ULTRAMagic Chaos - Chapter 11
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“Tusk, you may want to consider Calvin for the ULTRAMagic Guild,” Cyneberht stated after he finished a bite of his sandwich.
“Oh? Are you working towards ULTRAMagic, Calvin?” He asked.
Calvin gave a casual nod. “Well yeah, as I was pointing in that direction. I’ve been going back and forth with my projects, unsure what to do with them. I want to join a mage’s guild either way.”
“Calvin’s got quite the noggin on his shoulders,” Murdoch pointed out. “A bit odd, but the lad’s certainly creative.”
Mayhem was impressed by a little flying robot that zipped around the house. “I know you’re fairly low tech, Tusk, but the guild could always use an artificer.”
“I trust that the Descendants are back?” Murdoch interjected.
Tusk nodded. “Absolutely, and they’re here to stay this time. Englehart openly declared that the primordial hunts are over once and for all.”
“A good thing, I say,” Agatha replied. “If there’s still primordials around, then obviously they’re meant to be around…”
“With a few notable exceptions, mother,” Cyneberht added.
Razor leaned in a little to address Calvin. “Are you sure you want to go through with ULTRAMagic, Calvin? It’s not your average walk in the park.”
“I’m sure. If big brother can do it, so can I.”
Murdoch snapped his fingers and pointed. “Tenacity, it runs in our veins. It’s what got me working with Gaius. In hindsight, it also led me to being a little too strict with the boys when they were growing up, but hey, we all learn from our mistakes.”
Cyneberht subtly shook his head. “It is the way of Lord Driskoll, the progress and whatnot.”
“You know it is odd to hear you speak like that, Cyneberht,” Mayhem admitted. “Given our current situation.”
“Everyone has some reverence for their lord or leader, despite the circumstances,” Razor pointed out. “Dad taught me that it’s important to be pious and loyal.”
Murdoch set his mug down. “A good lesson to learn, My boy. And at the end of the day, we are all one, like the great swamp and its many roots. No matter what the domains and realms say to each other, we need to remember that we are all in this together.”
Tusk smiled in a slightly amused way. “Something I wish those fools in the Cosmos proper would learn. I can’t even begin to articulate how annoyed I am at all the things Vlastimir told me about his universe…” He then stood up. “Thanks for the food, Agatha, Murdoch.” Razor and Mayhem also got up.
“You’re all welcome,” Agatha replied. “But going so soon?” They nodded.
“Lord Driskoll has always been a calm one, but best not keep his lordship waiting,” Murdoch asserted.
Cyneberht stretched. “Go on ahead, Tusk. I’m going to rest my feet a little bit longer. Say hello to Lord Driskoll for me.”
Despite being down a man, the three felt incredibly confident. Greenwater was such a great place, a far cry from the plague filled bog Razor thought it would be. Tusk explained that that was a common misconception, as Driskoll studied death and disease rather than outright embodying them in their entirety. The three made their way back to the docks where Gaius was waiting with a bigger boat. Once everyone had boarded, he set off once again.
The great swamp became more dense as Gaius steadily pushed deeper in. The waters remained still and became cluttered with plants that grew stranger and stranger. Many of the trees had become more complex, their giant roots snaking in and out of the ground. Giant spider webs were also becoming more plentiful with equally sized spiders to occupy them. One cobweb had two people fully cocooned inside of it who were trying to free themselves. Recognizing that they were some of the help enlisted by Ealdhelm, Gaius had the spiders free them and take them to Greenwater.
A feeling of calmness intensified as the boat reached an immense, log fort at the center of the swamp. Like Greenwater, it also stood on stilts, but these were more like thick trees. The way the swamp surrounded the structure made it feel like it was being protected while also being the epicenter of the realm. Gaius then brought the boat up to the lone dock and tied it down. The three were eager yet a little nervous, so Gaius assured them they were more than welcome to head inside.
“What an incredible place…” Razor remarked as he marveled at the interior. It looked like it had been constructed and grown at the same time.
