Based on the excellent RPG game "Geneforge 3" of the Geneforge series.This is a novelization to one of the myriad paths one can take in the game.
Introduction
The Shapers are the oldest, the most secretive, the most powerful and the most respected from the magical traditions of Terrestia. The Shapers have the power to magically create life. The Shapers can make new life forms from nothing but raw materials and pure magic, the essence within themselves. They can mold this life to serve their purpose, be it light housework or major warfare.
Three sects comprise the Shapers: Agents, Guardians, and the Shapers themselves. They all share the power to create and mold new life forms to serve them. Agents often work alone, traveling around the world solving problems for the order through diplomacy or violence. Agents are the first Shapers sent when a task needs done, and these tasks range from negotiations to assassinations. Agents are highly trained in magic. Guardians act as the soldiers of the Shapers, and are sent on work usually involving combat relying on their impressive skills with weaponry and their creations. The Shapers themselves are dedicated to research and the improvement of the shaping arts. Shapers are skilled at magic and unparalleled in their ability to create life.
Outsiders regard Shapers with awe and terror. The Shapers guard their powers and use them to help those loyal to them and destroy those that break their laws. They rule the whole Terrestia unchallenged for centuries. Shaper power is absolute.
Or so it seemed...
Chapter 1
Andral was a Shaper novice enrolled in the most remote of the Shaper schools, Greenwood academy. He was being taught on how to create other beings which will serve him absolutely. Andral was a man of average height and lean built with dark hair. He has been told that he shows remarkable skill and promise for his age, but that hadn't reduced the abuse in any way. Greenwood academy is located in an island in the Ashen Isles, the most remote province of Terrestia. His room was deep in the basement. All together, he could not be further from the centers of culture and power. He was spending night after night studying in his small damp room, trying to master the spells, recipes and techniques that make up the Shaper's craft. Shaper training takes years of hard and at times dangerous work but Andral wasn't dissuaded. Then, early one morning something happened.
The young Shaper was awaken by a massive explosion that shook the school to its foundations. The walls and the floor shook and dust and bits of rock showered Andral from the ceiling. Andral jumped out of the bed and looked around confused. "An accident?" he asked himself. Then another explosion shook the school. In the distance he could hear parts of the ceiling collapsing. And through the door he could hear screams of pain and the clashing of claws and weapons and the discharges of magical power. Could it be that the school was under attack? But nobody would dare attack a colony of Shapers!
Andral hurriedly called for the illumination crystals, magical crystals that shed light, to illuminate his room. In the pale light of the crystals he put on his shaper robe and his shoes. He heard more explosions and another part of the ceiling collapsing. It would be wise to get out of the here. As he moved towards his door, he heard a scream of pain. Although far away, this scream was from the basement. Whatever battle is happening has spilled downstairs too. Andral realized that his life may be in danger by more than falling debris. He should be ready to defend himself.
Andral got out of his room, to the main hall of the apprentice quarters and looked for anything left in the nearly empty room that he could use. It was one of the rare days that he didn't have classes till late in the morning so he was alone in the room; the other novices and apprentices were already awake and doing their chores preparing for the days classes. It took him a few minutes of searching but he did find some armor made of chitin, a few bandages and a reliable dagger. After Andral got this equipment to defend himself if needed, he reluctantly left the apprentice quarters behind. The ground kept shaking slightly. Sounds of explosions, mighty spells and screams of pain and terror echoed through the halls. Looking around the halls outside the apprentice quarters, he found that several corridors were blocked by debris or the ceiling seemed too unsteady to cross without fear that an explosion wouldn't send tons of bricks and stone on passerby.
The damage was too extensive; those attacking the school, the thought was still shocking to Andral even through the clamor, had brought with them significant power. But how? The Shapers had absolute control on the access to power. This attack was impossible, and yet it was under way. Andral was nudged out of his reverie as dust from the ceiling rained on him after a violent explosion above. One thing was certain; Andral had to find if any other of the novices were left in there and get out of the basement before the roof collapsed on them or enemies passed through the defenders above and attacked them. Ignoring the scorch marks that betrayed that enemies have penetrated even that far in the school, he set out to find his classmates.
