Unbound

Name: Scaldara

Type: Superior Elemental (Earth/Fire)

As with the Frostfather, the rest of its information was a collection of question marks…but its power was undeniable. It was a Tier VIII creature. High Grandmaster.

“The Dwarves did this?” Archie asked.

“Looks like it.”

“That’s brutal.” Archie stepped closer and the elemental shifted. “It’s still alive?!”

Strung up on chains the size of Manaships, the Superior Elemental was made up of stone and living lava. Unmoving half-molten limbs, dozens of them, were clapped in enchanted chains while vast hooks were jammed into the center of its burning body, and pieces of it were split and spread by twenty-foot-thick spikes. Like a bug pinned to a board. Magma poured from wide fissures in steady streams, but its non-humanoid form was hard to parse. Was that its blood?

“I think so,” he said. Felix couldn’t tell how hurt the thing might have been, but it was clear that pieces of the elemental had been torn away.

Scattered across the chamber, a variety of workstations and meticulously organized tool racks were set up around those pieces. Heat-resistant trays displayed slabs of half-molten stone, with several of them bearing unfinished sigaldry on their tops. Large, sturdy containers were nearby, built to Dwarven preferences and clearly used to store and sort the…materials extracted from the elemental.

A wide forge dominated one corner of the room, big enough to make restraints for a Superior Elemental. It was dark, as were a number of inscribed lights around the cavern. Whoever worked here hadn’t been in a while.

“Blighted Night, what happened here?” Evie asked, just before Beef and Hallow entered.

“Lava waterfalls? Cool.” The young Minotaur’s eyes brightened. “Is this an enchanting thing? Atar never lets me into his Glyphworks. Says I’m too clumsy.”

“Son, they’re butchering this thing alive for parts,” Archie pointed out.

Beef’s face fell. “O-oh. Oh no. That’s bad. Wait, what's that?”

Pit chirruped. “It looks like a monster core. A big one.”

Big was an understatement. Felix had devoured creatures with cores bigger than him, but this rivaled the Oathweaver in size and was utterly bathed in flows of molten lava. He approached, carefully.

“Watch your step. And someone get Yintarion. He’ll want to see this.”

Evie darted back out, dodging past the Chanters as they entered with Harn. Felix, Pit, Beef, and Archie all crept forward, spreading out among the workstations.

“Lots of…chunks over here,” Pit reported.

“Here, too.”

“Inscription tools also. They’re all blackened and twisted, though,” Beef said.

Felix glanced at them, Eye active. “Heat-resistant tools instead of heatproof. They’ve been trying to manipulate materials carved from the elemental.”

“Looks like they’ve been at it a long time.” Archie looked around the tables and benches, his small size offering him little in the way of line of sight. “Where’d they all go?”

“There’s no sign of anyone,” Pit said.

That proved true, even as they made their way to the other side of the large forge. Beyond it was the core, situated on a pedestal of dark stone that was riddled with molten cracks. The flows of lava from above fell atop the core and split, coursing down to create a waterfall of molten stone that splashed into deep recesses around the pedestal’s base.

Despite that, the core was far easier to see now that they were closer. It was an extremely smooth orb, appearing to be made entirely of lava but with a shininess that suggested a glass-like coating. Tendrils of near-solid lava hung from its sides, clearly attached to the core and stretched back upward into the body far above.

“It’s like it was removed and pulled down here,” Felix said. He grimaced. “But it’s still swirling, still feeding power through the elemental’s Body.”

“That’s messed up.”

“We finally agree, Beef,” Archie said. “Hey. There’s stuff over here.”

Arrayed below the pedestal and just beyond the veil of lava was a platform fitted with dozens of stout, red-gold racks. On them were a number of things, most of which were glowing intensely with heat, fire, and earth Mana. However, the lavafall all around it effectively cut it off from casual approach.

“Looks expensive,” Pit said. “Powerful.”

Felix nodded. “Might be what we’re looking for.”

“How do we get across, though?” Beef stuck his hammer into the lava flow and pulled it back with a yelp when steam erupted violently around him. He quickly inspected the head and found metal and bits of stone hardened around the edge of Bedlam’s ice. “I uh, don’t think that’ll work.”

“I can’t pass through lava,” Archie said with a shudder. “Tried once. Didn’t go well.”

“Let me try something,” Felix said and lifted his hands.

