Famor helped Dean to his feet. Together, they walked over to join Eowyn and the others.

“The elders have agreed to let you change your spawn point to the village,” She said, “Come, I will show you how to do so.”

“Of course, they did, Mother.” Famor said, “Like there was ever any doubt.”

She leveled a hard look at him, “While the council is known to usually agree to my decisions, they are not mine alone to make. This decision was not lightly made, nor is it of small consequence, as you seem to think.”

“I don’t understand, Mother.” Famor replied, “He may be a human, but you said he was speaking the truth. Why would the council refuse with a Shadow Wraith in the kingdom?”

“No, Famor, you do not understand.” Eowyn said, “But I think you will shortly. Come.”

She led the group through the double doors and into a spacious room similar to the Magistrate’s main room in Torial. It had a raised dais at the opposite end of the room, with enough chairs for the elders set at a chair. Rows of benches were carved, or more likely grown that way Dean thought, around the walls, allowing the village a place to sit during proceedings. Eowyn led them past the dais and through a small door set in the back, where a set of stairs leading up. Cracks in the bark provided enough light to see by, and Dean supposed, would also act as arrow slots if it ever came to a battle. She led them up the stairs.

Each full circle of the tree led to a landing with a hallway branching off. The first few floors looked like various offices and administrative rooms, but the higher they went, the few open doors revealed a lavish living room and kitchen. After spotting one of the elders entering one of the floors, Dean realized these were the living quarters of the council.

She stopped at one of the landings, pressed her hand on the door while saying something under her breath, and the door swung open. Inside, Dean found himself standing in a spacious, living room that he guessed belonged to Eowyn. There was just enough furniture to make it feel cozy, but still giving a feeling of a utilitarian design. There was a kitchen to the left, though Dean had no idea how they’d light a fire without burning down the tree, and a dining nook overlooking two large windows overlooking the forest canopy below. He spotted what looked like a fireplace and mantel, complete with four chairs set around it for intimate discussions, but inside the fireplace was a strange green vein, pulsing with a gentle green light and radiating warmth.

Eowyn crossed the room and started tilting books on a bookshelf against the opposite wall. The books were some kind of mechanism, since they didn’t fall off, and set in some kind of combination lock from the looks of it, Dean realized.

After moving at least a dozen books and objects, she pressed gently on the bookshelf and it swung open on hidden hinges. Behind it, was another set of stairs, these shrouded in complete darkness.

Eowyn turned to the group, “This is a secret only known to a few elders, and now you. You must swear to keep it secret, is that understood?” She glared at each of them in turn, not just Dean, until they had sworn an oath. When she spoke again, it was to all of them, but Dean had the feeling he was getting a tutorial on city building, “At the heart of every settlement is a Hearthstone, and only a Settlement Crystal will unlock it. From there, the founder can govern their city.”

She looked at straight at Dean and said, “It’s also where someone can take control of a city.”

Neva gasped, “And you’re taking him there? What if he tries to take over the city?”

Eowyn held up her hand to silence him, “It isn’t about trying to take over the city, Neva. It’s about a choice to do so. Had I told the council about this; they would never have allowed to access to the hearthstone.”

“Wait,” Amelia said, “You didn’t tell the council the truth?”

“I told them what they needed to know in order to make the decision.” Eowyn replied.

“And what if he decides to take over the city?” Neva complained.

“I don’t believe Dean will.” Eowyn said placidly.

“Nor I.” Famor agreed.

“I don’t get it,” Dean said, “Torial had an obelisk for a spawn point. If this stone thing is so important and dangerous, why not use something like that?”

Eowyn replied, “It’s possible to build one, and it is safer than letting strangers near the hearthstone. We’ve never had a need before today. I fear we may need to reconsider. Unfortunately, you do not have time to wait.” She handed each of them a small, glowing crystal about the size of a pebble and led them down the stairway.

They traveled back down, passing the main hall and into a hollowed room surrounded by the root system. The walls and floor were made of packed earth, and the room was empty except for a single pedestal in the middle.

“Has this been here the whole time?” Famor asked, “I’ve never seen this room before. I didn’t even know it existed.”

