Evolution: A Warlock’s Rise To Power

Walking onto the landing Lucan could already see the massive change.  The tents and wooden buildings were long gone and replaced with stone structures.  A dock had been built that stretched out into the underground sea and several people were fishing in order to harvest food for the workers.

"Wow, this is amazing."  Super said as he took in the sight.

"He, he, you haven't seen anything yet."  Said oar.  "The dwarves haven been making quick progress on the citadel.  No one is able to doubt their work ethic or motivation.  Last time I checked there were over 5,000 dwarves working on the project.  And more show up every day."

This area was not open to the general public, only those who were related in one way or another to the citadel.  But that didn't mean that there were only construction workers down here.  In fact, a number of shops were already up and running.  The shops mainly sold things from the surface, so the workers didn't have to waste time going up and coming back down.

Lucan was surprised to see that even a few players were running shops or at least working in them. What wasn't a surprise was that half of the buildings were tavern or other establishments that sold alcohol.

"Hey Lucan."  Super said to get his attention.

Lucan turned to see Super staring out across the water with his eyes shining.

"What's up?"

"How far out does it go?"

"When I had Adrestia look around, I found out that water stretches for over 15 miles, and..."

"And what?"

"These fifteen square miles are only a bay of a much larger body of water."

"Yeah, Mr. Hammerstone sent some people to check out how far the water goes, and we know the sea extends for another fifty miles after the bay with still no end in sight.  He called them back and they are thinking about maybe building a gate or something to block off the bay since it is a relatively narrow opening that separates the bay from the sea."

"Ahh, let me, let me do it."  Super said eagerly.

Lucan looked towards him and raised an eyebrow.

"How cool would it be to have an underground floating base.  The tower in the fortress you gave me is great and all, but it isn't really a place in can bring informants and we only have so much space.  If I could build a floating city or carve something into the walls, I could have the perfect base down here."

"Well…"

"Come on.  This is still your territory so I will pay taxes.  I have always wanted an underground lair.  I will even cover the cost for its creation."

"Alright, that is fine.  But if Edgit has any requirements for defenses to protect the bay you need to abide by them.  Don't compromise the whole area just for your lair.  And if it is something that he demands I will pay for it."

"Yes, yes, ha, ha, this is going to be awesome.  It will be the perfect place for shady meetings and underground deals."

Lucan walked away from the sea and headed towards the entrance to the citadel.  A hundred foot tall open lead into the stone.  At the sides several dwarves were working on two massive doors that would be installed when finished.

Stepping into the main hall both Lucan and Super were amazed.  The hall was over a thousand meters long and three hundred meters high.  Thick pillars stood at even intervals to ensure the ceiling didn't cave in.

Looking upwards twinkling lights on the ceiling lit the massive hall.

"How did you get lights all the way up there?"  Super asked.

"Those glow rocks were already there.  And look at these pillars.  They are made from a super dense stone that is ten times harder than normal rock.  They were already placed here with perfect spacing between them.  It wasn't until I saw this room excavated that I fully understood what Mr. Hammerstone meant when he said the citadel was already here just waiting to be dug out."

Lucan nodded as they walked deeper.  There were several hallways off the main hall that echoed the sounds of mining.  At the pillars throughout the room, artesian dwarves had set up scaffolding and were carving images into the vertical columns of stone.

At the end of the hall stood another one hundred meter tall opening.  On the opposite side was a wide and grand stairway that led further down.

"Holy crap."  Sturdy muttered after walking through the future doorway.  Lucan nodded in agreement.

Thousands of dwarves were excavating a massive area that spun several square miles.  The tops of towers and spires were poking out of the stone floor waiting to be freed from the rock.  Bridges spend from the cavern walls to certain towers while the ceiling was covered with even more glow stones than the main hall.

On the far side of the massive cavern, it looked like a grand palace was emerging from the stone wall.  In the future this place could even be a city of its own.

Lucan let out a whistle as he started to walk down the steps.

Oar navigated past several buildings and towers that were only half exposed and lead Lucan to the side cavern wall and into a tunnel that went even further downward.

Fifteen minutes later they stepped out onto a landing where Edgit Hammerstone and a handful of other dwarves were surrounding a table and making plans.

"Baron Quilldrake, thank you for coming all this way."  Ed said as soon as he notice Lucan.

"It looks as if you have all been busy."  Lucan said as he wiped a bit of sweat away from his forehead.  He hadn't noticed it at first, but it was definitely hotter down here compared to the rest of the citadel.

"Oar told me you wanted to see me."

"Yes, yes, it deals with what we were just discussing."  Said the dwarf while stomping on a trap door beneath his feet.  "Down below we have discovered a river of magma below, it originates form a heart of fire.  It will be the perfect place to set up a true dwarven forge."

"That sounds like good news.  What can I help you with?"

"Well you see.  It is the supplies.  The best dwarven forges are built from materials that aren't easily found.  I figured if we are going to do it, we should do it to the best of our ability."

"Okay, I understand.  Get me a list and I will see what I can do."

"Ha, ha, great.  I knew you would understand.  And don't think this is all for nothing.  I am sure you notice the palace that we discover on the far end of the cavern.  You will have a beautiful dwarven built palace when we are finished.  I am not boasting when I say it will even put the castle the Supreme Leader built you to shame."

Lucan smiled.  He was glad to hear Edgit's words.  He was slightly worried that the dwarves may try to kick him out when they are all done.  He felt better after hearing the dwarf's words.

"I will stay out of your way for now.  I would not want to hold up your progress."

"If you don't have anywhere to go, you can stay around for a bit.  We were just discussing the second issue to be dealt with in regards to the forging hall."

"Oh what might that be?"

"ROOAAARRRR!!!!!"

A massive roar shook the walls as Edgit grinned.

"There is a fire wyrm guarding the heart of fire."

"And you want to kill it?"  Lucan asked.

"No, we want to enslave it."  Edgit said as the rest of the dwarves started to rub their palms together with greedy smiles plastered on their faces.  "If we can control the creature we will be able to maintain the temperatures of the furnaces easier and lighting them will be a synch.  Plus the fire wyrm is a great living resource.  with it under our control we will increase our furnaces production speed and our defensive measures will be elevated two fold.  It isn't worth killing it for one time gains.  We were just deciding on how to do the deed."

"Alright, I am listening.  Tell me your plan."