Dark omega shadow puppet.., p.4
Dark Omega: Shadow Puppets, page 4
Carn had the goblins organized into groups. He separated those with primary combat skills from those with non-combat skills, such as cooking, mending, building, or farming. One goblin even had the skill of administration. They all had some degree of combat skill, which fit with the description Gilvester had given of them. They were being forced into combat roles so that they would level up, leading towards the temple. However, once their souls were harvested, they were just left here until summoned. He wondered how they even stayed alive. Were the mages feeding them?
When they had nearly finished restoring all the goblins outside the temple, Carn had Vect select a team of those goblins Vect believed to be the smartest and most creative. He tasked them with enticing the goblins inside to come out with him. He kept Vect with him because he showed keen insight and leadership abilities. Carn was impressed with how many goblins Vect had convinced to join them. There was something special about him.
With the goblin enticement team inside the temple, Carn dumped out the remainder of his items and had the fairies distribute some of them to the restored goblins. He selected a few of the best articles and gave them to Vect, vowing to replace those with even better equipment when he had the chance. Vect was surprised to receive a gift so soon. He reverently put on the leather armor, chipped and battered sword, and tattered buckler. His gear was mostly trash, but it looked much better than the dirty loincloth he had been wearing. Vect acted like a boy who had just received a hand-made sweater from his girlfriend, admiring his attire and smiling continually.
They had rescued over two hundred goblins so far, but none were higher than level five. Carn felt it was such a waste. These goblins could have been doing all kinds of productive things, but instead, their life force was being harvested for some task, creating an army of low-level slaves. These goblins had seemed fearsome to him a few days ago, but, at his level, the lot of them wouldn’t be able to pose much of a threat. He feared that these goblins weren’t even part of the shadow’s plan. They seemed to be just a side effect of the life force harvesting process.
He hadn’t seen the shadow use them for anything other than defending against the one attack, which had mostly been at the orders of the Mage. He hoped that those efforts had been stalled when they stole the gem and halted more permanently with the defeat of the shadow avatar. If the Gnostic Gnomes were right, it would be several years before another shadow avatar could be created.
The first goblin came out of the temple, leading a small group. Carn directed them to the side of the temple and proceeded to restore them while the goblin went back into the temple to get more. Most of these restored goblins chose to join them. He could see them taking in the sight of so many others, and he figured peer pressure had something to do with their decisions.
You know you are going to have to fight soon. The mage will notice that the goblins are leaving, and then they’ll come to investigate. Will you try to spare them as well?
I realize that, Sparky. No, I won’t spare the mages. They did this to these goblins, willingly choosing to serve the shadow. I cannot have that kind of evil here with us. They must be destroyed, but I’ll save all the others if I can.
Good. The last time we were here, the mages were around level 15. These dark rituals may give them experience, so you could be facing a group of capable magic users as well as the remainder of those enthralled by them.
That assumes they’ve been able to continue their rituals.
“It is probably time to set up for an ambush,” Carn said. “Sparky warns me that someone is sure to notice us soon.”
Carn arranged the fairies around the temple entrance and ordered them to attack any mage that exited the building. He continued restoring goblins, but he did so within range of the opening so that he could respond to a threat. Gilvester and Lina took up positions on either side of the entrance, and Sevelle snuck inside to scout.
Carn realized that the goblins were in danger from an attack and they would probably do more harm than good in a battle. He didn’t want them killing the soul torn. Neither did he want them dying needlessly, so he had Vect organize them into platoons of fifty goblins each. He sent these platoons into the forest and told them to set up camp out of range of the temple.
He restored another twenty goblins when a mage quickly walked out of the temple, looking around for whom to chastise. “What is going on here?” he yelled, and then surprise took over him when he saw the area was clear of goblins. Arrows plunged into his chest, and then a ball of fire immolated the shocked mage. He screamed as his skin blackened. Flames continued to lick his corpse after he died. Shroo, however, didn’t hesitate to hop toward the torched mage to claim its loot.
Carn motioned for Vect to send the rest of the goblins into the forest, but for him to remain, he added Vect to his party so that he would share in the experience. Their time was up. Surely the other mages would come to investigate now. Carn flew above the entrance doors so he couldn’t be seen when exiting and told Vect to hide on the side of the building and follow only once they entered. His force was positioned so that they would be behind anyone leaving the temple. Moreover, the sun would be in their eyes when they did turn toward them.
Four mages cautiously exited the temple. Carn let them get to the bottom of the steps before he smashed, signaling to Gilvester.
Gilvester roared a taunt, shield bashing the closest mage and slashing another. Three more mages exited, and Carn caught them together with a gravity bubble. He signaled for his group to attack when the bubble ended, dropping into a tangled mess. Arrows and magic flew toward the mages, but these goblins were intimately acquainted with combat, and the barrage was deflected off their magical shields.
Carn didn’t hold back. He used destabilize and watched their shields crumble under the heavy assault. Two mages were torn apart in the maelstrom of gravitational forces. The others died with a second wave of spells hitting them following Carn’s attack.
Carn heard running footsteps from further within the entrance, but the footsteps were running away from the entrance. Carn realized that the mage must’ve positioned someone in reserve.
