《The Arath Saga》 Chapter 1 - Life Sucks Letting out a long-suffering sigh as the alarm went off after the third snooze button press Alex reached over and hit the off button. He stretched his length in the small bed and raked a hand through his dark hair. Sitting up he turned and placed his feet on the floor. "One more and I won''t be able to make it to work on time. I really don''t want to go there again, but it pays the bills." He thought as he dragged himself from the bed and rubbed at his sleep-crusted eyes. Mid-morning sunlight filtered through the shades on his bedroom window a further reminder of the time. It dimly lit the small studio apartment allowing him to move about without tripping over the clutter of clothes and pizza boxes that made the floor a minefield as he dressed and went through the various tasks of getting out of the door and on his way to work. Slipping his arms into his jacket he rushed out of the front door of the apartment building and turned his collar up to block the brisk spring morning breeze from going down his back. Turning he walked down the sidewalk dodging other pedestrians with practiced indifference as he moved through the city toward Dynamic Systems Inc., his daily grind of cooperate monotony. "Wish it was more like in the books. Hells, I would love to be able just to go adventuring instead of spending another day writing code." He mused his mind drifting back to one of the most recent books he had been reading. LitRPG had almost overnight become his favorite genre when he was not playing video games or working, he was pouring over whatever new series he could find, more than just a little jealous of the different characters in them. "Hey Alex, good morning! You want your usual today?" The cheerful voice of Samantha rang through the air and pulled him from his daydreams. As he returned to focus on the world around him, his eyes alighted on the cute brunette barista behind the window counter. "Oh, hey Sam, yeah that would be great. Gonna need it to get through another day of work. I swear they come up with the most monotonous tasks to be codified." He smiled at her as he placed a hand on the counter. She was a bright spot in his routine; he missed seeing her on days he didn''t work. "Do you have any of those fresh croissants as well? I didn''t get up early enough to eat today and my stomach is starting to tell me about it" Laughing Sam set a small bag with the requested food on the counter and turned back to prep the coffee for him. "I swear you never wake up early enough." She grinned at him. "Is this just an excuse to spend more time talking to me?" "Well, not really but talking with you does make my morning better," Alex said. He wasn¡¯t being facetious their morning exchanges did brighten his day. He knew their flirting was never going to go beyond just the playful banter but hey a guy could wish couldn''t he? "You sure you don''t want to get lunch one of these days? I promise I won''t go creepy on you... well no more than I already am," he joked as he waved his phone over the scanner to pay for the order. Tapping a finger against her chin as if in serious thought Sam watched him a moment before finally speaking with a grin. "Nope, still don''t think it''s a good idea. I promised myself I would never mix work life with my personal life." It was the same answer she gave him every morning, just another part of their usual exchange. Subsequently just another part of his usual day. Same thing, same day, same week, same life. Alex sighed internally again at how nothing ever changed. "All right, see you tomorrow then." He picked up his food and coffee then turned to continue his walk to work. A few more blocks and he would be able to get out of the crowded streets and ensconced himself in his desk. Stepping off the sidewalk to cross the street he took a bite of the flaky pastry when a flash of color caught his eye. The brilliant vermillion hair distracted him for a moment as it disappeared around the corner of the building. A moment later the sound of a horn shocked him back to the present and he hurried across the road and into the office building of his work. Making his way to his cubicle he quickly sat at his desk, powered his computer up, and then set his coffee cup next to the keyboard. His mind lingered on the hair he had noticed earlier as he pondered the likelihood of it matching one of the main characters in the book he started last night. "Must just be because the color was on my mind that I noticed it," he mused. "Just like when you buy a car and suddenly see the same car everywhere." Dismissing the thought, he turned his attention to the latest tasks in his queue and lost himself in the work. Hours later he finally logged off the computer and rose. Throughout the morning his mind had kept returning to the brilliant hair color, something about it just stuck in his head and he could not shake it. Exiting the office, he hurried towards his usual burger place for lunch when once again the same woman caught his eye. That shade of hair was unmistakable, and he paused to see if he recognized her. While he looked closer at her she turned as if feeling her eyes on him and eyes the hue of evergreens in the deep forest locked with his. Distantly he heard a horn again, along with squealing tires as the eyes holding his shifted from their mischievous mien to sadness. As his mind tried to process the sudden change his world erupted in overwhelming pain followed rapidly by darkness. Wincing Alex sat up. His hands quickly ran over his body as the memory of the pain returned to him but nothing felt out of place or broken. He tried to take stock of what happened and remembered seeing the strange woman right before the flare of pain. Realizing he had stopped in the middle of the road the last sounds returned to him. A horn and tires...Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "Oh shit¡­ where am I? Did I get hit?" He thought and once again he checked himself. Nothing was broken or even scuffed though. It was then he realized his clothes were different. Gone were the jeans and T-shirt he had put on that morning. They were replaced with what appeared to be simple woolen pants and a soft cotton shirt. As this realization settled in, he looked up and about the room. The silence was deafening, and it was not the bustle of an ER room or the back of an ambulance he would expect after a car accident. Instead, he found himself sitting on a small wooden bed in a simple mud and straw room. There were no decorations or other distinctive furniture besides the door in the far wall and the open window letting in light. Strangely he couldn''t see anything besides that light through the window when he looked. Slipping from the bed he walked towards the door, pausing a moment he noticed he was barefoot and looked about for his shoes but there was no other clothing within the room. As he placed a hand on the door it swung open to another room, this one had a table and two chairs though and one of those chairs was occupied. Alex stared slack-jawed as the same woman who had caused his distraction when the car hit him turned to look his way and motioned to the empty chair across from her. "I was wondering when you were going to wake Alex Deegan." Her voice was silken and rich. The type of voice that one would expect to hear from trained singers or performers. The type of voice that one could listen to and lose themselves. "Please come join me, we have a lot to discuss before you make your choice." That comment got him moving and he quickly closed his mouth and moved to the offered seat. Sitting in it he looked closer at the woman across from him. Her long hair flowed loose and wavy down past her shoulders and was the rich vermillion that had so enraptured him. A soft jade blouse draped her body demurely though it hinted at her form beneath. When she leaned forward placing her elbows on the table before resting her chin on her steepled fingers it drew his eyes up to her face. Full lips sat beneath a small slightly upturned nose creating a classically beautiful face. But even those features were subsumed by her eyes. Those orbs conveyed a world of emotions with just slight changes. The deep emerald drew him in and held him captive. "Where am I?" He finally croaked after several long minutes of being pinned by her gaze. "Who are you? What happened? Am I dead? I was hit by a car! Wait, am I dreaming? And who are you?" His initial question broke the dam of his thoughts, and the others came out in a torrent. One question after another not permitting the woman a chance to speak or answer between them. Fear and worry started to build at the sudden changes to everything he knew. The sadness he had noticed before the pain returned to her eyes and she nodded somberly. "You are in limbo, Alex. You have a choice to make. I didn''t intend for your death so suddenly, but it confirms you are who I was looking for." She sat back in her chair and watched as the emotions played over his features at her words. "My name is Danu and I am here to ask you to help me." "If I am dead, how am I supposed to help you? How does my dying help anyone? I mean sure I wasn''t impacting anyone other than myself before but dying doesn''t help anyone. And what is this choice you''re speaking of? Kinda out of options being, I don''t know, dead and all aren''t I?" His tongue loosened by the situation his tone became more heated the more he spoke. "Wait what do you mean you didn''t intend for my death suddenly? You were going to kill me eventually?" He pushed himself back from the table and moved to rise. Danu reached out a hand and placed it on his. The warmth of her touch flowed through his body calming him suddenly and he stopped trying to stand only staring at her in a blend of awe and disbelief. "Peace Alex. I did not intend to kill you. Your time was fated though it would seem my presence hastened it. Even the Ixyl," She paused a moment thinking, "I think you would know of them as the Fates, cannot see precisely how the weave of time and fate will form. Just hints and possibilities, since knowing changes it." She leaned back once again and studied Alex closely. "Your choice is a simple one. Help me or move on. When you were struck by the car and dealt a mortal wound, I was able to intercept your soul as it left your body and bring it here to have our discussion." Motioning behind Alex she pointed to two dark doorways. "You walk through that one," she pointed to the one on the left, "to help me. And the other," this time she pointed to the right doorway, "will allow you to pass on to the afterlife." Alex looked to the doorways trying to see beyond their darkened frames at what might lay in store. Seeing nothing but shadows and darkness beyond them he turned back to the woman. "Wait, you caught my soul? Are you a god or something? I mean I didn''t think they were real but... No, I must be in the hospital, and this is a coma-induced dream. This can''t be real." Once again, she reached out and placed her hand on his, the calm sensation suffused his body at her touch. "Yes, I am what you would consider a goddess. One of many, in fact, in the world I am offering you. If you decide to help me it won''t be easy, but I won''t force you to do anything. The world is dying, though it won''t be for centuries, the path can be changed now if someone, if you, are willing to try." "Why me?" The weight of her words settled on Alex even as her touch calmed his mind. Everything he had known in his life had been upturned in a moment, but she was offering him a new start it sounded like. "What would I have to do? Where would I go?" Her smile brightened and her eyes sparkled seeming as if endless galaxies swirled in their jade depths. "What you do is up to you to figure out Alex. You would be given a new life on Arath aware that the world is tipping towards chaos and failure. You could drive it further towards that end and speed the eventual demise of the world forward, or you could become the balance and pull it back from the brink. I did say I wouldn''t force you to do anything. The choice is yours here and there." A mischievous glint shimmered in her eyes again, "You have always dreamed of an isekai life haven''t you?" Alex stared at Danu for a few minutes weighing her words and the possible choice. He wasn''t ready to die and go to the afterlife, whatever it might be, yet. That left him accepting her choice. He smirked slightly; did she actually just try to use the potential of an isekai experience to tempt him? Rising slowly, he turned towards the doorways. "Alright Danu, say I accept what happens when I walk through that door?" Her smile remained warm on her lips as she rose and walked to his side. "Through that doorway, you start your new life. The world is different from Earth, it''s more like the games and books you enjoy so it should have a special appeal to you." As he walked cautiously towards the doorway on the left and the potential of a whole new experience, he glanced back over his shoulder to see the room empty once again. Her voice filled his ears as his foot broke the plane of the doorway and he vanished from the room. "Thank you, Alex. Good luck and welcome to your next life." Chapter 2 - Becoming Alex became aware of the vast emptiness surrounding him. Confused he had thought he was supposed to be going to a new world. As those thoughts came to mind however a voice broke through his reverie. ¡°Welcome Alex. Before you are released to start in your new life you need to decide how you will start.¡± A soft feminine voice filled his head. As she spoke a light filled the darkness and a figure stood illuminated by the glow. The body was his, everything he recognized from how he woke up that morning except it was clad in odd rough cloth underwear. What was even stranger was that next to the avatar of his body was what could only be described as a stat screen.
Name: Unknown Level: 1, 0% Age: 32
Race: Unknown Alignment: Neutral Languages: Basic¡­
Reputation: 0 ¨C Nobody knows nobody cares
Stats
Health: 100/100 Stamina: 100/100 Mana: 100/100
Attributes
Strength: 8 Agility: 8 Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8 Endurance: 8 Charisma: 8
Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 8 Luck: 8
Resistances Skills Marks
None None None
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Abilities
Unbound Possibilities ¨C While the inhabitants of Arath are constrained by rules limiting how they can grow and what they can learn you have been blessed by Danu to be unbound. These limits guide you but do not constrain you. Linguist ¨C You have the capacity to know, understand, and speak any mortal language
Studying the screen brought up multiple questions. How was his name unknown? He was Alex wasn¡¯t he? And his race was unknown? Well yes, he had never done one of those genetic things to find out where he came from, but shouldn¡¯t it just be human if it''s like a game or book? ¡°Um, hello? Who are you? And you said I needed to decide how I start. What do you mean by that.¡± He tried to look around but found, much to his disturbance, he didn¡¯t have a body or form more just a perception and that was focused on what was before him. Once more the pleasant voice filled his head. ¡°You may call me system. I am the guiding overview for the world and assistant to the gods. You need to decide what race you will start as and what the inhabitants of the world will know you as. It is recommended, since you are coming from another world that you keep your true name, that which you know yourself as, secret as it could provide others with power over you.¡± Alex would have collapsed into a seat if he could. This was seriously overwhelming even if it matched so many of his stories, he had never really figured it would happen to him. That was all just fantasy, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Ok I suppose I should start with race, what choices do I have for races?¡± ¡°The races of Arath are many and varied. Basic races include Human, Elf, Dwarf, Gnome and Halfling. Many of which have sub-elements to them. Advanced races are not normally allowed for starting selection due to qualifying conditions but include variations of half celestial, demonic, draconic, and elemental¡± System responded to his inquiry. ¡°Though you are unbound you do not meet any of the pre-requisites to qualify for advanced races.¡± He pondered her response for a while weighing the options given the limited facts he had. ¡°Can you tell me more about the races, so I have an idea of what each consists of?¡± He finally asked. System responded as though reading from a guidebook, her tone was bright but straight forward. ¡°Humans ¨C The youngest of the races to Arath. They are one of the shortest lived but have the most opportunities as they don¡¯t have racial constraints placed upon them. They can progress in any skill or profession that they have an affinity with. Commonly found within cities and towns, they are a social people for the most part¡± She paused for a moment and Alex could have sworn that if this wasn¡¯t non-corporeal, he would have heard her turning a page. ¡°Elves ¨C One of the oldest races, along with the dwarves, of Arath. Elves tend toward magical skills and professions. They have very structured societies and roles. Young often know their place from birth and do not seek outside of their station. Societal structures range from forest villages to grand cities.¡± Again, she had the slight pause before continuing. ¡°Dwarves ¨C Along with the elves are one of the oldest races. Hardy folk often found in the depths of the lands. They excel in crafting and mining. The subsets found above ground lean towards commerce however and while have hints of their deeper kin¡¯s skills and knowledge are not as proficient as them. The deep dwarves carve vast kingdoms in their mines and caves while the surface dwarves create towns and villages to promote their trade¡± ¡°The last common race is the Halfling. Though not as young as the Humans, Halflings are newer to Arath and their origin is disputed. These folk are nomadic by nature and have no known settlements.¡± She had a strange inflection on the word known, ¡°Found in small groups they are traders and explorers by nature. Their skillsets often align with those traits lacking knowledge in anything that requires long term stability to achieve.¡± Alex waited for a while before asking after she had finished speaking. ¡°Is that all? There is nothing more detailed to help me decide what to choose?¡± When he was met with continued silence he mentally sighed and spoke. ¡°Given that information, I suppose I will stick with what I know best and remain human.¡± And with those utterances his stat sheet updated, and the form of the avatar became slightly more¡­ real as if it was taking on form not just concept. He thought again for a while, the idea of naming his character wasn¡¯t strange to him but the fact that this was going to be HIS name took a minute to consider. He was going to be stuck with whatever moniker he chose. Finally, a mental smile formed, and he spoke again. ¡°Arath shall know me as Xavier!¡± He spoke the name with the form he was more familiar with, and it came out sounding like ZAY-vee-ur. The fact that it was not too dissimilar from one of his nicknames from his youth would also help him to respond to it when others spoke to him while he transitioned to the new world. Once more his stat sheet updated, and a small fanfare sounded in his head. A much more grandiose voice spoke as soon as the changes finished ¡°Welcome Xavier to Arath. The path is now set before you. Will you crush your enemies, topple kingdoms and empires, and leave a path of destruction and pain? Or will you unite the peoples, overthrow despots, and raise up a glorious new standard for good? Know this, though you may be one your choices can shape the world if you live long enough to do so.¡± With that, everything went black, and Xavier lost consciousness once more. Chapter 3 - A New Life As Xavier¡¯s senses slowly returned with his consciousness the first was his hearing. The soft whisper of a breeze through leaves mingled with the song of various forest birds and the quiet melody of nearby running water. Breathing deeply his nose was filled with the heady aroma of rich earth blended with the sweet tang of crushed grass. He then realized that he was lying face-first on the ground. The sharp prick of a stone dug into his hip even as his cheek was cradled in the gentle cool of a bed of grass. Opening his eyes confirmed his makeshift pillow and he pushed himself up to a seated position to better take assessment of his situation. What appeared to be mid-morning light filtered through the canopy overhead to illuminate the small clearing he found himself in. A cursory look about the area revealed to him a sight unlike any he had seen since he was in that outdoor youth group as a kid. The forest glen was awash with life from the long grasses he was sitting in to myriad versions of flowering plants. As his mind fully awakened, he noticed the chirp of nearby insects and the scurry of small claws since his movement startled the tiny denizens that made this spot their home. Xander realized he was sitting in a sanctuary of natural life¡­ and he had a thirst and hunger as if he had never cared for his stomach his entire life. A spring had formed a small pool near the edge of the clearing which then poured out through the brook that he had heard earlier. He quickly rose to his feet and made his way to the water, dropping to his knees in the soft mud at the edge he scooped handful after handful of the cool clear liquid into his mouth to slake his thirst. As that demand lessened, he paused wondering what sort of illness or other issue he may have just inadvertently swallowed in his haste. After a few moments he mentally shrugged, what was done was done and he would have to deal with the consequences when and if they arose, for now though he needed to figure out what to do next. Sitting back on his heels Xavier reassessed himself. He discovered he was clothed, thankfully, in some sort of shirt and pants made of a rough spun cloth. The pants were held up by a thin short piece of rope laced through loops cut at the waist. As he inspected each piece, he got a small white-bordered prompt for each. You have discovered: Rough-Spun Tunic Rarity: Common Armor Class: Light Durability: 10/10 You have discovered: Rough-Spun Pants Rarity: Common Armor Class: Light Durability: 10/10 ¡°Ok,¡± Xavier thought to himself, ¡°I have clothes and a place to get something to drink. I need shelter and food then I can figure out where to go from here. They could have at least dropped me in a town or something.¡± His stomach rumbled loudly at that moment, and he noticed silver flashes in the pool as fish swam lazily back and forth. Focusing on the closest one he tried to study it and figure out how to catch it. After a few minutes of watching the large creature swim lazily back and forth. He felt he had a good idea about the fish from watching it though as it seemed to follow the same path in its lazy movements. He noticed a small niche in the edge of the pool the fish would swim into each passing and moved slowly over to where he could lay down there dangling his hand into the cool water. After a time, the fish once again looped through the area and he scooped it quickly up and onto the bank. A grin spread on his lips as he caught his first fish in years. Pinning it to the ground so he could stick his fingers in its gills he lifted it and carried it further from the water to avoid losing it. Setting the fish on a nearby rock he moved to the edge of the woods gathering small sticks and dry grass as he went. After about twenty minutes of walking through trees lining the clearing, he had a small armful of burnable materials and brought them back to his soon-to-be meal. Carefully he dug out a small pit and then piled the grass and sticks within. He had not built a fire since the youth group either. Living in the city did not require skills like that.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. It was nearly a half hour of frustration before he finally was able to kindle a small flame in the tinder he had gathered. Dredging up old memories he carefully added small twigs and then pieces of wood to the flame until he had a tiny fire burning merrily at the bottom of the cook pit. All of his efforts were suddenly awarded with the sound of chimes in his head and a prompt appearing before is view. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Survival level 1. Many and varied are the things that need to be done to live off the land. You have taken the first to ensure your ability to do so. This skill affects your ability to create impromptu survival shelters, campfires, and forage for edible foodstuffs. A broad smile crossed his lips as he read through the prompt. He had learned his first skill in the world. One that would increase his likelihood of living until he found civilization. With extreme pride, he picked up the fish only to realize he had no way to gut or even cook it. Sighing inwardly, he began searching for a sharp rock hoping to at least be able to remove the entrails of the creature before skewering it to try and roast it over the fire. Though he hadn¡¯t been big on cooking back on earth he at least understood the basics and wished he had a pan and some butter to fry the thing. It took another fifteen minutes before he had found a small sharp-edged rock and he set about trying to cut open the belly of the fish without destroying it. That was one thing he really missed from the games he had played. They always just gave him the ingredients when he clicked on the animal he didn¡¯t have to actually do the work to get them. Several minutes and one partially mutilated fish later he was done. Rinsing the body of the fish in the pool of water he was able to clean the worst of the entrails out and proceeded to skewer the fish on a long stick he had sharpened with the rock as well. Taking a seat next to the fire he held the fish kabob over the flame and slowly began to rotate it while he thought about what to do next. Soon the pleasant aroma of roasted fish filled the air and set his mouth to watering and his stomach to grumbling even more. While he watched his meal develop, he got a new sound of chimes and another prompt. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Cooking level 1. Hark and hear, by cooking your first meal you have taken the first steps on this grandest if often ignored path. From the simplest salad to the most robust entr¨¦e cooking is the path to gastronomic pleasure and status-enhancing buffs. Masters of this skill can craft delicacies that would make gods and kings weep with pleasure and foods that would empower armies. +2% to flavor of prepared dishes. +2% yield from cooking ingredients. Another skill he thought to himself. If everything came this easy, then surviving in this world would be simple. Immediately he regretted those thoughts as he was suddenly wary of cursing himself with the wrong words. Removing the roasted fish from the flames he looked closer at it relieved at the new information his cooking skill provided in a new white bordered prompt. You have discovered a new dish: Slow Roasted Fish (Whole) Dish Rarity: Common Dish Quality: Edible Traits: This whole fish was slowly roasted over an open flame. The lack of seasonings leaves it with a common fishy flavor but overall, it is wholesome and filling. Having successfully created this dish you retain the knowledge on how to recreate it with reduced failure. Chance to cook +1% The rumble in his stomach shook further thoughts from his head as he ravenously tore into the still-steaming flesh. Never had food tasted so good to his mind. Carefully spitting out the small bones he quickly devoured his meal and tossed the stick into the fire with a satisfied groan. All his pressing needs taken care of he started to look about the clearing. While it would work for a temporary place to rest, he knew he didn¡¯t have the skills or tools to survive for a long time in the wilds and he was going to need to seek out some sort of hopefully friendly civilization. He rose to his feet and put out the fire before setting off following the stream. ¡°This way,¡± Xavier thought to himself, ¡°I know at least how to get back to where I started and a place to rest.¡± Hours passed and the sun climbed to where it was directly overhead piercing easily through the canopy over the stream. As he walked, the water grew wider and faster. The sounds of animals and birds in the forest grew louder in the distance only to drop off as he grew closer to their location. Sweat slicked his skin as the day grew warmer though not uncomfortably so. After several hours of the casual walk, he heard a louder sound of rushing water ahead of him. Breaking free of the trees he found himself standing on a small cliff, the water from the stream he was following racing over the edge in a beautifully cascading waterfall to a lake below. Drawing closer to the edge he heard a fanfare of trumpets in his head and in the sky ahead of him the words ¡°Welcome to Arath¡± in a brilliant aged gold script appeared as if written by some invisible hand. They hung there for several moments before fading from view and he knew that his new life had started in earnest. Chapter 4 - It Begins As the golden letters faded from the sky overhead the sounds of the forest rushed in to surround Xavier once again. Along with those sounds came a new noise, one that rose the hair on the back of his neck in a primal fashion¡­. howls. The woods behind him echoed with a howl and answering call back. The sound grew louder as if whatever was making the din was drawing closer to where he stood. Frantically, Xavier rushed to the cliff edge desperate to find a way down and away from whatever was making the noise. Spotting a small ledge several feet below he quickly lowered himself over the edge and stretched his feet toward the outcropping as he did so the first of the beasts broke free of the tree line. It had a shape like a wolf but had scales over part of its body. Blood-red eyes locked on his as it caught sight of him, and it raised its head to unleash another howl. More cries answered from the woods and before Xavier could find purchase for his feet several more of the creatures joined the first. Fanning out they stalked slowly toward their prey their cries going silent as they moved in for the kill. Xavier looked down once again seeing his feet were still several feet away from the outcropping he had spotted. Glancing back up to the beasts moving towards him he closed his eyes and whispered. ¡°Danu, if you are watching this is a hell of a place you dropped me in.¡± Then he let go, hoping to land on the ledge. His feet caught the edge of it, and it sent him tumbling head over feet down the side of the cliff. Several hard crashes later he noticed a small trio of bars in the upper left of his vision, a red bar that was getting smaller with each crash, a green bar hovered beneath that and finally a blue bar sat at the bottom of the trio. He quickly realized that these were like in most games probably his health, stamina, and... mana? The concept fled as quickly as it came due to his situation but was something he would have to review if he survived long enough to do so. He finally crashed to a stop against a solid tree trunk at the bottom of the cliff. Looking up he caught the eyes of the beasts as they looked over the edge at him before they vanished back beyond the lip of the cliff and the hew of their howls filled the air once again. Groaning he struggled to his feet and winced as everything hurt to move. Looking at the red bar once again he noticed that about half of it was now missing. ¡°At least I didn¡¯t break anything.¡± He said to himself then quieted as he listened to the howls once again. They had changed in tenor and tone reminding him of the old documentaries he used to let play in the background while he was coding the realization settling in coldly. They were hunting him. Turning he limped off into the woods moving away from the water to try and find an escape from the creatures. The woods flashed beside him as he ran, twisting and dodging through the trees. His fear drove his battered body to move faster. His breath started coming labored as time drew on and he noticed his green bar sinking rapidly. Slowing to a walk he tried to catch his breath, and the bar started to refill. He still heard the howls every so often in the distance, but they didn¡¯t seem like they were coming closer anymore. Hopefully, he had lost them but his confidence in that was not high. They were at least canine seeming they likely could track him by scent if they found his path. Sitting down finally he gasped while his body calmed. The adrenaline from his frantic flight still pumping in his veins and lending a slightly red tint to his eyesight. After a few minutes, the tinge to his vision faded and his breath calmed enough that he could look about once more calmly and rationally. He realized that if he was going to survive it would take more than just knowing how to build a fire and cook. He at least needed a weapon. ¡°Games always made it so easy. You would start with at least a dagger,¡± he thought to himself as he started to walk slowly searching through the detritus of the forest floor. ¡°Ok, Danu said this would be game-like. I need to start thinking like that.¡± He thought back to the wolf-like creatures and their chase of him. ¡°Game-LIKE¡± he emphasized to himself, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to die my first day. I don¡¯t know if it''s game over after that or not.¡± It didn¡¯t take too long before he found a longer branch that was fairly straight and another sharp-edged rock. Sitting in the dirt he started to work the end of the stick with the rock until it had developed a relatively sharp point. As he finished, he got a new chime sound in his head followed by a prompt. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Woodworking level 1. Though done with the most basic of tools you have crafted your first woodworked piece. The intricacies of whirl and knot have opened your eyes to the capabilities of wood. +2% to crafted items. +2% to crafted wooden weapon damage. You have discovered: Rough Wooden Spear Item Class: Common Item Quality: Poor Durability: 10/10 Damage: 1 ¨C 4 Piercing Traits: Pride of the footman, the noble spear has broken many a charge and pierced many a heart. This basic wooden spear was crafted from a carved tree branch and lacks true weapon capabilities but hey at least you have something. ¡°Wait was that prompt snarky?¡± Xavier thought to himself. Shaking his head he dismissed the thought and rose hefting the spear to get a feel for it. ¡°Not sure how it will help against those wolf things, but I feel better.¡± He turned and continued down the small path he had been following. His senses were on high alert still wary after the fright from earlier. Unconsciously, he tried to move quieter and avoid stepping on branches and leaves that scattered over the path. Several miles later he managed to spot a small rabbit sitting in the middle of the path chewing on some grass. Seeing the creature his stomach rumbled quietly reminding him he hadn¡¯t eaten in hours. Hefting the spear he held his breath as he moved slowly closer until he felt like he could hit the rabbit and then threw the spear. To his great surprise and luck, it flew true piercing the creature and killing it in a single blow. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ding! You have slain a level 1 rabbit. +10 Experience. He stared at the prompt in his vision. He had killed it. Wait, he had killed it! Other than fishing he had never killed something in his entire life. Meat was easy to get from the store and he had usually gotten that pre-prepared anyway. He moved over to where the small furry form lay and retrieved his spear. You have discovered: Rough Wooden Spear Item Class: Common Item Quality: Poor Durability: 8/10 Damage: 1 ¨C 4 Piercing Traits: Pride of the footman, the noble spear has broken many a charge and pierced many a heart. This basic wooden spear was crafted from a carved tree branch and lacks true weapon capabilities but hey at least you have something. Staring at the dead animal for a little while he bit back his feelings and picked it up. The coppery tang of blood filled the air as it got closer to his nose and the soft pat pat pat of it dripping to the dirt hung heavy over the path. ¡°Now what do I do with it?¡± He thought to himself. Again, he thought back to how easy the games made it and sighed that he would need to figure out how to skin and prep the meat if he wanted to eat it instead of automatically getting the fur and meat just from clicking a button. He looked up at the sky noticing how it was starting to slowly darken and figured it would be ideal to find a place to camp for the night and figure out how to make the rabbit into a meal. It was only a short distance down the path where it came near another small stream. ¡°Another or the same one?¡± He pondered then mentally shrugged. It didn¡¯t matter it was water and there was room on the bank. Setting his spear and the rabbit down he set about making a fire pit once again. It came faster due to his new survival skill and he was soon sitting beside a small cheerily burning fire. He pulled the rabbit closer and studied it noticing a faint grey line in the fur. Turning the carcass back and forth the line shifted with the limbs and torso but didn¡¯t shift like it should have if it was part of the fur. Realization slowly dawned on him. It was a guide! It must have been from the survival skill as well showing him where to cut to skin the creature. ¡°Well, that¡¯s convenient. Now I just need a knife.¡± He searched about yet again, realizing maybe he should keep the next sharp rock he could find. He took his time in this search until finally, he found a small flat stone that could fit in his palm and a larger rock. He finally remembered a video he had seen about making a survival knife by breaking off the edges of a stone with another one. It was easier said than done however, of course it was, the guy who had made the video had obviously done it repeatedly to not make a fool of himself when posting a video. It took several times of hitting the small rock with the larger one to create a crack and with a snap¡­ break it in two. ¡°Dammit.¡± Xavier cursed aloud and tossed the broken piece to the ground before rising to search for another rock. It took longer but he found another one he thought would work well and sat down to make another attempt at making the knife. Clack, clack, snap. The edge of the stone fractured leaving a wickedly sharp edge that cut his thumb when he tested it leaving a small drop of blood to drip to the ground and another chime in his mind. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Crafting level 1. Every tool and item in this world is made by something. You now join the ranks of those crafters. Will you stall with the most basic of tools or will you rise to craft wonderous pieces of jewelry and tools that will shape the world? +2% to crafted items. +2% to crafted tools. You have discovered: Crude Stone Blade Item Class: Common Item Quality: Trash Durability: 5/5 Damage: 1 ¨C 2 Slashing Traits: Useless as more than a simple tool this stone knife can provide at least the most basic of cutting. He picked the rabbit''s body back up and looked again for the faint lines that he had noticed earlier. Carefully dragging his new knife along them he started to work with the body cleaning it and peeling the hide off the carcass until he received another set of prompts. You have discovered: Tattered Rabbit Hide Item Class: Common Item Quality: Trash Durability: 5/5 Traits: A worn and damaged hide found from skinning a rabbit. You have discovered: Skinned Rabbit Carcass Ingredient Class: Common Item Quality: Raw Durability: 5/5 Traits: A small, skinned rabbit. Perfect for stews, roasting, or grilling. Sighing in satisfaction he retrieved his spear and spitted the carcass on it before he held it over the flame. The low skill he had in cooking helped guide him in preventing it from charring but nothing more than that. It took a while, but he was rewarded with a new prompt while he watched the meat cook. You have discovered a new dish: Slow Roasted Rabbit (Whole) Dish Rarity: Common Dish Quality: Edible Traits: This whole rabbit was slowly roasted over an open flame. The lack of seasonings leaves it with a gamey and stringy flavor but overall, it is wholesome and filling. Having successfully created this dish you retain the knowledge on how to recreate it with reduced failure. Chance to cook +1% He carefully pulled the rabbit from the spear, burning his fingers in the process and coating them in hot dripping grease. He licked the drops from his digits and grinned. The taste was pleasurable, having never had rabbit before he did not know what to expect. He settled down leaning his back against a tree and enjoying his dinner while the sun settled into the distance. To his surprise it wasn¡¯t a single moon that slowly crept into the night sky but three of them. A deep red globe, a bright blue globe, and a mellow yellow globe. ¡°Huh,¡± He thought to himself. ¡°Seems I have a lot to learn about this world.¡± He carefully added some more wood to his little fire and then pulled his spear to his side as he made himself comfortable to sleep. Hopefully, the fire would keep anything wild away from him because he was exhausted. He had survived his first day, however, a new start in a new world and a new life. Things were looking up and already he was feeling more alive than he had ever felt back on Earth. Chapter 5 - Rescue the Lost Darkness gathered and the man formerly known as Alexander David Eriksson slept beside a small fire in the middle of the forest. It was a deep sleep, though not a dreamless one. Visions of glory, destruction, intrigue, and betrayal occupied the stage of his subconscious mind. Through every dream, though the only constant was the flash of vermillion at the corner of his awareness, Danu was watching and drawing attention to details. In dreams, he lived multiple lifetimes and experienced premonitions of things that may be, though nothing quite seemed solid enough to be fixed. That was one of the universal truths regarding fate and free will, though key moments were concrete and the rise and fall of nations and even worlds along with the lives of potentially billions rested on the razor edge of a decision. The details, however, were in flux and left to the whim of mortals and chance. A drop spattered on Xavier¡¯s face, shortly followed by another and another until suddenly there were hundreds of raindrops cascading down through the boughs overhead and soaking the recently sleeping man shocking him into consciousness. Nearby the soft hiss of water hitting hot coals filled the air for a few moments before falling silent as the cool water extinguished what was left of the campfire. As his mind shook off the haze of sleepiness with much more alacrity than ever in his previous life his grip tightened on his makeshift spear, and he looked about the clearing. Other than the rain and the soft light of the early morning nothing had changed from when he had laid to sleep. Congratulations! ¨C You have earned an Achievement. ¡°Survive a night in the wilds.¡± Considered the steppingstone for hunters, explorers, and adventurers you have joined their ranks by making it through a night in the wilderness without dying. Look at you! Xavier shook his head a moment as he mentally read the prompt a second time. Yes, there was some definite snark to these things. He dismissed the prompt and slowly got to his feet, already starting to feel uncomfortable in the soaked and muddy cloth of his clothing. ¡°I should have looked for a cave or some better shelter,¡± he thought to himself. Walking to the edge of the water he knelt and scooped a couple of handfuls up to soak his face and drink his fill then rose and looked up and down the small path he had been following. Remembering the wolflike things back the direction he came from set his decision and he turned and continued further down the path ears straining to pick out any noise besides the soft patter of rain on leaves as he walked. As he walked, he was struck with how his surroundings felt so much more¡­ vibrant. The colors were more brilliant shades even under the muted light of the rainstorm. In the distance, he could hear more sounds of animals and birds moving through the trees of the forest and scrub of the brushes. Gone was the overwhelming constant hum of electric lights, the rumble of engines, and the overall cacophony of sounds of life in a city. It was peaceful. It was peaceful... that is until he found the spattering of blood. A heavy coppery tang hung in the air as he came upon the sanguine splash of color across the pathway and trailed off into the woods. His grip tightened on the spear as he stiffened in worry. His mind raced with options as he tried to decide what to do. Should he follow the path or follow the blood? What caused it? He knelt next to the discolored area and noticed that the blood was still sticky, recent but not fresh then. There could still be danger in the area. It was then he noticed that the sounds of the forest he had been reveling in earlier were gone. No more birds or animals seemed to move about the area or cry out. All he could hear was the rustling of the wind in the leaves. Sighing he came to a decision. He wouldn¡¯t be safe with an unknown danger nearby. Crouching, he started into the undergrowth following the trail of blood. His heart thundered in his ears all but drowning out the noise of the leaves as he strained to hear anything that might give him an idea of what lay ahead. It was only a few minutes before he came across the first body. A small humanoid with a long pink tail, grubby clothing, and a wooden stick clutched in its grubby claws. Xavier rolled the body over and recoiled as he realized it was as much a rat as it was a person. There was a gash deep into the creature''s chest through which it seemed to have bled out. Biting his lip he moved closer to the body once again and his stomach roiled from the stench rising from it. The being was filthy and not just from what was sticking to the drying blood matting its fur. Tentatively he started searching the body and found only the dirty rags that seemed to make up its clothing and the club-like stick he previously noted it carrying. Deciding it had nothing of worth he took a deep breath and looked about to see if there was more of a trail, it was only a matter of moments before he noted the path continued deeper into the woods, with footprints and more blood, though now down to just droplets, led away from the body and into the brush. Steeling his resolve he continued after the path, every few minutes he ran into another body of the rat-like creatures. Each one looked like the previous though the state of their rags and filth varied slightly. None carried more than crude wooden weapons. It was when he came across the fifth body that he finally heard something in the distance and noticed a change in his surroundings. Where previously he only saw natural rocks and stone formations amid the trees, the one just ahead looked like it had been worked. He made his way carefully towards it and brushed away some of the growth covering it. Yes, it had been worked, there were stones cut and stacked deliberately to make the remains of a wall. Remaining low as he had moved closer to the sounds to inspect his discovery he looked about and found more ruins, ruins that were getting larger in the direction of the distant sound. It was then that he heard the scream. A female voice raised in pain and terror cut through the air. He took off through the ruins heading towards the sound and as he drew closer, he could make out the guttural sounds of the creatures as well. While he ran the broken walls gave way to tumbled-down buildings and more intact walls. Still nothing whole as such but the remains of a long-forgotten settlement. When he found where the noises were coming from, he leaned against one of the walls and peeked around the corner. His stomach dropped when he saw a collection of the rat-men surrounding a young woman. Her back was pressed against the wall in the corner of one of the broken buildings and she waved a dagger back and forth trying to hold them back. She looked to be in her early twenties, her body covered in cuts and bruises where it showed through her torn clothing. Brunette hair hung loose and crusted around her head waiving and swaying as she tried to parry another swing of a club from one of the creatures. He counted another seven of the creatures around her all with their backs to him as they tormented the girl, clearly intent on capturing or killing her. Knowing he couldn¡¯t stand by he darted out from his hiding place and drove his spear towards the back of the closest rat-man. The point went through the thin cloth covering its back and deep into its flesh¡­ and then the spear snapped. The creature staggered and dropped to the ground but several of the creatures turned hearing the noise and found him standing over their companion. Anger flashed in their dark beady eyes and four shifted their ire to him leaving three to continue harassing the girl. He backpedaled as quickly as he could, holding his spear''s remains as he tried to block their strikes. Xavier was repeatedly battered and bruised by the rat-men¡¯s weapons as blow after blow slipped past his shoddy defense. However, he gave punishment as well. Dancing to the side of a clumsy strike he jabbed the broken end of his spear into the face of the creature tearing its cheek as the jagged wood slipped upwards into its eye. Ding! You have slain a level 1 rat-man. +15 Experience.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. One down, only three left on me, he thought. However, those moments of distraction and trying to retrieve his weapon earned him two more blows to his ribs from the creatures on either side of the one he had killed. Yelling in pain from what was sure to be at least cracked ribs he swung his broken shaft into the creature on the right. It caught it in its elongated face and snapped its head to the side dropping it to the ground as well. Ding! You have slain a level 2 rat-man. +30 Experience. He heard another scream from the woman and hazarded a glance in her direction as he jumped back from the last two moving closer to him. She had managed to stick her dagger into the throat of one of the ones surrounding her, but the blade had stuck and slipped from her blood-coated hands leaving her weaponless as she huddled down into the corner seeking to cover herself as much as possible from the clubs of the remaining creatures harassing her. Desperation to survive and save the girl from her fate flooded his body with adrenaline and his blows with the makeshift club struck harder and faster upon the creatures surrounding him. One strike crushed the throat of the one on his left and it fell to the ground gurgling as it drowned in its own blood. Ding! You have slain a level 3 rat-man. +45 Experience. The attack had cost him a ringing blow to his head though. His vision swam as he tried to recover his senses. Stumbling he barely managed to get his weapon in the path of another blow the final creature aimed towards his head. Snarling he lunged forward wrapping his arms around the filthy figure, who immediately started trying to bite him, and drove it to the ground. His weight and momentum caused the rat-man to hit its head against a rock momentarily stunning it. Taking advantage of that lapse Xavier clutched the creature''s head and started repeatedly bashing it into the rock until he heard and felt the squishing crunching sound of its skull giving way and it stopped moving. Ding! You have slain a level 3 rat-man. +45 Experience. Gasping slightly, he groaned as his damaged ribs reminded him of their presence, he pushed himself to his feet and stumbled towards the backs of the two still driving blows down on the huddled girl. He bent to pull the dagger she had lost from the throat of the dead creature and slammed it into the back of one of the remaining ones. The blade bit true and it collapsed to the ground. Ding! You have slain a level 2 rat-man. +30 Experience. The sound of its demise drew the attention of the last monster. Hissing its ire, it spun towards Xavier, and he desperately blocked its brutal strike. The last creature was slightly larger than the others had been. It stood nearly as tall as Xavier, though it was still wiry and just as filthy as they were. It paced to the side its eyes roving over Xavier as he turned to keep it in front of him. Another hiss escaped the mouth of the rat-man as it raised its club high overhead seemingly trying to crush the human before it for the audacity of interrupting its sport. At the club¡¯s apex, Xavier had a moment of clarity and he drove forward, his borrowed dagger diving deeply into the creature¡¯s chest and twisting. The creature paused and the look of anger on its face changed to one of confusion, and then its features slackened as its body went limp. Dropping the club it fell to the ground, blood soaking Xavier as the blade came free of its chest. It was over. He had won. Ding! You have slain a level 5 rat-man brute. +100 Experience. Congratulations! ¨C You have learned a new skill ¨C Tracking level 1. A footprint, smudged dirt, broken branches, and disturbed leaves now paint a picture of passing to you. These are vital clues that enable you to follow your prey. +2% to tracking prey. Congratulations! ¨C You have learned a new skill ¨C Spears level 1. Through blood and pain, you have discovered how to wield a spear. Woe to your foes because you now have reach with your weapon. +2% to spear damage. +2% to attack while wielding a spear. Congratulations! ¨C You have learned a new skill ¨C Clubs level 1. Xavier smash! One of the most basic of weapons you now know how to swing a stick be that a stick of wood, metal, or stone. +2% to club damage. +2% to attack while wielding a club. Congratulations! ¨C You have learned a new skill ¨C Knives level 1. Pride of thieves, assassins, and just about anyone who sticks small pointy things into bodies, you have discovered the basics of wielding a knife. Go forth and continue to practice your stabby stabby skill. +2% to knife damage. +2% to attack while wielding a knife. Congratulations! For surviving the battle with the rat-man hunting party and aiding in the death of six of the creatures you have earned +250 Experience. Congratulations! ¨C You have completed a hidden quest. ¡°Rescue the Lost 1.¡± Your actions saved an unknown woman from death and danger. Who is she? Where is she from? Can you trust her? +500 Experience. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Rescue the Lost 2.¡± Having saved the young woman from certain death or capture you now have the option of leaving her to the wilds or earning her trust. To continue this quest try to get the woman to open up and learn more about her. Potential rewards: A new traveling companion. +300 Experience. A crescendo of chimes sounded in his ears followed by the following prompt. Hark and Hear! You have ascended in level. You are now level 2! Humans are granted 4 attribute points to distribute. Blessings of the Gods (Danu) has increased this to 6 attribute points. You will have 3 days to assign these points else they will be randomly assigned for you. Go forth, seek glory, seek love, LIVE! Standing there he looked at the crimson color soaking the blade, his arm, and his chest. He killed it. With the heat of the battle over his mind stuttered in shock that he had killed something other than a small animal. He dropped the dagger and sunk to his knees trying to wrap his mind around the fact he had committed murder. ¡°No, not murder,¡± he thought to himself, ¡°but I still killed people, rat-people, but people still.¡± He knelt there in stunned silence as his body shook from the sudden stop of exertion and the growing pain from his wounds. It was only a few moments before the ringing in his ears cleared enough that he heard the quiet moans of pain from the girl and he shook off his distractions and rose to move towards her. She was still huddled in the corner, drawn up into a ball with her arms wrapped around her legs holding them close to her body. Her head was ducked down hiding most of her face behind her knees, all but her eyes, which were focused on him as he drew closer. Their piercing emerald orbs searched him and caught his own in their fierce gaze. Even beaten and hurt her gaze remained defiant and strong. Her moans ceased as he got closer to her and her eyelids narrowed. He paused and held a hand placatingly out towards her, palm up and open trying to show her he meant no harm to her. ¡°Are you ok?¡± He asked her quietly. ¡°Are you injured? I¡¯m here to help.¡±She pressed herself further back against the wall avoiding his touch and he withdrew his hand. ¡°Im going to look around to make sure there are no more of these creatures,¡± he told her before turning away from where she sat. He made his way around the small clearing amidst the ruins, pausing to look around each corner and peer into the forest before moving on to the next spot. It seemed the right thing to do. Then seeing nothing of note and not hearing anything else creeping up on them he moved back to the bodies. Shuddering slightly, he knelt and began searching them for anything of value. As with all of the others of their kind, he had found so far none of them had more than rags and crude clubs. None of them except the larger one that is, it had a small bag tied under its rags. Curling his lips in distaste at the smell and filth of the bag Xavier pulled it off of the body and carefully opened it. Inside was a hodge-podge of items such as string, bones, sticks, and three small copper coins. Xavier tossed the bones and sticks aside but kept the string and coins as he tied the little bag to his belt. He looked over to where the girl still sat. She was cross-legged now watching him and had retrieved her dagger holding it with both hands before her body, silently warning him to keep his distance. Standing back up he started to drag the corpses off into the forest. She didn¡¯t move from where she sat only watching him as he worked. ¡°My name is Xavier,¡± He told her during one of the times he passed her. ¡°Who are you?¡± She remained silent and he sighed. The exertion of disposing of the bodies made his already bruised and battered body ache and cry out in pain. He held a hand to his ribs feeling that they were not broken but surely cracked. As he dropped the last body in the forest outside of the rubble that signified the edge of the ruins he turned and trudged back towards where the girl sat. He noticed a small stone basin along the side of the path it seemed to be filled with rainwater. Pausing he bent to smell the water. It didn¡¯t seem to smell bad. Hesitantly he bent his lips to it, thirst from the exertion of battle overruling his fear of sickness to take a sip. It tasted clean and clear, and he drank deeply from it before splashing it over his face and body sloughing away the sweat, gore, and blood from the fight. Feeling slightly better he stood back up and looked towards where he had left the girl. Pursing his lips in thought he wondered if he would regret his decision to save her then mentally shrugged. It was time to find out. Chapter 6 - Joining Forces and Growing Steadfastly refusing to focus on his own thoughts about what had just happened and all the death at his hands he made his way back to where the girl was still sitting in the corner where he had found her. As he worked his way back, he gathered up sticks, twigs, and several larger branches to build a fire. He was exhausted and needed to rest and a fire, theoretically, should keep other beasts away while he did so. Dumping the collected wood near the center of the clearing, he set about building a small firepit with loose stones before carefully stacking tinder and sticks. Once the little pillar of fire-starting materials was in place, he retrieved two stones that his fledgling survival skills indicated would work for sparking the tinder, and several minutes later, he had a small blaze burning merrily. The girl remained where she was, watching his every move though she had lowered the dagger to her lap now since he had not acted aggressively towards her. As the flame engulfed the first larger branch, he set in the fire she finally spoke a single word. Her voice was soft, nearly a whisper, but it was clear and pure. A sound that etched itself in the young man''s mind the moment he heard it. ¡°Why?¡± He paused and looked up from his fire tending to where the girl sat. She had leaned forward, and he could see her features clearer. Despite the bruises and dirt from being chased, the woman had a striking appearance. Her eyes were a vivid shade of jade, exuding a rare and vibrant quality that felt both earthy and enchanting yet somehow held an ancient presence. Her brunette hair, rich in dark brown tones with subtle highlights, he could see that normally it would cascade just past her shoulders, though now it hung limp and tangled from the fight. Her complexion was fair with a warm undertone, and just a hint of freckles dusted across her cheeks. All of which only further added a youthful, lively quality to her look. Her face had a gentle, heart-shaped structure, with high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and full, softly defined lips. Those features, however, were currently drawn in a suspicious gaze as she watched him. His tongue froze in his mouth as he was captivated by the young woman. Again, she pressed the question. ¡°Why?¡± The sound of her voice broke him from his momentary stupor, and he tore his gaze from her face to where the dagger lay in her lap. ¡°It seemed like the right thing to do. You were surrounded and looked like you could use help, so I did.¡± He replied in a voice no longer shaking with the post-fight jitters. She snorted softly at his words. ¡°So, you don¡¯t have any expectations? I¡¯m not supposed to swoon at your feet thanking you for coming to my rescue?¡± The bitterness in her tone made it clear that this was not the first time she had something like that happen to her in the past. Once again, she drew her knees to her chest, the dagger gripped in one hand as she rested her chin on her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs. As he continued to make no moves towards her and turned his gaze back to the fire she relented. ¡°My name is Ella Bree.¡± Her words drew his attention back to her and he smiled gently. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ella Bree, as I said before I am Xavier.¡± He sat down on the opposite side of the fire to make sure she didn¡¯t feel trapped by him as he spoke. ¡°What were those things and why were they after you? Where are you from? And for that matter where are we now?¡± Carefully she shifted out of her corner and over towards the warmth of the fire. The forest had mostly taken back the ruins, and its canopy kept the sun''s warmth from the ground thus the fire felt welcoming to both travelers. ¡°They were rat-men. Scavengers and thieves thought they would attack if they thought they could win. They caught me off guard while I was traveling through the woods. I did not know there were any in this area. As for where we are, this is the forest of Silverwood. How did you not know that? It stretches for miles in every direction, one of the largest forests in Eldoria.¡± He noticed she didn¡¯t answer where she was from but let it be. ¡°I¡¯m rather new to the area. I woke up a few days ago amid the forest, I guess you could say I am rather lost.¡± He added another stick to the fire. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have anything to eat. That fight took a lot out of me.¡± The young woman shook her head slowly. Xavier sighed slightly and poked disconsolately at the burning fire. ¡°We probably shouldn¡¯t stay here long then,¡± he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if there are more of those things around.¡± The young woman nodded and rose with an unusual grace as she slid the knife into her belt. As she stood, he got a better look at her. She was shorter than her presence made him expect only standing about a meter and a half tall. Her clothing, though worn and plain, was sturdy consisting of dark grey rough spun braes covering her legs down to just below the knees and a loose fitting green rough spun tunic. Oddly, he thought, she was barefoot despite having said she had been traveling in the area. He rose to his feet as well and retrieved the longest, straightest stick he had gathered with the firewood. Pulling out his small stone knife he began to shave its tip into a point before hardening it in the fire to produce a new wooden spear. You have discovered: Rough Wooden Spear Item Class: Common Item Quality: Poor Durability: 10/10 Damage: 1 ¨C 4 Piercing Traits: Pride of the footman, the noble spear has broken many a charge and pierced many a heart. This basic wooden spear was crafted from a carved tree branch and lacks true weapon capabilities but hey at least you have something. Ella Bree watched him work warily. He had helped save her from the rat-men but that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t have his own agenda and intentions for her. As he finished the spear, she stepped back away from him to ensure she was out of his easy reach. ¡°Are you taking me with you then?¡± She asked, a hint of anger tinging her words as her suspicions grew.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°I¡¯m not going to force you to. I just thought it might be safer if we travel together. You¡¯re free to do whatever you want.¡± He shrugged slightly as he responded. The bite of her tone caused him to look at her once again. ¡°I thought I would explore these ruins to see if there was anything usable before I returned to the path. The place looks well worn but there might be something in the rubble.¡± As he spoke, he motioned to the mostly collapsed buildings around them. He didn¡¯t have any real hope of finding something but in video games and books, there was always something in ruins even if it was rusty and of poor quality. The woman stared at him for a little while, her hand resting on the hilt of the dagger as she contemplated his offer. Finally, she nodded, ¡°For now I will go with you. You are right there is safety in numbers.¡± Her gaze turned to the ruins and she pointed back the way she had originally come into them. ¡°Maybe we start back down that path where they chased me and spread out from there?¡± ¡°Sounds as good a plan as any.¡± Xavier agreed and he snuffed the remnants of the fire with his boot. Leaning the spear against his shoulder he turned and walked down the path towards where the buildings were just starting to remain intact. It took them most of the day to search through the ruins and twilight was settling in when they finally stopped inside a mostly intact building towards the northern edge. It was clear that it had once been a very large village but that was a very long time ago. This building abutted a large rock formation and appeared to be partially carved out of it giving it more security. The windows and doors were just open holes in the stonework, the wood or glass that had closed them from the elements had long worn away, but if felt secure and they both figured that if something should attack it would limit where they could come from. While they were exploring Xavier had managed to spear several small rabbits, the customary prompt already read and dismissed while they had worked. Surprisingly he discovered he could minimize or set certain prompts to be ignored to review later if at all. This made him happier cause the constant notifications every time something happened were getting a little overwhelming. He had also taken the time to allocate his new attribute points and see what changes it made. He had examined each attribute and was provided with a brief explanation about what it did. It turned out they did basically what he expected. They were divided into physical attributes such as strength, agility, dexterity, constitution, and endurance; and intangible attributes like charisma, wisdom, intelligence, and luck. Strength: This attribute is a character¡¯s ability to perform physical actions requiring physical power. It can affect a character¡¯s ability to carry objects, intimidate others, and increase damage when physically striking something. A character¡¯s weight carry capacity is factored by 100 + (Str*5) ¡°When in doubt, punch it harder¡± Agility: This attribute is a character''s ability to move quickly and easily. It can affect a character''s ability to evade attacks, land attacks, pickpockets, and pick locks. ¡°Because sometimes running away is the smartest move¡± Dexterity: This attribute is a character''s ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skillfully with the hands or body. Dexterity controls a character''s attack and movement speed and accuracy, as well as their ability to evade an opponent''s attack. ¡°The difference between a graceful disarm and accidentally throwing your sword¡± Constitution: This attribute is a character¡¯s physical health. Constitution affects the ability to shrug off disease, poisons, and the individual¡¯s overall health. Hit points are factored by 100 + (Con*10) ¡°Because taking a punch to the face is a valid strategy¡± Endurance: This attribute is a character¡¯s ability to remain active and push past physical limits over periods of time. Stamina points are factored by 100 + (End*10) ¡°When everyone else needs a nap, you are still standing. Barely¡± Charisma: This attribute is a character¡¯s presence of personality. Charisma factors into persuasiveness, trade and bartering, leadership, and other factors when dealing with people. ¡°Why fight when you can talk your way out of it¡­ or into it¡± Wisdom: This attribute is a character¡¯s self-awareness. Wisdom affects the ability to resist mental and magical effects. It also affects perception, restraint and insight. Mana is determined by 100 + (Wis*10). ¡°For those who think twice before opening the cursed chest¡± Intelligence: This attribute is a character¡¯s mental cognitive skills. It affects skill growth, knowledge, memory, reasoning and critical thinking. Intelligence factors into magical aptitude and mana regeneration. ¡°Someone¡¯s gotta do the math around here¡± Luck: This attribute factors into everything in some way or another. A pebble falling when trying to sneak, the mark happening to turn to talk to someone as the assassin take the shot, and a myriad of other esoteric factors. Who knows when the god of luck may curse or bless you traveler. ¡°When all else fails, cross your fingers and hope the dice like you because, well, sometimes it¡¯s the only thing keeping you alive!¡±
Name: Xavier Level: 2, 0.35% to Next Level Age: 32
Race: Human Alignment: Neutral Languages: Basic
Reputation: 0 ¨C Nobody knows nobody cares
Stats
Health: 120/120 Stamina: 110/110 Mana: 100/100
Attributes
Strength: 9 Agility: 8 Dexterity: 9
Constitution: 10 Endurance: 9 Charisma: 8
Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 8 Luck: 9
He had split his character sheet to display only key pieces of knowledge. The way his skills had been growing, and the fact that it appeared he would not be limited in skills, he thought it would be best to look at those only when he wanted to. Overall he was satisfied with the small changes that single level had given him. He let Ella Bree build the fire this time, as he cleaned the rabbits he had caught. Once both were prepared, he skewered the carcasses and hung them over the fire to cook. Leaning against the wall he stared out into the night sky enjoying the pleasant smell of the bar-b-queuing rabbits when he noticed for the first time how different the night was. There was a small silvery moon like what he would often see back home, but that was not all. A little higher in the sky was a deep shadowy purple orb and a green one with golden tracery shot through it as well. His eyes widened at the sight as it drove home even more that this was not the world he came from. He shook his head slightly and turned back into the room staring at his new traveling partner and the food she was cooking. Chapter 7 - Cooking, camping, and learning. His stomach rumbled, reminding him how long it had been since he had eaten. He moved back to join Ella Bree by the fire and sat cross-legged on the other side of it from her. Taking over rotating the spitted conies, he let his cooking skills guide him until they were properly roasted, and he got the notification.
