It had been only a few weeks since the goblin and the rest of the party left Titanfell. Alfred was a member of that party as well, technically. But he didn't see himself as a part of the party. He hardly knew them.

Though by now, he knew the party as much as they knew each other. But being stuck in the mansion, isolated from the living, had separated him from them.

He would allow them to claim his home as theirs, for now. He would offer what aid he could. In the meantime, they were to search for a method to revive Alfred. If such a thing were possible, of course.

Daggat had been busy. Alfred was already a level fifteen Untethered. Ten levels higher than he had been when they left.

As an Untethered, a member of the undead, his growth was different from the others. Instead of skill or biotrait points, he dealt with curses.

While powerful, his curses came with severe drawbacks. Haunt weakened him severely if he left the manor. Unliving took away his need for food, water, and air. But, he could not benefit from potions, medicines, or the like. Finally, Graveless. This left him perpetually tired, but he did not need to rest. This causes his physical form to regenerate much more slowly.

Of course, that was where he was when the party left. He was more powerful, now.

Each level allowed him to either enhance a curse or choose a new one. So for each level, his abilities improved.

His most advanced curse was Haunt, which had Mana Corruption and Poltergeist. One allowed him control over mana, the other over physical objects. As long as the object belonged to this location. So for his first level, he added to it Omniscient. He knows all that is happening within the manor.

This third upgrade gave him the option to ascend the curse. He had done so with the next level. When ascended, he was even more powerful within the Manor. His attributes were all enhanced by five, not the three they had been. The other aspects of his Haunt curse were enhanced as well. He could move objects from anywhere in the mansion, alter the corrupted mana, and had a deeper understanding of the mansion.

For his third level, he chose a new curse. Nightmare. It allowed him to enter the minds of the dreaming. The curse forced him to embody terror, both within the dream and outside of it. The fourth level brought him Dreamer, which allowed him to alter the dreams of those he visited.

Unliving was enhanced for his fourth, choosing Mockery. It was life that he had become a mockery of. This gave his appearance a more human look. His eyes were still dead, and his flesh was still made of dead wood.

It would have been a comfort to him, being more human, but he was beyond emotions. Or rather, they were there, but they didn't apply to him. He could sense them. His fears and frustrations. But these were for the living. To him, it was only a passing interest.

His fifth level ascended his Unliving. This made him more human and toughened his body. Increasing his physical stats by two points each. Not that those mattered, Alfred was more interested in the mind. Magic and the construction of spells.

At this point, he considered what exactly his goal was when it came to evolving his undead abilities. He couldn't leave, so there was not much of a chance he would get into any conflicts outside of the defense of his own home. Alfred did not have a goal outside of waiting for a way to become human again. So, in the meantime, he opted to go for things that would enhance his home.

That being said, ascending Haunt did give more curse options.

The first he chose was called Labyrinth. It allowed him to create illusory labyrinths within his haunted manor. To trap and confuse invaders. The downside was not severe; it simply made the penalty for leaving his haunt much greater. He enhanced this curse with Spiral, which made the labyrinth harder to leave the longer they were within.

That would cover defense fairly well.

But that was not lethal. Another Curse intrigued him. Life Siphon. It allowed him to drain the life of all who stepped into his domain. The downside was hunger. He would need to drain life or feel progressively hungrier. That was manageable. Hunger was a feeling that could be ignored. This was enhanced by Wasting, which drained stats as well as life.

When his next level came along, he chose a curse that would help his allies. Doom. This allowed him to curse the living with his Doom, which he designed upon choosing the curse. Those under this doom visit the manor in their dreams. Subject to his dream alterations.

The downside to this curse was simple: he was subject to it. But seeing as he didn't sleep, all this meant was that when he entered someone's dream, they would be sent to the manor.

Then, he hit level fifteen.

A notification told him that he could not gain levels until he "ascended" into a new form of untethered. This was done by ascending three curses.