The steps suddenly stopped. “Got him,” Sevelle snickered from the darkened entrance. “We’re good to go.”
“All right. Everybody in,” Carn said, flying to the entrance. “Fairies, the temple is large and open. Stay high above the goblins and only attack the mages. Try to find cover among the pillars and decorations above. Do what you can, but mostly, try to avoid their attacks. These mages are much higher level than you. We’ll engage them directly and try to draw their attention.”
Gilvester led the group, and Carn flew into the temple behind him. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the darker area of the ziggurat. The inside of the temple was dark and foreboding, with high, vaulted ceilings and walls made of rough, ancient stone. The air was heavy with the scent of blood and incense, and the floor was slick with the remnants of past sacrifices.
In the center of the temple was an altar of black stone, carved with grotesque figures and symbols. It was stained with the blood of countless victims, and a dark aura seemed to radiate from it.
Around the altar were scattered various offerings and sacrifices: piles of bones, stacks of gold and precious stones, and other items of value. The goblins who served the shadow avatar had left these offerings in the hopes of gaining its favor.
The temple was lit by flickering torches, casting shadows on the walls and giving the space an eerie, otherworldly feel. The sound of chanting and incantation filled the air as the goblins called upon their dark master to grant them power and favor. It was a place of darkness and malevolence, where evil deeds were done in the name of an unseen, malevolent force.
Carn saw ten goblin mages positioned around the altar, their heads bowed as they focused on their spells. The lead mage was chanting, his voice a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the temple.
A Hobgoblin general and his officers quickly arranged themselves in a defensive formation in front of the mages. The general was a formidable figure, standing tall and broad-shouldered. He wore a suit of armor made of interlocking plates, with a spiked helmet that covered his head and face. His officers were similarly armored, with their own distinctive crests and symbols marking their ranks.
The goblins were smaller and slenderer than the Hobgoblins, with rough, green skin and long, pointed ears. They wore simple robes of brown and green, with leather belts cinched around their waists. Each of them carried a staff adorned with runes and symbols, and their eyes glowed with the power of their magic.
The Hobgoblins were more heavily armed, with swords, shields, and axes at the ready. They stood in a semi-circle around the altar, their eyes fixed on the entrance to the temple, ready to defend their mages at a moment's notice. The air was thick with tension and anticipation as both sides prepared for the coming conflict.
Carn phased closer to the group and then hit them with a gravity wave. The wave tossed the goblins away, but the lead mage raised his hand, and a smoky wall formed around them. The wave crashed into it, but the barrier held.
Carn analyzed the lead mage.
Gizmard the Foul
Goblin Mage
Level 29
HP 120/120
Carn was confused. His spell should’ve torn through that group. How could he create such a powerful barrier at only level 29? Carn wondered.
I believe the other mages are lending him their power, Sparky commented. I can detect a connection between them. Their power seems to combine in a way I’ve never seen before. Each of the other mages are level fifteen or sixteen but combined, his raw magic potential is that of a level 154 mage.
Woah. That’s impressive.
It is, but the main limitation is mana regeneration. Collectively, their mana regeneration is far lower than that of a higher-level mage. They may be able to empower their spells too much higher levels, but they will not be able to sustain them as long.
Ah. So, we need to tire them out. Got it.
Carn relayed the info to the group. Gilvester was busting through the goblins, doing his best to incapacitate them without killing them. Carn couldn’t see Sevelle, but Lina was in the middle of a long cast, possibly one of her new spells.
The goblin mage curled his fingers together as if he was gripping an invisible ball and a dark sphere enveloped Carn. Carn phased away, but the mage already had another spell prepared. A red bolt of light flew from his fingers, and Carn dodged it.
I’m appreciating that upgraded evasion right now. That bolt was so close I could feel the heat from it.
If you’d taken charisma, you’d be trying to talk him down with a hole through your chest.
That’s a little dark, Sparky.
The bolt hit the wall and bounced off it, continuing to ricochet around the room. The mage maintained the beam, and red lines soon intersected the temple like a fractal spiderweb. The lines bounced off the mage’s shield, leaving them in relative safety, while the area around Carn became increasingly hostile. Carn worried for the others, especially the fairies. Still, he didn’t notice any absences in his party interface, so they must be ok.
His aura sizzled when Carn flew too close to one of the beams. The mage continued to power it, and Carn found it harder to navigate. He put a gravity bubble around the mages and increased the gravity to the max. His intelligence was at 476, so he was able to increase it to 47 times normal gravity. The cost was almost 500 mana per second, so he knew it wouldn’t be wise to hold the spell for long. The hoped it would be long enough to drain them of mana or disrupt their concentration. Their shield seemed to mitigate the effect, but he knew it was costing them to hold out against the onslaught. Four of the mages sagged when he released the spell, their mana reserves spent.
A beam flew past him, startling him and further damaging his aura. Carn had to do something about it, or he would be torn to shreds. He used attraction to pull discarded garbage and other junk into the path of the beams, but the objects were obliterated.