You have discovered a new dish: Slow Roasted Rabbit (Whole) x 2 Dish Rarity: Common Dish Quality: Edible Weight: 2 kg Traits: This whole rabbit was slowly roasted over an open flame. The lack of seasonings gives it a gamey and stringy flavor, but overall, it is wholesome and filling.
Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Cooking level 2. Hark and hear, by continuing to place ingredients to fire you have taken another step down the path. From the simplest salad to the most robust entr¨¦e cooking is the path to gastronomic pleasure and status-enhancing buffs. Masters of this skill can craft delicacies that would make gods and kings weep with pleasure and foods that would empower armies. +4% to flavor of prepared dishes. +4% yield from cooking ingredients. He thought it might be a trick of his eyes, but the small roasts seemed to swell slightly in size, and the aroma rising from the cooked flesh seemed slightly more appealing to his nose. Pulling both skewers from the fire, he held one out to the woman opposite him, and after she took it, he settled back down to eat. They ate in silence for the most part, not awkward silence but companionable, though they both kept an eye on the other. As he ate, he looked about the room keenly interested in where they were. The chamber was a larger room, and he could see the remnants of brackets near the windows and on walls around the chamber where murals or other decorations might hang. ¡°A meeting chamber maybe?¡± He thought to himself. It was certainly large enough for it. He wondered if this might have been one of the central buildings of the former village. To his gamer mind it made sense, it was more centrally located, and the rock formation''s usage made it defensible and functional. His eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the back of the chamber where the rock made up part of the building. There were cracks in the stone that looked like they might be in the shape of a door, but they were not whole just the vague impression of one. Setting down the remnants of his meal he rose and crossed over to the location searching the stone wall for indications of what he thought he had seen. However, as he drew closer the perception faded, and he was met with blank stone. Shrugging slightly, he turned back to the room. It was getting late, and he was starting to feel the exertion of the day and the fighting earlier weighing on his body and mind. ¡°We didn¡¯t see any other trace of rat-men other than those that were after you. With their bodies drug off into the forest, they shouldn¡¯t draw any beasts to us. I think we are probably safe to sleep here for the night at least. Tomorrow we can decide what to do next.¡± Ella Bree looked up from the fire towards him and pondered for a moment before nodding. ¡°I had not seen anything until they caught me. This could be a good place to rest. At least it has a roof and walls so we are not out in the elements. I think a storm is coming at least that¡¯s what it feels like.¡± Her words made him move back to the window and look out once more. The air was heavier with humidity and the odd moons he had noticed earlier were not shrouded in clouds with darker ones moving in. She was right, there was a storm moving in, and sleeping outside tonight would be miserable. He looked back to where their fire burned and the wood they had gathered, it seemed like they had enough to last for a while, so he opted not to head back outside for more. He moved back to the fire and picked up another long straight branch and one of the fresh rabbit hides. He had an idea for what he hoped would be a better spear. The last one breaking on him during the fight had left him worried about what might happen before he found something better. Taking a seat next to the fire he set to work cutting the hide into strips with his crude stone knife much to the amusement of the woman watching him. Hearing her giggle slightly he looked up. ¡°Well, at least you¡¯re in good spirits now. What is so funny though?¡± He asked of her as she covered her mouth with one hand while watching him.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Is that really your knife? Don¡¯t you have any actual tools or weapons?¡± Her eyes were wide with mirth though the rest of her face remained hidden behind her hands. ¡°Would you like to use my blade instead? I am sure it would give you a better result than broken stone.¡± She held out her dagger hilt first towards him as she regained control of her laughter. Eyeing her slightly he took the blade and returned to working on the leather. ¡°I told you I woke up in the woods not too far from here. All I had were the clothes I was wearing so I was making do with what I could.¡± He had been proud of what he had been able to accomplish so her laughter made him feel slightly angry and upset. ¡°They were fine so far.¡± After he had cut the leather into strips he turned to the shaft of wood and had a feeling he should cut a notch into the end before trying to affix the stone dagger with the leather. Following the hunch, it was only a handful of minutes more before he had secured the pieces together and received a new prompt.
You have discovered: Crude Stone Spear Item Class: Spear Item Rarity: Common Item Quality: Poor Weight: 2kg Durability: 15/15 Damage: 3 ¨C 8 Piercing Traits: Pride of the footman, the noble spear has broken many a charge and pierced many a heart. This crude stone spear was crafted from a carved tree branch and crude stone dagger, an improvement to the rough wooden variant it is a step closer to being a true weapon.
Smiling with his achievement he turned to show Ella Bree and hand the dagger back to her. She smirked slightly and nodded though she clearly was less impressed than he was. She held her hand up as he held out the dagger. ¡°I think you should keep it. I think you will get better use of it. I will just stay behind you if we must fight. Besides I can always throw things if you keep the monsters off me.¡± She picked up a small rock and quick as a flash it flew across the room striking the wall with enough force to throw several chips and sparks from the impact site. He admired the skill of her throw before finally taking a good look at what seemed to be his blade for now. The metal was darker than any he had seen before, not blackened just dark with almost an oily sheen to it. Its edge was keen, which he knew full well from nearly taking off one of his fingers when he first started cutting the leather with it. However, it was the vagueness of the usual prompt describing what he held that caught his attention most, and the color to the edges of the prompt seemed to be shifting as if unable to determine what rarity the weapon was.
You have discovered: Ella Bree¡¯s Unusual Knife Item Class: Dagger Item Rarity: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 1kg Durability: Unknown Damage: 20 ¨C 25 Piercing/Slashing Traits: Ella Bree¡¯s knife is unusual in more than just looks. This blade is made of a metal unknown to you and defies your ability to understand anything more than the most basic of details about it. The edge retains a wicked edge despite obvious usage.
Similar to many games he had played back on earth, items in this world fell in a structured system of class, rarity, and quality. The class would determine what skill was required to wield it properly. Rarity, well rarity was just that it was how rare the weapon, item, or component was. It fell into a spectrum of common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, and finally mythic. You could usually tell immediately from the prompt for the item what its rarity was due to the color of the border, white for common, green for uncommon, blue, purple, orange, and finally gold respectively. Lastly, there was quality. This shifted somewhat depending on the item described. Usually, crafted items seemed to follow trash, poor, average and he assumed above average, well crafted, superb, exquisite, and finally masterwork. However, he hadn¡¯t seen anything above the lowest tiers so he couldn¡¯t be sure of those tiers. He looked at the woman once more, ¡°Where did you get this? It¡¯s amazing! I cannot tell much of anything about it.¡± He swung the dagger a couple of times before sliding it into his belt. She smiled at him slightly. ¡°I was given it at birth. It has been with me my whole life. I do not know who gave it to me just that it has always been there and always comes back to me.¡± Her words sounded more like something she repeated often than an off-the-cuff answer. That made him look at her once more curiously before they both sat down once again trying to make themselves comfortable to rest for the night. Xavier laid the spear and knife between them so either would have access to them as they split watch for the night. Since she was more covered in bruises and cuts, he opted to take the first watch and let her rest and recover. Soon he could hear her gentle snoring, and he glanced at her. She seemed to be resting peacefully. Oddly, though, she had reached out in her sleep to rest her fingertips on the blade of the dagger. Chuckling softly, he thought about her earlier words and figured whatever made her more comfortable he was not going to argue with. And thus, the night passed, outside the storm struck and he could hear the wind and rain rage in the forest and ruins. The water cascaded down in torrents just outside the door and windows and obscured the vision of anything further than a couple of feet away. Below something stirred, sensing more than just animal life above it shifted in its long slumber. Chapter 8 - Heart of the Forge As the two travelers passed the night above in the ruined building, deep below another sentience awakened. A small form coalesced and turned its gaze upwards. It studied the energy of the two, recognizing one it smiled slightly before turning its attention to the second. A newcomer to the area, his energy was different than any that the being had ever felt before. ¡°Otherworldly,¡± It thought to itself. Rising from the center of the chamber it inhabited, small delicate wings lifted it into the air before it wrapped the very darkness about its form and moved into the passages leading up to where the travelers rested. It flew slowly, a hand tracing the walls as it moved. The structure was much more preserved in these underground passages than in the ruins above. Time and creatures had stripped them of their once former majesty, but they did not have the constant barrage of weather to pummel them into crumbled mounds of stone. Though the passages were labyrinthian, the being knew them like it knew its own skin and soon it was hovering just behind the hidden door that led out into the chamber the two travelers rested in. Cloaked in the darkness still, it passed through the secret door and paused now studying the newcomer closely. He was sitting at the fireside while Ella Bree slept curled within the warm radius but with her back to the flame shielding her eyes from its light. He was unassuming and underwhelming at first glance. Her eyes shimmered slightly, and a single eyebrow rose as she suddenly knew him, his skills, his traits, and his abilities even the unlisted one that came from Danu herself. A playful grin pulled at her lips, and she flew to his side whispering in his ear. Xavier started upright from his musings when suddenly he heard a small chime in his mind and a new prompt appeared before his eyes.
You have been offered a new quest: Heart of the Forge I The ruins you have found were once centered around a great forge. When they fell the forge collapsed and its heart was taken. Restore the heart to the village and help it regain its fallen glory. Requirements for Success: Locate and return the heart of the forge. Rewards for Success: Unknown Penalty for Failure or Refusal: None Accept the offered quest? Yes or No
¡°A new quest, and not a hidden one either,¡± he thought as he tried not to wake the sleeping woman before it was her time to stand guard. Glancing at her he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She had moved several times in her sleep, she kept a hand on the small blade that lay between them, a fact that was not missed by him. ¡°I wonder how often these will appear. Strange nothing was prompting it and it just appeared like that. In games, there was usually a quest giver or at least something to trigger the event.¡± He returned his attention to the prompt rereading it several times before he finally mentally selected yes. ¡°I have no idea where to start though. It¡¯s the very definition of vague. What is the heart of the forge? Where is the forge and where should I start looking? Is it close like here in the ruins or has something taken it away and sold it to gods know who?¡± He almost fell into the fire as a small being suddenly appeared next to his head. Her cloak of darkness had been so absolute he had no idea she had been as close as she was. His movements woke Ella Bree who quickly grasped the hilt of the dagger as she sat up. Xavier pulled the spear into his lap and they both warily watched the newcomer. Tension hung in the air as Xavier studied what appeared to be a sprite straight out of myth and legend. The sprite hovered about a meter off the floor now. Her petite form bore a slender torso with long graceful limbs. As she gestured her hands were diminutive, fingers almost translucent but limned with a slight glow. Long fine silvery white hair floated, not hung, but actually floated about her head as though it was buoyed up by water. At the distance, Xavier couldn¡¯t make out the details of the creature''s face besides the being¡¯s features were delicate and surrounded a pair of large almond-shaped eyes. All of this was fantastical to the Xavier having never witnessed something such as this, but two things stood out even more. One, she flew! A pair of what he could only compare to dragonfly-like wings flickered at her back. They suggested dragonflies, but they were so much more amazing, their span was nearly as wide as the being was tall, and they were mostly translucent with only a slight iridescence to draw attention to them. How they held the creature off the floor he had no idea as the physics just didn¡¯t work. Two, her appearance didn¡¯t remain static. Her features and wings regularly shifted color, shape, and even appearance. One moment her skin had deep warm hues like a polished stone while her hair almost looked like vines, and her wings had the vague resemblance of carved gems. A few moments later her skin would shift to almost resemble an ember sitting hot within a hearth, her hair seeming to flicker like flames rising from her head, and her wings glowed with the hues of the forge, and it looked as though molten lava flowed through them. Only to further change taking on nearly skeletal features and pale complexion as her form became more translucent, her hair now wispy and fine as she was held aloft by wings to match their form shot through with dark veins making them resemble old delicate lace. While he studied her, she seemed to randomly shift through around eight distinct forms, something that he would have to ponder later. Xavier didn¡¯t notice Ella Bree relax her stance and lower her dagger; he was too focused on the creature flying in front of him. ¡°Are you the one who gave me the quest? It is awfully convenient that you appear as soon as I accept it¡± His tone wasn¡¯t accusatory, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke the words. Though her presence was more¡­ comforting and peaceful than it was overpowering and threatening he wasn¡¯t quite ready to just trust something that appeared out of nothing. "Aye, ''twas I who bestowed upon ye this quest. Now that ye have taken it upon yerself, I shall guide ye toward its end. Think of it as a trial, a proving of worth that I lay before ye. I must judge yer mettle afore I reveal aught more." The tiny creature spoke with an accent that reminded Xavier of a friend of his from Ireland. Her tone was clear and concise, but her voice changed as her body continued to shift through its various forms. ¡°Ther¡¯s a path that winds from the ruins to the southwest. It stretches for many miles, roundin'' a small hillock. At the base of that hillock lies a cave. ''Tis here ye''ll find what ye seek. The heart of the forge is concealed within, taken by dark creatures, and fiercely guarded." As she spoke she pointed behind and to the right of where Xavier sat, indicating the direction that he would need to travel to locate what she spoke of. "Fetch the heart and return to me. I¡¯ll be here when ye come back, and then we¡¯ll know yer true worth, and if ye be worthy of more." After she finished speaking, she faded back into the darkness leaving the two of them alone. Xavier stood slack-jawed for several moments before he heard a soft giggle at his side. He turned to look at Ella Bree who, once again, was covering her mouth as she laughed. Biting back her mirth at his expression she spoke softly. ¡°I have seen her before in these ruins. Spoke with her before as well. I do not think she means us harm, and you said she gave you a quest. If she did that, she must see something in you. It sounds like we need to head to this cave and find what she sent you after. That is assuming I heard correctly, and you accepted it. However, I recommend we wait until the storm breaks. Traveling in this weather is sure to be miserable and probably get us lost.¡± Settling back down next to the fire Ella Bree opted to take over watch as it was nearly the middle of the night already. Xavier curled up in his spot and rested his head on his arm. Within moments he was asleep. His subconscious mind already sorting and examining the details of the day lending to odd dreams of beautiful women and goddesses, epic battles against strange creatures, and achieving glory and fame unlike he ever hoped for back on earth. Through every dream though there was one constant, a pair of fathomless emerald eyes beneath a mane of curly vermillion hair. He awoke to the gentle prodding at his foot. Looking towards the disturbance he saw Ella Bree standing and gently tapping his foot with her own. A bemused smile on the girl''s lips as she gently kicked him to wakefulness. ¡°You snore, did you know that?¡± She asked. ¡°You may want to work on silencing it if you intend to camp in the wilds more. Sounds like that draw all sorts of beasts and monsters.¡± She looked towards the door where a gentle light was filtering in through the opening. The rain had stopped sometime during the night and now the break of day was bringing sounds and life back to the forest. ¡°Come on, I have the remains of dinner, and we can eat it while we walk. From what the sprite said we have a way to go before we get to that cave so we probably should get moving.¡± Grunting slightly Xavier got to his feet and retrieved the spear from the floor next to where he had been lying. ¡°One of the benefits of traveling with next to nothing meant it was easy to get moving in the morning,¡± he thought to himself. As he moved over next to Ella Bree she held out part of the roasted rabbit from the night before and they stepped out into the sun. It was breathtaking, though every morning so far since he had come to this world had been so. The vibrancy of the forest, even muddy and dripping with the remains of the night¡¯s storm was beyond anything he had seen in the monotonous grey of the city. He had grown up in Seattle and though there was plenty of wilderness in the western half of Washington he never really took the time to leave and experience it. Something he was fast coming to regret as he thought it might give him an even better appreciation of what he found now. The two of them headed roughly southwest through the ruins and near the edge, they came upon what they assumed was the trail that the sprite had mentioned. Meeting eyes a moment they nodded to each other and started to follow the path. It was little more than a game trail but was visible as it wound through the surrounding trees. They didn¡¯t speak much as they finished the cold meat of their meal, and the ground passed beneath their steady pace. Miles of distance would mean it would likely be midmorning at least before they found the hillock. Finishing his food Xavier looked towards Ella Bree. ¡°So, you told me your name was Ella Bree, do you go by Ella, Bree or the whole thing?¡± He asked the young woman. ¡°Ella is fine usually. I will tell you otherwise if needed.¡± She answered as she tossed the last bones of her meal aside as well. ¡°You forgot to pick this up again this morning by the way.¡± She held out the dagger towards him once again, this time with a plain leather sheath wrapped around its form. He handed her the spear so he could carefully tie the sheath to his belt then nodded his thanks while taking the spear back. ¡°Any thoughts on what might be in the cave? Maybe we can come up with some plans on how to attack.¡± He glanced her way as he spoke though his eyes kept returning to the forest wary of something attacking them while they traveled. ¡°No, and honestly it could be any number of things. It is good you want to plan, speaks well of your mindset but we do not have enough information to go on other than it¡¯s a cave. That being said, it could be beasts, or even a small tribe of Animari, maybe undead.¡± She shrugged slightly. Xavier paused and turned to look at Ella. ¡°What are Animari? I¡¯ve never heard of them before.¡± ¡°Beast kin, animal folk, the wild people. They go by a lot of different names but generally, they are called Animari.¡± She studied him closer as she spoke. ¡°Where do you come from that you have never heard of them before? They are relatively common after all, well outside of the shattered expanse but not much lives there at all.¡± ¡°Ah so like the things that were attacking you yesterday. Those are Animari? I mean they looked like rats, so it makes sense.¡± He replied though he left off where he had come from. ¡°No those were just rat-men. They are not the same. Rat-men are more like rats than people. Verminites are more like you and I. Rat-men will always have Rat-men offspring. Verminites like other Animari can marry and breed with other races and produce half breeds.¡± She paused again. ¡°You truly do not know the difference, do you? You are very strange Xavier.¡± ¡°So you have said.¡± He muttered wryly. ¡°Ok so rat-men are not Verminites which is a version of Animari. I think I understand so far. The Rat-men were easy enough hopefully it would just be more of them. I think we could handle them if that were the case.¡± She giggled at him yet again. ¡°I would not be so quick to assume that. We fought a hunting party, not a den. If it is rat-men and they have a warren it would be a very difficult fight as there could be hundreds of them along with a warren king not just brutes.¡± She spoke matter-of-factly about how difficult this quest might turn out to be. ¡°We should just wait until we find the cave and see what we find before we make too many plans.¡± Her suggestion made sense the more he thought about it and finally, he nodded in agreement. They continued walking while lapsing back into silence as they walked. After another hour had passed Ella spoke up once more. ¡°Tell me more about you Xavier. I find you exceedingly strange and would prefer to know you better if we are going to travel and fight side by side. My life might depend on you after all and knowing who you are is important.¡± Part of him had dreaded this conversation, after all, how do you tell someone you died, met a goddess and woke up in a new world without sounding completely insane? Of course, that might just be another Tuesday in this world for all he knew. ¡°Alright,¡± he spoke hesitantly, ¡°But you have to promise not to laugh at me.¡± She raised a delicate eyebrow at him. ¡°I can make no such promise given how strange you are, but I will listen to whatever you have to say. Now I am even more intrigued about your story.¡± Sighing he nodded slightly. ¡°Well, it all began when I woke up for work¡­¡± And with that, he relayed the events of the past several days up to the point where he burst into the square to stab the rat-man in the back with his spear. ¡°And from there, you know the rest.¡± Wincing at how absurd the story sounded when he spoke it aloud. He looked at her from the corner of his eye trying to gauge her reaction. ¡°That¡­ that is quite the story. I would recommend you do not tell anyone else this. Especially the part about meeting a goddess and coming from another world. You were right to just tell me you woke up in the woods a long way from home. Others might try to kill you to win favor with any god or goddess that opposed the one you met.¡± Her voice was soft, and thoughtful as she appeared to be repeating his words in her mind. ¡°I will keep your secret, however. You did rescue me back there and I am still curious about you. If you would have me, I would like to continue traveling with you beyond this quest.¡±
The traveler Ella Bree has offered to become your traveling companion. Do you accept? Yes or No
The prompt surprised Xavier as he didn¡¯t know it was that formal of a request and had thought they were already traveling companions. Mentally focusing on the word yes, he accepted her proposal and they were officially a party. The tension that had developed while he told her about his past melted away from his shoulders, relaxing he hadn¡¯t noticed the weight of his words until it vanished. He looked back at her briefly before looking ahead, he could make out what appeared to be a hill on the horizon, and they would be arriving at it soon if they kept the pace they were walking.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. About half an hour later they were crouched in the brush still hidden in the shadows of the woods as they looked out at the base of the hill and the small cave entrance there. You have found a place of interest: New Den If the ranking system on places of interest were like several of the games he had played that meant this den was actually less than a year old because of its new status. Odd cause he knew the village had fallen into a serious state of disrepair that would have taken a lot longer than just a year. Yet this was where the sprite had said to go, didn¡¯t she? They both looked back to the cave and studied the entrance. Standing at the side of the cave was a single figure. ¡°A skeleton, why is it always undead in situations like this?¡± Xavier thought to himself. He glanced towards Ella. ¡°I doubt my spear or your dagger will be much help against bones. I always heard you must shatter them or at least their head to kill them.¡± ¡°True, but do not discount your spear yet. You might not be able to stab them, but you used it as a club fairly well against the rat-men. Just do the same here. In fact, that spear looks a lot sturdier than the one you had previously.¡± Came her whispered response. She searched about and came back with several hand-sized stones and hefted one with a smile. ¡°Besides if you keep them distracted, I can do quite a bit of damage with these to a regular skeleton. Just be glad it is not armored, then we would be in serious trouble.¡± He made a face at her then switched his grip on the spear. Rising out of the brushes he stepped out into the open and the head of the skeleton immediately turned to focus on him before it moved forward at a surprisingly fast pace. He only just got his makeshift staff between them in time to block its swiping arms as it lunged toward his face, its teeth clacking excitedly. Pushing off the undead Xavier made a little space between them, enough to sweep his spear towards its legs catching one with a sharp crack though there was little visible damage to its leg, and luckily none to his spear either. ¡°Alright,¡± he thought, ¡°I can handle this.¡± A stone whistled past his head catching the skeleton in the jaw. The force was enough to knock the hanging bone from the skull which only made the monster creepier than it previously was to Xander¡¯s mind. As the bone fell a small cheer came from behind him as Ella celebrated the shot and prepared another stone. That bit of distraction cost Xavier a punch to his gut from the skeleton its hard knuckles driving the air from his mouth as he winced in pain and nearly doubled over. Sheer will was the only thing that kept him upright and able to return a blow with the round end of his spear to the temple of the creature. This time there was a resounding crack as bone split under the strike. The skeleton staggered back shaking its head as if trying to shake off the effect before its empty sockets fixated on the man once again and it lunged forward. Stopping short as a louder crack sounded from the stone that embedded itself between its eyes. It stood stock still for a few moments before the skull shattered and the heap of bones collapsed to the ground. Ding! You have slain a level 4 skeleton. +40 Experience. Gasping for breath after the gut punch and the fight Xavier moved back towards the woods meeting Ella halfway. She hoisted his arm over her shoulder to help support him as he caught his breath, and their limbs shook with the exertion and excitement. ¡°Well either they know we are here and are preparing for us or we got lucky, and no one heard that fight¡± Ella spoke softly as her breath returned to normal. Xavier nodded and took his arm from around her shoulder slowly. ¡°We should move carefully now that we know what¡¯s here. I don¡¯t know about you, but I am not looking forward to more bones and worse if there are zombies.¡± He shuddered thinking about the potential smell of rotting flesh and pus. ¡°Come on we should take a look inside and see what else is in there.¡± Ella paused and pointed. ¡°Hold for a moment. See that, it¡¯s forest sage.¡± She pointed to a small almost fuzzy-looking plant Xavier had almost stepped on. ¡°Let us see if there is more around here it is not much but chewing it can help heal wounds.¡± She knelt next to the plant and carefully traced its stem before it seemed to fall off its roots into her hand. ¡°How in the hell did you do that? I didn¡¯t see you cut it or anything and it just came to you.¡± He exclaimed in amazement. ¡°Is that a skill? An ability? Can you show me?¡± He knelt next to her as she moved to another one of the plants. ¡°It is herbalism, a skill.¡± She explained. ¡°You must understand the plant itself to better be able to harvest it. The lower your skill the more likely you will destroy it; but forest sage is really common and low level, so it is where a lot of people start learning in these woods.¡± She pointed out several places on the stem. ¡°Touch it there and just feel it. If you can learn the skill, you will slowly start to feel the¡­ essence I guess is what you would call it. Once you feel that then you can understand how to harvest it.¡± He placed his hands like she showed him and closed his eyes willing the connection between him and the small herb. After several moments he started feeling a tingle in his fingers where they lay on the stem and then he felt it. The small plant felt so much more under his hands as its very life touched his. His eyes shot open, and he grinned to Ella as the stem twisted slightly to the left and came up in his palm.
Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Herbalism level 1. Herbalism is the art of gathering, identifying, and utilizing plants for their various properties, from healing wounds to crafting poisons. Those proficient in herbalism can locate and harvest rare herbs in the wilderness, identify the right plants even under tricky circumstances, and know exactly how to prepare them to get the desired effects. This skill also includes a deep understanding of plants'' magical or medicinal properties and the knowledge to concoct everything from potent healing potions to deadly toxins. Some even say a skilled herbalist can hear the whispers of plants, guiding them to the rarest finds. And yes, technically it means you can make tea¡ªif you''re into that sort of thing. +2% to herb effect. +2% to harvest quantity.
You have discovered: Forest Sage Item Class: Common Item Quality: Common Weight: .02 kg Durability: 5/5 Traits: 1 - A small herb commonly found within forested regions. This herb can restore 20 ¨C 30 hit points when chewed. 2 ¨C Unknown 3 ¨C Unknown 4 ¨C Unknown
He hoisted the small plant happily then bent to inspect it. Odd how this little plant had not only made it more likely he would survive the cave but had given him a new skill as well. He knew herbalism! In every game he had played and every book he had read that skill was a cornerstone to survival, cooking, and making potions of all varieties and now he knew it. He grinned again at Ella who was just shaking her head at his elation and smiling at his antics. She still thought he was a strange one, but she turned back to gathering more of the herbs herself which, in turn, prompted him to do likewise. They spent the next twenty minutes gathering every bit of forest sage they could find and tucked it into their pouches. Finally, when they felt they had prepared as much as they could they both rose and moved to the cave entrance. It was dim within but lit by a softly glowing moss that lined the cave walls and ceiling. Pointing to the moss Ella spoke, ¡°When we come back out if you have room in your pouches see if you can gather some of that bright moss. It is useful for crafting light potions and much easier than carrying a torch.¡± With those words, she stepped into the opening and vanished from sight around the corner. Xavier hurried to follow her his concern about her lack of a weapon driving him to catch up to her as fast as he could. He didn¡¯t have to go far, just around the corner the floor started to slope downwards, and she had paused at the top looking down the decline. ¡°Now all we need is a white rabbit with a watch and waistcoat exclaiming he¡¯s late for an important date,¡± Xavier commented dryly drawing Ella¡¯s gaze. ¡°What in the name of the gods does that have to do with anything down here?¡± She huffed. ¡°You know we are likely going to find more skeletons down there and gods know what else, and you are talking utter nonsense.¡± He shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s from a story where I am from. If we survive, I¡¯ll explain it to you then.¡± He peered down the slope into the dimly lit corridor below. ¡°I suppose we go down now,¡± and he stepped onto the incline then promptly slipped in the muck he hadn¡¯t noticed but she had been studying. A slight yelp escaped his lips as he landed hard on his ass and slid down the slope. ¡°By the way, it looks slick.¡± She called after him as he slid. Then stepped to the side of the incline and holding onto the rock wall made her way down after him. He skidded to a stop as the muck made way for solid stone once again. Wincing at the pain coming from where he had landed and the several larger rocks he had slid over adding to that humiliation. Warily he got to his feet and picked up his spear again glaring up the slope at her. ¡°You could have said so before I stepped on it you know. I nearly broke my tailbone.¡± She cocked her head slightly when she made it to the bottom. ¡°I was going to, but you moved before I had a chance. Besides, you do not have a tail to break.¡± He opened his mouth to speak then shook his head and closed it. It wasn¡¯t a discussion worth the effort at the time especially now his yelp had surely reverberated throughout the cave and warned anything deeper within. ¡°Come on let''s get this over with. I''m sure that just made it harder than it was going to be.¡± They continued to creep forward through the dimly lit tunnel until they came to another bend followed by a larger chamber. Inside, sitting on the floor but flanked by two skeletons was a being. Its headless body sat holding a book in front of its lap, occasionally it would turn the page as if its torso was reading the book. The two skeletons didn¡¯t stir at all from their places, but both were starting at the doorway the pair of travelers had peek around. ¡°Nekara¡¯s watchful gaze be over us.¡± Ella hissed as she ducked back around the corner. ¡°That¡¯s a gods be damned Gan Ceann. What is it doing here?¡± Xavier peeked again and the being had set its book down revealing the head sitting in its lap. It had turned its head slightly, so it too peered into the darkness of the doorway, and he ducked back behind the wall. ¡°Another type of undead?¡± He looked at her worriedly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look rotten so what¡¯s the deal.¡± ¡°No, it is not undead, they can just remove their heads. It must be what is controlling the undead though. A necromancer maybe, or at least something with trinkets to allow it control. That makes things much more difficult since it can think, unlike the undead. Give me your spear. I will hold off the skeletons, but you must kill the Gan Ceann. Use my knife it will help a lot more than your spear against it.¡± She held out her hand for his spear while pointing to the knife still sheathed at his belt. He hesitated not wanting to give up his reach if he had to fight but the look on her face brokered no arguments. Finally, he handed over the longer weapon to her and drew the blade. It seemed to have almost a soft glow of its own as it came free of the sheath. ¡°Alright let me go first and I will get his attention. Just keep those skeletons off me, I don¡¯t think I can handle all three at once. Hells, I am not sure I can handle whatever that headless thing is.¡± His mind whirled with what he had seen, her words prompting long-forgotten myths he had read about as a child. Gan ceann, wasn¡¯t that Irish again. Oh yes though he remembered it as a Dullahan, or more commonly the Headless Horseman. What in the world was it, he, that thing doing here, and wait did she just talk about it as if they were known and not a singular being? Damn, he had a lot to learn obviously. Taking a deep breath he nodded to her and stepped out into the room. All three heads turned towards him, even if the body had to use its hands to turn the head in its lap. Gritting his teeth he raised up onto the balls of his feet and ran forward brandishing the dagger as he moved. The skeletons both charged toward him until they heard Ella¡¯s cry from behind him and her makeshift stave crashed into the head of the closest one drawing their attention. The gan ceann carefully lifted its head in one hand and rose tucking it under its arm as it got to its feet. Its other hand stretched out towards Xavier and the head started to chant. The extended hand began to glow with a purple aura as shadows began to twist about it. Xavier dropped to his knees sliding towards the spell caster as it finished speaking and gestured towards him. A dark ebon bolt flew over his head and struck the wall behind him, narrowly missing one of the skeletons Ella was moving between. There were loud cracks every time bone met wood and vice versa from their battle but none of the three had gone down yet. Xavier lurched upwards swinging with the blade, far faster than he thought it should be able to move, toward the caster¡¯s outstretched hand and it connected before it could pull its arm back out of the way. Several fingers flew off into the air and the head under the arm cried out in pain. It pulled its bleeding hand back to its chest then lifted its head settling it on its shoulders firmly as it glared hatefully at the man who had caused it injury. Chanting once again sprang from its lips as it held both hands outwards. The shadowy violet light built much quicker this time before ebon lances darted forward striking Xavier in his left leg just below his knee from one hand and in his right shoulder from the other hand. Pain rocked through Xavier¡¯s body; mind-numbing, soul-wrenching pain blocked out every thought in his head as he fought just to stay conscious through the experience. The lances of dark magic faded, and he remained standing but only just. There were deep wounds where the magic had touched him and blood was starting to soak his clothing, but he staggered forward, much to the shock on the face of the Gan Ceann. Behind him, Xavier heard the cries of pain and grunts of exertion as he knew Ella was fighting for her life as much as he was. That realization only further drove him to hold up his end of the fight and take the Gan Ceann out. He switched the hand that held the dagger since his right arm was starting to go numb from the wound in his shoulder and he was afraid of losing grip on the blade. His attacks were weaker as he swung the dagger, but its wicked edge drove the spell-caster stumbling backward as it tried to cast another set of the dark lances. The problem was it hadn¡¯t paid attention to its surroundings. A basic of fighting was to always know your footing. Loss of that almost always results in loss of life and the caster stumbled over the book it had set down. Its footing unsteady it fell to the ground and Xavier collapsed atop it. He used his own weight to drive the dagger past the hands of the caster and the blade sunk deeply into the Gan Ceann¡¯s chest. Its eyes widened staring into Xavier¡¯s then the luster left them as they became hollow and empty. It shuddered once and then went limp. Ding! You have slain a level 6 Gan Caenn Dark Mage. +120 Experience. Gasping in pain and exhaustion Xavier pushed himself off the lifeless body and turned to try and help Ella only to see that the skeletons had also crumpled to piles of bones as well. The magic wielded by the dark mage that had been giving them unlife expired with his own death. Ding! You have slain a level 5 Skeleton Warrior * 2. +100 Experience Ella dropped the spear and collapsed to the ground, her body once again covered in bruises and small cuts where the edges of the skeleton¡¯s fists had broken the skin. Her eyes were blackened, and her lower lip was bleeding where it had been split but she smiled weakly at Xavier. They had won. More importantly, they had survived. Xavier staggered over to her, his left leg throbbing with each step as he placed weight and strain on the wounded shin and muscle. Flopping to the ground next to her he fished out some of the forest sage they had gathered earlier and began to chew it. Curious he pulled up his status screen and just about spit the herb out. His hit points had dropped all the way from their 120-point maximum to a mere 11 points. He had nearly died from those two dark lances where they had torn through his flesh and left him bleeding. He quickly resumed chewing on the herb, and he saw the bleeding debuff drop off his status and his hit points slowly climb. That prompted him to play with his status screen a little, and soon three bars were hanging in the upper left corner of his vision. A bright red but mostly empty bar sat at the top, under it was a vibrant green bar that was already rapidly filling since he was sitting down, and beneath that was a full deep blue bar, health, stamina, and mana respectively. He wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard at what his reserves were again. Breathing a sigh of relief that he wouldn¡¯t bleed out and die in this cave he turned his attention to Ella and noticed she was chewing some of the sage as well. As their pulses and breathing calmed and health returned to their forms they started shifting more and each pushed themselves up to their feet once again. Now came the best part of the fight, the spoils to the victor. Each one took one of the piles of bones but similar to the one outside there was nothing but bone. Looking at each other they crossed the room to where the final corpse lay. It was wearing dirty and almost ragged robes. It had been here a while because as they were able to get a better look at it, it was barely more than a skeleton itself. Its cheeks were gaunt and looked as if he hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Yes, it was a male they could tell that now they saw its features better. He had another dagger in his belt, but it was obvious its focus was more on magic since it hadn¡¯t bothered to draw the blade during the fight. Xavier moved to untie Ella¡¯s blade to give it back to her, but she simply shook her head and took the new dagger instead. Another pouch tied to his belt held a handful of coins all looking to be copper in color. Besides the book resting on the floor, they could not find anything else of interest. Ella picked up the book and began leafing through its pages while Xavier rolled the corpse to the side to see if there was anything else to be found. That slight weight shift caused a loose stone in the floor to rise slightly on one side. The grating of stone against stone caught the young man¡¯s attention and he caught the edge of the stone as he gave the body a harder shove. Levering the stone slab upwards Xavier¡¯s breath caught. Nestled into the slight hollow beneath was a leather bag roughly the size of his fist. He lifted it from its resting place and let the stone fall back into place. He sat down roughly, and Ella came over to his side, she still held the book open, but her attention was now fully on the bag he held in his hands. Carefully he untied the knot and opened the pouch, the room lit up with light shining from within the leather folds and he pulled out a delicately wrought sphere the glow emanating from within its depths. As he held it up a prompt filled his vision its border was a brilliant golden color. And just like that, he had found his first mythic-level item.
You have discovered: Heart of Creation Item Rarity: Mythic Item Quality: Unrivaled Weight: 5kg Traits: The heart of creation is an object from another age. This marvelous item can be used to elevate normal buildings to near godlike levels giving them traits and capabilities beyond anything that mortals can build alone. What will you do with such a wonder?
Chapter 9 - The SyrValien Xavier sat in breathless wonder as he stared at the small sphere cradled in his hands. A mythic item and it was his! Of course, it was part of the quest he had been sent on and he would likely have to give it up to complete the quest but still¡­ he had a mythic item! Shaking his head he looked about the room slowly and remembered what led to this, finding Ella and the fight with the rat-men was what put him in the location where he could be offered the quest, then coming to this cave and the fights here ultimately leading to the fight with the Gan Ceann. That caused him pause though and he looked to the corpse still lying on the floor. Yes, it had been kill or be killed but he had actually done it. He had killed another person. His mind had dismissed the rat-men since they seemed more animal than person for some reason, but this was different. When the Gan Ceann had its head on its shoulders it could just be another human. He looked back to his hands and the sphere there, but his eyes focused on his fingers and the red tinge to them from the Gan Ceann¡¯s blood. He dropped the sphere and stared horrified at his hands as the realization actually sunk into his thoughts. How? How could he, a simple code writer from Seattle, have killed someone. What did that make him? A killer, well obviously. A murderer, maybe but he was fighting to save his own life cause the Gan Ceann was trying to kill him. Did this make him a monster as well? The thoughts raced through his head, and he was visibly shaking and on the verge of being overwhelmed by them when soft hands touched his blotting out his view of the bloodstained fingers. He looked up and his eyes met Ella¡¯s. She curled her fingers around his, her deep jade eyes caught his gaze and held it. A soft smile pulled up the edges of her lips as she sat beside him simply holding his hands. Her eyes never left his while they sat. Her presence and demeanor soothed his frayed mind, and eventually his budding panic melted away, his breathing calmed down once again, and he was able to set aside the overwhelming guilt and fear that had been building, for now at least. He smiled in thanks to her when she finally released his hands. ¡°I am glad to see you are not just a ruthless or wanton killer Xavier.¡± Her words were soft but still filled the chamber they sat in amongst the dead and bones. ¡°Too many callously kill and maim without thought as to what that does to them or others. I think I am starting to see more of your nature the longer we are together. I want you to keep my blade for as long as I travel with you. As I said earlier you need a good weapon at least as a back-up.¡± A glimmer of her grin returned as she eyed him a moment longer. ¡°I think if we are going to keep exploring like this you need some actual armor as well. Cloth, unless it is enchanted, does not do much to turn a blade or a spell.¡±
You have completed a quest: Rescue the Lost 2 Your kind nature and willingness to help others has increased Ella Bree¡¯s trust in you and she has gone from a mere traveling companion to an actual companion. As long as your goals and drives align, she will support you. Be wary trust earned can be trust broken. Rewards: A new companion. +300 Experience
You have earned 500 relationship points with Ella Bree. Your relationship with Ella Bree has increased from Acquaintance (Reluctant) ¨C "You know their name¡­ though you wish you didn¡¯t." (-250 loyalty) to Acquaintance (Eager) ¨C "You¡¯d call them in a pinch¡­ but only if no one else was around." (+250 loyalty.) She will happily answer most general questions and provide general information that she knows.
Xavier rolled his eyes slightly at her words. ¡°I hadn¡¯t noticed.¡± He popped another piece of the forest sage into his mouth and began chewing it as well, sighing as the last vestiges of pain eased and his final hit points were restored. She giggled at his words and reaction before scooping up the glowing sphere and placing it back into the leather pouch that he had dropped earlier and handing it back to him. ¡°We should take this back to that sprite. It will likely be dark by the time we get back and I would rather not travel in these woods after dark. Dire wolves and worse creatures hunt the forest, and they become more active after the sun sets.¡± Ella said as she rose to her feet and retrieved the spear. ¡°We have a long way ahead of us and it would be best to get going.¡± Xavier stood, his eyes going over the room one last time, before he nodded and took the lead heading out of the room and back up the winding passage to the top. Something about the small dungeon and the fact it held something so miraculous as the Heart of Creation didn¡¯t quite sit right with him and he would have to figure out why that was. Ella had been correct; the sun had passed its zenith and was settling into the afternoon by the time they emerged from the cave. Though there were still several hours of light left it had taken them nearly that long to trek to this location that morning and that was before fighting and the exhaustion that left in the body. Xavier rested a hand on the pouch holding the precious sphere to ensure it was still tied to his belt and then led the way back to the path turning to follow it back towards the ruins of the village. The walk back was relatively uneventful. Ella had pointed out several more herbs that they could return to collect in the next couple days, but their focus had been to hurry back to the relative safety of the ruins, specifically the large intact chamber where they had met the sprite. As the sun settled beneath the horizon and a pair of moons, one an emerald green the other a cerulean blue, rose from the From there it was only a short time before they saw their destination and quickly made their way inside. As promised, hovering in the center of the chamber was the sprite. Her ever-changing form turned towards the pair and she smiled impishly. "I see ye''ve returned, and in but a single day! I¡¯m surprised it was done so swiftly. Ye did find what I set ye to seek, I hope. I''d be sorely disappointed if ye¡¯d given up so quick." The sprite moved closer to the pair her eyes instantly drawn towards the small pouch on Xavier¡¯s belt that held the requested sphere. ¡°Ye did find it, then. Curious, I thought that with as long as it¡¯s been lost, the task would be harder. Yet I be glad it¡¯s returned home at last¡­ or mayhap it¡¯s not the true original. No matter, for now ye hold the means to restore the forge¡ªand perhaps the city itself to its former glory. But heed me, do not rekindle the forge... not yet. Its time will come, but without protections beyond ye two, there¡¯d be naught to stop it from fallin'' into hands with dark designs and desires. Come I¡¯ve something to show ye.¡± She turned suddenly and flew towards the wall at the back of the chamber. As she approached an opening appeared and revealed a passageway leading down into the ground. The sprite didn¡¯t hesitate and flew down the new passage and almost vanished from sight before the two got over the shock of the revelation and rushed after her. Xavier gawked at the well-wrought stonework lining the halls they walked through and mused that if this was the quality here then it was no wonder the ruins, as old as they seemed to be, were as intact as they were. Whoever built this place was amazing in their skill. He also pondered, for just a moment, if he could achieve that level of skill as well. It took about fifteen minutes for them to reach their destination in the small maze of passages beneath the village and when they followed the sprite out into the new chamber Xavier''s breath caught. The chamber stood about forty feet from side to side though it was circular instead of being squared off like the other chambers they had passed. Much of the floor was dedicated to an intricate mosaic. Eight distinct patterns touched in the center of the masterpiece and swirled out from it. The mosaic was an s a breathtaking work of art. At the very center, where all eight different patterns touched, the tiles were arranged in a swirling, chaotic mix of colors that merged seamlessly into one another. Here, no single color or symbol dominates, creating a dazzling, hypnotic effect that symbolizes the unity and interdependence of all the different sections. The nexus glows softly, as if it possesses a life of its own, with faint magic pulsing beneath the tiles. As they left this central point each pattern became more distinct, and Xavier could only assume they aligned with elements of magic or nature. One section was composed of simmering white and gold tiles arranged in beams that fan outward like rays of sunlight. Small pieces of crystal are embedded to catch the light, causing this part of the mosaic to glow naturally as light hits it. A sunburst is situated near the center and fades into golden rays extending toward the edge of the circle. Directly to the right of that section was one filled with vibrant reds and oranges, evoking the image of roaring flames. Gold accents create the appearance of sparks and embers dancing within the fiery section. A phoenix sits boldly near the nexus, its wings reaching outward in a way that mimics flickering fire. The mosaic pieces in this section are arranged in jagged, chaotic lines to create a sense of movement and intensity. That section was followed by a section depicted with greens and browns. The symbol, a tree with sprawling roots is prominently placed near the center and grows outward. The mosaic tiles in this section are arranged in solid, structured lines, suggesting the firm and unyielding nature of Earth. Hints of gold highlight the edges, representing the richness of soil and minerals. Continuing around the circle came another section, this one somber and haunting, made of dark grays and blacks interspersed with pale blue highlights. Its symbol, a single raven¡¯s feather, is near the center, blending into mist-like patterns that dissipate toward the edges. The tiles are arranged in swirls, suggesting an eerie mist or smoke that fades into darkness, creating an unsettling beauty that contrasts sharply with the brighter elements. Xavier shuddered slightly as if someone had walked over his grave looking at that section and quickly moved to the next. The next area was just as ominous though not as oppressive, it exuded mystery, and was crafted from midnight blues, purples, and blacks. A shadowed eye serves as its symbol, placed near the center and ringed with faint stars or flecks of silver. The mosaic tiles were arranged in a way that creates the illusion of depth as if one could fall into the darkness. Shadows seem to seep from this section, blending into the adjacent elements in a subtle, graceful manner.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Thankfully the next section was fluid and soothing, rendered in shades of blue and green that create the illusion of moving water. The symbol, a wave, lies near the nexus, its lines flowing outward in graceful, undulating patterns. Tiles are arranged in waves and spirals, capturing the essence of water in motion. White tiles are used sparingly to create foam-like highlights along the edges, adding depth and vibrancy to this part of the mosaic. The change continued onwards into the next section of the mosaic. It was light and ethereal, with pale blues and silvers arranged in sweeping arcs that mimicked gusts of wind. The symbol, a small swirling spiral, is placed close to the center, with faint lines that radiate outward as if caught in a gentle wind. The tiles are placed in a flowing, wispy pattern that gives this section a sense of motion as if the air itself were circulating above the mosaic. Finally, the last section before it touches back to the starting point was vibrant and full of energy, with lush greens, yellows, and pinks that blend harmoniously. This section''s symbol, a blooming flower, is placed near the center, radiating outward with delicate tendrils and vines. This section is arranged with intricate floral patterns, and tiny gemstone accents give the impression of dew drops, capturing the vitality and beauty of life itself. As Xavier studied the artwork, the color and light within each section seemed to beat along with his heart as it grew subtly in vibrancy and color. Each section seemed to glow with its own life and power. "This be the Syr¡¯Vailen, a nexus of elemental powers and ley lines. Where the Mael''Anthir, the great forge, stood as the heart seen by all, this¡­ this was its very soul. Whosoever masters this nexus holds the might of the Syr''Vailen¡ªand by that power, they hold sovereignty o¡¯er Cael''Anthir above. I am Aelriva, guardian of the Syr''Vailen and Cael''Anthir. I have watched ye, mortal, and weighed the depths of yer soul. Ye¡¯ve proven worthy to be named caretaker and Lord o¡¯ these forgotten lands. See to it I¡¯ve no cause to doubt my judgment." The aura of the sprite swelled as she spoke and her authority within these chambers became crystal clear. The sections of the mosaic flared to life each element rising from the floor to embody their powers in a maelstrom of magic and light raging around one another before just as abruptly they collapsed back in upon themselves and dimmed back to simple works of art once again. The radiance they held when he first entered the chamber faded away leaving the chamber feeling diminished in some way. However, at the very center of the chamber, a small glowing orb floated about two feet off the ground dimly lit from within. "Go now, take the focus and my blessin¡¯, and claim the mantle of Ard''Maelor¡ªthe High Forgemaster anew. Rebuild the city if ye¡¯ve the strength, for it''s been long absent from this world. As the nexus holds the balance of the elements, so too was Cael''Anthir a place of harmony and balance within the land. But that harmony has faded through the centuries, and the world nears a breakin¡¯ point." Aelriva¡¯s words struck a chord in Xavier and his mind flashed back to his meeting with Danu. She had said almost the exact same thing about the world and its impending fate. His soul felt as though fingers had strummed it like a string and he moved forward to where the focus waited his choice. He looked back and forth between Ella and Aelriva before his hands scooped under the glowing orb and energy suffused his body. The sound of rolling drums filled Xavier¡¯s ears, and a prompt filled his vision.
Know this! You have gained a mark: Ard¡¯Maelor ¨C The Grand Forgemaster. You have claimed the title of Ard¡¯Maelor. In centuries past the Ard¡¯Maelor was the leader of the Sylmyrian peoples, a long-forgotten race. They were master crafters and built marvels unlike anything known in this world. Only time will tell if you have the drive and will power required
Congratulations! You have purified a lost village. As the Ard¡¯Maelor of the Sylmyrian, you have become the Lord of Cael¡¯Anthir, The Shining Forge, this once marvel of an ancient civilization has fallen from its lofty perch to become the the ruins and remains you have discovered in the forest. Will you restore their city to its once-former glory and revive the people anew or will you squander the potential you have been given? Your village is level 1. As you increase the level of the village, more capabilities, powers and resources may be discovered. You are now bonded with the nexus Syr¡¯Vailen: The Convergence of Essence. You have gain access to the magic and mana of the nexus location. Nexuses are places of power and mystery and to uncover their secrets requires intent and willpower. Discover and master them at your own peril! May the fates be with you!
Congratulation! You have been awarded +600 Reputation points. Total Reputation: +600, your reputation has increased from 0 to +600. This reputation change has advanced your reputation level from ¡°Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares ¨C You¡¯re like a shadow in the corner of a tavern. If you disappeared into the mist tomorrow, the world would carry on without a single elf or dwarf noticing. Good luck finding a hero¡¯s welcome¡± to ¡°Who Are You Again? ¨C Your name might be whispered in the winds, but most can¡¯t recall it. If you were a knight, you¡¯d be the one who gets left out of the battle plan. People might nod at you in the market, but they¡¯re mostly confused.¡±
You have completed a hidden quest: Reforge the Past 1 Your actions in returning an object to reinvigorate the Great Forge along with earning the trust of Aelriva and gaining the right to claim the nexus has not only increased your personal power and prestige it has granted you title and lands to go with them. You are now the Lord of Cael¡¯Anthir and the Master of its lands. Aerith may be forever changed due to this event. Rewards: A settlement of your own. +2500 Experience
You have been offered a quest: Reforge the Past 2. Having gained mastery of Cael¡¯Anthir it is up to you to restore it to its former glory and rebuild its people. Increase the settlement level to level 2. Quest Objectives: See the Settlement Interface for details on increasing settlement to level 2 Penalties for Failure or Refusal: Stagnation of settlement growth. As this is a settlement improvement quest for a settlement bound to you there is no capability to refuse. Potential rewards: A level 2 settlement with increased powers and capabilities. +5000 Experience.
