Arcane Engineer: The Awakened Dungeon
Andrew O'Kelley
Copyright © 2020 Andrew O'Kelley
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Art Painter
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
This book is dedicated to all the sleepless nights feeding my daughter. Dream big little one.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Arcane Engineer - The Awakened Dungeon
Chapter 1: Graduation Day
Chapter 2: The Lord and The Chamberlain
Chapter 3: Cadets and Prospects
Chapter 4: The Trial of the Wind
Chapter 5: The Inferno Trial
Chapter 6: The Invoking
Chapter 7: The Lengths of Family
Chapter 8: Last Goodbye
Chapter 9: Higher Loyalty
Chapter 10: Trappings of Power
Chapter 11: Servant of the Empire
Chapter 12:Darkest Night
Chapter 13: The Aftermath
Chapter 14: A Soldier’s Perspective
Chapter 15: The Shop and the Shopkeeper
Chapter 16: To Pay A Debt
Chapter 17: The Webs We Weave
Chapter 18: The Letter Unsealed
Chapter 19: Things Left Behind
Chapter 20: First Duel. The Engineers Labyrinth
Chapter 21: Legion Wall
Chapter 22: Silver-blood
Chapter 22: The Sand Tower
Chapter 23: What Lays Between
Chapter 24: A Warriors Resolve
Chapter 25: An End Before the Beginning
Chapter 26: The Beckoning Dungeon
Arcane Engineer - The Awakened Dungeon
by okelley
Chapter 1: Graduation Day
"This lecture will be the last time I ever see some of you." Said the balding and a rather portly Master Mage Hedrick as he walked up to the blackboard with a piece of chalk in his hand. "For those of you unfamiliar, our Engineer prospects take their practical test today in the old Elemental Dungeon on Campus. If successful, they will no longer be cadets. No longer will they be mere prospects, but full-fledged members of the Mason’s Guild, deserving of all respect and dignity of their position."
A hand shot into the air as one of the younger students, a boy just barely a few months into puberty named Adrian. "Master Hedrick, why are the Engineers treated like they’re better than the rest of Mages? Don’t we all serve the Empire?
Master Hedrick put the put of chalk down and stroked his brown beard, leaving trails of white dust from his fingers. "That’s a decent question, though I would caution you, always mind your tone when talking about your betters. In the eyes of the Empire, Engineers are considered essential elites, and few have the aptitude for it."
Pausing for a second to gather his thoughts, Master Hedrick continued the lecture with an undertone of bitterness that crept into his voice. "Tell me, young Adrian, which is more versatile, which holds more value. Compare for me, mages like ourselves who can wield the elements at our finger-tips to unleash spell after spell? Or an Engineer who creates almost whatever they can imagine, so long as they have the material to do so, and then imbue their creations with the very elements that they wield."
Looking around the classroom, Master Hedrick posed the question to the rest of the class when Adrian could not think of an answer. "Can anyone give an example of some of the more famous constructs created by the Engineers?"
At the back of the class, a young girl stood up, casting as she did a nervous glance sideways towards one of her female peers before answering. "The Silver-blood Micah of the Silverhand, who held the rank of second only to the Emperor, created the Corridor of the Fire in the High Mountains to prevent further Goblin Incursion."
"That is a good answer, Alexia." Responded Master Hedrick with a fond smile of the man she referenced. "Can you tell me the difference between a Silver-blood and the rank Silverhand?"
Alexia shook her head no, and Master Hedrick politely excused her to sit back down and continued his lecture. He wasn’t surprised by the lack of an answer. It was information usually learned through exposure rather than being taught."Silver-bloods are considered kin of the Emperor, as only a Silver-blood may become Emperor. Silver-blood is a type of hereditary trait. This trait usually, though not always manifests as silver veins in mages and a silver hand in engineers. This is not merely cosmetic as the attribute adds permanency to their spells and constructs. While not as well known, the Silver-blood Engineer Elena is responsible for most of our bathing systems. At the same time, the Silver-blood Mage Darren is responsible for the perpetual rains on the farming plains that feed the Empire."
Master Hedrick paused for a moment as he glanced over the class to make sure everyone was following his lecture. "That leaves the second part of the question I asked. A Silverhand is an Engineer who has merged with the gauntlet bestowed upon them by the Mason’s Guild. Absorbing the gauntlet as a part of them and using it to further extend the power and influence of their magic. In terms of ranking our, Emperor Garick holds the highest rank within the Empire, below him, are the Silver-bloods in order of strength. After the Silver-bloods are the Engineers and below them are the Mage Masters like myself. Following behind me is the rest of the nobility, followed after by the Scouts, and then the Peasants."
Turning back around to face the blackboard, Master Hedrick grabbed the chalk, beginning to write and asked the class, "Now, who besides Alexia can tell me what separates the Corridor of the Fire created by the Silver-blood Micah of the Silverhand from the other creations of the Silver-bloods Elena and Darren?