Just then, an ice prison snapped into place around the mages. Lina’s cast took a while, but it immediately cut off more of the beam, but like the old snake game, the rest of the beam was still traveling around the room.
Four mages passed out from the gravitational effects, and the beam width narrowed. Carn opened a singularity under the mages, and they fell through the portal along with the altar. Apparently, their protective dome did not extend beneath the floor. Carn opened the other end at the apex of the temple and watched as the group tumbled through the deadly beams. The lead mage raised a small shield around himself and cast a floating spell that took him to the ground softly, but his companions were not so fortunate. Most were already drained of mana, so they had no defense. Limbs were cut clean off, and some were torn in half. Strangely, no beams harmed the altar. It seemed to absorb them in its inky surface, but it did glow brighter and brighter as it fell. Carn worried that it couldn’t be destroyed, but then it hit the temple floor and shattered to pieces. The floor, however, was left without a mark on it.
The lead mage dropped the last ten feet to the ground, and his shield winked out. He must’ve finally run out of mana. He made a break for the door, but Sevelle was faster. She appeared in front of him, one dagger slashing his throat while the other entered his side, thrusting upward. She then gave him a hard kick, launching him across the room. His body smashed into the floor, a crumbled mess.
Good news, Carn. Corruption is down to 53% with the destruction of the altar and restoration of so many goblins.
We are making progress. Thanks for the good news.
Another note to self. We need to learn how to combine magical power like that.
Ok. Noted, Sparky replied.
The hobgoblins had wisely decided to stay out of the fight after Gilvester busted enough heads. A few were torn up from the red beams, but the rest threw down their weapons and went to their knees as Carn approached. Unfortunately, the beams had harmed many of the soul torn. The poor creatures didn’t even have the will to try to move away from the rays that carved horrifying holes into their bodies or amputated limbs.
Carn beat Shroo to the lead mage’s corpse and saw another soul gem clutched in his fingers, which he also placed into his pack.
“Help the wounded wherever you can. Gilvester, can you talk to the hobgoblin? The ones that are still standing that is,” Carn asked.
Carn analyzed the second dark gem.
Dark Gem
This gem has been turned into a soul repository to hold the life force and souls of various creatures. It currently contains the following souls:
Goblin: 378
Gnoll: 362
The fairy squads swooped from the eaves to follow his orders, and Carn flew to the cages, remembering Yurt, the dwarf they couldn’t save when they escaped. It was clear that the cells were empty, but Carn had to look anyway. Maybe there was a clue as to what happened to Yurt.
The cages were heavily damaged. None had escaped the beam attack. Metal bars were littered around the cages. The beams had cut straight through the metal, sheering chunks off the cages and collapsing the rest. There were no bodies in the cages like there was last time. They must’ve removed them once they were no longer needed to reduce prisoner morale.
Carn could find no sign of Yurt’s fate. He said a silent prayer that he had escaped.
Turning from the wrecked cages, Carn eyed the goblin general. He recognized Mogtar the Bloodletter in the group, and his anger welled up. That one had killed Orvin! Carn quieted his rage. It would only get in the way. They had to assess each of them to determine what to do next.
Chests were stacked in the corner, so Carn had the goblins go through them and inventory the items while Gilvester interviewed the hobgoblins. It was chaos for a moment. The goblins ran towards the chests, and Carn was concerned he had made a mistake, but then Vect shouted orders, and the goblins began properly carrying items from the chests to line them up on the floor.
However, Vect did approach him with a concerned look. “What is it, Vect?”
“Four goblins we thought we rescued were still loyal to the shadow. They went with the group to the forest and then killed ten other goblins before disappearing into the forest. Most likely, they are going to report our capture of the facility.”
“You had no way of knowing, but we will need to get to know the goblins here, not only to identify spies but to better organize them based on their classes and overall strengths and weaknesses. Can you start that process?”
“Of course, sire. What about the spies?”
“I’ll deal with that.”
Chapter 5 - Consolidation
Gilvester took his time interviewing each of the nine hobgoblins while Carn had the two fairy squads search the forest for the goblin spies.
When Carn returned to the questioning, Gilvester had determined that all except two of the hobgoblins had resisted an evil alignment. His conversation confirmed that those two had taken to their malicious conditioning. He was happy that Mogtar was one of the two, and he felt shame at the thought. He just couldn’t see him welcoming Mogtar to their group after what he did, even if it was part of his duty.
As Carn listened to Gilvester’s interviews, he learned much more about the goblin organization from Jengar, the goblin general. They had arrived in much larger numbers than they had imagined. Carn figured there were hundreds, maybe a thousand, of goblins here at the most. However, the general explained differently.
“Three goblin tribes moved their entire populations here. You see, on the mainland, we are disliked and mistreated by some of the other races, especially humans. The shadow,” he explained, “spoke to us in the smoke of the central bonfire, telling us that he was giving us a fruitful, bountiful land, full of rare minerals and ancient magic. This was a great chance to finally have a place of our own. All we had to do was eliminate a dwindling fairy population here. It told us how the fairies were hoarding the magic of the leylines, preventing the magic from being used freely. He told us many other things, but I feel bad even repeating them now.”
