Chapter 90: Cult Hideout

All good cults need a base of operations. It’s just a rule, I don’t make em. Underground facilities will be ideal for this. Although it would be best if people could teleport into it. Not having found any beans yet, floo networks is out.

Well, let’s make it, first shall we? Ideally, it would be within a separate dimension with a bunch of cool stuff. Wait, I have a dimension. The Aroma Mining dimension; it’s a perfect choice. Yet I feel that it’s overkill. If the cult continues to grow it would be wise to change the dimension but for now, I will abstain.

First, we need to find a good location to host it. Ideally a mountainous area with good vantage points; got to stay safe.

Preparing some items for the journey along the plains. Making sure my friends are aware of my short trip and having gathered some supplies. I also added beans to the list of items Jengal shall look for. Making sure he is aware of the specific type I am after.

Grabbing a greasy meat skewer from a local vendor before beginning my journey. Hopefully a short journey. Taking to the skies like a bird, I begin flying through the frigid air. The weather, now cold enough to have frost in the mornings and dewy grass in the evenings.

Coming across a cloud dungeon was a nice surprise. Deciding to use a diamond dolly to carefully extract the blaze spawner before raiding the chest. Within was a purplicious cow along with ore nuggets; finding my haul satisfactory, I continue on. Although, I do believe I might already have one. Not recalling if I do or not. During the flight, the cow comfortably rests on my palm. Playing with the creature idly with my fingers before storing it away. Are they living or not? Living things can’t go in the bag of holding yet inventory pets do. It's very strange indeed.

Noticing the sun falling below the horizon in notes of maroon. It would be a good idea to set my camp up now. A good break is great for one's mental health after all. Setting down the tower in the middle of nowhere.

An hour after setting down my tower I hear a distinct and slightly familiar knock. Setting down my book with a hint of déjà vu, I open the door to someone I've met before. Looking over the familiar mousy brown-haired fellow. Familiar sword at his hilt, cloak missing.

He with a bright eyes smile speaks first. “Hey, long time no see.”

Waving him in, confusion filling my mind. “Aren't you supposed to be in the earthen empire?”

He walks with comfortable familiarity towards the sofa. “Boats are not going to the earthen empire. I hardly trust some bandits to smuggle me either so I'm on foot.”

“Not a single boat, that’s crazy,” I say in amazement at the predicament.

“I know right? Damned annoying, if they were working, I could go back and forth easily.”

“Is the board so close?” I ask curiously.

“You have no idea? The borders a month’s walk in that direction.” Pointing in the direction I was heading. Likely less than a week with my flight. “Once I get there, I’ll visit my family and some local towns before finding a safe route back and forth.”

“It’s the only way currently if the boats are out.” Pausing for a moment in thought. “I hear the local towns are opening airships for quick travel.”

“For real, that sounds amazing; which town?” Energy filling his voice.

“Well… my town actually. It’s where the ships are being made anyway. They are doing test flights currently. The town in that direction; a few days walk I would guess.”

“That sounds very convenient, I hope they make a direct line between the empires.”

“I do too,” I say while setting down refreshments. Green tea with a variety of ginger and wheat biscuits; I love ginger biscuits. Silently hoping he saves a few for me, they are making me hungry.

We sit for a time in comfortable silence. I quietly remove my helmet to eat some biscuits. I wonder if I've shown my face to him before. Noting a distinct lack of reaction from him. Either way, I appreciate the sentiment. It gets annoying having wide eyes every time my helmets off my head.

“What's your hometown like?” I ask the interesting man.

“Beautiful… or it was until technology bloomed there. Once a city of flowers now a city of steam.” He looks down with a hint of sadness in his gaze. “Not to say it's bad, it's so much nicer to live there with all the assistants. But I miss the orchards of apples, the wooden windmills, and the hand-tilled earth underfoot. Call me sentimental but it doesn’t feel like my home anymore. Well, times change I suppose.”

“It sounds like It was a sight to see during spring.”

“Aware of when flowers bloom, slightly uncommon knowledge for the upper echelon of society.”

Wincing at his rough but true comment. “Most do seem to neglect common knowledge.” Chuckling at the failings of humanity. He shares the light chortle with me.

“Why did they change it from a farming town to… whatever a steam town means.”

“It didn’t completely change. They still produce food, but now steam power too. It was next to a massive river, feeding the ground with nutrient-rich water. They now use the powerful water to produce energy to fuel certain mechanisms.”

“Hydroelectricity and steam power, interesting,” I say out loud, getting a curious look from the man.

The man opens his bag, removing a small book. Opening it down the middle, he carefully extracts a leafy weed. A four-leaf clover, “from my hometown, their good luck;” he says as he hands me the charm.

I gently hold it before placing it within my own book. Recalling one I kept back home, I do wonder where it went; I lost it at some point in my life. “Thank you,” I say, appreciating the gesture.

