Senani now carefully walked out of the runes and began to explore the rest of the building.
Surprisingly at the back of the seemingly empty room a tunnel opened into another room.
This room appeared to be some sort of kitchen and rest area. It housed some cooking equipment and basic furniture.
The furniture and all the equipment were in wonderful condition. When the others arrived, they would easily be able to bring it all with them.
Senani found nothing else of interest within the building. Instead he began to focus his time on the ring that now resided upon his finger.
Necrideon had told Senani that the ring was a dimensional storage device and it contained spell books for blood magic.
What he didn't say was how to use the ring. As Senani knew nothing of magic, he found himself at a great disadvantage now.
Senani began to rub the ring, as if he were summoning a genie.
When that did nothing, he began to try various commands, "Open Sesame", "Show me the books", "Presto Dimensio".
All to no avail. Senani had no idea how to use the ring, and Necrideon now resided within the soul stone in Senani's pocket.
Recalling the Soul stone reminded Senani of the robes he now wore.
Senani carefully removed and folded them, gently placing them within his pack with the black robes.
Shortly after that task completed, Senani began to hear others approaching the building from above.
This was quickly followed by the sound of Mercutio's voice.
"Senani, are you down there?"
Senani loudly proclaimed, "I'm here, throw down a rope."
Senani used the door he had came out of to begin climbing back onto the roof.
Fortunately, there were many decorative grooves that could be used for hand and footholds in the door and walls of the building. Using these, Senani arrived on the rooftop swiftly.
On the rooftop, Senani quickly climbed up the rope that Mercutio sent down.
Senani next instructed the craftsmen and the peasants to begin deconstructing the building below.
He gave explicit instructions that the runes on the ground were not to be disturbed, and the entire building would need to be reassembled once they arrived back at the base.
Mercutio agreed and began to organize those around him.
The craftsmen would lead the disassembly, while the peasants would be the brunt of the labor.
What few guards were present would spread out around the area and act as lookouts. It was anticipated that members from the church would arrive at some point to investigate.
Senani then climbed upon his horse and returned to the base himself.
With the 3 groups out there were few left within the city. Senani choose to send them all to aid Mercutio. Disassembling the building needed to be done swiftly, and Senani felt the runes that had trapped Necrideon would prove beneficial in the future.
With virtually everyone gone, Senani returned to his chambers and gathered the kite shield that had been passed down in his family.
He next ventured toward the castle.
Senani did not dare to place the soul stone of the bandit leader in his necklace as Necrideon had suggested.
Once inside the castle, Senani began to again explore the areas within.
This time, with no one to worry about but himself, Senani dared to venture further than he had before. Though he did so with his family sword in one hand, and shield in the other.
He needed the storehouse to be useable, and he wondered what else he may find of use within these walls.
As Senani explored he quickly encountered the automatons that he had been warned of by Maximus. They were not only in the armory.
Many of them moved through various areas of the castle, cleaning and repairing portions of it.
Though to his surprise they chose to ignore him completely.
This did give Senani the opportunity to examine the automatons.
They existed in all shapes and sizes, varied as humans themselves were, yet they appeared to have no sense of life beyond their programing.
Each kept to the task at hand. They either cleaned or repaired and stayed within the rooms they were designated to.
This made it easy for Senani to continue exploring.
Senani managed to find many interesting rooms, there were bedrooms and bathrooms galore, as well as large dining rooms and meeting rooms. Senani could merely guess at their usage, as this castle was far grander than that which he had grown up in.
Senani eventually happened upon a throne room of sorts. This had heavily armed and armored automatons standing guard on either side of the doors.
These too ignored Senani.
Senani did not dare to approach the throne. He feared the guards would attack the moment he did something so fool hardy.
Instead he explored the doors connected to the throne room.
In the back righthand corner, he believed he found the door he had been looking for.
This door was made of a far hardier material than every other he had seen, and it had many bolts locking it closed from within the throne room.
Senani opened the bolts and proceeded down the heavily lighted stairs.
These stairs led to yet another heavily bolted door, though this one was far more durable than even the last had been.
When Senani opened this door his face lit up, for on the other side he could see sections of runes, many were identical to those he had retrieved Necrideon from.
Seeing this, Senani ventured into what he assumed to be the castles dungeon.
Senani placed Necrideon's Phylactery within one of the squares of runes and added his soul stone.
As he did the Phylactery began to glow with a blinding flash of light.
Senani could no see absolutely nothing, it was as if a flashbang grenade had gone off in front of him.
As he waited for his vision to return, he could hear the cackling of Necrideon.
"You have brought me from one cell to another, and this far more secure. If I am not mistaken, we now reside within the dungeon of Templar's Keep.
And look at you, you carry the shield and sword of Templar Master Hadorix Soth.
Its nice to see some things were not lost to the ages.
At least here I will have others to speak to. Thank you for moving me."