Alfred was trapped. He had one curse point left, and he needed at least two more to ascend another curse. Unless he could find a way to gain a new curse point, he was stuck in this form.

Well, leveling was only a distraction anyway. No real loss. He decided to hold onto his last curse, just in case something else came up.

In between the frequent levels, Alfred was busy restoring the manor to its beautiful state. There was not much he could do himself, but he did remove debris, cleaned every inch of the estate, and moved furniture and objects into their proper places.

There were still many holes that needed fixing. But that could come with laborers.

He was careful to not clear out the rodents, however. The lone living member of the houseful needed to eat.

The cat they had left behind, Birdy, had claimed the manor as her territory. Alfred was impressed that the cat had stayed along, particularly since the manor was haunted by a progressively more powerful ghost.

Several monsters had lurked their way to the manor while the party was gone. Weak, young creatures that Alfred had no trouble dealing with. In the absence of the undead roots to drain life from the area, nature was working double time to reclaim the place.

A few days after he had reached level fifteen, something had entered his domain.

An orc. It was wrapped in dark furs that seemed to drink the light. The creature's stealth skills were impressive. But here, Alfred was a god.

He cast the orc into a labyrinth the same moment it slipped through a window. An endless hall of increasingly terrifying paintings. Escape was easy if you had a level head. Overpower the illusion with your own will or leave the way you came. Once too deep into the labyrinth, that escape was impossible.

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The orc explored at first, taking each door carefully and sticking to the shadows. After four rooms, he found himself back in the long hall. This time, it was thinner than before.

Now the orc was confused, but it still wandered. Seeking a way forward, or back. With every turn, the hall walls were closer and closer together until, finally, he was forced to slip through a door to escape.

Alfred did not have exact control of the labyrinth. He could alter it somewhat, but it was mostly dictated by the victim's fear. So it was interesting to watch.

After a full day of being lost in his own mind, the orc scout finally succumbed to sleep.

Alfred sat at the end of the table when the orc's spirit left his body. With a thought, Alfred dragged the orc to the dining room.

The fireplace was impossibly large and burned with a deep red flame. The table was infinitely long, yet the orc could still see Alfred just fine. Dream logic overlayed onto reality.

"Why are you here?" Alfred asked. He was well aware of the effect he was having on the shaking orc.

"Where am I? What is this?"

"Answer, mortal, or you will not escape the labyrinth. Why have you dared to enter Titanfell Manor?"

"We… my people are desperate. The land is being scrubbed clean. There are few opportunities for food, wealth, and safety. So I came to scout and to confirm if the manor is as dangerous as the Memory says."

"Is it?"

The orc stood straight, "More so."

"Do your people have skills?"

"We can fight. Kill. That is all."

Alfred made the table shrink down to its normal size. "Who are you?"

"Skay, scout of the Evergreen Maw."

"If this manor were safe. What would you have done?"

"Search for treasure and wealth. Then claim it as a defensible fortress."

"Why?"

"For safety."

"Why do you need a fortress to be safe?"

The orc glowered, "Free me from this labyrinth, spirit, or our Wisdom will destroy you."

Alfred suddenly towered above the orc, "Do not toy with me, mortal. Answer my questions and I might not kill you where you stand."

"We left clients to their doom after they failed to pay. We wish to prepare for their revenge."

Alfred shifted back down to his normal size. "Who did you betray?"

"The Head Taker Goblins. Rikka, their Chief."

"What are you willing to sacrifice for safety, orc? Your freedom?"

"We will sacrifice nothing. We are proud. Evergreen will trade, serve, and take. But we will never bow. We are not like the civil orcs who cower before mere humans."

"What about employment?"

"We are mercenaries. Selling our swords."

"What of your labor?"

The orc scratched his head, "We are not mortals. We only know the skills of war."

"There are ways around this limitation. The master of this house can teach you, should he will it."

