Chapter 3
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Notes: There are several.
First and foremost, Dungeon Keeper does NOT belong to me. It belongs to Bullfrog and probably a bunch of other people who are either too mean, or making too much money to share it, probably both. I mean no disrespect, and am making roughly $0.00 profit from this, except hopefully the praise of some bored readers.
Second, this fic is somewhat of a combination of Dungeon Keeper 1 and 2. This may be confusing for those of you who have played the game, but just think of it as DK 2 with all the creatures from 1 there.
The Keepers and creatures are based on the characters in the game. Most of the feelings, and concepts like the Shadowlands are strictly made-up explanations for little things in the game. In other words, this is a mixture of actual canon and some little fancies of mine, just like most fanfics.
Even though the game is not mine, the story is, and I would appreciate it of you did not use it without my permission. I think that's all, so on with the fic!
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Kaelay
Those sad, pathetic fools. Now that we are allied, I can see the extent of his pitiful Dungeon. I don't think he actually knows the full extent of what he's dealing with. Crushing him will be so much fun.
The extending of my Dungeon is going quite nicely. There was an untapped Gem Seam between us, and I know set my Imps to the task. That poor Keeper. Ones of his standing need all the wealth they can get. If he can't even tell that there was a Gem Seam, then he is indeed a short sighted fellow. But then, those of us not Chosen by the Darknesses generally are.
Tarkasas is outside the Dungeon. I do not worry about him. He can take care of himself, and even if he can't, the most he will do is spoil my fun. I think he is feeling the stirring. I am surprised. The feelings must be strong for him to be in turmoil after just one meeting.
I know what he will do next. It's sadly obvious. He's going to try and find the Angel. Now that there's a truce, he can come and go as he pleases through the other dungeon. He'll look at the Temple first, and confront the Angel. Really, that's all that he can do. I know my creatures inside and out, and I know that Tarkasas is very direct in dealing with his problems.
I am content. I will watch this unfold with great pleasure.
Seiat
The Gem Seam is a large one. Most seams only take up one or two plots of land, but this one takes up five. This will give us more wealth than any fifteen Gold Seams could. Not surprisingly, Keeper built a Treasure Room around the seam as soon as we claimed the earth. We do not even have to travel to deposit the wonders we uncover, so most of us won't be going on other tasks unless assigned.
I hear footsteps. It doesn't bother me, as the only creatures it could be would be ours or our new allies, but nevertheless, my curiosity gets the better of me, and I turn to look. I gasp quietly as I recognize the face of my friend Tarkasas, although the recognizing was not easy. He looks almost as if he were in agony. I decided to follow him.
Tarkasas
My mood is interrupted by the steady chink of chisels. I enjoy that sound, probably because of past association, but I wonder who could be digging this far out in the water, and why.
Rounding the bend in the river, the first thing I see is the reassuring red flames that circle the outside of the bridge. It tells me that this is part of our Dungeon, and that these creatures I meet will be friendly.
Stepping onto the wooden planking, I catch a glimpse of the diggers. They are working furiously at an incredibly large Gem Seam, around which the lighted torches reveal a treasure room, also sporting the red flames.
Is this why my Keeper agreed to the allience? For this Gem Seam? It certainly means a lot of wealth. But I always thought that Mistress Kaelay was wealthy enough. She has all the gold from many lands, and she always seems to enjoy getting gold away from Heros, rather than digging it out. Still, I suppose if this seam got into enemy hands....
Looking down the bridge in either direction, I notice that to my right, it reaches the shore, where already some of our Imps are claiming land. And beyond that should lie the Green Dungeon, and.....
Him. I'll go check out the Dungeon. It can't hurt me to get a feel for the territory and room structure, in case my Keeper ever asks me to go there. That's what I tell myself. And maybe.... I'll meet him again.
Ramasha
The Imps have nearly reached our borders already. I wonder idly to myself if that's just because the Imps are using their speed spells, or if it's because She has so many of them.
Our creatures know now not to attack them. Although, I must admit, the urge is still quite strong. Even though I can't feel it, I can somehow sense that their hearts beat to a different Heart than mine does. It's disturbing, but I fight down the sensation.
A sudden tingling in the back of my mind alerts me, and I rush off. There is going to be a sacrafice! I quickly approach the Temple. My eyes accustom quickly back to the gloom. I am used to the dim lighting of the Temple and the soft glow of the waters; it is always a relief to come out of the bright torch light of the outer hall.
I approach the edge of the waters and kneel, all round me there are other Angels and a few praying creatures doing the same. Together, we begin the chanting.
I raise my eyes to the large stone hand in the center of the waters. Soon.... ah! A Salamander appears, held by the Hand that is the energy of our Keeper, and placed into the stone hand that symbolizes the hands of the Gods. I am not surprised that it is a Salamander. They are good sacrifices, and there is not much lava in this land for them to be of great use.
Only our Keeper, his victim, and we Angels can see the green spike that slowly drives into the Salamander's chest. He screams, a pitiful, hissing scream, before dissolving into a cascade of green energy. The energy flows down the sides of the hand and into the waters, and for a second, the entire pool glows green.
During that instant, all the Angels surrounding the pool hear the same cry in our heads. It does not contain any words, but is a singular cry of joy and triumph, so wonderful as to suffuse every particle of our beings with a bloom of succulent energy. Almost immediately though, the feeling vanishes, leaving behind an emptiness that begs to be refilled. It is what keeps us at the Temple, and devoted to our Gods.
"The Gods are pleased," we all chant in unison, "The Gods are pleased with the sacrice. We praise you Gods, and ask for you help and for the help of our Darkness."
Slowly, the chanting fades away, and we all relax. The sacrifice is over, and has been accepted. A good thing too, for if it wasn't, there would be pain instead of ecstasy, and eventual punishment, instead of eventual reward. I rise to my feet, and slowly exit the Temple. This has taken much energy, and I need to rest in my lair.
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.