He decided to head for Senea first, that had her room past the quarters of the initiates. The young novice, of the Shaper sect like himself was a little further in her studies than him. She had a knack for alchemy and botany. Perhaps she would even have a couple of healing pods, the special enchanted mixtures used for healing, in case he found anyone wounded. Pods of every kind were usually made by mages and alchemists outside the order as full Shapers found the procedure beneath their talents. But not so for apprentices and novices; they were instructed on their creation and had to make them to gain experience. While Andral found the process boring and was not good at it, Senea was different. She had a knack for making healing pods and as more advanced than Andral, she was able to make healing spores; a magical thick powder that once spread through the air could heal slightly everyone inside a small cloud. Senea has hinted that after her training concludes, she may focus her studies to improving spores and pods.
Since there would be months till new initiates would arrive, the room where the initiates all stayed and studied together was emptly. Andral predictably found Senea's door locked as she was used to keep it in a display of usual shaper paranoia. Andral knocked on her door and called to her but she didn't reply. Perhaps she was outside, perhaps she was too afraid to open. Andral sighed and looked around the empty quarters. Soon, he found what he was looking for; a living tool. The small tentacles of these creatures could be controlled by a Shaper or someone trained in their use to pick locks or operate magical machinery. They required very little food and were resistant to exposure to the elements. The majority of these creatures were no longer created but bred and raised by specially trained outsider breeders.
Andral used the living tool, concentrating to direct its tentacles to open the lock. His eyes took a moment to adjust in the darkness of Senea's room. The light of the crystals outside didn't illuminate far. Stepping inside, Andral found Senea. Or more accurately, he found Senea's corpse. Part of the ceiling has caved in and crushed Senea underneath it. The shock of the grisly discovery froze him in place. Andral could recognize her broken form only by the vibrant blue lab robe she sported when working on her assignments. The stains from the various chemicals and plants accumulated through the years of her labor were mixed with the fresh, larger stains of her blood. Andral was never too close with Senea, but she had respect for her. She was hard working, curt, intelligent and like every novice she had endured many years of trials and tests to be allowed to learn the secrets of the Shapers. She would never make new kinds of pods or spores it seems. She didn't deserve to die that way.
Andral fell into the calming techniques every Shaper was taught to keep steady under pressure and control his or her emotions. He concentrated to relax, calm his stomach, steady his heart-rate and regulate his breathing. He forced himself to look around Senea's room for anything he might need despite his emotions urging him to flee and hide. He was a Shaper. He would endure a dead classmate. After a quick search, he found Senea's healing pods and a couple of magical crystals; hollowed out and enchanted rocks that would release a powerful magical blast on impact. Andral allowed himself a brief moment to savor the fantasy of slamming one of these crystals down the throats of those responsible for Senea's death. He left the room, respectfully closed and locked the door and left to keep searching with the echoes of the distant battle accompanying him.
Chapter 2
Andral kept looking for a way out but found most corridors blocked or unsafe to cross. He passed through one of the classrooms, and peeked inside. Miraculously, it seemed unharmed by the fighting with the exception of a couple of scorching marks. The wooden, comfortable seats of the students were arranged neatly, the blackboard and laboratory equipment used for teaching was untouched. Towards the side, two small colored pools bubbled in the soothing familiar tones Andral has been used to in his countless hours in this room. The first was an essence pool, used to draw small amounts of magical essence to bolster the reserves of the students. The second was a healing pool, with a greenish goo that could heal and sustain a living creature similar to the healing pods. The healing pool was mostly used to sustain flawed creations long enough for Master Hoge or another teacher to examine them before they were absorbed; students were not allowed to use them to heal after the delivery of the corporal punishment for a flawed creation or recipe mistake. Essence and healing pools, the staple of many shaper facilities were considered quasi-living things; they required some food, moisture from the atmosphere and were replenishing themselves. If left unattended for long, they would die and dry up. Andral moved in the room and dropped a few of the spores containing the necessary nutrients from the pools in them.
The ground shook again. The battle was still going on although the explosions and the screams were coming with less frequency now. Andral considered his options. He could stay in the class or he could try to go out through the shaping caves, where lesser creations made by the students were kept and maddened creations were disposed of. He didn't like this option. With the chaos and stress, some of the creations under the imperfect control of the students were bound to have turned rogue; broken out of Shaper control. Shaper law was clear that every rogue creation should be killed but this didn't seem to be the most opportune time for Andral to go hunting rogues. Andral felt alone, sad, confused and vulnerable. His eyes fell on the Shaper symbol etched on the wall and he took a deep breath. He was a Shaper. He couldn't do much about his confusion but he didn't have to be alone.