“Driskoll’s fort is meant to be more cozy,” Tusk pointed out as they walked. Paintings and sconces lined the walls, with the former being quite the decorations as they told tales of the past of the Realm of Chaos. “Although he certainly has his own collection of tomes and trinkets.”
“Cynberht helped collect a good portion of them,” Gaius added. They soon arrived at a lounge, which looked comfortable and had a window with a nice view of the swamp. “Wait here and I shall go fetch his lordship.”
Razor took a seat on one of the couches. “Wow, this place is incredibly clean.”
Tusk laughed. “Yeah, Driskoll is a bit of a neat freak. Glad to see that hasn’t changed.”
“Ironic, given some of his domains,” Mayhem remarked, walking over to a kettle on a table. He took it over to the fireplace, hung it over the fire, and filled it with water. “Truthfully I’ve always felt bad for Driskoll and the nonsense he has to deal with with Wulfric. And then I came along and started causing trouble…”
“Yeah, I’ve been noticing everyone mentioned that stuff,” said Razor. “What’s your story here, Mayhem?”
He sighed, but this had a great amount of nostalgia behind it. “Well to start off, Devils in my Inferno have affinities. If you can name it, there’s a devil for it. Fire, ice, electricity, steel, ink, mud… chaos. Chaos is an irregular affinity that rarely pops up, leading to prejudice amongst devils. You can already guess where this is heading.”
“Were you picked on as a youngling?” Razor looked concerned.
“Of course,” Mayhem continued. “This led to me feeling like I needed to prove myself to everyone. I eventually had the brilliant idea to go to the Realm of Chaos and challenge Wulfric for his honors. Now I’m fairly powerful, but a Discordant God is on a whole other level.” Mayhem could feel his temper rising, but took a breath and went back to preparing some tea. The other two could sense years of pent up frustration emanating from him. “Naturally I rammed my head up against a wall for longer than I would like to admit to, no thanks to some of the more snooty primary devils back home. Not every primary devil is like that, I just got unlucky and ran into the worst of the worst.”
“So what changed your mind?” Tusk wondered.
“Eventually I realized I was getting nowhere fast, so I stopped to rethink my plans. I still didn’t get it, but then someone got my attention: Dragutin. He was also dealing with the Discordant Gods, but he had a more noble cause. I inevitably got in his way, so he sat me down and had a talk with me. In regards to my self-esteem, he told me that we choose who we want to be, not other people. If people say I’m a weirdo, then I choose to be a fighter. As for my quest, he told me to quit while I was ahead and pick my battles wisely. Blunt, but effective.”
Tusk laughed again, albeit sympathetically. “The latter is something Blood-Wraith needs to be careful of.”
“Was it really as simple as that, Mayhem?” Razor asked further.
Once the kettle was ready, Mayhem brought it over to the end table with some cups and began pouring the tea. “Yup. That made me realize that I was in over my head, so I went to Ealdhelm and asked how I could help. The rest is history and Dragutin has been one of my best friends ever since.”
Tusk sipped his tea, enjoying the familiar flavor of the leaves native to the realm. “You should never let the expectations of others weigh you down. Heed their word if they have something to say, but you’ll never get where you’re going if you let other people man the helm…”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Tusk,” a deep, older voice replied.
Standing in the entrance was a tall, old man. He had a long, gray beard, aged violet eyes, and a focused gaze that indicated a true scholar. His attire consisted of robes that were coarse and brown, looking like that of a mage and an alchemist. A thick belt with many pockets sat around his waist that he had to adjust with his gloved hands. And like Kelitos prior, he gave off a truly great presence, befitting of a god.
“Hey, Driskoll!” Tusk welcomed.
“Good to see you again, Tusk,” he replied as he went over to a chair and sat down. “I see Cyneberht also came along with you?”
“Yeah, but he wanted to stay with his family for a bit. Also he says hi.”
“That’s what I expected given how long he has been away. Mayhem, how have you been doing?”
“Great, Lord Driskoll. The recruits haven’t been doing well, but obviously Tusk is changing that.” Mayhem then went over to the kettle and prepared another cup of tea.