As Necrideon finished, Senani regained his sight.
In the cell in front of him, Necrideon's ghastly skeleton now stood. Its eyes glowed with a bright fire. Each eye a different color. His right burned with a red-hot heat; his left made your blood feel as though it were going to freeze with its intense blue gaze.
This however was not the most surprising thing within the dungeon.
Now that Necrideon had spoken, many ghastly creatures began to form within the confines. None of them were able to form a solid body as Necrideon had.
Senani next removed Necrideon's robes and necklace from his bag, and ring from his finger and placed them within the runes.
This caught Necrideon off guard.
"Why would you return my things to me? The books within this ring contain the most powerful of magics that were discovered within my lifetime. Even without a catalyst I could use some of them to slay you instantly."
Senani smiled as he replied, "Your things do not belong to me, they belong to you. Besides, if you kill me, you will be trapped here just as you were in your last cell. I seriously doubt either of us desire that.
You recognize this sword and shield, and you know where you are better than I do.
Allow me the use of your beginner books. Teach me the long-forgotten history of my family as well as your own history.
Help me, and perhaps you can earn your freedom."
Necrideon smiled as he put on his items.
A book suddenly appeared in his hand, he beckoned for Senani to enter the square and take it.
Senani did as suggested. Carefully reading the title. "A beginners guide to soul stones."
Necrideon then replied.
"I knew Hadorix long ago. He was a hero to all that knew him. A gentle soul that truly cared for all the people of Earth regardless of station.
Because he cared, Hadorix founded the order of the Templars to help protect the people from rogue mages, and to train mages in the proper use of catalysts, to prevent the destruction of the world.
As I am sure you know, all magic comes with a cost, and that cost had begun to impact the environment around us, and many areas became unlivable.
It was a noble goal, carried out by a nobleman.
I and many other mages even helped to build this castle. Us magi worked with master dwarven smiths with the finest and most unique crystals we could find in order to create that sword and shield you wield as well, though that was long before I became a lich.
In those days magic was practiced by many, and many wizards and knights joined the templar order.
Grand Master Hadorix as he was eventually known, ushered in a time of peace in all the kingdoms of Earth.
The templars were created to protect magic. In Hadorix's reign they did so, and they did it well.
Unfortunately, his reign ended far to soon.
Even with the magic and the crystals that were used to make his armor from the beast planets, Hadorix found himself vulnerable.
You see, blood magic and necromancy were strictly forbidden. Hadorix, and many others agreed that using the life force of other humans to empower yourself or raise the dead were inherently evil.
He didn't realize that Skammlauss, the Templar captain would end up stabbing him in the back.
Quite literally I'm afraid. You see Skammlauss had been practicing blood magic and necromancy.
The dagger he used bound Hadorix soul and absorbed his body within it.
It became a dangerously powerful soul stone.
The strongest I've ever seen in fact.
Skammlauss power and his betrayal led me down the path of blood magic.
I originally sought to avenge your ancestor, and the only way to do that is in blood magic.
Unfortunately, Skammlauss disappeared a mere hundred years after he slew Hadorix and I have been locked away so long, I know not if he faced the penalties for his crimes.
Without Hadorix, the templars eventually lost their way.
They began to enslave those they had been formed to protect.
They were eventually outlawed from most of the kingdoms, as apparently magic has been.
The order fell, and I suppose this place must have been lost to time."
Senani did not know if Necrideon spoke the truth, and he had no clue what crystals were or where they came from.
Necrideon had spoken as a tortured soul at the ending of Hadorix. This alone convinced Senani of the truth of his statements.
Senani found himself with many questions, but the one he understood least he choose to ask Necrideon directly.
"What are crystals?"
Necrideon smiled as he replied, "I can't believe so much lore has been lost. Crystals are derived from all living things, though the most powerful are found within magical beasts.
Much as beasts do, crystals vary in strength and size. Their power can only truly be brought out by a combination of magic and forgecraft.
For example, your sword was crafted using the crystals from hundreds of thousands of ants. If you ever learn to use its power, your strength would be greatly increased.
Your shield however is the true work of art.
It is crafted from the crystals of many mythical beasts. At its core sits the crystal of a unicorn. That crystal created a rather unique passive effect within the shield, as it negates all forms of magic that are cast at its wielder.
If you were to learn to use it properly as Hadorix did, and you could cover far more than just the area of the shield.
Hadorix could use it to negate the magic of entire sections of the battlefields he fought on. He could even absorb the magic into the shield to strengthen it.
The other crystals imbued their own effects on the shield as well, though none were as prominent as the unicorn's crystal. Only Hadorix knew the full extent of the sword and shields ability after all.
Aside from the powers, the other important factor is that Hadorix's sword and shield were forged using his own blood.
Thus, they are bound to his family. Only those of Soth blood can truly use them. To anyone else they would be simply a well-made sword and shield"