Abby Ruthiare raised her hand. The answer to her was pretty obvious; why wouldn’t it be? Micah was her father, a secret her grandfather had gone to great lengths to keep hidden from many of her peers, though it was an open secret. "The Silver-blood Micah ordered the men of the Adventurers Guild to abandon their trenches on the Northern Front, the first time ever in our history. As an Engineer affiliated to the element of Fire, Micah was able to enchant the trenches with Hellfire. The Hellfire was able to turn the rock into Magna. This effect was triggered by proximity and layered an additional condition based enchantment from the school of the Arcane. The enchant was triggered whenever Magna flowed within the trench to create Salamander Golems with orders to counter-attack and pursue nearby enemies."
"Very good, Miss Ruthiare." Replied Master Hedrick pleased even as the rest of the class rolled their eyes. To them, it seemed empty praise and favoritism. "But hardly gives justice to it. I was there when the Silver-blood Micah created it. Using the very magic, he honed in this Academy. It truly was a sight to behold as an Engineer created walls of blackest obsidian and inscribed warnings of death to those who would approach. To see the Salamanders emerge was truly awe-inspiring and terrifying to know that he had managed to kill one to gain its essence to use."
Even though it was supposed to be secret who her father was, Abby couldn’t help but smile anytime his name came up. Every story she heard gave her a glimpse of amazing a man he had been. A glimpse at the man she had never had the chance to know. Both of her parents having been killed during the Peasants Reb
ellion a decade prior. Abby had been just a baby when they passed. She had no recollection or memories of either of her parents. With one exception, the smell of lavender that she was sure was a memory of her mother.
Clapping his hands together loudly, Master Hedrick interrupted her thoughts. "Now, as I understand it, we currently have a handful of students who need to go and get ready for tonight's exam. If you fall into that category, you are dismissed. Good luck to all of you, and make us proud. If you should fall, a life with the Scouts isn’t as terrible as it seems." Master Hedrick comforted, mostly in jest. "To the rest of you, this is a good chance to show me whose going to be ready to fill the shoes that are leaving. Who here can tell me why the Empire reflagged the Adventurers Guild to the scouts?"
Chapter 2: The Lord and The Chamberlain
In an otherwise empty tent, the heavily calloused hands of the warrior Emperor Garick riffed through reports and status updates from units in the field. Trivial data, essential data. Casualties, sickness, troop strengths, and incident reports. But it was the last few reports that caused him to pause the most in most concern as he contemplated the implications.
The number of incidents with Elves spotted on the Imperial side of the border had tripled within the last two months. Still, spies within the Elven Enclave reported no notice of troop movements. The Orcs and Ogres were launching attacks against frontier villagers towards the East, and he had been given a covert causality report that a Silver-blood mage had been killed during one of the raids by the Orcs. He found himself disheartened by the news, there were not enough of them, and so few born to replace those lost. The Emperor made a mental note. He would need to send an order soon, recalling almost all who were stationed in various outposts to try and consolidate the strength of the Empire. He might ever need to recall into active service some of the Silver-bloods who had gone to gray.
The report about the monsters amassing in the West was equally troubling as the rumors of wars brewing on the other borders. Their numbers were growing out of control. The Emperor had allowed members of the forcefully disbanded Adventurers Guild to remain on the Eastern Front to kill monsters, complete with a promise to pardon eventually. Garick had hoped to prevent an outbreak of monsters, but judging from the sheer number of reported monster sightings, he had been unable to stem any outbreaks.
The Emperor put the reports down and leaned across the table in the middle of his command tent, carefully examining the map of his domain that was spread across it. The entirety of the Empire of the Silverhand precisely summed up in a series of sharp lines and miniatures denoting troop presence. He braced himself against the table and sighed. The weight of his people on him. Even an Emperor could feel tired and overwhelmed. Slamming his hand into the table in frustration, the map and the miniatures on it were flung throughout the tent.
No matter how many times Garick looked at the map, nothing changed. He couldn’t change the numbers. They didn’t have enough Silver-bloods, they didn’t have enough Engineers, they didn’t have enough Mages. They didn’t even have enough Scouts and Soldiers. He needed a distraction.
The flap of the tent pulled up and in walked his Chamberlain, a Master Mage by the name of Leon Del La Cruz, who had served him faithfully for almost three decades. Of the people Garick relied upon, none measured up to Leon.
"What is it, Leon?" The Emperor asked, standing up straight, cutting an impressive figure in his etched leather field armor. "Please tell me you’ve brought me a spot of good news. We’ve got reports of monsters massing in the West, incursions by the Elves in the South, and Orcs to the East raiding our villagers. The only thing we seem to have going for us anymore is Micah’s trenches for all that’s worth. We just don’t have the manpower anymore to keep up."
