Deacon just stood there staring at all the portals. Each one filled with nightmares. The possessed body of Victor crumbling to ash at his side and the only thing that snapped him out of it was the clattering of the sacrificial dagger hitting the ground. Bael sauntered over to Deacon with a concerned look on her face. She quickly shoved her hand into his bag retrieving one of the chairs he took from the manor house. Bael placed the chair gently behind Deacon and urged him to sit.

“You have a lot to learn. Firstly, you should put that point you are sitting on into Intelligence. I’m about to give you a crash course in arcane theory.”

Deacon did just that. He opened his slate and dedicated his point from his level up to Intelligence. Going from base ten to eleven.

Attribute

Score

Intelligence

11

Strength

36

Speed

36

Agility

15

Wisdom

13

Luck

300

“What you are looking at is one of the very few places in this world that all ten hells connect on a cosmic scale. Here and now, I can manifest on the mortal plane because these portals grant enough Deific energy. Oh, that’s right you still don’t know this worlds arcane power structure. Deific is an umbrella term for Holy, Infernal, Unholy, and Empyrean. You should be familiar with Holy. Infernal is the arcane power source most often related to the demon realm or Infernal Plane. It works just as well for all ten. Unholy is more specific. It refers to the energies left over by old gods or deposed pantheons focused on destruction. Empyrean is the power of the heavens.”

“Wait, so what is regular Holy?” Deacon asked.

“I thought you would have figured that out by now. It’s the energy of faith. The power passed down from a deity to its followers.” Bael said.

“So why can that hurt me but not magic?” He asked.

“Because magic is the base energy of the world. Its specifically element based, water, fire, earth, etc. You have Null Magic as one of your pulls, correct? That’s what keeps you safe from base magic.” She replied.

“How many arcane powers are there?” Deacon queried.

“Well, this isn’t well known but not so secret I can’t tell you. There are five that are tiered in order of strength. Magic, Psychic, Deific, Planer, and finally Cosmos. Very little is known about that last one. Now that our little lesson is over, I have a gift to give you and your friends before you choose. Please note that you can choose either way, the deal I made with the coven only guarantees I complete it.” Bael said as she wound around the chair.

Bael lightly touched Deacon's right shoulder with her right palm. She began to press harder and harder until an imprint of her hand was etched into his shoulder through the shirt with a burning sensation. Deacon noticed her speaking words he could not hear and then he received a notification.

You have been blessed by Bael, God of Change & Death. Bael’s blessing imparts the following effects: +2 to Wisdom, Sense Undead, and Death Tax. Sense Undead is a passive ability from Bael’s blessing and it works in a twenty-foot radius. Death Tax takes one out of every ten souls from vanquished enemies as a tithe to Bael.

“Ok that should just about do it. You should probably answer the ritual now before all this collapses and you have a demon and dark one invasion on your hands. I’ve been keeping this side of the portals closed.” Bael said with a wink.

“I choose to raise the ancient city of Gossamer!” Deacon yelled surprising even himself.

Hidden Quest Complete- Finishing the Coven's ritual. You have chosen to raise the city of Gossamer back from ruin. Gossamer is now New Mulvaria. The Mulvarian race has undergone racial evolution. They have grown a foot taller on average. Their snouts are now less pronounced, and their eyes have adapted to see well in sunlight. The old city has been restored with Mulvarian architecture. The major trades from New Mulvaria are gems and custom masonry.

Quest Complete- Defense of Mulvaria 2. You managed to save Mulvaria from a grim fate of wave after wave of demons from the ten hells. You and your party are now Honorary citizens of Mulvaria.

At the same time Deacon was checking his messages the cavern ceiling above old Gossamer broke apart as the whole city started to lift into the sky. A mountain was growing around the city and old Mulvaria. At the summit was New Mulvaria with buildings being repaired all around and streets rolling out like carpets of stone in all directions. Old Mulvaria was inverted and spread all around the base of the mountain with several cave sections dotted all around teaming with mushrooms. A mine complete with equipment yawned open about halfway up the mountain. Where the ziggurat once stood was a remodeled meeting chamber complete with veins of precious stones.

Armand raced up Deacon who he found alone sitting on a chair outside the main chamber. He drew himself up short as did Typhus and Elle. Deacon's hair had gone completely white. He looked like a man-sized dandelion. Elle went over to check if he was ok, and Typhus was stunned looking all around.

“You did a good thing Deacon.” Elle whispered to him.

“I don’t want to do this anymore.” Was the only reply she got.

“Did you all get a blessing from Bael, of all Gods?” Typhus asked.

“Yes, I did. Also, I think we are citizens of New Mulvaria now. At least that’s what the quest complete message said.” Armand responded.

“Armand, I think we have problem. He isn’t responding to me.” Elle said.

“Let me try, you’re too damn soft on him.” Typhus said as he slapped Deacon in the face.

Deacon jumped to his feet in a fit of confusion and disbelief. He looked around wide eyed then finally his gaze landed on Typhus who was grinning ear to ear. Deacon was about to yell at him when they all got a new notification from their slates.

Kingdom Notice- The ancient city of Gossamer has been reclaimed as New Mulvaria. Diplomatic envoys have been sent from surrounding nations to meet with their new neighbors. Trade terms and taxation will be settled according to Griffin Kingdom law. Mulvarian citizens will now speak the common tongue as part of this transition. New units will now be available in the kingdom's military: Mulvarian Sappers.

“We just added a new race to the Griffin Kingdom.” Armand exclaimed.

“What does that mean?” Deacon asked.

“Well in times of conquest it meant contribution points to the crown. Right, you just got here, that was a measurement for rank in nobility. Not sure what it means in peace time. I’ll have to ask my father.” Armand replied.

“I’d like to get out of here. I’m not feeling so great and my right shoulder hurts.” Deacon said.

“I’ve got some bad news for ya kid. Looks like something spooked you good, your hairs gone all white.” Typhus said.

“Yes, maybe we should get him someplace to rest. Maybe then he can explain these marks we all have. Michael and that other bandit still need to be dealt with and I’m starving.” Elle replied.