The Empires Rise

I minimize the window for the small achievement and take another quick look at my settlement menu.

Settlement Information:

Name: Caelnova

Tier: Roadside Hovel

Level: 2

Experience: 0/25

Territory Size: 1.1Km X 1.1Km

Buildings:

Hut Level 1

Small Dock Level 1

Small Garden Level 1

Tasks: Have a population of 5 or more. (1/5)

Make at least 2 excursions past the edge of your territory. (0/2)

Seeing that I need to have a higher population gives me a good point to start with, also seeing that I have to make excursions past the territories border anyways it gives me a good quick way to level up the settlement again.

Not worrying about the building menu at this moment since I have time to figure it all out I go for my reward and pick the Small Population Box.

It plops down at my feet, and giving a quick analysis on it explains that the box has a chance of giving 1-4 population summoning scrolls. Opening the box anyways since I am curious as to what the population summoning scrolls do, I find out pretty quickly.

- Population Summoning Scroll: Summons one humanoid near the location of the user of this scroll. -

I feel like my luck is pretty good today after the fiasco of trying to figure out my enchanting profession. There are 4 scrolls inside of the chest. Rubbing my eyes not fully believing it since that is the amount I would need to complete a task on my list.

Giving my companion a quizzical look I ask, "Soooooo, how exactly do I use this scroll."

"That is actually quite simple, typical people can tear off the wax seal that is on the scroll and toss it into the air and it will complete the summoning. I know high level mages don't even need to tear off the seal personally and can use magic to open them."

Following the simple instructions I quickly tear the wax seal off of the scroll and lob it into the air. Before it has a chance to fall to the ground there is a flash of light with a portal hovering just above the ground and out steps what appears to be a human sized being.

As they walk out I get a slight chill down my spine as I start to hear a very familiar sound. Panicking a little as to what I should do in this situation I look for Ritotorous to find him flying a couple of meters away from me, and from the looks of it he has positioned himself so that he might be able to get in between me and this new figure.

"Calm down." I hear in my head. "They are not here to hurt you, I can tell you that. They are new to this world and you with the most knowledge will be a good guide for these people."

I look back at where the portal was to find a skeletal figure standing there stock still. A bleached skull with blue flames in the sockets, boney hands grasping a staff in hand with very familiar robes on to signify that they are a mage as well.

"Are you sure they won't attack me?" I semi-shout in my head to Ritotorous.

"If they were going to, they would have already. I would say that now would be a good time to either continue summoning with the remaining three scrolls or save them for later."

I look at my soul bound companion with shock in my eyes about how he can be so certain that I will not be attacked. With as much courage as I can muster I quickly analyze the being in front of me.

Name: ???

Race: ???

Level: ???

Getting all question marks makes me concerned but knowing that they have entered the world just like I had means that I know their level is 1 even if it just shows the question marks.

Noticing that I am looking at it I also feel like someone has poked at my body. Not knowing the exact reason why I ask Ritotorous. "I just got a slight feeling of being poked, what exactly was that about?"

"That would be your new hovelite analyzing you."

"Wait so I can feel when someone analyzes me?”

"No, only when you are close in power level do you feel someone else's prods at your information."

Nodding my head I hear a voice that sounds dry like it has just walked out of a tomb.

"So are you going to introduce yourself, or should I start?"

A bit startled by the question I reply by pure instinct with just a slight stutter. "M-M-M-My name is D-D-Drake Tald-d-drit."

With an elegant bow they introduce themselves. "And my name is Laxreal Wraithwhisper, it is a pleasure to meet you. Would you be so kind as to explain what is going on here and the reason why I was summoned by a human from what I can tell?"

Landing in front of me, Ritotorous quickly points at the remaining scrolls and looks up at me with a meaning that he wants me to open them.

"I-I-I" I stutter before taking a couple of deep breaths. "I will tell you but first I have to know, what exactly are you? And also as you can see I need to open a couple more of these scrolls." While pointing down towards the pile of scrolls.

Replying to my question he states with a slightly haughty tone, "I am part of the great race of Undead. And I see, it would make more sense to open those scrolls first and inform everyone together instead of having to repeat yourself. Hmm?" Looking down he sees Ritotorous. Quickly bowing he looks Ritotorous and states, in a manner only from what I have seen on my home planet as a religious fanatic, "How could I have been so blind as to not see one of the great Bringer of Death ravens. Oh how auspicious this day is that I came to find you here!"

Ritotorous quickly looks at me as if I would have any information on what exactly is going on. I just shrug my shoulders finding that Laxreal is far less threatening than I first thought after this little incident.

Stepping forward with a little bit of courage I place my hand gently on Laxreal's shoulder helping him up and I inform him quickly, "That is Ritotorous, he is my soul bonded companion. And I would like to know more information about what you mean but right now I want to get on with summoning more people so if it is alright can I have you step to the side?"

With shock on his face Laxreal looks several times in between myself and Ritotorous before asking in a confused manner, "Soul bonded companion?"

"Not now." I inform him, "Once everyone is here then I will give you a brief rundown of what we are doing and what the goal is here."

