 5: Steady Hand.

Level 10: Night Owl.

Level 15: Well of Magick.

Level 20: Arcane Renewal.

Attributes:

Strength:

102

Dexterity:

159

Constitution:

261

Intelligence:

381

Wisdom:

273

Willpower:

242

Charisma:

113

Manipulation:

139

Poise:

182

General Skills:

Arithmetic (Level 5)(Max)

Handwriting (Level 5)(Max)

Concentration (Level 5)(Max)

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Cooking (Level 4)

Sling (Level 3)

Swordsmanship (Level 2)

Sneak (Level 3)

Butchery (Level 5)(Max)

Engraving (Level 5)(Max)

Sculpting (Level 5)(Max)

Weaving (Level 5)(Max)

Dodging (Level 3)

Running (Level 4)

Skill Selections Available: 1

Necromancer Skills:

Corpse Appraisal (Level 20)(Max)

Corpse Preparation (Level 20)(Max)

Expert Death Magick (Level 30)(Max)

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Enhanced Minion Commander (Level 20)(Max)

Undead Control (Level 10)(Max)

Minion Modification (Level 10)(Max)

Bone-Soul Melding (Level 20)(Max)

Death Infusion (Level 10)(Max)

Bone Forging (Level 20)(Max)

Spirit Flesh Formation (Level 10)(Max)

Anathema Skills:

Abyss Tongue (Level 10)(Max)

Spell Concealment (Level 10)(Max)

Dimension Weaving (Level 10)(Max)

Arcanist Skills:

Expert Magick Scripting (Level 30)(Max)

Channelling (Level 10)(Max)

Pliance Control (Level 10)(Max)

Expanded Sigil Formation (Level 20)(Max)

Core Linking (Level 10)(Max)

Advanced Fine Motor Control (Level 20)(Max)

Expert Network Formation (Level 30)(Max)

Advanced Conduit Magick (Level 20)(Max)

Advanced Core Sense (Level 16)

Expert Power Control (Level 30)(Max)

Death Mage Skills:

Curse Weaving Level 7

General Spells:

Globe of Light (Level 5)(Max)

Sleep (Level 5)(Max)

Magick Bolt (Level 5)(Max)

Magick Eye (Level 5)(Max)

Necromancer Spells:

Raise Dead (Level 40)(Max)

Bone Animus (Level 40)(Max)

Commune with Spirits (Level 10)(Max)

Advanced Shivering Curse (Level 16)

Death Blades (Level 10)(Max)

Empowered Bone Armour (Level 18)

Minion Sight (Level 10)(Max)

Advanced Spirit Binding (Level 20)(Max)

Death’s Fist (Level 19)

Anoint Dead (Level 10)(Max)

Cursed Miasma (Level 18)

Greater Death Bolt (Level 18)

Summon the Ossuary (Level 10)(Max)

Bone Lance(Level 10)(Max)

Ossuary Vent (Level 10)(Max)

Blessing of Bone (Level 8)

Field of Death (Level 3)

Anathema Spells:

Pierce the Veil (Level 10)(Max)

Appeal to the Court (Level 5)

Dark Communion (Level 3)

Expert Suppress Mind (Level 23)

Repository (Level 10)(Max)

Fear (Level 5)

Glamour (Level 10)(Max)

Advanced Invasive Persuasion (Level 12)

Crone’s Shade (Level 8)

Bewitch (Level 10)(Max)

Blood Shield (Level 8)

Death Mage Spells:

Sap Life (Level 7)

Necromancer Feats:

Skeleton Focus III

Magick Battery II

Bone Mastery II

Spirit Mastery

Undead Specialist

Awaken the Altar

Anathema Feats:

Repository

Wall of Thought II

Drain Life

Stormwise

Bewitching Gaze

Arcanist Feats

Magick Thread Control II

Compact Sigils II

Conduit Seal II

Core Networking II

Death Mage Feats

Efficient Death II

Mysteries:

Spell Shaping (Advanced): INT +20 WIS +20

Words of Power (Profound): WIS +50 CHA +50

Essence of Death (Advanced): INT +20 WILL +20

Soul Magick (Advanced): WIS+20 CHA +20

Lord of the Ossuary has reached Level 60. Choose four additional Skills or Spells:

Skills:

Corpse Divining - Deepen your connection to the dead, allowing you to understand them more fully. Will replace Corpse Appraisal and raise its maximum level by 10.

Corpse Singing - Enhance your ability to empower remains, cleansing and purifying them. Will replace Corpse Preparation and raise its maximum level by 10.

Horde Conductor - Replaces Undead Control and raises the maximum level by 20.

Ascended Bone Forging - Transform mundane bone.

