In his spell lab, Norris crouched within a circle of salt and powdered bone. He carefully arranged the ritual components, his fingers precise. At the center lay a single gold coin, its aged surface representing wealth and value. This coin would serve as a portal and anchor for his mind.
Around the coin, Norris placed a dried nightshade, symbolizing; A Spiritual Journey as part of the core of the ritual, and a vial of his own blood to strengthen the anchor. Glowing gems surrounded each component providing energy and symbols, but their total value did not exceed the gold coin's worth.
Norris lit a candle made from crow fat, and the flame's hiss filled the silence. Shadows jumped up the walls, revealing hidden wards: iron nails in jagged patterns and a silver wire noose.
The iron nails, driven into the walls in jagged patterns, glinted like cold, dark stars. The iron, a symbol of strength and resilience, was said to repel negative energies and attract protective forces. The jagged patterns, reminiscent of the wild and untamed, seemed to embody the raw power of nature.
Above, the delicate silver wire noose hung suspended, its gentle curves shimmering with an ethereal light. The silver, a metal long associated with the mysteries of the moon and the subconscious, was said to amplify intuition and connect the user with the hidden forces of the universe. The noose itself, a symbol of binding and containment, seemed to whisper promises of protection and mystic shielding.
Together, the iron nails and silver noose created a powerful protective barrier, shielding Norris from harm and negative energies. As the candle's flame continued to burn, the wards seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy, weaving a sacred space around Norris. The sacred space, formed by the iron nails, silver noose, and glowing gems, shields Norris from harm and negative energies while amplifying the ritual. It stabilizes and aligns the spiritual and metaphysical elements, ensuring the ritual's precision and success. It is both a protective sanctuary and a catalyst for spiritual connection.
Norris chanted soundlessly, his spells resonating with the sacred space. The coin trembled, then levitated, spinning slowly. As the floor seemed to drop away, Norris felt as if he were being untethered. His body collapsed, a puppet with cut strings, as his consciousness broke free.
The lab's defenses sprang to life, protecting his defenseless body. The silver noose tightened, its knots hissing as dark tendrils brushed against it. The crow-fat candle flared green, casting jagged shadows that clawed at the walls.
A few minutes after Norris departed, the crow-fat candle flared sharply. Whatever had crept too close was dispatched in seconds—a brittle crunch, a faint hiss, and then silence. Near the circle's edge, a fresh scorch mark remained, the only evidence of the fleeting threat.
---
In the void between realms, Norris felt the coin's pull—a searing thread tied to his mind, dragging his consciousness.
Norris, who had come to this plane with his consciousness, lost the passive defense of the body. This wasn't exactly a problem, except his surface thoughts were revealed. The Arcum Realm, the plane of wealth, was a subplane of the Arcane Realm. This made its composition just like the Arcane Realm—thoughts, information, and energy. In this fluid realm, thoughts carried information that shaped the energy comprising the realm. Though this ability was usually restricted by the laws of the plane, allowing basic cognition of the realm, some surface-level control remained. This helps shape a humanoid image and the ability to travel through the energy matrix.
Norris looked at the demiplanes, subplanes of the Arcum Realm, spread out like stars in the sky. This was the Arcum Realm responding to Norris's cognition and thoughts. Each star contained a demiplane owned by merchants who used the Arcum Realm as a platform. The stars, in response to Norris's thoughts, sent pockets of information. Norris cast this information into a rectangular hologram and read:
"Soul abound! Do you want to know more about the secrets of the soul? Buy now! It's available for only 799 coins. Having a problem? Is your cash running low? Don't worry, there are alternatives as mystic materials. You can use our preferential alternative, which includes the heart—the heart of a dying child with hopes. You can also choose the first tears of a blind man after sight is restored. Any other alternative can be discussed in The domain."
Norris was shocked that even he was tempted by this diabolical offer. Though he tended not to overestimate himself, he thought—or hoped—that his self-control would always steer him to the path of morality. The first tears of a blind man, though doing good by healing the man, felt too utilitarian to him. He decided that while he would help a blind man and collect his first tears, he wouldn't come back for this book. The act of confronting its offer had taught him something deeper though in a twisted way: his humanity was more fragile than he had believed, and his resolve more delicate than he had thought.
As for the heart of a dying child with hopes—that was a clear and absolute no. Children were his bottom line, an unshakable boundary he wouldn't cross under any circumstances.
He realized that he didn't have the heart to help the world. Norris resolved to start doing good as a way to help people and also to gain these special mystic materials—a win-win situation. Though utilitarian, at least he was in control of the situation, not being swayed.
More packets of information soon followed, each presenting new offers.
The Undying's Secret!!!!. Rule the spirits!!!! Bind eternal servitude to your will!!!Purchase now for just 499 coins!
Offered alternatives!!!!:A fleeting moment of genuine joy.The memory of the first promise you ever broke.
"Shear of Fate!!! One-time use! A replica of the legendary blade to sever the threads of destiny!!!. Limited offer: 299 coins!!. Other ways to pay: A fleeting moment of unselfish sacrifice. The color of your fondest sunrise."
"Phantom-Forged Dagger!!!!!. Strike silently, from shadow to shadow! Imbued with spectral precision.!
Grab yours now for 199 coins!!!
For those without coins", the packet whispered: "The warmth of forgiveness you once received. The memory of your greatest leap of courage."
"Spectral Ward Amulet!!!. Defend yourself!!! Protect against curses and unseen dangers.!!!
Available today for 399 coins!!!. Alternative payments included: A tear of true joy shed in innocence. The glow of a loved one's pride "
"Why play it the safe way when you can try a little gamble to gain more powerful effect!!!!! We present to you!!! Calouot' o Echoing Scourge!!!." Norris looked at the image information; A twisted, cyclopean flail adorned with eerie, glowing symbols that seem to shift and writhe like living things. Its head is shaped like a grotesque, starfish-like creature with bulging, pulsing orbs.
He continued reading, "It Unleashes a maelstrom of chaotic, eldritch energy, dealing unpredictable damage to enemies within a wide radius. Has a 20% chance to summon a swirling vortex of madness, drawing in nearby enemies and causing them to attack each other. Grants the wielder temporary resistance to sanity-blasting effects, but at a little cost: each use slowly erodes their grip on reality. Price: 699 coins!!!!.Alternative Payments: A forgotten memory of a loved one's smile. The whispered secrets of a dying star. A vial of tears shed during a lunar eclipse.
Ps. The full capabilities and containment methods haven't been deciphered yet. Buy at your own risk."
The packets flitted around Norris with each striking his pain points. He needed knowledge. He needed weapons. And the offers just came coming becoming increasingly tempting, well not all though the chaos Artifact scaring him Instead. His surface thoughts revealed upon coming to the Arcum kept attracting packets of information specifically targeting his wants and needs. Norris decided to speed up to Orum'thik's place before he succumbs, becoming a victim of impulse buying. Norris's gaze swept across the plane, his consciousness homing in on a familiar set of coordinates.
With a thought, he traversed the distance, his awareness coalescing around a particular domain. This was his usual haunt, a realm governed by a powerful divine creature.
Norris felt a sense of relief wash over him as he gazed upon his own reflection. He was himself again though only an image formed by his thoughts and the energy of the Arcum realm. Not being bound to the lich's body he had been using, his normal form, with all its familiar quirks and characteristics, was a welcome sight.
A Wealthkeeper, Orum'thik, emerged from the ether, his form shifting and flowing like a liquid. "Greetings, mortal!" he declared, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "Ah, Norris... I see you're back for another acquisition."