A crescendo of chimes sounded in his ears followed by the following prompt. Hark and Hear! You have ascended in level. You are now level 3! Humans are granted 4 attribute points to distribute. Blessings of the Gods (Danu) has increased this to 6 attribute points. You will have 3 days to assign these points else they will be randomly assigned for you. Go forth, seek glory, seek love, LIVE! As the prompt filled his vision his right forearm began to twitch and burn. He looked down in awe as an image formed on his skin. Golden in color the shape of a city in profile etched itself into being. Above the city a hammer in hand was raised as if to rain a blow down upon an anvil. It remained visible for several moments before fading back out of sight. Xavier gasped as it vanished, the pain of its birth fading just as quickly. He knew however that he could call it forth if needed to display his right of power. And reputation, add that to the list of things he needed to figure out how affected him and now his people¡­ he had people now. Well only two for the moment but there would be more. ¡°Wait, a forgotten race of people? What happened to them? Why are they no longer around? What are you not telling me? This place has been forgotten for how long?¡± Questions assaulted his mind and he in turn voiced them to the sprite. His eyes narrowing slightly as he suddenly felt as if he had been specifically rail-roaded into this position and didn¡¯t have the choice he actually felt like he should have had. "Be at peace, mortal. What ye speak of lies in ages long past. Civilizations rise and fall upon this world, and those who vanish oft leave no trace behind. While I yet remain, with faint memories o'' the Sylmyrian folk, there are others whose very names were swept away by time and fate. The Shattered Expanse is but one such place¡ªwhen gods clash, nothin'' is left in their wake. The peoples o'' that land were erased from memory itself. Yet, as ye restore the city and its folk, the memories o'' the Sylmyrian will return in time." Aelriva spoke softly, her tone changing as her body shifted through its constant metamorphosis. Xavier noticed something, now that he had seen the nexus, the sprites body shifted along the same patterns as the mosaic. She was literally the embodiment of elements that made up this place. Her presence had reverted to that of the sprite he had met in the chamber above and she felt far less grand than she had a few moments before when she had proclaimed him being worthy of the city. Taking a deep breath Xavier tried to wrap his mind around all the sudden changes. In the space of a couple days, he had gone from being a level one nobody alone in a brand-new world to level three and having his own settlement. Granted his settlement was nothing more than a collection of ruins currently but that was half the fun of survivor games, wasn¡¯t it? Finding a place to build and grow? He looked over to where Ella and Aelriva waited for him and pursed his lips. They were not enough to really make any changes to what was above, or even what was within the warrens beneath the village. As he thought he looked about the room and noticed some additional details he had overlooked due to the impressive display of the mosaic earlier. Another passage led off from the circular room. Opposite of where they had entered was another archway with a set of stairs that led deeper into the earth. The arch was lined with intricately carved stonework that unlike the rest of the warrens had been untouched by time. He crossed the area to stand before it and could nearly feel the power that radiated from it. Reaching out a hand he gently touched the carvings and knowledge filled his mind. They were runes of power, warding runes to be precise. He wondered what would require such runes to be placed here and it made him curious what lay below. "That path leads to the deep depths below. In the days when the Sylmyrian folk were at the height o'' their power, it was from down there that wondrous metals and gems were drawn forth to craft their mighty works. But now, all manner o'' dark creatures and foul things dwell within. The archway above is warded to keep any evil from risin'' up. Such power and skill the Sylmyrian enchanters wove into those wards that even time itself could not diminish their strength. Yet, such mastery is gone from this world, and mayhap lost forever. If ye truly wish to rebuild this city as it once stood, ye¡¯ll need to cleanse those depths and restore ''em to their former state as well." Aelriva had flow up beside him and her gaze was on the dark passage deeper as well. "But ye are not yet prepared to face the depths below. Turn yer focus first to the warrens and the village above. The day will come when ye¡¯ll be ready to tread the first level o¡¯ the deep¡­ but not today, mortal, not today." Xavier nodded to the sprite and turned back towards Ella. He smiled at her and motioned to the passageway leading back to the surface. ¡°I suppose we should go back above and see what I oversee now. Maybe we can get an idea of the work that needs to be done and plan a strategy of how to do it.¡± With that the three of them made their way back up to the ruined chamber and paused, darkness had fallen during the time they were below and it seemed as though further exploration and planning would need to wait until the sun rose once again over the fledgling settlement. Chapter 10 - Or How to Rebuild a Village Xavier sat next to the rekindled fire his eyes seeming to stare off into the distance as he studied his character screen to see how his past several days had affected his stats and skills. He also took the time to allocate his new points from achieving level three. The fights he had already experienced showed him if he was going to continue to be in physical fights he needed to be able to avoid being hit better, however he balanced that with the fact he was now a master of a village and that meant leading people.
Name: Xavier Level: 3, 0.69% to Next Level Age: 32
Race: Human Alignment: Neutral Languages: Basic
Reputation: 600 ¨C Who Are You Again? - Your name might be whispered in the winds, but most can¡¯t recall it. If you were a knight, you¡¯d be the one who gets left out of the battle plan. People might nod at you in the market, but they¡¯re mostly confused.
Stats
Health: 120/120 Stamina: 110/110 Mana: 100/100
Attributes
Strength: 9 Agility: 8 Dexterity: 9
Constitution: 10 Endurance: 9 Charisma: 8
Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 8 Luck: 9
Resistances Skills Marks
None Survival: 1 Woodworking: 1 Tracking: 1 Herbalism: 1 Cooking: 2 Crafting: 1 Spears: 1 Clubs: 1 Knives: 1 Ard''Maelor - The Grand Forgemaster
Abilities
Unbound Possibilities ¨C While the inhabitants of Arath are constrained by rules limiting how they can grow and what they can learn you have been blessed by Danu to be unbound. These limits guide you but do not constrain you.
Linguist ¨C You have the capacity to know, understand, and speak any mortal language
Weighing those needs he allocated his twelve new points across his stats. He placed one point into strength to round it out besides being stronger would always help while he was exploring, he assumed. The next two went to agility since that was supposed to help him dodge easier and hopefully have fewer cracked ribs. He winced slightly remembering all the club blows to his body and the pain of those injuries, granted he now had some herbs that helped but he was worried they would be lacking if the injuries were worse. He studied the screen a little longer and adjusted his endurance up to ten as well, stamina hadn¡¯t been a concern yet but the handful of fights and his running from the wolflike creatures had started to tax him and made him worry about how it would be if he had bottomed out. Satisfied with how his more physical attributes had rounded out he pursed his lips in thought. He was left with eight points and his non-physical attributes to work through. Knowing he would have to interact with people he immediately placed four points into his charisma score. When playing games back on Earth, he remembered that a higher-level charisma could open paths and discussions he would have missed, and it made sense that it would be the same here. Besides it was a lot less painful to talk through situations rather than fight through them. He decided to place two more points into wisdom, he knew it affected his mana but wondered if it would help guide decisions for the village overall as well. Street smarts were better than no smarts when it came to decisions right? His eyes finally fell on the esoteric attribute of luck. He didn¡¯t know if the attribute had helped him, or if it was a different guidance since things had seemed to work out well for him so far. On a hunch, he placed his final two points there anyway and nodded at the changes. Satisfied with what he had done he let his eyes focus on the room around him. Aelriva had disappeared, back to the mosaic room he assumed, but Ella was still there and sitting beside the fire quietly. He smiled at her and returned his attention to the new tabs he could look at, quickly he moved through them until he found the one he desired. ¡°Settlement Statistics.¡± Well, that answered several of his questions on what his settlement¡¯s limitations and requirements to grow were. He could see there were eight additional levels listed below but all their details were blurred out. It gave him a goal though. He would build his settlement into the best it could be. Now he just had to survive long enough to do so. Closing the screen, he rose quietly to his feet, not wanting to disturb Ella where she had shifted to lie down. He moved towards the doorway leading out of the building and leaned against the frame. Life, well life was good it seemed. He actually felt like he was accomplishing something and not just living day to day. Closing his eyes he offered a silent prayer of thanks to Danu for giving him this chance at a change, then he settled in for his watch. Several hours later he felt a hand touch his shoulder and looked back to see Ella standing there. ¡°You should get some rest now; we have a long day ahead of us and it is my turn to watch.¡± She spoke quietly so as to not disturb the peace of the night. Outside they could hear the calls of various night creatures in the forest and the gentle woosh of the breeze through the trees. Xavier nodded in agreement and went to lie down beside the fire. As he tried to make himself comfortable, he decided that bedding would be one of the first things they needed to acquire, stone floors and dirt just were not comfortable to someone who had spent their whole life sleeping on a mattress. With those thoughts, his eyes closed, and he slipped into the gentle warm embrace of slumbers depths. Xander was woken, what seemed only moments later, by Ella nudging his foot with hers. Yawning he stretched in place and hissed as he closed his eyes against the lance of light coming in through the shutterless windows directly into his eyes. He pushed himself to his feet and ran his tongue over his teeth, he was going to have to figure out a way to brush them cause the sock feeling was not something he wanted to live with. Come to think of it, he was going to have to develop a whole new routine of hygiene since there was a distinct lack of showers, toilets, and other amenities that enabled what he was used to back on Earth. He cast a glance towards Ella as his eyes had finally adjusted to the early morning light. ¡°Before we do anything I think we should find something to eat and fresh water. Work on an empty stomach will likely just make us frustrated and angry.¡± He mused aloud. ¡°But before that, I will be right back. Call of nature and such.¡± He hurried out of the building and down one of the many paths that led between the ruined buildings towards the woods. It didn¡¯t take long for him to answer his body¡¯s needs; it actually took longer to find some leaves that he figured were up to the task of cleaning afterward. Suitably relieved he made his way back to where he had left Ella only to discover that she had already found a decent gathering of berries and was sitting cross-legged next to the building that had become their shelter contentedly munching on her sweet trove. When he looked askance at her she pointed down another path. ¡°There are several berry bushes that way if you go past three collapsed buildings.¡± Nodding his thanks he quickly retrieved enough berries for his own breakfast, staining his increasingly tattered shirt as he did so. He made his way back to Ella and sat to eat as well. Aelriva had joined them by the time he had made it back and she hovered in the air between the two. Aelriva had the solution to their freshwater issue and guided them to a lone remaining shallow well. It was fed by a spring coming out of the rock face at the back of a small pool, in turn, the water drained off underground keeping the pool consistently filled with fresh clear water. ¡°Ok according to the settlement tab, there are several things we need to do to grow the village. People are an obvious one, but we also need buildings and to complete some settlement quests.¡± He looked out towards the rest of the ruins ¡°I have no idea how we will be able to clear away those without more villagers, and no idea how to get more villagers without somewhere for them to stay¡± Aelriva quirked an eyebrow at him a moment then shook her head. "Ye didn¡¯t scour all the tabs for the village, did ye? Seems ye¡¯ve overlooked a few key things, mayhaps in the section on settlement skills and abilities. Did ye not know ye can call forth forest golems to handle the menial work? They¡¯re suited only to simple tasks, true, but diggin'', minin'', felling trees, and carryin'' loads are well within their ken." Xavier stared at her a moment as Ella giggled behind her hand before he focused back on the interface and sought out the tab ¡°Village Skills and Abilities.¡± Sure enough, there was a section of daily abilities and one of them was ¡°Summon Minor Forest Golem.¡± He smiled broadly as he saw each would remain for a full day from the time it was summoned. Well, a full day as it was defined in this world, he was sure he would get use to the twenty-hour day eventually. Even better they only cost 150 mana. He could almost summon one with his own mana, but he found with just a slight mental focus he could tap into the mana of the village as well. He turned his attention back to the skill in the tab and a few moments later moss and wood on the ground around him started to coalesce into a humanoid form about four and a half feet in height. It did appear humanoid as it had two legs, a torso, two arms ending in rounded club-like hands, and a head but that was about it. There were no features on the face of the creature as, he assumed, it looked to him for instructions. ¡°Can you tear down all of the collapsed buildings and stack the rocks near the edge of the village?¡± He asked the creature. It¡­ stared blankly at him and didn¡¯t move. ¡°"Aye, I did say they were simple creatures. Ye¡¯ll need to give ''em instructions as if ye were speakin'' to a child. If ye want somethin¡¯ done in a particular way, ye¡¯ll likely have to show ''em how to do it yerself first." Aelriva¡¯s voice sounded over his shoulder.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Xavier sighed and nodded. ¡°Follow me,¡± he said to the golem and moved over to one of the buildings. ¡°I want you to take apart any building that looks like this.¡± He motioned to the semi-collapsed structure then picked up one of the stones from the partial wall. ¡°And then bring the stones over here and stack them together.¡± He walked to where the forest was starting to reclaim the ruins in earnest and set the stone in a clear area. ¡°Now show me.¡± The golem moved to the nearest pile of rubble and its hands shifted, growing long woody fingers from their club like ends, before lifting up a stone and bringing it back to the pile. ¡°Good now keep doing that with all of these ruins.¡± Xavier grinned as it seemed at least part of the issue would be resolved. He quickly tapped into the village¡¯s mana reserve and summoned another nine golems to aid the first quickly giving them the same instructions and soon they were busy silently at work. The ruined buildings would be removed, and their components would be salvaged for further use. Now he needed to figure out how to house people¡­ and where to find people. Looking back to the others he brought up the question. ¡°So, any idea where we find people willing to live here?¡± Ella shook her head in response but Aelriva, as before had an answer for him. "Several days'' journey to the northeast, outside yer realm, lies the edge of the forest. If ye head east from here, ye¡¯ll find the river Silverflow. Follow it to where I¡¯ve spoken of. At the edge of the forest, on the river¡¯s banks, lies the village of Bramblegate. There, ye can begin yer search for the villagers, I believe. I¡¯ll remain here, as I cannot leave the domain of yer mastery. While ye¡¯re gone, I¡¯ll make use of the village¡¯s abilities to summon golems each day and continue clearin¡¯ the village." Xavier turned to Ella, and she shrugged and nodded. It was something to go on at least. ¡°Alright but before going there we probably should prepare for the journey. We need food, something to carry water, some more weapons maybe, and I definitely need some cleaner clothes with less holes in them.¡± He said as he stuck a finger through the hole the Can Geann had left in the shoulder of his tunic. ¡°This would also give us a better chance to examine the more intact ruined buildings in detail and explore the warrens fully.¡± Leaving Aelriva to watch over the golems as they worked the pair turned their attention back to the rest of the ruins. They spent the better part of the day exploring structures that had at least three mostly intact walls and discovered several root cellars and basements where the doors hadn¡¯t collapsed and let in the elements. Of course, there were no stores of food to be found in them but one of the root cellars had an impressive array of what seemed to be potato plants and an odd carrot like plant.
You have discovered: Cave Tater Ingredient Class: Common Item Quality: Raw Weight: .2 kg Durability: 5/5 Traits: A small, root tuber. ¡°Boil ''em, mash ''em, stick ''em in a stew!¡±
You have discovered: Cave Kraton Ingredient Class: Common Item Quality: Raw Weight: .1 kg Durability: 5/5 Traits: A small, brownish orange root vegetable.
It seemed that the food stores that had originally been kept in that cellar had adapted to the darkness and flourished, the entire floor of the root cellar was overgrown by the two vegetables. That discovery was only added to when in the back corner of a nearby basement they found several different edible mushrooms had taken root as well.
You have discovered: White Cave Shunt Ingredient Class: Common Item Quality: Raw Weight: .02 kg Durability: 5/5 Traits: Small white mushrooms that grown in lightless caves and caverns. This mushroom is a hardy foodstuff and very filling.
You have discovered: Elf Ear Mushroom (Cave) Ingredient Class: Common Item Quality: Raw Weight: .01 kg Durability: 5/5 Traits: A small, tan mushroom which resembles the shape of an elf¡¯s ear. This lighter woody tasting mushroom is commonly dried and used in trail ration snacks along with nuts and berries
The pair emerged from the basement both carrying a handful of each mushroom having left enough behind to propagate until they had somewhere else to cultivate them. Not that they really had any idea how to move them to a new location and were just hoping it was going to be possible. After dropping their finds of veggies and mushrooms off at the central building, the two paused to take a short break. Digging and crawling through the ruins had taken a lot more energy than it had the other day when they were hurriedly checking for other enemies. While they had walked back Xavier had noticed a tree that had longer straight branches and several birds¡¯ nests. A plan had begun to form in his head about how they could be used. ¡°Are you any good with a bow?¡± He asked of Ella. ¡°I think I might be able to make a simple one. I have the woodworking skill, and we still have the rabbit gut from the other day. I remember seeing somewhere that gut can be used to make string in survival situations.¡± She lifted her head slightly as she pondered his words then nodded. ¡°I am a better aim with thrown objects, but a bow would let me reach out further. It wouldn¡¯t do much against skeletons if we must face them again however.¡± ¡°Ok wait here I will go get the wood. I think I saw some nests as well that could give us feathers.¡± He quickly got to his feet and trotted back down the pathways to where he had noted the potential items. He had changed his interface after finding the foodstuffs earlier to not immediately prompt him with every component found. He thought it was best when he was exploring not to have his vision obstructed in that way. About thirty minutes later he came back to where Ella waited. A long branch clutched in one hand along with a number of shorter straight sticks, and in the other he held a small bundle of feathers. Ella had retrieved the rabbit gut from where it had been hanging to dry, they had come to the mutual understanding that they needed to use as much of their game as possible. Xavier smiled gratefully to her and sat down. His eyes moving over the materials critically as he studied them and tried to remember anything he had seen or read about making a bow or arrows. As he did so he started to notice small marks on the various sticks and ghostly outlines of where pieces might be put together. His lips curled up at the ends and he got to work. The sun was half obscured by the horizon by the time he finished with his task. A broad grin spread across his face as he held up the new items to show them to Ella. In one hand was a short, curved piece of wood. Stretched from one end to the other was a taut string of carefully worked rabbit gut. The moisture had been worked out of the material giving it a good tensile strength to the length. He had also wrapped the grip in a lace of leather he had cut from one of the hides. The other hand held a small sheaf of arrows, ten in total. They were firmly, if inelegantly fletched with the feathers he had retrieved earlier and tipped with stone shards similar to his previous knife.
You have discovered: Rough Short Bow Item Class: Common Item Quality: Average Weight: 2 kg Durability: 15/15 Traits: This short bow looks like it was crafted by someone with more enthusiasm than skill. It¡¯s made from wild wood that still has a few splinters, a rabbit leather-wrapped handle that¡¯s more ¡°functional¡± than ¡°comfortable,¡± and a rabbit gut string that looks like it¡¯ll hold¡ªunless it gets a bit too humid. It''ll shoot, sure, but don¡¯t expect precision¡­ or durability¡­ or really anything more than ¡°slightly better than throwing rocks.¡±
You have discovered: Crude Stone Arrows x 10 Item Class: Common Item Quality: Average Weight: .01 kg ea Durability: 5/5 Traits: These arrows look like they were put together in a hurry¡ªor maybe by someone who was just getting creative with forest scraps. They¡¯ll fly¡­ mostly in the right direction. Just don¡¯t count on hitting anything farther than a squirrel¡¯s throw away.
Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Woodworking level 2. Once again, your crude methods have wrought a new wooden weapon. The intricacies of whirl and knot have further opened your eyes to the capabilities of wood. +4% to crafted items, +4% to crafted wooden weapon damage. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Crafting level 2. Every tool and item in this world are made by something. You now climb within the ranks of those crafters. Will you stall with the most basic of tools or will you rise to craft wonderous pieces of jewelry and tools that will shape the world? +4% to crafted items, +4% to crafted tools. Xavier held the weapons out to Ella who took them and eyed them critically. A slight smirk on her lips, she looked about for a moment then seeing a nearby tree she nocked an arrow to string and pulled it to her cheek before loosing the arrow. It flew, just slightly wobbly, across the space and sunk its stone head into the tree. She smiled wider and looked back to Xavier. ¡°Seems I have enough skill to use it properly. Food should not be an issue if we can find some as we travel. Maybe we should wait and hunt around the village first if you want new clothes. I could also use a quiver unless you are expecting me to carry the arrows by hand.¡± She quipped to him the mischievous twinkle in her eye betraying the laugh she was trying to suppress. He winced slightly at not thinking about a quiver. She would need that, or her travels would be awkward as hell. ¡°You¡¯re right, I didn¡¯t even think about that. I was too caught up in those actually coming together the way I wanted.¡± He paused thoughtfully, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do leatherworking. I have the crafting and woodworking skill but haven¡¯t tried to work leather besides to augment those.¡± Overhead the sun had settled below the horizon and a pair of moons rose in the night sky, one silvery and the other a rich emerald green. Also, though barely noticed was a void of stars rising just below the other two. Night had settled over the village. The susurration of sound from the forest hung in the air nearly drown out by the noise of the golems still tearing down ruins and stacking the stone. Xavier and Ella prowled near the edge of the woods searching for animal tracks, hoping to add some fresh meat to their skewers of vegetables and mushrooms. A small burst of movement caught both of their attention at the same time and Ella loosed an arrow after the creature. It barely missed the small deerlike thing as it bolted into the woods. She sighed and glumly retrieved the arrow to check if it was still intact enough to be reused. Luck had held when it came to the arrow, if not to their hunting exploits. They returned to what Xavier was starting to call the Hearthstead Hall, the central building of the village and access to the warrens and rekindled the fire. Placing the cut vegetables and mushrooms onto wooden skewers Xavier slowly roasted them. Cooked, they were soft and filling but were bland in flavor tasting more of starch and chewy. Xavier paused a moment as he gnawed on his stick of food. ¡°Yes, chewy was a good word to describe how this tasted.¡± He thought to himself. It was on the third day, the duo paused outside the other mostly intact building within the ruins. The great forge stood silent but there was a presence to its remains. A ghostly warmth hung in the cool morning air as if the fires inside still burned hot and ready to craft. Chimneys still rose from the edges and central dome though parts of the ceiling and roof had collapsed. The presence of the building had driven the pair to give it berth until now. Now as its owner and still carrying the Heart of Creation, Xavier felt driven to finally breach its sanctum and behold what was inside. "The Mael¡¯Anthir remembers, mortal. Ye feel the power that yet lingers, though its former glory be faded, don¡¯t ye? I warn ye once more¡ªdo not rekindle its spirit, not yet. When ye¡¯ve founded a true village and gathered a people, then shall it be reborn. Aye, ye can rebuild its walls and use it as a forge, but do not waken it with the heart. Even in a lesser state, it would lend its strength to any who craft within." Aelriva, spoke from beside his head in hushed tones, almost reverent of the structure. She cocked her head to look at him a moment before she flew inside and vanished into the shadows. Stepping carefully inside Xavier caught his breath at the sight. The central anvil still lingered in the middle of the floor, cracked and covered in rust but it bore runes, runes that matched others throughout the building and they seemed to bear the thrum of magic still. The place bore witness to the majesty the building once held. A relic of time when the master smiths of the Sylmyrian people forged powerful weapons that could carve through enchanted steel as if butter, and armor that could defy dragon¡¯s fire itself. Scattered across the floor are fragments of rusted, twisted metal. Forgotten weapons and tools left unfinished, as if the forge was abandoned in a single moment of calamity. Piles of coal, now covered in moss, line the walls, and the ground is littered with the broken remains of tools heavy enough that only a giant might wield them. A cold, ghostly wind whistles through the cracks, carrying the faint scent of smoke and iron, as though the forge itself remembers the fires it once held. Even in its ruin, there¡¯s a strange warmth emanating from the ancient stone hearth, hinting at embers that may still flicker, deep within. Aelriva paused at the great anvil and rested a small shifting hand on its broken form a quick glance at Ella as she did so was missed by Xavier in his awe of the rest of the structure. She lingered only a moment as Ella joined her mimicking her gesture and then they both moved away and about the interior of the building. Xavier gathered some of the broken metal but lacking any real way to work the pieces he simply sat them in a stack near the remains of the smelter and walked back out into the sunlight. It took several days spent in the budding settlement each passing as the one before. Xavier would often stop and stare at the forge as they passed it. The golems tore down buildings under the watchful eye of Aelriva, careful to avoid the forge and Hearthstead Hall. Aelriva spoke each morning with Xavier to get guidance on what he wanted done. And the pair of Ella and Xavier prowled the forests edge gathering herbs and managing to shoot a few of the deerlike creatures adding to their stock of drying meat and hides. Xavier still had intense dreams of different scenarios ranging from him sitting on a throne to dying starving and alone in the darkness. Each dream still had flashes of those haunting eyes and bright red hair but never more than just a hint of the goddess to whom they belonged. He would often wake from those dreams shuddering and wondering if the goddess was toying with him or his imagination was just running that wild given the changes he had experienced. Finally, after five days had passed, Xavier stood in rough leather breeches and a loose leather tunic. His work on replacing arrows for Ella had increased his skill with crafting another three points. To go with that his nightly struggles in making the leather garments, a pair of waterskins, a single bag for carrying provisions and a new quiver for Ella had granted him the leatherworker skill as well. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Crafting level 5. Every tool and item in this world are made by something. You now climb within the ranks of those crafters. Will you stall with the most basic of tools or will you rise to craft wonderous pieces of jewelry and tools that will shape the world? +10% to crafted items, +10% to crafted tools. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Leatherworking level 2. You¡¯ve mastered the art of¡­ not cutting yourself (as much) while working with leather. At this level, you can create basic pouches, straps, and other questionable-quality items that smell faintly of burnt flesh. But hey, everyone starts somewhere, right? Just don¡¯t get too ambitious and try making anything with ¡°fancy¡± buckles. +4% to crafted item quality, -4% to weight of crafted items. They were ready he felt, in the morning they would gather up their smoked and dried meat and some of the other vegetables and mushrooms. Then head towards the river and on to Bramblegate. Hopefully, there he would be able to find some people who would be willing to brave the woods and start a new village. As he leaned against the doorway into the Hearthstead Hall, Xavier sat, spear across his lap. Though he hadn¡¯t gotten any further skill improvements in his cooking, he assumed it was because he wasn¡¯t making anything more challenging than skewered meat and veg, tonight¡¯s dinner was filling and satisfying. His eyes scanned the darkness of the clearing, most of the ruins around the hall he was residing in had been cleared. Tomorrow they would set out for the village of Bramblegatr and then the drive to rebuild his own village would begin in earnest. Chapter 11 - Walk in the Woods Xavier slept, his mind reeling with dreams again. Myriad possibilities spread before him, begging for him to select a path, and then it happened. One of the possibilities was a familiar wood cabin room with a single table and two chairs. One of those chairs was occupied though and the woman turned to face him. Her eyes were replaced by what appeared to be bottomless pits lit with numerous pinpoints of light. Strangely, though he knew that should disturb him deeply, he felt comforted and trapped in those eyes. Breaking from their gaze a few moments later he refocused on her face, framed by vermillion curls, he recognized Danu from their discussion before he came to Arath. Xavier stepped forward and was suddenly within the cabin once again, he made his way over to the chair and sat down across from the Goddess. So many questions formed on the tip of his tongue he had no idea where to start. ¡°Well, you have surprised me in your choices so far Alex, or should I call you Xavier now?¡± Her voice was silken and sweet to his ears, holding all the warmth and allure of a trusted friend and confidant. ¡°Barely two weeks in the world and already you have mastered a nexus and become a master of some ruins.¡± She laughed softly before leaning forward to rest one elbow on the table and cup her chin in her palm. ¡°And when you wake, you are going to go villager hunting as well. Very busy indeed.¡± ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t know how much of that has been my doing and how much was your prodding me in the right direction.¡± He replied earnestly. The thought had been gnawing at him since he had really examined and updated his attributes, but he had no way to ask her, until now. ¡°Oh, it''s all been you. Yes, there are prophecies and foretelling¡¯s that speak of an individual such as yourself, but fate can be funny that way. Just because something is fated to happen doesn¡¯t mean it will happen at a certain time or by a specific individual. You are a nexus, you could be the one who answers my hopes in stabilizing this world, or you could hide away in a little forest cave and never become more. If that happens then it falls to another to make the attempt and possibly fail. Come now, I know you read what the Norns and Fates were said to say about it. Where do you think the inspiration came from?¡± Those last words gave him pause and he cocked his head slightly as he studied her. She smiled gently at him and nodded as if to affirm what she had said. ¡°You mean you inspired legends in my world?¡± He asked her with a slight quiver in his voice, how long had she been involved in the affairs of Earth, weren¡¯t gods myths? Her smile widened slightly, and she shook her head gently. ¡°Now is not the time to discuss that, Xavier. Explore, grow, and learn more about the world you inhabit. It will answer some of your questions though I imagine you will have more for me when next we meet.¡± He grasped at that concept. ¡°So, we will meet again? This isn¡¯t just chance or a dream. I¡¯m actually here talking with you?¡± She laughed softly again. ¡°Fate defined is fate changed. Chances are likely we will meet again but to say one way or another changes the strands of your future. And who¡¯s to say your being here isn¡¯t in your dreams? How better to meet with a god simply?¡± He slumped back in his chair her words only raising more questions that he was now sure she wouldn¡¯t answer, not yet at least. ¡°I see.¡± He groused. ¡°I do have to thank you for bringing me to Arath though. I¡¯ve felt more alive and happier there than I ever did back on Earth. It¡¯s been a wonderful experience so far, even with the monsters and fighting.¡± She smiled gently at him once again and rested her fingertips on his forearm. ¡°I had a feeling you would feel that way. It''s why I chose you. Our time is nearly over though, and you should wake for your travels rested, not worrying about what was said here.¡± Her touch filled him with warmth and comfort and his eyes began to close. ¡°I¡¯m watching you Xavier, don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± With those words in his head, he slipped into the silent void of dreamless sleep, where the world faded to shadows, and even the whispers of thought fell away into deep, unbroken stillness. And Xavier slept deeply until he was woken by Ella nudging him with her foot again. It had become her usual way to wake him when the sun started rising in the morning. However, he rose quickly this morning as it marked the start of their newest adventure. He was excited to set out and the pair moved about quickly gathering their waterskins, weapons, and a variety of foodstuffs including dried meat, berries, and veg. Their pouches stuffed to bursting they bid farewell to Aelriva, who could not leave the area and thus would remain behind to continue Xavier¡¯s will before they turned towards the east and the river that would guide them to Bramblegate. He had figured out that it was spring in this part of the world. The mornings were cool and crisp but warmed to a pleasant comfortable temperature by midmorning and continued that way until dusk fell. A slight but playful breeze sang in the branches bringing birdsong and the ever-growing murmur of the nearby water as they walked. It was a good day to travel Xavier thought to himself. He breathed deeply enjoying the fresh air fragrant with the scents of the forest, wildflowers, and young leaves, underscored by the earthen aroma of the dew-soaked soil. They broke free of the surrounding trees, discovering the shore of the meandering flow that was the Silverflow River. It was deep and wide in this area. Its waters flowed roughly from the southwest to the northeast as if to guide them precisely to where they were told to go. The first day passed relatively quietly. They were able to hunt several small rabbits to supplement their dried meat and increase the number of hides they had to trade with as well. Ella pointed out other plants that could be harvested as food even if they had no real herbal value. Another night of skewered cooking though made Xavier reaffirm the need to get cooking supplies such as pots and pans and some sort of grill when they got to the town. This continued the relatively peaceful progress for several more days. On the night of the third day out from their settlement, they were splitting the night for watch once more Xavier sat on a stone at the edge of the firelight and peered out into the darkness. The air had cooled once more so he stayed close enough to be warmed by the flame but far enough away that he didn¡¯t lose his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He had been sitting in this fashion for several hours now and it wouldn¡¯t be long before he woke Ella to take her turn when he noticed it. The woods had gone silent, besides the whisper of the wind in the trees there were no other sounds. He leaned forward as he looked about, straining to hear anything that might indicate the sudden change. The woods remained eerily quiet and still. Even the breeze seemed to calm as if the whole world was holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come. There, off to his left, away from the river and deeper in the woods he heard the sudden howls. Tensing, as he still remembered the creatures that chased him during his first days in the world. He tightened his grip on his spear and moved over to wake Ella. He held a finger to his lips as her eyes opened and then motioned to his ear before indicating the direction the noise had come from. She rose quickly and scooped up her bow, an arrow nocked to the string in moments as she sought to hear what had prompted him to wake her. It wasn¡¯t long before she heard them as well. They looked at each other, silently debating the relative safety of the fire or the desire to investigate the threat. Before they both crept into the undergrowth moving as quietly as possible towards the ruckus. As they came closer to the howls they increased in frequency before changing instead to barking and snarling. Whimpers of pain and a thunderous roar suddenly drown out the noises briefly. The duo paused both looking alarmed as they reconsidered their choice. That did not sound small, nor like something they could or even should help. However, if something dangerous was close to their budding home they knew they needed to investigate. It was not much longer before the scent of blood hung coppery in the air and they came to a clearing. In the center of it, a large black cat stood, its body covered with deep wounds, the blood matting its fur and slowing its movements. Around the beast were several broken bodies of the same wolf-like creatures that Xavier remembered but three still harried the dying creature. Xavier moved to head back to the fire, hoping to avoid being noticed by either type of beast when Ella rested a hand on his shoulder and pointed. Cowering between the paws of the large cat was a small black bundle of fur. A baby of the creature obviously and it was clearly terrified of its pending fate. Ella scowled slightly pointing at the closest canine as she spoke, ¡°Shardfangs.¡± They watched as the canines spread out, once again circling the cat and causing it to dance about trying to face the remaining ones all at once. When one of them darted forward from the cat¡¯s right side, aiming to snap at the cub, the feline''s great paw caught it and tossed it nearly a dozen feet away in a desperate blow. The strike was enough to throw the beast but not enough to cut through the armor of its scaled shoulders. That attack proved to be just a little bit too much however and it overbalanced before collapsing to the ground. Its body still offered protection to the cub which still huddled near its parent as it struggled to get back to its feet seeking the only solace that it knew. As Xavier watched, waiting for the expected end and lamenting the death of such a young beast an arrow flashed into view sinking into the side of one of the shardfangs sinking into a gap between the scales as it moved and drew its attention. Xavier glanced at Ella as she nocked another arrow and his eyes went wide, ¡°What are you doing?¡± He demanded hefting his spear in one hand and quickly drawing the dagger. ¡°Even if we kill the wolves, shardfangs, whatever they are, the cat is still going to die.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Yes,¡± she hissed as she sighted another wolf and loosed the arrow. ¡°That does not mean the cub has to die though. It is old enough to live without her, especially if we take care of it. I have never seen their like in these woods so it must be something rare or new to the area.¡± Xavier frowned as he weighed their odds. He was still not a strong or confident warrior, not enough to face three large wolves even if he had Ella¡¯s help, but she had already committed them with her actions, and he moved to protect her while she shot. The first wolf she had hit was drawing close now and he could see the blood that soaked the fur around its mouth. A mouth that when opened revealed deadly sharp teeth waiting to sink into soft human flesh. Gritting his teeth, Xavier set his feet and thrust the spear forward. The shardfang nimbly sidestepped the thrust and continued forward. A second wolf moved up behind it and circled to the other side. It was rewarded with an arrow sprouting from its hindquarters where the scales were less plentiful. ¡°You had better do something. I am running out of arrows Xavier.¡± Ella gasped as she nocked one of her few remaining. ¡°Use the knife it is more likely to cut the scales than your spear.¡± Growling softly Xavier stepped back, narrowly avoiding the gnashing teeth as the wolf charged him. As it ran past, he lashed out with the dagger his heart already sinking realizing there was no way he was going to be fast enough to hit it this time when a long wound opened in its side and the dagger, for a moment at least, seemed long enough to be a sword. He only had a moment to register the surprise before the second wolf was in his face. He jammed the spear sideways into the beast''s mouth saving his flesh, but the wood snapped in two as the wolf bit down savagely. That was enough of a gap to let him drive the, now once again, dagger into the creature''s eye. The sharp blade sunk deep and penetrated the wolf¡¯s brain sending it twitching to the ground. Stumbling at the change in weight pulling his hand forward before he could free the blade, he jerked backward, and the knife slipped free from the beast¡¯s skull. Ella had sunk her last arrows into the wolf that still stalked around the cat pulling its attention to them as well. Bloodied it moved forward warily as Xavier turned searching for the first beast. He was too slow however and pain exploded in his body when the charging wolf crashed into him. The large wolf bore him to the ground exacerbating the damage caused by the initial impact. Xaver gasped as its weight drove the air from his lungs and he struggled to keep the snapping teeth from his face. The hot fetid breath of the monster flowed around Xavier making him gag as he tried to regain his breath and fight back. Lacking the staff he had before to prevent the wolf''s teeth from finding flesh Xavier shoved his forearm into the maw of the canine. He screamed as the sharp teeth dug into the meat of his forearm and struck the underlying bone. Luck held with him as they didn¡¯t crack under the pressure. His other hand, still holding the dagger flailed wildly stabbing the oddly sharp blade clean through the scales on the torso of the wolf, covering him and it in more blood until the wolf huffed roughly, its jaws still locked on Xavier¡¯s arm, and collapsed atop him. The lone surviving wolf slowly came to the realization that the rest of its hunting pack lay dead or dying and raised its head letting loose a long slow howl before it turned and ran off into the forest, three of Ella¡¯s arrows still protruding from its sides. As the battle ended Xavier received an increasingly familiar sound and prompt. Ding! You have slain a level 5 Shardfang wolf. x 2 +250 Experience. Ella rushed to where Xavier lay pinned beneath the wolf''s corpse and helped pry its jaws, locked even in death, open and roll the body off of the man. Gingerly he got to his feet with her assistance and looked about the carnage. Holding his wounded arm close to his body he fished around in his pouches looking for some of the forest sage, hoping to slow the bleeding before wrapping it in what little cloth they had scavenged from his old clothes. Hesitantly he glanced up to the corner of his vision and saw that between the tackle and bites, he had just over a quarter of his health left. ¡°Too close again,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°I need to do better. Or maybe get better gear. I am just a punching bag as it is now.¡± Glancing at his arm he revised his thought. ¡°Well, more a chew toy I guess.¡± He looked to Ella. ¡°Are you all right?¡± He asked as he looked her over. She didn¡¯t appear to have been touched and other than the light sheen of sweat from the fight she was whole and intact. ¡°They did not get close to me and the last one ran off.¡± She replied as she started retrieving what arrows she could. When she got close to the large cat though it lifted its head slowly. Blood loss and exertion had taken a mortal toll on the beast, and it watched her with its piercing violet eyes already starting to glaze over though the intelligence behind them had not yet dimmed. Around where its paws lay on the ground the little cub still climbed and began to mewl softly. Xavier moved over to Ella¡¯s side, and they studied the cat. The fight over and the cat merely lying gave them ample opportunity to actually get a good look at its features. Beyond the unsettling depth of its dying gaze, the creature was a marvel to behold. Its fur was a deep obsidian black, with faint, shifting patterns that resemble trails of smoke or constellations scattered across its hide shifted as it moved giving the impression of a roiling shadow. One other feature truly made it stand out from other beasts; it had a twin pair of tails each ending in a wicked barb. They lay still upon the ground now, further indication that the cat was dying and too weak to react. Xavier noted the pain in the cat¡¯s eyes and hesitantly moved closer. A soft growl rumbled in the beast and the little cub arched its back hissing slightly. Gently Xavier held out a hand soft gentle murmurs parting his lips as he carefully moved close enough for the adult cat to smell his fingers. Its lips curled back a moment then its body slumped, and it leaned its head into his hand. It seemed to understand it was dying and that he wasn¡¯t a threat. Slowly it lowered its great head and nuzzled the cub for a few moments before its jaw settled on the ground. It closed its eyes released a long slow breath, and stopped moving. Xavier stood up slowly, tears in his eyes at seeing such a magnificent creature pass from the world. He looked to Ella and then to the cub. It could potentially survive on its own but he had his doubts. As if reading his mind Ella came to his side and pulled the dagger from where he had sheathed it. She moved to one of the wolf corpses and cut several small strips of meat from the body. She brought them back to Xavier and, after cleaning the blade, sheathed the dagger for him before holding out one of the strips. Xavier took the strip of meat from Ella and knelt again. His slowly mending arm held close to his body so it wouldn¡¯t be mistaken with the fresh cut flesh, he held the meat out in his good hand towards the cub. Hesitantly, still mewling for its parent to react, it moved towards the proffered food, sniffed it, and then started to gnaw on the morsel. A deep rumbling purr emitted from the cub as it ate its fill. As the sun broke the horizon, the blood had stopped dripping from his arm, the wounds mostly closed, and his hit points recovered from repeated mouthfuls of the healing herb. He was getting sick of the ¡°furry¡± taste of the herb despite its obvious positive effects. Together with Ella they diligently spent the wee hours of the morning and well into midmorning skinning the wolves and harvesting edible meat from them. One of the hides was scraped as clean as possible and bound around the cuts of flesh to preserve and protect it as much as possible. They left the body of the large cat in peace though and the cub would alternately go between sleeping between its still paws and following the two as they went about their work. Xavier took the time, as well, to craft another dozen arrows to supplement the four Ella had been able to recover and another spear. All their work completed, the duo looked to the body of the cat and then to the cub. Xavier had kept feeding it small scraps of meat while they had worked and it increasingly seemed to trust him, for now. They picked up their belongings and moved to head back towards the river when the cub yowled causing them to pause and look back. It stared at what was most likely it mother and yowled again. When the corpse didn¡¯t move the cub moved to nuzzle its head against the larger one of the adult beast, obviously without any reaction. It yowled once more in clear distress as it padded softly over to Xavier staring up at the human. Xavier crouched down and reached out, the cub allowed itself to be comforted with gentle petting and being scratched behind its ears before it moved over and rubbed against his leg. Xavier smiled sadly towards Ella. ¡°It seems we can¡¯t just leave it behind now.¡± She smiled back and nodded her assent before Xavier scooped the cub into his arms. It weighed more than its stature would have indicated, much to his surprise, but he held it with little difficulty as they started their walk. ¡°So, you have no idea what type of cat this is?¡± Xavier asked of Ella. ¡°You knew the wolves readily enough.¡± ¡°The wolves are not uncommon in these woods. I have never seen a cat like that one before, however. It must have been migrating through the area with the adult when the wolves found it. Maybe someone at Bramblegate or Aelriva might know what it is.¡± She replied, she was more wary now having fought with the wolves and one of them escaping. Her eyes roamed the trees while they walked, and she kept an arrow on the string just in case. Xavier trailed her, the cub cradled in one arm and his other hand holding the shaft of the spear to his shoulder. His mind wandered back over the fight with the wolves, and he pondered how he could have done things differently and maybe saved himself some pain when one moment stuck out in his memory. How exactly had he cut the first wolf when it ran past him in the beginning? He knew he had been too far away for the dagger to hit it and it seemed like the weapon had changed length to permit the strike but that couldn¡¯t be possible could it? He glanced down at the sheathed blade at his side, no it was still only dagger length. He mulled on it for a while as they walked then raised his voice. ¡°Ella, when we were fighting the wolves there was a moment when I am certain your dagger was longer than it should be. It allowed me to cut a wolf that I should not have been able to reach.¡± She paused, stopping in the middle of the path refusing to meet his eyes for several minutes. Finally, she looked back at him. ¡°That would be because it is an enchanted blade. There is more to it than just being a dagger. It is an ethyr¡¯vael a soul or essence blade. I found it in the ruins. I think it might be the pinnacle of creation that the Sylmyrian people made, weapon-wise at least, or so Aelriva would have me believe.¡± She smiled weakly at him now that she had admitted the origin of the blade as far as she was aware. ¡°I did not lie when I said it was mine though. I found it there and thought you could do better with it. Who knows maybe you will find out more about it as it comes to know and trust you better. Legends speak of soul blades in this world that can do wonderful things. I just do not know the blade fully myself.¡± ¡°By the gods,¡± Xavier thought to himself. ¡°They are surely just toying with me now. There is no way this is all happenchance, not the settlement, Ella, Aelriva, this bloody knife, and now a strange cat cub following me around. I know Danu said I was a nexus, but this is too much.¡± He moved over to the edge of the path and sat on a large stone reeling in the overwhelming thoughts that pressed down upon his consciousness. He needed time. He needed to actually process everything that had come to pass since he was offered the choice by the goddess, to come to grips with the changes that had taken the place of his simple life back on Earth. He needed time to just think. The cub, forgotten in his arms as life overwhelmed him mewled and pushed its head against his chest. Unthinkingly he let go of the spear and began to scritch the little beast''s head. Ella simply watched him and the woods. She knew her words had shaken him deeply. She didn¡¯t blame him either, from what he had told her and what she had seen, his life had been completely upended, roiled about, shaken up, and then jammed back down in this world. She began to carefully roam about near where he sat, eyes watchful for danger, while he was lost in his head. His eyes were semi-vacant as he had taken on a thousand-yard stare lost in his self-doubt and fear. His features twisted every so often as a new train of thought took over but each time they stilled back into the vacant lost expression. Several hours, passed as he sorted out his thoughts. Mechanically he kept appeasing the demanding cub, Ella retrieving meat for him to feed it, as she passed by in her watchful duties. Sometime around mid-afternoon, there was a change. An oddly warm breeze blew down from the north and on it was an instantly recognizable aroma, smoke. Xavier was immediately shaken from his stupor and lurched to his feet, the motion dumping a squawking cub from his lap, and he took off running down the path until he came to a rise. In the distance still, at least a day''s walk from where they were rose a huge plume of smoke. Its base was lit with a terrible orange glow. In his mind, he could hear and see the flames flickering. A cold lump developed in his gut as Ella and the cub joined him on the hillock. Bramblegate was burning. The two shared a look, they had slowly become able to understand each other more through just that gesture, Xavier scooped up the cub and they began to run. Chapter 12 - Bramblegate Xavier and Elle ran as fast as they could for as long as they could. Every time Xavier¡¯s stamina bar started to bottom out his body felt like his limbs were made of lead, forcing him to slow to a walk until it recovered. Ella kept pace with him as he ran, and they would trade carrying the cub back and forth between rests. Despite their pace, it took them through the day and into the next night before they could see the remains of Bramblegate. The closer they drew to the smoke the stronger its scent became, after a while however, that was compounded with other smells, blood, viscera, and death hung heavy in the air as well. The area glowed with harsh red and yellow light lending to its embodiment of what Xavier could only call a hellscape. The walls around the village were breached in several locations, the wood and stone collapsed into heaps of rubble giving easy passage into the interior. The fires had mostly diminished leaving small flames, glowing embers, and twisted wreckage where once sturdy homes and businesses once stood. Even the docks to the river were in disarray and mostly collapsed into the water flowing past the village. Devastation had come to Bramblegate and left it a shell of what it had been. A light rain started to fall as the duo crept through the forest edge seeking a vantage point to inspect the village and soon found a small rise closer to the river and well away from the path that had led them to the village initially. What they saw was heart-wrenching. Bodies lay where they had been struck down indiscriminately, man, woman, and even child. There were bodies clad in chain and leather armor lying in the detritus of the battle as well, but they were much less common. The army that had struck had clearly been the superior and surprise force. The destroyed village was not vacant however, as Xavier and Ella soon discovered, there were elements of the force that had attacked the village still loitering about. Great caged wagons held motley collections of various peoples all bound hand and foot before tightly packed into the locked confines. All looked downtrodden and disheveled many with fresh wounds, only the worst of which had been bound with soiled cloth as bandages. As they watched they heard other sounds, crying and screaming coming from various parts of the village, distinctly female voices for the most part. Xavier¡¯s blood ran cold upon hearing those noises and he looked to Ella to see the horror and determination on her face matched his own. Setting the cub down in the protective undergrowth Xavier drew the strange dagger. Crouching and moving as carefully as possible he and Ella crept toward the closest gap in the devastated wall and snuck into the village. The streets were a more horrifying conglomeration of charred wood, bodies, blood, and gore than outside of the walls. The two stepped gingerly around to avoid stepping in viscera or tripping over the other filth on the ground. Xavier, driven by the crying, moved towards the closest sound. It took several minutes to navigate the debris clogging the streets before he was able to peer around a corner of an intact stone building. What he saw confirmed his fears, a sobbing young woman was held facedown over a stack of semi-broken barrels. Behind her, his trousers around his ankles stood one of the invaders. The rhythmic thrusting of his hips left no doubt about his actions. The woman''s sobs were only broken by occasional louder cries of pain. Ella drew her bow upwards starting to pull the string to her cheek when Xavier placed a hand on her arm, halting her action. She glared at him and gestured to the tableau before them angrily. Neither one spoke for fear of rousing the attention of the otherwise distracted invader, but Xavier shook his head and held up the dagger before pointing. Ella narrowed her eyes at him then finally relented and nodded her head slightly. Leaving her behind in the relative cover of the building, Xavier moved slowly as he tried to be as careful and quiet as possible. He guiltily took comfort that the woman¡¯s suffering only served to keep the man distracted to his coming just dues. It was that distraction, the invader blithely believing that the village had been secured and they were just left to sweep the remaining villagers up, and in his case enjoy the spoils, that left him unaware until it was too late to react. The point of Xavier¡¯s dagger buried into the side of the man¡¯s throat, Xavier¡¯s other hand rising to pull the invader''s head backward exposing the soft flesh more. Sawing the blade roughly Xavier tore the man''s throat out and a sanguine fountain erupted over the sobbing form held to the barrels. The man gurgled out, his eyes rolling back into his head as he slumped to the ground freeing the woman from all his control. As he did so Xavier moved around to kick sharply between his legs crushing the offending member that now hung limp there. Ding! You have killed a level 6 warrior. +180 Exp. The sudden change of her situation caused the young woman, a human girl of maybe seventeen, to search for what was happening. Looking over her shoulder as she slowly rose, she saw the anger etched in Xavier¡¯s face and started to scream again before he raised a finger to his lips in the universal gesture of silence. He pointed to the dead invader¡¯s dropped sword and motioned for the girl to grab it. Once she had, and adjusted her dress to cover herself once again, he led her back to where Ella was still hiding. The girl sobbed and clutched to the woman in new hope as Xavier moved off once again following the noises of suffering. They moved further into the village following similar sounds to find a halfling youth being similarly abused by one invader while a second invader laughed while he kicked an oddly shaped ball around the alleyway. Ella¡¯s arrow sprouting from the soccer-playing solder drew the sudden attention from the first just before Xavier¡¯s blade sunk into his armpit driving deeply into the flesh and through his heart. The halfling ran to where the second invader lay dying and scooped the ball up. As Xavier moved closer, he noticed it wasn¡¯t a ball at all but the severed head of a female halfling. It was then he saw her body lying crumpled and blood-soaked against the alley wall. Tears streaming down his face the halfling lad gently set the head in the woman¡¯s lap before pulling the short sword out of the scabbard of the invader who had been abusing her. His face a rictus of anger he began to flail wildly at the man''s body hacking it roughly to pieces in his outrage. Ding! You have killed a level 5 warrior. +150 Exp. Ding! You have killed a level 6 warriorr. +180 Exp. After the young halfling had vented his rage upon the corpse he turned his tear and blood-soaked face towards his rescuers as if challenging them to say something. Xavier met his gaze for a few moments then gestured for him to follow. The abuse of the first two played out several more times as they continued their grim march through the remains of the village. The most disturbing one was when they came upon the female Gan Ceann victim. It surprised Xavier at first having fought the one in the cave several days ago, he hadn¡¯t realized it was not a monster race but a people. She had been caught by a pair of invaders. One had his foot on the back of her headless shoulders pinning her body to the ground for the other¡¯s ease. Both were laughing and joking while they had their sport and were too distracted to notice Xavier and a human lad moving into position behind them. Her head had been sitting on the ground between the invader''s legs and she had seen Xavier moving closer which led to her gasping and almost calling out before he gestured her silence. She now carried her head in one hand as her other held the invader¡¯s mace. It was not long before Xavier and Ella had eight in total following them. The original young human woman was named Cynthia. The halfling lad had said his name was Loram. The Gan Ceann woman had introduced herself as Tethra. There were four more women, a human named Hedra; a halfling known as Marnie; a dwarven lass who answered to Rilsa; and a humanoid wolf, one of the Animari, by the name of Darra. The lone additional male was a young human by the name of Ferran. The motley crew was grim, their clothes and weapons coated in the blood of their abusers and vengeance hung in the air around them with a physical presence. Xavier had gotten the experience prompt for an additional fifteen dead invaders ranging in levels from five through a singular level nine, who had required Xavier and two others to take down. Partway through he was awarded with an unexpected but satisfying event. A crescendo of chimes rang through his ears. Hark and Hear! You have ascended in level. You are now level 4! Humans are granted 4 attribute points to distribute. Blessings of the Gods (Danu) has increased this to 6 attribute points. You will have 3 days to assign these points else they will be randomly assigned for you. Go forth, seek glory, seek love, LIVE! He dismissed the information for now, he could deal with the new points later when he was safe and had finished the grim work the village had provided him. The noise of the remaining fires blended with the screams of the dying and tortured, that and just general overconfidence of the remaining invaders left Xavier and his small group to skulk almost wraithlike through the village, as far as unskilled, untested individuals could sneak with such a trait that environment that is. They made plenty of noise and stumbled more than once but the conditions led to their being unnoticed by the last remaining invaders. Six larger warriors clad in the same chain and leather as the other invaders milled about with another man in scale armor. They were clustered around the pair of cage wagons filled with the last survivors of the attack. Xavier¡¯s scowl grew, and he did not like the odds, even though his group was slightly larger the numbers were too skewed in the favor of the attackers. Catching the shoulder of the young and still rage-filled halfling he pulled his small group back several streets away. ¡°We need a plan, I don¡¯t think we can take the whole of them by surprise the way we have been, there are too many of them,¡± Xavier stated plainly. ¡°I have no intention of saving you all just to deliver you back to them or death.