Necromancer's Otherworld Directory

Norris approached the noble with confidence. He had meticulously studied the territory, identified loopholes in the territory that could aid his escape, and discovered what the noble lacked: mage services. The undead mages in the noble's territory, though strong and natural necromancers, lacked enough knowledge to form a complete system to study and facilitate research. Most undead mages were weak mages in their former life who couldn't secure a better ending for themselves after they died and ended up coming to the Death Realm. Due to being mages, their evolution as lesser undead was guided by instinct to the use of energy before being blessed by the Death Realm during the sublimation process, granting them innate magic from the combination of what they had studied in their former life and death magic, creating unique innate magic. This made them stronger, but the lack of foundation in spells related to death magic made researching new spells difficult. That wouldn't have been a problem, but the noble had instead decided to thoroughly focus on melee professionals, neglecting spell casting professionals, leading to the lack of knowledge about magic in his domain. This led to the mages who were sublimated here being restricted by the 100-year contract, having to do things for the domain they were born to without going further in magic and mellowing out their desire for knowledge after realizing they were undead with near eternal life.

Armed with this knowledge and his hole card, Norris was ready.

The noble greeted Norris with an oppressive presence that made the room colder, clearly showing his displeasure. "Why have you come back, Mr. Mage?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the chamber.

Norris, undeterred, introduced himself with confidence. "My name is Norris, Sir. After scouting your territory, Noble, I am certain that my presence is needed here. Your domain has potential, but it lacks the expertise to fully harness it. I am a specialist in array magic."

The noble's gaze remained stern, but Norris could sense a flicker of interest behind his eyes. "Show me your expertise," the noble commanded.

Norris was amused, noting how the noble seemed to be trying to save face. It was clear that the noble was relenting and not trying to do anything funny.

The noble handed Norris two arrays commonly used in noble domains in the Death Realm and asked him to make them into scrolls. Norris was ecstatic about having the opportunity to learn new spells for free. He eagerly demonstrated his skill in scroll writing. He selected the finest vellum, carefully crafted from the skin of a long-dead creature. The vellum's surface absorbed the dim light, giving it an eerie glow. Norris mixed a special blend of inks, combining the essence of graveyard dirt, burned offerings, and a hint of mortal tears. The ink seemed to shift and writhe on the page, as if alive.

With practiced precision, Norris's quill danced across the vellum, leaving trails of dark, glittering ink. The symbols and glyphs pulsed with malevolent energy, feeding off the darkness within the chamber. As he worked, the shadows around him deepened and twisted, as if they themselves were being woven into the fabric of the scrolls. The air grew colder, the silence more oppressive, and the scent of decay more pronounced.

The Noble Death Knight stood watch, his presence a reminder of the power and danger that Norris courted. "These scrolls had better be worth the cost, Norris," he warned, his voice low and menacing, the expectance for being able to cast a spell that could only be done by a large array by only a scroll was too good to be true making him irritable, of course the resources too accounted for a small part.

"They will be, Noble," Norris replied, his voice steady. "These scrolls will grant you the power to command the very spirits of the dead."

As the final strokes of magic were applied, the scrolls began to glow with an eerie, otherworldly energy. Norris handed them to the Noble Death Knight, who accepted them with eager hunger.

"The first scroll, Soul Bind, will allow you to command the spirits of the fallen," Norris explained, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of pride and satisfaction. "The second, Undead Legion, will grant you the power to summon an army of undead warriors to do your bidding."

The Noble Death Knight's grin grew wider as he examined the scrolls. "Excellent work, Norris. You have proven yourself to be a valuable asset."

With the scrolls complete, Norris realized he had become a crucial part of the Noble's plan, a key component in the undead lord's quest for power. Despite the noble's displeasure and the oppressive atmosphere, Norris's confidence and expertise shone through, establishing him as a force to be reckoned with.

To formalize their agreement, they decided to sign a magical contract. The terms were simple yet binding: neither party would share each other's secrets nor harm each other.

Norris inscribed the terms onto a scroll, weaving intricate magical patterns that glowed with a binding energy. The noble and Norris each released a wisp of their soul aura, allowing it to merge with the contract. As the soul auras mingled with the ink, the scroll absorbed the essence, sealing the pact.

With the contract complete, the air seemed to hum with an unspoken understanding. They had entered into a partnership that would serve both their interests, ensuring mutual benefit without the threat of betrayal.

Norris observed the unique plant species, a forest in a realm inhospitable to growth. These plants were vital to the nobles' purposes. Nobles in most realms were tasked with organizing their territory's energy circulation, forming order, and driving away chaos. This process required significant time, energy, and resources. The nobles in this domain used the unique forest as a vein, with each tree assisting in energy circulation.