“No problem, you have hosted me twice now. It’s the least I could do. And I have a few extras anyway. You can never have too much luck.”

“So very true when you travel the wilderness.” He nods knowingly.

“So… why is your tower here? You were somewhere else last time. You have built it there to avoid people holds less water given it can apparently move.”

“Just consider it a rich man tent. I personally built it, and move it whenever I travel.”

He smiles, “Knew it, anyway that’s really cool. I’m jealous, having a house on demand sounds great.”

Deciding not to speak more on it, I allow the conversation to fall back into silence. Eventually bidding my guest a good night before heading to my room. Before reaching the stairs, I hear him. “You forgot something.” Turning around to catch his bag. “Shouldn’t trust me that easily, good night.” I just nod back. Resigning on my bed to sleep.

It was a comfortable night. Something about having someone else in a building helps me sleep. I guess it's just lingering fear of the things that go bump in the night. Speaking off, the zombies are quite loud tonight. Looking out my window to see whispy red mist seeping from the sky. The moon is about 15% red. The number of monsters out is larger than normal. Putting the thought out of mind I return to sleep; ignoring the odd grumble, growl, and rattle.

The next morning, I come downstairs to see plates full of food. Toast with eggs and orange juice. My quest motions for me to sit. “Thought I’d make you breakfast in thanks; please sit.”

Getting comfortable before eating breakfast. Well, seasoned but the eggs are a little overcooked. Grey rings around the yolk representing the sulfides released when it's cooked for too long. I keep my thoughts to myself though and appreciate the gesture.

“A blood moon soon. Did you spot the mist?”

“Yes, I haven’t witnessed one personally. Always been held up at home. Can you shed some light on it.” Lying seamlessly.

He just shrugs. “When one comes, the moon slowly shifts to red. As it becomes closer to the color of blood the monster's hunger for blood. Swarming in larger numbers. That’s what my mother always said anyway. Generally speaking, it will slowly convert to red with every increasing swarm of monsters. Once the moon turns full red a hoard hits. A few towns have been lost simply because enough zombies die to make a ladder over the wall. The most dangerous parts are the abominations and exotic monsters.”

Abominations and exotic monsters?” I enquire.

During the blood moon, you're more likely to see rarer types of monsters. Like wyverns, gargoyles, demon eyes. Quite a few nasties out there you rarely see. I’ve got to keep an eye out for banshees during my travel now. Damnit. When it comes to abominations, during the climax of the moon shadow creatures appear among the hoard. Lethal and dangerous. Leave behind a black obsidian-like material once killed.”

“Interesting, thank you for the information.” Silently hoping my ignorance wasn’t picked up by the knowledgeable traveler.

The rest of the morning quickly slipped away under idly conversation. He bids me farewell with a slight bow. Disappearing along the horizon in a surprising level of agility. It doesn’t take long for me to store my home and continue on my journey.

By the next early evening, I found the rocky terrain I was looking for. Pushing the boredom of traveling from my mind; let’s get to work. Searching the rocky hills for a small break. Dropping down the small crevice, I create a secret entrance to a small cavity. Tunneling down, deep into the earth. Creating a second stone room at the bottom before returning to the makeshift stairs. First expanding it before enlarging the roof and adding actual stairs. Replacing the walls with stone brick and Glowstone for light. Chiseled stone occasionally to break up the monotony.

I begin by tunneling a long, large hallway. Adding brick and an arched roof with small pillars in the middle. Brick stairs on the rough for that triangular shape. In the end, I begin carving a large round room. Positively massive with a circular shape. Only made possible by my insane wyvern pickaxe. I then change the structure into the stone brick with 4 pillars in the middle of the 4 corners. At the center, I build a small podium with a stand for someone to speak. Around are a lot of stone chairs in a circular pattern. Behind them bookshelves and light stone decorations on the walls. The whole thing I chose to light with spectral illuminators for that magical feel.

Returning to the hallway I prepare large amounts of adjacent rooms with simple wooden doors. Not choosing to add any decorations or structures. This whole place isn’t for me anyway. Although I do add a few statues to the hallway and some mannequins in knights armor.

Returning to the large dome room which amplifies the central voice so it can be heard across the room. In the end, I create another hallway leading to a higher elevation. Creating a few larger rooms. On each side of the main room, I also add hallways with no specific structures created. In one of the major rooms, I've recently hollowed out, I add a nether, aether, and twilight portal. Along with a crafting table, some diamond chests, and some furnaces. A small crop of magical crops producing iron, gold, and diamonds. This is enough to keep a group pretty well off I suppose.

Having enjoyed creating the structure. I now create a short book holding all the details I know of Felix along with a bunch of embellishments I think will make him more amazing. Half the book is fake from stretching the truth but it suffices. I will need to pay someone to make a holy book. And with that, I have a basic place to host a cult.