Mythraea Chronicles

Hearts' Dungeon

Driven by guilt and sorrow for the destruction he had caused, Hearts devoted himself entirely to creating his dungeon. This vast underground labyrinth was meticulously designed to house the lingering souls of the mythical creatures he had unintentionally slain. Every stone, corridor, and chamber was built with precision and care, ensuring it would be a sanctuary for these lost souls and a fortress for Hearts himself.

The construction of the dungeon was a Herculean task. Hearts employed powerful magic to keep the site invisible and his presence undetectable. He worked tirelessly, shaping the dungeon with his own hands and magic. The structure, vast and intricate like an ant's nest, spread across the land with countless winding paths and hidden chambers designed to confuse and deter any who might attempt to invade. These chambers allowed souls to rest and live as if they were still alive.

Hearts was meticulous, understanding that any mistake could jeopardize the sanctity of the souls he sought to protect. The dungeon could hold an enormous number of souls, more than the total number of all living beings that had ever walked Mythraea. It provided souls a way to interact with dungeon objects and each other as if they were not dead. A summoning room teleported any creature that died in the forest immediately to the dungeon.

Souls could exit and re-enter the dungeon at will through multiple portals connecting the forest to the dungeon. The exit portals had a magic glass-like appearance with a watery texture, showing the forest spot where one would exit. There was only one visible dungeon entrance, which allowed only souls to enter, always leading to the first room of the dungeon.

Another hidden entrance, designed for Hearts' personal use, allowed all creatures to enter and exit. This entrance led to a majestic king's room, complete with a grand throne where Hearts would sit. This vast room, reminiscent of a grand ballroom, featured high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and walls lined with glowing crystals, bathing the room in a soft, ethereal light.

The visible dungeon entrance had an unintended deadly feature: if a living being attempted to enter, their soul would be forcibly separated from their body. The body would remain outside, lifeless, while the soul wandered within. The body would survive only a few minutes without its soul, giving the souls a narrow window to re-enter their bodies before they permanently remained as souls.

While Hearts labored below to complete his dungeon, the surface world of Mythraea was in turmoil. The kingdoms, including the druids, prepared to face the perceived threat. Queens organized expeditions, trained armies, and fortified defenses. The tension between the kingdoms grew, fueled by fear and uncertainty. Alliances were strained, and suspicion was rampant, but the need to address the unknown threat within the Soul Forest and their friendship kept them together.

As Hearts completed his dungeon, the kingdoms launched their first expeditions after years into the forest. Scouts were the first to venture in, tasked with gathering information. However, when they discovered the entrance to Hearts' dungeon, they were unaware of its deadly nature. Entering the dungeon, their souls went inside while their bodies remained at the entrance.

Inside the dungeon, the scouts' souls wandered through beautiful and elegant halls, amazed by what they saw. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and glowing crystals, casting a soft, mystical light. They saw souls of the mythical creatures peacefully residing in the dungeon's many chambers. Needing to report this, they exited the dungeon, only to find their bodies dead. Trapped as souls within the forest's boundaries, they could not reenter their physical forms.

Alarmed by the disappearance of the scouts, the kingdoms sent more people to investigate. Each time the same tragedy occurred: bodies remained at the dungeon's entrance, while their souls wandered inside. This repeated loss caused panic and confusion.

The souls of the new soldiers met the old ones and discussed what was happening. Some of the souls figured it out and tried to warn the new scouts and stop them from entering but to no avail. This process continued until eventually, a soul of a soldier saw one of the bodies of a scout that had just entered flickering and tried to touch it. Surprisingly, he entered the body. This soldier, now possessing the body of another, recounted the experience inside the dungeon. He explained that every time someone entered, their body died, and their soul was trapped within the dungeon. This revelation led to a deeper investigation into the dungeon's nature.

The soldiers began to understand the entrance mechanics of the dungeon. They learned that timing was crucial and that there needed to be a strong match for an old soul to re-enter a body. They discovered that the only way for the soul to enter a body was if it was still alive, and that if the soul entered and exited the dungeon within a few minutes, it could re-enter its body. Successful re-entry required immediate action. As they continued to experiment and gather information, they grew closer to unraveling the secrets of Hearts' creation.