Driskoll accepted the drink. “Thank you,” he said after a sip. “I noticed Kleitos was excited with his newest epiphany when he visited me the other day. I’ve been waiting for this change for some time now. Wulfric won’t be pleased, but I am prepared to rebuke his ire. I commend my younger brother for his bravery and fortitude, but he really needs to stop and look at the bigger picture.”
“I’ll raise a mug to that,” Mayhem concurred, causing the two to chuckle.
Driskoll turned to Razor. “Razor Scully, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Razor was amazed by Driskoll, so it took him a second to shake his stupor. “Sorry, it’s an honor to meet you too, Driskoll.”
“Given that you’re also from The Unending Forest; Tusk, how are things going now that The Lich is gone? I sensed The Forest finally settled down not too long ago.”
“Excellent. The Forest feels a lot safer with the Descendants around. The whole family’s back too, so everything’s all good.”
Driskoll paused, as there was a fly in the ointment. “Hum, it’d be perfect if that charlatan, Karnage, wasn’t around… As for the current situation, don’t worry, I quietly resigned from Wulfric’s campaign a while ago.” Tusk and Razor high fived again. “Not to repeat what’s already been said, but like Kleitos, I am not a fighter. I want to study death, not perpetuate it. Still, I have a lurking suspicion my hand may be forced in the future. Until then, I am going to continue my studies.”
Tusk groaned, remembering what Ultimatum had said about Blood-Wraith and Leif. “I don’t even want to know what else Milosh has up his sleeves. Having you guys back on our side does make me feel better though.”
Mayhem cleared his throat. “Lord Driskoll? I’d like to apologize once and for all for all of the trouble I’ve caused you and the others, back when I was challenging Wulfric.”
“All is forgiven, Mayhem. It takes courage to admit when you’re wrong, and fortitude to fix those mistakes. Now let’s hope Wulfric takes a page out of your book. I know you can hear me, brother!” Driskoll said as he stamped his foot. The others laughed.
“Seriously, why are the Discordant Gods considered so dangerous again?” Razor questioned.
“I’d say it’s our potential,” Driskoll answered. “We don’t play by the rules, leading to all sorts of hectic outcomes. We are dynamic, yet static. We change, yet we remain who we are. I feel this paradoxical nature allows us to truly grow and influence the Cosmos around us. Of course those lower on the dimensional hierarchy would see us as chaos for the sake of chaos, missing out on the nuances all of us are privy to. If these naysayers could perceive the contradictory Gods of Order, they’d be singing a vastly different tune.”
Razor nodded in acceptance. “Yeah, that does make sense. People in the Cosmos proper are strange like that.”
“Agreed,” said Mayhem. “I can’t even begin to describe the amount of trouble making souls that pass through the prisons of Inferno that the wardens have to deal with on the regular.”
“Delphine has been eyeing one of the universes in the Cosmos proper,” Driskoll pointed out. “Universe-23 I believe she calls it… or was it Universe-15? Either way, she’s been seeking acolytes and those to rectify, which has me concerned. Of course, aren’t we all as of late?”
Tusk went up to get something. “Well at least we’re getting good recruits for the guild.”
“What are you up to, Tusk?”
He came back with a board shaped box. “Driskoll, can we play some chess? All of this feels too easy.”
Driskoll had a quick laugh. “Sure, my boy. I need to play against someone other than Kleitos. I love my brother, but he keeps using his vast intellect to cheat, thinking I don’t notice.”
This made Razor laugh too. “Reminds me of when I play games with my younger siblings.”
“To be fair, Kleitos is a younger god from what I’ve been told,” Tusk said as he set up the board and pieces. “Oh yeah, Driskoll, I assume you heard about what happened to my arm?”
Driskoll nodded, then thought for a second. “Tusk, would you be upset if I fixed that predicament of yours?”
Tusk was surprised. “You can?”
“Of course, but I’ll need to think about it while we play. I can’t just snap my fingers as these things require great care.”
“Fine with me. This arm hasn’t been the greatest, ha.”
