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Title: Death to the High Lords 2 - Return to Smilesville
Author: Solandriel (http://www.fanfiction.net/index.fic?action=Directory-AuthorProfile&UserID=15002)
Death to the High Lords 2:
Return to Smilesville
As three of Flamuli's most powerful Warlocks gathered round the Dungeon Heart, it seemed to beat faster in anticipation. Asmodeus joined his Master within the chamber below the heart's membrane, awaiting the transportation of the Heart to its new location.
The torchlight guttered in the crowded chamber, as the chanting from the Warlocks grew louder and more intense. Imps scurried off into the darkness, and all the denizens of the Dungeon that the Heart was leaving behind were gathered there to wish their Master well. Trolls held their hammers in a salute like soldiers; the Mistresses behind them teasing their skin with the blades on their gloves, making them whimper and jump onto their toes. One of them turned around, it's slack tongue ready with a raspberry stopped in mid-blow as a razor-sharp blade was presented along with a wicked smile.
Green tendrils of Manna began to swirl around the Dungeon Heart, reaching into the darkness where the Imps were hiding. Each tendril grabbed a struggling, squealing Imp, pulling it inexorably towards the Heart. As each Imp touched the membrane, it exploded into a green flare of pure magical energy and was absorbed into the power that was being generated by the Warlocks and the Heart collectively. The tendrils then drew together over the Heart and spread themselves around it like a cocoon being spun by a caterpillar. Then there was a bright surge of light that filled the whole chamber, temporarily blinding everyone and everything there. Bile Demons pushed to the front of the crowd and banged their heads together in a bizarre salute of their own.
Then, the light dissipated, and the Heart was gone.
The voles scurried around the vast subterranean cave that was the centre of their vast community, hundreds of little furry bodies being carried rapidly on little legs. When the surge of energy invaded their central cave, pushing the earth upward beyond the confines of the cave. Clumps of earth fell from the new, higher ceiling, knocking voles over left, right, and centre.
The green flash that followed obliterated many of the tiny bodies in its path, scattering their component parts whence they came. Those that remained scattered for the tunnels, knowing instinctively that their time here was over.
A large green ball of magical energy settled on the floor of the cave, shrinking down until it became a flat stone disc, embossed with the symbol of the Horned Reaper. The disc, made of obsidian, shattered, exposing the beating Heart of Flamuli. A circle of magical energy elevated itself from the heart, creating the support struts that offered the heart some protection. From the three archways that were formed by the structure sprang four tiny balls of Manna, which floated down and assumed the form of an Imp. They cocked their heads, as if listening to someone, then began to gather up the shattered pieces of obsidian from the floor of the new chamber.
Floating upwards from the Heart's membrane was Asmodeus, a sly smile on his face. It felt good to be back on the campaign trail again. He felt that his Master would stagnate otherwise, until his form disappeared completely through sheer complacency.
"Get digging!" he cried authoritatively. "To the north lies a portal! The Master needs it to gather his army. Move!"
The Imps bowed and scraped at Asmodeus' feet and began to the arduous task of digging out the earth to the Portal that lay nearby. They worked quickly, but it seemed not quickly enough for Flamuli. A large hand appeared from the gloom above the Imps heads, slapping them across the backside. They chattered and dug even faster. The hand moved away, seemingly satisfied.
Eventually, the Imps broke through to a small cave, which contained a deep crack in the ground surrounded by four tall pillars that seemed to be made entirely of quartz. The torches that the Imps placed on the walls around it created dancing colours on the walls as the light was filtered through the crystal.
One of the Imps began to dance at the passage side of the Portal, stamping its tiny feet on the ground. He received another slap for his trouble, making him dance even faster until a livid red smoke exploded from the floor surrounding the portal.
"Good," said the voice of Flamuli, which echoed around the passageways, "It is claimed. Now I can welcome my unholy children!"
As if on cue, a flare of bright light issued forth from the crack at the Portal's centre, and a small green creature, clad in a loincloth and wearing a helmet with a single horn, climbed out of the pit and gazed at his new surroundings. He shifted the grip on his cheaply-made sword and wandered off down the passageway towards the Dungeon Heart, it's ugly, wart covered face surveying the scene with awe.
More Imps had been created and were scurrying around the Dungeon Heart, clearing away the dirt from the digging of another room, which became filled with a mossy green floor that seemed to generate a healing aura that was almost palpable. He walked up to the Heart and touched one of the pillars, and a red glow briefly suffused his body. Knowledge was passed to him through this contact, that he was serving Flamuli, Master of Masters, that he should make his home here, and become one of his legion. The creature accepted gladly, walking into the Lair that Flamuli had just created, stamping his foot down on the floor. A bed grew from the floor like some bizarre houseplant, and the Goblin sat upon it, shaking its head in a daze, as voices whispered in it's head, with promises of riches and bloodshed. The Goblin smiled a crooked smile and awaited its orders.
Other room areas were dug out, as well as seams of gold which lay close-by. Sackfuls of the precious metal were laid around the Heart, feeding the coffers which surrounded it. The Goblin watched the creation going on around him, and could not help but be impressed. He wandered into a training room that had just been created. The spinning figures filled with straw, the moving targets on the walls, the shields and swords that adorned the room were all lit eerily by torchlight. The Goblin took up his sword and began to train.
Then, another area began to fill with the sounds of chickens clucking. The brainless little fowl wandered aimlessly around the sand, occasionally popping into the hen houses at the centre of the room, from which would bounce more eggs hatching quickly on the enchanted soil.
"Excellent work, Asmodeus," echoed the voice of Flamuli, "You have proven yourself swift in the execution of my orders once again."
"It pleases me to serve you, Master. Incidentally, I've been getting reports from the Overlander spies that their numbers are slowly decreasing, and a lot of your creatures from when you were here previously have been captured by the High Lord that rules these parts."
"Then we must find a way of releasing them. How is the portal doing?"
Asmodeus allowed himself a moment's composure. "Not too well, dread Lord. It appears to be producing Goblins hand over fist."
"No matter. A legion of Goblins is better than nothing. I shall inhabit one to see what can be seen beyond my boundaries."
"Very good, Lord." Asmodeus went into the training room to see how the Goblins were doing.
The Goblins were benefiting well from the exercise, growing slowly bigger and stronger as they progressed. A couple waved their swords in the air and wandered off to their lairs, while the other six continued, occasionally breaking for food from the Hatchery.
"The library will help, Master. Drawing in some Warlocks would help us design some other rooms for the Imps to build."
"Yes, Asmodeus, but unfortunately my Imps do not seem to have such knowledge. I cannot have one built."
Oh dear, thought Asmodeus. Then I'd better find one…