《The Forgotten Lands》Chapter 19: Shroom Gardening
Advertisement
Moving down to the underground floors made us realise how clustered together we would be moving as a group of 40.
For this reason we split into two groups to clear different sections of the hideout, splitting again when clearing out smaller areas and rooms.
Our group consisted of our group and the first Black Hound squadron that hadn’t lost any members. Since we both had 10 members each, this set up is ideal. Therefore, the second group is formed from one Black Hound squadron and two army squadrons, again making 20 members due to the losses they suffered to get here.
Our two groups split off and move in two directions, leaving the occasional marking on a wall to indicate to the other group that we’d gone through here, hopefully stopping us from moving through areas already cleared by the previous group.
When the hallway separated into smaller, abandoned rooms all clustered together, we separated into fives to search each of the rooms quicker. With all four groups still being close enough to respond to anything that may occur.
Though that it is strange that we haven’t seen any of these witches, it’s likely they’re all together summoning more gnolls and dire wolves. According to the information I was provided with, more witches working in unison during a summoning in turn increases the amount of thing that can be summoned during each ritual, as well as the total number of summons you can retain control of.
Therefore each witch we kill, the less summoned monsters that can be controlled by them, causing more and more of the monsters to overcome their mental shackles as we kill those who summoned them. Hopefully, these monsters will break and flee once they are separated from their controllers, resulting in our victory with far less losses than fighting head on.
Advertisement
Though it would be possible to win the battle with brute strength, the losses would be devastating and would significantly reduce the strength of the Taldarian army and could put the kingdom’s border at risk.
This is the reason no full-scale wars have been fought between kingdoms in hundreds of years, as any weakening on the borders to the Forgotten Lands could make you incapable to respond to a large threat that could cause cataclysmic damage to the kingdom.
My group of five consisted of me, Torben, Grigori, Finnian and Petri.
The first few rooms were completely empty, normally having non of the usual torches inside, requiring me to carry one in order to see anything inside the rooms.
The sixth room was different.
Though it was structurally identical to the previous rooms and likely served the same purpose before the people here died and the room was gutted of everything.
Moving into the room, what was immediately notice is the huge amount of fungi covering the floor in a wide variety of colour, size and shapes.
All of these were mushrooms and there must be near to 50 types of them in growing in the room, with each type of mushroom growing in its own section of the room. Almost as if they were separated and organised into small plots.
The entire stone flooring for this room was torn up, revealing dirt that really shouldn't be here underground in a ruin.
So, these must be components for some of their magic or rituals. Unless someone here just happens to have a passion for mushroom gardening.
It would be possible that these could be used for food, but I distinctly recognise some of them as being extremely poisonous.
Worse than this however, is that some of these only grow in the Forgotten Lands, with one of these in the far corner being the mind-jacker mushroom. Not the official name, but those in the barrens didn’t know what it was when in was found we had to call it something.
Advertisement
The only time I came across this was an area close to the Forgotten Lands, where one of my raiders got close to it and was sprayed in the face with pores.
He then attacked and killed one of his friends before I put him down.
So with that in mind, I think I’ll stay away from this room, no matter how temping it is to gather everything that might be useful.
Which brings me to another problem.
Even though there will be magical items, books and who knows what else. I won’t be able to take any of it, since me having it on me would be enough to warrant execution.
This risk is even higher due to the Malleus Maleficarum sniffing around recently, who have a bad reputation of tearing apart homes and businesses looking for suspected magical counterfeit items. So I expect everyone here will be searched and possibly questioned. Having their quarters turned upside down if they are determined suspicious.
For this reason, I have already hidden everything that could even hint at magic.
Though I intend to absorb any information I can, provided it can be done quickly.
Otherwise it might be suspicious to suddenly stop what I’m doing and read a book for a few hours.
So, basically this whole wing of rooms in the South-East wing of the ruins is abandoned, with all of the rooms being stripped of everything.
However, every so often a piece of scrap metal is found, similar to that of the previous ruin, though no large storage rooms or workrooms are around.
It might be safe to assume that another section of the ruin would contain these, perhaps where the other group in searching.