Next: Chapter 12
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
Master Post - Patreon
“Tusk, you may want to consider Calvin for the ULTRAMagic Guild,” Cyneberht stated after he finished a bite of his sandwich.
“Oh? Are you working towards ULTRAMagic, Calvin?” He asked.
Calvin gave a casual nod. “Well yeah, as I was pointing in that direction. I’ve been going back and forth with my projects, unsure what to do with them. I want to join a mage’s guild either way.”
“Calvin’s got quite the noggin on his shoulders,” Murdoch pointed out. “A bit odd, but the lad’s certainly creative.”
Mayhem was impressed by a little flying robot that zipped around the house. “I know you’re fairly low tech, Tusk, but the guild could always use an artificer.”
“I trust that the Descendants are back?” Murdoch interjected.
Tusk nodded. “Absolutely, and they’re here to stay this time. Englehart openly declared that the primordial hunts are over once and for all.”
“A good thing, I say,” Agatha replied. “If there’s still primordials around, then obviously they’re meant to be around…”
“With a few notable exceptions, mother,” Cyneberht added.
Razor leaned in a little to address Calvin. “Are you sure you want to go through with ULTRAMagic, Calvin? It’s not your average walk in the park.”
“I’m sure. If big brother can do it, so can I.”
Murdoch snapped his fingers and pointed. “Tenacity, it runs in our veins. It’s what got me working with Gaius. In hindsight, it also led me to being a little too strict with the boys when they were growing up, but hey, we all learn from our mistakes.”
Cyneberht subtly shook his head. “It is the way of Lord Driskoll, the progress and whatnot.”
“You know it is odd to hear you speak like that, Cyneberht,” Mayhem admitted. “Given our current situation.”
“Everyone has some reverence for their lord or leader, despite the circumstances,” Razor pointed out. “Dad taught me that it’s important to be pious and loyal.”
Murdoch set his mug down. “A good lesson to learn, My boy. And at the end of the day, we are all one, like the great swamp and its many roots. No matter what the domains and realms say to each other, we need to remember that we are all in this together.”
Tusk smiled in a slightly amused way. “Something I wish those fools in the Cosmos proper would learn. I can’t even begin to articulate how annoyed I am at all the things Vlastimir told me about his universe…” He then stood up. “Thanks for the food, Agatha, Murdoch.” Razor and Mayhem also got up.
“You’re all welcome,” Agatha replied. “But going so soon?” They nodded.
“Lord Driskoll has always been a calm one, but best not keep his lordship waiting,” Murdoch asserted.
Cyneberht stretched. “Go on ahead, Tusk. I’m going to rest my feet a little bit longer. Say hello to Lord Driskoll for me.”
Despite being down a man, the three felt incredibly confident. Greenwater was such a great place, a far cry from the plague filled bog Razor thought it would be. Tusk explained that that was a common misconception, as Driskoll studied death and disease rather than outright embodying them in their entirety. The three made their way back to the docks where Gaius was waiting with a bigger boat. Once everyone had boarded, he set off once again.
The great swamp became more dense as Gaius steadily pushed deeper in. The waters remained still and became cluttered with plants that grew stranger and stranger. Many of the trees had become more complex, their giant roots snaking in and out of the ground. Giant spider webs were also becoming more plentiful with equally sized spiders to occupy them. One cobweb had two people fully cocooned inside of it who were trying to free themselves. Recognizing that they were some of the help enlisted by Ealdhelm, Gaius had the spiders free them and take them to Greenwater.
A feeling of calmness intensified as the boat reached an immense, log fort at the center of the swamp. Like Greenwater, it also stood on stilts, but these were more like thick trees. The way the swamp surrounded the structure made it feel like it was being protected while also being the epicenter of the realm. Gaius then brought the boat up to the lone dock and tied it down. The three were eager yet a little nervous, so Gaius assured them they were more than welcome to head inside.
“What an incredible place…” Razor remarked as he marveled at the interior. It looked like it had been constructed and grown at the same time.