He moved by the essence pool and draw a little glob of essence, it felt familiar in his hands. He started chanting, the flow of magic from himself merging with the essence on his hand. Under the precise movements and enchantments he has been taught, Andral directed the flow towards the raw essence combining it with the essence held within every Shaper. Within moments the blob of essence in his hand started glowing and expanding. He kept directing the flow and the weaves of the magic. Inside the pear-shaped cocoon of magic, the essence was taking a form, a form of a living creature. Andral let the essence hover in front of him as he used both hands to control the magic and the Shaping. Less than a minute after he started, a Fyora was standing in front of him, its mind connected with his.
Fyoras were red bipedal lizards about four feet from the nose to the tip of their tail, with strong jaws and able to spit flammable saliva that caught fire in touch with the air. Walking in their hind legs and balancing on their strong tails, Fyoras could fight with their teeth and shorter front legs as well. They were among the earliest creations a Shaper was allowed to learn. While it was by no means a great achievement and the Fyora wasn't strong or tough compared to what some more advanced students could do, this Fyora was not flawed; it was a fully formed, adult, healthy creature under his control. If he had made one as good yesterday he wouldn't have got a beating from Master Hoge. Andral smiled at Firespit, his Fyora and sent her soothing thoughts and a sense of urgency. Then, he directed her to walk near him as they crossed into the Shaping caves.
The shaping caves were built on a natural cave, expanded by servile labor. Serviles were one of the most important of the Shaper creations. They were simple humanoids, obedient and unintelligent. They are used by the Shapers for farming, cleaning, and other grunt work like digging caves and evening the floor.
While the floor of the Shaping caves was mostly even, it was for the most part not covered with tiles and occasionally mushrooms would sprout out, attracting rats. Illumination crystals were sparse and the gloom provided ample hiding spots for enemies. Andral was shying away at each imaginary movement, his frustration for his lack of control growing. Firespit, sensing her creator's anxiety was hissing, stressed. "Good thing I didn't make a thand" Andral mused thinking about the man-sized tough apelike creations he also was supposed to be able to make. Thands were more resistant than fyoras, and harder to control. He was not sure he could keep a Thand under control. Shapers were not supposed to be afraid of mere creations, but a healthy caution was not ill-advised.
Firespit hissed suddenly and he felt the creature's attention focusing towards ... something he hadn't seen while lost in his thoughts. Firespit has smelled a worm in the shadows, one of the least creations, three to four feet long, that could still deliver some nasty bites. Andral, used to creations being passive, calm and in control wasn't prepared to use his few spells. So as the worm lurched with a speed far surpassing anything nature could bless a worm with, he instinctively sent an urge to Firespit to defend him. Ready, the loyal creature opened her mouth and shot her viscous, air-flammable spit towards the worm. The substance predictably caught fire in contact with the air and fried the worm with a single sizzling hit. Andral looked at Firespit as she calmly, docilely looked back at him. His control was strong enough that the Fyora wouldn't attack without an order by him. He resisted the urge to pet Firespit on the head. Each Shaper, from the time he set foot in the academy was taught that creations were supposed to do what they were made to do and serving Shapers was reward enough. Those that questioned this rule were expelled. One of his classmates in spell-casting, a girl named Greta, has been expelled a few weeks ago for this reason.
Andral continued on. That worm was not the last rogue in the caves that has been turned loose. Usually Firespit with her flammable attack and jaws and himself armed with a fire-bolt spell managed to incinerate the worms without any harm. Once a worm managed to slip through their attacks and defenses and bit hard on Firespit, following the bite with delivering a blow with its sharp, barbed tongue. Andral managed to keep control of the Fyora despite the creature's pain and fear and after the worm was dispatched, he healed Firespit using a simple healing spell to knit her wound and replenish lost blood.
As they passed one shaping platform, used to by the teachers to demonstrate the right spells required to shape a creation, Andral saw some expensive and delicate shaping equipment. He looked around. He decided to take the vials containing the rare chemicals and charged ingredients required in many shaping tests, maintenance of magical equipment and machinery used in the laboratories and used in the forming and extraction of raw essence or the various healing pods and spores. It was better if that equipment stayed out of the reach or rogues; there were already some mutated rats down in the caves from contact with such ingredients.