Bone-Soul Fusion - Replaces Bone-Soul Melding and raises its maximum level by 20.

Spirit Moulding - Take the spirits of the dead and make something from them.

Spells:

Skeletal Sacrifice - Detonate a skeleton to shower your foe in shards of bone.

Death Nexus - Create a lodestone that connects to all nearby undead, sharing its power with them.

Ossuary Made Manifest - Create a permanent anchor for the Ossuary in your realm.

Pillar of Shards - Raise a pillar of magickal bones that shatters into a hail of shards.

Flesh to Bone - Sacrifice your life force to repair bone in the heat of battle.

Spectral Bone Spear - Replaces Bone Lance and raises its maximum level by 20.

Arcane Marrow - Give rise to demi-lich servants.

Forbidden One has reached level 40. Choose four additional Skills or Spells:

Skills:

Corrupting Presence - Subvert the Will to resist from those around you.

Crone’s Gaze - Sense the inner motives of another when meeting their gaze.

Raven Speech - Communicate with the children of the Old Gods.

Perceive Magick - Open your senses to the flow of power.

Dimension Folding - Replaces Dimension Weave and raises its maximum level by 10.

Crone’s Tongue - Improve your capacity to speak the Words of Power.

Quicken the Blood - Move with the speed and grace of the undying.

Spells:

Advanced Bewitch - Replaces Bewitch and increases the maximum level by 10.

Flesh to Power - Sacrifice your own body, or the body of another, to generate magick.

Rot’s Endurance - Employ the unending hardiness of Rot, who feels no pain and suffers no injury to impede him.

Transform Blood - Take mortal blood and elevate it to a more powerful state.

Field of Corruption - Project an aura of corruption that will weaken the minds of those within range.

Murder of Crows - Summon a flock of spectral crows to harry your foes.

Touch of the Abyss - Syphon the Abyss into your hands.

Death Mage has reached level 20. Choose four additional Skills or Spells:

Skills:

Life Draw - Improve your ability to steal the vitality of the living.

Sense Living - Your senses are tuned to hunt the living.

Broadened Curses - Improve your ability to cast curses over a wide area.

Death Sigil Weaving - Strengthen your ability to manipulate the sigils of Death.

Undying Endurance - Sustain yourself with Magick, as your minions do.

Spells:

Wilting Curse - Weaken and enfeeble your foes.

Curse of Pain - Cause intense pain in an area to those who defy you.

Eyes of Death - See the flow of Death Magick with the naked eye.

Hand of Corruption - Cloak your hand in an aura of death that can harm those you touch.

Kill the Land - Corrupt an area with a font of Death Magick that will saturate the ground.

Spectre of Unlife - Mask your face with an unliving visage.

Afflict Spirit - Inflict suffering on the target’s soul.

Death Becomes Life - Maintain an aura that will replenish your strength as those around you die.

Black Skull - Launch a magickal skull that will detonate on landing.

Lord of the Ossuary has reached level 60. Choose two additional Feats:

Ossuary Extraction I - Increase the amount of Death Magick available to the Ossuary.

Ossuary Expansion I - Increase the size of the Ossuary.

Ossuary Infusion I - Increase the efficacy of the bone receptacles.

Class Focus I - Choose two Class Skills or Spells and raise their cap by 10.

Skeleton Focus IV - Improve the quality of Raised Skeletons.

Half-Dead - Allow your own bones to be infused with Death Magick.

Bone Sculptor - Improve your ability to mould and shape bone.

Bone Animator - Empower your constructs.

Forbidden One has reached level 40. Choose two additional Feats:

Dark Favour - Curry favour and strengthen your connection to the Dark Ones.

Abyssal Favour - Curry favour and strengthen your connection to the Abyss.

Scarlet Favour - Curry favour and strengthen your connection to the Scarlet Court.

Ruler in Shade - Your false faces are harder to break and see through.

Corroding Presence - Encourage Death Magick growth in all around you, even the living.

Black Soul - Tune your spirit to the void.

Dead Flesh - Adapt your body to contain death aligned energy.

Still Blood - Your blood will cease to flow, and change.

Death Mage has reached level 20. Choose two additional Feats:

Empowered Death I - Your mastery will strengthen your spells to greater heights.

Penetrating Death Bolt - Your Death Bolt will pierce.

Death Conversion - You will be faster when converting normal magick to Death Aligned magick.

Curse Tuner - You can apply curses to a wider area, or increase their effect.

Death Sense - Detect nearby sources of Death Magick.

Deaden Self - Your sense of pain will grow dull.

Eyes of the Grave - You will see as the spirits see.

Rot Claws - Your hands will generate Death Magick in your nails.