Norris planned to study the plants, understanding their importance. Intelligent beings curbed the influence of the warp (chaos) and elemental planes (order) on a realm. The realm's existence was a constant battle against the erosion of the warp and elemental planes while still trying to grow stronger from whatever scraps they could get from the big bosses. Intelligent beings helped establish order for their safety while causing chaos with changes in their everyday lives. They were the perfect way to fight against the corrosive warp (chaos) and elemental planes (order).

A realm without intelligent species would eventually die out, making souls extremely valuable. Most intelligent species were based on the foundation of souls, emphasizing their significance in maintaining the realm's vitality.

As Norris helped update the arrays in the noble's territory, he left backdoors for himself, ensuring an escape route if needed. Though he didn't know much about legends, he observed that legendary melee professionals often required vast expanses of land and large groups of believers before becoming legends. He guessed it was a form of ritual. While not the only way to become a legend, Norris recognized the essence of this war: to produce a legendary being from among the four nobles.

Norris's gaze lingered on the map, his thoughts swirling with the implications. Having a strong partner like the Noble Death Knight had its advantages, but sometimes being too strong could be a liability. The dynamics of their relationship might fall into the Noble's rhythm, leaving Norris with little room to maneuver.

In that moment, Norris made a decision. He would gain what he could from their partnership, but he would not hesitate to cut ties when the time was right.

The Noble Death Knight, oblivious to Norris's thoughts, smiled as he gestured to a nearby room. "I've prepared some specialties of the Death Realm for you, Norris. Please, help yourself."

Norris smiled, his expression a mask of gratitude. "Thank you, Noble. Your generosity is appreciated."

As they shared the meal, Norris savored the sensation, his senses stirred by the unique offerings. The Death Realm's specialties were not meant to tantalize the taste buds, but to awaken the soul. The dishes included energy blocks made from the vitality of various creatures, spectral fruits, and a glass of poisonous wine.

The energy blocks were a rare tonic for knights, providing the necessary energy to forge their bodies. The spectral fruits offered a heightened boost to the souls of mages, enhancing their magical abilities for a period. The real specialty, however, was the poisonous wine. It was deadly to anyone who wasn't undead, but for the undead, it provided a unique pleasure. Norris, being partially assimilated, could afford to take it in small gulps, feeling its effects without succumbing to its poison.

The dining room was surprisingly clean and orderly, a stark contrast to the eerie ambiance of the Death Realm. The walls were made of dark stone, polished to a sheen that reflected the dim light from spectral lanterns hanging above. An elongated, obsidian table stood at the center, adorned with intricately carved designs that seemed to pulse with a faint, dark energy. The chairs were sturdy and elegantly designed, made from ancient wood and cushioned with dark velvet.

Shelves lined the walls, holding various utensils, goblets, and other dining paraphernalia, each item meticulously arranged. The room was dimly lit, creating an atmosphere that was both serene and solemn. The faint scent of decay was present, but the room was well-ventilated, maintaining a sense of cleanliness.

The Noble Death Knight, too, seemed to relish the sensation, his empty eyes gleaming with a hint of pleasure. As undead, they were numb to the world, their existence a constant struggle to maintain power and sustain their unnatural lives. The meal temporarily alleviated their numbness, granting them a fleeting connection to their former senses.

"It's no wonder you're willing to go to such great lengths to acquire this," Norris said, his voice measured. "It's a luxury few of your kind can afford."

The Noble Death Knight's expression was unreadable, but Norris sensed a flicker of interest behind his empty eyes. "You would do well to remember that, Norris," he said. "This is a privilege reserved for those who prove themselves worthy."

The Noble Death Knight watched him, his empty eyes gleaming with interest. "You're a peculiar individual, Norris," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "A living being, willing to walk the thin line between life and death."

Norris's gaze remained steady, his expression neutral. "I have my reasons, Noble," he replied. "And I'm willing to take the risks necessary to achieve my goals."

As they shared the meal, Norris kept his thoughts to himself, careful not to reveal his discovery about the four nobles and their impending metamorphosis. He knew that sharing this information could alter the dynamics of their partnership, and Norris preferred to maintain the upper hand.

The Noble Death Knight, still unaware of Norris's thoughts, leaned forward, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Norris, I have another task in mind for you," he said. "One that requires your... particular skills."

Norris's interest piqued, he raised an eyebrow, inviting the Noble to continue. The Noble Death Knight handed Norris a worn, leather-bound tome. "I require your assistance in crafting a soul tool," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "This tome contains the knowledge we need. Study it, and together we can create something truly remarkable."

Norris's eyes widened as he accepted the tome, his fingers tracing the intricate symbols etched into the cover. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he opened the book, revealing pages filled with forbidden knowledge and ancient secrets. The pages seemed to whisper to him, promising power and knowledge beyond his wildest dreams.

"This is... impressive," Norris breathed, his eyes scanning the pages. "I've never seen anything like it."

The Noble Death Knight's expression remained unreadable, but Norris sensed a hint of anticipation behind his empty eyes. "I'm glad you approve," he said. "Let us begin our work. Together, we can create something truly extraordinary."