By the time Andral exited the Shaping caves the rumble of the battle upstairs has nearly ceased. He could see the corridor leading to the exit in the dim light a short distance ahead. It seemed unblocked. He took a breath and took a couple of steps when he heard movement from a room to the side. Andral prepared to launch a bolt of fire but Firespit didn't seem too concerned although she felt to him prepared to attack any enemies.
A fellow novice sprung towards him. A small woman named Therese, with short dark hair and average weight. Therese was about his age that was training to become an agent, the sect of the Shapers usually tasked with diplomacy, espionage, sabotage and assassinations. "Andral! Thank goodness you survived!" she called to him as she approached. Therese seemed terrified, but healthy. She took a look at Firespit, which ignored her. "Your Fyora seems perfect! You finally made it!" she said about his success looking more optimistic about their chances of survival. Agents received more extensive training in magic and focused on creation less and later in their training.
"I'm also glad you survived as well" Andral said not hiding his relief. "Poor Senea..." he didn't finish his sentence. Therese bit her lips. "I understand. More suffered the same fate." She added.
"Do you know what is going on? Who attacked us?" Andral asked the novice agent.
"I have no idea. I was working in the Shaping caves when the attack happened. I've been hiding here since then, trying to stay away from the worms. We need to get upstairs as soon as we can and find out what happened." she replied.
"Is the path to the exit clear?" Andral asked.
"The path isn't blocked by debris, but there must be like a dozen rogues blocking the exit! Too many to handle alone by a mere novice like me. Perhaps together we can make it" Therese said. Andral noticed she seemed overly afraid for someone training to become a solitary infiltrator and her display of weakness didn't suit a Shaper, even a novice like her. But Andral kept his thoughts to himself as he replied to her.
"Do you want to stay here and I'll clear the path for both of us?" Andral asked.
Therese pondered it for a few moments. It was clear that she wanted to help but was too afraid of the worms. "OK, But be careful. If you feel overwhelmed have your fyora charge them and come to get me while they are occupied with it" she replied finally. Sacrificing a creation in such a way was considered by all Shapers a suitable end for it, so Andral just replied. "Of course." and left as Therese returned to the room she has been hiding in.
Andral cast a short, simple blessing spell on himself and Firespit to boost their accuracy and the impact of their attacks and stepped to the corridor. They haven't taken more than a dozen steps when a couple of worms came out of the shadows. Andral and Firespit dispatched them easily.
He noticed that they seem to have come out from the large room that served as the barracks of the serviles. Andral grimaced. Serviles while very useful, were simple-minded and unable to defend themselves. There have been some wild rumors about a few serviles, rogue serviles, who are smart, disobedient, and even rebellious. Andral always dismissed those rumors as nonsense; Shaper control on serviles was absolute. Which meant that the serviles of the Academy would be unable to defend themselves even from worms. Andral hesitated. He was a Shaper even if he was just a novice. He could not allow rogue creations to kill serviles.
With a sigh, Andral renewed the blessing on himself and Firespit. He was getting a bit tired; his reserves of magic were not unlimited. With determination, he stepped in the servile barracks. The rough chamber was dimly illuminated; a couple of illuminating crystals have been broken. The sleeping pads of the servilles were scattered about, but the simple creatures were nowhere to be seen. They must have fled at the first sign of trouble.
As Andral stepped to the center of the room to look around for any rogues or wounded serviles, he sensed Firespit tensing. Without waiting to locate the enemy, he gave her the mental order to attack. A stream of worms started coming out of side rooms and dark corners. Firespit started taking hits and bites and Andral retreated towards the door alternating between healing Firespit and burning worms as they came. Then he felt a severe, burning pain to his leg. Leaving a muffled cry of pain he looked down to see a worm has escaped his notice and managed to bit him. He kicked out to dislodge the worm and sent a bolt of fire, but he missed. Firespit was in a similar situation of stress herself but at his urging, dislodged herself from a couple of worms and sent a jet of flame towards the worm, singling it but failing to kill it.
Drawn by the pause in the attacks and the smell of blood the worms pressed the attack. Andral put one of the pods he got from Senea's room in his mouth and bit hard, releasing the magic to heal him. The warm sensation of flesh mending left a tingling instead of the pain on his leg. Aldran reached out to calm his fyora and direct her to keep attacking. More painful blows landed on the poor creation, and it panicked. As self-preservation over-rode Andral's control, Firespit rushed to the corner of the room, past Andral, ignoring his commands. It was then that the young Shaper felt fear, real fear, for his survival as he realized there was nothing between him and the remaining worms. Shaper pride gave way to fear and he screamed, hoping Therese would hear him and come to help. If he survived long enough for her to help.