¡± The anger ebbed slightly from the collection of faces staring at him as he spoke, ebbed but didn¡¯t vanish completely. They still had a need to exact revenge for not only what had happened to them but for the sake of their destroyed village, lost loved ones, and disrupted way of life. Xavier moved quietly back through the streets to observe the wagons and their guards once more. It was evident that they were not leaving in the immediate future which gave him time to think and possibly prepare. As he returned to where he had left the others, he noticed the fallen body of one of the invaders. The corpse still was clad in armor. He wondered if that was why the others had not left yet. In games, armor was at least somewhat valuable, and he couldn¡¯t imagine the invaders leaving such behind. He smiled wickedly as a plan slowly started to take form. The night wore on and as it did the weather took a turn for the worse, clouds opening in a deluge of rain that all but snuffed out the remaining fires and quenched their dying embers. Galdrik, the nominal commander of the remaining invaders swore under his breath. He was still missing some of his men and they should have been back an hour ago. He spit to the side as he realized why they were probably taking so long. He didn¡¯t begrudge the men their fun, it had been a brutal if lopsided fight to subjugate the village. But it wasn¡¯t like they couldn¡¯t entertain themselves when they next made camp, there were plenty of captives to pick from after all. He was just about to send several of the nearby men to go round up the lollygaggers when a small group finally emerged from down one of the side streets. Their presence had been masked by the driving rain until they were almost on top of him. He squinted through the darkness and was reassured by their armor even if he couldn¡¯t see their faces yet. ¡°Good,¡± Galdrik thought to himself. ¡°Now we can get moving and leave this place to the crows.¡± It was a good distance to Ironhaven and the sooner the slaver was away from the scene of the attack the safer he would feel. He whistled shrilly and two of his crew took up guide ropes for the oxen that were harnessed to the wagons, starting them in motion down the road. By Galdrik¡¯s estimate, he would be able to catch up to the rest of the company by the time they camped that night. He watched as the last group that emerged from the village fell into step behind the wagons before turning and heading to the front of the small caravan. Xavier couldn¡¯t believe it had worked so far, no one had challenged their arrival or them just falling in with the group. Sure, they had all dressed in the garb of the fallen invaders but the majority of that was ill-fitting and would be more of a hindrance than benefiting the individual who wore it, but the other invaders swallowed the gambit hook, line, and sinker. He moved over to Cynthia¡¯s side and spoke softly. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long we have before they will realize we are not their friends. Can you get close to the wagon and somehow let them know we¡¯re here to help? Make sure they stay quiet, or this will go horribly.¡± He whispered to her. She nodded once and moved to the back of the closest wagon causing those interred within to shrink back from the bars trying to avoid her. Pulling her hood back briefly so they could see her face she motioned for them to keep quiet and beckoned one of them, a large male Gan Ceann closer. He shifted and then set his head on the floorboards of the wagon near where she walked. She relayed Xavier''s message to him quickly and as quietly as she could before falling back to walk with the rest of the disguised group. Once she had rejoined them Xavier inhaled deeply, it was time to become some big damn hero he supposed. The remaining invaders were spaced about the two wagons. None of them walking too close to one another which should make what he was attempting to do easier. ¡°As if slipping up behind skilled warriors and simply cutting their throats was a simple much less easy task to do, even if you ignored the fact that it was outright murder.¡± He thought to himself. He had been doing that a lot lately. Funny how coming to a new world made you more introspective. He moved as casually as possible forward, his eyes on the closest invaders to his first target. They all seemed to be hunched into their cloaks and hoods taking what shelter was possible in the rain. Xavier held the dagger against his forearm to hide its slight gleam as he drew closer to the first individual. The last couple of steps were a rush as he threw his arm around the man¡¯s waist and reached to drag the edge of the blade over his throat. Holding the struggling form upright as it flailed and tried to make a noise beyond the wetly whistling gurgle from its ruined neck Xavier slowly lowered it to the ground as the eyes on the captives locked on him. Cynthia¡¯s words were just now making the rounds of the huddled group, and they were shocked to see one of the invaders killing their own but kept to the silence requested. Ding! You have killed a level 8 Slaver Thug. +400 Exp. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Subterfuge level 1. Subterfuge is the fine art of deception, misdirection, and subtle manipulation. Masters of this skill can pick locks, forge documents, disarm traps, and tell lies so convincing they could sell ice to a frost giant. Whether slipping unnoticed into a noble¡¯s treasury or planting rumors to topple a kingdom, subterfuge is the go-to skill for anyone who prefers cunning over brute force. Of course, if subtlety isn''t your thing, you could just call it "being shady" and move on. Xavier¡¯s grin grew at the prompt, and he moved to slip around the back of the wagon seeking the back of his next target. He was able to mimic the procedure several more times. One of the disguised men rescued from the village took the wagon rope when Xavier killed the invader leading it. The steady prompting filled his head with each death. Ding! You have killed a level 8 Slaver Thug. +400 Exp.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Ding! You have killed a level 8 Slaver Thug. +400 Exp. Ding! You have killed a level 8 Slaver Thug. +400 Exp. All appeared to be going according to plan, that was until he came to the fifth invader. As luck would have it, the weather¡¯s long chill had given the man a runny nose, resulting in a sneeze right as Xavier struck for his throat. The knife sliced through the bridge of his nose and across his cheek but did not make for a mortal blow. The man lashed out with an elbow catching Xavier in the stomach and doubled him over before yelling out the alarm. The slaver known as Galdrik spun hearing the hew and cry from the wounded invader. Both he and the last uninjured raider spun to see the cause. Their hands reached for weapons, the one guiding the first wagon dropping the rope to pull a short sword, and Galdrik unslinging a heavy axe. Xavier had dropped to his knees winded from the strike. An arrow flashed through the air and glanced off the heavy armor Galdrik wore, and a soft curse could be heard from the back of the convoy where Ella was already drawing another arrow. Anger and desperation drove a call of vengeance from the throats of the disguised villagers, and they hefted weapons taken from the dead in unskilled but willing hands and ran toward the remaining three individuals who had caused so much pain and loss. Holding a hand to his bloodied face the invader who had elbowed Xavier reached for the mace hanging at his belt intending to crush the head of the man who would dare injure him. The long wooden handle slipped free of its leather loop, and he raised the weapon over his head. Xavier looked up still gasping for breath and saw the impending doom. Lurching forward, desperate to avoid the crushing blow of the cruel metal orb, Xavier drove his shoulder into the man¡¯s stomach and lifted him from the ground driving him to the mud. The mace still connected with his lower back, but the strength of the swing was reduced by the change in momentum and direction due to the tackle causing much less damage than intended. Both lost their weapons as the solid ground became a jarring end to their descent. The two men struggled, rolling back and forth for dominance. Though the invader had greater strength, Xavier fought with a determination backed by what horrors he had witnessed, and an iron will to survive. The fight drew on and it was inevitable that Xander¡¯s lesser strength and skill would eventually yield. Eventually, the invader had the young man pinned in the mud and was reaching for his lost mace when he abruptly stopped. Xavier peered into the suddenly confused eyes of the man hovering over him when a gout of blood poured out of the invader¡¯s mouth and covered Xavier¡¯s face and chest in a sanguine spray. The man collapsed atop Xavier, and he was left staring up over the corpse¡¯s shoulder and into the snarling face of the young halfling lad. The youth¡¯s hand still clasping the once again bloodied short sword and had run the invader through from behind. Ding! You have killed a level 8 Slaver Thug. +400 Exp. He was rewarded once again with the crescendo of chimes. Hark and Hear! You have ascended in level. You are now level 5! Humans are granted 4 attribute points to distribute. Blessings of the Gods (Danu) has increased this to 6 attribute points. You will have 3 days to assign these points else they will be randomly assigned for you. Go forth, seek glory, seek love, LIVE! The might of the invaders they were seeking revenge against was great enough that it had propelled him to yet another level. Thank the gods that luck and planning had been holding out for them as this only affirmed the fact that had they attacked head on it would have been a slaughter. He pushed the corpse to the side, his breath slowly returning to normal as he struggled to his feet and sought out his dagger once more. Elsewhere the fight was going poorly. Though Ella was keeping Galdrik occupied with arrows, she had managed to secure better quality ones while they scavenged the corpses in the village, she was not able to keep him from lashing out at the other villagers. Skill and quality of arms and armor granted a seemingly insurmountable advantage for the slaver, while the other invader was swinging his short sword back and forth driving back to two villagers facing off against him. Having recovered the unusual dagger Xavier ran forward to join the pair against the lesser warrior first placing faith in the larger number of attackers and Ella to keep the leader distracted. Xavier swung wildly as the invader shifted to include the new threat in his line of view along with the two villagers. The dagger caught the man¡¯s arm and cut deeply, slicing through the chain armor he wore as if it were lace. The damage drove the man¡¯s hand to spasm, and he lost the grip on his sword leaving him unable to defend himself as the villagers pummeled him with mace and hammer respectively. That left just the leader, Galdrik. His fury only grew as he looked around at those closing in upon him. Ferran moved up to his left holding a sword with both hands, a death grip on the hilt turning his knuckles white. Darra was to Ferran¡¯s left, the long haft of a spear held in her paws. Her yellow eyes narrowed as she snarled at the slaver. Behind them stood Rilsa, a sturdy hammer held tightly in her fist. Xavier approached from the slaver¡¯s back while his attention was held by the others. Galdrik surged forward his heavy axe swinging towards Ferran. Ferran just managed to bring the sword up in front of the axe saving his life but the strength of Galdrik¡¯s swing rang through the sword and knocked it from the young man''s grip. Darra took the opportunity to thrust her spear forward but Galdrik was not new to fighting and had anticipated her movement. He spun to the side raising his arm to turn the spear''s point with one of his bracers, another loud clash of metal ringing out. Sneering the slaver taunted the Animari. ¡°Come now pup, is that all you have?¡± He darted forward, a brutal swing of his axe only avoided thanks to the woman¡¯s natural wolf-like reflexes. He wasn¡¯t however prepared for Rilsa, the young dwarf lass had been apprenticed to the village Blacksmith and her natural strength was only enhanced by the hard labor. She charged in from the side unleashing a loud yell as she slammed the hammer into Galdrik¡¯s side. The impact managed to dent the scales covering his torso and solicited a snarl of pain from the slaver''s lips. He retaliated with a quick slash towards her, the edge of the axe grazing across her shoulder and parting the links of the borrowed chain shirt. She pulled away crying out in pain as her flesh parted where the edge caught skin and muscle. As Galdrik spun with the momentum of the axe he came face to face with Xavier and his dagger. Galdrik raised the axe bringing it down in a diagonal slash to try and cleave the impudent man in two only to have Xavier dive to the side and thrust the dagger into the path of the blow. The enchanted blade sliced clean through the gauntlet of the slaver and drew blood. Galdrik roared in pain, his earlier confidence visibly shaken now, but his skill ensured he was still dangerous. "Keep him busy!" Xavier shouted, locking eyes with Ella. Ella had moved to take a position behind a fallen log, from there she nocked an arrow and took aim. She loosed it with practiced precision, the shaft striking Galdrik in the thigh. He staggered, rage contorting his face, but the wound slowed his movements. "You¡¯ll regret that, wench!" he growled, limping toward her. As Galdrik turned his focus to Ella, Darra struck, and jabbed at his weakened leg, forcing him to stumble. Rilsa, still grimacing in pain, took advantage of his stumble and repaid the wound he had given her. The heavy head of her hammer slammed into Galdrik¡¯s axe arm, and a sickening crunch filled the air. He bellowed in agony as the weapon fell from nerveless fingers. Xavier moved in front of the slaver raising his dagger menacingly. ¡°This is for Bramblegate,¡± he said softly, his voice was steady but cold. With a swift movement, he thrust the dagger upwards into the soft flesh that made up the bottom of the slaver''s jaw. The abnormally sharp blade drove deeply into the man¡¯s head piercing clean into his brain. As Xavier pulled the blade free the slaver crumpled to the ground, his breath rattling within his chest as the light faded from his eyes. Shouts filled the air from the captured villagers still in the cages the noise shaking Xavier from the momentary stupor the fight¡¯s end had resulted in. He quickly crouched and searched through the slaver''s pockets until he found a ring of keys. He tossed them to Ferran who ran to the first of the carts and began fumbling with the lock one of the keys snicked and it opened. He moved back to the second cart and did the same there. Soon there was a large crowd surrounding Xavier and Ella. Villagers stood huddled together in the rain and mud. They stood in small groups comforting one another or grieving together. Xavier counted how many had survived the attack carefully. His final tally left him with forty-eight total villagers: two Gan Ceann, sixteen Humans, eight Dwarves, ten Halflings, six Gnomes, and six various Animari. His eyes traveled back down the path towards where the remains of Bramblegate lay. He didn¡¯t know if all of them would be willing to join him in journeying back to his lands, but he had to offer it at least. He turned his gaze back to the gathering of people and took note of the wariness in their eyes. Sure, he had helped rescue them and slain their captors but for all they knew he was a worse evil. After a few minutes the larger Gan Ceann stepped forward, holding his head with both hands he lifted it to meet Xavier¡¯s eyes studying them a moment before asking a simple question, ¡°Why?¡± Numerous answers sprung to Xander''s tongue. He wanted to save them. He wanted them to come with him. It¡¯s what a hero does. Slavers are evil. All of them sounded hollow on his lips, however. After a while, he simply shrugged slightly and said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand by and let what I saw happening just happen. It wasn¡¯t right.¡± Grunting the Gan Ceann tipped his head up and down slightly. ¡°We have nothing to pay you with, most of our goods and money were taken with their larger party. Those were only the ones left behind to clean up and capture any that had tried to hide or flee.¡± He sighed softly lifting his head to look down the road where Xander had before. ¡°It will be hard for those of us left to rebuild, I do not think Bramblegate will survive this time.¡± There, that was the moment Xavier needed. He spoke quickly. ¡°There might be another option. I was coming to your village to see if anybody was willing to help found a new one deeper in the forest. I don¡¯t know that it would be safer, but it is more removed from easy access. I am rebuilding where the ruins of an ancient city used to stand. The place seems to have been forgotten by all, it''s that old. There is plenty of game and land that could be cleared for farming. I just need people willing to relocate and settle there. I am the Lord of those lands and would do everything in my power to keep you safe if you did so.¡± A soft murmur started in the crowd standing behind the Gan Ceann male. Those villagers that Xavier had personally rescued in the city and had fought beside him to save the others had voices that sounded above the others talking about his actions. They seemed to side with trusting the young lord and the more they spoke the more other villagers studied Xavier consideringly. The Gan Ceann male shifted his head to one hand as he scratched his chin with the other, an odd action to witness given the displacement of the body part. Eventually, he lifted his head to his shoulders and settled it in place. ¡°My name is Braegor Voidiron, I am the Blacksmith of Bramblegate but also its Ealdorman. While I do not have cause to distrust you, I do not have cause to fully trust you either. Most of my village was slaughtered or taken, we are the only ones left now. I have no way to muster a force large enough to try and rescue the others. We will be lucky to survive this winter now.¡± His voice was tinged with pain and anger as he spoke. ¡°Can you promise to protect my people? Can you rescue the others?¡± Xavier opened his mouth to speak then paused. He took a few moments to consider his words carefully against what he had just been asked. ¡°No, I cannot promise anything.¡± He raised his hand to forestall any questions. ¡°I do swear to do my best to do so, however. Together we can rebuild not only your people but my settlement. We can make it more than what either of us had. If you support me, I will do everything I can to find your missing family and friends. We can stand together and ensure that slavers and anyone else will think twice before attacking us.¡± As he spoke a new determination settled over him. He paused a moment as a new prompt filled his vision.
You have gained a new trait: Unyielding Liberator Having witnessed the devastating aftermath of a tyrannical assault, your resolve is as unshakable as your blade is sharp. The burning ruins of Bramblegate and the anguished cries of its people etched a singular purpose into your soul: to fight against oppression and to rescue the helpless from the clutches of cruelty. Your actions speak louder than words¡ªwhen faced with the last soldiers enslaving the people of Bramblegate, You and your companions delivered swift justice, leaving no room for mercy. For those who committed unspeakable acts of violence, revenge was precise, personal, and unrelenting. Effect:
  • Strengthened Resolve: Xavier gains a bonus to morale-based rolls and abilities when fighting against slavers, tyrants, or oppressors.
  • Justice Over Mercy: In situations involving the abuse or enslavement of others, Xavier will prioritize swift and decisive action, often at the expense of diplomatic solutions.
  • Fearsome Reputation: Enemies who learn of his deeds are more likely to falter in battle, intimidated by his uncompromising sense of justice.
  • Unbreakable Loyalty: Those he rescues see him as a savior, and his reputation among the oppressed makes him a natural leader and ally to rebel causes.
The collection of villagers started to straighten listening to his words. Their faces lost some of the pain and anguish, it being replaced by a renewed fervor to survive and better yet, take back what was lost and stolen. The murmur of discussion grew in volume until they were shouting along with Xavier swearing to rise and triumph, to build a new life and village, to go forth, seek glory, seek love, and live! Ella moved quietly to stand at Xavier¡¯s side. A smile on her lips as she watched the crowd¡¯s elation build from despair. She looked at Xavier and spoke softly. ¡°Rynthavael, The Blade¡¯s Rebirth. You should name your new settlement in honor of what was lost and what,¡± she gestured to the crowd, ¡°will be a rebirth of not just one but two villages forged into a single entity.¡± The name struck Xavier¡¯s soul like a clarion call, the distinct rightness of the word resounding within him. He raised his hand holding the dagger high and yelled out. ¡°For Rynthavael, for our people!¡± The call was taken up by the villagers as those who had weapons raised them, and those without in turn raised their fists. Xavier¡¯s new trait filled them with a resolve and loyalty that had been lacking moments before. ¡°Rynthavael! Rynthavael! Rynthavael!¡± Three times the word echoed out and the universe answered. Your settlement has grown dramatically. Through your actions with the hostages of Bramblegate you have increased your population by forty-eight souls. This sets you well on the path to one of the goals required to level your settlement. Take care young Lordling such rapid changes can have unexpected consequences of their own. Your trait Unyielding Liberator has improved the loyalty of all villagers rescued from Bramblegate. These villagers have gained a loyalty boost of +2000 loyalty Your overall settlement loyalty has changed from -1000: Unreliable ¨C ¡°They might show up to battle, or they might be off chasing a butterfly. Either way, don¡¯t hold your breath.¡± to 1000: Reliable ¨C ¡°They¡¯ll be there when you need them, no questions asked. They might even bring extra arrows or potions without you reminding them.¡± +6% to settlement crafting, +6% to settlement harvesting, +6% to settlement defense. Your trait Unyielding Liberator has improved the morale of all villagers rescued from Bramblegate. These villagers have gained a morale boost of +1500 morale Your average villager morale has changed from -1000: Miserable - ¡°They look as if they¡¯ve been hexed with a gloom spell. Every task feels like a punishment, and every victory tastes like stale bread.¡± To 500: Delighted ¨C ¡°They¡¯re genuinely enjoying themselves. They¡¯ll toast to you in the tavern and might even brag about being in your settlement.¡± +4% to settlement crafting, +4% to settlement harvesting, +4% to settlement defense. His new talent was a wonder! Just the effects of it alone shifted the loyalty and morale of the villagers he had rescued from pitiful negative effects to positive ones. Plus, it convinced them to join his settlement. He had grown his population by nearly half what he needed to increase the settlement to the next level. He knew he needed to focus on the other tasks for that as well, but he had his own people now. He smiled broadly and moved to sheath his dagger when he paused and studied it. Its prompt had changed since he last looked at it. The border now had a brilliant red tint to it.
You have discovered: Vaeltheris ¡°Eternal Song of the Blade¡± Unique Ethyr¡¯Vael ¡°Soul Forged Blade¡± Item Class: Weapon Item Rarity: Legendary Item Quality: Masterwork Weight: 1kg Durability: Unknown Damage: 30 ¨C 45 Piercing/Slashing Traits: Though it appears sturdy, Vaeltheris is surprisingly light and perfectly balanced, almost as if it moves with the wielder¡¯s intentions rather than their strength. Its weight adjusts slightly to provide the ideal amount of heft for any strike, making it feel like an extension of the wielder¡¯s body. Material: Vaeltheris is forged from a silvery, semi-translucent metal that gleams faintly with an internal light as if housing the embers of a forge within its core. This magical alloy is unbreakable, resistant to the ravages of time, and eternally sharp. Form: The blade is slender yet slightly curved, designed for both grace and lethality. Faint, swirling patterns of runes and filigree adorn its surface, glowing softly when attuned to the wielder''s emotions or magic. These designs are etched so finely they appear to shift and ripple like liquid under certain light. Special Traits:
  1. Living Steel: The blade repairs itself if damaged (though breaking it is almost impossible). If chipped, the missing piece regrows with a faint shimmer.
  2. Ethereal Edge: The sword¡¯s edge can phase slightly into an incorporeal state, allowing it to bypass certain magical defenses.
  3. Additional traits may be discovered.
Xavier¡¯s jaw fell open as he stared dumbstruck at the blade. The thing was legendary! It was beyond anything he had ever expected of it. He looked at Ella in shock, she had a slight smirk on her lips as she shrugged at him and then turned back to watch the crowd. He sheathed the blade and looked as well. His people were ready to move, back to the Bramblegate, to salvage what they could and then on to their new home. Chapter 13 - Home to Build The changes to the blade''s notification on his mind, Xavier moved to stand next to Ella for a moment. ¡°You know more about this blade than you are telling me, don¡¯t you? ¡°He glanced over at her face briefly. ¡°We are going to need to talk about it. I need to trust you if we are going to be teammates.¡± She hesitated for several minutes before her shoulders slumped and she nodded. ¡°I promise I will tell you more. You are proving trustworthy so far but, well it is a lot of things. Keep the blade for now; I will stay with you as long as you have it. I promise that much at least. Xavier studied the young woman he had been traveling with and started to call his friend. He felt the distance between them keenly now that he knew she was hiding things from him. He wanted to trust her but that was a two-way street, if she didn¡¯t trust him could he actually trust her? Sighing slightly, he leaned on his wish to be able to trust her. ¡°All right, but you know you can tell me anything, we¡¯re in this together.¡± He briefly rested a hand on her shoulder before returning to the gathered villagers. ¡°My village is to the southwest of here. I don¡¯t have a lot of supplies yet so it''s best if we gather what we can from Bramblegate. I will not force anyone to come along if they don¡¯t want to however, I do ask that if you do you give me time and all your support. You know who I am, beside me is Ella Bree and we have one more back at the village by the name of Aelriva. We¡¯ll do everything we can to help get you settled in as quickly as possible so you can get your lives back¡± There were mumblings and sounds of concern from the villagers upon hearing how dire the situation actually seemed to be. However, they had agreed to go with him for safety if nothing else. Together the crowd moved about the corpses of the slavers stripping whatever they could from the bodies and loading it into the wagons. Two of the halfling lads, Finn and Theo, turned out to be brothers and shepherds so with their natural affinity for animals they took the leads of the oxen and started to lead the wagons back to the remains of Bramblegate. Xavier and Ella went to where they left the cub first and found it still curled up in the undergrowth of the bush sleeping contently. Gathering up the little thing they rejoined the rest of the villagers. The collective spent the rest of the day pouring through the village. While most of that of value had been looted or burned, they were the ones who had lived here and knew where most everything else had been stored or stashed away. The devastation was overwhelming for each of them in their way, having grown up and with many of those now dead or missing. There was a single significant moment to break up the depressing work, it came around midday. In the center of the town square Willa, one of the humans who had been taken in the carts sat. She had recovered a small mandolin from where it had fallen and been kicked under a bed. She was carefully tuning it while the others worked. After a time, she looked up, her face streaked with soot from the fires and the rivulets her own tears had left behind. Xavier paused in dragging the bodies of the invaders to a pile and watched as the young girl¡¯s fingers started to tentatively strum the strings of her instrument. The song started softly, tentatively, as if she was afraid to disturb the workers around her, or more likely draw attention to her from the slavers once again. However, that didn¡¯t last long as she continued to play, the music haunting and sad but catching the attention of anyone who heard it. People emerged from wrecked houses and shops, still carrying whatever they had found, and started to gather around Willa, fresh tears drawn to their eyes from the music alone, and then Willa opened her mouth, tremulous and full of sadness. ¡°Oh Bramblegate, oh home so dear, Now lost to ash and bitter tear. The fields we tilled, the hearths that glowed, Are silent now, their warmth bestowed. The laughter fades, the voices still, As shadows claim the vale and hill. Our mothers, fathers, friends we knew, Now sleep beneath the morning dew. Yet from the cinders hope may rise, A flicker caught in tear-stained eyes. For though the night has wrapped us tight, A dawn will break, a newborn light. So, sing with me, though hearts may ache, For bonds, we forge will never break. Through grief, we find the strength to stand, To build anew, a promised land.¡± Her words faded softly, and there was a renewed look of determination in her eyes as she stared challengingly at Xavier. He felt both fear at the chance of failing her but also excited to give her and the villagers a chance to rebuild something new and better. He let go of the arm of the corpse he had been dragging and moved over to her. ¡°Rynthavael will be all Bramblegate was and more. I promise.¡± As dusk drew closer the villagers carefully laid out the bodies of their friends and loved ones on small pyres. Off well away from those they cared for the corpses of the invaders had been heaped in a large pile and covered with what straw and wood was left over. With reverence, they set the pyres to flame and then tossed a torch into that of their attackers. Willa once again played the melody of the song from earlier but refrained from singing. Night fell and the village burned once more, this time in memoriam instead of destruction. Xavier leaned in and whispered to Ella, ¡°Is it normal to burn the dead here? I¡¯m used to them being buried.¡± She glanced at him part in horror and part in confusion. ¡°I am not certain about these villagers but magic runs wild and a body is just ripe to be animated and come back as some sort of undead. Especially if it was a body from a slaughter like this. Maybe if there was one of faith to consecrate the ground then burying could work but I do not see any of that trapping on these people.¡± Xavier stood back up and considered her words. The land was ripe with magic? It kind of made sense given there was a nexus of ley lines beneath his village but for it to be enough to cause havoc like undead without someone to guide it was worrisome. That led his thoughts down different paths, what kind of magics were there? Why had he not seen any, in his admittedly small exposure, casters of any type? It seems every time he got one question answered four more popped up and he realized how little he actually knew about the new world he found himself in. The villagers loaded the carts with any salvage they could find, the two shepherds and what hunters there were roamed the forest nearby gathering up what animals had fled but not far enough to be lost truly. Winter caches of foodstuffs were unearthed along with hidden pouches and bags of coin and supplies. While not great in its number, the villagers could scrape together enough to make a new, if difficult, start. Xavier smiled as he saw a small collection of particularly valuable to him at least, treasures bundled together in one of the carts, books. He looked over the rest of the loads and smiled slightly seeing tools, cookware, foodstuffs, and some raw materials. There was enough, he thought, to get the village started. Xavier settled the cub in one of the carts atop a pile of clothing. The cub yawned and stretched the motion catching the attention of Darra, who happened to be one of the surviving hunters. She moved closer and gasped slightly when she caught a better look at the little feline. ¡°That is a shadowmane cub. Where did you find one of those much less one without its parent? They are unheard of outside of the Kelari mountains.¡± She moved closer enthralled with the little cub and started cooing to the little thing scratching it behind its ears. Xavier eyed the wolfkin animari curiously at her reaction to the little cub a smile growing on his face. ¡°When we were coming to Bramblegate we found it and an adult being attacked by a small hunting pack of shardfangs. We were unable to save the adult when we killed all but one of them. The survivor fled and this little one was left behind. We couldn¡¯t just leave it alone, so we brought it along. It really seems to enjoy shardfang meat which I found kind of ironic considering how we found it.¡± Laughing softly Darra continued playing with the cub. ¡°You are lucky. I have heard it is difficult but I know some of the Dushkari, the pantherkin animari, train shadowmanes as companions. Do you have the wild bonding skill? It is rare but would enable you to tame this little one eventually.¡± Xavier knew he hadn¡¯t learned that skill yet but as Darra told him the possibility he knew he wanted it. Now he just needed to figure out how to get it. ¡°Could you teach me the skill? That sounds amazing and useful.¡± He spoke excitedly as he shifted to stand next to the wolfkin woman and joined her in scratching the little cub eliciting a loud rumbling purr. She shook her head sadly. ¡°No, I do not have it myself. Maybe one of the shepherds has some of the subskills to it. They could teach you those and it might trigger for you. Otherwise, you might find a skill book though they are really rare.¡± Xavier deflated slightly but his resolve to learn the skill grew. ¡°Alright, we should talk more though. I would like to learn more about hunting also. The more I understand the better I know how you and the other hunters can help the village.¡± The small convoy of villagers and carts got moving, torches held aloft in many hands to help light the way and keep animals at bay while they moved. Everyone was anxious to get away from the ruined village and to the potential safety of Xavier¡¯s new one. The decision was made to push through the night and rest for several hours in the early morning. This would put distance between them before bedding down. As they traveled Xavier moved amongst his new people. He felt a need to learn who they were and what they did before the attack. He found he had quite a diverse collection of skills coming to his settlement and started thinking about how their capabilities could be put to work. Blacksmiths and even a smelter would give them the ability to make and improve tools. He even had a miner to retrieve ore and rocks from the warrens under the village. Hunters, a fisherman, a farmer, the two halfling shepherds, and a gardener would provide food especially as small as the village was for now. He would need to discuss with Braegor how to best utilize them. He also had not just a carpenter but a stonemason as well between the two of them building shelters and shops should be capable. A grin grew on his face as he thought about several of the settlement strategy games he used to play. He felt lucky to have the conglomeration of individuals he had considering he usually was forced to start with much less. The others had skills as well that would support the village in their ways but would require more to be built or gathered, it was a solid foundation he thought.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The choice to move for as long as possible, resting only enough to regain stamina and allow weary minds to recover, ensured that the trip back to Rynthavael only took a couple of days. It was midmorning two days after departing Bramblegate that the clearing marking the edges of the settlement came into view. The hunters that had been leading the way came to a sudden wary stop when they saw several of the golems moving about the area still removing stones and clearing away trees at the edge of the woods. Xavier moved quickly up to reassure them that the constructs were not a threat and actually part of the village. Though they eased up on the semi-drawn bows the hunters and a number of the villagers were still ill at ease but tried to keep faith with their new lord. Xavier led the caravan into the clearing and gazed about at the amount of work that had been accomplished during their brief time away. Most of the hopelessly ruined buildings had been cleared along with large sections along the tree line. Numerous mounds of stone and logs scattered about the edges ready for use in whatever the young lord saw fit to do with them. While he was surveying the area there was a collective gasp from the villagers as Aelriva mischievously chose that moment to drop her concealment and appeared at Xavier¡¯s right shoulder. "As ye can see, I¡¯ve been hard at work here, fulfillin¡¯ what ye set me to. I¡¯ve been drainin'' the village¡¯s mana daily to keep as many constructs workin¡¯ as I could. I thought ye¡¯d appreciate havin¡¯ the most space cleared for yer return.¡± She spoke brightly, her form still everchanging drawing even more murmurs from the villagers that were watching her. She turned her gaze back over his shoulder to the gathering. ¡°I see ye¡¯ve done well in recruitin¡¯. I didn¡¯t expect ye¡¯d find so many to join the village. But tell me¡ªwhere do ye plan to house ''em all? We¡¯ve not near enough homes for the lot. Though, I suppose the warrens hold rooms that could suffice for now. Ye truly ought to finish explorin¡¯ those before venturin¡¯ into the deeps. I¡¯ve felt naught but rodents and pests down there, but there could be an unknown burrow leadin¡¯ to darker depths. Best to be certain." Xavier sighed at her words, it was on his list of things to do but there always seemed to be more that needed to be done than the time to do it. He really needed a way to keep track of his tasks besides the small quest log he could find in his interface. He smirked, another thing to add to his list of things to accomplish. It did seem to grow exponentially. ¡°Well Aelriva, there is news about that. Bramblegate is no more, these people are the remnants who were not killed or already taken by the slavers. Ella and I rescued them from the last group to depart.¡± He turned to his new villagers and introduced the sprite to them. Braegor and Aelriva exchanged a look as it was clear the former Alderman and sprite were going to be working hand in hand in the future. ¡°All of you follow me, we are going to find somewhere for you all to rest while we build. It will be temporary until residences can be built, but it will be dry and safe.¡± With that, he turned and started to lead the people towards the central hall and the entrance to the warrens. They spent several hours combing through the passages and vacant rooms. Individuals picked out various rooms either as groups or alone and started depositing personal belongings in them. Before long everyone had a place to call their own even if it was more communal feeling than personal. They had also identified rooms that had clear purpose from before, a small kitchen had been discovered connected to a tiny well and storage room. Frieda Deepstone, the matronly dwarven cook, laid claim to it for now and started instructing several others where to store the recovered supplies key to her craft. Once satisfied she immediately started to work on a large pot of stew in preparation for dinner that night and it wasn¡¯t long before the warrens started to fill with the pleasant aroma of spices and cooked food. Several small rooms were found with stone shelves cut into the walls that were determined to be storerooms of various types and they were soon filled with what limited tools, weapons, and other sundries the villagers had recovered. Things were cataloged and the lists provided to Braegor so he could bring them to Xavier¡¯s attention. Towards the evening Xavier met those he was beginning to see as key advisors. They included Braegor, Aelriva, Ella, and a member of each of the other races that made up his village. Rhett Calloway, for the humans and also the sole carpenter of the village. Orrek Deepstone, spoke for the dwarves and happened to be the stonemason to work in conjunction with Rhett. Sylvie Tumblewick was brought forward for the halflings, being the former tavernkeeper she knew everyone in the village and could provide insight as to the social undercurrents that could arise. The tinkerer Lorrin Thistlegear ended up speaking for the gnomes. And the group was rounded out by the soft-spoken Deerkin Elric Stagstride for the animari. Xavier didn¡¯t get much information out of Elric about his skills but the rest of the animari seemed to defer to him so the young lord brought him into the inner circle and determined to learn more about him as he could. They had chosen a larger chamber near the mosaic that made up the Syr¡¯Vailen. Most of the villagers, having seen the place of elemental powers were unnerved by it and chose to avoid the location, which was fine by Xavier since it gave him an area in its vicinity that was more private and he could relax somewhat there. This room happened to be just far enough away that it didn¡¯t cause unease and was large enough for a decent-sized group to gather. Xavier could see it becoming the council chamber when things needed to be discussed in private as opposed to above in the main hall. They all took up spots sitting on the stone floor, each had a fresh bowl of Frieda¡¯s stew in hand and were taking bites of the savory fare between talking. ¡°As I am sure you have noticed, the village is rough.¡± Xavier started, ¡°I am sure that most will not want to stay in the warrens for long so we need to figure out what to build and when. Houses would be a good idea though some sort of more communal residence might be better at first just to get people above ground faster.¡± ¡°I agree Lord Xavier, having a more comfortable place to rest would settle any unease before it took root,¡± started Sylvie before Xavier raised his hand to cut her off. ¡°Wait, no just call me Xavier. No need to bow and scrape to me.¡± He protested. ¡°You are the Lord, however,¡± Braegor interjected, ¡°If you are to lead the village people, including you, need to accept that.¡± Xavier bristled slightly and opened his mouth to speak again before Ella rested a hand on his forearm. ¡°Listen to him. Remember that these lands are yours now. If you don¡¯t want them to bow and kneel fine but they do need to recognize you as who you are.¡± "The last Ard''Maelor was much like yerself, Xavier.¡± Aelriva chimed in. ¡°He cared little for titles and such, yet he understood his duty was to lead. Ye canna lead if yer not respected and shown the deference the role demands. We can do as his council once did¡ªcall ye Xavier in private¡ªbut don¡¯t fool yerself into thinkin¡¯ ye¡¯ll get that same casualness among the people. Leadership carries its weight, whether ye like it or not." Xavier sighed realizing this was not a fight he would win, for now at least and continued. ¡°Alright so housing and then what?¡± Rhett and Orrik both raised a hand having been holding conference most of the day as they inspected the area to work with above. ¡°Begging your pardon,¡± Rhett began, ¡°Housing is important however people have a place to sleep now. Orrik and I think it would be better to wait and build a construction hut first. That way we could better plan what to build and where plus get the bonuses of having one, even if it is just a tier one hut.¡± That caught Xavier¡¯s attention. He remembered the prompt from the Heart of Creation saying it could improve buildings but he hadn¡¯t realized they actually had different tiers. He slapped himself mentally, of course they did, didn¡¯t many games have that type of structure? Lower tiers were more limited in capabilities and as they improved the settlement would gain access to better perks and abilities. ¡°Ok yes, but why is that important? Wouldn¡¯t you be able to build that after we have everyone in homes and then the hut could be used to improve them?¡± Xavier asked of the two craftsmen. ¡°What am I missing? I am still rather new to this leadership position.¡± The two men exchanged glances before Orrik spoke up. ¡°Well, ye see m¡¯lord. Between the two of us we can make huts and simple buildings, but we are not truthfully builders. We be more support for that. The buildings we be making be only the lowest tier and crudely crafted at best. If¡¯n ye do nae want them to collapse in the first strong storm we be needin¡¯ tae properly design them. The construction hut be the building tae allow that tae happen.¡± Xavier scrubbed at his face but couldn''t help but chuckle that the stereotypical brogue that dwarves always had in books and games held here as well. ¡°Ok, but you just said you are not builders. Wouldn¡¯t that just collapse as well?¡± Rhett took up the line of dialog, ¡°Well yes eventually, but it would allow us to actually design the tier one buildings. Something that would be average crafted instead of poorly. We would not be able to build better than that without acquiring blueprints and having the builder skill, but even the two of us could build the basics with a construction hut.¡± Xavier set his now empty bowl on the floor beside him and scowled slightly. It was so much easier in the games he thought. ¡°Alright so a construction hut, then housing?¡± The rest of the group assented to that plan. ¡°Then what next?¡± The rest of the meeting drew on as they debated what buildings would be most beneficial and then they were either agreed to by the two craftsmen or were shot down as being beyond what they could do. Aelriva was tasked with continuing to clear areas of the forest around the village to start making room for farming and various buildings that would house supplies and tools for gathering professions. They all agreed to build in the direction of the river and incorporate it into their plans so they would have ready access to the waterway. As the meeting drew to an end Xavier was optimistic in the path forward for now at least. The rudimentary plans were decided, they would have all the basics that had been in Bramblegate plus towers for the hunters and a couple of guardsmen they had to keep watch from. It would take weeks at the very least, but Aelriva assured them that the golems could help with the lifting and moving of the materials to ease the labor. Xavier hadn¡¯t noticed but throughout the meeting, as he started stepping more into the role of leading the gathering instead of just being a part of it, Ella had quietly watched him from the side. Her smile was soft and slight, but it kept the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. She also had noticed his hand would often rest on the end of her dagger unconsciously stroking it while he thought. She walked beside him now as he moved back towards the Syr¡¯Vailen and the handful of chambers that he had claimed. She had laid out her bedroll in the same room as his, still unwilling to be too far apart from him. Knowing that there was now a rotation between the hunters and guardsmen above to keep watch, the pair laid down exhausted in their respective bedrolls and bid each other goodnight. The morning would come a lot faster than either wanted and they needed to be ready for it. Chapter 14 - Growth When Xavier awoke the next morning, he found himself alone in the room. Stretching and yawning, he got out of the bedroll and mused about how much he missed having an actual bed and mattress. He would have to talk to the villagers to see if there was any way to get one made cause sleeping on the stone floor was getting painful. After putting on his boots the young man made his way up through the tunnels of the warrens and out into the great hall. Already he could see movement through the open windows and doorway, it would seem he was one of the last to rise. He stepped outside and was enthralled by the industriousness of his people. Work had already started in various locations throughout the now-cleared village proper. To the south, near the edge of the woods, a small hut was taking form. The carpenter and stonemason led several other villagers in the construction. A soft voice sounded from behind and Xavier turned around to see a young girl holding a plate with eggs and sausage up to him. A small shy smile lit her face as he took the proffered food. His mind scrambled as he tried to remember anything about the girl. ¡°Thank you, Emily, it smells wonderful. Please let Frieda know I appreciate it.¡± He smiled warmly at her finally remembering her name. She was orphaned in the attack, but the village as a whole had rallied around her. Her vibrant energy was often found amongst the villagers as they completed daily tasks. Being the youngest of the children who had survived the attack she had become a beacon of hope for their future. Emily bobbed her head rapidly and vanished back into the warrens, likely heading back to help the cook further. Xavier leaned against the wall and casually began to eat while he watched his people work and allocated his unspent attribute points. He had nearly forgotten about his new levels from rescuing the villagers and was on the verge of them being automatically assigned. Once again, he had several levels of points that he spread across his scores, bringing them all up to nice round numbers. Three points ended up going to strength making it a 12. Two points went to agility bringing it up to 10. Dexterity received a three-point boost lifting it to 12. His constitution score was rounded out to 12. Endurance received a single point, but it was brought to 10. Having interacted with the villagers he knew his charisma needed a significant boost and he gave it four points leaving it at a strong 12. Intelligence and wisdom received a modest two-point boost bringing them to an even 10. And, finally, he dumped his remaining five points into luck making it his strongest attribute at a respectable 14. He reviewed his updated attributes and the changes they made to his stats before he nodded in approval. Done with his own growth he looked back to the village. It was actually coming together; he was establishing a new settlement in these lands. A new home and people. The villagers all smiled and greeted him as they passed in their duties making him feel welcomed and respected. Finishing his breakfast, he set the plate and fork on the windowsill and pushed himself away from the wall. He headed towards where the construction hut was taking form and quickly lost himself to the work as he helped the other villagers in the tasks provided. It was not long before the village had fallen into a routine. Waking early, breaking their fast, and working building, clearing, or other such duties in establishing the village. Xavier felt a comradery with his people as they came together. He took the time to talk with each one, the small village making it easier to get to know everyone to some degree. Xavier enjoyed the children the most and tried to be a brother to all of them going so far as to tell fantastical stories from books he had read as a child. The bright eyes of Emily, who often sat in Xavier¡¯s lap while he read, were mirrored in the other children. Jace, is a young six-year-old mischievous human lad long orphaned but taken in by his cousin Tara, the village weaver. Four-year-old Nia is the youngest of the village and daughter to their herbalist Lila Fairbrook. The dwarven Kedrik at age ten already helping his father Orrek the Stonemason. Diminutive but mischievous Pip the eight-year-old halfling son of Sylvie was often up to mischief with Emily. Finally, there was seven-year-old Perry, the gnome lad who was the shadow of Pip and Emily and usually in as much trouble as the pair. His relationship with Ella Bree also grew as she remained close to him either helping with his tasks or keeping a protective eye over him as he roamed the woods helping to fell trees. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that many times when he looked her way her eyes were upon him and her slightly mischievous smile was gracing her lips. Days passed in this manner, though peaceful, Xavier couldn¡¯t help but wonder what might happen next. He had a lingering suspicion that things were far too simple. It was not more than a handful of days to where Bramblegate lay in ruins and the same individuals that attacked there could return. Who knows what manner of beasts lingered in the forests, surely the Shardfangs were not the only creatures. As his doubts grew his nights became more restless. Worry for the young village gnawed at him and he felt more each day that he needed to do something more proactive. Thus, on the fifth day, he found himself in the Syr¡¯Vailen talking with Aelriva about ways forward for the village to grow. ¡°I know we have the basics for the next level of village in progress, I will need to find more villagers and complete the required quests though.¡± He mused aloud to the sprite as she hovered nearby. ¡°The problem is I don¡¯t know where to begin those quests or even find them. I think I should do that while everyone is working on building the homes needed to house everyone.¡± A soft tinkling laughter filled the room as Aelriva finally spoke. "I was wonderin'' when ye¡¯d finally turn yer attention to those matters. As I am bound to these lands and the Syr¡¯Vailen, I can feel the needs of the village and its people. There are tasks aplenty waitin¡¯ for the Lord of the land to address. Nests have sprung up in the woods, bringin¡¯ dangers to yer fledglin'' settlement. The ley lines have gone dormant; their paths must be explored in the deeps to stir them awake, let alone restore their former power. By the gods, Xavier, ye don¡¯t even know a tenth of what yer own lands hold! Ye must venture forth and become a Lord in truth, not just in name." As she spoke several prompts appeared before the young lord. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Sleeping Lines 1.¡± The ley lines that make up the nexus beneath your settlement are dormant. Explore the deeps beneath the mosaic to find and revitalize one of these lines to increase ambient mana and additional capabilities for your settlement. As this is a settlement quest it is automatically accepted. Potential rewards: Increased Mana in settlement lands. Increased wildlife and quest opportunities. +500 Experience. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Whose House 1.¡± While the lands surrounding your settlement fall under your purview your people are not the only things that shelter in them. Explore at least four unique locations and discover their significance. As this is a settlement quest it is automatically accepted. Potential rewards: Reduced danger from monster nests. Other unknown benefits. +500 Experience. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Drums in the Deeps 1.¡± The unknown deeps lie beneath the warding presence of your nexus mosaic. During the centuries of dormancy of the mosaic and even longer time of inattention to these tunnels and caverns who knows what creatures or dangers have made them their home? Explore and reclaim the first level of the deeps. As this is a settlement quest it is automatically accepted. Potential rewards: Increased resources and other unknown benefits for your settlement. +500 Experience. Xavier winced slightly at the mild rebuke as he felt the same in truth. He had been sequestered away in his village not touching the lands much beyond its borders. Now he had options for what to do. He was intrigued that two of them, Sleeping Lines and Drums in the Deeps, seemed to be in roughly the same location. That could make things much easier to do multiple quests at once. However, he was a little irked that he did not get to choose when or even if he wanted to accept them. Mentally shrugging he looked back to Aelriva. ¡°What should I know about the ley lines? Anything in particular I need to do to revitalize them or any specific order that it should be done in?¡± He asked curiously. ¡°Each ley line holds its own unique requirements for bein¡¯ awoken and restored. Ye can choose the order in which ye approach ''em, but ye¡¯ll need to uncover what must be done for each. In the past, their awakening was tied to their very nature, so seek out what might be disruptin'' their essence. As ye travel along a line, ye¡¯ll come across points of power. The more ye energize and set flowin'', the stronger and more vital the line becomes. But mark me each line has a core, and that core is the key to its awakening. Find it first, afore ye fret about increasin¡¯ its essence." Xavier wore a thoughtful expression as he pondered the information Aelriva had given him. The deeps were going to be a core challenge to the future of the village he had come to realize. Once he had gotten the villagers settled and back to a sense of normalcy, he would have to organize a foray into them. While part of him was thrilled at the potential for adventure and exploration he was tempered by the desire to protect his people who had already been through more than anyone should. ¡°All right Aelriva, you¡¯ve given me a lot to think about. I have an idea on how to move forward now. Any ideas where I might find some of those locations in my lands that you mentioned?¡± "Did I not say I¡¯m as bound to these lands as I am here?" Her tone turned sharp, laced with irritation at having to repeat herself. "There are five places within a short trek from the village. One lies north, towards the Ironpeak mountains, about fourteen miles journey by foot. Another lies west by northwest, near the edge of yer domain, as if heading towards the elven capital of Eryndor it be on the very edge around fifteen miles travel. To the southeast, there are two: one only eight miles walk, and the other just past the boundary of ye land ten miles further than the first. Lastly, I sense somethin¡¯ due east across the river, two days from the village due to terrain. Any o¡¯ these might be of interest to yer settlement." Xavier grinned at the spirte despite her tone. He was becoming fond of the little being and her advice. ¡°Alright, I will head to the north first. No sense in random walking so you¡¯ll guide me since its still within my lands right?¡± "Aye, I can move freely through yer lands, so long as I stay within their borders. Stray too far from the nexus, and my strength wanes, for my power is bound to it. But mind this, I¡¯m limited in what I can do for ye while the Syr¡¯Vailen sleeps. Wake the ley lines, and my reach will grow. Build up the village, and I¡¯ll be able to aid ye even more still."This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Then that is where we will head in the morning.¡± He decided. ¡°I¡¯m going to go find Ella and let her know the plans then I think spend the afternoon with the hunters working on my archery.¡± The sprite bobbed her head at the obvious dismissal and faded from view to set to her own tasks as Xavier strode from the room heading through the tunnels towards the surface. As he stepped out of the warrens and into the structure that housed their entrance, he looked about. He was going to need to talk with the two filling the role of the village builders to see if there was a way to improve the building and make it an actual town hall of sorts. Yet another thing to add to his growing list of things to do. He pulled up the settlement interface and tabbed over to ¡°Village Roles.¡± Most of the options were greyed out and blurry so he couldn¡¯t make them out. He hovered his gaze over the hidden ones and got a small popup stating, ¡°You have not met the criteria for this role yet.¡± The options he did have were Guard Captain, Village Builder, and Steward. As he set out searching for Ella he pondered if he could pass more work to Braegor, he had been the Ealdorman of Bramblegate, so he saw no reason why he couldn¡¯t be similar here at least until he found someone more qualified to be a steward. He came upon Bree talking with Coren and Kael. Even though Coren had retired from being a soldier he had taken up the mantle of mentoring the younger members of the village guard. The Aelori Kael had been shaking his leonine head at something that Xander hadn¡¯t heard when he walked up to the group. All three turned at his presence and placed their right fist over their heart in salute to the young lord. Something he had initially been irritated at until the talk with the council had reminded him the symbolism of it was more important to his role than his feelings about it. He rolled his eyes at the trio noticing the glimmer of humor in all of their eyes, it was common knowledge among the leaders of the various groups of his thoughts on the action, before returning the salute. ¡°Who is available to help me with some archery training today?¡± Xavier posed the question to Coren. ¡°I think we should start expanding our forays deeper into the forests around the village and I would personally feel better if I could hit beasts further away than just with my dagger.¡± He motioned to the once again plain-looking Vaeltheris sheathed at his waist. It was Kael who responded to his query. His soft-spoken voice carried a deep bass rumble as though it was rising from his chest. ¡°Lorien and Amara were down near the riverbank using some of the trees as targets earlier. They had just come off duty so should still be there if you head that way now." Xavier grinned remembering the temporary archery range that several of the hunters had set up. Amara, the classed ranger, had taken to working with all of them on their skills not just in archery but stealth, scouting, and tracking. He would soon have a small contingent of sneaky archers to patrol the woods around his village. Looking back at Coren, Xavier spoke again inquisitively. ¡°Would you consider taking an actual position within the village. You are already basically doing the job, I want to make it official.¡± Coren raised an eyebrow as he looked to his lord. ¡°Maybe, it all depends on what you expect of me m¡¯lord.¡± ¡°I would name you Captain of the Guard. I won''t always be in the village, and I would feel better knowing someone with experience leading fighting men and women was watching over it while I was away. It could just be a temporary position if you want. We need to grow the village with more people and if someone more qualified shows up we could pass the mantle on so you could retire again.¡± Xavier paused as he realized a flaw in his plan. ¡°I don¡¯t exactly have any way to pay you right now, but you would get a wage as soon as I have more than a handful of coins.¡± Coren laughed at the young lord''s embarrassment. ¡°We did not join the village for the coin m¡¯lord. We were refugees remember? Aye, I will accept for now. We can talk about the pay in the future.¡± He held out his arm and Xavier took it clasping forearms in agreement. The old man''s eyes twinkled slightly. ¡°I am going to have the guards start the same training as we used in the army, are you going to join us, so they take to it with less grumbling?¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes widened at the thought of physical training but ultimately sighed knowing it would benefit him as well. ¡°Yes, I will be there. It won''t be until we get back from the mission tomorrow though. Ella, Aelriva, and I will be heading north to explore a site Aelriva told me about.¡± Coren scowled. ¡°Ah so already had plans expecting me to accept. You do know you shouldn¡¯t be traipsing off without more to guard you. You are a lord, after all, our lord to be precise.¡± Xavier placed a calming hand on his captain''s shoulder. ¡°I know and will start taking full teams when we have more villagers. We can''t afford to take anyone away from their duties yet. I will talk with Braegor to get ideas on where we could meet more people. Once you have me a strong town guard I will start borrowing from them.¡± Coren nodded slowly. ¡°Make it a priority m¡¯lord. We need you.¡± Kael made clear his agreement with the captain''s words before Xavier and Ella hurried off towards where the archers were practicing. As the pair drew closer to the makeshift archery range, they could hear Amara in the distance. ¡°Relax and slow your breathing Lorien. Slow is steady and steady is fast. You will strike your target more often if you take your time.¡± The human ranger was standing just behind the young Falconi scout. Xavier stopped and watched the two women for a moment. Though he had been around the villagers for a while now it was still surprising to see the different races that made up his village. The two women were a prime example, Lorien¡¯s hawk-like appearance was a striking difference to the human¡¯s look. Amara was several inches shorter, her long auburn hair braided tightly and draped over her shoulder in contrast to Lorien¡¯s short feathery blonde and dark brown plumage which was so reminiscent of the hawks her heritage was from. Their hair was not the only or even the most significant difference. Whereas Amara had a freckled and sun-kissed complexion, Lorien was literally covered in small soft feathers over the majority of her visible body the plumage colored in deep browns and golds. Even more striking she had a wickedly sharp beak instead of lips and a nose. Though both women were clad in soft supple leathers providing protection and muting their movements only Amara wore boots, the Falconi¡¯s legs ended in digitigrade birdlike feet complete with long talons. He could only imagine what it would be like to receive a kick from the young woman. While they watched the young Falconi loosed several more arrows each striking closer to the center of her target as she was coached by Amara. Ella smirked and leaned closer to Xavier. ¡°Amara definitely seems to know her trade. I wonder what sort of advice she could give you. Hopefully, it will make you more apt to hit your targets as well and not friends.¡± Xavier made a face at the woman, ¡°It was once. Once! And I had apologized for nearly clipping you. I didn¡¯t expect you to be right behind that deer.¡± He realized she was not about to let the hunting incident from a couple of days ago pass easily. Hearing the nearby voices Lorien lowered her bow and turned to speak to the Amara and she caught sight of Xavier and Ella where they had been standing watching. The feathers about her face managed to take on a slightly pink tinge as she blushed at being caught at practice. Xavier and Ella joined the two on the range unslinging their own bows as they did so. A warm smile came to Xavier¡¯s lips as he spoke. ¡°You are getting quite skilled with that bow Lorien. Seems that Amara is quite the teacher. Do you both mind if we join in? I need to work on my own archery.