Stone Shaping!

Cardinal Flame!Ferric Shaping!

All three Skills sounded within Felix’s chest, and he mingled them as much as he could. They were part of the same Skill Array, after all. Similarities existed, and he leveraged them for all they were worth. His Mana caught at a portion of the lava, and swiftly he shaped his Intent, bolstering it with the foundation of his Willpower. The molten stone twisted, pieces of it splitting sideways as if flowing over an invisible arch, until a six-foot-wide by ten-foot-tall gap was cut through the lavafall.

Stone Shaping is level 98!

Cardinal Flame is level 97!

Ferric Shaping is level 56!

…

Ferric Shaping is level 68!

Felix marveled at the working for a second. The Stone Shaping is melding just enough with Cardinal Flame to affect the lava…and both of them together are bolstering the weaker Ferric Shaping Skill.Because of the Skill Array?

He had to assume that was the case…and it made him consider a great many new options for his magic.

“How’d you learn that?” Archie asked.

“Practice and guesswork, mostly.” Felix gestured through the empty archway. “Watch your step.”

The four of them slipped through with ease. Felix braced for the heat to ratchet up inside the lava-surrounded platform, but if anything, it was cooler there than the workshop itself. Four rows of shelving flanked them, two to a side, each made of orichalcum and built heavily enough to support an elephant. On those shelves were a number of things, ranging from large crystals to silver-green gauntlets and even a row of vibrant potions. Felix traced his Voracious Eye across them and gasped.

“We hit the jackpot,” Archie said with a grin. His ruby eyes gleamed in the lava light. “I take back everything bad I ever said about you, Felix.”

Felix snorted. “I’m honored.”

All of them sifted through the items on display, which was remarkably easy since each one was labeled with a small steel plaque. Some were useless, like specialized tongs to pull samples out of elemental lava, but a few were of interest to them.

Name: Eternal Ember

Type: Material (Elemental) (Fire)

Lore: A mote of flame that will never extinguish. Captured from within the living core of Scaldara, the Superior Elemental of Earth and Fire.

Name: Forgeborn Gauntlets

Type: Armor (enchanted)

Lore: Forged from the cooled scales of a living Superior Elemental, these gauntlets increase the potency of fire-based Skills and increase Dexterity by 15 points.

Name: Emberheart Crystal

Type: Material (Elemental) (Fire)

Lore: A glowing red crystal infused with the essence of the living Superior Elemental Scaldara, capable of enhancing fire-based spells and weapons.

Name: Volcanic Tear Potion

Type: Consumable (Elemental) (Fire/Earth)

Lore: A potent elixir brewed from the tears of the living Superior Elemental Scaldara. When consumed, it temporarily grants the user an extra fifty levels in Fire Resistance and increases their Strength and Agility by 100. Effects last for a quarter glass.

The potions were immensely useful, if for nothing else than the astronomical stat boost they offered. The others were all useful in their own way, though he imagined Atar would absolutely love them. Felix gathered them all up, tucking them into his bag.

“Hey, check this out,” Archie said. “Enchanted items just hanging from pegs over here.”

Felix slid past Pit and Beef as they poked around the shelves and walked to where Archie was running his hands over the wall. “They’re in cubbies, too. Weird.”

Voracious Eye!

Name: Lavaflow Boots

Type: Armor (enchanted)Lore: Sturdy boots forged from a combination of rare metals and cooled lava, granting the wearer the ability to walk molten surfaces unharmed.

Name: Lavaflow Apron

Type: Armor (enchanted)

Lore: An apron fashioned from rare metals, high-quality hide, and cooled lava, granting the wearer increased protection from molten earth, metal, and fire in general.

Six aprons were on pegs, and an equal amount of boots were tucked into small, open-faced closets. The aprons were charred in places, and the boots had pieces of metal and stone stuck to their soles. “They’ve been used. Regularly. These are like uniforms.”

“Aha!” Archie said as his hand sunk into the stone wall far faster than he had through mithril. “There’s a door here! Bigger than I expected, though. Hm. Inside is lined with something I can’t push through, but I think I can feel the mechanism.”

His hand twisted, and there was a sharp click. The wall hissed as a seal of stone pulled back, melting away in much the same way as the Rockshaper’s atelier did. Archie pulled his hand free and grasped the edge. “The array has gotta be in here!”

