John arrived back at the farm to find it much as he’d left it. He made his way over to the wall around the sapling and peeked inside. The sprout looked fine, it didn’t seem to have grown at all, which he felt was a good thing. But also, maybe a bad thing. He was hoping to get some kind of Portal Tree, which (hopefully) would fulfill the requirements of his quest, ‘Build It and They Will Come’. If the quest hadn’t finished, then either the tree would need to be fully grown, or its course wasn’t yet set.

If the tree had to be fully formed before the quest could be completed, then it wasn’t happening. He didn’t know how long a tree took to fully grow in this world, but it was almost certainly more than a month, probably a lot longer if he wanted it to be of high quality. He could try using Hasten Growth on it, but those new instincts warned him away from using the spell on it. Still, there were other things he could do to help. The first thing was the Ritual of the Green Grove.

Taking out the ritual primer he quickly found the correct page. The Ritual of the Green Grove was actually a bit different from the other rituals, it wasn’t meant to be inscribed on a flat surface, but on an encircling wall or set of stones. In addition, this ritual was supposed to last for weeks, not days or hours, which meant it also had a much higher initial mana cost. He could use the wall he’d already built, but he decided that instead he wanted to take advantage of Megalith Mastery and build a large set of standing stones.

Walking to the edge of the circle he’d cleared in the grass he considered if he needed to enlarge the clearing first. It already had a 40-foot radius, but maybe he should increase that? He was going to dig down a little, probably around three feet, and he didn’t want to impinge on any roots that may one day fill the area. Nodding to himself, he began to clear grass.

For the rest of the day John cleared away grass, and was well into the next day before he finished. The sapling, which he had paused to water earlier, now sat in a clearing with a diameter of roughly 160 feet. Feeling like that was sufficient space, John began.

This time John intended to create a true megalithic structure, specifically a Henge. He began by creating a ditch approximately 13 feet wide at the top, and three feet wide at the bottom with the walls sloping down at approximately a 30-degree angle, to form a height difference of about 3 feet from top to bottom. The dirt he removed got piled on the outside edge of the ditch and compressed down to create an earthen berm, further increasing the height of the outer edge. John was awed by the speed with which he was able to complete the ditch. The effects of Increased Size on his spells cut the mana and time costs drastically, and he was able to complete the ditch in only six minutes.

Stepping back he examined the circle, it wasn’t perfect, his Measuring wasn’t a high enough level for that, but that just gave it a certain level of realism, given that most real life megalithic structures weren’t perfect either. He paused, deciding where to place the entrance to the circle, and finally he decided due west, toward the town. With that decision made he parted the berm so that there was a hole 18 feet in width, and then created two heavy stone blocks on the bottom of the ditch, and an even larger, heavier stone slab to go atop them, forming a bridge.

Ditch done, entrance sorted, bridge placed. It was time to move on to the main event, the standing stones. For this John had decided to create a large ring of standing stones that were capped with large stones of their own to complete a ring around the entire site. Each standing stone would be around 6 feet wide and six feet thick, reaching up to 12 feet in height. They would be spaced out six feet apart for a total of 36 standing stones. Atop them would perch another set of stones, of approximately the same dimensions though placed on their sides so that they would span the gaps between the pillars. This made 35 covered gaps of 6 feet between each of the pillars, with a single, wider gap of 18 feet where the bridge connected to the inside of the circle.

Seeing it all in his mind’s eye, John raised his hands to begin working, but he paused, thinking. He had been going to make it all of granite, that was what the spell naturally made, but he wanted something different, something to signify the importance of the site. Running his fingers through his beard he brought up the web interface and began examining the different types or rock that might be available.

The more he read about plains regions, the more he realized that Granite probably shouldn’t be the rock that was most prevalent. Certainly at the very bottom, deep in the crust, there was granite. But according to everything he read, limestone, sandstone, and dolomite should be the prevalent stones of the area. The only thing he could think was that because he’d believed granite would be what he got, the spell created that for him. If that was the case, then he should be able to mimic any type of stone that could be found in the area, which might mean some specialty stones could be available.

After about an hour of going down several internet rabbit holes, John felt ready to give it a try. He raised his hands and concentrated, holding the vision of what he wanted in his mind. Pushing mana into the Create Earth spell he felt it twist and writhe like a live wire. He clamped his will down upon it and reduced the speed at which he tried to expend it. The result between the slower speed and his extreme focus was a slowly growing sphere of marble in his hand.

The marble was jet black with swirling bands of multiple colors and little pinpricks of white, making it look like stars and nebulas dotting the night sky. John cut off the flow of mana and took a deep breath. It had been arduous, mostly because he had to build the stone piece by piece, as natural marble would never form this way. Still, he understood now, intent mattered. More than that, he could feel that control over mana would be key to turning that intent into reality. Turning the sphere over in his hands he Inspected it.