¡± Amara coughed slightly trying to hide her laughter at the emphatic nodding from Ella who was standing just far enough behind Xavier that he didn¡¯t notice. Lorien¡¯s golden eyes widened even more at the woman¡¯s actions but was already too embarrassed to laugh. Xavier glanced back at Ella who stopped just before she could be caught, an innocent smile on her lips. He narrowed his eyes slightly at her before turning back to the other women. ¡°As I was saying, I need to practice since Ella and I will be traveling soon.¡± He stated. Amara motioned towards the clearly marked targets hanging from the trees in the distance. ¡°Of course, Lord Xavier. Take a couple of shots and let us see what you can do.¡± Her voice was silken and rich as she spoke. Xavier moved to where Lorien had previously been standing and pulled an arrow from the standing quiver that marked the spot. He nocked the shaft and slowly drew his bow to his cheek. Sighting down the arrow he tried to calm his breathing and loosed the string. The arrow flashed down the range striking the target cleanly but towards the edge of the rings instead of the center. He repeated his action several more times each hitting the target but well clear of the bullseye. Lowering his bow in consternation he looked to the trio of observers. Amara was rubbing her chin thoughtfully, Lorien was merely watching, and Ella was smirking at him again as if his shots proved her earlier actions. He glared briefly at Ella who merely shrugged before turning his attention fully to Amara. ¡°I have seen worse. You hold your bow too stiff so you cannot account for changes in the wind and other conditions.¡± She said, ¡°You need to relax, you have the idea of breath control but that is really about it besides the basic concept of shooting a bow.¡± Her tone wasn¡¯t mocking or belittling just matter of fact. Xavier spent the next several hours joining Lorien and Ella under Amara¡¯s tutelage in the art of archery. The human ranger was clearly knowledgeable and moved back and forth between the three pointing out small issues and providing advice tailored to each. By lunch time Xavier had gained two full levels in archery just from the training alone. His skill increase was highlighted by the familiar prompt appearing. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Archery level 1 and Archery level 2. Archery is the skill of using ranged weapons such as bows, crossbows, and similar projectile weapons. It combines precision, patience, and physical strength to strike targets at varying distances. A skilled archer can excel in combat, hunting, or competitive marksmanship. Archery requires discipline, finesse, and years of practice. Or you could just close your eyes, fire wildly, and hope for the best. Your call. +4% chance to hit. +4% arrow damage. +4% chance to recover arrows. Xavier rolled his eyes reading the prompt. The fact that even it seemed to be reinforcing Ella¡¯s point of view on the hunting incident soured the achievement slightly. He made a slightly rude gesture to his companion, who raised an eyebrow at his actions. ¡°Yeah yeah, the universe agrees with you all right. I am going to keep practicing so I don¡¯t hit you.¡± She broke out in a peal of laughter much to the confusion of the others with them. They all gathered up the unbroken arrows and other items used in their training before heading back towards the village proper and the pleasant scents of lunch that had grown heavy on the air. Enjoying the meal with his people Xavier soaked in the camaraderie of the populous. The fledgling village still partook of their meals mostly as a community, only those whose duties kept them busy at the time not joining in. He worried about what would be lost when the settlement grew but hoped that this initial core could be something to develop and set the precedence for the future. Rising he held up a hand and waited for the people to quiet and turn their attention to him. ¡°My people, we have only been together for a short period, but I feel you are all family to me. Already our village grows!¡± He motioned to where several small homes had been erected and the foundations of others were laid. ¡°Rhett and Orrek have clearly been hard at work along with those who have assisted them in the construction of our new homes. We have started to plant our fields under the guidance of Ferran and his team. Our hunters patrol our surroundings keeping the beasts at bay and providing fresh meat for our tables. Coren has acquiesced to becoming our Capitan of the Guard!¡± He paused a moment as he felt a tangible something building in the air. He motioned to the ruins of the forge, where repairs were starting to take form. ¡°We have our roots in the past, but our strength is in the present, lending to our hopes for the future!¡± The villagers'' voices raised in a cheer. ¡°Roots in the past, strength in the present, hope for the future!¡± A prompt obscured Xavier¡¯s vision briefly. Congratulations you have set the motto of Rynthavael. These words reflect the village''s ties to the ancient Sylmyrian ruins, their determination to rebuild and thrive in the present, and their collective aspirations for a brighter future. Their pride in this achievement will reflect in a +200 point change to both morale and loyalty. Xavier grinned widely and rejoined his people in their merriment. It was going to be a good day. The excitement of adventure tomorrow only increased his happiness. Down the table from where he sat, Ella raised her cup in salute to him, her eyes glowing in happiness as well. Chapter 15 - Echoes of Innocence Xavier and Ella spent the rest of that day gathering supplies and sundries required for travel. They did not know what to expect so they tried to cover all the potentials. Once they were confident in their packing Xavier decided it would be time well spent to check in on the little shadowmane panther cub. The little furball had taken to following the hunters as they went about their patrols and taking down small game along with them. In the evenings though it would nap on the western edge of the village clearing near the area where the hunters would clean and butcher the freshly caught game for the rest of the village. It had learned that being in this area would ensure it got scraps and even whole cuts of meat depending on which hunter was working, Darra was an especially soft touch as the Lupari hunter had remained enamored with the little cub since she first saw it. He found the little shadowmane curled up on a larger rock soaking up the late evening warmth. Its belly bulging made it obvious that it had been recently fed. Xavier chuckled as he got closer and reached out to stroke the cat¡¯s soft ebon fur and it immediately began a deep rumbling purr. It opened one eye to peer at Xavier confirming what its nose had already told it before it closed it again just enjoying the comfortable life of being a pampered cat. After a little while Xavier picked the cub up, surprised at how much it had already grown in weight and size, before turning and heading towards the entrance to the warrens and his own bed. The night was fast approaching and morning would come early, especially given he wanted to get on the road as soon as possible. Warmth filled the newly made bed beside Xavier as he came to consciousness. He hesitated a moment before feeling as much as hearing the rumbling purr of the panther curled up on the edge of the bed. He smiled and reached down to scratch the cat. ¡°I really need to give you a name little one. Just calling you cat or little one won''t do. Especially with the rate at which you are growing.¡± The panther opened an eye looking at him almost reproachfully and a single claw slowly curled into the blankets covering his thigh, just enough to start to dig into his flesh. ¡°Easy,¡± Xavier yelped at the beast. ¡°Wait you understood that?¡± He peered at her curiously. She retracted her claw and stretched while yawning. When she finished her gaze fell upon him again the look in her eyes making him feel as if the question was idiotic and he should have realized she understood him. He smiled and scratched behind her ears, once again eliciting a deep purr from the beast. ¡°I think I have the perfect name for you. What do you think of Valkra? I always enjoyed the myths about the Valkyrie and you are going to be one deadly hunter when you grow up.¡± The cub went silent as it leaned into his fingertips, almost as if pondering his words before its purr redoubled and he began kneading the blankets. Xavier laughed and gave her another good scratching. ¡°Valkra it is then. Are you ready to go hunting with me and Ella? Might find a nice little monster nest for you to stalk.¡± Valkra kneaded the bed a little bit longer in contemplation before rising to her feet and hopping silently to the floor. She looked back towards where Xavier was rising as if waiting for him to get moving. Shaking his head at the impudent little beast Xavier got out of bed and started pulling on his clothes and leathers. He pulled Vaeltheris slightly from its sheath to make sure the blade would be ready at a moment''s notice. Finally satisfied with his preparations he picked up his pack and made his way towards the surface fully expecting to meet with Ella above in the main hall. As soon as he stepped out of the warrens, he knew something was wrong however. Sylvie was holding her son Pip close as she tried to hold back tears. Tara was not so reserved, and her face was covered in fresh tears as she sobbed out answers to Ella. ¡°She¡¯s gone Ella. I woke up this morning and Emily was gone. She has never woken before me so I went to her room to get her up so she could head over to the kitchens and help Frida prepare breakfast like every morning, but her bed was empty!¡± She started to cry again helpless in the face of the missing little girl. ¡°I searched the house and all around near it but there was nothing.¡± Ella¡¯s face was lined with concern as she tried to comfort the devastated young weaver. ¡°We will find her Tara don¡¯t worry. She could not have gotten far. Coren is already organizing the hunters to start to track her. We will bring her home safe.¡± As Xavier realized what was going on his vision was filled with a prompt. You have been offered a new quest. ¡°Echoes of Innocence¡± The orphaned child Emily has disappeared, and the village is in a panic to locate her. Tara and Sylvie are particularly despondent along with Emily¡¯s closest friends. Find where the child disappeared to and return her home safely. Rewards: Increased morale and happiness in the village. +1000 Experience. Penalty for refusal or failure: Decreased morale, possible animosity from Tara and Sylvie. Do you accept: Yes or No? Xavier focused on yes mentally accepting the quest as not only did the prompt indicate he would cause major strife within the village for refusing he had personally developed an attachment to the little girl. He moved to join Ella in asking for any possible details that could indicate where the girl went when he noticed Valkra snuffling curiously at the floor leading back into the warrens. He crouched next to the cub. ¡°Notice something little one?¡± Valkra raised her head and met Xavier¡¯s eyes before turning and padding back into the warrens. Her path unerringly headed deeper and towards the mosaic room. Xavier followed after her and was shortly joined by Ella who had seen him disappear back into the entrance. ¡°Not even going to ask what is going on?¡± Ella chided him as they walked. ¡°Emily has gone missing, and the village is in an uproar.¡± ¡°I know, I heard them telling you about it when I came in.¡± He motioned to the shadowmane ¡°Valkra is acting strange though and I think she is trying to help. I would almost swear she was part bloodhound the way she¡¯s sniffing about.¡± It was only a few minutes later when the tunnels opened up to the grand chamber that housed the mosaic representing the nexus of ley lines. The Syr¡¯Vailen was a thing of beauty even in its dormant state. Valkra didn¡¯t hesitate though and continued across the tiles towards the entrance on the far side. It was there she finally paused, laying on the floor was a small object. A little worn teddy bear was leaned up against the wall as if standing guard. Valkra had stopped in front of the little stuffed animal sniffing at it then looking back to the duo. Ella gasped slightly and Xavier stiffened. They both knew that bear well. It was Emily¡¯s, she was never without it, even when she was getting into mischief. A fresh cry of anguish echoed behind the two. Tara had followed them to ask Xavier directly if he could find Emily and when she saw the teddy bear, she lost all remaining composure. Xavier moved to the crying woman¡¯s side quickly and embraced her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Tara. We will bring her home safe and sound. You have my word on that.¡± He motioned to Braegor as the large Gan Ceann entered the room. ¡°Take her back outside and to her home. Make sure she doesn¡¯t follow us into the deeps, I don¡¯t know what sort of dangers are down there, and need to focus on Emily.¡± His words about danger brought a new bout of sobbing to the weaver as Braegor placed his head back on his shoulders and gathered the woman up in a princess carry. ¡°What should I tell the other villagers?¡± Braegor asked, ¡°They will want to know why you disappeared when they are searching for the girl.¡± ¡°Let them know we are following a lead down into the deeps. We will be back as soon as we can and bring Emily with us.¡± Xavier¡¯s face was grim but determined. ¡°I won¡¯t let any harm come to her.¡± Braegor¡¯s head dipped fractionally as he cradled Tara closer to his body before he turned and carried the crying woman back to the surface. Xavier picked up the small bear and tucked it into one of his pouches. Then Ella and Xavier exchanged a look both hefted their packs slightly and Xavier retrieved a torch from one of the sconces at the entrance to the deeps. They both set foot on the first step down and vanished through the archway into the deeps. As soon as they passed through the archway leading to the staircase the air around them changed. The warm, dry, and comforting air of the warrens vanished it was quickly replaced by a damp cold almost as if the deeps were warning them away. The atmosphere was immediately more ominous, sounds of dripping water echoed up the worn stairway and a soft breeze caused the flame of the torch to dance and sputter. Xavier cursed softly and placed his free hand on the wall to steady himself as he took each step lower. Behind him, Ella did the same with her hand on the wall and about their feet, Valkra padded silently always managing to move just before she would be stepped on or kicked. The trio made their way deeper into the darkness. There was no way to tell how much time passed besides the torch burning lower and lower. Xavier motioned back towards Ella who retrieved another from her pack, and they paused to light the new one just as the original one sputtered towards extinguishing. With Ella carrying the new torch Xavier slid Vaeltheris from its sheath the dagger¡¯s blade lit with an inner light adding to the flickering glow of the torch. They had lit a third torch by the time the stairway stopped and opened up into a large chamber. Several passageways led off from the room in multiple directions. The chamber had a large arching ceiling, and the stones were carefully laid indicating that like the stairway it had been carved out and then crafted to its current form. At an instinctual level, Xavier knew this was more ruins from the Sylmyrian people. He wanted to explore it in detail but the pressing situation with Emily made him drag himself away from the greater chamber and start to inspect the floor at the bottom of the stairs searching for any indication of where the child might have gone. Valkra was padding about the area as well her sensitive nose hovering over the stonework floor as she sought the scent of the little girl. Frustratingly the trail seemed to have stopped cold at the last stair, as if the girl vanished when she reached it. Throwing caution to the wind Xavier started to call out. ¡°Emily! Are you here? Yell if you can hear me, help us find where you are.¡± He walked about the chamber as he called out. The far end of the chamber caused him to pause and stare in disbelief. A full twenty feet of the wall was carved in an intricate relief that blended symbols he recognized from Earth. A huge twisting dragon wove in a figure eight. The way its head held onto its tail gave him the distinct impression of both the Ouroboros and the Infinity Loop. He was confused at seeing them here and blended into a single image. As he drew closer, holding Vaeltheris up to light the relief he could make out the features of the dragon clearer. Despite the obvious weathering of the stone in the rest of the chamber, this was in perfect condition, as if it had been carved just hours ago. The features of the dragon¡¯s head were minute in detail, its open mouth sinking fangs into its tail. The eyes of the creature caught his attention as they started to glow faintly in the light of his dagger, one a deep emerald green and the other a dark onyx black.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He was starting to ponder the heterochromatic nature when his eyes moved to the actual body of the dragon. The upper half was beautifully carved, its scales decorated with tiny vines and leaves. Small runes like the Nordic life runes, Jera and Uruz, were scattered amidst the carved vegetation. As striking and beautiful as that part of the beast''s body was the lower loop was equally horrifying. Instead of vivid scales, they had been replaced by a more skeletal texture. The beast''s cracked ribs and vertebra show stark against the stone. The runes of life though this half of the dragon bore were replaced with small etchings of Thurisaz and Kaunaz, the death runes the Nordic culture had used ages past. Where the body looped over itself was an ornate depiction of what he had known as the Yggdrasil. Vibrant branches and leaves followed the living half of the dragon upwards. The branches appeared to grow out of the wall, their tips almost glowing with a faint golden hue. The roots of the tree spread downward into the loop of death, their tendrils skeletal and gnarled, merging seamlessly with the serpent¡¯s lower loop. Shadowy grooves within the roots suggest decay and rebirth. At the very center of the Sigil, directly where Yggdrasil¡¯s trunk aligns with the Ouroboros¡¯ crossing point lay a rune he didn¡¯t recognize though, it seemed as though Jera and Thurisaz, life and death were woven together to make the new star like rune. The closer he got to it with Vaeltheris the more it started to glow alternating between a warm golden light and a dark ebon that seemed to drink in the light around it. Still reeling from what was blatant earthen symbology he was shaken from his study by Ella calling out. She was off to the right of where he was studying the relief standing with Valkra. ¡°I heard something down this way.¡± She called out to him. ¡°It sounded like a girl singing.¡± Xavier abandoned his study of the relief and rushed over to where she stood. ¡°Good that means she is still alive we need to hurry.¡± They both took off down the tunnel in a near sprint desperate to find Emily before something could happen to her. As they ran the worked stone began to disappear giving way to the rough texture of natural caverns. The even and worked floor they had grown used to gave way to a floor that was more unsteady and earthen. Lichen and other deep flora coated the walls and broke through the cracks and crevasses of the natural walls. Their flight slowed to a walk more consistent with the new terrain as they realized they would not be able to help Emily if they broke or twisted an ankle trying to reach her. As they moved deeper the air grew more humid and the increased moisture yielded a damp earthen scent that subtly filled the tunnel. The lichen gave way to increasing patches of slightly bioluminescent mushrooms and oddly growing moss. Eventually, they extinguished their torch, the natural light of the plant life was giving enough of a glow to render it unnecessary. Ella caught Xavier by the arm and pointed towards the ground ahead of them, through a small patch of muddy earth a trail of small footprints continued in the direction they were traveling. Certain that Emily had been this way their pace quickened as much as they could while able to remain aware of their footing. Each of them gripped their weapons tight, Xavier holding the softly glowing blade of Vaeltheris and Ella holding onto her spear. The deeper they traveled the more sounds filled the tunnels, a soft drip of water echoed off the narrowly spaced walls, and here and there they could hear a creak of roots rubbing against one another where they broke through the rock walls and ceiling. In the distance, they would catch snippets of a quietly singing young girl''s voice in tandem with a new odd hum of noise. The plant life grew increasingly thicker as well. More vines clung to walls amid the fungus, roots broke through the ceiling leaving rock debris to tumble to the floor below making it even more treacherous. Xavier couldn¡¯t help but feel like he could see some of the vines moving in his periphery while they moved past but every time he turned to look directly at the offending plant it was laying still. Rounding a corner they stumbled into a thick haze. Spores filled the tunnel and left the two coughing and watery-eyed. Covering their mouths and noses with cloth they stumbled through the miasma and continued forward unaware of the shifting in the shadows. It took what seemed like ages to break free of the spores, though, in fact, they had only been in them for a little over half a minute. Gasping they drew fresh if humid air into their lungs. Valkra had begun to growl softly as they moved, she had grown more miserable the deeper into the mire they had traveled. It was shortly after the spore cloud they started to notice differences in the plant life, though it had been mostly fungus related it had seemed healthy and vibrant. Now they started to see dark patches covering the damp floor and withering to the edges of the vines and mushrooms. Suspicions growing Xavier pointed this out to Ella and her face grew grim. Only a short distance further the withering turned into clear rot, the acrid scent of it mingling with the previous fresh, if damp, earthy smells. Deeper through the tunnels they wove their way following the occasional muddy patch with footprints and soft singing. Several times the side of the floor would give way to a small collapse nearly dropping one or the other of the duo into a collapsing slide into the dark unknown. Valkra always seemed to know where those spots were and would avoid them leading to the two carefully watching her as well for advanced warning. Narrow passageways would become hazardous with vines and roots tangling the floor or hanging back and forth across the passage in a net of tough plant life forcing the small group to either climb over them or cut them out of the way. After hours of careful navigation through the developing underground swamp of rot and decay they came to a large stone archway. Each of the huge blocks had been carved with intricate reliefs of trees and wildlife. Much of the decoration was covered with overgrown roots or vines but it was reminiscent of the carvings they had seen elsewhere in the ruins. Several faintly glowing runes reacted to the presence of Vaeltheris, and their light increased. Beyond the archway, the tunnels gave way to a huge cavern, and they stood on the edge of an overlook. Below them was a chamber overwhelmed with a vast variety of subterranean plant life. The view would have been mesmerizing with the blending of ethereal beauty and eerie decay. Glowing bioluminescent plants cast vibrant light that contrasted sharply with the creeping darkness and rot. Mesmerizing yes, if not for what lay at its center. Near the center stood a small pillar, emerald veins rose up the sides of the stonework to a central node that pulsed rhythmically, creating an ambient glow that seemed to resonate with the lifeforce of the grove. Leaning against that pillar was a disheveled young girl. Emily clung to the stone keeping within its soft light as she sang softly to herself. The child¡¯s appearance was at odds with the wild growth and rot surrounding her. Xavier started to move towards the slowly descending ramp that curved around the edge of the room until Ella caught his arm. That motion caused him to stop and look back at her only to see her point to the rest of the room. He turned his gaze following her motion and finally saw what made her hesitate. The room was filled with plant life, but it wasn¡¯t all normal vines and fungus. Softly shimmering trees stood amid the growth, their leaves limed in shades of green, blue, and gold. Along with the plants was an odd glowing moth that flitted about the room. Occasionally one of the moths would draw too close to one of the vines and it would lash out in a whiplike fashion, or a moth would land on one of the leaves and it would snap close like a flytrap. The plants were a danger in and of themselves and would make getting to the young girl, much less getting her back out a challenge. Scowling he started pointing out potential paths to Ella when one of the larger mushrooms moved, no it was more than just a mushroom Xavier realized. It was a golem, a plant golem made of fungus and rotted vines. Like the forest golems Aelriva summoned to work in the village above, it would seem that this grove had its guardians. Xavier moved closer to the edge so he could better pick out the golems and dangerous flora below and accidentally knocked a loose stone over the edge. Crouching down next to Ella, they watched the stone fall until it clattered on a pile of stones below. Everything in the room stilled and Emily lifted her small fear etched face towards the overlook. Xavier¡¯s heart wrenched seeing the child in such torment and he rose up from where he was hidden so she could see him clearly while lifting his free hand to tell her to wait. The girl nodded and clung tighter to the pillar as if drawing comfort from the softly glowing sphere at the top. None of the plants moved and the air became oddly still and quiet. Xavier and Ella both stood slowly unnerved by the change but shifted to creep down the path towards the floor below. As they got closer to the floor, they could make out more details of what lay beneath the plant life. Here and there lay crumbled arches and statues. Pathways peeked from beneath the overgrowth and stone benches were revealed beneath overwhelming moss growth. A dark barely flowing stream wound between trees and the still stagnant pools of various fountains dotted the landscape. The place had once been a place of majesty and beauty now fallen to corruption and disarray. As his foot set down on the ground of the cavern proper another prompt filled Xavier¡¯s view. You have discovered a quest. ¡°The Seed of Renewal.¡± You have found one of the cores of the ley lines that make up the Syr¡¯Vailen. This once vibrant place of life and healing now is a corruption of its former glory. Additionally, it seems as if the missing child Emily has found her way to the core and seems to have an unknown role to play in what transpires here. Restore the core of the Life Ley Line and cleanse the surrounding area of the rot and corruption. Possible Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Life Ley Line. Rescue of the missing child Emily. Access to Life Magic. +1000 Experience. Penalties for failure: Further corruption of the life ley line and corruption of the lands surrounding the Syr¡¯Valien. Death of Emily. Failure of Echoes of Innocence. Your presence in this room has automatically accepted this quest. You have discovered a quest. ¡°Balance Restored.¡± A corruption has violated the essence of the life ley line and its surrounding gardens. Explore the surrounding deeps to find where this corruption is coming from. Only by restoring balance can the life of Emily be saved. Beware your actions could tip the scales in one direction or the other instead of creating balance. Possible Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Life Ley Line and another unknown reward. Rescue of the missing child Emily. Access to Life Magic and other unknown rewards. +1000 Experience. Penalties for failure: Further corruption of the life ley line and corruption of the lands surrounding the Syr¡¯Vailen other unknown penalties. Death of Emily. Failure of Echoes of Innocence. Your presence in this room has automatically accepted this quest. ¡°Shit, fuck, shit, dammit.¡± Xavier swore as he stepped back on the ramp and stopped Ella from moving further. ¡°Fuck more quests and these ones have some serious penalties if we fail.¡± He told her. The sentient plant life seemed blissfully unaware of the small group on the ramp as they paused. Emily, who had stopped singing when they reached the bottom of the ramp, started to softly sing again. Her voice seemed to have a calming effect on the twitching and shifting life. Calling out softly Xander tried to comfort the girl. ¡°Emily, we¡¯re going to get you out of here and back home. We have to leave¡­¡± The girl froze her singing stopping once again as panic filled her features at the thought of being left behind. ¡°But just for a little bit. Something is causing this rot, and we cannot save you until we find out what is causing it. I won''t leave you alone Emily. Look I brought your teddy with me. He was guarding the way down here to show us where you went.¡± He pulled the small bear from his pouch and held it up so the girl could see it. She visibly relaxed and rose moving a little closer to them. As she did the tether of magic between her and the column became visible, a softly glowing light between her heart and the core. Its length prevented her from moving too far from it and Xavier decided to throw the bear to her. The small stuffed toy arced through the air and landed at the girl''s feet. She quickly stooped to scoop it into her arms and hug it close. While they soothed the girl and returned her toy to her the plants were slowly becoming more and more agitated. Noticing this the young girl started to sing again softly and moved back to hug the column with one arm as she held her bear in the other. Her eyes remained on Xavier pleadingly but with a sad grudging acceptance of her situation. ¡°We¡¯ll be back Emily. I promise you will be home where you belong.¡± Xavier spoke softly and reassuringly to her. He turned as Ella tapped him on the shoulder and motioned back up the ramp to the only entrance in sight. His shoulders slumped a moment in anxiety before resolve returned and he followed her up the ramp. At the archway, they paused and looked back to where the child once again sat against the pillar singing her soft lullaby and watching them as tears ran down her face. With that vision etched in his mind Xavier turned and returned to the tunnels of the deeps to find a way to free her. Chapter 16 - Echoes of Eternity Traversing the flora strewn tunnel back towards the room with the carved relief was heartbreaking for the small group, even Valkra seemed quieter than normal. Every step seemed to be a betrayal to the little girl they had left behind, even knowing it was to find a way to free her. While the trip took less time than it had in the first place, having cleared out the roots and vines that had blocked the passage already, it seemed like an eternity. Slowly, however, the flora thinned out before eventually disappearing entirely, and then gradually the natural rock made way for worked stone and they found themselves back at the large chamber at the base of the staircase. There were still numerous hallways leading off from this room. They had already decided that the staircase up to the settlement would not be an option until Emily was with them. Though still feeling harried by a need to hurry the lack of a distinct way forward allowed them to see more details not only of the relief but of the chamber itself. There was a total of seven archways leading out of the chamber including the one back up towards the surface. It gave the room more of a crossroads feeling with three passages on either side of the room and the relief at the opposite end of the staircase. The passage that had led to where the life ley line core and Emily was the second one on the right. Having heard Emily¡¯s singing made it easy to choose a path and it was open however further inspection of the other tunnels revealed most ended in cave-ins, one archway housed a blank wall, and the final one went about twenty feet around a corner before it dead-ended as well. At a loss for where to go Ella and Xavier moved to look closer at the carved relief. Xavier was struck once again by the intricate detail and how it was still pristine despite the passage of time. Ella pointed to the two life runes represented on the intact half of the dragon. ¡°Wait I have seen these.¡± She dashed over towards the tunnel they had just emerged from and shouted back to Xavier. ¡°Look they are a part of the stonework here. Can barely make them out but they are here!¡± Xavier moved quickly to her side and was able to find what she was looking at as well. Worn by time most of the detailed decoration on the archway had been lost however here and there were small patches still intact and as Ella had noticed they were indeed holding the same runes. Xavier looked back to the relief his mind turning with ideas. The two quests he had received came back to mind. One, The Seed of Renewal, was clearly for purifying the room but Balance Restored¡­ it meant there was more than just that room. ¡°Balance,¡± he muttered out loud as he moved back towards the relief. The carving plainly indicated a balance between life and death and how they fed each other. He pondered the symbolism as he knew it. Ouroboros had several meanings but mostly mirrored that of the infinity symbol of eternal endless balance. The mosaic above showed life and death opposite of each other which only further fueled the concept of equal and balanced. He paused and looked towards the passageway opposite where the life one was, it was one of the ones that had collapsed. He prayed it wasn¡¯t that simple because there was no way to get through the tons of rock and rubble in any reasonably quick amount of time. His eyes shifted to the archway next to it though. It was the blank rock wall within the arch. Narrowing his eyes as he studied it he looked back at the relief. He walked towards the archway and studied it. It was almost perfectly smooth. Almost, the second pass he was carefully tracing his fingertips over the stone to feel anything his eyes might have missed when at the keystone he found it. The smooth stone had small barely noticeable indentations. ¡°Ella come here I think I have found something.¡± He called out. She ran across the room, abandoning her search of the relief to join him. Together they were able to make out a small line of indentations too faint to see and only just able to identify by touch. This was something key, they were certain but didn¡¯t know how to make sense of it. The damage of time was too complete. Sudden inspiration hit Xavier and his eyes widened before he pulled Vaeltheris from its sheath, remembering that the relief and some of the runes on it reacted to the blade. There was a soft shimmer from the stone face as the indentations reacted. After several agonizing moments they saw a series of symbols, not ones in any language Xavier knew but still¡­ a new prompt appeared before his eyes. Congratulations you have learned a new language. Ancient Sylmyrian. The symbols cleared up in Xavier''s vision and he could make out words from them. He slowly read them aloud, ¡°Vytha¡¯rin si¡¯alenth, solah na¡¯vylah, durna ven¡¯valith, yn thar¡¯nok vael ren¡¯talah.¡± Then repeated them in common. ¡°Life begins as the seed, rises to flourish, falls to decay, and from dust is born again.¡± Beside him, Ella gasped and looked at him hard. ¡°How did you know what that meant?¡± Her eyes were narrowed and mistrustful. He shrugged slightly. ¡°When I was able to see them clearly I received a prompt saying I had learned Ancient Sylmyrian, after that they just made sense. Can you read them?¡± He realized that along with him not knowing much about her, he had never told her about himself. ¡°We need to make time to talk and get to know each other. I have some things to tell you.¡± She evaded answering his question. Though the mistrust had left her gaze she still studied him. ¡°What do you think it means? I do not see any seeds here and we do not have time to wait for one to grow and decay.¡± He shook his head and looked back to the ouroboros relief on the wall. ¡°Everything in this chamber keeps referencing balance and the cycle of life and death. There must be another ley line nearby, death to balance the life one where Emily is. It must be causing the rot as neither is awake or balanced.¡± He scratched his chin and felt the stubble of a beard starting to take form. ¡°She was tethered to the pillar, maybe she is part of the problem.¡± He really didn¡¯t want to think on that possibility and what it could mean but it had to be considered. Walking back over to the relief he raised Vaeltheris to shed more light on it. As he did so he rested his other hand on the small ledge that ringed the room at roughly waist level. Moving to look closer at the dead side of the dragon his weight shifted on the ledge, and he felt something move. Jerking back fearing he had set off a trap he braced himself for whatever might happen. Nothing did. He moved back this time to look at the ledge. It was covered in centuries of dust but beneath where his hand had rested, he saw what had shifted. A small wheel of stone was embedded into the ledge. It had turned slightly under his weight. Xavier began wiping away the layers of dust and grime and slowly revealed a series of little wheels, eight of them in total. Each one had small designs carved into them a tree, a seed, a sapling, a pattern of four lines crossing over a central point making it look like a small star, a withered tree, a skeletal tree barren of leaves, what looked like a small pile or mound, and finally a sprouting seed. Except for the one he had knocked out of place; they were all showing the sprouting seed. ¡°Well,¡± Ella commented dryly, ¡°I think we have found what the rhyme refers to, now we just have to make sure they are in the right order.¡± Xavier pursed his lips in thought, he scratched at his chin once more and scowled feeling the stubble. He was really going to need to shave when they got back to the surface. ¡°Life begins as the seed, I think that means that the seed should be first.¡± He adjusted the wheel he had knocked askew back to having just the image of the seed upright. ¡°So the spouting seed, then sapling and tree should be next?¡± Ella considered that for a moment then adjusted the next couple of wheels to turn those images to the upright position as well. ¡°All right that covers the growing part of the life cycle, rises to flourish, as the riddle states. This means the falls to decay should be the withered tree then the skeletal one.¡± She adjusted two more wheels following the logic. ¡°That leaves two more wheels,¡± Xavier pointed at the last two. ¡°From dust is born again.¡± He shifted the second to the last wheel to show the small pile of dust. ¡°So, the star is being born again?¡± Turning the final wheel, they stepped back. They waited several moments, and nothing happened. They looked at each other in confusion before moving back closer to the wheels. ¡°Did we miss something?¡± Xavier asked. There was a small click, barely audible and the wheels spun back to their original position. As the pair gasped a dark cloud roiled from the nostrils of the dragon engulfing both of them. Pain rocked through their bodies and in the corner of Xavier¡¯s vision, he could see the green bar of his stamina plummeting rapidly.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The attack only lasted a few moments but left the duo on their knees with a bone-numbing exhaustion. Xavier felt as if he had been running at a sprint for weeks without rest and Ella was slumped to her hands and knees gasping. When the pain had cleared enough Xavier brought up the screen showing his combat log, he had minimized the notifications cause all the fights he had been in so far were fairly straightforward. It held the answer to what had just happened, however. You have been struck by necrotic cloud (Death Magic). You will lose 20 points of stamina per second for the next 10 seconds. You have been struck by necrotic cloud (Death Magic). You will temporarily lose one point of constitution for the next 24 hours. Checking his attributes page he could indeed see that his constitution score had changed from the twelve points he had in it to a score of eleven with an asterisk and his overall stamina bar had shrunk. Kneeling there as he waited for it to refill and give him the energy to even stand up again he turned the puzzle over in his mind. The wheels were not in the correct order, that much was obvious. As he climbed to his feet, he offered a hand to Ella to assist her as well. The pair moved back to the ledge and examined the wheels again, this time careful not to make any changes. ¡°We cannot make that mistake too many times,¡± Ella stated. ¡°It nearly knocked me unconscious, and I have a feeling that is the last thing we want down here.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t argue that. So, the question is what did we get wrong? I thought they all made sense in that order.¡± He traced the symbols in the dust next to where the wheels were. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand the star.¡± He knew something was missing, a key concept. Muttering quietly, he began to break down the line. ¡°Vytha¡¯rin si¡¯alenth, Life begins as the seed. Or maybe Vytha¡¯rin is closer to life¡¯s essence and si¡¯alenth is seeds of beginning. I still think that means the seed is the first symbol. It all starts with the seed.¡± He drew that above the row of symbols in the dust. ¡°Solah na¡¯vylah, rises to flourish. That is pretty much a direct translation, so the tree grows from the seed. That still points to the way we had them.¡± He drew out the next three symbols, the sprouting seed, the sapling, and the grown tree. ¡°Durna ven¡¯valith, falls to decay. Durna means falls or descends and ven¡¯valith means into decay. Again, those match.¡± He pointed to the images of the withered tree and the skeletal one. ¡°The death half of the cycle.¡± He paused, ¡°Wait, Yn thar¡¯nok vael ren¡¯talah. That is more than just and from dust is born again. Yn is and. Thar¡¯nok means from the dust, but Vael that is spirit or essence.¡± He slid Vaeltheris from its scabbard again, the name of the blade taking on a new meaning. ¡°Vaeltheris,¡± He muttered again, ¡°vael is spirit or essence, theris¡­ harmony or balance.¡± Looking up to Ella he asked. ¡°Your blade is Essence of Harmony or Soul of Balance?¡± Ella stared back for a long time before she nodded fractionally. ¡°Something like that.¡± She turned her gaze from him unable to meet his eyes. ¡°I never really understood it and did not bother to check. I was just trying to survive.¡± The change in the young woman¡¯s demeanor threw Xavier for a moment. That cemented the fact that when they got safely out of the deeps with Emily, he and Ella were due for a long honest talk if she was going to continue traveling with him. She was hiding something, and he didn¡¯t know if he could continue trusting her. ¡°Ok,¡± he said hesitantly, ¡°So yn thar¡¯nok vael ren¡¯talah. Ren¡¯talah means born again. And from the dust spirit is born again. That¡¯s three concepts not two. Our order is off somewhere else, but we need another symbol at the end. The mound must be dust and I guess the star is spirit?¡± His tone was questioning as he pointed to the two symbols. ¡°Born again¡­ I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the seed, could there be extra symbols to confuse people?¡± Ella shook her head, not knowing the answer to his question. ¡°I think it is all of them just in the proper order. She pointed towards the first symbols. One of those should be the rebirth. I just do not know if it¡¯s the seedling or the sprouting seed.¡± Xavier sighed and turned to the wheels. Carefully he started to rotate them, seed, sapling, tree, withered tree, skeletal tree, ash, star, and then sprouting seed. Holding his breath he motioned for Ella to move well back just in case. A few moments later there was a soft click and the wheels sank slightly. A loud hum filled the room followed by what Xavier could only think was the roar of a dragon. He looked up just in time to see the runes on the ouroboros light up running along its body it gave the relief the appearance of movement almost seeming to rise from the wall where the runes were lit. The light moved slowly at first as they lit in sequence from its head tracing along its entire body and returning to its mouth where it held its tail. It repeated while they watched and each time it reached the mouth it sped up. ¡°Now what?¡± Xavier asked. The rest of the room remained the same giving no indication of any additional requirements. Ella shrugged slightly and said, ¡°Touch it?¡± Xavier glared at her. That advice was the bane of gamers the world over. ¡°When? Where? Why?¡± Ella shrugged again at a loss for further advice. Sighing Xavier turned back to the flashing runes and hesitantly he put his hand over the head of the dragon watching as the flashing runes drew closer. As soon as the ones on the head lit up, he pushed his hand to them. The change was immediate, though the runes continued to move they remained lit and ended up lighting the full length of the dragon''s body. With a soft hiss, the stone wall in the blank archway shimmered and slowly vanished revealing a dark stairway descending further behind. The air that was released into the chamber was a mix of dry musty air, though it was heavily tinged with a faint sickly sweet metallic tang. A soft deep whisper carried forth on the musty air. ¡°The balance restored. Enter, seekers of eternity.¡± You have updated a quest. ¡°Balance Restored.¡± A corruption has violated the essence of the life ley line and its surrounding gardens. You have found a hidden passage. Signs indicate it is the way to the death ley line. Only by restoring balance can the life of Emily be saved. Beware your actions could tip the scales in one direction or the other instead of creating balance. Possible Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Life Ley Line and possibly Death Ley Line. Rescue of the missing child Emily. Access to Life Magic and possibly Death Magic. +1000 Experience. Penalties for failure: Further corruption of the life ley line and corruption of the lands surrounding the Syr¡¯Vailen amongst other unknown penalties. Death of Emily. Failure of Echoes of Innocence. Ella and Xavier moved over towards the stairs. Valkra, however, hesitated and whined slightly not wanting to move any closer. Xavier knelt and scooped the little cub into his arms. ¡°Afraid to go deeper little one?¡± Xavier crooned to the nervous feline. He pulled out a small scrap of dried meat offering it to the cub. It devoured it rapidly before it looked him in the eyes. He could see the resolve solidify in its more than intelligent look and he sat her on the ground. She padded over to the top of the stairs before looking back at him. ¡°All right let''s go see what this brings,¡± Xavier responded and moved to take a newly lit torch from Ella. The stone walls of the stairs held elegant carvings. Each stone in the stairway and walls were well-worked and placed. Time seemed to have forgotten this part of the deeps similar to how the relief had been untouched. It was a short stairway and at the base was another elegant archway. It was carved with intricate designs of life and death entwined, blooming flowers curling into skeletal hands, and vines transforming into bones decorated its surface. It opened into a vast, vaulted chamber lined with statues of guardians each depicted with a different set of armor all in similar stylistic motifs indicating they were of the same people just of different roles. Each held a set of dual symbols: a blooming flower in one hand and a withered branch in the other. As they had traveled down the stairs the air had grown heavier and now it hung oppressively muting even the flickering sounds of the torch. Heavy and quiet though every so often it would sound like faint whispers or wails emanated from the shadows surrounding the room. A low, reverberating hum, similar to what they had heard as they got closer to the chamber with the life ley line had subtly shifted now that they had entered what was clearly a crypt. Instead of just the deep monotonous tone, there was a throb to it and it was sometimes broken by faint whispers or the dry rattle of unseen movement. Each time the throb hit the shadows flickered and the pristine stonework flickered to appear broken and destroyed, marble walls now cracked and blackened, with glowing ley lines pulsing with dark energy. The elegant statues shattered and strewn across the floor. Small stone slabs in the wall broke open, and the skeletal contents spilled and shattered on the uneven floor tiles. This lingered for several minutes only to have the next thrum return it to the perfect craftsmanship. Ella shuddered beside Xavier who was also starting to feel his nerves fray in the face of the horrors the changes revealed. Taking a single hesitant step forward Xavier received a new prompt. You have discovered a quest. ¡°The Echoes of Eternity.¡± You have found one of the cores of the ley lines that make up the Syr¡¯Vailen. This majestic crypt housed generations of Sylmyrian nobility, they were held in a gentle repose by the power of the death ley line. The sudden influx of life to its opposition has corrupted the balance. Find a way to cleanse the crypt and restore the death ley line. Possible Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Death Ley Line. Access to Death Magic. +1000 Experience. Penalties for failure: Further corruption of the death ley line and corruption of the lands surrounding the Syr¡¯Valien. Your presence in this room has automatically accepted this quest. The dual quests that had appeared in the other chamber now made more sense to Xavier. They reflected the balance required between life and death. He had a feeling that restoration of one would require the other to be restored quickly or it would be overwhelmed and subsumed by the first. The balance would have to be maintained, or he would destroy his own settlement before it had a chance to bloom truly. Failing that balance would also likely kill Emily if not all of them. His heart heavy with the burden of safeguarding his people, he glanced back at Ella and then took another step. Chapter 17 - The Crypt and the Garden When his second step did not immediately trigger any traps or attacks Xavier released the breath that he hadn¡¯t realized he had been holding. The room flared with illumination. Sconces lining the walls blossomed to life with ethereal flames flooding the room with a haunting light and giving the shadows in the corners of his vision a macabre mockery of life. The strange illumination only heightened the unsettling distortion of the corrupted version. This switch caused Xavier to hesitate, and he crouched tightening his grip on his weapon while he scanned the room for threats. His heart beating loud in his ears briefly before he realized that despite the ominous presence of the room the shadows were just shadows. Ella came down off the steps to stand at his side and Valkra started padding about their ankles. ¡°If it didn¡¯t keep changing from pristine to destroyed it would almost be soothing and calm,¡± Xavier commented. ¡°Given the life ley line was in a garden, this must be a crypt. It makes sense for the death ley line.¡± He looked to Ella. ¡°I guess we can expect undead here.¡± Ella made a sour face as she turned to look at him. ¡°Just so we are clear, I hate undead. They give me the creeps, but you are probably right.¡± Xavier moved over to one of the statues and looked up at it. This one appeared to be an animari, one of a species he hadn¡¯t seen yet. Glancing at the others he noticed that they were of all different races and both genders. Once again, a balance in their representation. ¡°Odd, I had thought the Sylmyrians were a race, but this makes it look more like a people or kingdom.¡± Ella responded off handedly. ¡°It was one of the ancient empires several epochs back in history. The Sylmyrian Dominion, the Arathorian Empire, the Thanik Empire, the Phoenix Empire, Darnathian League, and the Ilvani Theocracy.¡± She recited ticking each off on her fingers. After she did so she froze and looked at Xavier. ¡°At least that is what I have read. Nothing but ruins remain of any of them, however. They all fell long ago.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t the history book we found in Bramblegate list them? I found mentions of the others but not the Sylmyrians. The only place I have seen anything of them has been here and up above in the ruins we¡¯re building Rynthavael on.¡± Speaking as if she hadn¡¯t heard him Ella muttered, ¡°Gods I do not like this place,¡± ¡°That makes the two of us,¡± Xavier started to reply when he heard a small whine at their feet, ¡°Make that the three of us.¡± He finished as he reached down to comfort Valkra. Now that the room was illuminated, he could see several archways leading from the chamber that had been previously hidden in the darkness. Crumbled statues and debris, in this version at least, of the chamber made the approach to all but one difficult. Motioning to the open hallway he asked, ¡°Do we try that way, climb the rubble to try one of the others or wait for the next change to test our luck?¡± ¡°That seems far too easy,¡± she replied. ¡°As if it was guiding us to a trap. I think we should wait, or better yet go back and see if we can help Emily and purify the life ley line. Maybe it will help improve things here since they are supposed to be balanced.¡± Xavier thought about her words before he had a sinking feeling. ¡°I don¡¯t think they are meant to be one and then the other. Everything we have seen has indicated balance like you said. I think we are supposed to do them both at the same time. I bet purifying one without the other makes things harder.¡± She winced and nodded. ¡°Yes, you are probably right. So, who goes back and who stays here?¡± Her look to him was hopeful and it was clear she had no desire to remain in the crypt. He sighed softly and scooped up Valkra right as the thrum happened again. The chamber reverted back to its pristine walls and decorations, opening the other pathways to easy traversal. The spectral lighting made the change in environment even more stark as the corrupted version had a sickly purplish hue whereas this new lighting was a soft incandescent blue. Handing the shadowmane cub to Ella he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll try and solve this side. You two go back to the grove and see what you can do.¡± Ella smiled, though briefly and leaned in to kiss his cheek before she cuddled Valkra closer turning back to ascend the stairs and head the other way. Xavier touched where her lips had brushed a moment in confusion then pushed action from his mind as he looked back to his options. Picking the far hallway, he hurried through the room before it changed and was blocked once more. The spectral torches illuminated ahead of him as he walked, only heightening the sensation of being a lamb led to the slaughter. The hilt of his dagger was soaked with a cold sweat as he adjusted his grip on it before passing through the archway. Behind him the sconces went dark and plunged the room into the vague half-light it had before. Ahead of him there was a long hallway with alcoves indenting on either side at regular intervals. Each alcove held small empty platforms. Gritting his teeth Xavier moved into the hall. The fact the hall was lit didn¡¯t ease his concern in the slightest as he moved towards the first alcove. As he drew near it a form coalesced on the small dais. It was of a statuesque but ghostly human male he held a forge hammer in one hand as he looked serenely down upon Xavier. ¡°Sul¡¯mir yn durn¡¯vyr, vael yn kal¡¯dormis.¡± Xavier¡¯s gift that had granted him an understanding of Ancient Sylmyrian translated the words instantly. ¡°Death gives rest, life brings motion, balance binds them.¡± A few moments later the pervasive hum thrummed once more, and the hall shifted. Cracks ran through the marble walls filled with dark purplish veins of light. The plinth the specter stood upon appeared to be more crumbled ruin than a platform. It was the specter that held the most unsettling change, however. Gone was the serene image, now replaced with a rotting horror. The vision leaned forward; one desiccated hand reached out seeking Xavier as he recoiled. Instinctively he lashed out, the blade of Vaeltheris caught the outstretched hand of the vision and it winked out of existence. Shuddering, he looked down the hallway and the number of other alcoves it held. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Ella raced down the passageway dodging around the overgrown flora as she did so. She had set Valkra on the floor and the cat easily kept pace with her as they ran. The taint to the plant life they had noticed before seemed to have ebbed somewhat the closer they got to the underground garden. Soon it was apparent why, however, as they came out of the tunnel onto the overlook and the cavern had drastically changed. Whereas before they could look down upon the chamber and see the pedestal that held the core of the life ley line and Emily or look about the chamber and see some of the detail of what the overgrown plant life hid. That view was gone, the chamber seemed to have grown in size and life. Odd trees filled the area nearly to the cavern ceiling, vines hung thick and heavy, scattered throughout the canopy and from stalactites. Fungal groves fought with deciduous bushes for dominance of the pools of sickly green water that was visible. Ella groaned. She may have picked the worse option of the two, but at least it was less likely to have undead. Movement below caught her eye, and she ducked down by the edge of the cliff to avoid being seen. Her sharp gaze watched as what she had previously mistaken for another bush shifted, its now clearly feline shape stalked out of the undergrowth and between a set of tree trunks. While she watched the thrum of sound that had marked the transition from pristine to corrupted and back in the crypt filled the air and the plant life surged growing visibly in the chamber below. The surge elicited another groan from Ella as she realized she had to move now, waiting would only make the challenge more difficult. She rose and hurried down the ramp into the vegetation below to try and find Emily and figure out what needed to be done to free her and purify the ley line. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Back in the crypt, Xavier was moving once again now that the hallway was whole once again. Each alcove he hurried past held another vision from the past, a spectral dwarven woman in robes, a huge ghostly bearkin Animari wearing what looked like plate armor, and even a small waiflike girl with an intensely intelligent gaze in a third. Each one he passed uttered a phrase. The child uttered ¡°Draen¡¯vir os val¡¯sul, thyrris os yn nol¡¯myrin.¡± Meaning ¡°Strength lies in unity, the balance of flame and water.¡± And the dwarven lass spoke ¡°Nol¡¯ys varrith, sul¡¯nar eyl¡¯ar¡¯mirael.¡± Which translates to ¡°At twilight¡¯s breath, stone and air find peace.¡± It was when the bearlike figure spoke ¡°Nor¡¯thar sul¡¯nol, vel¡¯ys mir¡¯nar.¡± Xavier realized yet again the symbolism of balance was being preached by the visions when he translated the words ¡°In the cycle of dusk and dawn, harmony prevails.¡± As he came to his realization the thrum filled the hallway, and the visions warped into sickening corruptions of what they had been. Each moved to step down off their broken stones, the armor of the bearkin now rusted and with a large bloody hole as its fur sagged and collapsed showing the flesh beneath. The dwarven woman¡¯s eyes were missing and skeletal hands reached forth, her robes once elegant hung in tattered rags about her frame. Most horrific was the child, her eyes now glowed with the ominous purple light and a long tongue lashed back and forth between needle-sharp teeth in her overly large mouth. Xavier fought down the urge to flee, but instead, he started backing slowly away from the more animate visions as they approached. He held the dagger before him trying to keep the blade between his body and whichever apparition was closest. The spirits still whispered to him, their voices hollow, rasping or gurgling now. ¡°Essence¡­ cycle broken¡­ death claims¡­ silence reigns. Harmony¡­ lost¡­ shadow overcomes. Harmony¡­ fractured¡­ all fades.¡± The pervasive corruption tainting not just their forms but their very message as well. Crying out Xavier lunged towards the hulking mass of the undead-looking bearkin, Vaeltheris slashing through its outstretched hands and flashing a pure light as it drove back the corrupted vision. When the blade pierced the torso of the creature it flashed out of existence but the chill of its presence remained hanging heavy in the air as Xavier passed through it towards his next target. He moved with determination now, desperate to banish the visions and their perverse twisting of what had been. Though the nature of Vaeltheris seemed to drive them back and dissipate their forms they were not harmless themselves. The waif¡¯s claws dug deep into Xavier¡¯s other arm and her teeth sunk into his hand before he could turn his weapon upon her. His health dropped rapidly from the deathly cold of her touch and bite. Oozing blood rose from wounds that already had dark lines starting to trace away from them as her body vanished leaving only the dwarf remaining. He held his wounded arm tightly to his chest as he swung his blade desperately to keep her skeletal fingers from his body. She didn¡¯t recoil from the blade, each pass of it removing bony digits from her hands until he was finally able to drive it into one of the empty sockets of her head and the apparition winked out of existence. Gasping in pain, Xavier looked at his wounds. Pus was already starting to ooze from them as if they had long since gone infected. He quickly sheathed his blade and dug around in his belt pouch for some of the forest sage. They hadn¡¯t yet been able to find anything stronger to help heal wounds than the herb and he quickly began to chew some of it praying that it would help. As the next thrum restored the hall he dashed down its length anxious to be free of it and its visions before the next turn of the cycle. He rushed through the archway at the end and came into another large circular chamber. Once again the sconces flared to life filling the room with the soft blue glow of ethereal flame. Seeing nothing but two other archways at the far side of the room across a shallow, still pool of water he sighed in relief. Moving away from the archway that led back into the hall of horrors he crouched near the water and took time to inspect his wounds. They were ever so slowly closing but the corruption lingered as pus continued to rise to the surface. The dark lines of infection seemed to have slowed spreading up his arm but he knew he was far from safe. He would need to hurry and solve the trials of this crypt so they could save Emily and return to the surface where hopefully one of the healers in the village could save his arm. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Ella cried out in effort, her spear wedged in the chest of yet another plantlike animal form as she pinned it to the ground, its movements finally ceasing. Nearby Valkra also pinned her own adversary to the ground, her sharp teeth ripping at its throat as her twin tails lashed forward driving their sharp tips into its body. The garden had taken a decidedly deadly turn from when they first had seen it. Every step they fought through the now labyrinthine maze of flora was filled with either aggressive animals made of vegetation, hostile animate mushrooms, or deadly snapping plants with whipping vines, and that was just the parts they could fight back against. They had to retrace steps to avoid tainted pools of water that hissed and bubbled as they dissolved the unfortunate vines or branches that hung into them or escape clouds of spores that caused them to hack and wheeze while their throats seemed to want to swell closed with irritation. Unlike the trials Xavier was fighting through, the thrum did not offer occasional reprieve but only made the overgrowth worse. Pulling her spear from the now unmoving corpse Ella panted softly glad for the fact that nothing hung in the air after this fight. The pair of humanoid mushrooms she and Valkra had taken down last erupted into one of the spore clouds when they expired making them flee blindly down the corridor of tree trunks. Moving to check on Valkra she smirked at the fierce little cub. ¡°I take back my earlier complaints, I would much rather have some skeletons or even ghouls instead of these things.¡± The panther purred in agreement as it pressed into her hand. ¡°Come on we need to hurry. This place is getting more dangerous, and I am worried about what might lie ahead.¡± She retrieved her spear and the two moved deeper into the maze. They skirted around another acidic pool, hugging close to the trees that made up the walls of the pathway, and turned the corner. There in the center of a new clearing, they finally found the pillar with the core of the ley line. However, there was no sign of Emily now. Ella cried out in fear that they had been too late, and something had taken the child when she heard a noise from one of the trees that surrounded the platform the pillar was on. As she moved closer a small form nestled in the roots of the tree lifted its head. Emily stared up at Ella from where she sat against the tree. Her eyes glowed with an inner light of emerald green similar to the tether that had been seen tying her to the pillar previously. She looked worn and tired as if she had gone for days without food or rest. ¡°You came back for me.¡± The child spoke though her voice had a much richer timbre than her frail form would suggest. ¡°I knew you would.¡± She smiled weakly and held her arms out towards Ella. The woman knelt next to the child and gathered her close. As she pulled the child into her lap she spotted the tether once again, now much thicker and robust as it tied the child to the ground near the base of the tree. ¡°I cannot leave.¡± The girl whispered into Ella¡¯s ear. ¡°I am bound to this place, if I leave it will die and so will I.¡± Her eyes flared brighter and her voice grew more resonant. ¡°We need the child, her life sustains us, the balance is amiss and it will destroy us.¡± Ella sat back, still holding Emily but more at arm''s length now uncertain of what she was grasping. ¡°Who are you? Why are you hurting her? She is just a child.¡± Her tone was a mix of anger and worry. Something had taken over Emily. ¡°We are what your people called the ley line of life. Without us, this forest would wither into nothingness and the land would die, death would take hold and all would fall into darkness. We do not mean to hurt the child but we must live.