"I understand, sir," Replied Leon with a curt bow, noticing his Lord’s current frustration. A look he had come to quickly recognize due to the many years he had served him. "Unfortunately, I’ve no news to report on any of the fronts or the Western Theater with the amassment of the monsters. I have made arrangements per your orders for a contingent of Scouts to travel to Quincy and supplement the guard force to investigate the source of the monsters."
"Good, good. Thank you, Leon. I regret I’ll never be able to tell anyone publically, but between us, you’ve long been the left and right hand of this Empire. I don’t know what I would do without you. The contingent leaves at dawn correct? Install the Doppledanger in my stead; I’ve got a mind to join the caravan." Responded Garick, completely ignoring the horrified look on his Chamberlains face. "Was there anything else, Leon? Otherwise, I need to get back to obsessing about our situation."
"Yes, sir, there was one other thing." Replied Leon as he handed his Emperor a set of black robes. "I came to inform you the preparations are being finalized as we speak, so long as it is still your desire to attend. If we leave now, we should arrive before it starts and without having to announce ourselves."
"Let us be gone then." Came the simple reply from an Emperor ready to relieve himself from his burdens for a moment.
Chapter 3: Cadets and Prospects
The sound of loud footsteps resonated down the stairs as frantic whispering voices echoed in nervous laughter, reverberating off the old stone. The noise was carrying far down the sloped hallway. The hallway itself was hundreds of steps long. The corridor wet and musty with age. The air was stale, making it hard to breathe.
Yet, none of that bothered the cadets, all prospective candidates to become Engineers. Among them, the least worried of all was Abigal Ruthiare, or Abby as she preferred. Her heart was pumping, full of excitement and anxiety. Ready for the test, she had spent the last four years of her life preparing to take.
It had long been a dream of Abby’s to join the Engineers, just like her father had been, just like her grandfather. A desire to join the ranks of the legendary Engineers of the Mason’s Guild. If she followed in their footsteps, she would one day if she became a Silverhand be able to build constructs from mere mana. Creating material from thin air rather than readily available components. Her only concern and only obstacle was a complete lack of mastery and aptitude in elemental power. Without it, she was unable to imbue her constructs with additional effects. All she needed to do was pass this last trial, this final test, and finally gain the use of one of the schools of magic.
As a Silver-blood heir, as the children of Silver-bloods were called until their power manifested, Abby could have chosen any comfortable position in the Empire. But none appealed to her in the same way that being an Engineer did. Something about holding the very power of creation by the end of her fingertips appealed to her greatly.
Soon she would earn the copper gauntlet that marked her as an Engineer. Then and only then could she began her journey to follow in her forefather's footsteps. But first, she needed to pass the trials. Eagerness and the anticipation were killing her.
However, in a moment of careless daydreaming, while she practically bounded down the stairs, Abby lost her footing on the slick steps, her feet tripping against the stone and each other. With a bit of quick thinking and a faster reaction, she was able to save herself from a disastrous fall by grabbing on to the cold steel of the stairs safety railing.
Abby’s cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. As she cursed her clumsiness, angry that she had almost ended her test to become an Engineer in early failure by injuring herself. After recovering, she continued down the steps. This time overly cautious in response to the fall. She clung to the metal bar, bracing herself as she continued, each step careful and measured as she descended the stairs to the testing site.
From behind her, Abby could hear the ill-meaning jeers and mocking comments o
f her classmates, all of them enjoying her moment of failure. Abby knew she had made a mistake, but it didn’t warrant them taunting her. She turned around and returned the mocking stares with a hard look of her own. The skin of her arm flashed silver in a reminder of her pedigree. The laughing stopped. Everyone one of them unwilling to match or meet her gaze.
"That's better," Abby thought as she turned back around and continued walking down the stairs. "Immature distractions could be the difference between passing and failing tonight, and I will not settle for failure.”
Even with the fall and a careful pace afterward, Abby was still the first to reach the landing of the bottom of the stairs. Even though it wasn't a race, she felt a sense of accomplishment. As a child of a Silver-blood, it was on her to lead from the front. With such a distinguished legacy, she was not allowed to fall behind. Treasured bloodline or not, the Emperor himself had set down harsh guidance for Silver-bloods who were anything other than exceptional. They were, after all, kin.
Dismissing petty thoughts from her head, Abby focused on the present as she stood on the landing. In front of her, she saw a sealed stone oversized round top double door with two Imperial Soldiers on each side. The soldiers stoic and unmoving in the traditional bronze cuirass and purple cloak of their position.
The door the Imperial Soldiers guarded marked the entrance to the testing area of the Mason’s Guild. The Elemental Dungeon, long ago subjugated by Mages and Engineers of the Empire of the Silverhand. Above the arch of the doorway, Abby could see four lintels etched into the archway, fueling an inner sense of envy in her. Each of the etched lintel images showing the affiliated schools of magic, Wind, Earth, Fire, and Water. Faintly, almost impossible to see, another image spanned across all four lintels. Upon closer inspection, Abby was able to make out the symbol of the Arcane, the infinite Ouroboros.
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