[Name: Nebula Marble]

[Quality: Poor]

[Description: Found absolutely nowhere in nature this marble has to be created by use of the Create Earth spell in an area where sedimentary rocks and trace elements are normally found. This particular chunk of marble is a crude representation of the beauty higher quality marble can evoke.]

John was surprised the marble had a grade, when he glanced at the nearby granite wall it simply said the quality was not available. Maybe it was because the marble was a luxury good? He wasn’t sure. What he was sure of was that he could build megaliths out of the stuff, if he had the patience and control to sit here and create stone at one twentieth his maximum speed. He paused and did some math. Each of the standing stones had a volume of about 430 cubic feet. He was creating 34 standing stones, and 33 capstones. That was around 28,900 cubic feet all together. At one tenth his speed he could create around one cubic foot of rock per second at the cost of 4 earth mana. So just making the stones themselves would take around 8 hours and, if it was anything like making mana stones, he’d have a splitting headache at the end of it.

The actual rate of creation however would be much longer, because he only had 880 mana in his pool and regenerated at a rate of 44 mana per minute, meaning he could only cast for about four and a half minutes before he was completely out of mana, then he would have to spend five minutes using Mana Drawing to refill. Meaning he would take twice as long to make all the stone. He could, of course, use earth mana stones to supplement, but was it worth saving 8 hours? Especially since it would mean he wasn’t training his stats and skills if he did it that way. Was it worth the migraine he would no doubt develop not to? John decided he must be a masochist, because he’d settled on making the megalith the hard way. Sitting down, he began to do just that.

***

It had been four hours since John began creating stone, and he already had a pounding headache. Making the marble, it turned out, cost even more concentration than making the mana stones. He was barely a fourth of the way through his self-imposed torture and already his eyes were crossing and his vision was going fuzzy. He was currently using Mana Drawing to regain his spent mana, and was just about to continue his new masochistic pastime when a voice rang out.

“HELLO! JOHN! WE’RE HERE WITH GOOP!” Sally’s voice echoed across the plains.

John winced as the sound pounded its way into his brain.

“Maybe he’s over there, near those big black stones?” he heard Ex’s voice say faintly.

A few moments later the rustling of grass heralded the arrival of the two.

“Oh wow! That’s black marble! It looks so pretty!” Sally said as she bounced across the bridge an up to the first of the standing stones. “It’s like looking at a starry sky!”

John groaned and held a finger to his lips. “Shhhhhh quieter please.”

“What’s wrong?” Sally asked, dropping her voice to a loud whisper.

“He looks hungover,” said Ex, not bothering to lower his voice.

“No, just overtaxed. I figured out how to make specialty stones, but it requires a lot of concentration. I may have overdone it, and I’ve got a terrible migraine,” John said quietly.

“Oh,” Ex whispered back, looking slightly abashed.

“Wow, it takes that much out of you and it’s only poor quality? What’s your level of Mana Manipulation?” Sally wondered quietly.

“Apprentice, but I’m pretty sure this is proving to be an amazing workout for it,” John muttered, rubbing his temples.

“Well, we’ve got your jugs of goo,” Ex said, his voice also at a loud whisper as he appeared urn after urn and lined them up in front of John until all twenty were present and accounted for.

“We didn’t pick up any bodies, because you didn’t ask for them, hope that’s okay,” Sally said.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” John said with a nod, even as he made 10 coppers appear in his hand. He passed them over to Ex who took them happily.

“Should we just leave you here?” Sally inquired, looking around as if a threat might jump out of the tall grass.

“Yeah, nothing out here seems dangerous, except the bunnies and they’ve been dealt with,” John informed her. “Besides, I’m logging out for lunch in a few minutes anyway.”

“Alright, don’t work too hard! You should probably take a break from this for the rest of the day if it’s so taxing,” Sally said.

“I just might,” John muttered as he picked up the urns and disappeared them into his own inventory.

“Bye!” Sally whispered.

“Later,” whispered Ex.

John just waved as the both turned and left. Then, true to his word, he logged off.

***

John spent the rest of the day torturing himself, as well as five hours the next day. By the time he was done he never wanted to make marble again. However, even in his pain addled state, he admitted that the marble megaliths looked good. In addition, both intelligence and wisdom had increased once more, to a total of 45 each.

With a groan of relief, John sprawled on the ground. It was time, he decided, to take a break. Maybe he could watch a movie, or actually play a game. He’d been running full tilt for almost a month now, with only that single day of relaxation to break up the monotony. As he stared up at the sky he noticed the grey clouds rolling in. A few minutes later a light drizzle started up. Normally he’ be annoyed, but the cool water actually felt good right now.

