^^ The Dungeon Merchants Uniform ^^
(Lots of Chatting in this chapter, so enjoy a freebie!)

— Nonith, Southern Wastelands, Anitra —

It didn't surprise me at all that 'Honey' was gobsmacked by the revelations I'd put forward; Muradin was apparently the tight-lipped sort when it suited them, so this seemed like the kind of thing they wouldn't tell people unless they were asked directly. "Anyway, have your existential crisis later: what was Muradin's stupid little deal? I've decided to hear it, even if I can't trust them to keep it."

She blinked a few times, rubbing her face to settle herself, then nodded. "Yes, yes, of course... here, I'll show you their Message."

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): ... ... ... I see... I think I will do so. I will cap her XP at the Tier she is in, but the Stats will remain only Doubled... and the excess will go to her Order, and maybe her Guild Merchants will get doubled XP as well from dealing with me. That should do... and I'll use some of the excess to pay the 1/3 Tax on her Fusion Magic. That's what I'll offer her, and we'll see her reaction. Do you mind contacting her? )))
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I snorted softly. "And did the almighty moron give a reason why they thought this was necessary? The reason so important they'd break an oath bound to their soul? I'm pretty sure I already know what they said, but let's see if they lied to you like when they lied to Luxos and scored themselves a little time sleeping on the couch."

She frowned, looking at the screen thoughtfully. "When did they lie to Luxos? Is that why she isn't talking to them?"

"They lied to Luxos about how I came to be dead and then not-dead. She disapproved." I shrugged at her incredulous gaze, accepting the cup of tea from Aron and gesturing at her. "I think she'll need a cup of tea as well soon, dear, if you wouldn't mind?"

"Of course." He bowed crisply, then set about getting a second cup of tea ready while she stared at her screen as it updated.

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): That is incorrect: I simply did not tell her, because it was a secret. )))
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"Oh yes, keeping things from your wife: smart." I laughed sarcastically, setting my teacup down onto its little saucer. "You know, for a being capable of so much math, you're pretty stupid when it comes to people."

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): I cannot argue that, I suppose. For all that I create life, I simply seed it with Pre-Crafted Beings from the USS, so it's true that the inner workings of Humans is still very much a mystery to me. )))
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"Mm. Regardless, I see your deal, and I disapprove. Your five offerings: 1; XP = Tier, 2; Stat Points Capped at Double Tier, 3; Overflow to Order, 4; Guild Merchants Double XP (no stats), 5; Removal of 1/3 Tax on Fusion. My rebuttal? You'll sign a Geas, and it'll include 1: XP & Stats = Double Tier, 2: Overflow to Order and Familiars and Party Members, 3: Guild Merchants Double XP (no stats), 4: Removal of 1/3 Tax on Fusion, 5: Upgrading Materials from Dungeons by 1 Tier, if 50% Mana Regen is sacrificed for the week following it, accessible to the entire Order. I'm pretty sure the Order will be able to get its feet under itself with that but. Oh, and 6: A FUCKING APOLOGY!!!"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): ... That's actually rather similar to the original, isn't it? That first bit? By Tier Six you'd be at 1,200%... it almost balances out... but Stats are Capped at x2, I can't budge on that, you'd be a damned superhero by the end of one Tier. As for Overflow to Familiars and Party Members... I'll allow it, that's fine, that's just more Mana Purifiers for me... upgrading Dungeon Materials, that part is a bit difficult; I can't just create new materials for people, it doesn't work like that, they have to get summoned from somewhere else. I can give them a larger discount on buying higher-tiered goods? )))
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"Mm. Fine, that makes sense. Then upgrade the Dungeons a Tier when I create them; only up to Six, though, I imagine a Tier Seven Dungeon is pretty gnarly."

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): Yes, it is. Demigod Lairs, they're called, and there are no Artificial ones on this planet... yet. )))
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"But soon, due to the interference of the USS and Rackhavic's Friends?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): Yes.)))
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"Cool, and wouldn't you want another Tier Seven Champion by then?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): Now that the Dungeons have been corralled and I can make my own, my own Disciples will be defending the planet once more, soon enough. So no, I won't make you a Demigod that quickly. )))
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"Cheapskate." I clicked my tongue irritably, and Honey laughed under her breath.

