A Totally Normal Throne?

After this, I kept receiving more and more cart filled with blood bottles and new drawings from the craziest engineers I ever saw. In fact, I don't actually need real species, it was discovered after several tests. I just need a viable skeleton that looks to be able to walk or fly. The majority undead that I produced were related to either digging or forming an artificial wall with their bodies. I even created something that can seriously be called a triceratops, you know those dinosaurs? Well, his massive head forms an extremely good shield and with his horns, it can be used to push back the ratmen. Sometimes, I created big skeletons, sometimes, small skeletons. But in that last day of preparation, I was at the mercy of those foolish ideas.

Honestly, it is their choices, if they supply the blood, I obey. But right now, they are even beginning to ask me to create small skeletons of a mole. They are thinking that they can put a bomb in it and ask my undead to dig toward the enemy lines. And with my spirits, they will be able to locate and explodes the sorcerers and dangerous weapons. After hearing this, I am beginning to fear for their sanities, and I explain that I can just use one of my wraiths to drop the bomb from above. No need to create something like that. They are looking at me like a kid that I just stole the candy in his mouth. Did I break their dreams?

(No, they are just a bunch of madmen. In all the races, all the different history of planets, they are always present. Like Xerces, that tried to cast a black hole in his very planet. Just don't duel their dreams too much but at the same time, respect their creativity. You are doing fine, just keep doing this. Now, the fortress has fallen, and in the East, your lich are still holding on. But not for long, in the few hours, the army of the ratmen will destroy that small force and surround the capital. Just play along for now.)

That's not you the toy of maniacs. After hearing me say something true, however, they begin to calm down a little. They still like the triceratops, and I agree with them, it is a very good shield. It can even act as a door in some cases. But no mole. I mean, we already have the gyro-copters to drop bombs, that's normally enough? Following my idea of my wraith acting as a plane dropping explosives, they still ask for a few spirits capable of carrying something. I create them, after drinking dozens of blood bottles. I have to admit; I am surprised by the quantity of blood that they manage to gather. Well, the population of the capital is … Oslo?

(I would say, 80 000 dwarves, not counting the army. And a dwarf can probably give one bottle of blood, maybe even two. I am not sure about that, but they can definitely ask one bottle for each adult.)

I already drank thousands of those bottles, but more are still coming. I guess that's the determination of the dwarves, willing to lose a bit of blood to assure their victory. Such a great act of solidarity, I almost am crying. Not really, but it is still impressive. As I keep doing this, I still see dwarves and sometimes humans come and leave. Since I am stuck in the audience room, I remember the words of Oslo and look more closely at the throne.

That's a regular throne, I mean, yes it is made of gold, there are gems and crystals fixed on it. But nothing big, like the dark gem of the sorcerer-king, in the Necropolis. I keep examining it, at a normal distance but notice nothing. That's weird, why Oslo told me to look at the throne if there is nothing special? I go in the back of the throne, and still nothing. So, there is nothing in the front, nothing in the back, top, nada, nothing. Meaning under it? I try to get close to it by the ground, but I can't approach. I try again, but still, I am incapable of getting close from the ground under the throne.

But when I look at it, I only see the stone and nothing else. Is it something that my vision can't see? Probably, and I can't approach, from the ground, I try to do it normally. Blocked. I can't touch it; I can't get in less than 1 meter from the throne. Since I am not that close to it, I am not really suspicious, more like someone appreciating the art and design of the throne. While I am really trying to advance. But until I extend my hand, no one can say for sure that I am trying to grab that stupid throne. Finally, I abandon the idea, it has been nearly a minute that I floated around the throne.

The engineers, after giving me a break while I was looking at the seat of their king, come back to create more stuff. They ask me if I found the throne beautiful and I nod, yes it is beautiful. I can see them being happy, unfortunately, that provokes an increase of madness in them. This time, it was not a mole, but a bat. It is a nightmare. They want me to give it the property of the real animal, meaning, apparently, a confusing screech. First of all, I have no idea how to do this, but how can I say that to them? They take me for a genius ghost, I mean, everyone is doing that, even the humans.

I managed to divert them by asking why do you need this when you can have wraiths directly killing the ratmen. The diversion worked, and after that, each time they try something that I am incapable of doing, I shift the topic. Create a venomous spider? Build a skeleton army! Yes, it doesn't make any sense, but it is working.

During all that day, I dodged everything hard. And the liberation finally arrived, in the form of Thongril requisitioning all the engineers for the calibration of all the siege weapons. The room was empty, excepted me, my wraiths, and some dwarves running through to inform every one of the latest news. I hear from my lich that now, a huge file of zombies is leaving the armory and are all marching toward the main door. As for my special creations, they are deployed everywhere, even outside of the capital sometimes.

I can feel that the battlefield won't be only around the capital. I know that my zombies are located in front of some tunnels underground. I guess it is logical for the dwarves to have some exit doors in case of emergencies, but right now, it is used against them. Or not, I mean, those tunnels should be really small, so, to defend such a thing, it will be easy. As for digging the stone in the Heart of the Mountain, it is even harder than in the Gold Summit. It took years for all the dwarves to build all those things apparently, so for the ratmen, they won't be able to dig close enough to be worth it. Why? Simple answer, all the firepower of the dwarves. And if it is too far, it will take several weeks.

(Feeling bored, want me to tell you a nice story in the meantime? You know, when you will be stuck here, creating undead, while everyone is fighting outside?)

Cut the crap Oslo, what do you want? You never directly told me something like that, except about those hot nights with whatever race you were sleeping with. And I don't want another word about that.

(Ok, fine, but you will regret it. The fervor that my believers expressed during those nights can warn the most frozen heart. Like yours, or whatever is called a heart from the elemental of Death. Anyway, did you notice a difference between the actual throne and the stones surrounding us?)

No, I mean that's just stone. I look at a pillar, stone, I look at the ground, more stone, I look at the throne, stone, stone everywhere. Even under it, it is still more stone … maybe a slightly darker stone? Is that what you want me to see?

(Look closely, look at the feet of the throne.)

What feet, yes they are made of gold like all the rest. Wait, no, the gold is only on the surface, it is connected to the dark stone under it. But that's doesn't make any sense, I should be able to see this behind the gold, why my vision is incapable of piercing it?

(Because that's the Heart of the Mountain. You won't be able to see it right now, but just for you to know, don't mess with the dwarves. They are clearly a lot more powerful than I thought. This thing shouldn't be in their possession. But for now, that's fine, you are beginning to be a friend. Keep going. And even if you have to fight the dwarves, don't ever come here and near this throne. Otherwise, even I won't be able to save you.)

Don't say such things. It will only make my future escape more pathetic. Brave I running away, as always, when danger rears its ugly head, well, I chicken out and flee instead. And you already curse me to do that once again.