For a while he just lay on the ground, letting the rain soak him and the mud seep into his back. The migraine slowly eased and eventually it dissipated all together. He sat up then and looked around at what he’d made. The rain ruined the tableau a little, but the megalith certainly was striking. The black circle of standing stones with little white pinpricks and swirling nebulas of color. It seemed something worthy of a temple, not a farm.

[Deific Quest: Shrine of Stars]

[Description: You have designed a megalith which is pleasing to Thuana, Goddess of Chaos and Void. In addition, you have created a plant which aligns nicely with one of her domains. In exchange for designating the site as a Shrine to her and her interests, she is willing to bestow upon you an item which aligns with your desires. You have ten minutes to decide.]

[Reward: One item that will align with your desires.]

[Failure: The Displeasure of a goddess. Choose wisely.]

John groaned. This was the kind of thing he needed to ask someone about. But, with only ten minutes, it was impossible to reach the only source of knowledge that might be able to help him. That, he realized in a flash of inspiration, was the point. He was too far away from anyone with the knowledge to help him, from that he could infer that maybe this offer wasn’t on the up and up. Something about this stank.

[Deific Quest: Shrine of Cultivation]

[Description: The combination of primal architecture with refined building materials and the inclusion of a magical plant are pleasing unto Ira, Goddess of Civilization and Cultivation. In exchange for designating this site as a Shrine to her and her interest, she is willing to bestow upon you an item which aligns with you and your desires. You have ten minutes to decide.]

[Reward: One item that will align with your desires.]

[Failure: The Displeasure of a goddess. Choose Wisely.]

“Oh now we’re just getting ridiculous,” John muttered as he looked between the two notifications. Apparently two different deities wanted his site as a shrine and neither of them wanted to take no for an answer. He could just decline both quests, but that’d make an enemy of both of them, and they both seemed to control domains that aligned with his interests. If both of them aligned against him, he’d be in for a world of trouble.

“How do I designate a site as a shrine?” He asked the air about him.

[Answer: Offer it to the god or gods in question and make an appropriate sacrifice.]

God or gods? He could work with that. He needed a sacrifice though, what did he have? He quickly checked his inventory. Nothing in there that would work. He could promise a sacrifice of time, but he wasn’t sure he’d like what the Goddess of chaos tasked him with. That didn’t leave much. He didn’t really have anything else. Blood wasn’t an appropriate sacrifice, the bunny corpses he’d buried under the berm were no good. What else did he have? Maybe he could sacrifice a skill or a spell but what would apply to multiple gods? He briefly pulled up his character sheet and looked at it.

[Name: John]

[Race: Basajaun]

[Level: 6]

[Mana: 450]

[MRegen: 22.5/minute]

[Leveling Points: 1,500]

[Attributes]

Strength: 37 Constitution: 37 Dexterity 10 Intelligence: 45 Wisdom: 45

[Skills]

Alchemy – Novice Enchanting – Novice Engineering – Novice Farming – Apprentice Inspect – Novice Light Armor – Novice Mana Drawing – Journeyman Mana Imprinting – Journeyman Mana Manipulation – Apprentice Mana Sight – Journeyman Mathematics – Novice Measuring – Apprentice Meditation – Apprentice Ritual Magic – Novice Swordplay – Novice

[Spells]

Create Earth – Apprentice Create Water – Novice Create Mana Stone – Apprentice Control Flame – Novice Control Water – Apprentice Evoke Flame – Novice Hasten Decay – Apprentice Hasten Growth – Novice Move Earth – Journeyman

[Racial Perks]

Disaster Prognosticator Megalith Mastery Plant Tender

[Feats]

Domain I Green Thumb I Magriculture Mana Stone Maker

No dice, there were no skills or spells that would work. He paused, about to close the screen when something else caught his eyes. That… might work. He closed his status screen and strode back into the circle. Stopping just before the inner wall, he turned to look at the entrance. He was probably about to royally piss off two goddesses, but to hell with it, they put him in this position so they could deal. How to do this though? He glanced at the timer in the corner of his screen, it had appeared when the countdown hit five minutes. There was only one more to go. He took a deep breath, and just went for it.

“I dedicate this site to Thuana, Goddess of Chaos and Void, for the gift of Space which it bears. I dedicate this site to Ira, Goddess of Civilization and Cultivation, for her knowledges, upon which it was founded. I dedicate this site to Ledos, God of Knowledge and Magic, for it was his power which made all of this possible. I offer as sacrifice my essence, 500 leveling points, to each of the gods so named!” He decreed to the overcast sky.