In addition to these pieces of scrap metal, another of those giant metal doors with the ridiculously large keyholes was found lying on the ground, torn of its hinges and the tunnel behind it collapsed. Maybe this door, like the last we found, would lead to a giant city filled to the brim with lost knowledge.
I’m having a little trouble not salivating just at the thought.
Also, within the ruins are engraved stone signs on the walls, which indicate directions.
Firstly, the ruins appear to be separated into five sections, the four corners and another section further north referred to as the ‘Golem workshop’.
The wing I’m in appears to be the ‘workers dormitory’ and the North-East wing our group will have to clear is the ‘Recreational area’, whilst the other group has sections designated ‘storage and construction’, ‘Transporting and packaging’ and ‘golem sub-modules’.
Judging from this, it is likely that the witches would be hold up closer to the golem workshop, since that will likely have larger open rooms. Assuming that summoning requires a decent amount of space, especially if 10-50 of them are being summoned at once.
As we move into the new wing, the room sizes and layout immediately changes, and the rooms are less empty.
Wait! Is that a………
Advertisement
- In Serial28 Chapters
Fantasy Royale
Gregory Asbjørnsen is an avid player of a dying game. As his life went downhill, he shut himself away from everything. When the one game he could truly call home is being shut down, he finds himself at a loss. What will he do about his life? When his bullies finally push him over the edge, he lashes out. Losing his job and whatever is left of his sanity, Gregory is consumed by his lust for vengeance. Driven by rage, he gambles everything he owns to get revenge. Will he succumb to his own fury, or will he find peace in the virtual reality he has once called home? Five hundred and forty players enter. Only one can win.
8 100 - In Serial55 Chapters
Dangerous Love
|Book 1 in Dangerous Mafia Series| Please read this first|A girl who has secrets and thoughts darker than most. A boy who will be the leader of the most powerful Mafia in the world. A past of heartbreak and pain. Brooklyn Lilac Russo grew up learning how two kill a man in hundreds of ways. She never feared death she embraced it. She knows more languages than you can count on your hands. Killing people has never been a problem. But falling in love? That is something she tried but did not work out. Now, will she be able to find love with a man who rivals herself in death and destruction?Mason Enzo Morelli grew up knowing what his role is in the world. Be the greatest Mafia empire known in every town and city. He built his own gang at 14 and at 21 he has to prepare to take over his family's empire built on fear and death. But a young woman who is blessed with the beauty of the gods but rivals the devil comes into his life and messes up his plans. Can they fall for each other while Brooke's past catches up to her? or will the past take the one thing, Mason loves more than life itself?
8 207 - In Serial262 Chapters
Tales of Disruption
Tales involving AI, teleportation, nanotech, robots, drones, time travel, simulations, and much more.
8 119 - In Serial17 Chapters
Mackie Jade and the Dragon Duchess
Mackenzie Buckley, the renowned warrior-witch known for her legendary skill with a moonlit blade… with a fondness for flicking yogurt spoons and the color orange. Of course, it didn’t start that way. Mackenzie, or Mackie Jade, was merely a teenager heading to a boarding school after a long summer of doing nothing. Unfortunately, she multidimensional-traveled on her train ride. How unlucky! Now, she’s attending Glowing Dragon Academy and has to deal with a flurry of combat sessions, ominous prophecies, fire/frost-breathing dragons, evil organizations, magic classes, and a partridge in the pear tree! With her newfound friends, Amber, and Max, they discover plot after plot of nefarious plans. Betrayal, protection, corruption, peace, revenge, family… Everyone fought for their own reason. The war they fought had no line between good and evil, only between living and dead. Sometimes, it wasn’t worth it. Oh well, who knows where this will go? Adventure is waiting.
8 225 - In Serial29 Chapters
The Man Kicked By the God
After Micha, our unusual MC, died everything went weird. He was the only person who perfectly stayed in the middle of being sinner or saint. Even to point cannot be judged by angels or devils. Thus the God interfered, by kicking him to new universe. There begins his second strugle in new universe, God's Playground.
8 133 - In Serial17 Chapters
Katastrophe Jackson and The World's End
My name is Katastrophe Jackson. I am the younger sister of Percy Jackson, the multiple times over hero and Savior of Olympus. But this isn't my older brother's story. This is my life. My story. My quest.
8 123