B2 – Chapter 48: Learning about custom spells

Tristan was nudged by something and groaned as he opened his eyes. The Matriarch was kneeling on the ground in front of him, hand pushing against his shoulder. “Ah, you finally awaken.”

“How long was I out?” Tristan asked as he sat up.

“I spoke with you less than an hour ago, and then came down here a few minutes past, and have been nudging you. I wanted to check your meditation in the new location – but it seems you have unlocked the next layer of the vault instead.”

Tristan pushed himself to his feet, took a staggering step and put his hand out to the wall to steady himself. Reverse-spin, he thought as he spun his essence crucible to suck in the ambient essence in the environment, refilling to the brim and making him feel full of energy. “I’m good. Let’s take a look and see what is in here.”

The Matriarch got up and stood aside as Tristan went into the next chamber. Similar in shape to the last one; a circular hollow with another door at the other side with four rings facing him. There was another pedestal – but this one was not spread out like a flower. It was akin to a single root, shaped into a square with knotted protrusions. Atop it was another one of the stone boxes.

“Just because I am curious,” The Matriarch walked forward, reached her hand towards the box, and a jolt of lightning jumped from the box onto her finger. She pulled it back, hissing in pain. “That confirms it; fairy dragons cannot interact with these boxes.” She glanced back to the other chamber behind them with the still-fallen stone box. “That will be an eyesore.”

Tristan chuckled and slid past her due to the narrow confines of the passage. He felt along the grooves on the sides of the box, his fingers finding the small grip-lines. He tried pulling up with all his might, and it barely moved up. “Guess I have to do the pry method,” he stated as he moved around to the right of the box. Shoving up with all his might, he was able to tip it enough to get his arm inside, and then he got his other hand under it and shoved the thing upright before it went crashing to the ground.

Atop the knotted root was another scroll which doubtless contained some poetic Elvish words of wisdom, and a folded, long-sleeved tunic that was a deep, cream color with lines of icy-blue trees stitched into a design along the bottom. The Matriarch spoke, “Zeltana’s armor was not really “armor” in the way yours is. She relied on her speed and agility to ensure avoidance of harm. In a way, this is perfect for you, since her armor pieces will easily go underneath your dragonslayer set.”

Tristan grabbed the tunic and unfolded it, “I wonder what it does?” he asked aloud as he held it up to his chest and held it against his torso. “Looks like it’ll fit decently. We’ll have to check it with that artifice spell soon here.” He handed it to The Matriarch, who held it reverently. Tristan unfurled the scroll and began to read it aloud.

Inheritor of my mantle

who seeks to sample

the power I held,

the might with which I swelled,

Your third reward for embracing my role

that you have discovered with this scroll

is a tunic you should wear well.

When fueled with essence it will fell

Mighty foes with the wrath of trees.

Plants will curl up and then freeze

pinning those you seek to harm in place,

Allowing you to strike them in the face.

And now to learn a bit of lore

about how to go to war

with other Realms you seek to graft

to the Fey Realm. You must craft

a staff from the Forest’s Heart.

Then you can depart.

Go to the edge of the Realm

and strike the boundary like a bell.

The Matriarch frowned as Tristan rolled up the scroll and handed it to her to add to the other two. “What is wrong?” he asked.

“She…Zeltana swore to me that the Incursions and Delves that happened were due to other Realms brushing up against ours or being done by hostile invaders. Now…I cannot help but wonder if she brought the Plague Realm upon us that required her to seal away portions of the Fey Realm and forced her to sacrifice herself to cleanse the land.”

That thought disquieted Tristan, “You’ve never seen her-”

“No!” The Matriarch shouted, clearly upset and her voice filling with emotion as she trembled slightly. “To think…she brought it upon the Realm. And for what? Land? We had plenty of that!” She was sucking in trembling breaths.

Tristan walked over to her and gently embraced her, “It’s done and over with,” he said softly. “You cannot change the past…maybe she did, maybe she didn’t. It’s okay.”

The Matriarch pushed herself away from him, “Apologies, Lord Tristan. I didn’t mean to lose composure like that.”

“Don’t apologize for feeling,” Tristan replied. “Never apologize for that.” He reached out a hand to her arm and squeezed it gently. “I’m here to talk if you need to.”

She nodded and smiled a little bit as she calmed down. “Thank you for that. Now…I’ll take the scroll to the bookshelves, if you wish to take the tunic to artifice?”

Tristan nodded, took the offered item, and followed her to the central spire. She sprouted wings and flew up along the interior of the tree, but Tristan moved over to the central spire of the tree. I don’t think I’ll be using a staff to open other Realms any time soon. But I should have the staff, at least. Plus, maybe if it’s from the Queen’s Wood, I could artifice it.

He spun his essence crucible and poured the energy into the Gloves of the Growth Shaper, activating the stored Plant Shaping spell within. He slung the tunic over his shoulder and used his fingertips to take out a large, stick-shaped chunk that was the size of a quarterstaff. He then put his fingers into a ring shape and ran it up and down the length to make it uniform. He squeezed slightly at both ends to make them slightly knotted so it couldn’t just slip from his grip; and to that end he also twisted the shaft in his hands, making a textured surface for grip.

Letting the essence fade, he held the staff in front of him with a smile. And now to artifice, he thought as he headed outside, to the crafting area, and grabbed ink and paper. He set the tunic on the table and performed the spell gesture for Discern Artifice.

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Tunic of Coiling Frost

Hampering Growth (Third) [Flora] [Ice Elementalism]

Upon touching the ground, the wielder may designate a circular area within one-hundred feet. Thirty feet from the center of the area, in all directions, existing plants will grow and entangle those in the space – halting movement until they are dealt with.

That was curious to Tristan. Huh, he thought. It has two spell types. I didn’t know that items of artifice could have that. Tristan both-direction-spun his essence crucible and spoke aloud with the voice of the Realm, “Matriarch, a moment please.”

She flew down from the top boughs as he ceased the crucible spin. “Yes?” She still sounded disquieted and somber.