¡± Tears welled in Ella¡¯s eyes at the seriousness of the situation. Emily had become a sacrifice for the greater good but she could not accept that. There had to be a way to save the child and the Ley line. ¡°No, there must be another way. Please, what can I do?¡± The child grew silent for a while and Ella despaired that there was not another way. After several long minutes, the garden thrummed surging in growth once again and the child stiffened in her arms. As the growth slowed Emily looked up to Ella once again. ¡°There is but one way, balance must be restored. As the death ley line requires sacrifice so to does life. Each requires its own energy to revitalize the paths.¡± The young girl raised her arm and pointed deeper into the garden. ¡°You must pass through the maze and find the dying tree. Though corrupted it still retains a seed, return the seed and plant it near the pillar. It will restore the ley line and provide energy to stabilize it. Hurry though, time grows short.¡± Emily¡¯s eyes faded slightly, and her face took on the tired appearance it had when Ella found her. ¡°I am so sleepy.¡± She sighed. ¡°You are not going to leave me are you?¡± The woman smiled gently to her as she wiped away tears with her free hand. ¡°No Emily, I will stay close. Rest for a little bit I need to go check something but will not go far.¡± She set Emily back down and the child curled up next to the tree once again. Her eyes closed and soon the peaceful stillness of slumber took her once again. Valkra padded over and curled up next to the sleeping child, her feline eyes turning to watch Ella as the woman rose and hurried off into the maze once more. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Back in the crypt, Xavier was gazing into the pool studying his own reflection briefly as his mind raced with what had happened. As he did so the thrum filled the chamber and his own visage in the water shifted. Dead eyes stared back up at him from the water, the image now a grotesque mockery of his own visage. Its jaw hung loose only attached at a single joint while the flesh of his face rotted. The image of his body had taken on an emaciated and nearly skeletal appearance, and he recoiled from the water. This was getting to be nearly too much for the young man as he ran his hands over his body and face trying to reassure himself that he was still alive and whole. His mind wrestled with what his hands told him compared to what his eyes had, and he slowly pushed back the paranoia. ¡°FUCK I HATE THIS PLACE.¡± He screamed out to nobody in particular. The light had once again shifted to the eerie purple and made the shadows dance and shift causing him to jump every so often. He rose and skirted to the right around the reflecting pool, careful to avoid looking in it again, not wanting to see his dead features once more. As he came to the next archway he ducked through it and hastened down the hall glad to leave yet another horrible room behind. The hallway soon opened up once again and a new chamber lit as the sconces burned with the corrupted light. In the center sat a large skeletal obelisk. The walls were covered with intricate bone arrangements forming geometric patterns, each embedded with faintly purple glowing runes. Their forms cracked and brittle as if they had been left to the elements for decades and were on the verge of crumbling to dust. On the opposite side of the room stood a large pair of sealed doors in another archway. Not seeing any obvious threat Xavier moved carefully into the chamber and noticed concentric rings surrounding the obelisk. Each ring had a set of runes etched into them and there was an empty ring with slotted areas between them. Opting to try and avoid anything to do with the room, Xavier stayed near the wall and moved warily around the rings and obelisk. When he came to the giant doors, he pushed gently on them only to find them unmoving. Bracing both hands against the door he pushed harder and still the doors resisted any movement. Sighing he looked back at the center of the chamber. Warily Xavier moved closer to the obelisk and rings to study them. The outer ring was etched in harsh jagged runic symbols, each representing concepts of death and decay. Thar¡¯nok, Ven¡¯vaalith, Syr¡¯noloth, Durnan, Erlath, Vorin, Sul¡¯varis, Ilyn¡¯coris or Void, Decay, Shadow, Wither, Rest, Corruption, Dust, and Drain in the common tongue. Conversely, the inner ring held smoothly flowing runes representing ideas of life. Si¡¯alenth, Solah, Illuvah, Vythalir, Na¡¯vylah, Arin,var, Ren¡¯talah and Nalu¡¯varis stood for Seed, Growth, Light, Vitality, Flourish, Spark, Renewal and Purity. As he studied the mechanism the thrum sounded once again, and the chamber shifted. Whereas previously the rings, obelisk, and walls were worn and damaged to the point of unintelligibility they were now whole and pristine. The mosaics of bone on the crypt walls are revealed as hauntingly beautiful murals that portray the eternal cycle of life and death. One mural depicted a field of vibrant flowers blooming in radiant colors, only to wilt, shed petals, and decay into soil. Another showed a shimmering river teeming with life, gradually diminishing into a barren, cracked riverbed. A final mural featured golden light illuminating a lush meadow that fades into creeping shadows. Around the base of the obelisk Xavier found the inscription, ¡°Vytha yn thar¡¯nok, vael yn ren¡¯talah, solah yn valithar.¡± Speaking softly to himself he read it aloud in common, ¡°Life to dust, spirit to renewal, growth to decay.¡± He looked back to the runes in the circles an idea forming. He crouched between the two rings and tested each carefully. They both shifted easily at his touch spinning back and forth. Further inspection showed that the tiles holding the various runes were able to be slid out of the rings and into notches in the blank area between them enabling him to pair different ones together between the ring of life and the ring of death. A slow smile touched his lips and he quickly moved around the circle slipping a rune out from the life ring and in from the death ring, before long the central ring held matched pairs of concepts and he stood up looking over the work. He looked about the room curious as nothing seemed to happen, scowling, he looked back to the pairs. He was certain they were correctly matched. Just in case, he moved to the doors once again and tested them. They remained as immobile as before confirming something was still undone. He spent the next several minutes testing various combinations of the runes to the same results. Nothing changed and eventually, the room thrummed once more and took on a decayed and ruinous appearance. As Xavier tried to adjust the runes once more he discovered that they were immobile, the damage and age locking their supporting tiles into place where they were. Frustrated, Xavier stood back up and resignedly moved to return to the room with the reflecting pool and see what could be found down the other passageway. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Ella fought fiercely as she moved on from the center of the maze. Her progression was lackluster, however, as the growth continued to expand with each thrum. The small plant-made creatures she had fought on her way towards the ley line had only grown in size and ferocity. The catlike creatures that had been roughly the same size as Valkra were now the size of small tigers, their wooden claws now small dagger-sized and even twice as sharp. She bore several cuts and gashes along her arms and legs where they had caught her by surprise and the forest sage had not managed to close them yet. Currently, she was circling a large beast, nearly the size of a small bear. Its great head was seemingly carved from a solid block of wood for all the damage her spear was able to inflict upon it. As it raised up on its hind legs, raising both forepaws to bring them brutally down on the defiant woman, she rushed forward driving her spear upwards and into its open mouth. There, the wood was softer and the weapon bit true, sinking deeply into the beast''s head and causing it to still suddenly as whatever animated it lost its power. She wrenched her spear free as it fell barely saving it from being snapped in two by its weight and collapsed to her knees beside its lifeless body. She wiped the sweat from her forehead as she wondered how Xavier was doing, prayed that she would be in time to retrieve the seed and save Emily, and just survive the ordeal itself. She actually was not afraid, she had been near death countless times in her life and had always managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but this was on a scale far beyond anything she had faced before. Her breath caught once again she levered herself up with the shaft of the spear and continued down the path hoping that this one was the correct one this time. The dead ends she had discovered so far had eaten away at valuable time and concern had caused her to rush more than she normally would, hence how the plant bear had surprised her. Rounding the next corner she cried out in surprise as the ground gave way beneath her, she landed roughly on her backside and slid down the uneven slope ultimately bouncing off rocks and tree trunks as the slide ended up a hectic cartwheeling tumble. Ending up in a crumpled pile of bruises, aching muscles, and a wrenched shoulder, she moaned softly in pain at the bottom of the hill. She didn¡¯t dare lay there for too long considering her scream and the noise of her passage likely gave her location away to anything predatory in the near vicinity. She rolled over and found where her spear lay, thankfully still unbroken, and reached out to grab it. A low hiss escaped her lips as her shoulder exploded in mind-numbing pain as she realized her arm was hanging limp, her shoulder was in truth dislocated in the fall instead of merely wrenched.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She fell back to the ground as her free arm grasped her misshapen shoulder trying to hold it still. Biting her lip she knew it would have to be reset if she had any hope of continuing on, let alone saving Emily. Slowly she sat up and got her knees beneath her so she could force herself upright. Hobbling over towards a small y-shaped sapling she ground her teeth together before delicately lifting her arm and wedging it in the crook of the tree. Closing her eyes she twisted suddenly bracing her limb against the tree to keep it still while she forced the joint back. Her world went dark as she collapsed, her mind overwhelmed by the agony of the action. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Xavier skirted the pool once again. He did not want to revisit the image of his rotting visage for a second time. His mind already recoiling from the memory of what the water had shown him. He ducked through the only remaining archway and hastened down its short tunnel to find what else this house of horrors held. He found himself in another circular chamber as the thrum pulsed through the ruins once again restoring them to pristine conditions. This chamber was different, however. In the very center stood a small pillar that supported an orb of pure shifting energy. He watched fascinated as black, green, gold, and purple shades fought and twisted across the surface of the orb. Through gaps in the energies, he could make out that there was a small object that undulated evenly between the four colors and was held aloft but had no way to reach it. Pulling his attention away from the pillar and its prize he looked carefully around the room, each corner had a smaller pillar standing in it. Near each of these four pillars, a shaft of light shone from the ceiling but instead of a strong steady light they surged and faded, unstable in their flow. He stepped into the chamber and the archway behind him snapped close, an unseen shutter slamming down from the top of the passage to seal it closed. He heard the sound of stone grinding and several more columns rose up from the ground. Angled and polished reflective surfaces topping each of the eight new uprights. Studying the new developments Xavier had a sinking feeling. This reminded him of similar puzzles in several of the Massively Multiplayer Online or MMO games he had played back on earth. He was going to have to figure out how to reflect the beams of light in the correct order and intensity onto the columns. Or at least that is what he was assuming. The problem was determining which light went to which column. There were no identifying marks on any of them and besides the various pillars and shafts of light, there was nothing else to provide any clue or hint as to what was needed. Walking over to one of the new reflective columns he touched it gingerly, afraid of triggering a potential trap, and sighed in relief as it moved under his touch, able to shift it around in a clearly defined section and twist the column to adjust both the angle and direction that the reflective surface faced. Experimentally he shifted the column over to the first shaft of light, the golden one, and angled it so the light shone directly onto one of the pillars. As soon as the light struck the pillar directly the room exploded in blinding light and he fell to his knees covering his eyes. The flash of light was accompanied by a blistering flash of heat and he felt the small blisters form on his skin almost immediately. He shoved the column quickly, knocking it from where it was and the illumination and heat vanished as soon as the light no longer touched the pillar. Xavier gasped in pain as his body cooled from the sudden flash searing. He had only a small amount of forest sage left in his pouch, and he was wary of eating it in case it would be needed for something worse than the blistering heat. He looked at the three remaining colors and quailed at what a mistake with each of them could bring. Weighing his options he looked back to the orb of energy, he had no doubt that simply reaching into it and trying to pull out whatever was inside would be beyond stupid. As he studied the contraption longer the thrum pulsed once again and the shafts of light faded to nearly vanishing. Each of the columns supporting the reflective surfaces fell to dust and the pillars in the corners cracked and shifted leaving great chunks of them to fall to the floor. The only thing untouched by the desolation was the central shaft and its orb of energy. It stood impassive and undiminished in all of its glory. Xavier shook his head. ¡°Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. Damn, magic and traps. Why did everything have to be so hard.¡± He complained to himself. As he did though he moved to look at the broken pillars, hoping for some sort of change that might help him solve this problem. The first one he inspected remained, other than being broken, as it was. A shaft of dark black stone rose from the ground ending where it was cracked and split. He touched it carefully with the tip of Vaeltheris so as to avoid possibly burning, freezing, or who knew what other sort of damage to his bare fingers. When nothing happened he touched it gently and found inert cold black rock. It was when he moved to the second column that he found something different. This column, like the first was black stone however there were fine tracings of golden material throughout the interior of the column. A grin breaking out on his face he rushed to the next column and found something similar but this time a deep purple. The final column had the same tracings but in what looked like emerald fibers. That had to be the key. Each shaft of light had to be shone on the right pillar. As the thrum returned and restored the room Xavier quickly moved sliding a reflective post into each shaft of light and directing it towards the pillar with the matching latticework inside of it. The room brightened slightly but as the energy in the orb fluctuated it the pillars pulsed, and the burst of energy pushed the reflective columns askew once again. A wave of cold sapping energy flooded the room and Xavier once again felt his stamina bottom out and he collapsed to his knees exhausted. Luckily this time it did not seem to touch his constitution and after a short rest, the green bar started to refill once more. ¡°Ok,¡± he muttered, ¡°I seem to have got part of it right but now I have to account for the fluctuations in the orb.¡± He searched about the chamber looking for what he might have missed the first time. Hesitantly he touched the column that was pure once again, wary of the necrotic pulse or flash of light as he did so. The column itself didn¡¯t react to his touch though so he tried to push it as well. It didn¡¯t move as he expected, however, but twisted in his grip becoming more porous as it turned. He narrowed his eyes and crouched to look at it closer. Sure enough, it had changed from being solid stone to something more resembling lava rock, with larger and smaller holes covering its surface. Experimentally he twisted it while watching the holes and discovered he could change their size depending on how he turned it. Realization crept into his mind and he glanced at the orb. Noticing how the darker energy shifted through the others he estimated it accounted for the third largest amount of energy pulsing through the sphere. He watched the energies play about each other for a little while longer making certain he knew their order of magnitude and that it didn¡¯t shift until the thrum came again. The pillar he was next to once again cracked and broke and the rest of the room fell into disrepair. The only reason he noticed the other change was because he was still staring at the orb. The energies shifted. The dark energy now made up the primary strength and they danced over the surface. The whole order he had so carefully determined was cast asunder and he threw his hands up in consternation. Kicking the broken pillar he yelped in pain as his toes responded to the abuse. He hopped on one foot for a moment holding onto his damaged foot before he sat roughly down to wait for the next change. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** Ella slowly stirred. Her shoulder screamed in pain but it was a far less severe pain than what she had felt when it was dislocated. She opened her eyes to find herself still hanging from the tree, held up by her wedged arm. The shoulder, thankfully, was back in place though it didn¡¯t stop the agony from the dislocation or resetting, merely reducing it to something she could better tolerate. She stood gingerly and lifted her limb from the crux of the tree. Moving it about slowly she ensured that she had range of motion once again and it no longer hung like a lifeless noodle at her side. Satisfied that she could use both her arms once again she moved over to where her spear lay and picked It up. Looking at her surroundings she wondered how long she had been unconscious and was thankful nothing had found her while she was. Her gaze traveled back to the slope she had tumbled down, and she pondered, for a moment, how she was supposed to scale it when she found the seed. Dismissing that as a problem for the future Ella, she turned and noticed that the near solid walls of the maze from up above had diminished, thick undergrowth replacing them, navigable if slowly. She took a deep breath and plunged into the brush using her spear to press through the clinging branches and vines, shifting them up or to the side as needed to somewhat clear a path forward. The struggle was hell on her shoulder, every press or shift causing a new surge of pain and near-blinding agony. She soldiered on though and drove deeper into the growth. Eventually, she found it lessening and becoming easier to traverse until suddenly she broke through, almost falling on her face at the sudden disappearance of vegetation. Ahead of her, in the heart of a faded and devastated grove stood the tree she sought, its silhouette reflecting its forlorn nature and pale contrast against the vibrant overgrown life she had emerged from. Its bark, once golden and smooth to the touch stood cracked and seemed charred. A putrid foul tarlike substance oozes forth from the rents glistening in the false light as if shadows given liquid form. As she approached the tree, the air grew thick and stifling as it carried the acrid scent of decay, this foul odor mingled with the faint sickly sweetness of the rotting vegetation of the grove around it. Even its roots were not lacking its morbid transformation, their gnarled forms clawed and clutched to the ground like the skeletal fingers of a desperate long dead, and buried giant. The remains of an ancient grove, once alive with vibrant golden and emerald hues of life were now a shell of its former self, Brittle branches and remains of leaves crunched beneath her feet as she moved carefully closer. As she moved she glanced down and found the skeletal remains of proud limbs crumble to dust and rise into the nearly still air, an embodiment of ghostly whispers of their past. The suddenly oppressive silence of the grove was only broken by the groan and creek of the great tree''s branches as they swayed, reluctantly, as if by some malevolent force as there was a complete lack of any natural flow of air this far below the surface. Even the light around the tree seemed to have taken on the corruption. Muted and lifeless, much like the surrounding vegetation, it cast faint shadows that undulated and twisted, mirroring the unnatural movements of the tree across the blighted floor of the grove. Seeing the befouled giant of nature she almost collapsed in anguish, but for a faint pulse. A hint of pure ancient magic that, unlike the thrum that surged the growth of the forest behind her, thrummed in a rhythmic beat. A faint and muffled heartbeat almost smothered by the layers of choking disease and darkness. She leaned closer and could hear the beat. A faint and almost mournful hum issued forth from the very heart of the tree. It rose through the layers of twisted wood as if the tree were singing its own dirge. Ella moved to the tree and through one of the deep rents in the center of the trunk she spotted it. A softly glowing tiny point of light well within the consuming shadows. She could clearly see its smooth surface, traced with veins of brilliant green and radiant gold that seemed to pulse in time to the faint heartbeat. The pulse was weak itself, the final vestiges of the life it represented almost extinguished entirely. As she gazed upon it, the seed seemed to tremble with the weight of its burden. The promise of hope for the rebirth of the essence it carried within. It was then she noticed a subtle yet profound scent lingering in the air. A mix of spring blossoms, fresh summer rain, and rich earthy fertile soil stood in stark contrast to the pungent miasma of the decay and rotted grove around her. Hesitantly she stepped closer to reach for the seed and the tree moved. Its great branches swayed and swung suddenly towards where she stood, only her quick reactions moved her back, the thunderous crash of the descending branch barely missing her as it slammed into the ground. The ancient tree, corrupted by the foul energies that sought to subsume the ley line had gained a low level of awareness. Still rooted in place and unable to follow its prey, it sensed at a deep level that the seed in its core was both the bane of its existence and the vital spark that gave it remaining life, knowing such it would destroy any who dared try to remove its heart without hesitation. Ella continued to dance and weave, narrowly avoiding the crushing blows the tree rained down on her as it tried to smash the little verminous threat to its existence. She dropped her spear doubting it would be able to do any actual harm to the monster and caught one of the offshoots of a branch as it slammed into the earth beside her. Clinging to the rapidly moving wood she shimmied up its length trying to get to the center mass of the tree. Pelted and whipped by the smaller limbs she continued to drag her protesting body further into the depths of the wild mass until her fingers touched the corrupted sap where it rose foully from the gaping split she had seen the faint glow of the seed within. The sap felt like it set her skin ablaze wherever it touched her. Clinging to her hand with a viscous resilience despite her efforts to wipe it away. Gritting her teeth in pain she plunged her hand deeper into the ruptured bark until her questing fingers touched something warm and wholesome. Closing her digits around the smooth seed she wrenched her arm back pulling it free in a single quick motion. It had the effect of ripping the heart out of a living beast as the tree bucked once, shuddered, and then its limbs seemed to sage, hanging limp and lifeless, once again mere dead wood. She slid down the now still trunk clasping the faintly glowing seed to her chest and hurried across the detritus of the grove, pausing only to scoop her spear from the ground as she rushed back towards where she had left a young girl, possessed by the essence of the life ley line, sleeping and fading. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** In the crypt, Xavier stood, almost patiently, waiting for the next thrum of sound to bring change to the room he occupied once again. When it finally happened he moved with a sense of urgency, aware of how much time had already passed even if he had no way of really tracking its passage. He studied the glowing orb for several long moments until he spotted the pattern of coverage then dashed between the columns twisting each in turn as he adjusted their openings. The golden one widest open to match the majority of the sphere¡¯s coverage, that was followed by the column representing the dark purple light, then the emerald, and finally the plain black stone one. Once he thought he had those set he moved to the once again risen reflective columns and carefully moved them into the various streams of light, deftly twisting them to cause the shafts of radiance to fall upon their respective pillars. As the last one slid into place, the golden light striking the openly porous column the light in the room intensified. It was not the blinding burning light of his first attempt however but a warm comforting glow still causing him to close its eyes due to its brilliance but not in pain. After a few moments, he heard the sealing slab retreat opening the passage back to the reflecting pool, and then further noises echoed through the halls as well. Carefully opening his eyes, he looked towards the pillar that stood in the center of the chamber, gone was the shifting orb of energy and all that remained atop the column was a small stand supporting an ornate miniature version of the ouroboros symbol he recognized from outside of the crypt. Reverently he moved forward and picked up the small item and a prompt screen filled his vision.
You have discovered: Sigil of Balance Item Class: Epic Item Quality: Mastercraft Weight: .25 kg Durability: 500/500 Traits: This wrought sigil depicts the ancient understanding of the balance between life and death, darkness and light, and the rest of the elements.
It almost felt as if it moved within his hand, its surface seeming to twist and writhe as a serpent would though it never loosed it tail and remained in the infinite twisting eight shape. He knew this was important. Between its aura of power and the trials he had gone through to retrieve it there was no way it wasn¡¯t. The rest of the room, however, was empty. As he had lifted the sigil from its stand the four flows of light winked out and all of the columns and pillars around the edges retreated into the floor with a soft grinding sound. Lacking anything else to do Xavier returned to the pool room and paused noticing a faint light now shining from the other hall with the mechanism he had abandoned previously. He hurried around the edge of the pool, noting briefly that when the crypt was pristine his visage in the water was returned to normal and his own unblemished face stared back up at him. Stepping through the archway into the ossuary he noticed a significant change. Though the twin doors were still closed the rest of the room had a faint glow to it. The runes on the floor almost seemed backlit by the soft radiance. It turned out the noise he had heard was the room shifting and returning back to the position he had originally found it in. He slipped the small item into his belt pouch and moved into the room once more. He began moving about the obelisk, shifting the rings to align the runes as he thought they should be paired. As each pair slid into place in the central ring they sank slightly with a small snick of sound, unable to be moved once more. Xavier slowed as he moved to the final pairing of Ren¡¯talah and Sul¡¯varis; Renewal and Rest were beneath his hands. He closed his eyes and gave a silent prayer to Danu that he was right and pulled the two tiles from their rings into the center one. They slid together with another snick and sunk into place. For several moments nothing happened then a soft voice filled the room. ¡°Yn valithar si¡¯vytha. Yn ren¡¯talah si¡¯vael.¡± Xavier sagged in relief mentally translating ¡°In harmony, life flows. In renewal, spirit rises.¡± The sound of stone grinding on stone filled the room and Xavier turned to find the two great doors parting slowly inward. A deep purple light poured forth from behind them and he beheld the heart of the crypt itself. The room was massive in comparison to the rest of the rooms he had been in. It held one key feature, however, a central pillar stood of jet-black stone. Its sides were covered in a latticework of purple veins all rising to flow into the core imbedded in the top of the pillar. Having seen the core of the Life Ley Line, Xavier had no doubts that this was its counterpart, the Death Ley Line core. As he laid eyes on the core, he realized he was not done yet. Reaching the core would be no effortless walk as he beheld large swaths of the room bathed in that eerie purple light that had sapped his energy before. He could see no clear path through them and had a suspicion that being trapped, exhausted in one of them would be fatal. Xavier nearly screamed in frustration. To be so close to his objective yet still unable to reach it was beyond aggravating. He moved to the doorway and leaned in as far as he dared and still able to avoid touching one of the patches of necrotic energy. He shifted to look to either side, searching for some way to advance. Failing to notice any sort of clue he groaned and started to stand upright once more when his eyes fell upon the pillar supporting the core once again. Even from the distance, he could faintly make out etchings of the ouroboros on its surface. He got a wild and somewhat reckless idea. Pulling the small sigil from his pouch, he held it forth and carefully advanced into the room. Gritting his teeth he gingerly stretched his arm towards the closest area saturated by the draining light. As soon as the sigil breached the edge of the light it faded from view leaving just the soft blue glow of the ever-present sconces behind. Xavier could not help himself and he let out a small whoop of joy before he moved determinedly forward towards where the core rested. As he came up to the pillar the light in the room surged and the entire chamber was fully illuminated. It was only then that he spotted the small throne near the rear of the room. Atop which sat a perfectly preserved corpse. Xavier moved past the ley line core to study the corpse closer. It was that of an elderly human male. Robes hung ancient and fragile about his shoulders giving him an air and mien of authority. His hands rested on the arms of the throne gently and his head hung slightly, eyes closed as though he had sat upon it and fallen asleep, never to wake. Xavier knew the crypt, though he was sure it housed other dead as well, was designed for this long-deceased individual. He knelt reverently before the throne bowing his own head in silent homage to the dead before he rose and moved back to the ley line core. Placing his hand atop the purple glowing gem his vision went blank and he froze in place. Inside Xavier¡¯s mind time stood still. He found himself standing in a small rendition of the chamber he had been in. His hand was still on the gem atop the pillar and beyond that sat the throne, its occupant no longer bent and deceased. The seated individual raised his head and its eyes glowed with the purple of the ley line. ¡°By what right do you defile the sanctity of this crypt?¡± Its voice was thunderous and hollow at the same time. It filled Xavier¡¯s senses completely nearly driving him to his knees. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± He stammered trying to rally himself to face this being of great power who sat before him. ¡°I come to awaken this ley line and restore its power to the Syr¡¯Vailen¡± He finally forced through nearly paralyzed lips. The being rose from its throne slowly and paced toward the entrapped man. Xavier found he could not lift his hand from the gem and panic began to rise within him. The being walked slowly around Xavier studying him with those glowing eyes before stopping in front of where Xavier stood trapped. ¡°You bear the aura of Aelriva and the mark of the Ard''Maelor.¡± A slight smile turned up the edges of the being¡¯s lips. ¡°My name is Kintral Amerit, I was the first Ard¡¯Maelor of the Sylmyrian Dominion. It has been millennia since I last beheld that mark on a new individual. Do you have the power to awaken the core young lord? It has faded to near extinction, and I can feel its corruption even through this tenuous bond with you.¡± Xavier didn¡¯t respond immediately. The question felt stilted to him as if his answer would set things into motion that could twist the outcome beyond his ability to control if even survive. He thought back to everything he had seen and been through in the crypt, every lesson pointing to balance. Lifting his eyes to the radiant purple orbs of Kintral he spoke softly. ¡°I do not. But there must be a balance struck to stabilize it. Can you guide me towards what must be done?¡± Kintral smiled genuinely at Xavier¡¯s words and nodded. ¡°Death requires death to energize it just as life requires life. The two cores must be balanced when they are revitalized, or one will overwhelm the other. I sense another returning to the life core, carrying the essence of life though weak to try and restore it. What would you sacrifice to this core in balance?¡± Kintral¡¯s gaze was all Xavier could see. He couldn¡¯t turn away from the being now and felt trapped like a fly in amber. His mind raced as he struggled to find anything, think of anything that could be offered. Then he knew, but before he could speak Kintral did. ¡°Are you sure young lord? Your predecessors in the past would come here to speak with the dead and learn from their wisdom. The dead know many things, see many things, and hear many things. You could learn much and grow rapidly if you followed their path.¡± Xavier swallowed hard, he could feel the power and knowledge radiating from the being before him and oh how he wanted to tap into that font but he nodded slowly. ¡°I am sure, it is the only safe way to restore the core.¡± Kintral bowed his head approvingly to the young lord as Xavier¡¯s hand came free of the gem. Suddenly Xavier was back in the grand crypt room, his hand falling away from the core of the ley line. Purple light swelled within the room though its touch did not sap Xavier the way it previously had. The illumination drove all the shadows from the room and a tether of energy surged forth from the core and struck the corpse of Kintral where he sat atop the throne. The body slowly started to glow from within the light swelling and taking on the shape of the corpse until it shone with radiance for a brief moment and collapsed to dust. The core of the ley line shone brightly before fading back to a soft steady glow. The rest of the crypt lit up as all the sconces flared back into life at once filling the halls with the gentle blue glow. Xavier knew, however, what was lost. He placed the sigil of balance into a small indentation in the pillar, the ornate symbol fusing in place and lighting with a soft purple radiance that slowly traversed the body of the dragon. Part of the balance was struck. Xavier walked slowly back toward the entrance of the crypt. The halls that once held visions, voices, and advice from the past were silent and empty. The dead were gone, sacrificed to power the ley line and weigh one side of the scales of balance.
You have completed a quest: Echoes of Eternity Weakened and corrupted the core of the Ley Line of Death required sacrifice to restore its vitality. You were given a choice though unknowing of the consequences you sacrificed knowledge and power, the wisdom of the dead who had long advised your predecessors to the needs of the core choosing to forge ahead unguided as opposed to risking your own final death. Kintral seemed to approve of this choice before he vanished, a final guidance to a new lord. What will this choice do for your fledgling settlement, what was lost in this sacrifice? Only time will tell young lord. Remember choices have consequences even if they are never known. Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Death Ley Line. Access to Death Magic. +1000 Experience. A final piece of wisdom from the past.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************** At the same time Xavier was working through the puzzles and meeting with the spirit of Kintral, Ella was rushing back to the center of the maze. She held the seed tightly to her chest in a hand still burning with the acrid sap of the corrupted tree, afraid to treat her wounds and lose the seed or be too late in returning to Emily. She had managed to find a vine hanging down the side of the slope she had tumbled down. She slung her spear in its carrier alongside her bow before she wrapped her free hand in the vine¡¯s length. Carefully pulled herself up the treacherous terrain, pausing to wedge herself against a rock or tree before shifting her grip further up the vine and continuing upwards. Rolling over the top of the slope she lay on her back briefly sucking in air as her body rebelled against the exhausting work. Her stamina slowly refilled and she pushed herself up to her feet and set off running again. She moved deliberately, feet retracing the path she had forged to avoid getting stuck in dead ends again or falling into one of the myriad environmental dangers that filled the maze. Her memory served her truly well however and it was not the same hours her trip to the tree had been but a fraction of the time before she found her way back to the pillar and the life core. Ella¡¯s presence caused Valkra to bound to her feet and the cub''s movement roused Emily from her slumber. Emerald glowing eyes opened and oriented on the woman as she drew to the side of the child where she rested. Kneeling, Ella held out her hand and carefully opened her damaged fingers to reveal the softly glowing seed cradled in her palm. Emily smiled warmly seeing the seed then her face took on the stoic mien from before and the resonant voice sounded from her lips once more. ¡°The seed must be planted and nurtured for it to feed us. We did not know how weak it had become. The corruption was far greater than we suspected.¡± The voice softened a sad tone filling it as it spoke next. ¡°The child will not survive the transition. The seed will need her vitality to survive and renew the core of life.¡± ¡°No,¡± Ella gasped, she had gone through too much to lose the child at the very end. Xavier and the villagers would never be able to accept that loss. ¡°No, there is another way, I am certain of it.¡± She cupped the cheek of the girl and leaned closer resting her forehead against the girl¡¯s. ¡°Do not worry Emily. We promised we would get you home, Xavier and I both made that promise and we will not fail you.¡± Rising to her feet she moved back towards the pillar that held the core. She found a small patch of rich earth near the base of it and dug her fingers into the soil turning over enough to make a sizable indentation into the earth. Gently she placed the seed into the bottom of the hole and covered it completely. As she finished, she received a prompt screen of her own. Looking past the edge of it towards Emily, sitting in the tree''s roots and holding her soiled little teddy bear, Ella smiled warmly to the girl and made her choice. The screen vanished from her view, and Ella collapsed atop the freshly turned earth. On the other side of the first level of the deeps, unseen in its sheath as Xavier was lost to his vision with Kintral, Vaeltheris surged in radiance briefly then faded, diminished from what it once was.
You have completed a quest: ¡°The Seed of Renewal.¡± Weakened and corrupted the core of the Ley Line of Life required sacrifice to restore its vitality. As you were given a choice so was your companion, Ella Bree. Her choice freed the child Emily from her fate but at what cost? Return to the Life Ley Line core to retrieve Emily and Ella Bree so you may complete Echoes of Innocence and Balance Restored. Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Life Ley Line Rescue of the missing child Emily. Access to Life Magic. +1000 Experience. Insight into the unknown.
Chapter 18 - The SyrVailen awakens and history lessons. As Xavier walked, he noticed changes to the crypt. The low hum he had become accustomed to had softened, and its tone evened out. Gone was the semi-consistent thrum that had changed the environment''s appearance and composition. He was starting to wonder what had caused the change when he noticed a new icon in the upper left corner of his vision. Right below where he could see the three bars that indicated his health, stamina, and mana was a new image, a miniature picture of Ella now appeared along with her three bars. While that in and of itself was not majorly concerning the fact that there was the barest sliver of red in her health bar and a large white X through her image was. She had never been so hurt before and he chalked the lack of her details up to being minimized up to this point and assumed It was that threatening status that caused her to show in his interface now. Xavier set off at a dash through the remaining chambers of the crypt. Their now seemingly permanent pristine condition made his passage much easier and faster than before. Taking the stairs up to the central chamber two at a time he pressed himself to move faster. He was not going to lose his only real companion in this world within days¡­ or was it weeks now? The idle thought came and went in a flash as he harshly shut it down to focus on getting back to the garden. Vaeltheris in hand, he moved through the tunnels leading to the garden barely noticing the change of the flora. The overgrowth had all but vanished. The tunnels were now lined with growth but enhanced their appearance and ambiance than inhibiting passage. As he came out of the tunnels and onto the overlook, he stopped unable to help the awe at the extreme change to the cavern. The overgrowth had completely disappeared, replaced by orderly hedges, walks, and stone-worked pavilions. Had he not seen for himself how chaotic it had been just hours ago he never would have believed this could be the same chamber. He only took in the view for a moment before his eyes oriented on the center of the gardens, there the pillar supporting the ley line core stood proud, its gem glowing a strong emerald green. Near it stood an equally impressive tree and nestled in its roots were three figures, a child, a shadowmane cub, and a woman. The child was huddled over the recumbent form of the woman as the cub paced warily about them. Seeing none of the previous threats in the surrounding areas and nothing attacking the trio, Xavier sprinted down the incline and across the oddly well-maintained paths and lawns. Valkra spun her hackles up and a low rumbling growl in her chest until she saw who was rushing towards them. Recognizing Xavier, she stopped her aggressive stance and bounded back toward the other two. Xavier slid to his knees at their side, wincing slightly at the rocks beneath the grass that bruised his knees and tore flesh but more focused on Ella and Emily than his pain. Seeing Emily unhurt and conscious, Xavier focused on Ella. Though she had cuts, bruises, and other similar minor injuries nothing explained her current state nor the fact that her hit points were all but gone. Emily looked up from where she had been hunched over the woman. Her eyes had the faintest green glow behind them as tears welled up and ran down her cheeks. ¡°She saved me, the Ley Line needed new life and told her of a seed¡± The young girl cried. ¡°She planted it and then collapsed. When she did the core released me.¡± She fell back across the woman crying harder. Xavier delicately wrapped his arms around the child and lifted her away from Ella so he could see the woman better. Finally gaining an unobstructed view he inspected her closer. She was deathly pale, to the point he focused on her information in his interface again just to verify there was still that sliver of red in her health bar. It hadn¡¯t changed, neither decreasing nor increasing. Setting Emily at his side he dug through his pouches frantically trying to find some more of the forest sage. Unable to locate any he paused, realizing he wouldn¡¯t be able to get her to chew it in her unconscious state anyways. He instead leaned over Ella¡¯s unconscious form and lowered his cheek to her face. He sighed in relief as he felt the faintest flow of breath escape her nose. She was still breathing, if faintly. As he hovered there, he was able to spot the slight rise and fall of her chest. Almost laughing in relief, he gently lifted the woman into a princess carry and rose to his feet. No one noticed as her arm fell between his arm and body allowing her hand to briefly touch the hilt of Vaeltheris, nor the brief pulse of light from the blade when it happened. A soft moan escaped Ella¡¯s lips and her eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was confused and glassy but turned upon Xavier¡¯s face after a few moments. ¡°X¡­Xavier?¡± She stuttered before coughing roughly. His grip tightened on her to prevent her body wracking from causing her to fall but eased as she settled once more. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I am here. Let''s get you back up top and hopefully one of the villagers can help.¡± He smiled at her warmly, ¡°You are the closest friend I have in this world. I¡¯m not about to let you die now. We have far to much ahead of us and I need you.¡± She stared at him a weak smile on her lips before she rested her head on his shoulder closing her eyes once more. ¡°It worked then?¡± She managed to ask. ¡°The seed was dying, the core said it needed more life, or it would collapse, and the balance would be lost. It was going to use Emily.¡± ¡°Hush,¡± He gently admonished her. ¡°Emily is fine she¡¯s here with us as is Valkra. Both were guarding you when I arrived. Rest now. I can take it from here to get us all back home.¡± Emily¡¯s tears had slowed hearing Ella speak and she reached up to hesitantly take the woman¡¯s hand as Xavier spoke. Ella opened her eyes slightly and smiled weakly down at the girl. She was relieved to see that the overwhelming glow that had previously lit the child''s eyes was gone though she was curious about the faint remaining portion. Xavier got the group moving as he carried Ella back towards the incline. His walk was slow, careful to not jostle the woman in his arms for fear of causing her wounds to open and take the last bit of her health. As he walked, he was able to get a better look at the changed garden. Like the crypt, it had been restored. Where there had once been overgrown plant life, aggressive creatures, and ruined stonework, now, it could rival some of the more extravagant gardens he had seen on the internet back home. Radiating out from the core¡¯s pillar pathways gently crossed through cultivated flowerbeds and around manicured trees and shrubs. They crossed pristine flowing brooks through elegant bridges and ended in the various pavilions. While he had felt peace, before his scare with Ella, in the changed crypt, this renewed garden gave him a sense of serenity and revitalization. He knew they were going to have to come back into the Deeps and explore both chambers further in the near future. Taking his time meant it was nearly an hour before they finished the climb out of the deeps and stepped through the archway into the mosaic chamber. Sylvie, the halfling who had first noticed Emily missing, let out a scream of joy seeing the little girl. Dashing forward she lifted the child from the ground and pulled her into a tight hug. ¡°Thank you, Lord Vael! You saved her! I don¡¯t know how I will ever be able to repay you. She is like a daughter to me.¡± In the middle of the overjoyed woman¡¯s exclamation his vision was once again obscured by prompt screens.
You have completed a quest: ¡°Echoes of Innocence.¡± Ella Bree¡¯s sacrifice enabled the rescue of Emily from her connection to the Life Ley Line. Though not intentionally harming the child her life essence was empowering failing line. Ella Bree provided another source of energy. Speak with her to learn more about what happened. Rewards: Purification and revitalization of the Life Ley Line. Rescue of the missing child Emily. Access to Life Magic. +1000 Experience. Insight into the unknown.
You have completed a quest: ¡°Balance Restored.¡± The opposing elements of life and death have had their ley lines restored. This balance ensures that one no longer threatens to subsume the other. Rejoice harbinger of balance your influence has already shown its effects on the world. Rewards: New access to challenges in the Deeps. Passive Effect: Ley Line Resonance. +1000 Experience.
¡°I really need to change those to only appear when I want, or it could be a major issue.¡± He thought to himself. The idea of those prompts appearing during combat or in the middle of a crucial discussion or event. He dismissed the prompts to return his attention to the villagers. ¡°I would do the same for any of you. I had promised that if you supported me I would do everything in my power to restore you and yours. Though we have not figured out how to retrieve those taken by the slavers, I could not leave Emily to the Deeps.¡± As he spoke, he walked forward, still cradling Ella¡¯s unconscious form. As Xavier stepped onto the floor mosaic, the ancient chamber trembled with an unseen force, responding to his presence as though the very stones themselves recognized him. The moment his feet make contact, the air thickened with energy, charged with a long-awaited potential. The mosaic, dormant for so long, pulsed to life beneath his feet. The Life section exploded with a brilliance that momentarily blinded Xavier. The lush greens, vibrant pinks, and soft yellows burst into motion, the petals of blooming flowers unfurling as if they¡¯d been held back by an invisible force. The vines, once still, now twisted and spiraled upward from the center, their tendrils reaching out toward Xavier like the embrace of an old friend. The blooming flower that marked the section''s symbol, pulsed with light, radiating waves of energy outward in a gentle but steady rhythm. The air of the chamber filled with the intoxicating scent of fresh blooms, and a breeze stirred, the skin of those witnessing the event was brushed with the feeling of warm sunlight. The room hums with the sound of growth, like the soft rustle of leaves and the quiet sighs of nature itself. Every breath taken felt those who did so with the sensation of rejuvenation and vitality, a deep, comforting sense that life has returned to this sacred place. But the Death section awoke in tandem, its reaction sharp and stark in contrast. As the Life section flared, the Death section deepened into darker shades, the grays and blues intensifying into a shadowed vortex. The symbol of Death, a raven¡¯s feather, grew vivid, the pale blue streaks coming to life, curling in eerie spirals like smoke rising from an unseen fire. Mist, thick and ghostly, rose from the mosaic and swirled around Xavier¡¯s legs, brushing against his skin with a cold, tingling sensation. The coolness of death was palpable in the chamber, but not oppressive, more like the touch of something inevitable yet strangely comforting. The air chilled in contrast to the warmth of the Life section, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and distant thunder. A whisper seemed to echo through the chamber, a sound like the flutter of unseen wings or a soft murmur of voices from the beyond, resonating with the quiet peace that only death can offer. The forces of death pulsed gently as if acknowledging its place in the eternal cycle, neither feared nor rejected but accepted as part of the balance.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The Central Nexus, where all the elements converge, quivered with vibrant energy as if the very heart of the mosaic was now alive with power. The once-still colors of Life and Death blended in perfect harmony, Life¡¯s vibrant greens melting into Death¡¯s shadowy blues. The colors swirled together, creating a dazzling, hypnotic effect as they pulsed, merging and parting in an eternal dance of creation and cessation. The mosaic beneath Xavier¡¯s feet seemed to breathe, the stones and gems vibrating with a gentle hum, as though the nexus recognized the restoration of these forces. The air within the chamber crackled with newfound magic, a blend of life and death interwoven into the very fabric of the room. It¡¯s a harmony of opposites, each force, though seemingly at odds, found its place in the greater whole. The ground beneath Xavier felt alive, the tiles pulsating as if they themselves were celebrating the renewal of balance in a world long deprived of such unity. Xavier stood at the center, the epicenter of this monumental shift, as the energies of Life and Death surged outward from the nexus, renewing the ancient connection and affirming the delicate equilibrium between all things. In Xavier¡¯s arms, Ella¡¯s eyes flashed briefly in response to the surge of magical essence. She shifted in his arms before laying her head against his shoulder once again. The restorative and calming air washed over her easing the residual effects that came from her choice below. After several moments the sounds, sights, and scents faded leaving a bare memory in their wake. However, the tiles of the two reawakened sections had subtly shifted. Gone were the dull and lifeless stones now replaced by vibrant solid frescos reflecting their new status. The villagers released a collective breath as prompts filled everyone¡¯s vision. Know this! Those who stood witness to the revitalization of the ley lines may now feel their own powers subtly altered by what they have witnessed. The energies of Life and Death, intertwined in ways both delicate and dangerous, have left their mark on the very souls of those present, their effects lasting long after the spectacle fades. Reflecting the balance of the two elements the following changes have taken effect: +2 Charisma and Wisdom to those with neutral alignment. -2 Healing and Damage to those without neutral alignment. Xavier blinked slowly the sheer intensity of the event having momentarily overwhelmed his senses. As the world came back into focus around him, he became aware of all of the villagers doing the same when another prompt filled his vision.
You have completed quests: ¡°Sleeping Lines 1 and 2.¡± Having started exploring the first level of the Deeps below the mosaic you found not only one but two of the dormant ley lines. The ley lines of Life and Death have been revitalized, bringing equilibrium back to the natural order. The mosaic within the Syr¡¯Vailen has shifted and now stands as a testament to your achievement, its radiance reflecting the harmony you have rekindled. Rewards: Increased Mana in settlement lands. Increased wildlife and quest opportunities. +1500 Experience.
You have been offered a quest. ¡°Sleeping Lines 3.¡± Most of the ley lines that make up the nexus beneath your settlement remain dormant. Continue your exploration of the deeps beneath the mosaic to find and restore the remaining lines further increasing the ambient mana and additional capabilities for your settlement. As this is a settlement quest it will automatically be accepted when the appropriate conditions are met. Conditions: Personal Level of 15. Retain Mastery of the Syr¡¯Vailen. Potential rewards: Increased Mana in settlement lands. Increased wildlife and quest opportunities. +1500 Experience. Xavier dismissed those prompts and reaffirmed to himself to update his settings to allow him to review new prompts at his leisure instead of being overwhelmed by them when the next major event took him by surprise. Words etched themselves in brilliant letters, their elegant script filling the prompt screen as a radiant symphony of chimes reverberates through his soul, accompanied by a booming proclamation:
"Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 6!" You have crossed the pivotal threshold beyond Level 5, stepping into a realm few ever reach. Where the common individuals plateau, you rise, proving yourself as a true contender among the exceptional. This is no longer the path of the common, your growth now marks the beginning of a legacy. The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny, an exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points granted to humans by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. A New Threshold Unlocked: The horizon of your potential broadens. At this pivotal level, you are granted the power to choose a Gathering Archetype and a Crafting Archetype. These choices are more than roles¡ªthey are an extension of your soul¡¯s purpose, connecting you to the lifeblood of the world and the creations of your hands. Will you be the Harvester of nature¡¯s bounty or the Artisan of legendary wonders? The choice is yours. Mastery Takes Root: Your growing prowess earns you a unique boon: 20% skill allocation to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love, and let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!
Xavier¡¯s legs gave out as his mind was overwhelmed by prompt after prompt. The successive bombardment of information was too much for him to handle. As he fell to his backside the hard stone tiles of the mosaic broke him from his semi-dazed state with sharp pain radiating from his beleaguered tailbone. Reflexively his arms tightened on Ella preventing him from dropping her. After a moment to steady himself, he turned his gaze upon her. Her eyes were open, if barely, and lifted to watch him. Her breathing had steadied and calmed, the worst of her experience behind her though she was as weak as a newborn foal unable to hold herself up. ¡°I owe you an explanation,¡± she said softly. ¡°Seems as if I get the chance to do so. I had thought my choice would take that away, but Vaeltheris opted for something else entirely.¡± ¡°Vaeltheris? I know it¡¯s your blade but how can it make decisions for you? I mean it is just a knife right.¡± He responded; the confusion was clear upon his face as he spoke. ¡°Yes, and no. Take me to my bed and I will tell you what I can.¡± She responded wearily and then once again rested her head on his shoulder, the strain of even holding her head up too much for very long. Xavier nodded and looked about. His villagers had seemed to have recovered. Though he could hear discussions about what had taken place as they started to return to their normal day. Sylvie had set Emily down sometime during the events, but she took both the girl¡¯s hand and that of Pip, her actual son, and led them both from the chamber. It wasn¡¯t long until only Xavier, Ella, Aelriva and Valkra were all that was left in the room. Rising to his feet and carrying Ella, Xavier followed her request and made for her chambers and answers. Having placed the weakened woman into her bed, Xavier sat in the new chair that stood beside it. It seems despite the worry for the missing child the villagers had not been idle in his absence and newly crafted furniture had started showing up in the warrens adding a sense of residence and hominess to the otherwise barren tunnels and rooms. He sat there quietly assuming she would talk when she was ready, his hand resting on hers in a show of support and comfort. After a while, Ella took a deep resolute breath and turned her head to look at Xavier. When she spoke her tone had taken on that of a storyteller, words slightly distant as she seemed to recite a legend of the past. ¡°I told you in the Deeps of ancient civilizations lost to the ages over their own squabbles and the ravages of time and invasion. To better understand the blade Vaeltheris you need to know of two of these empires specifically, the Sylmyrian Dominion and the Phoenix Empire. Most of this knowledge has been lost to time and faded into mystery and myth. From my understanding, few truly believe the Sylmyrians even existed as a people now. Both were vast and glorious civilizations, the Sylmyrians were crafters without peers, scholars, and masters of the Ley Lines and the power they held. Their works were sought after by common and Lord alike and they built wonders unseen before and unmatched to this day. The Syr¡¯Vailen and even the great forge of these ruins were testaments to their prowess. The Phoenix Empire was likewise a great civilization, it was a theocracy as opposed to the scholarly council that led the Sylmyrians. They wrought mystical wonders and architecture. Their ziggurats and gardens were epitomes of divine inspiration. However, the leaders of the Phoenix Empire felt slighted and outshone by the recognition of and the demand for the creations of the Sylmyrians. As is wont for civilizations of power this festered, the relationship between the nations devolving from respect and trade to hostilities and war. The Sylmyrians bolstered by their magics and superior crafts were matched by the divine power and numbers of the Phoenix people. Rumor has it though, that one or more of the gods saw potential in this conflict to remake the world more to their own ends and disrupt the Celestial Harmony. They whispered in the ears of the Divine Emperor of the Phoenix Empire, and he in turn into the ears of his nobles and priests. There was a way, through the blessings of the gods, to wipe the Sylmyrians from Arath and claim their rightful place as the true masters of the world. Usurping the knowledge and artifacts of their vanquished enemies. Those rumors went on to tell of great rites of power, and rituals that were days if not weeks on end. Sacrifices of slaves, beasts, crops and anything else of worth in supplication to the gods, and it worked. A giant sphere of stone and fire took shape in the heavens powered by the demands and pleadings of the priests in the Phoenix Empire, the comet was falling towards the center of the Sylmyrian lands. But, the Sylmyrians had not been meekly awaiting their fate. As I said they were scholars and mages of immense power themselves. Knowing the destruction that was destined their way they enacted plans of their own. The best of their crafters and casters led by their current Ard¡¯Maelor, their Forge Master, they sought to not only redirect the devastation of the comet but safeguard their people. In the end, they succeeded in both tasks, but not in the ways they expected. A conjoined spell redirected the comet from its course, and it fell upon the lands of the Phoenix blasting their people and prosperity. Though none are certain due to the fall out of the cataclysm it is suggested that the Blasted Lands in the north are remnants of that magical destruction. As for safeguarding their people, that is where Vaeltheris factors in. It is an Ethyr¡¯Vael, a soul-forged blade. The Sylmyrians, in their knowledge of the craft, had discovered a way to harness the essence of creatures and use them to give power and abilities to items. Vaeltheris is the epitome of this craft. You see they went beyond simply harnessing the essences of monsters or creatures and using those stones in their creation. They ensorcelled the very souls of their people, all their lives, knowledge, abilities, and their very beings brought together in that blade. Eternal security and safety for the Sylmyrian people, if not in the existence they had intended. You asked how the blade could make a choice of its own, that is simple given what it is. The blade has a sentience. A personification made of the amalgamation of an entire society. Since it is bound to me it could sense my loss of vitality and understood what was happening.¡± She paused and her gaze fell on the blade, tears welling in her eyes before she continued. ¡°It gave of its souls to preserve me. I don¡¯t know how many perished to ensure I survived but it is diminished. The strain has further weakened what it can do, and I don¡¯t know how or if it can be restored. I do know, however, that I trust you implicitly. I want you to become the bearer of the blade and lift its burden from my shoulders.¡± She raised a hand, her fingers curled around something hidden within her palm. As she unfurled the digits it exposed a small crystalline orb. ¡°Take this, it will bind the blade to your soul.¡± Hesitantly, Xavier reached out and lifted the orb from her hand. He studied it a moment before looking at her once again. ¡°How do I do it?¡± She smiled faintly at him. ¡°It is magic, Xavier. You must simply impose your will upon it. It will respond accordingly.¡± He turned his gaze back to the orb and focused on it. Soon he was met with a prompt. It appears you wish to bind the item. ¡°Vaeltheris, Eternal Song of the Blade¡± to your soul, binding the item for eternity to yourself. It will be unable to be stolen or lost and if you die it will return to you upon your rebirth. Once done this cannot be given to another without the purist intentions of your being. Do you wish to proceed? Xavier focused on the word "yes," and the crystalline orb sunk into his hand. His head shot up as he heard Ella''s soft words as the action took place. ¡°By binding my blade, you have bound me. I am eternally tied to your side, your trials are my trials, and your will is my will. Thus, it shall be until the gods fade and the stars fall.¡± Though her words were solemn and soft the look in her eyes as she met Xavier¡¯s was hopeful. Chapter 19 - Classes, and Skills, and Treasure Oh My! Xavier sat staring at Vaeltheris'' unsheathed blade. He was processing all he had been told about the blade and occasionally glanced at where Ella now lay sleeping. Exhaustion from her ordeal and healing had caught up to her. The third time he looked at her he paused, high on the side of her neck, behind her earlobe, was a new mark he hadn¡¯t noticed earlier. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was because her hair always covered it or if it was actually new. What had really caught his attention about it was the fact it matched his own mark, the one hidden on his inner wrist, that of the Ard¡¯Maelor. It marked him as the master of the lands around the Syr¡¯Vailen and as the Lord of the settlement. ¡°Now I guess that marks you as bonded to me,¡± He spoke softly so as to not wake the sleeping woman. Turning his attention back to the blade, he just shook his head slightly. Its prompt had been updated and though the changes were few they were significant. It no longer held the red border of a legendary item, no that had changed to the rich golden border of a mythic item.
