Dungeon of Doors

~ Mother, Core Chambers ~

Deep in the bowels of the dungeon, sits my laboratory. I've not personally visited in quite some time. The only reason I'm visiting it today is to check how the texture of a few materials feel that I've been experimenting with. The wood in Aquartis, its paper equivalent, and voidium.

My steps are the only noise in the eerily quiet chambers as I walk. The darkness is kept at bay by a few sparse lantern stones I installed ages ago. My shadow is long, cast down the tunnel and into the lab as I walk.

Upon entering the lab the first thing I notice is the smell. Sawdust, plant matter, and a coppery tang. This place smells so much more intense than my usual core chambers. I frown at the presence of the aromas. I've got this room ventilated, so why does it smell so particular?

I ignore the smell for now and approach the table where I've got the items set out for me to handle. Small cubes of each material. It is as I approach the table that I pass by a countertop that something catches my eye. An experiment from early in my time here--a glass vessel filled with a strange luminous gas. The greenish blue stuff is a mystery. I brought it about when trying to see if I could resurrect anyone from the dead. The experiment was a failure, and so I left this weird gas in the jar for later testing.

On a whim I grab the jar and hold it aloft. It's quite pretty, like a lava lamp in many regards. The green cloud swirls in the confines of the glass. I'm staring at it absentmindedly when something catches my eye. The gas is forming a familiar shape, one that furrows my brow.

That's a face in the fog.

I shriek, dropping the jar as the face contorts into a disturbing mask of agony. The glass shatters violently upon the stone floor. Shards scatter across the floor, and the green tinged gas is freed in a puff of mist. I scramble backwards a few steps to get away from the expanding cloud. The face of a person is visible in the fog, while arms and legs twist and jab at the air randomly.

"O-Oh shit, what did I just do?!"

My terror only increases as the thing begins to turn jagged and rough around the edges. It grows closer to me, hovering like a phantom. My eyes widen as the thing twists into a swirling mess of limbs and facial features. My breath hitches when the fog finally condenses into a recognizable figure.

Hovering in front of me is none other than the very dead Lord Fredrick of Daywark, the man who used to run the town Woodrin is currently housed in. He's wearing somewhat torn clothing that reflects his wealth in its fine materials. In his hand is a book, and his face is human--except his eyes have a supernatural glow.

"Pardon me, but are you the one who freed me from that awful prison?"

Lord Fredrick's ghostly voice is chilling to hear. It echoes strangely, as if coming through some kind of tunnel to another chamber. His eyes follow me as I dust myself off. I clear my throat before speaking, thankful I have my amulet to make myself sound much more mysterious than I actually am.

"I did free you, yes, but I believe there is a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? Do you know something about that awful thing I was trapped inside?"

I have to swallow my fear as I speak to the apparition. I don't know what he's capable of, and I don't know if my warding enchantment on the amulet will actually keep him from harming me.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I'm the one who trapped you in there."

Lord Fredrick's expression twists into one of irritation. His human features begin to warp slightly as his eyes glow brighter, flame-like green light emitting from each of his eyes. His mouth starts to twist down into a scowl. His human teeth are nowhere to be found, instead an oddly dark void opens as his mouth opens just slightly.

"It was not purposeful! I had no idea you were conscious, nor that it would be uncomfortable!"

It is a challenge to speak with any authority while trying to desperately defend my actions. Lord Fredrick's face returns to normal as he lets out a dejected sigh. It's uncomfortable having to look up at the man like this. He's hovering off the ground, his legs dangling oddly.

"Fine. I'll take your word for it, stranger. Now do you mind telling me what exactly is going on?"

The way Lord Fredrick is acting makes it clear he's got no clue where he is or who I am. I probably shouldn't try to hide anything from him, at least about the dungeon itself.

"You're inside my realm's nexus. We are in my laboratory, specifically."

"Your realm's nexus?"

"Yes, what you call a dungeon is simply a part of my domain. The dungeon you're familiar with is known as Woodrin, the forest dungeon."

For the first time since being freed Lord Fredrick actually looks pleased. His brows raise and the light in his eyes shines as he grins at my words. He opens the book he's been holding onto this whole time, and writes in it with a quill I swear he wasn't holding a moment ago. His writing glows on the pages of the green ethereal tome.

"Fascinating! You're the one responsible for the dungeon, its creator!"

"Yes, my creations call me Mother."

"Mother? Well that can't be your name, so what am I to call you?"

My mouth feels dry as I open it to speak. What is my name? I've never had a reason to give it to anyone before now, and I'm not sure I have one. The memories I have of my past are scattered and strange. Things from the last life I lived don't connect to a name or much of an identity.

"Are you alright?"

I nod my head at his question. If I don't have a name, then I'll just have to give myself one.

