I yell and shoot up from the ground. That gets me to headbut Olutha. I groan and sink back to the ground. Everything hurts. She yelps and falls on her rear end. Pavol is heading over to me. He is holding my staff and my wand. I remember dropping them right after I teleported. He gracefully offers Olutha a hand to help her up.
I am back in my usual form. Pavol hunches down next to me.
PN: You better stay down. Your robot kept firing until this ghost thing was destroyed. That was after the glow around you had already ended.
P: No problem. I couldn’t get up even if I wanted.
PN: Usually you’d have the healers caring for you, but Zora and Dean need them more. Do you want me to get you a potion? I have been standing watch in case we overlooked one of them.
P: How long was I out?
PN: About three quarters of an hour.
P: Careful about loot. It needs to be now.
I loot the grasshoper monsters I killed. He and Rupert shelter Dean and Zora from smashing wealth.
PN: Lidija already looted those on this side.
P: The children?
PN: All safe
He reluctantly hands me the weapons back.
Olutha comes to bring me water and puts the cushion back under my head
P: Thank you.
OL: Limuk.
I would like to use my aura to project thankfulness, but I am beyond that. She gets it anyway. I pick up understanding and respect from her.
Natalija comes running to me.
N: Mommy is hurt.
P: She will be better soon. We have spells to heal her.
She snuggles to my side. That hurts. But it is also warming my heart.
<hr>
RP: Thar was a precursor sign. So many elementals and a mixed group.
OL: I agree. Does it matter, though? Even if the surge finally begins, we are ready.
RP: This lady was wild.
OL: Indeed. What was that weapon? The other guy seems to have some kind of Transfiguration.
RP: This guy has Immortality. Does that come from Transfiguration? And a case of too much boldness.
OL: In contrast to me. It was embarrassing. I really need something to generate disruptive force.
RP: It will come. How many of your abilities have you awakened? Half of them?
OL: Twelve now, with my aura ability. Yes, I know.
RP: I have a theory on those people.
OL: I am listening.
RP: Do you rember Bahadir’s contest and the winner?
OL: I am young, but not that young. Sure I remember.
RP: Chodhen told me a story about how he took on the other Rik Geller’s team in the mirage chamber and won. He mentioned that he was from another world.
OL: Another world? What do you mean by that?
RP: Like an astral space. Only much larger and not connected to our world.
OL: Very clear.
She hesitates.
OL: Some of them are very different. In fact did you notice that the boy can operate magical tools? He is clearly to young for essences and I detect none. It must be an alien racial gift.
RP: Yes.
They remain silent
RP: Though it has very little practical impact.
OL: Does it have any?
RP: Well, not unless you want to deliver the message together with a little boy whom you make drive a vehicle you would have to steal.
<hr>
This needs to be investigated. I press my probe against myself.
Ability: [Joy of sustained Fire] (Gun)
Special Attack (missile, drain, boon, bane, unholy)
Cost: variable - low with conjured weapons and ammunition, moderate with conjured weapons and other munitions, high with other weapons
Effect: After a threshold of consecutive missile attacks inflict [Victim of a sadistic killer] on the target and [Sadistic killer] on the user. Only works on targets with blood or sap.
[Victim of a sadistic killer] (affliction, unholy): Once for each bleeding wound caused by user or an ally of the user with a missile weapon or periodically while suffering [Bleeding] drain mana and stamina. This effect must be cleansed before [Bleeding] can be cleansed.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
[Serial killer] (boon, bane, unholy): Gather drains from sufferers of [Victim of a sadistic killer]. For each of them dieing gain a small healing effect. Attacks by sufferers of [Victim of a sadistic killer] do not trigger retaliatory effects. Damage incured by karmic effects triggered by attacks on sufferers of [Victim of a sadistic killer] is increased.
Racial Ability: Master of the Unholy Aura
Unholy effects are stronger. Unholy boons and afflictions within your aura last longer. Drains of stamina or mana by unholy means also trigger a drain of health.
Racial Ability: Fighter in the Clouds
Increased strength. Flight abilities need significantly less mana and stamina. Gain the ability to treat clouds as solids and store them to form ritual circles out of them.
<hr>
<hr>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">Gun:</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Tools of the Magister]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (77%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Joy of Sustained Fire]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Blood</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (60%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[This is my Gun]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Myriad</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack/Conjuration</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">
Iron 2 (91%)
</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Chemical Warfare]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Defiance</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack/Conjuration</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">
Iron 1 (55%)
</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Hyperkinetic Cannon]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Gun</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack/Conjuration</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 1 (72%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%"> </td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">Vast:</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Giant Form of the Ancestors]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (10%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Immortality]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Tree</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (88%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Nebelwerfer 42]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Focus</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack/Conjuration</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 1 (25%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Arsenal of the Mad Scientist]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Magotech</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (43%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Eldritch Eyes]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Water</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability & Attack</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 1 (39%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%"> </td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">Dimension:</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Teleport]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Bronze 0 (0%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Dance by my Will]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Dance</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Aura Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 3 (32%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Eternal Moment]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Reach</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (0%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Path in Time]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Hunt</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Perception Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (78%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Wrath of the Magister]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Corruption</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack/Spell</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 2 (0%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%"> </td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">Battlefield:</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%"> </td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%"> </td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Equip the Army]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%"> </td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 3 (45%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Robotic Servant of War]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Magotech</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Attack/Conjuration</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">
Iron 2 (62%)
</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Pipes of War]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Unity</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 1 (73%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Cornucopia]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Feast</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 1 (27%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 28.1566%">[Feast of Decontamination]</td>
<td style="width: 12.545%">Light</td>
<td style="width: 30.108%">Special Ability</td>
<td style="width: 23.5567%">Iron 1 (7%)</td>
<td style="width: 5.57556%"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
That is not an altogether pleasant experience with bruised ribs.