Fallen Shadow - You may store Death aligned energy in your shadow.

There was so much to choose from that Tyron felt almost dizzied by the range, or perhaps that was just the blood loss. With so many levels gained at once, he had a laundry list of selections to make for each of his Classes, including feats! With such a broad range in front of him, it was possible for Tyron to hunt for synergies that may have otherwise escaped him if he were to make his choices during separate rituals.

Cautiously, he examined and considered every choice the Unseen had placed before him, weighing them individually and then in concert with each other. Considering the battle he faced, some abilities would be more valuable to him in the short term than others, and so demanded greater consideration.

From Lord of the Ossuary, some selections stood head and shoulders above the others.

Arcane Marrow promised to unlock a new form of minion, one that he had no inkling of how to create on his own. Perhaps it would be possible to figure it out using the hint the ability’s name gave him, but that was a risk he felt unwilling to take. Would he be able to create a demi-lich in the short term? No, but if he succeeded in Kenmor, then this spoke of power he would need in the long-term.

Similarly, Ascended Bone Forging spoke of something he could use down the line. Right now, all of his skeletons, revenants and wights utilised weapons and armour forged from bone, and he had no idea how to make them something better. This ability could help push his minions to a greater height, and that was something Tyron could scarcely resist.

For the final two choices, he was somewhat torn. Horde Conductor was tempting, especially considering the size of the skeletal army he now commanded, but the wights alleviated a great portion of that problem. Was this something he needed?

Death Nexus held great promise, but was it something he could create himself by further developing the enchanting techniques and conduits he had already created?

Making the Ossuary manifest? It could be immensely powerful, or totally useless. As usual, the vague descriptions of the Unseen were working against him, since he had no one else's prior experience to draw from.

Bone Soul Fusion was another very viable option. This Skill was the foundation on which his revenants and wights were built. Improving the ability and raising the cap by twenty would enable him to greatly improve his strongest minions.

Spirit Moulding? Taking ghosts and using them to… make things? How was that possible? What could he make? Again, choosing this option felt like a gamble. It could pay off, but perhaps it would be awful. Certainly, it wasn’t something useful to him right now, like Spectral Bone Spear would be.

Ultimately, he selected Bone-Soul Fusion and Flesh to Bone. The first was a risk, but the latter he felt comfortable about. No matter how powerful he made his skeletons, it was inevitable that they would suffer damage or be destroyed during the course of a fight. Using this ability, he could repair them at the expense of his own life force, keeping his minions in the fight for longer.

It didn’t sound too pleasant for him personally, but there were ways he could fix that. In part.

The Forbidden One selections were… interesting. Some were immediately appealing, but again, the lack of description held him back. Tyron was immediately willing to pencil in Perceive Magick, given who he was and what he wanted. The ability promised to let him experience the flow of magick in an entirely more direct way. Being able to see magick was one thing, but this promised a new experience entirely. At the same time, he immediately discounted Crone’s Tongue. He didn’t need help with the Words of Power, and he almost found the suggestion he did insulting.

Flesh to Power was another ability he reluctantly decided to take. If he was going to continue to fight on larger and larger scales, then he needed more and more magick. Again, it didn’t sound like it would be a pleasant experience for him, but he didn’t need to feel good, he just needed to win.

The final two selections were much more difficult. He always felt as if the offerings from the patrons were designed for them more than they were for him. Transform Blood? Turn it into something more powerful? What did that even mean? How could he even use it? There was no doubt in his mind that this was a powerful ability in the hands of the Vampires, but to him it was next to worthless!

Unless, of course, he was willing to ask them to teach him how to use it.

After careful consideration, he selected Dimension Folding, since it would factor into plans he held for the future, and reluctantly, he selected Quicken the Blood. It could save his life before the day was done, perhaps helping him dodge an arrow, or get out of the way of a stray spell.

For Death Mage, Tyron had to think carefully.

Death Sigil Weaving was another almost insulting option and could be discarded.

Undying Endurance was of immediate interest to him. Costing Magick was a drawback, but if he could push his endurance even further, it may well be worth the cost. Life Draw was another option that was of interest to him. If he was going to take abilities that would allow him to spend his Life to gain other things, then getting more back seemed like it would be helpful.

Which played into his next selection; Death Becomes Life. Considering the fight he was going to have, it was inevitable that there would be a great deal of death. By healing himself from the death that surrounded him, he could turn that life into more magick, or healing for his minions. Broadened Curses was another ability that would serve him well in the fight to come. Larger battles, with more skeletons, over a wider area, would be well served by his curses affecting more space.

Satisfied with his choices, Tyron marked them with a print of his thumb, then turned his attention to the feats. This status ritual was far, far from complete.