"Siblings, eh?" At my questioning glanced she explained. "Every Champion has a different Relationship with their Deity, but it generally follows a single setting; yours seems to be a sibling dynamic."

"Hmph; explains a lot, I suppose. Does that make you the mother I have to call if they screw up?"

"The Aunt, please, but yes."

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): So, do we have a deal? )))
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"Yeah yeah, sign the Geas, as much as it'll do to you even if you break it."

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): Done! And you do have my sincerest apologies, truly; I should have never promised you something I wouldn't give, even if I didn't think you'd manage it quite like that. )))
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Gained: 200% XP (x4) for Brokering a Binding Pact with a Deity!!! (((Ooh, making another Pact? I wonder what you got in return? Is it Juicy? Can I have some?-Rackhavic)))
Level Up x8! (->100!)
Spells Gained:—^
Enhanced Spells:—^
Stat Points: 96! (Distributed!)
Excess XP (63%) Banked!!! (Time Limit Till 10% Loss: 1:57:59...58...57)
Congratulations! You've Reached Tier Three!
Choose your Tier Three Class!!!
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((( Message (Rackhavic): Would you consider another Binding Pact? This one concerning my immediate release? )))
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((( Divine Message (Muradin): Ignore the Elder Demigod, please! They just want to trick you! )))
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Name: Anitra Arcata
Age: 12
Tier: 2
Level: 100(0%)
Tier 1 Class: Champion of Muradin
Tier 2 Class: Warlock (Pact of the Chain)
—Titles—
Dungeon Master
—Stats—
Health: 4,500/4,500
Mana: 5,350/5,350
Strength*: 250
Dexterity*: 250
Constitution*: 250
Intelligence*: 335
Perception*: 335
Charisma*: 300
Stat Points: 0
—Stats Awakening —
Str: 250 (25%)
Dex: 250 (25%)
Con: 250 (25%)
Int: 250 (25%)
Per: 250 (25%)
Cha: 250 (25%)
—Skills—^
—Granted Spells—^
—Unique Skills—*
Draconic Arcana
Pact of the Chain (Summoning Talent)
Pact of Equity (Muradin's Blessing + Anitra's Pact = XP (Tier x2), Stat Points x2)
—Dungeon Management—^
—Familiars—^
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"Okay... fuck I'm happy I shortened my Status Screen... well, Muradin, give me the names of the Classes some other Elder Deities might offer me, so I can lock them up like Rackhavic, you've got a few minutes to think them up!"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): If you do that, the amount of Mana I get from you will be cut once more! )))
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"And then returned, seeing as the being to whom it is being drained is being drained themselves within the Dungeon. Thusly increasing your overall Net Profit from the endeavor. And if they have Divine Realms, I can use them as Enchantment Materials once they're Imprisoned, to ensure they don't have anywhere to go even if they escape! I wonder what I could make with that?" My mind began to wander towards inventions, and then towards a game I played a while back, and the concept of Totems for Temporary Blessings. "Do you think I could make Buffing Totems for the Order? Like, with the Shadow Demiplane used as a material, make a Totem that gives a XP Buff from Stealth-Related Activities?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): ... No, the Demiplane of an Elder Demigod is not suitable for that... but a Training Arena is. If you plan on catching Evil Demigods, I will support you, and I'll turn their Demiplanes into Training Arenas within the Tower, instead of the Dungeon Town. That way they're only accessible to the Order. )))
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"That's acceptable, I suppose, the material is important when you consider enchantments... Alrighty, so, classes? Which ones do I want? Which one can you wrangle right now, with your Power as it is?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): Well... I suppose the Pact of the Druid would fit you, for Earth Magic, but the Demigod in charge of that isn't Evil... Pact of the Shield-Bearer might be good to raise your Physical Stats, as well as your abilities to defend your allies, but the Demigod who offers that one is a vicious little brat. It'll be difficult to trick that one. )))
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"Sounds good, I'll manage, so long as you're going to be there this time?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): I cannot interfere in your Class Change, which Rackhavic took advantage of last time. But Honey could possibly assist, if she liked? )))
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The librarian-looking lady smiled, showing small crows-feet under her eyes and around her mouth. "Indeed, I would love to assist!"

