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Chapter 2

You close your eyes and when you open them things are different. You still can't make out anything in the darkness of the cave but now you can see small strands of power and energy flowing through all around you. A few of the strands spiral together into a fist sized pulsing orb. As a warlock your power doesn't dwell within you as it does with a sorcerer or wizard, instead you draw it from your patron or these lines of power. Oddly enough you can't feel your host right now, it happens from time to time and you aren't too worried. You take three steps back and feel the power flow into you. The orb shrinks as you drain the power into your body.

Odd arcane sounds echo from your mouth and fill the cave as you raise your hand and point at the door. A blast of purple energy streaks forth and slams into the door and yet it still stands. You flick your wrist and a second, then a third blast hit into the door aiming this time at the door handle. The lock buckles and then shatters and the door squeaks open. Light fills the room and your magical vision is gone. You have enough energy left in your for another spell or two but then you'll need to find another layline or make contact with your patron.

With the light spilling into the room you glance around again to see if you missed anything. By your "bed" is a tray with a stale bun on it which you quickly gobble down. The cup of water next to it is quickly drained and decide to take it with you. There is no knife or fork or even a spoon you could use as a weapon though. Still, the presence of food means that whoever had bought you here didn't mean for you to die. It also means you can't stay here and have to move.

Tapping your fingers on the tray you make a quick list of things you need. Primarily you need to find a way out of here. You also need to find out where here is so you can make your way back to a city and your friends. In the short term you need food, supplies, clothes and a weapon would be good. A source of magical energy would also be useful. And that brings you back to your silent patron again. You cross your legs and open your mind and... nothing.

Sighing, you stand and leave the room you are thinking of as your cell. Outside you find a simple torch in a sconce behind a simple wooden stool. The stool looks dusty, as though no one has sat in it for a while. So at least your escape is unreported for now. You glance around and see your cell is in the middle of a staircase. There is also a path that leads forward away from your cell on the same level. Beyond the flickering light of the torch you can't make anything out. Still, maybe there is a hint in the ether. You close your eyes and open your magical sight again.

Leading up the stairs is the unmistakable aura of orcs. Their bodies leaving a wake in magic due to their high resistance to the arcane powers. Still, they weren't the type to attack at first sight and if they had put him in the cell they must have a reason. Leading down the stairs was only a single trail, dark and intoxicating. A fell power. A demon. Yet what was a demon doing here? Who summoned it? Demon's were tricky but only the stupid ones were violent. Far easier ways to get what you want after all. Finally leading away from you on the same floor are three auras, two human and the third... beastlike. Powerful. Fearsome.

No easy option here.

What choice will you make?

1. Go up the stairs where you think orcs went

2. Go down the stairs where you detected something evil, a demon perhaps.

3. Stay on this level and find the beast being led by humans.

Bonus choice

What did you give up in exchange for your powers?

a) A treasured memory

b) A limb or organ that has been replaced with a magical simulacrum

c) Two decades of your life span

d) A favour that must be repaid

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