“Felix!” Pit shouted, and glee radiated across their bond. “Felix! I found it!”

Felix hesitated, glancing to Archie as he slowly pulled the door open. “Go. Handle your business. I’ll handle mine.”

Quick as a flash, Felix was at Pit’s side. Set back on the farthest shelf was a box made entirely of orichalcum, but the plaque in front of it clearly stated “Mote of Frenzy.” It said nothing else, no type or lore details. Instead, a glowing wheel flashed on the front of the box, individual sigils lighting up in a random sequence.

“It’s in the box,” Pit said. “But it’s locked. See?”

“That’s not gonna stop us.” Felix studied the arcane lock with his Manasight without touching it. Threads of it were woven through the metal, and he got the feeling that something bad would happen if he tore it open. “Maybe I could eat the ward.”

He reached out. The orichalcum box was no bigger than his spread fingers, and he grabbed it easily. It was heavy. He grunted as it came fully off the shelf. It was very heavy.

“I think—” A flash of sigiladry caught Felix’s eye as it zipped from the shelf to the floor. “Shit shit shit.”

The sigils raced across the floor and into the wall…right where Archie stood. The door he’d been struggling with suddenly slid open without any further resistance.

“Huh. I think I’m stronger than I thought!” Archie looked up in alarm as three more doors opened to either side of him. “Oh no.”

Within the huge doorways, a purple-white light swirled, and four enormous Golems stepped out. At eleven feet tall, they appeared to be wearing elaborate armor in an ancient design, but they were carved entirely out of a dark rock. A fluid, swirling web of inscriptions extended across their faceted chests, arms, and legs but large swaths were marred with deep scratches. Their eyes blazed, and their mouths opened wide.

“Violation! In the name of the Hinterlords, you shall be detained!”

That purple-white glow intensified, forming a cloak of power that surged as they lifted their arms together.

“Get down!” Beef shouted, just as the Golems unleashed a blast of violet energy at all four of them. Shelves froze over in an instant, the blasts further cooling the enchanted air so that all their labored breathing turned white.

Voracious Eye!

Felix stumbled back in surprise, then was shoving Pit backward. “Out! Get out through the lava door! Don’t let those beams touch you!”

Archie scurried ahead, just barely dodging the second round of beams. “Wasn’t planning on it!”

Beef Charged through the lava door first, his Body a blur as he utilized his Skill, but Felix and Pit were right after. Archie, being the farthest away, was the last, and the moment his little legs hurled himself over the moat, Felix acted.

The shaped archway vanished, and the waterfall of molten stone continued, unabated.

“What the hell were those things?” Archie demanded.

“Golems, right?” Beef said.

“I’ve seen Golems. Those weren’t like anything I’ve seen trundling around in Birchstone.”

Felix licked his lips. The lava was pouring down fast and hard and was intensely hot…but would it be enough? “Tzfell!”

“Autarch?”

The Chanters, Evie, and Harn were spread out in the room, each of them carrying a satchel of treasure. Vess floated down from above, where the Wyrmling was still inspecting the Superior Elemental core.

“We need to get out of here and seal this workshop,” Felix said. “Vess, get Yin.”

“Of course.” She leaped upward, wind swirling after her.

A liquid crackle cut through the air as something slammed into the lavafall, causing it to bulge slightly before releasing a belch of steam.

Archie rounded on Felix, poking him in the thigh. “What are you talking about? We can’t leave yet! I haven’t found the array!”

“We can search the other parts of the vault. Those things are too powerful to mess with.”

“I searched the vault! Gold and Troll pelts won’t do me any good if I’m dead!”

Without warning, a purple beam ripped through the lavafall, cutting between Felix and Archie.

Status Condition: Frostburn (Minor)

Frostburn (Minor) - Agility and Dexterity are reduced.

Felix clapped a hand to his chest, where frost expanded across his clothes and onto his skin beneath. A fierce thrumming of Sovereign of Flesh fixed it, banishing the Status Condition and covering his torso in thick, midnight scales. The beam hadn’t even come close to Archie.

“God, I’m so glad I’m short,” he said, his voice tight.

“Everyone! Back!” Felix commanded, just as the lavafall burst into a cataract of steam.

Four simultaneous thuds announced their visitors, and when the steam cleared, they stood wreathed in their icy purple power as the lava cooled around them.

“Eidolon Exults,” Tzfell hissed. “I was right!”

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