“Driskoll’s fort is meant to be more cozy,” Tusk pointed out as they walked. Paintings and sconces lined the walls, with the former being quite the decorations as they told tales of the past of the Realm of Chaos. “Although he certainly has his own collection of tomes and trinkets.”
“Cynberht helped collect a good portion of them,” Gaius added. They soon arrived at a lounge, which looked comfortable and had a window with a nice view of the swamp. “Wait here and I shall go fetch his lordship.”
Razor took a seat on one of the couches. “Wow, this place is incredibly clean.”
Tusk laughed. “Yeah, Driskoll is a bit of a neat freak. Glad to see that hasn’t changed.”
“Ironic, given some of his domains,” Mayhem remarked, walking over to a kettle on a table. He took it over to the fireplace, hung it over the fire, and filled it with water. “Truthfully I’ve always felt bad for Driskoll and the nonsense he has to deal with with Wulfric. And then I came along and started causing trouble…”
“Yeah, I’ve been noticing everyone mentioned that stuff,” said Razor. “What’s your story here, Mayhem?”
He sighed, but this had a great amount of nostalgia behind it. “Well to start off, Devils in my Inferno have affinities. If you can name it, there’s a devil for it. Fire, ice, electricity, steel, ink, mud… chaos. Chaos is an irregular affinity that rarely pops up, leading to prejudice amongst devils. You can already guess where this is heading.”
“Were you picked on as a youngling?” Razor looked concerned.
“Of course,” Mayhem continued. “This led to me feeling like I needed to prove myself to everyone. I eventually had the brilliant idea to go to the Realm of Chaos and challenge Wulfric for his honors. Now I’m fairly powerful, but a Discordant God is on a whole other level.” Mayhem could feel his temper rising, but took a breath and went back to preparing some tea. The other two could sense years of pent up frustration emanating from him. “Naturally I rammed my head up against a wall for longer than I would like to admit to, no thanks to some of the more snooty primary devils back home. Not every primary devil is like that, I just got unlucky and ran into the worst of the worst.”
“So what changed your mind?” Tusk wondered.
“Eventually I realized I was getting nowhere fast, so I stopped to rethink my plans. I still didn’t get it, but then someone got my attention: Dragutin. He was also dealing with the Discordant Gods, but he had a more noble cause. I inevitably got in his way, so he sat me down and had a talk with me. In regards to my self-esteem, he told me that we choose who we want to be, not other people. If people say I’m a weirdo, then I choose to be a fighter. As for my quest, he told me to quit while I was ahead and pick my battles wisely. Blunt, but effective.”
Tusk laughed again, albeit sympathetically. “The latter is something Blood-Wraith needs to be careful of.”
“Was it really as simple as that, Mayhem?” Razor asked further.
Once the kettle was ready, Mayhem brought it over to the end table with some cups and began pouring the tea. “Yup. That made me realize that I was in over my head, so I went to Ealdhelm and asked how I could help. The rest is history and Dragutin has been one of my best friends ever since.”
Tusk sipped his tea, enjoying the familiar flavor of the leaves native to the realm. “You should never let the expectations of others weigh you down. Heed their word if they have something to say, but you’ll never get where you’re going if you let other people man the helm…”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Tusk,” a deep, older voice replied.
Standing in the entrance was a tall, old man. He had a long, gray beard, aged violet eyes, and a focused gaze that indicated a true scholar. His attire consisted of robes that were coarse and brown, looking like that of a mage and an alchemist. A thick belt with many pockets sat around his waist that he had to adjust with his gloved hands. And like Kelitos prior, he gave off a truly great presence, befitting of a god.
“Hey, Driskoll!” Tusk welcomed.
“Good to see you again, Tusk,” he replied as he went over to a chair and sat down. “I see Cyneberht also came along with you?”
“Yeah, but he wanted to stay with his family for a bit. Also he says hi.”
“That’s what I expected given how long he has been away. Mayhem, how have you been doing?”
“Great, Lord Driskoll. The recruits haven’t been doing well, but obviously Tusk is changing that.” Mayhem then went over to the kettle and prepared another cup of tea.