For a moment nothing happened, then the world seemed to shiver. The clouds above became dark and turbulent, the ground beneath his feet trembled, and the very air became thick in his lungs. The stones about him groaned as if in agony, and two distinct yet oppressive weights bore down on him. He fell to his knees, no longer able to stand. He writhed for a moment, unable to breath, certain that he was going to die his first death. Then, something curious happened. He felt a pulse of warmth and power from his chest. No, not his chest, his core.

A flooding torrent of power ripped out of his core and rushed to every corner of his body. The weights upon him didn’t lessen, but suddenly he felt able to bear the burden. Slowly he got one foot under him, then the other and pushed into a standing position. He took a breath, his lungs filling with air. It appeared he’d chosen right; he had an ally in this fight.

[Deific Quest: What’s In a Name]

[Description: You’ve taken the machinations of two goddesses and twisted them back on each other, forcing them to give up their claims or coexist. They really don’t like that. Fortunately, you were smart enough to invoke a third deity who’s both appalled at your gall and pleased with your solution. Thus he gives you a chance. Name the shrine with something fitting before your mana runs out, and he will force the two to abide by their promises and share the shrine.]

[Reward: A shrine to Thuana, Ira, and Ledos.]

[Failure: Destruction of your physical form and all your works.]

John’s eyes widened in alarm and he flicked open his sheet to look at his mana. It was ticking down quickly, he had a minute, maybe two at best. He needed a name! Something that combined three of the concepts the deities represented maybe? What were they? Chaos and Void, Civilization and Cultivation, Magic and Knowledge.

Combinations ran through John’s mind as he watched the numbers tick ever downward, he was running out of time! Alright, take a breath, take it one at a time. Civilization and Cultivation. Civilization, Tomb, Cathedral, Vault. No no no! Cultivation then, Plant, Garden, Grove.. Grove! Void and Chaos. Void, space? Space, wormholes, gateways.. Wait, Gates, like to cities, a sign of civilization and gates like a magical portal. Gateway of… the void? No, Space? No, what exists in space? Oh wow that bar is getting low. Planets.. Worlds!

“GATEWAY OF WORLDS!” he shouted, just before the last point of mana expended itself.

The weight bearing down on him disappeared at the same moment the mana propping him up was extinguished. He stumbled but managed to retain his footing. The sky above slowly cleared, even the natural clouds seemed to dissipate. Sunlight streamed down and John took a deep, cleansing breath. Then the popups hit.

[Quest “Shrine of Stars” complete]

[Reward: Gateway Serum]

[Quest “Shrine of Cultivation” complete]

[Reward: Blueprint (Ritual of the Space Grove)]

[Quest “What’s in a Name?” complete]

[Reward: A shrine to Thuana, Ira, and Ledos.]

[Deific Quest: All Roads Lead Somewhere]

[Description: The three gods who share your shrine are displeased that it’s not easy to visit. Build a road to the settlement nearest the shrine, you have one month.]

[Reward: Variable]

[Failure: Destruction of The Gateway of Worlds]

John sighed. What was with these people? First they fight over a crappy shrine in the middle of nowhere, now they wanted him to build roads? And they weren’t even going to tell him what the rewards were. He shook his head and looked around; he then Inspected the shrine.

[Name: Gateway of Worlds]

[Quality: Good]

[Description: Made of Nebula Marble this megalithic structure is a wonderful play on the classic Henge. Though its stones were formed in place and not carried from the far reaches of the continent, there was still a fair amount of effort put into its construction. At the center of the Henge is a magic tree that, with time, may just become one of the wonders of the world. This site is also a shrine dedicated to Thuana, Ira, and Ledos, ware to any who might do it harm, their wrath will be swift and just.]

[Shrine Benefits:]

Functions as a Portal Anchor

The next thing he did was pull out the Gateway Serum. It was a small crystal decanter filled with a dark black liquid and just returned question marks when he tried to inspect it. The name, however, gave him a good guess as to what it did. He checked his inventory and, finding nothing else new, then pulled open the blueprint module. The was a new tab at the top labeled ‘Rituals’. Opening it he found a single entry, the Ritual of the Space Grove.

He opened the ritual and was immediately presented with a 3D rendering of the Gateway of Worlds. It was perfect down to every detail, except that in this model the standing stones were all covered in geometric glyphs, lines, and designs. Clearly this was meant to be applied to the Gateway of Worlds, and given the name it would likely have a similar effect to the Ritual of the Green Grove.

John closed the blueprint module. He wasn’t going to do anything until he had a talk with Grandma Loren. He had no idea what was going on, what just happened, or why. Hopefully she’d be able to offer some insights and help him decide what to do. That decided, he logged out for lunch.