The invitation to Karshelm's deepest dungeons, extended by Lord Commander Greycastle through Captain Thorne, was not merely a mission; it was an unveiling. These were not the grimy, functional passages of the Lower Quarter, but forgotten pathways that plunged into the very bedrock of the ancient fortress, rumored to hold secrets as old as the mountains themselves. For Kaelen, it was an opportunity to expand his influence into a new, potent domain: the hidden lore and magic of this beleaguered world.
Kaelen assembled his team with meticulous care. For this venture into the unknown, he needed not just strength and stealth, but specialized knowledge. He brought Replicated Private Finn for his unmatched scouting and silent communication, and Replicated Sergeant Rhys for his unwavering combat prowess and leadership in tight spaces. But the true linchpin of this expedition was Replicated Master Alric. While the original Alric continued his work on the anti-Necromancer compounds, his duplicate, under Kaelen's direct command, held the arcane insight necessary to navigate and potentially disarm any magical defenses they might encounter. Kaelen also included two veteran fortress guards, Garek and Lyra, known for their unwavering discipline and experience in unusual tactical situations.
"Our objective," Kaelen briefed them in a hushed tone near the sealed entrance to the dungeons, "is to locate and secure a cache of ancient magical artifacts. These are not tools for battle, but relics of forgotten power. Discretion and caution are paramount. Master Alric here will guide us through any arcane wards."
Replicated Master Alric, spectacles perched on his nose, gave a small, confident nod, ready to apply his replicated brilliance.
The entrance to the forgotten dungeons was a heavy, iron-reinforced slab, hidden behind a false wall in an abandoned storage cellar. As Kaelen pushed it open, a blast of cool, stagnant air, smelling of earth and something indefinably ancient, met them. They descended a winding, stone staircase, the flickering light of their lanterns swallowed by the immense darkness below.
The further they delved, the more the dungeons changed. The rough-hewn stone gave way to precisely cut blocks, adorned with faded carvings of symbols Kaelen didn't recognize. The air grew silent, unnervingly so, muffling even their footsteps. Kaelen felt a prickle of anticipation—this was not a natural place, but a carefully constructed vault designed to protect something.
They encountered their first obstacle deep within: a shimmering, invisible barrier spanning a long corridor. As Lyra, the guard, inadvertently touched it with her shield, a jolt of energy sent sparks flying.
"A magical ward," Replicated Master Alric stated, stepping forward, his eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity. "Powerful. Designed to repel any who lack the proper… resonance. Or knowledge." He began to examine the patterns in the ancient stonework surrounding the barrier, muttering formulas Kaelen could barely comprehend.
Kaelen trusted his replicated alchemist implicitly. While Alric worked, Replicated Private Finn silently scouted ahead, his enhanced senses probing the surrounding darkness for any hidden traps or guardians. Replicated Sergeant Rhys positioned Garek and Lyra in a defensive formation, his presence radiating calm preparedness.
After a tense few minutes, Replicated Master Alric announced, "Found it! A sequence of activation runes, built into the very stone. A test of knowledge, not brute force. Stand back." With a precise series of gestures, tapping specific points on the stone, the shimmering barrier rippled, shimmered, and then dissolved, fading into nothingness.
"Remarkable, Master Alric," Kaelen said, genuine appreciation in his voice. This duplicate was truly an invaluable asset.
They pressed on, navigating a maze of corridors. Replicated Finn, moving ahead with silent grace, often signaled hidden pressure plates or cleverly disguised tripwires, allowing the team to bypass them. They passed empty cells that hinted at ancient imprisonment, and vast, echoing chambers where unseen forces seemed to stir.
Finally, they reached a colossal chamber, carved from a single, gleaming obsidian-like stone. In its center, on a raised dais, was the cache: a collection of intricate, strangely glowing artifacts. There were ornate staves that hummed with latent power, crystal orbs that seemed to contain miniature galaxies, and scrolls bound in forgotten languages, radiating an aura of profound age.
But the chamber was not empty. At a table littered with even more ancient texts, hunched over a flickering magical lamp, sat an old man. He was not a guard, nor a monster. He wore robes that seemed woven from shadow and time, and his face was a network of deep wrinkles, his eyes ancient and knowing. He was The Archivist, a legendary figure whispered about in hushed tones, said to have voluntarily imprisoned himself within Karshelm's depths centuries ago to guard and study the fortress's oldest secrets.
"Intruders," the Archivist croaked, his voice like grinding stone, yet filled with an unexpected wisdom. He looked up, his gaze fixing on Kaelen, piercing through his practiced calm. "You possess a… resonance. A singular purpose. You seek power. And you come for these." He gestured to the artifacts.
Kaelen stepped forward, his team fanning out behind him. "We are here on the Lord Commander's orders. These artifacts must be secured for Karshelm's defense."