“That’s the point, Famor,” Eowyn explained dryly. It sounded weird for her to express her emotions while speaking. She continued, “The fewer that know this place exists, the safer the village is.”

“But why, Mother?” Amelia asked.

“As I said, this is the heart of the city. Watch.” Eowyn laid a hand on the pedestal as she looked back at them. A screen, visible to everyone in the group, appeared. Dean watched as Eowyn pressed each button on the pedestal. “This is the city interface, called the hearthstone. The first is the construction map, allowing a founder to select and view each building on the map. The second is a list of each building and assigning villagers to it. The third is a list of villagers and their top skills. The fourth is a list of current resources available in the village, and the fifth is any laws currently enacted. The final is a list of the cities powers and magic abilities.” She looked at Dean as she said, “You cannot hope to build your new cities defenses quickly enough to survive an attack, but I believe finding the right power or spell may be the key to your success. Do you understand?”

“I think so.” Dean said, “And how do I change my spawn point?”

“Lay your hand on the hearthstone.” She gestured at him to do so.

Dean approached the hearthstone. It looked a bit like the devices from Stargate, with one of the settlement crystals in the middle and a series of buttons surrounding it. At the base, was a smooth stone block that he laid his hand onto. A screen popped up. From the gasps of the others, he guessed they could see it too.

Me’lian’s Hearthstone

Warning, you are not the owner of this hearthstone, some options are not available:

Edit the City – Unavailable Activate a City Power – Unavailable Change your Spawn Point – Available Take control of this Hearthstone – Available

Dean glanced at Eowyn, finally realizing the risk she’d taken in allowing him to change his spawn point. The hearthstone was the literal heart of a city, the place where a player, or NPC for that matter, could gain control of it and rule. There was no way every single player in the game would agree to change their spawn point, and not use the opportunity to gain control of a city. It was already built, with resources and capable villagers. A player could easily become powerful with this kind of city under their control. Not only that, but it would immediately solve their problems with the orc invasion, allowing his friends a place to change their spawn points without having to race to build a new city from scratch. There was already one here. It would literally solve all their problems.

Yet, it would also mean betraying the village. As much as he wanted to, he just couldn’t do it. Instead, all he said was, “Thank you.”

She inclined her head slightly. Dean selected the option to change his spawn point.

Are you sure you want change your spawn point to Me’lian?

Yes/No

Dean selected yes. A series of lights circled him briefly, exactly like how he spawned just not as intense. They faded slowly, leaving him standing in front of the hearthstone. He removed his hand and stared down at it. After a moment, he looked up at Eowyn and asked, “So what’s this quest about?”

He heard the others sigh in relief as she smiled at him, “There’s a barrow at the edge of our forest, with a puzzle my people cannot solve. I was hoping you might be able to.”

A quest update popped up on his screen.

You’ve Accepted a Quest

Title: The Necromancers Plan, Pt. 1

Reward: None

Description: The villagers of Me’lian are troubled by a strange barrow near the edge of their forest. Defeat the Necromancer in order to remove this blight from the land.

Great, Dean thought, it’s a multi-part quest. Like he didn’t already have enough on his plate. He asked Eowyn, “Is finishing part one enough, or do I need to do all of it?”

She tilted her head slightly for a second before responding, “I do not know. If finishing the initial quest removes the trouble from my lands, then I will accept that as payment. If not, then I will require you to finish the quest after you’ve finished with the immediate threat to your friends. Agreed?”

Sighing, Dean said, “Agreed.” Not like he had an option. He’d already set his spawn point to the elf village, and they could just as easily trap him here, if they wanted, as the orcs could’ve trapped him at his original spawn point. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, he thought.

“I will join you, Dean, to clear the barrow. If you’d accept my help?” Famor said.

“And mine.” Amelia said quickly.

“Definitely.” Dean replied just as quickly.

“Then, I’m going to.” Neva demanded.

Dean stared at him for a second, trying to figure out whether he could refuse without worsening his relationship with the others. Not that he didn’t want help, he was just worried that Neva might decide to accidently stab him in the back. Or the front for that matter.