You have discovered: Vaeltheris ¡°Eternal Song of the Blade¡± Unique Ethyr¡¯Vael ¡°Soul Forged Blade¡± Long ago, the ancient race of crafters known as the Sylmyrians were unrivaled in their art. Masters of enchanting weapons, armor, and mystical tools, they infused their creations with both beauty and lethal precision. But as the centuries passed, they foresaw the inevitable decline of their civilization. To preserve their knowledge and spirit, they gathered in a final, powerful ritual¡ªa soul-forging rite that would allow them to live on within a single weapon. Thus, Vaeltheris was born: a sword unlike any other, forged with the combined essence, skill, and memories of an entire civilization. With its creation, the Sylmyrians themselves faded from existence, their bodies turning to dust as their souls merged within the blade. Now, Vaeltheris is both a sword and a repository of ancient wisdom, holding the strength, spirit, and artistry of an entire race within its metal. Item Class: Mythic Item Quality: Masterwork Weight: 1kg Durability: Unknown Damage: 30 ¨C 45 Piercing/Slashing Traits: Though it appears sturdy, Vaeltheris is surprisingly light and perfectly balanced, almost as if it moves with the wielder¡¯s intentions rather than their strength. Its weight adjusts slightly to provide the ideal amount of heft for any strike, making it feel like an extension of the wielder¡¯s body. Material: Vaeltheris is forged from a silvery, semi-translucent metal that gleams faintly with an internal light as if housing the embers of a forge within its core. This magical alloy is unbreakable, resistant to the ravages of time, and eternally sharp. Form: The blade is slender yet slightly curved, designed for both grace and lethality. Faint, swirling patterns of runes and filigree adorn its surface, glowing softly when attuned to the wielder''s emotions or magic. These designs are etched so finely they appear to shift and ripple like liquid under certain light. Special Traits:
  1. Living Steel: The blade repairs itself if damaged (though breaking it is almost impossible). If chipped, the missing piece regrows with a faint shimmer.
  2. Ethereal Edge: The sword¡¯s edge can phase slightly into an incorporeal state, allowing it to bypass certain magical defenses.
  3. Aetherforged: The blade has the ability to shift its form to match the welders'' needs. At the current level, it can change in size up to medium or down to tiny, the weapon¡¯s sheath will change to match.
  4. Additional traits may be discovered.
¡°Given what she told me about you,¡± he spoke to the blade now, ¡°I should not be surprised that you are mythic. A whole empire of people locked up inside you. How many thousands of souls does that mean I am responsible for now?¡± Other than a slight brightening of its usual glow the blade didn¡¯t respond. Xavier hadn¡¯t really expected a response, though he found it interesting that prompts would change as he learned more information about something. That actually made him stop to think about how little he really knew of this world, its people, or even his own skills and abilities. Leaning back in the chair once again he lay Vaeltheris across his knees and let his mind shift focus. It was becoming easier every time he tried to do it to pull up various interfaces. The fact they seemed to appear in his vision without any sort of device or headset still amazed him but it seemed to be a fact of life in this world. Soon his own character sheet appeared before his eyes.
Name: Xavier Level: 6, 74% to Next Level Age: 32
Race: Human Alignment: Neutral Languages: Basic, Sylmarian
Reputation: 600 ¨C Who Are You Again? - Your name might be whispered in the winds, but most can¡¯t recall it. If you were a knight, you¡¯d be the one who gets left out of the battle plan. People might nod at you in the market, but they¡¯re mostly confused.
Stats
Health: 140/140 Stamina: 120/120 Mana: 160/160
Attributes
Strength: 12 Agility: 10 Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 12 Endurance: 10 Charisma: 14
Intelligence: 12 Wisdom: 14 Luck: 14
Resistances Skills Marks
None See Skills Tab Ard''Maelor - The Grand Forgemaster
Abilities & Traits
Unbound Possibilities ¨C While the inhabitants of Arath are constrained by rules limiting how they can grow and what they can learn you have been blessed by Danu to be unbound. These limits guide you but do not constrain you. Linguist ¨C You have the capacity to know, understand, and speak any mortal language Unyielding Liberator - Having witnessed the devastating aftermath of a tyrannical assault, your resolve is as unshakable as your blade is sharp.
  • Strengthened Resolve: Xavier gains a bonus to morale-based rolls and abilities when fighting against slavers, tyrants, or oppressors.
  • Justice Over Mercy: In situations involving the abuse or enslavement of others, Xavier will prioritize swift and decisive action, often at the expense of diplomatic solutions.
  • Fearsome Reputation: Enemies who learn of his deeds are more likely to falter in battle, intimidated by his uncompromising sense of justice.
  • Unbreakable Loyalty: Those he rescues see him as a savior, and his reputation among the oppressed makes him a natural leader and ally to rebel causes.
His eyes widened as he noticed other changes to his stats that he had been unaware of. He searched through his options of tabs, a remarkably large number of options that he was going to have to figure out what each did, he soon found one simply called ¡°Log.¡± It held a running log, big surprise there, of everything that had happened to him from status changes to damage, to condition changes. Scrolling back through it slowly he finally found a notation after completing one of the puzzles in the crypt. Congratulations ¨C Your hard work in solving challenging puzzles has granted you a bonus for your wisdom and intelligence. Reward: +2 to Wisdom +2 to Intelligence. ¡°Alright,¡± he thought to himself, so there are other ways to increase stats than just leveling. He noticed that all of his attributes had a small plus sign next to them, reminding him that he had a couple of days to assign his new points before they would be assigned for him. He opted to put that off for now as he was unsure where he would be needing them most. Another line in the log had stood out to him while he was searching for the change in his attributes. It read: Congratulations you may now choose an archetype for crafting and gathering. These archetypes will help mold your role in the world around you. What path will you take to glory? Smiling he started through his tabs once more until he found a new one that said classes. There were three separate columns, Gathering, Crafting, and Combat. Though the combat class was greyed out currently. When he focused on it he received the comment: ¡°You do not meet the criteria for selecting a Combat Archetype at this level.¡± ¡°Nothing else, you could at least tell me when I am eligible for it.¡± He grumbled, ¡°Maybe someone else can help me with that. I¡¯ll have to ask Aelriva or Ella when she wakes up.¡± Turning his attention to the Gathering column he received a list of options, happily each option also provided a short list of subclasses, though that only made him curious about when he would be able to select one or more of those. Each archetype seemed extremely useful in its own way. However, many of them seemed to involve hours if not days of backbreaking menial labor. As much as he had enjoyed gathering when he was playing games back on Earth, he didn¡¯t really think it would be his most preferred thing now that it was his life. ¡°Eww,¡± he thought about mining, woodsman, or even botany, ¡°cubicle life but without the cubicle and more swinging a hammer or axe.¡± However much the subclasses of those archetypes seemed powerful and amazing he couldn¡¯t commit himself to those. A few of them stood out, however, forager, scavenger, salvager, and elemental gatherer. ¡°What was a soul collector?¡± Focusing on the subskills didn¡¯t offer any further information and he mentally sighed once more. This place seemed dedicated to making difficult choices more difficult and he didn¡¯t have wiki or even a rule book he could use to research what precise path he would take. ¡°Maybe I am going about this the wrong way. Picking what crafts, I want to do may better help me to decide what gathering I focus on. It''s not like I can''t learn how to gather everything, I do have the ability to learn all skills thanks to Danu. These just seem to help specialize and probably help increase either the harvest or ability to find unique things.¡± He shifted over to study the crafting column. Again, there were so many choices, how could one ever make a decision especially since they didn¡¯t know what their skills could be or even if they could learn certain skills? Switching over to his skills tab gave him a new surprise. Each skill he had acquired was listed there along with their current rank but even this tab had evolved. He was now able to see how much progression he had per skill. He was also able to see something new. Alongside the skill level and progression value was a new column. ¡°Natural Aptitude Level¡± All of his were marked as 5 ¨C Legendary Potential ¨C Grandmaster Maximum Level. Whistling softly he got a little smirk on his lips. ¡°Seems that the blessing Danu gave me is no joke, I can learn all of these skills to Grandmaster. I really should ask about skill ranks as well. Just another thing on my list of things I don¡¯t know enough about.¡± Resolving to reduce at least a little bit of that he reached over and laid a hand on Ella¡¯s giving it a reassuring squeeze before he rose from the chair and walked out of the room. It was time to learn and make choices. It was only a few minutes later when he stepped out of the warrens into the chamber that housed the entrance. Looking about he had come up with some ideas for how to improve the room and make it more official but that could wait until housing and some other tasks were done. He was just starting to wonder how to find Braegor, the Gan Ceann blacksmith and former Aeldorman would likely have information about skill levels and classes, when Aelriva flashed out of the warrens opening as well. She came to a stop just a few feet from Xavier.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Gods,¡± Xavier exclaimed at her sudden appearance. ¡°How, no why, no how are you here? I didn¡¯t call for you and I¡¯m pretty sure you were still down in the Syr¡¯Vailen just a few moments ago¡± A twinkle lit the sprite¡¯s eyes, her form shifting through the various elements, though it seemed to linger on life and death aspects a little longer than the others now. ¡°Yer will is known to me, aye. Ye sought my aid in findin'' folk in the village, and as soon as ye thought on it, I knew and came as ye required. So long as ye dwell within the bounds o'' Rynthavael, I will know yer needs, and where to find ye, should ye call." ¡°Alright,¡± he said warily, unsure he really wanted something that could track him and know his thoughts. Though she had been beyond helpful in the past he eventually just accepted it and said. ¡°I''m searching for Braegor. I wanted to ask him a couple of questions. Do you know where he is?¡± "Aye, I ken where the Gan Ceann is. He¡¯s over in the smithy, workin¡¯ away. Yer stonemason and carpenter team hae finished the repairs to the buildin¡¯ today, and the smiths were eager to get back to their craft. It doesnae hae the glory of the Great Forge yet, but I¡¯d still counsel ye, nae to awaken it fully just now. It would draw too much attention, that it would." Came her reply. She kept telling him not to awaken the forge. That council really started to make him question why. ¡±So you have said, though you never explained. How could upgrading a building cause such an issue?¡± She flew over and alighted on his shoulder, her arm around the back of his head ensuring both her perch and that she had his ear close by. "The Great Forge is a Masterworks Sanctum, aye. There be many types o'' Masterworks Sanctums, like the Eternal Hearth for cooks, the Prismarium for glassblowers, an¡¯ yer Great Forge, but there be only a handful o'' each in all the world. When one is awakened or created, it brings great fame t'' the one who played a part in its creation. An announcement rings out, tellin'' the world of th'' feat. Yer revitalization of th'' ley lines was a momentous event in itself, but it pales beside the spectacle o'' a new Masterwork Sanctum. Trust me, ye are nae ready t'' defend it from those who would seek to take it from ye. Not yet, at least." Xavier couldn¡¯t argue with her logic. Not if it was that much of an event. He was still new to Arath and Rynthavael could barely be called a village. If something of that much importance was announced to the world, he had little doubt that some power would want to take it for themselves. ¡°I understand now. Thank you Aelriva for explaining this to me. I will keep the heart safe and hidden for now.¡± "Ye could store it in the vault. When the ley lines awoke, it opened up new passageways in th'' warrens, and the vault an'' armory are now at yer disposal, Ard''Maelor." She proposed. That caught his attention. A vault and an armory, both from the ancient city that had been here. Xavier didn¡¯t think of himself as greedy but he knew eventually that his people would want to be paid for their work and the handful of coins he had managed to collect in his time on Arath were not going to pay for jack squat and he was pretty sure Jack had left town well before he got here. ¡°Braegor can wait,¡± He said excitedly. ¡°Show me to where these new rooms are. I need to see what we are working with.¡± The sprite lifted from his shoulder in a flutter of wings and she was off back into the warrens with Xavier close on her trail. They wound down several passages and went past the pantry and the mosaic room before she paused in front of a new side tunnel. At the end of the short passage was a set of double doors. "This is yer vault, Ard''Maelor. Yer armory lies two hallways further down the passage." ¡°Awesome. Open it up and let''s see what we are working with.¡± Xavier moved towards the door but stopped when she spoke. ¡°I cannae. Only ye can.¡± He glanced at her and then placed a hand on either door and pushed firmly. Nothing happened. The doors refused to budge no matter how hard he pushed. ¡°I thought you said I could open these doors.¡± He all but yelled at the diminutive flying woman. ¡°They¡¯re not moving at all. Is there a key or a secret latch or something I am missing.¡± She sighed, he still hadn¡¯t learned much about his position. "They will nae open for anyone but the Ard''Maelor. Ye can change that if ye wish, but for now, only ye can open them. It is a vault, my lord. Did ye truly think the doors would just open? Additionally, it is the vault o'' Cael''Anthir, the capital. Mere locks or secret latches wouldnae be enough to guard such valuables. Place yer hand upon the sigil." She fluttered over to a small plate in the door, where an intricate symbol was etched into the metal. "It will allow ye to open the lock an'' the doors." Xavier moved closer and peered at the small plate embedded in the large metallic doors. The symbol seemed to almost glow with an inner light. Reading the symbol aloud Xavier muttered. ¡°Vaeska¡± pausing a moment to think he finished. ¡°That which binds or secures. Well, if that couldn¡¯t be more obvious.¡± Placing his hand over the sigil he felt a surge of energy as his mark flared with energy. A resonant voice sounded in his head. ¡°Do you wish to access the Vault of Cael¡¯Anthir Ard¡¯Maelor?¡± Xavier grinned and simply said ¡°Yes.¡± He could hear metal moving against metal and stone, the sounds of great bars sliding from their place with snicks and final booms before the twin doors parted in the middle, folding back away from him to leave the next room open. Xavier stepped through the doors and almost fell to his knees in disappointment. The room was empty. Well not completely empty. There were shelves upon shelves lining the large hexagonal space and lined up neatly across the center of the rooms in several rows but that was it. No mounds of treasure, bags of coins, great stacks of metal or anything else of value. Sighing Xavier turned to leave the vault when Aelriva spoke up. "Are ye goin¡¯ to leave what¡¯s left o'' the treasure behind?" She flew through the door and towards the darkened back of the room where the light from the torches in the passageway didn¡¯t illuminate the shadows. Xavier retrieved one of the torches from the sconce it was held in and followed her into the vault. On the back shelf he found three small chests and a single small bag. Moving to the first chest, it stood about a foot and a half long, by a foot wide, and only about 10 inches deep. The chest was made of sturdy iron reinforced oak the lid held a simple iron lockplate, worn but still functional, while the corners were capped with tarnished brass for added durability. He tested the lid and it slid open with ease. When the light of the torch hit the leather-lined inside of the chest his smile grew. The thing held easily hundreds of coins, a blend of copper, silver, gold, and even the occasional silvery-white shimmer of what Xavier guessed to be platinum. He had no idea the conversion rate but this was a small fortune he was positive. He dug into his pouch and pulled out the small handful of copper and silver coins he had found, adding them to the chest before closing it and turning the key in the lock. He placed the key into his pouch in place of the coins. He turned to the second chest. It was smaller but more ornate. Polished mahogany was cornered with elegant brass pieces to complement the ornate brass inlay. Everything came together in a beautiful silver lock. Pushing the top open on the chest he found it was lined with velvet and separated into small sections. Each section had a collection of jewels. Whereas the first chest was a wonderful find of money to help his village this was even more so as the gems were potentially worth far more than the coins themselves. Once again, he closed the chest and twisted the key sealing it shut. The silver key joined the first in his pouch and he turned his attention to the final chest. It was the most unique one of the lot. Made of an ethereally pale wood with faint, swirling grain patterns that resemble frozen mist. The casket was small, almost delicate, yet unyieldingly strong. A softly glowing opaline gem was set in the top of the wood and Xavier gently laid his hand atop it. A faintly feminine voice sounded in his ears. ¡°Do you desire the casket open Ard¡¯Maelor?¡± Xavier¡¯s grin couldn¡¯t get any wider. He knew this had to be the best find in the vault just due to the construction and the magical lock. He mentally chose yes and the casket opened to reveal shimmering white silk embroidered with faint Sylmyrian glyphs of protection and preservation. The silk was divided up into cushioned slots and tiny hooks to hold delicate items securely. The air inside carried a faint, timeless fragrance of juniper and ancient magic. Nestled in the ornate casket were a number of pieces of beautifully wrought jewelry.
You have discovered: Magical Pendant Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.09 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A silver pendant holding a Vaelshard crystal that shimmers with faint Sylmyrian runes. It hums softly near magical energy. Traits: Unknown
You have discovered: Magical Circlet Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.23 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A silverwood circlet lined with glowing Emberheart gems, carved with fiery runic designs. Traits: Unknown
You have discovered: Magical Ring Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.05 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A mithral ring with a Frostquartz centerpiece that radiates an icy blue glow. Traits: Unknown
You have discovered: Magical Bracelet Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.14 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A silverwood bracelet inlaid with Springstone fragments shifting between green and blue hues. Traits: Unknown
You have discovered: Magical Brooch Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.18 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A dark silver brooch with a Voidcrystal centerpiece that absorbs surrounding light. Traits: Unknown
You have discovered: Magical Amulet Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.12 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A mysterious amulet crafted from an unknown dark metal, its surface smooth yet oddly reflective, as if it holds a void within. Faint, shifting runes appear and disappear when gazed upon too long. Traits: Unknown
You have discovered: The Starleaf Earrings Item Class: Common Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.05 kg Durability: 75/100 Description: Silver earrings shaped like delicate leaves, adorned with small sapphire inlays. Traits: Elegant design with subtle sapphire highlights.
You have discovered: The Moonlit Choker Item Class: Common Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.09 kg Durability: 70/100 Description: A black velvet choker holding a polished moonstone that reflects soft light. Traits: Simple yet elegant, it enhances the wearer¡¯s graceful appearance.
You have discovered: The Golden Laurel Band Item Class: Common Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.14 kg Durability: 80/100 Description: A thin golden circlet designed to resemble a laurel wreath, with fine leaf engravings. Traits: A symbol of refinement and status, reflecting light beautifully.
You have discovered: The Amber Spiral Bracelet Item Class: Common Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.18 kg Durability: 68/100 Description: A bronze bracelet spiraling elegantly, inlaid with large polished amber stones. Traits: Warm, earthy design with natural amber accents.
You have discovered: The Rosegold Ring Item Class: Common Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.05 kg Durability: 78/100 Description: A slender rose gold band adorned with a brilliant-cut garnet reflecting deep red hues. Traits: Simple elegance with a bold, fiery centerpiece.
You have discovered: The Pearl Lattice Necklace Item Class: Common Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 0.23 kg Durability: 85/100 Description: A delicate silver necklace arranged in a lattice pattern, holding smooth, perfectly round white pearls. Traits: Timeless beauty showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship.
You have discovered: The Sunstone Brooch Item Class: Common Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.18 kg Durability: 82/100 Description: A polished brass brooch featuring a radiant sunstone centerpiece, glowing golden-orange. Traits: A bright, eye-catching piece symbolizing warmth and energy.
¡°Gods I need to find a way to identify magical items.¡± Xavier bemoaned. Behind him a gentle bluewhite light flashed and more prompts filled his head.
You have discovered: The Veilshard Pendant Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.09 kg Durability: 85/100 Description: A silver pendant holding a Vaelshard crystal that shimmers with faint Sylmyrian runes. It hums softly near magical energy. Traits: Enhances the wearer¡¯s ability to sense nearby magic and ley lines.
You have discovered: The Wyrmheart Circle Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.23 kg Durability: 90/100 Description: A silverwood circlet lined with glowing Emberheart gems, carved with fiery runic designs. Traits: Grants resistance to fire and amplifies fire-based spells.
You have discovered: The Frostbloom Ring Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.05 kg Durability: 80/100 Description: A mithral ring with a Frostquartz centerpiece that radiates an icy blue glow. Traits: Grants cold resistance and minor frost magic abilities.
You have discovered: The Sylvanbrace Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 0.14 kg Durability: 95/100 Description: A silverwood bracelet inlaid with Springstone fragments shifting between green and blue hues. Traits: Enhances natural healing and connection to nature-based spells
You have discovered: The Nightveil Brooch Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Masterwork Weight: 0.18 kg Durability: 88/100 Description: A dark silver brooch with a Voidcrystal centerpiece that absorbs surrounding light. Traits: Improves stealth and allows blending into dim environments.
You have discovered: The Amulet of the Unknown Item Class: Legendary Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 0.12 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: A mysterious amulet crafted from an unknown dark metal, its surface smooth yet oddly reflective, as if it holds a void within. Faint, shifting runes appear and disappear when gazed upon too long. Traits: Untrackable: Prevents detection by magical or mundane means, rendering the wearer immune to location spells, scrying, or divination. Unscryable: Conceals the wearer¡¯s presence and actions, shielding them from any form of magical observation or surveillance.
Xavier spun, the only other being in the room was Aelriva. ¡°Did you do that?¡± He questioned the sprite. ¡°You can identify magical items? Can you teach me to do it?¡± "The power o'' the Syr''Vailen allows me to ken the nature o'' things. I dinnae ken how to teach this ability to another. It¡¯s nae based on skills or knowledge. It is simply the ley lines revealin'' what is." Came her simple reply. There was almost a regretful tone in her statement as if she would teach him if it was within her ability. ¡°Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. I guess I need to find a spell or something.¡± Xavier said. "Aye, there be many spells an'' items that can help ye ken the traits o'' magical items. Though findin'' someone to teach ye magic might prove a bit difficult." Xavier studied the newly identified magical items for a few minutes before he chose one. The Amulet of the Unknown was a definite necessity. Especially given the warnings Aelriva kept giving him about not being ready for the outside world to find his village. He may not have a way to hide it from the world yet, but he could hide himself and the attention that he would bring. He slipped the fine chain of the necklace over his head and tucked the amulet into his shirt. Then he closed the chest once again. He finally turned to the small bag. It was a beautifully crafted item. Looking like a small satchel, its leather was rich dark blue with intricate silver threads laced through its surface giving the impression of starlight. Xavier raised an eyebrow as he looked at it. When he picked it up he received the prompt he was expecting.
You have discovered: Magical Bag Item Class: Unknown Item Quality: Unknown Weight: 0.12 kg Durability: Unknown Description: A finely crafted satchel made from enchanted voidleather, its surface a deep midnight blue with swirling, faint silver threads resembling starlight. Traits: Unknown
Shaking his head slightly he held the bag out to the side and waited. After only a few moments the light shone behind him once again and the information about the bag changed.
You have discovered: The Voidtide Satchel Item Class: Epic Item Quality: Superb Weight: 1.5 kg (Base) Durability: 90/100 Description: A finely crafted satchel made from enchanted voidleather, its surface a deep midnight blue with swirling, faint silver threads resembling starlight. Despite its small exterior, it carries far more than it appears. A subtle hum can be felt when held, as if space itself bends within. Traits: - Dimensional Storage: Contains up to 20 slots, each capable of holding a standard item (weapons, tools, or small chests). - Weight Reduction: Reduces the weight of stored items by 60%, significantly lightening the load for the user. - Void-Sealed: Contents are immune to external damage and do not degrade while stored
Xavier could barely resist doing a little celebratory dance. This was every gamer¡¯s dream item. Bags of holding could make schlepping all the treasure and loot from a dungeon so much easier to accomplish. And now he had one. Better yet this one would preserve anything put within it while reducing its weight. He quickly opened the bag and a visualization of a 4x5 grid appeared in his mind. It was all but empty currently, the exception being a small clear crystalline orb showing in the bottom right square. Xavier grinned and moved to unlock the chest of coins before tipping it and pouring all the clinking metal disks into the bag. As expected, the first row of the grid filled, one square with each type of coin and a number was superimposed over the image of each coin.
Copper Coins 276
Silver Coins 150
Gold Coins 70
Platinum Coins 4
It was more than he expected and he was thrilled with the effect. Reaching into the satchel he imagined grabbing a copper coin and he pulled his hand out holding one of the small disks as the number count in the bag decreased by one. Now he couldn¡¯t resist dancing and chanting softly as he did. ¡°I got a bag of holding, I got a bag of holding, I got a bag of holding.¡± He dropped the coin back in and took Aelriva¡¯s hands dancing with her. The small sprite gasped in surprise as she was spun about and then released. Xavier picked up the other two chests and carefully tucked them into the bag as well. Each one took up a space of their own and the weight of the bag increased slightly but Xavier now had the whole of his wealth on him. Confident in the capabilities of the bag he pulled the precious Heart of the Forge from his pouch and slid it inside the satchel as well. It took up another square, its image glowing softly with its inner light. Finally, he returned his hand to the bag and withdrew the little orb. It resembled the orb Ella had given him to bind Vaeltheris to himself earlier. Focusing on the gem he got the prompt. It appears you wish to bind the Voidtide Satchel to yourself. Yes or No Xavier¡¯s grin was spread from ear to ear now. The vault was a major discovery. Much more than he expected when he first saw the empty shelves. He was even more excited to see what was in the armory now. He focused on the word yes and the small orb sunk into his hand binding the satchel to his soul the same way had happened with the blade, and from what Ella had said herself, earlier. A small icon appeared in the top right corner of his vision, its image looking like a small leather satchel. ¡°Alright Aelriva, it''s time to see the armory. Then you can lead me to where Braegor is.¡± Xavier considered for a moment then amended his statement. ¡°Actually, lead me to the armory then go find Braegor and ask him to join me there.¡± He walked to the passageway, and as soon as the two of them cleared the vault doors they swung ponderously closed with a resounding boom. Xavier jumped at the unexpected noise but quickly settled himself and followed the sprite towards their next destination. Chapter 20 - Weapons, Classes and Spells The armory was right where Aelriva said it would be, just a couple of passages down from the vault. Pleasantly it opened in the same manner as the vault and soon the single iron-bound oak door opened to reveal the room within. Xavier stepped inside with the sprite and looked about. Surprisingly, it was not quite what he had expected. The immediate room was small and had a couple of benches along the walls, however, it was the window with the iron grating and the iron door beside it that caught Xavier¡¯s attention. It struck him more like a police or military armory than he would have expected. He moved over to the window and used his torch to light the two bracketing it before leaning to look through the bars. Inside made a small smile come to his lips again. He could see numerous racks and shelves. Many had the tell tale forms of weapons or armor stored within or upon them. He turned to comment to Aelriva but she had already left to preform the other task he had given her and fetch Braegor. Shaking his head, having already forgotten he had asked her to retrieve the smith, Xavier moved to the iron door and looked for how to open it. Like the vault and the outer door to this room, he soon found the small plate with the sigil upon it. Pressing his palm to the sigil he received the same prompt asking if he wanted to open the door. He chose yes and made his way inside. The room was larger than his initial impression had led him to believe. Larger, but far less supplied. He was busy searching through the room when he heard footsteps approaching. Looking up from the current rack of dust covered weapons he saw not only Aelriva and Braegor but Rilsa, the young dwarven apprentice to the smith, enter the room. Braegor held his head under his arm as he walked but lifted it over his shoulders to look about the room appreciatively. Rilsa, let loose a soft whistle at the quantity of items in the room, neither had been expecting anything of this sort when they accepted coming to start a new settlement. It was not long, however, before the amazement cooled. The two smiths quickly confirmed the worst of Xavier¡¯s suspicions. The majority of the weapons and armor, though well made, were mundane steel and iron. They may have been quite serviceable in the past, but age and lack of care had left them pitted and corroded. Xavier supposed it was too much to ask for an armory of superbly crafted weapons and armor just to be lying about waiting to be claimed for his village. Between the three of them, they started sorting through the items. Several hours later they had identified a small collection of mostly leather armor and a handful of swords and daggers that would be easily repaired and restored to working condition. A good start towards outfitting a small guard for the village. Rilsa and Braegor had agreed to take the rest of the items and break them down into components for future crafting. This would result in a small stockpile of cut leather pieces to patch or build armor and numerous iron and steel ingots. As they had neared the end of their work they found another small cabinet in the back. When opened it held three swords, two of them short swords and one long sword, along with a pair of daggers. All five pieces glimmered darkly under the torchlight. Rilsa gasped and Braegor set his head on his shoulders, one hand reaching out to delicately touch the dark metal weapons. The craftsmanship was exquisite, but it was clear that they had felt the ravages of time as well. When Xavier touched them his field of view was obscured with prompts:
You have discovered: Adamantine Short Sword x 2
Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 1.2 kg Durability: 50/100 Damage: 42-68 (21-34) Damage Type: Piercing or Slashing Description: A sleek short sword forged from adamantine, its blade gleaming with a dark, polished luster. Despite its inherent resilience, centuries of neglect have dulled its edges and loosened the hilt slightly, but its craftsmanship ensures devastating strikes. Traits: - Unyielding: The blade is nearly indestructible, capable of parrying the strongest strikes. - Armor-Piercing: Bypasses conventional armor with ease, delivering devastating blows.
You have discovered: Adamantine Long Sword
Item Class: Epic Item Quality: Superb Weight: 2.0 kg Durability: 45/100 Damage: 51-102 (56¨C110 when wielded with two hands) (26-51) Damage Type: Slashing Description: A masterfully crafted long sword forged from adamantine. Time and exposure to the elements have slightly dulled its edge and caused minor corrosion on the hilt, but its exceptional material and design make it capable of tremendous damage. Traits: - Unyielding: Nearly indestructible, ensuring it remains reliable in any battle. - Enhanced Reach: Allows precise strikes at a longer distance. - Armor-Piercing: Effortlessly penetrates heavily armored foes.
You have discovered: Adamantine Dagger x 2
Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.7 kg Durability: 40/100 Damage: 22-51 (11-25) Damage Type: Piercing Description: A compact and deadly dagger forged from adamantine. Years of abandonment have left its edge nicked and its grip slightly worn, but its adamantine construction ensures it delivers precise and powerful attacks. Traits: - Unyielding: Resistant to breaking, ensuring reliability in any scenario. - Piercing Precision: Ideal for slipping through small gaps in armor. - Lightweight: Allows for swift and silent attacks.
The weapons were amazing. Xavier was gob smacked by the sheer damage potential. He figured the numbers in parenthesis were due to the damage they had taken but even with that, they were incredibly dangerous. ¡°By the gods,¡± The Gan Ceann spoke softly, ¡°Its adamantine. I have heard of the metal but never thought I would see so much in one spot. Stories of the richest lords or kings having weapons made of this metal are told but not even the king of Arenvalis has such a weapon.¡± Hearing a new location name Xavier glanced to Braegor. ¡°Arenvalis? Where is that? I have yet to have a chance to read the books we brought back from Bramblegate.¡± Braegor, still enthralled by the weapons, spoke off-handedly. ¡°To the north of the Silverwoods lies an area known as the wildlands. It is a land of few settlements, mostly home to nomadic tribes. It is accepted that they all swear fealty to King Ironthorn of Thandor¡¯s Reach and the collection of peoples make up the kingdom of Arenvalis. Bramblegate was unofficially a part of the kingdom as well though we were on the edges.¡± His voice held an odd tone when he spoke of his former home, destroyed by raiding slavers. ¡°Somewhere I should visit in the future. Do you think we could find more individuals there who would be willing to relocate to our village?¡± Braegor finally set down the sword he had been inspecting, if reluctantly. ¡°The city is home to thousands of individuals, at least last I visited. Slaves, homeless, refugees, and others all call it home. Some would likely be happy to have a chance at a better life here.¡± While he spoke, he picked up one of the daggers his attention to his lord trailing off in awe of the master-crafted weapon. ¡°I never thought I would hold something of this quality.¡± ¡°Are they serviceable? I can see that they are worn and damaged. Could you restore them to full strength.?¡± Xavier asked as he gave a few practice swings with one of the short swords. He marveled at how light the weapon was, every book he had read spoke of how heavy adamantine was. ¡°Nay, I do not have the skill yet to even try to work this metal. I am only a Journeyman Blacksmith, while I can make above-average and well-crafted items out of iron, steel, and some of the other easier-to-work metals. I can not even hope to forge any of the elemental metals like this.¡± Came the reply from Braegor. Rilsa added in quietly, "Some o'' the master smiths under th'' mountains hae been said t'' craft usin'' mithril, adamantine, an'' other elemental metals. It¡¯s fiercely protected an'' rarely allowed t'' leave th'' clans. Control o'' th'' ability t'' work such metals be part o'' why other kingdoms hold th'' dwarven clans in such high regard. They be th'' only folk able t'' get items made o'' such. It¡¯s also rumored ye need t'' use one o'' th'' legendary forges t'' get it hot enough t'' work th'' metals. These be nae mundane weapons, my lord. These be pieces o'' art as well." Xavier smiled slightly remembering what Aelriva had told him about the forge the two smiths were currently inhabiting. ¡°Legendary forges? I do remember hearing about them. How do we get access to one, or better yet how do we make one for ourselves?¡± Braegor and Rilsa both regarded him as if he had just calmly asked how one ascended to the godly planes or counted the drops of water in the oceans. After several minutes of being stared at Xavier made a motion with his hands, ¡°Well? How do we do it?¡± Braegor finally spoke, ¡°There are only three great forges that I know of. Khazrak¡¯s Crucible in the dwarven kingdoms beneath the mountains, Ashenforge of Sal¡¯tarak to the far southwest in the center of the desert in the Saltwind Citadel, and the third supposedly is on the other side of the world, The Skyforge of Eryndral in the isles of Aelinthar. Myths say there was once a fourth, but it was lost millennia ago and even its name is no longer remembered.¡± It was Aelriva who spoke up now. "The Celestium Forge, it was lost when th'' empires fell at th'' end o'' th'' Age o'' Empires. Some o'' th'' items crafted there were rumored t'' be th'' most exquisite an'' powerful ever made. ''Tis said th'' forge was a gift from a goddess herself." Xavier took in what each was saying, he looked to the weapons sadly, knowing they could not be repaired, not yet at least. After the sprite had spoken he looked to her curiously wondering if the forge outside was the one she spoke of. A subtle nod from the flying woman confirmed his suspicion and only enforced his need to grow the village before restoring it. ¡°I really need to make time to learn more about the history and lands. I am woefully ignorant it seems.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°As to how one is made my lord.¡± Braegor started. ¡°Again, the stuff of legends, supposedly it requires powerful artifacts and relics.¡± Rilsa spoke up again. Her voice distant as she remembered the old story. "Gather close, an'' hear th'' tale o'' Khazrak''s Crucible, born in th'' deep halls o'' th'' Ironspire when th'' world was yet young an'' th'' mountains still whispered th'' secrets o'' th'' gods. For its heart, th'' daring King Khazrak wrenched th'' Molten Core from th'' fiery grasp o'' Ignavyr, th'' dread Titan o'' Flame, his beard singed but his resolve unbroken. Its flames hungered for a purpose, an'' so he fed ''em with Eversteel Ore, th'' unyieldin'' metal sung into existence by th'' Stonefather¡¯s breath. But even fire an'' ore couldnae birth legends without a steady hand upon th'' Anvil o'' th'' Stonefather, carved from th'' world¡¯s heart an'' imbued with th'' wisdom o'' th'' mountain¡¯s soul. Thus, in th'' roaring depths, Khazrak¡¯s Crucible was born, a forge that shaped nae just metal, but th'' destiny o'' all who dared wield its creations." Xavier listened raptly but he understood what the pair was telling him. Building legendary buildings of craft was next to impossible. Luckily, he didn¡¯t have to build one, just awaken the one the village already had. It did make him wonder if there were other buildings besides forges, however. ¡°So, there are three legendary forges. What about the other crafts? Do they have legendary buildings as well?¡± ¡°Aye, my lord,¡± Braegor answered. ¡°Every crafting archetype has a series of legendary buildings. Much like the forges though they are few, only two or three of them in the whole world. The stories about how they came into being are much like what Rilsa said about the crucible though. I can only think of one, The Clockwork Bastion, even on the continent besides the two forges and it is for artificers. Though none have been able to figure out how to get its doors to open.¡± Xavier sighed as his hopes of eventually building one of each of the crafting buildings in his village were cruelly dashed. He turned his attention back to Braegor. ¡°Speaking of crafting archetypes, I recently reached the level to allow me to pick a gathering and a crafting one. I have no idea which one to pick of either. I was kind of hoping that since you obviously have one you might be able to provide some advice.¡± Braegor lifted his head from his shoulders and set it on the table between the two men, his face angled to be able to look at Xavier while he spoke. ¡°Often that is something that comes from your upbringing. Core skills seem to regularly follow the maternal line, my grandfather, my mothers father that is, was a smith and I apprenticed under him learning much of what I know today. My mother¡¯s mother was a miner and I have some skill in that as well though not nearly as progressed as my smithing.¡± ¡°It be th'' same for me. Me mother¡¯s line is full o'' smiths, all th'' way back t'' th'' founding o'' th'' clan." Rilsa added as she leaned on the table. Xavier scowled slightly. ¡°Well, that is less than helpful for me. I do not know what my mother was skilled in.¡± He obfuscated the fact that he wasn¡¯t from this world. Something told him few would be understanding about that. He remembered books from back on Earth. In one series the main character was an enchanter to make powerful weapons for his village, another series focused on a smith, and yet another followed an alchemist. He really liked the series about the shaper, someone who could mold material into whatever shape he desired, but that MC ended up being a god so it wasn¡¯t really feasible, nor did he have access to a skill like that. ¡°Thank you for your help and advice, it wasn¡¯t as helpful as I hoped but I seem to be without the guidance you both had. Please see to the weapons and armor as we discussed. I have a feeling when we get more guards it will be important. I am going to give you both access to the armory so you can stock it and retrieve the old gear from here. I will also be giving access to Coren, as he is the Captain of the Guard.¡± Both smiths held their right fists to their chests and bowed slightly as Xavier turned to leave. He made his way back through the warrens to where Ella lay resting. Taking up his vigil at her bedside he looked up to see that Aelriva had followed him. She hovered in the air near the foot of Ella¡¯s bed. ¡°Aelriva, why have I not seen any enchanted weapons or armor? I have found several pieces of jewelry and my satchel but that is all.¡± Xavier turned his attention to the sprite for a moment before returning to his interface and studying the archetypes once again. "Enchantin'' is a complicated craft, aye. Not only do ye require th'' item t'' be enchanted, ye need t'' ken th'' enchantment ye mean t'' place upon it. Then ye¡¯ll need essence stones, filled with th'' right level o'' essence for what ye¡¯re enchantin''. More complex enchantments require more essence, mind ye. Finally, essence crystal must be ground, an'' th'' powder used. With essence crystal bein'' what¡¯s needed t'' make essence stones, it¡¯s nae easy t'' come by for th'' average crafter. Powdered essence crystal is needed for higher versions o'' other crafts as well, so it be a rare an'' precious commodity." The small sprite ticked off each point on her fingers as she spoke. Xavier scowled slightly, he hadn¡¯t heard of essence crystal or essence stones until now. It sounded like more complications to figure out if he wanted to improve his village. It also made him realize that enchanting likely would not be for him. Smithing, while appealing in a make his own weapons and armor sense also was dismissed. He didn¡¯t think he would be able to spend hours and days toiling over a forge and anvil. There was too much that needed to be done for the village and his own growth to be stuck in one spot. He had always enjoyed cooking but it seemed it would eventually have the same issues as smithing the crafting tools being too hard to move about easily limited its growth for his needs. That only left a couple that really interested him. Artificer and Rune Engraver both stood out mostly cause he hadn¡¯t really read or played games that dealt with them often. He knew artificers were often tinkers who came up with amazing techno-magical devices. Rune engravers on the other hand were similar to enchanters though often with shorter-term effects. He also hadn¡¯t met anyone yet who knew either of those archetypes. Something about them spoke to him on a deeper level. ¡°Can you tell me anything about Artificers or Rune Engravers Aelriva?¡± He returned his gaze to the little sprite. "I am sorry, Ard''Maelor. Much has been lost t'' me over th'' centuries as th'' Syr''Vailen fell into dormancy. I do nae remember much beyond th'' fact they be craftin'' archetypes. They were both respected by th'' Sylmyrians, aye. All craft was, however. As ye wake more o'' th'' ley lines an'' level th'' village, more should return t'' me." She replied, once again there was a tone of sadness to her voice and Xavier wasn¡¯t sure if it was due to the lost memories or the fact she couldn¡¯t assist him. Xavier sighed and looked back to his interface. The two archetypes had been singled out and he focused on them in turn hoping to learn more. Xavier was amazed at how much the two seemed to overlap. He smiled wider and decided to take a gamble, the trait Unbound Possibilities clearly stated that he wasn¡¯t limited by the rules of this world. Maybe he could get both archetypes eventually. With a village to support him, he could become a major industry in and of himself. His thoughts ran away with all of the gadgets and runes he could craft and trade. Let alone what they could do for his people. Sure, the little forest golems summoned by Aelriva were great but what if he could craft actual golems? They would never tire or vanish. He made his selection and suddenly he was provided with new skill prompts. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Rune Channeling, Level 1, 0% to next level. The ability to infuse runes with magical energy, activating their latent power and enhancing their effects. This skill is central to the Rune Engraver''s craft, as it determines how effectively a rune performs its intended function. "You don¡¯t just poke random runes. That¡¯s how you become tomorrow¡¯s explosion story." +2% chance to successfully etch a rune. +2% rune efficacy. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Rune Deciphering, Level 1, 0% to next level. The ability to analyze, understand, and even counter runes created by others or found in ancient relics. This skill allows Rune Engravers to unlock the secrets of forgotten magic or disarm dangerous glyphs. "Oh, this glyph is ancient magic? Well, now it¡¯s my magic." +2% chance to successfully learn a rune. -2% chance to trigger the rune being studied. Having selected his crafting archetype and possibly a future one as well, he felt certain there was only one gathering archetype that would support both. He studied the information for Scavenger. Xavier nodded to himself; this gathering archetype was the perfect support. He mentally accepted it as his gathering selection and received another set of skill prompts. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Keen Eye, Level 1, 0% to next level. The ability to identify hidden or valuable items, resources, or opportunities in an environment that others might overlook. This skill is crucial for scavengers as it maximizes their efficiency in resource gathering and treasure hunting. "Oh, you missed the treasure chest because of a little tripwire? Guess I¡¯ll take it."+2% chance to spot hidden or valuable items, resource,s or opportunity. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Trap Awareness, Level 1, 0% to next level. The skill to recognize, assess, and disarm traps in environments such as ruins, dungeons, and battlefields. This ability is vital for scavengers who often operate in dangerous locations rife with protective mechanisms. "Traps are just puzzles with sharp, pointy edges. And I love puzzles." +2% chance to disarm or set a trap. -2% chance to trigger trap. Done with those choices, Xavier turned his attention to his attribute screen, he still had another six points to distribute before he lost them to the will of the universe. He looked closer at what each did given his new skills and class archetypes he wanted to make sure he was getting the biggest bang for his efforts. After a while he smiled and allotted two points to intelligence, two points to wisdom, and his final two points to luck. When he selected yes to apply the changes his grin grew as the numbers updated. He also decided to apply his new twenty percent of skill growth to one of his new skills and keen eye changed to indicate that it now was twenty percent closer to becoming level 2. Satisfied with his changes he thought of a new question for his guiding sprite. ¡°Aelriva, I learned the skills for Life and Death magic when the Syr¡¯Vailen came to life, however, I didn¡¯t learn any spells for either type of magic. How am I supposed to level those skills without spells?¡± "I was wonderin'' when ye¡¯d ask about that, Ard''Maelor. It¡¯s nae difficult. I can teach ye a basic spell for each. It should be enough t'' get ye started on th'' path toward mastery o'' the skills. I can teach ye how t'' cast Blooming Touch an'' Wraith''s Whisper." As she spoke her form shifted embodying the essence of life at first before withering to her deaths form. As each form took shape she pulsed with energy and Xavier¡¯s mind was filled with knowledge. You have learned a new Life Magic spell. ¨C Blooming Touch. You have learned a new Death Magic spell. ¨C Wraith¡¯s Whisper. Xavier¡¯s mind reeled with the new information. Complex hand gestures, precise words and inflections of tone, and even intricate knowledge of what the energy of the ley lines was changing to affect the spells surged to life within his mind. Just as sudden the burst of knowledge ebbed, and left Xavier slightly stunned. He knew for certain that he could recall either spell at a moment¡¯s notice. Unable to stop grinning at how much he had learned today, Xavier sat back in his chair and took Ella¡¯s unconscious hand in his once again. He was tired, and it had been a helluva long day. He had earned some rest, he thought before he closed his eyes, slipping to the land of Nod and sleeping. Chapter 21 - On the Road Again "Hey Alex, good morning! You want your usual today?" The cheerful voice of Samantha rang through the air and pulled him from his daydreams. As he returned to focus on the world around him, his eyes alighted on the cute brunette barista behind the window counter. "Oh, hey Sam, yeah that would be great. Gonna need it to get through another day of work. I swear they come up with the most monotonous tasks to be codified." He smiled at her as he placed a hand on the counter. She was a bright spot in his routine; he missed seeing her on days he didn''t work. "Do you have any of those fresh croissants as well? I didn''t get up early enough to eat today and my stomach is starting to tell me about it" Xavier paused; something wasn¡¯t right. He looked around himself and found he was still in the chamber within the warrens. Ella lay sleeping on the bed not far from where he stood, yet he still had a hand on the window counter and was staring at Samantha. She laughed and placed a steaming cup of coffee on the counter along with a small bag with a hot fresh croissant within, its aroma filling the air with stomach-rumbling goodness. And then she was gone, Xavier stood there dumbfounded. Either he was going crazy, having visions, or something else was toying with his mind. He moved back to the chair beside the bed and clutched at Ella¡¯s hand hoping for something grounding in the confusion. How had he ended up on the other side of the room and speaking with a woman from his past life on Earth? He was fairly positive he hadn¡¯t drunk or eaten anything that would play with his mind like that. His stress level built as he wrangled with possibilities until he felt another presence in the room with him. Across the bed sitting on Ella¡¯s other side was an unforgettable person. Danu, the very goddess who had brought him to this world smiled serenely at him as she idly caressed the unconscious woman¡¯s other hand. ¡°My how you have grown already Alex. Only a handful of weeks in this world and you have a fledgling settlement, a bonded woman, and you have awakened not one but two ley lines and gained their magic. You are exceeding any of my expectations and only giving me more hope for the future.¡± Xavier stared at the alluring woman, her vermillion hair a distraction as always when he saw her. ¡°Why did I just see Samantha? Is she here as well? Are others brought from Earth also? And what do you mean by your hopes, you told me the world has issues but nothing else.¡± Danu smiled brightly at him as she folded her hands in her lap. ¡°You¡¯ve seen ruins of the ancient civilizations now; you¡¯ve heard stories and met some of the other races. Don¡¯t you think it''s odd how they reflect so much of Earthen lore and myth? There is a reason for that you know.¡± She motioned to the corner where the barista had been. ¡°There is a crossover from Earth to here, in dreams and imagination that is. Since the time man first dreamed of your old world they have visited this one although just in snippets. They have marveled at what they saw and pulled inspiration for their legends and stories from here and thus Arath has influenced mankind along with its races. This could help you, you know, you know some of the history of the world if only in what you call myths and legends.¡± Xavier sat back, the concept of his former world being influenced by this one was almost overwhelming. ¡°How is that even possible?¡± he finally asked softly. ¡°Gods do not exist on your world, there is not enough faith or magic there to sustain us. We are not without influence however, as such we have reached out to garner followers, even just for brief periods of time. Your world is also has been a way to see how things could develop, it changes much faster than this one does.¡± Xavier felt a momentary pang of anger at that explanation, Earth was not some lab experiment to just fiddle with. As he opened his mouth to speak his mind Danu held up her hand placatingly. ¡°Do not place blame or anger for what humanity would have done eventually anyway. Inspiration only sped the development of what would be. Humans, like most other races, have their own flaws and strengths. They just change faster than any of the other races. That speed tends to progress towards destruction more than most because of its impetuousness. Be at ease Alex, I am not here to judge or belittle. You had questions and I answered them honestly. My true purpose today was to merely reassure you that you had not lost your mind. You, being of the other world, are open to such sights as what you witnessed, people of this world look past them, their minds not able to accept the oddity so they do not see it.¡± She laughed softly, the sound like tinkling bells in the dimly lit room, ¡°An oddity for a world where magic and what you would deem fantastical creatures exist isn¡¯t it.¡± Xavier sat silent for a long while. His mind explored the information she had provided. After a while it was easy to see how many of the things he had seen or experienced in Arath could be found in the stories, games and myths of his home. He even saw some correlations between technology and some of the magics he had experienced so far. ¡°So you came to calm me down? Am I that important to you that you watch over me?¡± ¡°Yes, and no.¡± She replied genuinely. ¡°You have the potential to be something monumental in this world. I can tell you some but the more I influence you the greater the possibility of changing fates to something worse. One of my domains is balance, equality between all things, much like you experienced when you were waking the life and death ley lines. This world is slipping away from that balance, and you have the potential to restore it. I cannot force you to choose specific paths, nor would I want to. Balance must be a choice. You need to grow beyond your settlement to understand. There is a whole world of wonder and mystery outside of this forest, truth be told there is a world of wonder and mystery inside the forest as well and you have but touched upon it.¡± She smiled warmly at him. ¡°I have a feeling you will choose to counter the growing disorder of the world when you see it. You are a pinion of fate after all.¡± With those words hanging in the air she was gone, the chair she was occupying empty as if she had never been there at all. Xavier scrubbed his eyes, wondering briefly if it had all been in his head. He needed to learn more about this ¡°goddess¡± if that is what she actually was. He had his doubts, she was always conveniently there to nudge him along. That struck him too much like various demons and other peddlers of influence and sin from stories he grew up with to set well with him. He was thankful that she had brought him here instead of letting him die, but it was also her fault he had been hit by that car in the first place. He determined to be more wary of her, and any others like her for that matter, in the future. He just didn¡¯t know enough to simply accept her words anymore. Looking back to the sleeping Ella, he noted her color was returning though her breathing was still much softer and weaker than it had ever been. He smiled at her; she had been with him for most of his time in the world and he had come to depend upon her more than he realized. He was thankful she seemed to be recovering as he couldn¡¯t imagine life here without her now. He patted her hand gently and then rose; it was time to get back to work. The village, his people, and if the ¡°goddess¡± could be trusted the world waited on his future. ¡°No pressure at all,¡± he muttered to himself as he left the room and headed towards the surface. Partway to the exit of the warrens, Aelriva flew to his side. She kept pace with him as he walked allowing him to speak easily with her. ¡°I¡¯ve been going over the city interface recently,¡± he said, ¡°while most of it makes no sense or is even accessible currently there are a couple of things I am curious about.¡± "Ask yer questions, Ard''Maelor. I will help as I can. Though keep in mind, much o'' what once was is beyond ye at the moment, an'' my knowledge is limited due t'' that fact." Came her melodic response. ¡°Well, I know we have several buildings built now, I have seen them outside. But when I look at the buildings tab it¡¯s blank. The same goes for the villagers tab. I can see everyone¡¯s names but nothing else about them. How am I supposed to manage anything if I don¡¯t have the information?¡± "Ah, well, that be quite simple, Ard''Maelor. Ye do nae have th'' prerequisites for that information. Ye¡¯ll need a town hall, or somethin'' equivalent, t'' manage th'' settlement properly. A steward, once named, will reveal more about yer villagers, daily information, an'' requirements. Right now, all ye have is homes an'' a builder''s hut. Those be good t'' start a village, but nae enough t'' maintain one, let alone anythin'' greater." Xavier had figured it would be something like that. Back on earth, many of the settlement building games he had played were quite similar, you needed specific buildings in place to open up more possibilities. It did make him wonder, especially given what Danu had just told him about inspiration how closely it would match. As they stepped out of the warrens and into the large chamber that made up the structure surrounding the entrance he looked about. There were several villagers seated nearby eating and holding quiet conversations. Many of those who didn¡¯t yet have a home still lived in the chambers within the warrens and this room had become a gathering place. Luckily, he spotted the two he was looking for. Rhett, the carpenter, and Orrik, the stonemason, were breaking their fast nearby as they were going over plans for the day. Xavier moved over to sit beside them. ¡°Morning M¡¯lord¡± Came from both men as Xavier took his seat. Rhett pushed his empty plate back. ¡°We were just discussing the plans for the day. Several houses are nearing completion, and we were looking at starting work on pens for the animals.¡± Xavier nodded slightly before holding up a single finger. ¡°I agree with the houses, our people need places to call their own. However, before starting on the animal pens we need a town hall. This place has worked up till now, but we need something official. I am lacking in information due to that fact. Can we expand on what is here already? I don¡¯t want to relocate where people gather to speak with me or Braegor but this is lacking any real functionality other than being an open room.¡± He pointed towards one of the walls that held only windows. ¡°I also don¡¯t want to restrict people being able to come and go from the warrens currently so can we place a door over there and add on in that direction? It will put it more towards the center of the village that way as well.