Driskoll accepted the drink. “Thank you,” he said after a sip. “I noticed Kleitos was excited with his newest epiphany when he visited me the other day. I’ve been waiting for this change for some time now. Wulfric won’t be pleased, but I am prepared to rebuke his ire. I commend my younger brother for his bravery and fortitude, but he really needs to stop and look at the bigger picture.”
“I’ll raise a mug to that,” Mayhem concurred, causing the two to chuckle.
Driskoll turned to Razor. “Razor Scully, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Razor was amazed by Driskoll, so it took him a second to shake his stupor. “Sorry, it’s an honor to meet you too, Driskoll.”
“Given that you’re also from The Unending Forest; Tusk, how are things going now that The Lich is gone? I sensed The Forest finally settled down not too long ago.”
“Excellent. The Forest feels a lot safer with the Descendants around. The whole family’s back too, so everything’s all good.”
Driskoll paused, as there was a fly in the ointment. “Hum, it’d be perfect if that charlatan, Karnage, wasn’t around… As for the current situation, don’t worry, I quietly resigned from Wulfric’s campaign a while ago.” Tusk and Razor high fived again. “Not to repeat what’s already been said, but like Kleitos, I am not a fighter. I want to study death, not perpetuate it. Still, I have a lurking suspicion my hand may be forced in the future. Until then, I am going to continue my studies.”
Tusk groaned, remembering what Ultimatum had said about Blood-Wraith and Leif. “I don’t even want to know what else Milosh has up his sleeves. Having you guys back on our side does make me feel better though.”
Mayhem cleared his throat. “Lord Driskoll? I’d like to apologize once and for all for all of the trouble I’ve caused you and the others, back when I was challenging Wulfric.”
“All is forgiven, Mayhem. It takes courage to admit when you’re wrong, and fortitude to fix those mistakes. Now let’s hope Wulfric takes a page out of your book. I know you can hear me, brother!” Driskoll said as he stamped his foot. The others laughed.
“Seriously, why are the Discordant Gods considered so dangerous again?” Razor questioned.
“I’d say it’s our potential,” Driskoll answered. “We don’t play by the rules, leading to all sorts of hectic outcomes. We are dynamic, yet static. We change, yet we remain who we are. I feel this paradoxical nature allows us to truly grow and influence the Cosmos around us. Of course those lower on the dimensional hierarchy would see us as chaos for the sake of chaos, missing out on the nuances all of us are privy to. If these naysayers could perceive the contradictory Gods of Order, they’d be singing a vastly different tune.”
Razor nodded in acceptance. “Yeah, that does make sense. People in the Cosmos proper are strange like that.”
“Agreed,” said Mayhem. “I can’t even begin to describe the amount of trouble making souls that pass through the prisons of Inferno that the wardens have to deal with on the regular.”
“Delphine has been eyeing one of the universes in the Cosmos proper,” Driskoll pointed out. “Universe-23 I believe she calls it… or was it Universe-15? Either way, she’s been seeking acolytes and those to rectify, which has me concerned. Of course, aren’t we all as of late?”
Tusk went up to get something. “Well at least we’re getting good recruits for the guild.”
“What are you up to, Tusk?”
He came back with a board shaped box. “Driskoll, can we play some chess? All of this feels too easy.”
Driskoll had a quick laugh. “Sure, my boy. I need to play against someone other than Kleitos. I love my brother, but he keeps using his vast intellect to cheat, thinking I don’t notice.”
This made Razor laugh too. “Reminds me of when I play games with my younger siblings.”
“To be fair, Kleitos is a younger god from what I’ve been told,” Tusk said as he set up the board and pieces. “Oh yeah, Driskoll, I assume you heard about what happened to my arm?”
Driskoll nodded, then thought for a second. “Tusk, would you be upset if I fixed that predicament of yours?”
Tusk was surprised. “You can?”
“Of course, but I’ll need to think about it while we play. I can’t just snap my fingers as these things require great care.”
“Fine with me. This arm hasn’t been the greatest, ha.”
Next: Chapter 12
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
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