84 Violence (1/2)
Dr. Cortes examined my latest creation with a scrutinizing stare. I could tell that he remained shocked by my natural abilities with regard to alchemy, and I didn't mind that. I enjoyed how impressed he was by my work to date.
His eyes examined every corner of the bomb I held. It was a small thing, frankly, it was tinier than I anticipated it being. That said, while I had been interacting with Nivar and Imbrosa he had been instructing me on how to craft both the potion he set out for me to make, and then this.
”Hmm...” He muttered, studying the ball I held in both hands. It was a small thing made of iron and filled with something called gunpowder. The inside of it was hollow by necessity, and the gunpowder it was filled with could be caused to explode from a distance, using magic.
Dr. Cortes had explained the value of this invention to me while I was using my immense necromantic powers to fill the world beneath Puerto Rico with undead beings. And the reality was that bombs were incredibly useful for me but not for the same reasons as they were for him.
If an enemy had the same type of bomb that I held in my hands right now I could cause it to explode remotely. I could do this by generating a flame within the bomb from a distance, through my ability to manipulate flames. And without this lesson, I never would have learned that. I was grateful that I had been allowed to learn from Dr. Cortes, even though I was more present elsewhere than here.
I was also grateful that thanks to it I was able to acquire the first tier of influence over alchemy. Incidentally, I had also acquired a new quest and subsequently completed that quest, while I was raising my army of undead creatures and transforming Nivar into a massive worm that walks. The quest gave me the first tier of influence over the annelid subdomain.
As I read over the dual subdomain notification I had received I was surprised and impressed at the diversity of powers I gained, powers I was grateful to gain.
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[Dual subdomain descriptions:
Alchemy is the magical science of transforming something from one state into another. Annelids are a type of lifeform that includes earthworms, leeches, and many sorts of marine worms.
Granting the lowest tier of influence over alchemy grants you powers related to creation, deconstruction, and transformation. Granting the lowest tier of influence over annelids grants you a worms physiology and command over worms, both of which are more impressive than you may realize upon hearing that.
To gain further influence over the subdomain of alchemy continue to build your alchemical knowledge and create a cult of alchemists that worship you as their muse and master. To gain further influence over the annelid subdomain use your newfound powers over annelids to turn them to your worship.
Dual subdomain passive powers:
Alchemical creation (Low level): You can create an assortment of alchemical items from nothing. You can instantly create potions of healing and lesser poisons.
You can use this to ensure that your troops are never in need of supplies. You can import these items into other people's inventories, and the items won't even take up space. Instead space will be created specifically for them. You can also decide whether or not to inform people that they've acquired these items.
Alchemical detection: You can detect alchemical items on your mini or not-so-mini maps.
Alchemical manipulation (Low level): Thanks to a combination of other domains and subdomains you can influence, you can manipulate the properties of low-level alchemical creations. This means you can edit potions and poisons, thanks to your healing, alteration, and poisonous powers.
This power can even allow you to transform what looks like a potion of healing into a poison or vice-versa.
Annelid anatomy: You can transform yourself into an annelid. You become an incredible example of annelid prowess, and retain your other powers while doing so. You become a gigantic, earthworm like monstrosity while able to tunnel through the earth.
Annelid mastery: You gain immediate and undeniable mastery over all annelids. This power is strengthened by your mastery over vermin and parasites which is why it functions even on sapient or evolved annelids like subterranean death worms, or flame-breathing tunnelers.
This power is boosted by your influence over the biology domain and thanks to that you can also trigger immediate evolution or devolution in annelids. You can do that at will.
Annelid awakening: Annelids who become aware of you are automatically awoken and utterly and permanently enthralled by you. Sapient annelids experience further enhancement to their intelligence.
Dual subdomain active powers:
Curse of the annelid: You can forcibly transform another creature into an annelid. You can use this power twice per three and a half-day period and you can decide if it's permanent or not or change your mind and edit it one way or the other.
When you use this power you decide what kind of annelid they become and if they retain their intelligence. If you transform someone into an unintelligent annelid you can also assign them a quest to do that will become their priority.
Alchemical destruction: You can destroy an alchemical creation or tool with a sharp glance. No alchemical creation aside from a wonderous item like a philosopher's stone possesses even a chance of surviving this destruction. You can use this twice per twelve-hour period.
Dual subdomain blessing and curse details:
Blessing someone with the alchemical subdomain grants them enhanced natural healing, increases their lifespan, and grants them easier access to wealth. Cursing someone with the alchemical subdomain does the opposite.
Blessing a non-annelid with the annelid subdomain makes annelids friendly towards them and likely to serve them willingly. Cursing a non-annelid with the annelid subdomain makes annelids, leeches in particular, aggressive towards them and causes them to be attacked on sight by annelids.
Blessing an annelid with the subdomain enlarges and strengthens it. It grants it nobility recognized by other annelids. Cursing an annelid with the subdomain shrinks and weakens it, and causes it to be considered an enemy by other annelids, or at least strongly disliked if surrounded by sapient annelids.]
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Nearly three hours passed between the time I entered Dr. Cortes' house and laboratory and the time I left it. I left the good doctor's home feeling quite satisfied. Not only had I gained new skills, but I had also gained new powers as well. I had learned the barest basics of alchemy.
Moments after I closed the door leading into or out of my teacher's home I scanned my environment. When I was satisfied that there was no one who could see me I did away with my physical form and sank into the earth beneath my feet.
I found myself in an airless space and was grateful for the fact that I didn't need to breathe. It gave me so many options when it came to travel. I immediately warped to the encampment I was determined to destroy, and set about performing reconnaissance.
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I found myself standing undetected and undetectably in the center of the encampment. All around me I could see new sights.
I stood on a flat area, surrounded by resettled ruins. The ruins took on the form of clearly ancient and weathered stone buildings and inside of those stone buildings labored a number of people. Some of the people were human beings, but most weren't.
I saw slaves of countless types, some of which were both surface and dark elves, some of which were dwarves, others of which were rarer creatures like gnomes, and strange creatures that vaguely resembled humans but with arachnid features such as a spiderlike lower-body, or even a scorpion's tail.
The slaves of the encampment were the majority of what I saw here. But I detected the reptilefolk. I knew they were close, deeper in the ruin-centered encampment. This area was a pair of interconnected caverns that housed thousands of reptilefolks. Where I was was the outermost cavern where guards watched over slaves who performed menial and manual labor.
I set off to lay my eyes on reptilefolk guards.