30
Ultimately I decided to choose Facsimile. It requires a lot of investment at the start. But I am convinced it will be worth it. Other reason is that I felt like I am too specialized. Already heavily invested in willpower that greatly empower my magical capabilities. Just in the last battle, if Teclis did not interfere, my magic already could turn the tide. While picking lust concept will just make me too focused on just another one aspect. So I pick Facsimile for more versatility and more options to engage with oncoming problems. Might also give me options for diplomacy or sabotage too.
Immediately tries the mimicry spell. Turning into a copy of Wolfe who barked in surprise. My sense of smell heightened again and damn there is just so much. So I don't stay in his form too long. I immediately try to turn into Druig. My already towering body become even more taller and beefier. Wolfe start circling me and sniffing me around. I felt a detached sense of annoyance, a desire to find a fight, and an idea to rebuke Wolfe to stop. Is this how Druig will feel in my position? Or is this how my own idea of how Druig will respond?. Maybe I need to ask him personally to be sure later.
Then I start to turn to Kal and Lak respectively. I want to know what my own idea of their personality that I have. As Kal I felt not much different and doesn’t get a detached sense on what he felt. Does it mean that my personality and Kal match? Or I just don’t know much about him? But I do know that Kal is calmer and more thoughtful than Lak and Druig. Maybe it's just not much different from my nature as a daemon? As Lak I get a detached sense that I should be doing something or find a beastmen to mate with. She did look like a child that will get anxious when not doing anything. Seems like the core of facsimile is more mental than physical.
Mimicry level up
Level 1 -> Level 2
Leveled up already. Seems like I am heading to the right direction. Changing back to my original form and contemplate how to quickly level this concept. Wolfe stopped circling and sniffing me then bark again in surprise. Does this mean the mimicry also mimics body odor and such? This also require more testing.
Then I test if facsimile can just generally change the shape of myself. I start with testing if my hand can meld into a blade. It can but require more focus and time than just mimic someone else. I stopped focusing and channeling magic to see if the change is permanent. It wasn’t permanent and my hand shift back after 30 or so second. I can mimic as a box to infiltrate a town or city later to focus leveling this concept later. For now I will keep watch until the search party returned.
—
It was at midnight when the search parties returned. Druig along with 3 other Bovigors carried a huge stone easily four times their sizes. The herd roared in cheer at their return. They also brought at least a hundred new beastwomen. Their brown furs and smaller size compared to our own beastwomen a clear indication that they are not one of us. Seems like they take some proactive measures against the raids they have endured.
112 Beastwomen captured
2 Attribute points gained
Nice. Putting away the notification screen, Druig and his Bovigors arrived in front of me. They put down the stone. Creating a deep thudding sound and a small quake. Then they step back to give me space to begin my work. I channeled all my magic power and divinity into the stone. Shaping it directly according to my whim. I shaped the stone into a rectangular shape and design it like a gate. For my emblem I carved a circle within an eight pointed star within a circle.
Then I can choose what type of magic the herdstone will channel, gather, and redirect. I can choose high magic where it will support the flow of other waystones that dotted the Old World’s landscape. This in turn will also support the balance of the great vortex at the center of Ulthuan. The second choice is that I can make it to indefinitely gather and pile the stagnate winds of magic, turning it into dark magic which will kill all life within the vicinity and get a constant supply of warpstone. The third is to make it a direct wellspring of magic, making it a practically infinite source for my magic if I am nearby and also make it my permanent seat of power until it is destroyed. This will make sure my Divinity will affect the surrounding region even when I am not present while also make it a direct connection to the warp.
My choice is clear. I lifted the gate herdstone to a stand, floating a few meter above the ground. Lak and the herd also start lifting the finished totems around the camp. As the herdstone touched the ground I make my choice. Turning it into a wellspring of magic. A connection are made to the warp. Golden beam of pure magic shoots out to the sky. Winds of magic that is visible to normal eyes start to flow out. Through my herdstone I saw the beast pathways. A corrupted and crude copy of the Paths of the Old Ones that is partially within another dimension which link to many other herdstone within the old world. My herd let out a thunderous roar. Not only we now have a sacred ground for ourselves, we now also an emblem for our banners.
Divinity level up
Level 1 -> level 2
Alignment Shift | |
Self | 45% (+3%) |
Slannesh | 40% (-3%) |
Khorne | 12% |
Tzeentch | 0% |
Nurgle | 3% |
Already I felt myself having an unlimited power. But not exactly. The herdstone is a source of infinite magic yes. But the rate of magic it generates is still limited. Still could help me fling powerful magic nonstop if I pace the usage. Then the beam of pure magic eventually stopped as the connection stabilized.
You have constructed the third albeit very crude warp gate It is currently too small and weak to be properly used for direct travel through the warp All divine eyes took notice of your action |
The four Chaos Gods took interest in your gate They would like you to properly and completely construct the third gate Each donates 20 souls and 10 attribute points |
Donations? You mean investment so they can use my gate as a new invasion point. This also confirm the fact that I can upgrade my herdstone. But that is for later. Now is the time for celebration as the herd turned into another orgy.
—
Just like how Archaon tales of exploits gather untold number of norscan tribes, wild and sporadic beastmen tribes too have heard the golden herd. Though they are relatively new, almost all beastmen knows them. Partly in Malagor’s attempt to dissuade other herds to join them by blowing their failures out of proportion. Before, lesser herds will not question the Gods dark herald vilifying words. They saw the golden herds like it is just another lesser herd or even downright attacking them on sight.
But now the herds are moving. Some decided to outright join the golden herd after seeing the beam of pure magic. Their bray-shamans confirms that the dark gods attention are focused on the golden herd. Some foolhardy herds saw an opportunity to challenge the golden herd for gaining their blessings as their own. The few big herds not moving. Too far away, already engaged in their own plans, or guarding their own sacred herdstones. But all of them knows.
The End Times is approaching