"Good, let's get this done, then; I have shit to do, and this is going to be an irritating conversation." I held out a hand to her, and once she'd gripped it, I tapped my XP Notification to send myself into the Class Change Space.

Once more, I found myself amongst a hall of mirrors, each showing various versions of me. This time, however, I could see names above each one, and I had a small ball of white light following behind me, which chirped happily at me in my mind as soon as I noticed it. 'Wow! You have so many options!!! And only half of them are Warlock Pacts!!!'

'Mm, and can you tell how many Stat Points they give?'

'Ye-whoa what?!? How can you possibly... the lowest one gives you 48 Points!!!'

'Benefits of having a Deity as a Sugar Daddy.' I shrugged, looking through the many mirrors carefully. 'Which one gives the highest amount of Stats?'

The ball of light whipped around, eying each one, before returning. 'Ignoring you calling Muradin your Sugar Daddy, just for my own sanity, the Paladin Class 'Oath of The Tyrant' offers 52 Points, but only 22 of them are Free Stats, because that one raises every Stat by 5 per Level.'

'Ooh, I like that! And the Skillset?'

'Seems like a Noble Paladin Class that focuses on combat and court politics, and you can apparently only get it by being Royal and having dueled or killed another member of the same Royalty? You ever kill any of your siblings?'

'I've dueled a few, and I'll end up killing a few, I suppose. They've been trying to assassinate me and my friends since I was 3 years old. Now that I'm gaining power and prestige, they'll come out of the woodworks, I imagine. My grandfather the Emperor seems to be intent on using me to clean up the Royal Family, so he'll probably send them my way even if they're too scared of me to do anything.'

'Looks like it's built for you, then; you get extra XP for killing Nobles, and deposing or conquering any form of organization or Royalty nets you Bonus Skills or Permanent Buffs. Of course, this type of Class will make any Government in the world immediately try to kill you, but I'm sure you'll be fine. The Lesser Deity who offers that Class is an old enemy of Muradin's, a God of Intrigue, specifically the political kind.'

'Mm, nice, even better than a Demigod!' I ended the mental conversation and approached that mirror calmly, examining the Me in the mirror who was wearing shiny scalemail armor and a longsword, instead of a mace and plate. "The Armor is a bit Tacky, but... I do like the Stat Bonuses..."

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((( Message: Oh? Would you like to strike a bargain with me, Fallen Champion? Is Rackhavic not filling your cup high enough? )))
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"Does Rackhavic have a class here? I didn't see one that had their signature? Besides, they haven't given me anything that even remotely buys my loyalty. Not even Muradin's Champion Gift satisfied me for long; what will you offer, I wonder?" I affected a nonchalant lack of interest, eying the other Mirrors and checking my eyebrows in one of them while the Lesser Deity in the mirror considered their options for a few minutes.

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((( Message: 26 Stat Points isn't enough for you? )))
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"Please, I can get Stats from Vampiric Enchantments on my Mace when it crushes the skulls of my enemies!" I scoffed at them haughtily, walking away and examining yet another Mirror, this one recognizable as a Royal Merchant Class of some sort, but with an added detail of my face being covered in a dark hood and bloody crown, and the coins around me being replaced by bloodied sacks of grain. "What's this one, I wonder?"

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((( Message: That... is the Brutal Tyrant Class; vicious class, that. You only get XP if people die due to starvation from your taxes or are killed directly by order of your policies. I don't think anyone has ever managed to level it up all the way, so it's Tier Four version is a mystery. )))
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"Really? Shouldn't be that difficult to level it..."

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((( Message: It's Possessors usually get Assassinated in their first year. )))
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I snapped my fingers saucily. "Ah, yes, that'd do it!"

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((( Message: ... What do you want? )))
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"That's not how Gifts work." I shrugged, eying another, this one a proper Warrior-type, but again with a longsword instead of a mace. "What is it with people always romanticizing using swords? Maces are so much more efficient!!!"

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((( Message: Swords are easier to channel Mana through, with the proper Classes. Mostly for Drama, because you're right, that bludgeons are a more efficient weapon against armored enemies. And most enemies are armored, because of the swords. Vicious cycle. )))
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"Exactly!!! Total bullshit, if you ask me. Buncha pansies tryin' to look cool, not accounting for real combat! You know how easy it is to survive a stab wound?!? About a million times easier than a crushed fucking skull!!!" I scoffed at the image, making it look legitimately offended for a moment before my withering glare sent it back to its original stoic expression.