Something mysterious and grand. Not too flowery though, or no one will remember it. I think a name like Vitalia will do, since I'm a mystical figure.

"You may call me Vivian-" I blink, having misspoke.

"Vivian? Not what I expected out of a being such as yourself, but fair enough."

"Ahem. My name is perfectly suitable, Lord Fredrick."

Damn it. Now I've gone and given myself the first name that came to my tongue, not the one I wanted! Oh well, it should be fine.

"Speaking of names, how is it that you know mine?"

"I can see all that happens within my realm, Lord Fredrick. The moment you stepped foot inside I learned your name, as well as the names of those accompanying you."

Lord Fredrick continues to scribble away at his book, noting things I say as if they're implicitly true. He finally turns away from his book to face me with a stern look on his face. His demeanor is different now. Muted with the somber weight of loss.

"If you are capable of bringing me back, then might you be capable of bringing back the others? Many lives were lost in this place."

I take a deep breath. I should have expected him to ask this question, but hearing it still puts me on edge. This whole ordeal was more of an accident than an intentional act. I'm not sure if I could bring someone back as a ghost, or whatever Lord Fredrick currently is.

"I can make no promises, but I will try to do so."

"Thank you, Vivian."

"In return I would ask you aid me with a few things."

"Oh? What might you need of me?"

~

My hands are shaking when I return to my core chamber. I brought someone back to life. Like a necromancer, or some kind of god! The realization floors me even as I walk to my core. I do my best not to dwell on thoughts of morality as I place my hand on the round glowing sphere. My body is left behind, and I float up effortlessly.

Lord Fredrick wants his comrades to be brought back from the dead. Of course he will be compensating me by helping manage the dungeon. He's fascinated with the dungeon as a whole as well as me, and I think the biggest reason he is willing to help is because he wants to find out more about the dungeon.

I can't imagine how he'd feel if he knew I was just some girl who woke up like this without any explanation. I'd best not reveal the truth.

My gaze pauses on Lord Fredrick. He's currently looking around the laboratory while writing things down in his book. I've warned him not to tamper with anything for his own safety, so it should be fine. I move my focus from him to the rocky earth surrounding the dungeon. It is time to make a new branch of the dungeon. One suited to my unexpected guests.

I start by using my mana to carve away the rock. Voidium reinforces the edges while air fills the gaps left by the rock I'm absorbing. I don't stop working at the space until I've got my standard kilometer wide dome shaped cavern. Once it is the right size I give it a coating of sky rock. The sky depicted is a dreary one, greenish grey fog creeps in from the illusory boundaries of the space to blanket the ground. Distant lonely mountain peaks and the occasional silhouette of a ruined structure on a far off hilltop serve as this level's backdrop.

As for the terrain, I decide a good thick coating of soil would be suitable. The rich soil is then given a coating of grass seeds. Of course this isn't ordinary grass, as that wouldn't suit the style of this level. It grows into thin fraying fibers that resemble spider webs. Each strand is pigmented with a very soft yellowish brown, making it look dead. I plant several spiderwick trees as well before using mana to force the plants to grow rapidly.

When I'm done I've got a fairly eerie yet natural looking expanse. The perfect canvas to paint a ghost town onto.

Lord Fredrick requested I give him and any others who are brought back from death a home. So, to fulfill his request I create houses. They're not perfectly well kept, but they're not dilapidated in any way. Each small home is only as weathered as they would be if they stood here for decades. I model the houses off the buildings in Daywark. Hopefully the residents will appreciate the familiar sights.

Some furniture is placed in the homes. I leave it purposefully light in terms of decor. I'm not entirely sure if a ghost can interact with the physical world, but my hope is they will add personal touches to their houses.

With the houses finished I move onto the town as a whole. Cobbled roads that are obscured by dirt and mud connect the houses in a loose network. The center of the village is occupied by a well, fully functional and startlingly deep. I fill the well with water--although the ghosts probably won't drink--and I even go so far as to add a treasure chest at the bottom of the well.

Probably not necessary. I suppose habits are hard to break.

I move on from the well and add fencing around the edges of the town. There are old weathered roads leading out of the town in several directions, but they don't lead anywhere just yet. I make sure to create a way to keep people--and ghosts--from trying to walk into the illusion. The dire shadows make for a great basis for dire fog. While it looks completely different, dire fog serves the same purpose. You'll be swallowed up if you attempt to walk into the thick green tinted cloud.

This cloud is only kept at bay by the addition of an obelisk embedded into the chimney of one of the houses. To the untrained eye the obelisk looks like a piece of masonry with scratches on it, but it is far more.

The environment is complete. Now all that is left is the resurrection of the lost souls, those who died in my dungeon. Lord Fredrick will want to watch this.