Bowing to me one more time only this time a bit lower out of what I can feel is respect for me he doesn't step to the side but behind me. I pick up Ritotorous and rest him on my shoulder and mention it to him. "Please keep an eye on him, I don't like the fact that he went behind me and don't trust him yet."

Getting a quick nod in reply. I open the next summoning scroll, again the portal opens us above the ground. A rustle of wings comes from the portal and I see a man with wings on his back, a buckler on his back, a sword at his side. He is wearing sandals, baggy blue pants that have clouds depicted on them with a matching top. His eyes are a deep emerald in color giving the image of vitality.

I receive a quick bow, and I quickly walk forward to raise him up and give him a handshake as a greeting while introducing myself. After getting up and shaking my hand awkwardly he introduces himself. "My name is Uxa Sizzok." Noticing just a second later that Laxreal is behind me still he goes to draw his weapon.

Panicking slightly I go to stop him. "Ux...Ux... Uxa, that is Laxreal, don't hurt him!"

"What do you mean don't hurt him obviously he is undead."

"Well that is quite rude of you," I hear Laxreal state. "I have not done anything wrong and I have not seen, let alone heard of what you could possibly be so I know that my kind has no animosity with you."

"What do you mean you don't know what I am?" Uxa on guard asks while pushing me to one side. "I have fought your kind all of my life, I have battled with the liches and necromancers since I was a young Tengu. And you are telling me that you don't even know what I am. That is the highest insult I could ever receive, I can only regain my honor through a duel."

I quickly step back in front of him and sign a little bit. "Uxa, I was going to explain this later when everyone has arrived but I will do a quick explanation right now. Laxreal, my raven companion and myself all come from different worlds. There should be no need for you to fight Laxreal right now!"

"And how do you know that we all come from different worlds?" Uxa glares over at me.

"Easy, on my planet there are no such creatures as undead. It took me a minute to get my wits about me since I thought that it was a skeletal mage that crossed over my fence and into my little safe zone without me knowing."

Skeptically Uxa withdraws his hand from the pommel of his sword and steps away from Laxreal and I. "I will trust what you have to say for now but I will want a full explanation of what is going on."

I nod to him and then reach down to grab another scroll.

Again the portal, this time a slightly slouched figure comes out. Looking at her, I see a bow and quiver on her back, and a dagger at her waist. With what I feel is a slightly haunting gait she comes to a stop just outside of the portal. She has obsidian black eyes, deathly pale skin with small bits missing from one of her cheeks. Several of her fingers are missing flesh as well.

Since this is the third time in a short while I quickly introduce myself to this undead. In response I get a grunt with a firm look behind me. Rubbing my temple quickly I look back to see Laxreal looking over quizzically. I also look over to Uxa to see his hand is again on the pommel of his sword looking at me with some rage.

I quickly hold my hands up to the sky as a sign of defeat as to what is happening. Then to my utmost surprise I hear a quite lovely voice, one that isn't so high pitched to remind me of those idols back on my planet, but not low enough where it is almost gravelly. "So if it isn't Laxreal the Failed Sorcerer. Who would have thought that I would run into such an 'esteemed' individual after being pulled from tracking my target down."

"I mean I wouldn't say that I am a failed sorcerer, just not very well accomplished." I hear it come out of Laxreal's mouth though I don't think the last part was supposed to be heard. "And you have caught me at a disadvantage my dear lady, if you wouldn't mind by chance introducing yourself to me?"

"Hmmmm." She ponders, "I guess it couldn't hurt since I am sure that you have heard of my family. My name is Strauvana Void."

"You mean THE Void family that is known for its tracking, and scouting?" Laxreal says in astonishment.

"The very same."

Looking between the two of them with a little shock on my face that they both come from the same planet and by the sounds of it very important families at that. I find that I am slowly getting surrounded by very important people. With Laxreal being from what seems to be a line of sorcerers, Strauvana from a line of hunters and trackers, and Uxa seems to also come from a long line of warriors based on how he holds himself.

I look back onto my family. I don't exactly see too much. I mean my sibling being a doctor, my father is a successful publisher for medical journals, and my mothers art has been shown throughout the world but I wouldn't say my family is a household name that is for certain.

I take a deep breath and look at Uxa. "Would you like to open the last scroll as it seems that my luck has run out and you might just kill me thinking that I am purposefully summoning all of these undead to surround you."

Looking carefully at the scroll, he nods his head before breaking it open and for the fourth time today the portal opens. I heave a huge sigh of relief as I see that the humanoid that is coming out of the gate this time isn't an undead. Though she is something that is for sure. She stands at 3 meters tall but for the most part she is hunched down partially, she brings with her a staff and robes again showing that she is a mage. Her skin has a green tint to it and there is also a crown of feathers on her head making her look very shaman-like.

I look at Uxa and then I slowly approach her before introducing myself. And with a very heavy islander style of accent introduces herself. "I be Zul'Zara, it be a pleasure knowing you. Might I be inquiring 'bout what we be doin' next?"

Looking at everyone I have a thought that this will work out far better than I had hoped before I start explaining everything that I know so far.