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((( Message: We'll aren't you just an adorable little budding psychopath? Tell you what; you choose my Class, I'll give you another two Stat Points, and I'll offer you information about the other Demigods that slipped through, that way you can hound them for gifts as well! )))
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"Weakening your opponents via an unwitting intermediary?"

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((( Message: Apparently Not Unwitting... but yes. The weaker they are, the better my position. You understand, don't you? )))
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"Of course! Let's talk Business, then! Here's my Offer: I take your class, and I agree to request things from your erstwhile allies; in return, you give me two more Stat Points per Level, and I get to summon you, the real, whole you, to assist me in a Coup, just once. I'll save that card for something juicy, like, say... Arcata, after I've revived it from its currently Fallen state?"

There was silence in the room, beyond the now quivering ball of light over my shoulder that seemed to be shouting at me but couldn't be heard because of my Mindblank earring, before a low, subsonic hum echoed off the mirror, like a deep, bassy laughter.

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((( Message: You plan to Conquer Arcata? To build it up to a new peak of society, and then ruthlessly Betray it at its highest point?!? Splendid!!! Magnificent!!! Absolutely Psychotic!!! I love it!!! I only really have one question, dear: why do I need to be there in person? )))
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"There's plenty of people who will have an issue with said Coup, so I'll need some... Deific Assistance. Considering Muradin obviously won't help... well, the physical presence of a Deity in the flesh will likely curtail most of the less... courageous people, from attempting to stop me. You see, I have certain Spells which are useful against Demigods specifically, which will destroy their Stats for a short time and make them Tier One Mortals, but Tier Six People and below wouldn't be effected. Your presence would serve to get rid of all those who aren't Demigods, and my Magic will deal with those who remain!!! I've planned it out rather well; I even placed Enchantments around the Palace to assist the spells I intend to cast, and I'll be adding more as I get stronger! I may even offer you knowledge of the spell which weakens demigods, so you can use it against your enemies. What do you think?"

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((( Message: A Splendid Betrayal, quite impressive!!! I do approve!!! Yes, I will offer you this boon: you may summon me, just once, and I will come! You may call the name 'Trelisom' into the void, and I shall arrive, a gallant Deity on a proverbial white horse!!! Now, let us begin your training in the fine art of betrayal!!! )))
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"I can't wait!"

—

As soon as I opened my eyes in the Vardo once more, I became aware of a blade on my throat, and raised an immaculate eyebrow at Honey The Sweet and her furious expression. "Now now, dear, use your words." I picked up my teacup, still hot and steaming, and sipped it genially, studiously ignoring her for now.

My casual dismissal of her as a threat seemed to enrage her further, so she pressed the blade closer, to where my swallowing tea made the blade nick me slightly. "You dare betray Muradin's Enlightenment?!? Are you utterly insane?!?"

I scoffed at her softly, not even bothering to put my tea down, and asked her Status Screen. "Is that name he gave me real?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): It is close enough for the Gate Spell to function, because you have his permission to summon him. Well played. )))
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"And the Prison is strong enough to hold him?"

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((( Divine Message (Muradin): At the heart of my Divine Realm? With ease. I may be weakened, but my Divine Realm has been soaked in Mana for Billions of Years; I could trap Stone Eye in there if I wanted. I even have before, as a prank. He found it rather hilarious, though his followers did not. )))
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She paused, reading the message slowly, then frowned. "Did you just double bluff a Deity?"

"Only a lesser one." I shrugged, flicking her dagger lightly with a fingernail to make it ring, and she immediately retrieved it, looking very confused. "Don't worry your pure little heart, dear, suffice to say I will be sealing a Lesser Deity inside my Prison, and by way of this greatly increasing Muradin's Freedom to act within the realm."

She slumped back down into the chair, rubbing her face tiredly. "I miss the days when we just stabbed each other with real knives..."

"Oh there'll be some of that, too, no worries! Tea?" I gestured at Aron, who was just now setting down the tea I'd asked him to make before this whole mental ordeal, completely oblivious to the events which had just transpired.