The Archivist chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. "Defense? These are not for defense, boy. These are the forgotten keys to creation and destruction. They must remain untouched. For centuries, I have kept them safe, waiting for… the proper inheritor. And you, I sense, are not him. Yet." His gaze flickered to Replicated Master Alric, a flicker of surprise in his ancient eyes. "And you bring with you… echoes."
Kaelen knew this was a different kind of challenge. Not brute force, but a test of will and intellect. The Archivist would not be defeated by a sword. He needed a different approach. He needed his final piece.
"Karshelm is under siege, Archivist," Kaelen stated, his voice firm. "These artifacts, if understood, could change the tide of this war. Your knowledge of them is paramount. We need your guidance."
The Archivist regarded him, a glimmer of something akin to curiosity in his eyes. "My guidance? My knowledge is bound to these stones. It is not freely given."
Kaelen felt the deep hum of his unique ability. He had gained a token for his success in the internal security audit, and this mission to secure the artifacts would yield another. This Archivist, a living encyclopedia of ancient lore, was the ultimate prize. His knowledge would unlock the true potential of the artifacts, and perhaps even the secrets of Kaelen's own system.
[Replicate The Archivist? This will consume 1 Duplication Token.]
Confirm.
As Kaelen focused his will, a subtle, golden light, almost swallowed by the dimness of the chamber, enveloped the ancient Archivist. The air crackled, a faint echo of the magic from earlier. And then, standing beside the original Archivist, was an identical duplicate, his shadowed robes, his ancient eyes, his every nuance copied perfectly. Replicated Archivist stood, his gaze immediately locking onto Kaelen, a silent, profound understanding passing between them, mingled with an absolute, unwavering loyalty.
The original Archivist blinked, his ancient eyes widening in disbelief. He stared at his doppelgänger, then back at Kaelen, his usual stoicism replaced by sheer bewilderment. "Impossible! An echo… not of a man, but of… knowledge itself! What… what are you?"
Kaelen offered a calm, almost apologetic smile. "A necessary measure, Archivist. Your knowledge is too vital to be left untouched. This 'echo' will ensure your centuries of study continue, unhindered, for the benefit of Karshelm." He spoke of his replicated self as an academic assistant, a dutiful pupil to a master.
The Archivist, though still reeling, found his scientific curiosity sparked. He began to question his duplicate, a torrent of obscure historical references and magical theories flowing from him, which Replicated Archivist answered with precise, exact detail. It was a bizarre, yet fascinating, display of duplicated intellect.
With the Archivist's initial shock managed, Kaelen moved to secure the artifacts. Under the guidance of both the original and Replicated Archivist, he oversaw the careful cataloging and transport of the relics. Replicated Master Alric worked in tandem with Replicated Archivist, their combined replicated knowledge creating a formidable intellectual force, analyzing the artifacts' inherent energies.
They returned to the surface several hours later, emerging from the hidden entrance like specters from a forgotten age. Captain Thorne was waiting, his face tight with concern.
"Kaelen! Report!" Thorne demanded, his eyes scanning the team.
"Mission successful, Captain," Kaelen stated, his voice calm, though a deep weariness settled in his bones. "The artifacts are secured. And we've brought back… a valuable asset. The Archivist himself, and a new scholar who arrived with us, eager to assist with the research." He gestured to the two Archivists, who looked identical in their ancient robes.
Thorne stared, a flicker of his old suspicion returning. "Another… duplicate, Kaelen?" he muttered, the question more a statement.
Kaelen just offered a weary, charming smile. "The chaos of the dungeons, Captain. It seems to twist perceptions. But the artifacts are safe, and their secrets will soon be unveiled for Karshelm's defense. We will ensure they are understood." He spoke with a quiet authority that brooked no argument.
Greycastle would hear the report directly. The artifacts would be moved to a secure, magically shielded vault, and Kaelen would be given full oversight of their study. He had gained his final, crucial piece: an Archivist, a master of forgotten lore, a key to ancient knowledge.
He had gained two tokens from the mission: one for securing the artifacts and another for finding and bringing back the Archivist alive. He had spent one to replicate the Archivist. Now he had one token left.
Kaelen's core Legion was complete. With Replicated Private Finn, Replicated Sergeant Rhys, Replicated Master Alric, Replicated Lieutenant Thomas Valerius, and now Replicated Archivist, he commanded a silent, loyal force capable of influencing every aspect of Karshelm: its common soldiers, its military tactics, its arcane defenses, its political machinations, and its forgotten history. The fortress was no longer just a place of survival; it was his, slowly but surely, becoming an extension of his will. The study of the artifacts would begin now, and with it, Kaelen knew, his understanding of this world, and his own power, would deepen exponentially. The true reign was about to begin.