When I left the house, I was back in full gear. I’d gone through what we’d taken from the dungeon yesterday and decided what I would sell and what I wanted to keep. We’d each picked up at least two magic items, and we’d already passed out potions to everyone. The rest would go in the bank. We also had had just over 40 Silver Moons each. That was enough to buy something…but I wasn’t sure what.
However much I got for what we sold would go to the guild. I didn’t know what we’ll do with it yet. There must be things you can do with guild money besides just buying things. Maybe have a party in the TAVERN the guild pays for? Or, maybe not. I didn’t know.
I also had a couple extra copper Shields that came from being Guild Master. The one percent share wasn’t much, but it still made me a few coppers richer overall than what I’d directly earned.
The first thing I did when I got to the STORE was to sell off about half of the common things that were still dropping in the daily spawns. Then I deposited most of the rest into the Guild Bank. I wanted to leave a few things available in case we needed a quick handoff to someone. Blaze had been doing that for her new agents for a few days now.
All the time I was in the STORE, the dungeon avatar was silent and never appeared. I wondered if it was being suppressed here, busy doing something else, or just observing. Lots of guesses…but no answers. Avoiding Albert, I browsed through the armor and equipment. I liked how Blaze could be ready to fight in seconds wearing the robes. I hoped I could do the same.
Swords came in many versions, including rapiers. Finding a second cup-hilt rapier in the style I liked wasn’t hard, and it was only five Silver Moons. It was enchantable. Very tempting. I chose to wait…at least for now.
I spent some time looking at clothing and armor too, but didn’t buy anything. Compared to what I had when the STORE first opened, I was rich. Heading out, I realized I’d procrastinated enough. It was time to see if my idea worked.
That’s when I entered the domain of Albert Holmes. It looked exactly the same as the last time I was there. Even the level of whatever was in the glass he sipped from hadn’t changed. Stepping inside, I shocked him. I think he could sense the fragment of the dungeon. He almost stood up.
“Mr. Holmes, I’ve come to get the answer to my question. I’m certain you remember it.”
He made me wait as he settled back into his chair, and took a sip from his glass. “Give me the soul of the dungeon and I will answer your question,” he said, staring at me…or more likely, at my hand.
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“That was not the price you quoted me, sir,” I replied, smiling slightly. “Your words were, and I quote, to BRING you the soul of a dungeon.” I raised my hand with the ring turned toward him.
“The soul of the Eddington dungeon is in this ring. Or I should say, a small portion of it. I convinced it to loan me part of itself in exchange for keeping it supplied with MANA and sharing help and information.”
The force of his glare was almost physical. I waited as calmly as I could, refusing to cringe or back away. One minute passed, then two. At nearly three, he finally slumped back in his chair. The dungeon avatar appeared beside me, turned toward me.
YOUR TEACHINGS ARE EXPRESSED IN DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WAYS. DUNGEONS ARE NOT INTENDED TO INTERACT WITH OTHER SYSTEM ENTITIES.
“I didn’t think they were,” I told the avatar. “I don’t think you would be here if I’d told you why I wanted a part of you. I don’t want to destroy or control you. In my ‘teachings,’ such things can cause problems with other dungeons…and other beings as well. I told you I wanted to work with you. I do. But I have other things I must do as well.”
Turning back to Albert, I asked, “How were those objects given powerful Game abilities? They’re too dangerous for people…or players at our level. Even my level. I hid them so they couldn’t control me, but I can still feel the power from them. They keep whispering that I can control them. I know I can’t. How did they happen, and how can we keep them from harming others?”
“Very well,” Albert said at last. “I grant that you have paid the price I stated. You did in days what I thought would take weeks or months. There is a spell: REMOVE MANA. It removes the MANA from a person or object.”
“It will also stop the item, or person from regenerating any MANA it could normally expend. Then you can destroy the object…or the person…normally. If you do not destroy it, or them, you can restore its MANA with IMBUE MANA. If it is an aligned item, the alignment energy will not change. It may seek a new place or person in which to dwell. The base spell is a Level Twenty spell.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much. I hope I don’t have questions like this ever again. But you still didn’t tell me how they received this power.”
“You are correct. I did not. That is not information I may divulge. Nor may I explain why. Now go. I would tell you not to return, but I do not foresee that as possible.” He turned back to his book and ignored me. When I looked again, the dungeon avatar was gone. I left.
On my way back, I went through the Weapons section again and I looked at the rapiers. This time, I spent five Silver Moons and added the one I’d looked at before to my INVENTORY.
I also picked up an ordinary Saxon-style belt knife and sheath for two Moons. That went into my inventory as well. Having weapons, I could draw instantly might come in handy someday. Plus, I enjoyed fighting with two swords. My plan was to enchant them once I got home. Right now, though, it was time to talk to certain other people.
Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns and Money
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