The route to the door was closed by the approaching wounded worm and two more were coming from another direction. Andral backed away and killed the already wounded worm but before he could bolt to the outside he felt the toothed maw of a worm closing over his thigh. He screamed in pain as the worm detached and blood flowed freely from the wound. The other worm missed him by just an inch. Andral didn't have the presence of mind to attack; he directed the last of his healing power to his leg, so that he could run away. The spell did the trick and Andral, his leg now cured, jumped over the worms and reached for the exit. Still in the throes of panic and bleeding, Firespit draw the attention of the worms. Andral was about to leave the creature to her fate and escape. But he was a Shaper; he wouldn't back from mere worms. Still, it felt better to be just inside the door as he sent a bolt of fire to kill one of the worms. He could see more worms coming out of side rooms. Firespit sped past him and out of the room. The nearest worm rushed to him and gave him a painful bite to his left arm, but he managed to burn it before the other worms reached him. He got outside and quickly closed the door. It was doubtful there were any surviving serviles there anyway.
Andral found himself shaking as he braced himself on the wall. His left arm was in pain and bleeding. He considered using another healing pod but decided against it. He roughly tied his bleeding arm with a bandage and sent his mind out to his nearly dead creation. It has calmed enough and while afraid and in pain, she was back to his control. Therese was nowhere in sight; Andral had to assume that she didn't hear him, not that she abandoned him. Tenderly he moved back through the Shaping caves and to the classroom. Students were not allowed to use the healing pool but this was an extraordinary situation. Students were not supposed to be fighting a dozen worms either.
He knelt near the pool and dipping his fingers in the viscous goo, he rubbed some of it on his arm. It started itching and healing. After a second application of the greenish liquid, he was completely healed. Then, he rubbed some on Firespit, bringing her to full health. Finally, he headed to the essence pool. Again he picked up some raw essence and held it in his hand. Concentrating, he directed the essence to melt and infuse him, replenishing his magical energies. Andral smiled. He was good as new.
A few minutes later, he and Firespit have cleared out the rest of the worms in the servile barracks with only minor problems. Andral was more careful to stay close to the door and keep a path to it open. As he expected, no wounded serviles remained. A killed servile, a servant that he thought was tasked with washing the novices robes, has been half-consumed by the rogues and the rest have probably fled. Getting outside, Andral and Firespit cleared the couple more worms that were hiding in the way to the stairs. The way to the main halls of the academy were clear and the sounds of battle have stopped. He paused as he saw the corpse of another apprentice; it was mutilated by the worms to be unrecognizable. By the javelins dropped near it, Andral assumed the corpse belonged to a Guardian, the warrior sect of the Shapers. Andral shook his head and the insanity of it all and returned to get Therese.
Predictably, he found Therese hiding in the classroom he first met her, behind a desk. "I have killed most of the rogues. It's safe to come with me now." Andral said to her, trying to leave the contempt out of his voice. Therese looked at him, the holes in his robe and the stains of blood. "It was difficult but I managed. The road is clear." he said to her reassuringly. Therese draw her blade, a sharp small knife and shuddered. "All right. I'll trust you. Let's get out of this pit before it collapses on us." she said and followed him out. As he was leading her to the stairs, he felt a measure of pride in her looking with appreciation at the husks of burned and killed worms that littered the corridor and the floor of the servile barracks. The sight of the half-eaten Guardian novice dampened his mood again.
As they reached the stairs he smiled to her and said "Here we are, go upstairs and find the teachers. I'll rush to the pools to replenish my essence and I'll join you shortly." She smiled back, the first time he saw the petite novice smile during the attack and nodded. "Our teacher was right about you" she said as she moved towards the stairs. Andral looked at her quizzically not understanding what she meant.
"Those of us training for Agents, were told that you were a good example of the leadership required by our role; clearheaded and dedicated, exuding control even when you're afraid. And we were not supposed to tell you so that it wouldn't get to your head" she said with a wink. Andral was shocked by the sudden compliment. He managed a weak, uncomfortable smile keeping to himself his thoughts about how the lesson seemed to be wasted on Therese. Therese took a deep breath to steady herself and then dagger in hand climbed the steps as Andral rushed back to the essence pool again to replenish his reserves.