"Are you not the master? You who has such command over the house?"

"No. I am but a humble groundskeeper."

The orc shuddered, "Then the master must be mighty indeed. If he needs an army loyal to coin and honor, we are your orcs. Let our masters meet."

Alfred thought for some time. "No."

"But… why? We are strong! Surely your master has enemies."

"You have betrayed the goblins. Why wouldn't you betray us?"

"I am a scout. It is not my place to speak. My Strength can explain."

Alfred sighed, "Very well. But remember who holds dominion here. When the master of the house returns, you orcs will know. Make your camp, and perhaps we both can get something we want."

"Uhm, I don't-"

"Now leave."

Alfred forced the orc to wake. He was where he had entered, by the window. No longer in the labyrinth. He had been in the same spot for the day. Skay practically dove through the window.

Well, that was lucky. Perhaps these orcs could perform their prayers and become the beginnings of his lumber empire.

He went to count the coin again, just to make sure the ledgers were correct. It was only fair to warn Daggat as well.

Alfred: <Daggat. Orcs have camped not far from the manor. You should speak to the leaders; they may make fine laborers.>

Daggy two-arms: <Was about time they'd show up. Sure. But… about the business. Can't hurt trees.>

Alfred: <How are we to build with no industry? What is stopping us?>

Daggy two-arms: <I made a deal with the trees. But, hey, we will figure it out. No worries. Can you do me a favor and move a table to the lab? One you don't mind getting bloody.>

Alfred: <Very well. I will find a proper surgeon's table.>

Daggy two-arms: <You're the best. We'll be by soon.>

Alfred

True Name: Alfred Varnsach [Family name, Skill Alchemy] Soul: Mortal Untethered Genseed: Human [3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; +2 skill points Standard Size]

[Class] Level: 3 Awakened Corpse Wood Level: 15 [+2 Int; Unliving [Unnatural flesh (wood)]; -Remove: Mindless Dead]

Attributes (0/6): Strength: 10 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +0, Unliving +2) Dexterity: 10 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +0, Unliving +2) Constitution: 10 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +0, Unliving +2) Intelligence: 16 (Base 8, Growth +4, Class/Genesis +2, Boost +2) Will: 10 (Base 8, Growth +2, Class/Genesis +0) Charm: 8 (Base 8, Class/Genesis +0)

Feats: System Knowledge - Discover the system. Reward: One level in System Aptitude. Fledgling Mage - Successfully cast a spell. Reward: Spellcraft Vile Concoction - Willing drink a diseased brew. Reward: Disease Resistance. Mighty Intellect - Bring Intelligence to 15. Reward: +1 Skill point. Devotion [Layered feats] - Offer a prayers to Sahrzuel, Ithrenial, Mythraziel, Vaelion, and Zenthaviel. Reward: Experience gain, +2 skill points, +1 random ability, +1 growth point, +1 biotrait.

Skills (0/7): System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] Alchemy: 1 [Source: Varnsach family name] Attribute Boost: Intelligence (+2) Spell Craft: 2 [Source: Fledgling Mage; Perk: Refined Control] Construct Capacity: 3 [Perk: Expanded slots x2] (9 slots) Copy Construct: 1 Pause Construct: 1

Curses (1/15): Haunt: Titanfall Manor [Poltergeist, Mana Corruption, Omniscient , Ascended]; YOU MUST REMAIN Unliving [Unnatural flesh (wood), Unrooted, Mockery, Ascended]; YOU CANNOT LIVE Graveless YOU MAY NOT REST Labyrinth [Spiral] YOU CANNOT ESCAPE Doom DOOM UPON YOU Nightmare [Dreamer] YOU ARE FEAR

Notable Natural Skills: Research: Apprentice

Biotraits (1/1): Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction] Enhanced the bodies natural defense against disease.

Known Magical Components: Engines: Force, Control, Sense, Connect, Energy Drives: Efficiency, Focus

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