¡± The two men, one human and the other dwarven, followed his gaze and then glanced at each other. Orrick, the dwarf, pulled out a tube and slid several rolled-up parchments from it. It was a collection of blueprints of various buildings they had already put up within the village. Turning one of them over the two quickly began sketching out a new structure. Xavier almost laughed at how quickly they seemed to forget he was sitting there. The building they sketched was still simple in design, they had already told him that since neither was a true builder they couldn¡¯t draw up plans for anything more than just the most basic buildings. That fact didn¡¯t limit how quickly they were able to come up with a basic blueprint for the future town hall. They slid the parchment over to where Xavier sat, and he grinned.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. It wasn¡¯t overly much to look at but it was clearly a more functional building. The chamber they currently sat in was an antechamber to the main hall, giving access to but not detracting from it. The main hall stood central to several other chambers as well as holding a pair of double doors at one end. The other end held what looked to be a raised dais, resulting in the building interior looking much like a simple keep where a lord would hold court. He asked several questions about the rooms and the men both confirmed they were offices that would be where town officials would perform their duties in support of Xavier. ¡°That¡¯s perfect!¡± Xavier exclaimed. ¡°How soon can you two make it happen?¡± "Well, m¡¯lord. We¡¯ll need t'' gather more stone an'' wood, for th'' houses have taken most o'' what was recovered from th'' ruins an'' th'' trees within th'' village proper. Given time an'' more golems, we should be able t'' finish th'' homes an'' start on th'' foundation by Windspire mornin''." He paused, noticing the blank look on Xavier''s face. "Ye don¡¯t ken th'' days o'' the week?" He held up his fingers, ticking off the days. "Sunwake, Moonshade, Starcrest, Hearthfire, Dewfall, Windspire, Arathbond, an'' Nightveil. Then back t'' Sunwake. Today be Starcrest, so about three days hence we should be able t'' start layin'' th'' foundation. Again, as long as we have th'' golems t'' gather stone an'' wood." Xavier nodded and pulled up the settlement interface, quickly he selected the magics tab and found that Aelriva had not yet summoned any golems for the day as the village mana pool was still full. He scrolled through the greyed-out names until he found the only one that was selectable and started casting summon forest golem. Outside the building, multiple forms started taking shape coalescing from the stone, roots, and branches nearby. Before long the village mana was empty, and ten golems stood awaiting orders. ¡°Done, I will make sure Aelriva summons them every morning and your work takes priority.¡± The duo stood and bowed, right hand in a fist over their heart, to Xavier then gathered up the blueprints still strewn on the table before heading outside to take control of the workers. Xavier looked about. He wasn¡¯t sure what to do next. He could look to see if any of the other villagers required his help but that seemed limiting to him. They knew their tasks and jobs much better than he did so there were parts that he would just have to let develop. They would do so faster when he had more villagers, he realized. He wanted to do something more impactful. Truth be told he wanted to start to dabble in his new classes, but he lacked materials or even the most basic of rune designs. Sighing he pulled up his interface again and moved to the tab that listed all of his current quests and slowly scrolled through them. You have been offered a quest: Reforge the Past 2. Having gained mastery of Cael¡¯Anthir it is up to you to restore it to its former glory and rebuild its people. Increase the settlement level to level 2. Quest Objectives: See the Settlement Interface for details on increasing settlement to level 2 Penalties for Failure or Refusal: Stagnation of settlement growth. As this is a settlement improvement quest for a settlement bound to you, you cannot refuse. Potential rewards: A level 2 settlement with increased powers and capabilities. +5000 Experience. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Sleeping Lines 3.¡± Most of the ley lines that make up the nexus beneath your settlement remain dormant. Continue your exploration of the deeps beneath the mosaic to find and restore the remaining lines further increasing the ambient mana and additional capabilities for your settlement. As this is a settlement quest it will automatically be accepted when the appropriate conditions are met. Conditions: Personal Level of 15. Retain Mastery of the Syr¡¯Vailen. Potential rewards: Increased Mana in settlement lands. Increased wildlife and quest opportunities. +1500 Experience. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Whose House 1.¡± While the lands surrounding your settlement fall under your purview your people are not the only things that shelter in them. Explore at least four unique locations and discover their significance. As this is a settlement quest it is automatically accepted. Potential rewards: Reduced danger from monster nests. Other unknown benefits. +500 Experience. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Drums in the Deeps 1.¡± The unknown deeps lie beneath the warding presence of your nexus mosaic. During the centuries of dormancy of the mosaic and even longer time of inattention to these tunnels and caverns who knows what creatures or dangers have made them their home? Explore and reclaim the first level of the deeps. As this is a settlement quest it is automatically accepted. Potential rewards: Increased resources and other unknown benefits for your settlement. +500 Experience. Pursing his lips in thought Xavier switched to look at the settlement interface once more and pulled up the tab for level two requirements. Settlement Level 2 Requirements: Population: 49/100 Buildings: 6/15 Settlement Quests: 3/5 Xavier studied the numbers for a moment then switched to the villagers tab. Scrolling through the names confirmed one of his assumptions. The interface didn¡¯t recognize himself, Ella, or Aelriva as villagers. He figured that Aelriva wasn¡¯t because of her unique association with the Syr¡¯Vailen. He was the lord and not actually a villager was his guess about himself. But why wasn¡¯t Ella listed? That gave him something to consider for a long while. Finally, deciding it wasn¡¯t something he was going to figure out at the moment he returned to the requirements tab. He was glad to see so many buildings had been completed and knew several more would be done within days. His sticking point would be the population and the quests. Making up his mind he closed his interface and mentally sent a summons to Aelriva. It didn¡¯t take long before the little sprite was hovering over the table before him a questioning expression on her face. ¡°Ye have summoned me Ard¡¯Maelor?¡± Her insistence on using the old title was starting to be noticed and the other villagers started to refer to him as such when they greeted him. He sighed, realizing that it was something he couldn¡¯t fight, and just nodded. ¡°Prior to the situation with Emily, you had told me of several locations nearby I could investigate. I have a quest to explore four unique locations within my domain and it seems with Ella not recovered yet staying close might be a good idea. Which one of them is the closest?¡± It only took the sprite a moment to speak. "To th'' north lies a place hidden from view. Well hidden t'' most, but nae t'' ye. These lands be yers an'' will answer as such. Head toward th'' mountains that loom o''er th'' trees, an'' ye''ll find what ye seek afore th'' passage o'' the sun marks two." ¡°Really? A riddle? You couldn¡¯t just tell me plainly.¡± Xavier complained mildly at the small being. "I could guide ye, if ye wished, but ye promised my aid t'' th'' crafters. I cannae be in both places at once. A riddle be fit for a quest, nae? Do ye expect everythin'' t'' be handed t'' ye on a silver platter, Ard''Maelor?" Xavier scowled. ¡°It''s no wonder all the stories of fae describe sprites as tricky. If the rest of them are like you¡± The little sprite grinned impishly at the man. She may be bound to the nexus, the settlement, and ultimately to him but she was still what she was and delighted in games when she could. "If ye do nae need anythin'' else, Ard''Maelor, I shall return t'' me duties overseerin'' th'' golems. Do nae worry, I¡¯ll keep an eye on Ella while ye be gone." She could tell he would not wait for the woman to recover before he set out. He waved her off and she vanished from sight. She was right in her assumption, and he was soon back down in the warrens gathering his pack and belongings. He shifted some of the items into his satchel simply enjoying the fact that it reduced sixty percent of the weight and made it easier to grab what he needed. Wearing his light leather armor, pack, and Vaeltheris in its sheath he made his way to the chamber where Ella lay sleeping. Valkra had curled up on the foot of the woman¡¯s bed, the cub looking up and yawning slightly as he entered. He crossed the room and gave the cat a good scratch behind her ears. ¡°I am going to go exploring Valkra, I need you to stay and keep an eye on her for me. Can you do that little one?¡± The cat yawned again and then stretched out fully. She took up almost the entirety of the bottom of the bed but made it clear she was not going to leave the unconscious woman. Xavier looked at Ella once again, a small pang of worry knotting in his chest. After her story, she had passed back out and hadn¡¯t woken since then. He knew she had sacrificed a lot of herself before the blade stepped in but just what the long-term effect would be he had no idea. Bidding the two of them farewell he left the chamber and headed towards the kitchen where he could already smell wonderful scents filling the passageways. He found Frieda, the dwarven cook, and Greta, the halfling baker, both hard at work in the kitchen. Several others, including Emily, were scuttling about helping as the two gave instructions on what they needed. All greeted him as he entered the room, and it wasn¡¯t long before he left with a new supply of dried meat, cheese, and hard rations in his satchel. Unable to think of any other preparations he might need he headed back towards the surface and finally stepped out into the mid-morning light. He could hear the noises coming from the construction of the houses to the south and east. Glancing that way, he saw numerous individuals climbing over the structures while they worked. Further to the east, he saw the fields being tended by a small handful of workers and beyond them lay the Silverflow river. Looking west he saw woods being cleared by several golems as the footprint of the settlement grew. He walked around the structure of the hall and headed north. It was only a short distance from the building to where the woods began, he smiled as he thought about the first time, he had set out with Ella to find the Heart of the Forge. That made him miss her by his side all the more fiercely and he resolved to make this trip as fast as possible so he could return to check on her. As he started to walk again Aelriva appeared at his shoulder. "Before ye go, I have one more thing t'' teach ye, Ard''Maelor. This skill will help ye ken th'' dangers o'' what ye face." Her form shifted slightly the rich blues taking over her features as the element of water became more defined. She placed a hand on his forehead and closed her eyes. Suddenly a new prompt filled his vision. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Insight level 1 The Insight skill enables you to perceive the physical, magical, and emotional states of creatures and people around you. Even at novice levels, you can gauge their name, level, and vital resources like health, mana, and stamina as percentages. As you advance, this skill reveals deeper truths, from hidden vulnerabilities to core attributes, turning observation into unparalleled strategic knowledge. "Name, level, and health bar? You¡¯re basically a walking status screen to me." ¡°That¡¯s amazing! This would have been so much help earlier before we went to Bramblegate.¡± He exclaimed. "Aye, but ye needed t'' deepen yer bond with the Syr''Vailen afore it reawakened this skill an'' allowed me t'' provide it t'' ye. Ye''ve done so, an'' now ye be ready." She replied. He reached up and took the little sprite''s hand in his. ¡°Thank you Aelriva, I did not mean to imply you were holding back. This is a gift, and I could not have done what I have so far without you. Take good care of the village while I am gone. I will be back as soon as I can.¡± As the woods closed around him the sound of his village faded into the distance. It was not long before the vibrant life of the forest filled his ears. Birdsong sounded through the trees, blending seamlessly with the soft sigh and gust of the mid-spring breezes. The air was warm and fragrant without being overly hot. Xavier lost himself in the simple enjoyment of the travel as he continued to walk. Keeping the mountains in his view he made good time only pausing to rest when his stamina dropped to nearly empty, the resulting exhaustion causing him to have to wait or risk collapse. As the sun set and he was met with the rising of several moons, he found a sturdy tree with several stout branches about fifteen feet off the ground. It took him a little work but it was not long before he was straddling the lower branch with his back against the trunk of the tree. The perch was a lot more comfortable than he had expected and he pulled his cloak around his body. The coolness of the evening was warded off by the warm cloth. He sat admiring the emerald and crimson moons hanging in the air overhead alongside a third that reminded him of the moon back on Earth. The conjoined light illuminated the night sky enough that Xavier decided to take the time to do something he had put off for too long. Pulling out one of the history books he opened it carefully and began to read. Chapter 22 - I am a Dwarf and Im Digging a Hole The night passed uneventfully, and Xavier woke up to the soft sound of birdsong in the forest. He shifted about stiffly not realizing how uncomfortable spending a full night straddling a tree limb could cause him to be. Standing on the limb he stretched before chewing on a small piece of forest sage to help with the aches and pains the night had left him. Soon he was back on the forest floor and heading north once again. From what Aelriva had told him he should find the location sometime today and wanted to do so as early as possible. Balancing his desire for speed with his continued growth in herbalism he gathered herbs and plants along his path, still amazed at how the skill made the useful ones more visible against the background of forest colors. He had enjoyed the rare times he went out into the Washington mountains back on Earth, but the experience seemed to lack substance compared to what he experienced now. Vibrant life was all around him, from animal sounds in the undergrowth to the diverse flora similar and dissimilar to that which he had known. Keeping up a steady jog, stopping occasionally to rest or to harvest a fascinating herb or plant he made good time on his trek. However, by the time the sun had reached its zenith in the sky, he had slowed his speed to a more leisurely walk. Heading in the right direction was all well and good but he began to wonder how he would locate a particular location in the nearly eight hundred square miles of his domain. He found himself wishing, not for the first time, for a map. Sure, the villagers who had joined his community from Bramblegate had some maps and such, but they were dated, and most were mural or large panting size, not something he could easily pack for a trip like this. ¡°So much for game mechanics,¡± he muttered under his breath wishing he had a mini-map in his interface. He continued along the small game path he had been following for another hour before he started ranging back and forth across it to see if anything stood out deeper in the woods. Scowling he realized he should have asked if Aelriva had more of a hint for what he should look for. He needed to do better than stumble along, he had people depending upon him now and that would only become more so if his settlement continued to grow. After a little while he paused and sat upon a moss-covered boulder. Pulling out some dried meat he idly chewed upon it while he looked at his skills tab. Maybe something there would help him. As he scrolled through his options, his eyes widened slightly at the sheer number of skills he had already uncovered and learned in the handful of weeks he had been on Arath. He immediately dismissed the weapons skills; he may need them when he found the location, but they wouldn¡¯t help him now. He did the same for his gathering and crafting skills. He stopped though when he came to the skill ¡°Keen Eye.¡± Its description stated, ¡°The ability to identify hidden or valuable items, resources, or opportunities in an environment that others might overlook.¡± It was only level one, as he had just gotten it when he selected the Scavenger archetype, but it seemed perfect for what he was doing, the problem was he didn¡¯t know how to trigger it as it seemed more like a passive skill than an active one. Sighing he shrugged and closed the interface. He was on his own it seemed. As he took another bite of the dried meat, he idly looked around his surroundings. He cocked his head slightly, his chewing stopping as the trees were¡­ different. Standing up he walked back the way he had come, yes, the trees were different, they were smaller, younger than the others in the area. If he had not sat where he did, he likely never would have noticed, the difference was slight but when looking at them in comparison it was evident. Unexpectedly the new skill chime sounded in his head and his vision was suddenly obscured with a new prompt. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Woodlore level 1. Woodlore represents an intimate connection to forests and woodlands. It encompasses knowledge of the ecosystem, the ability to interact harmoniously with the environment, and skills specific to wooded areas. Woodlore is synergistic with Survival and Tracking skills increasing success rates of both when within forested regions. The forest is alive. The wise learn its language; the foolish become its prey. Dismissing the prompt, he went back to his study of the trees. They distinctly stood out as younger in his vision now and he wondered how he had so easily missed it before. He began walking, mapping out the area where the trees differed and soon had walked a perimeter of about a two square mile radius. Retracing his steps back to his original path he studied the ground as he walked. On the southeastern edge of the area, he spotted what he was looking for. Mostly covered by forest debris and moss was a broken stone pathway. He was certain this was what Aelriva had been telling him about. The path traced roughly in a north/south direction. He stared to the south down where the path led and realized that it roughly led back towards where his village now stood. It should make it easier to return home, but he wondered why the sprite hadn¡¯t told him about the path in the first place. The disrepair of the stone made it clear that the path had not seen usage in decades at the very least. The forest had mostly reclaimed the area, and plants grew up between the stones pushing them aside, the only real reason he had noticed them was the deliberate fashion they were laid. He followed the path as it headed north even more curious about what it could be. As he walked along the broken path he started noticing small irregularities. Kneeling he dug his fingers into a small moss-covered mound and pulled up a long metal piece. It took him several minutes before he realized it was an old pickaxe head, the wooden handle had long since rotted away but the metal still retained most of its shape despite the rust and wear. Intrigued Xavier set the piece down and continued up the path. About twenty minutes later he yelled out in surprise and fell backwards as the ground beneath his feet gave way. He only barely managed to catch himself preventing his fall into the sinkhole. Quest Updated ¨C Whose House 1 ¨C You have discovered a significant place. Continue to explore this location to uncover its importance or details of its past. Doing so will meet the requirements of one of the four places required for this quest. Xavier dismissed the prompt as he tried to get his heart rate back under control. Nearly plunging into the unknown dark had triggered his fight or flight instinct and keyed his adrenaline push. Focusing on his breathing, he slowly regained his control and faculties. He gingerly moved towards the edge of the abyss and peered into the opening. The light penetrated the shaft, and he could barely hear the sounds of dripping water from within. The drop was significant, he estimated it to be nearly fifty feet to the bottom. As he examined the decent, he noticed the floor was littered with broken ladders and other such debris. He clearly was not the first to find this location, but that only emphasized that this had been previously connected to the settlement in some way previously. He started to walk around the hole searching for a way to climb down. He noted several locations where worked stone had been set into the walls, but the majority of that had fallen away throughout the years or in the collapse that had nearly swallowed him. Unable to find an easier path down into the shaft he finally pulled out a length of rope from his pack. Somewhat happy to be able to shed the weight of it, he had not wanted to fill his satchel when leaving, so he tied it to a tree about a dozen feet away from the collapse. The ground seemed firm in that location, and he judged the tree to be sturdy enough to support his weight as he rappelled into the depths. Once the rope was secured, he tossed the length of it into the hole and began to rappel down the shaft carefully. Stone gave way every so often as he kicked off the wall, the clatter and echo of their fall reverberating in the confined space loudly. As he got deeper into the shaft, he noticed softly glowing moss clinging to the wall. It was similar to the moss he and Ella had witnessed in the caverns leading to the life ley line chamber and made him realize how much he missed having her solid presence now. Shaking the thoughts away he returned his attention to just making it to the ground safely. It took nearly twenty minutes to safely descend the rope before his feet touched the ground of the shaft. Kicking several broken pieces of ladder out of the way so he could put his feet on seemingly solid ground he let go of the rope and began to look about his new surroundings. More old broken tools littered the ground along with the ladder pieces giving credence that this was once a mining shaft. That thought perked Xavier up as he knew it was only a matter of time before the couple of smiths in the village ran out of raw materials. He would have to bring the dwarf who was skilled in mining back to this location to see if operations could resume once he had explored it to ensure it was safe. It was only a matter of minutes, though it seemed much longer before he found a crevasse in the back of the pit that led deeper into the underground. The opening was wide enough for one person to fit through at a time though he could see where it had collapsed over time and had been much larger originally. Making a mental note of repairs that surely would need to be done to make the mine operational once more he retrieved a torch from his pack, lighting the oil-soaked cotton before he moved to make his way deeper. The passageway from the shaft to the next chamber was not overly long but twisted sinuously as it slowly descended further into the bowels of the earth. Soon the claustrophobic closeness of the walls gave way to a damp, expansive cavern. Faintly glowing mushrooms and moss assisted the flickering torch¡¯s glow, their light adding gentle blue and green to the flickering yellow of the torch. The cavern was rampant with the fungus and Xavier¡¯s throat began to tickle by the amount of spores hanging in the air. Remembering the choking clouds from his previous venture through fungi-laden caverns he dug into his pack searching for something to wrap around his mouth and nose. Soon he found one of his other shirts and pulled it mostly on leaving the collar above the bridge of his nose he carefully tied the laces tighter to keep it from falling. He smirked to himself at how ridiculous the image must be and was actually grateful for the moment that he was alone. Raising his torch higher to better light the room he started across the damp floor. Stalactites hung overhead dripping relentlessly to pool in small puddles on the floor that reflected the light in a beautiful prismatic effect thanks to the glow of the mushrooms and moss. The cave had a serene beauty that he had to stop and enjoy partway through. He moved to sit on a large, thick mushroom, hoping it would support his weight. The briefest touch to its cap caused it to rupture suddenly and spew a thick cloud of spores into the air. Xavier tightly closed his eyes, attempting to shield them from the unexpected influx, although he was not swift enough and they burned with the incursion of the microorganisms. The cloth he had covered his face with was the only thing keeping him from inhaling the choking morass. He stumbled away from the offending cloud, eyes clenched shut and watering as they tried to clear the invading specks he could not see where he was going and bounced from mushroom to rock wall and back again until his foot caught on other hardy fungi that sent him crashing to the ground. He lost the grip on his torch, and it bounced across the moss and stone coming to rest with a hiss in one of the small pools of water, the light from its end winking out suddenly as the water quenched the fire. Shifting to a seated position he scrubbed roughly at his eyes aiding the natural reaction of his body in clearing his vision after several moments. Still bleary-eyed he cracked his eyelids to peer about the now dimly lit chamber wary of his noise potentially bringing some animal or monster down upon him. Thankfully, the gods had blessed him again it would seem as the room remained largely as he had found it, though the miasma of spores hanging in the air was much thicker than it had been previously. Soon he found the now sodden length of his torch and sighed, it would not be able to be relit in its current state. He tossed the wood aside and dug through his pack for another torch. He only had a couple remaining so he would need to be more careful with them or he risked being trapped in the dark down here as he went deeper. As he was pulling the new torch free, he noticed a brighter glow in the distance. Moving curiously towards it he soon found a richly glowing hand-sized mushroom nestled amidst a larger patch of cave morels. Grinning at his luck he gathered up the edible mushrooms and placed them in his satchel. Peeking at his inventory showed that the lot of them only took up a single spot within the grid. Once again he marveled at the utility of the space folding bag before he turned his attention back to the glowing mushroom. Carefully he traced his fingertips over the cap of the fungi and his herbalism skill triggered.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
You have discovered: Glowcap Mushroom Ingredient Class: Common Item Quality: Raw Weight: .01 kg Durability: 5/5 Traits: A small, orange mushroom glows with an inner light providing dim illumination for an hour. You also feel like this could be used as an antidote for poison.
Instinctively he knew to grasp the fungus around its base and gently twist to the right, the whole plant came free in his grip and its soft orange glow remained intact, lighting up his immediate surroundings with its radiance. Congratulations! You have gained a new rank in a skill ¨C Herbalism level 10. Herbalism is the art of gathering, identifying, and utilizing plants for their various properties, from healing wounds to crafting poisons. Those proficient in herbalism can locate and harvest rare herbs in the wilderness and identify the right plants even under tricky circumstances. Some even say a skilled herbalist can hear the whispers of plants, guiding them to the rarest finds. +20% to herb effect. +20% to harvest quantity. Increasing rank from Novice to Apprentice has resulted in an additional +1000 Experience. You can now recognize more rare and exquisite plants and additional properties. That last line was especially exciting, it meant Xavier had other ways to gain experience besides quests and fighting. It also meant that his villagers could gain experience the same way. He was worried that they would have to explore like him if he wanted them to grow. He had visions of a whole village if not more, filled with experienced crafters and gatherers. The tale Ella had told him of the Sylmyrians had only whetted his appetite for bringing that type of glory back to Arath. Tucking the glowcap into his satchel he observed that it took up another space, but its glow remained. Hoping that it would remain like that until he withdrew it later, he began searching about the cavern for more of them. He found a half dozen more of the glowing mushrooms and spotted a second of the large spore cloud erupting mushrooms, he steered well clear of that one not wanting a repeat experience of that pain. With all but one of the glowing mushrooms stored away for later use he held the remaining one aloft the same he had with the torch and smiled; its glow was softer so he couldn¡¯t see as far as with a torch, but it still lit a decent sized area. Carefully winding his way through the remaining fungi of the cavern and around the sharp uprights of stalagmites he moved towards the only other opening in the cavern. Another passageway led off the opposite side of the chamber as the one that brought him to it originally. This passageway descended at a much sharper angle but still not enough to make it particularly hazardous to traverse. As he continued deeper the passageway started to have additional paths leading off of it, turning it into much more of a maze, many of the tunnels were partially collapsed, blocked with loose dirt and rubble. Groaning as he found himself in yet another dead end, he started to turn to make his way back to what he was assuming was the main passage when a faint shimmer caught his attention. Taking a knee near the back corner of the tunnel he moved the mushroom closer and his smile threatened to split his face. He found a vein of ore. He didn¡¯t know what type it was as he didn¡¯t have any skills in mining or smithing but knew this was a valuable find for his village. Hurriedly he stood up and began looking closer at the walls, retracing his steps to examine the previous tunnels as well. Now knowing what he was looking for he quickly found similar traces in other tunnels. He was in a mine. An honest-to-goodness mine, he soon was able to identify where the stone had been excavated and still retained the marks of metal tools etched into them despite the wear of time. Excited at his find he returned to the main passage once again and continued deeper the maze of tunnels was extensive, but he hoped that meant there would be a lot of resources to exploit. Near the back of another tunnel, he stopped cold. He recognized the telltale evidence of a tunnel collapse, he had seen enough of them now to know what to look for, but under the rubble was what caused his hesitation. Tattered rags covered the definitive shape of humanoid bones. The collapse had crushed whomever this being was when the tunnel came down. It was pinned beneath a large slab of stone that had crushed its ribs and an arm. Kneeling Xavier set the mushroom beside the skeleton and started to search about the area. There was a lingering faint trail of claw marks on the stone nearby showing the deceased had a desperate attempt to dig free. Off just out of arms reach of the dead being lay a broken and rusted lantern, soft black scorch marks on the stone indicating that when the passage had collapsed the being had dropped it and it broke open spilling its oil about in a small area that caught flame. Probably the last light the deceased had seen before darkness entombed them. With as much reverence for the dead as possible, Xavier searched the skeleton. Most of what the being had was lost to time, their satchel and clothes rotted and damaged by the collapse and decades at least in the dry tunnel air. However, there were still some items he was able to salvage. Within the pack was an intact tinderbox, a handful of climbing pitons, and a set of flint and steel. Tucking all of them into his satchel he turned his attention to the skeleton itself. He was able to locate a leather bracer still wrapped around the being''s exposed arm. The craftsmanship was well made as it still retained its suppleness and bindings even after all this time. Xavier looked to where the other arm lay pinned beneath the stone and could only assume that the partner to the bracer in his hand lay beneath however many hundreds of pounds of stone. Shaking his head he tucked the bracer into his pack, maybe it could be reworked into something else when he returned home. Surprisingly, buried under more loose rubble instead of the heavy stone, he found a short sword.
You have discovered: Emberstone Shortsword Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Masterwork Weight: 1.5 kg Durability: 85/100 Damage: 18¨C24 Damage Type: Slashing or Piercing Description: A short sword forged from Pyrestone, its blade emanating a faint orange glow with an almost molten sheen. Heat radiates gently from the weapon, making it warm to the touch even in the coldest environments. The hilt is wrapped in heat-resistant leather, ensuring comfort for the wielder during prolonged combat. Traits: - Radiant Heat: Inflicts additional fire damage on every strike, causing burns and melting weaker materials. - Ignition Strike: Has a 20% chance to set flammable objects or creatures ablaze on a successful hit. - Unyielding Flames: Resistant to environmental cold and frost-based magic.
While the other items were a great find considering how long the body must have been here the sword was amazing. Hefting it in one hand he pulled out Vaeltheris in the other and gave some experimental swings with the sword and dagger. The balance was slightly off but he felt certain that he could make it work. Pondering a moment, he triggered Vaeltheris¡¯ ability to change shape and soon he was holding paired short swords. It felt slightly more awkward than the dagger and sword pairing but still not overly so. He put Vaeltheris back in its scabbard and searched about for the one to the short sword. He soon found a battered and worn scabbard half buried by the rubble covering the corpse and carefully removed it from the dead being¡¯s belt. As he did so he found another small worn pouch attached to the belt as well. Retrieving the pouch, he opened it carefully, wary of tearing the time worn cloth. Inside he found a small book, opening it revealed it to be a journal of some sort and a small locket with the initials T.H. The locket was delicate and ornate, only being in the pouch with the journal had saved it from further damage. Xavier carefully opened the clasp and within he found an old slightly faded image of a young dwarven male, his smile still visible under the thick covering of his beard and mustache. He gently closed the locket and tucked it into his satchel. His attention turned to the journal and he took a seat near the large stone so the glow of the mushroom gave him greater illumination. When he first opened the book he couldn¡¯t make out the words written within, the symbols were far to different from anything he had seen to date. However, within just a few moments he had a new prompt. Congratulations, you have learned a new language. Khazridan ¨C Old Dwarvish. The words almost seemed to change before his eyes, and he understood them completely. It confirmed that he was indeed holding a journal. The first few pages revealed it belonged to a dwarven lass but never mentioned her name. He scanned through the pages for a few moments realizing that she had come from one of the tribes, Hurnthar or Stonedelvers, in the Ironpeak Mountains. The initials on the locket started to make a little more sense. He flipped to the back of the journal to get the most recent passages. Most of the pages of the book crumbled to dust as he flipped through them causing him to panic slightly, the last page remained intact however containing a single passage. ¡°The crystals here hum with power, more than I¡¯ve seen before. If I can bring back even one shard, it will all be worth it. I¡¯ll return to Dun Karak a legend.¡± And with that a new prompt appeared in his vision. You have been offered a quest. ¡°Memories of the Fallen 1.¡± For time unknown this dwarven explorer has lain crushed in these tunnels. Who was she, and who did she leave behind as she transitioned across the threshold of death. Your only clues are a small locket and journal passage mentioning the dwarven city of Dun Karak. Will you restore her trinket to her descendants? Yes or No? Potential rewards: Unknown. Not seeing any downsides to accepting Xavier focused on the word yes, his quest log updated with the information. He moved to close the journal, and a small, folded piece of parchment fell out. Picking it up off the floor he unfolded it slowly, worrying that it was in the same condition as the journal. As he moved though he found it was in much better condition, and though the folds creased the parchment there was nearly no deterioration to it. Another prompt filled his vision
You have discovered: Explorer¡¯s Map Item Class: Epic Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 0.3 kg Durability: 90/100 Description: A finely crafted map made from enchanted vellum, its edges trimmed with silver filigree. The surface shimmers faintly, displaying an incomplete depiction of the world, with blank spaces waiting to be filled. Upon being soul bound to its owner, the map comes to life, updating with every new location the bearer has seen firsthand. The ink appears as if drawn by an unseen hand, flowing to reflect real-time changes. Traits: - Soul Bound Cartography: The map binds to its owner upon activation, unlocking its magical properties. It updates with every new location the owner has visited, forming detailed illustrations and labels. - Real-Time Awareness: Includes information on major landmarks, terrain, and environmental changes. - Mark of Discovery: Allows the owner to leave magical markers or notes on the map, visible only to them. - Localized Illumination: The map can display a glowing indicator of the owner¡¯s current location when commanded.
Forget the masterwork weapon this explorer had once carried, this map was beyond anything he had seen outside of Vaeltheris. As he studied the greyscale map a small gem, very similar to the one Ella had provided him with when he bound to the blade, rose up out of the center of the vellum. He picked up the gem and immediately agreed to the prompt asking if he wished to soulbind the map. In amazement he watched as sections of the forest shifted to color, the river winding through the woods changing its path slightly and small tags filled in with names of Rynthavael and Bramblegate. His eyes widened as he realized the map was updating with information on the places he had been. He could trace his own path through the world back to the initial location he awoke in what was now labeled the Southern Peaks. Another prompt asked if he wished to integrate the map with his interface and soon, he had a small semi-translucent map hovering in the upper right corner of his vision. Mentally he zoomed in on the icon that seemed to represent himself on the map and it came to include the tunnels he had traveled through. Better yet, still in the greyscale, it showed a way forward and the start of a stone bridge. He bowed his head for a moment in silent prayer of thanks to the dead dwarf lass before rising to his feet and leaving the tunnel following the new map in his head. Chapter 23 - What We Find Behind a Mine The new map in his head was a godsend. Using it he had successfully navigated the maze of the mines and came to a large ironbound double door. He had left a marker on it where the corpse of the dead dwarf was so that his villagers could retrieve her body and lay to rest properly. He had felt bad about leaving her the way she was considering how much she had left for him. Inspecting the door, he found nothing to indicate a trap. He tentatively laid a hand on one of the rings inlaid to the wood and pulled it. With a loud screech of rusty metal, the door ponderously swung open revealing a large dark space beyond. Stepping through the doorway Xavier stopped short finding himself on a ledge comprising one side of a deep ravine. The precipice extended to both sides of where he stood vanishing into the darkness. A short distance to his left he could see a stone edifice extending over the chasm. Moving carefully to the edge he peered over and into the void. Deep below he could barely make out what seemed to be the surface of water, faintly shimmering blue in the depths. He found it odd that he could see the light from the water so far away and wondered at how brilliant it must be, that thought soon vanished as he thought about how any source of light might travel great distances in the utter darkness of the deep places of the earth, something that gave him pause as he looked to his own faintly glowing mushroom light source. Sighing, he realized there was nothing to be done for it now, he needed a way to see, and any damage was already done by now. Stepping back from the edge he started to explore the narrow surface of the ledge he was upon; he found it extended roughly forty feet in either direction from the door with the bridge about fifteen feet to the left of it. Both sides ended as the rough stone walls curved to connect with the edge of the chasm. The faint light from the mushroom allowed him to barely make out the opposite side of the chasm about thirty feet away from his side. It appeared that the only way safely across was the stone bridge, its rough cracked edges and lack of sides did not give him the greatest sense of security or safety in trusting it. Finally, all other options exhausted, he returned to the foot of the bridge and stared across its expanse. It was only about six feet wide, and as he previously noted, roughly thirty feet long. He took a seat next to it, hanging his feet off the edge of the precipice while he studied the bridge. While he was a fledgling craftsman himself, he had no real skill in stonework, so he had no way to gauge how sound the bridge was. It looked ancient to his eyes. However, back on earth, he knew of stonework that had stood for centuries and was still sound and safe. He turned his attention to the new map in his interface, it showed roughly the same view he was seeing, a deep chasm with a narrow bridge, on the other side was another ledge and a hallway. Beyond the hallway was another large chamber seemingly filled with crystalline structures, possibly what the dwarf had mentioned in her journal. That chamber ended in just darkness, however. A fact that made Xavier curious about the extent of the map. Zooming out he was able to see his recent travels all showing vibrant colors. A fact he could only assume meant it was current information based on what he had seen. Beyond that, he saw a larger area that revealed a decent area of the land around the woods, the wildlands, and the Ironpeak mountains. That area was in greyscale however, given that it was centered on the mountains that were given to be home to one of the larger dwarven kingdoms he had heard about it made sense that the greyscale was the update to the map from the dwarven lass. Beyond that were notable landmarks such as cities, landscapes, bodies of water, and continent edges in black and white but no details were drawn into those areas. ¡°Updates from other maps?¡± Xavier mused aloud. ¡°Places where the dwarf had not gone but knew about,¡± he finally surmised. So, it provided him with landmarks and locations but no details unless someone who owned the map had been to the locations it seemed. The map was proving more and more useful the more he learned about it. However, it didn¡¯t provide the answer he was looking for currently, whether the bridge was safe or not. Climbing back to his feet he stepped over to the start of the bridge and peered across its length once more. He had a nagging sensation telling him to be wary but couldn¡¯t quite place it. Deciding to dismiss the sense as just nerves he started to place a foot on the bridge when he spotted a discoloration. No not a discoloration, an odd glow to several of the bridge stones. Where the majority of the bridge was just earthen-colored stones, well-shaped and fitted together despite the years of age and wear, they were just earthen-colored stones. The handful that was standing out in his view now had a hazy red tinge overlaying the normal stone color. One of them was near his side of the bridge, two stones in from the right-side edge to be precise. He assumed a prone position allowing him to inch closer to the discolored stone while keeping most of his body on the solid rock of the ledge. While there was no real difference between the stone and the rest of the ones surrounding it, he got a deep uncomfortable feeling about it. He continued to inspect it for several long moments when he suddenly got a prompt. You have discovered a trap ¨C Pressure Stone Trap: Your trap awareness skill has identified a new trap. This pressure stone trap seems to be designed to drop sections of the stone bridge into the chasm below if stepped upon. Moving deliberately away from the now definitive trap Xavier skirted around it and moved to the next glowing stone. This one was three stones in from the left side and caused him to have to wind a sinuous path across the bridge if it was the same as the first one. Once again laying prone, careful not to kick the first trap he studied the new stone. It, like the first one, triggered his trap awareness skill and was exactly the same prompt as the first one. Grinning to himself he thought his choice in classes was already paying off. He moved carefully across the bridge taking the time to lay down and inspect each of the remaining thirteen stones as he did. All were pressure stone traps; the bridge would have collapsed entirely if he had triggered them in any haste to cross the bridge. All his hard work was rewarded by the universe with new advancements to rank two in both Keen Eye and Trap Awareness skills increasing his likelihood to notice hidden things, identify, and in his mind much more importantly, not trigger traps. He took several more minutes crossing the bridge once more, this time he placed arrows upright in the cracks of the stones directly to the right of each pressure stone. This way if he had to come back this way in a rush he would know where to avoid stepping. Chuckling he offered a silent thanks to one of his favorite authors, the main character of that series often found themselves in a bind during flight and falling victim to traps they had failed to mark. Safely upon the far ledge once more Xavier began to examine it before going to the dark hallway. A cursory glance inside confirmed it was, in fact, a hallway and not rough stone walls. Now that he knew one of his skills would trigger a change in color to what he was seeing to indicate hidden traps he was curious what else it would trigger for other hidden items. Its description described it as ¡°the ability to identify hidden or valuable items, resources, or opportunities in an environment that others might overlook.¡± Sadly, nothing else on this side of the chasm revealed itself with a different color glow either. Shrugging at the lack of change he made his way to the entrance to the hallway. The stonework was beautiful and reminded him roughly of the stonework of the entry hall and crypt under the village. He found himself admiring ancient frescos carved into the stones lining either side of the hallway, their artistry seemed to be enhanced with hints of enchantment in key details. The first murals showed miners discovering the mine, carving deep into the stone, and unearthing rich veins of ore, and gems. In the background, there was a depiction of crystalline spires. Lingering next to it he could swear he heard picks and hammers cracking the stone and the tools glowing faintly in the darkness. He touched the wall briefly and the crystals seemed to glow with their own inner light. As he progressed though the scenes changed, growing darker in the theme they showed. Now they depicted a catastrophic collapse, where miners were fleeing or were crushed under falling rock, and shadowy spider-like forms crept through the chaos. The sounds of rumbling stones and faint screams echo through the hall near this mural. As Xavier moved closer, the etched cracks seemed to grow wider, creating the illusion of the collapse still happening. Farther down, solemn stone guardians were depicted standing watch, their gemstone eyes glinting in the dim light, the enchantments of their old dwarven etched warnings, "By stone we toil, by stone we are protected. Let no shadow disrupt the harmony of the depths." were almost audible in the hall¡¯s eerie acoustics. Xavier studied the stone guardians their gemstone eyes glinted faintly, and the carvings of their weapons seemed to shimmer as though ready to strike. The longer he lingered, faint whispers were heard in the air, as though the guardians were watching and communicating with each other. Nearing the end of the corridor, a massive web stretches across the final mural, trapping helpless miners in its grasp while an enormous spider looms at the center, its venomous fangs and many glowing eyes adding to the sense of foreboding. Xavier¡¯s hand rested on the hilt of Vaeltheris, the feeling within the hallway almost oppressive now. The acoustics of the stonework made every sound echo loudly and each drop of water, each kicked pebble, and each of his own footsteps filled the passage with ominous sound and set his nerves on edge. He paused in front of the final mural, The web glimmered faintly in the dim light, and the sound of skittering legs could occasionally be heard echoing in the hall. Cautiously he touched the mural and felt a faint static charge, as though it was alive. Suddenly the mural erupted with a piercing, crystalline chime, sharp and sudden like the shatter of enchanted glass, slowly it swelled into a pulsating hum that reverberated through the air and ground. Its tones shifted unpredictably between high-pitched, discordant notes and a deep, resonant thrum, creating a jarring, almost disorienting cadence. Faint whispers in an unrecognizable language wove through the soundscape, layered with bursts of metallic clangs that echo like hammer strikes on distant stone. The alarm seemed to emanate from everywhere at once, its vibrations pressing against the chest and charging the air with a crackling static. Glowing runes flared along nearby surfaces, pulsing in sync with the chaotic melody, transforming the space into a symphony of sound and light that demanded attention and compelled fear. Xavier pulled his hand away in horror not only from the sound but from what it might trigger. He ran to the center of the hallway, dropping his pack to the ground as both swords came into his hands almost unbidden, and wary of the alarm. His sense of foreboding was not unfounded. The faint skittering sound he had heard back near the collapse mural returned but louder and from both ends of the hallway. The hallway suddenly became a scene of chaos as four Giant Wolf Spiders erupted from the shadows, two skittering rapidly toward Xavier from each end. Their massive forms seemed to materialize out of the dim light, their bristly bodies reflecting faint glints from their glossy, black eyes. The thunderous sound of their hooked claws clattering against stone filled the corridor, amplified by the echoing acoustics of the hall. The spiders at the far end crawled along the walls and ceiling, their movements unnervingly fast, while the pair nearer to Xavier charged straight down the center, their fangs glinting with venom. The air grew thick with tension as the predatory creatures closed in, surrounding him in a calculated ambush, their towering legs and eerie, silent coordination emphasizing their lethal intent. ¡°Spiders, it¡¯s always damn spiders. And these ones are the size of a fucking horse.¡± Xavier complained, at least it wasn¡¯t the usual trope of the undead he supposed. And with that thought, he was out of time, the first spider lunged towards him with preternatural speed, and he was barely able to get his twin blades up in time to block the attack, its venom-dripping fangs snapping inches from his chest. Xavier sidestepped, slashing with Vaeltheris, the powerful blade glowed dimly but barely cutting through the creature¡¯s bristly leg. It shrieked and recoiled, but the second spider used that moment to dart in from Xavier¡¯s blind spot, raking its hooked claws across his side. Pain flared as blood seeped through his tunic, the claws had torn clean through his leather armor, and he staggered backward, gripping his weapons tightly. Gritting his teeth, Xavier spun to face the second spider, thrusting his short sword into its abdomen. The blade pierced through its tough carapace and Xavier saw for the first time the power of a pyrestone forged blade as it left a smoking wound in the creature¡¯s side forcing it to retreat with a screech, but the first spider pounced again, knocking him off balance. He slammed into the wall, narrowly twisting away from its venomous fangs as they sank into the stone where his head had been moments before. Vaeltheris flared slightly as he drove it into the spider¡¯s side, wounding it but failing to deliver the killing blow. From the other end of the hall, the remaining two spiders advanced, their glossy black eyes reflecting Xavier¡¯s struggle. One clambered onto the wall, positioning itself above him, while the other charged low. The ground-bound spider darted forward, its claws swiping at his legs, forcing him to leap back trying to avoid the strike, but the one above seized its chance and dropped onto his back. Xavier grunted in pain as its weight bore him to the ground, its fangs scraping his armor as he twisted desperately beneath it. With a surge of effort, Xavier rolled onto his back, stabbing upward with his short sword into the spider¡¯s underbelly. The sword flared ember once again as the wound flashed with flame, the creature spasmed and fell limp. Xavier struggled to his feet from under the monster, but the exertion had left him open to attack. The remaining grounded spider lunged, biting into his shoulder. Agony shot through him as venom coursed into the wound, and he dropped to one knee. Desperate, Xavier swung Vaeltheris in a wide arc, its dim light cutting through the shadows. The blade connected with the spider¡¯s legs, forcing it to release him. Gasping for breath, Xavier stood, blood dripping from his wounds. He clenched his fists around his weapons as the final two spiders circled him, their movements deliberate and predatory. Summoning his remaining strength, he feinted with Vaeltheris, drawing one spider closer before driving his short sword into its head, which left the arachnid curled on the floor with a smoking wound. The last spider, enraged, lunged at him with reckless abandon. Xavier sidestepped, his body screaming in protest, and thrust Vaeltheris into its chest. The blade flared once more its unusually sharp blade just enough to pierce the spider¡¯s carapace deep into its body and drop it to the ground. The hallway fell silent save for Xavier¡¯s ragged breathing. Bloodied and battered, he leaned against the wall, his grip on Vaeltheris trembling as its faint glow brightened slightly. He wiped sweat and blood from his face, knowing this battle was only a taste of the dangers that lay deeper in this dungeon. Sheathing his blades he pulled a small waterskin from his pack, he took a long drink of the water before pouring the rest over his face and wound. The venom still burned in his shoulder, and his health bar, currently only half of what it could be continued to steadily decrease. He noticed a small icon over it, a pair of fangs with green drops hanging from them. He pulled up his notifications to get an idea of what exactly was going on, despite already having a good idea. It was reading through the combat log he found the information he was looking for. You have been struck by level 7 Giant Wolf Spider for 17 points of damage. You are poisoned. You will take a further 2 points of damage for the next 30 seconds unless the venom is remedied. He took another look at his health bar and did some quick math. He had enough hit points to survive until the venom had run its course. A good thing since he currently had no herbs or potions to deal with it. Something he was going to have to talk with the village alchemist about. He needed to learn more about his herbalism skill and potion brewing if he was going to keep dungeoneering alone. That or find more life spells. His eyes widened and he slapped himself in the face having forgotten he knew some spells. Quickly he cast Blooming Touch and after the handful of seconds it took for the gestures and words to be spoken, he sighed in relief as the life magic surged into his body causing the worst of his wounds to slowly start to close. It did nothing for the venom, but the pain lessened, and his hit points started to climb faster than they were ticking away. He repeated the process several times combating the poison effect until it passed and his wounds closed. Returning to his prompts he sighed, realizing why he had such a hard time hitting the spiders with any real effect during the fight. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Two-Weapon Fighting level 1. The Two-Weapon Fighting skill allows a character to wield two weapons simultaneously, granting increased attack versatility and damage potential. While difficult to master, this skill rewards dedication with fluid combat techniques, improved accuracy, and devastating combos. Starting with small weapons and basic strikes, practitioners refine their ability to strike with both hands in perfect harmony. "If one sword is good, two must be twice as good. Math checks out, right?" -25% to main hand hit/damage. -50% to offhand hit/damage. At the Novice level, you are limited to small weapons in both hands (Daggers, Short swords, etc)This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He looked to his next prompt and smiled broadly; the fight had brought him closer to another level. For killing 4 giant wolf spiders, levels 5, 6, 7, and 8 you have been awarded 3,750 experience points. He was only a little over 700 experience points away from his next level. Standing up and retrieving his pack he moved to kick one of the dead spiders. ¡°Yeah, who¡¯s dead now?¡± He muttered, ¡°Damn spiders anyway.¡± Shaking away an involuntary shutter something about the spider caught his attention. Several parts of the beast¡¯s body were glowing similar to how different plants did under his herbalism skill. Scowling Xavier realized he was not done with the dreadful creatures and set his pack back down. He knelt next to the first body and pulled Vaeltheris free from its scabbard, mentally willing it to shrink back to dagger form he set to work butchering the bodies of his enemies. About thirty minutes later, and with a much greater appreciation for games that simply gave him an inventory with all harvestable and lootable items, Xavier sat back on his heels. He couldn¡¯t deny the corpses were profitable, however.
You have discovered: Wolf Spider Venom Sac * 7 Item Class: Uncommon Item Quality: Average Weight: 0.2 kg Durability: 70/100 Description: A dark, flexible sac harvested from a giant spider, filled with a viscous, pale-green liquid. The sac is slightly translucent, revealing the venom swirling within. It emits a faint, acrid odor that tingles the senses and warns of its potency. Traits: - Toxic Essence: Contains enough venom for 3 applications, each capable of delivering a potent toxin when applied to weapons or traps. - Corrosive Nature: The venom can weaken certain materials, such as wood or low-grade metals, upon prolonged exposure. - Paralyzing Effect: Victims hit by venom-coated weapons have a 30% chance of being paralyzed for up to 10 seconds.
You have discovered: Spider Silk Threads * 5 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.1 kg (per spool) Durability: 95/100 Description: A spool of shimmering, incredibly strong thread spun from the silk of giant spiders. It has a faint, iridescent sheen that reflects light in subtle hues of silver and gold. The thread is astonishingly lightweight yet tougher than steel, making it ideal for crafting and intricate repairs. Traits: - Tensile Strength: Can support up to 500 kg of weight without breaking. - Flexible and Lightweight: Ideal for creating fine, unbreakable fabric or reinforcing armor and tools. - Enchantable: Highly receptive to enchantments, making it a valuable material for magical items.
You have discovered: Spider Chitin Fragments * 16 Item Class: Uncommon Item Quality: Average Weight: 0.5 kg (per fragment) Durability: 80/100 Description: Jagged fragments of dark, glossy chitin harvested from the exoskeleton of a giant spider. The fragments are rigid, lightweight, and naturally resistant to damage, making them useful for crafting and reinforcement. Their surface is textured with natural ridges and patterns, offering both functional and decorative potential. Traits: - Durable Material: Extremely tough and resilient, ideal for crafting lightweight armor or tools. - Natural Camouflage: The chitin¡¯s coloration blends well in dark or forested environments, making it ideal for stealth-based equipment. - Poison-Resistant Properties: Provides moderate resistance to toxins when used in armor or gear.
The parts he was able to harvest from the creatures made him half-serious about hunting more. That train of thought derailed as he reread the features of the venom sac. A chance to be paralyzed for 10 seconds, had the spider''s bite triggered that effect he would have been killed. No, he wouldn¡¯t be hunting more spiders like this until he had anti-venom and hopefully some sort of potion to resist paralysis. Tucking his newly gotten loot into his satchel he couldn¡¯t help but appreciate its weight-reduction capabilities. The large sections of chitin were not light when all gathered together, the fact that it all fit into the amazing pouch without being bulky could not be ignored either. He had also gained another two ranks in his survival skill. He had wondered what had caused the animal parts to glow, now he knew. He was going to have to practice that skill more as well. This solo trip reminded him how little time he had to himself so far and he resolved to dedicate more time to his own growth when he got back home. Washing the gore of the animal harvesting from Vaeltheris and his hands, he retrieved his pack once again and turned towards the far end of the hallway, it was time to see what the rest of this dungeon would bring. The hall ended in another twisting cavern of rock, that gave Xavier a moment of confusion, why build the bridge and hall if only to open to more raw stone? The mushroom he had been using for light finally ebbed to darkness and he had to retrieve another from his satchel, using the fresh light he continued down and around several twists, all lining up with his map before it opened into a large cavern. The sight took his breath away. Faintly glowing shards of crystal covered nearly every inch of the area Xavier could see. They were a rainbow of color, and then he noticed the truth, there were only eight colors of the glowing crystal, they refracted the light in a rainbow, but the actual glow was only of the colors matching the eight basic schools of magic. He was certain now that this was what the dwarf was talking about in her journal. This was a huge find, he was certain that this was essence crystal, that exceptional material he had been told about for higher crafting items. He took the pommel of one of his swords to the base of a larger crystal and it broke cleanly away from its rocky mooring. Picking up the piece he got a new prompt.
You have discovered: Life Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A golden-green crystal glowing with a soft, warm light. It symbolizes vitality, growth, and renewal, with delicate vein-like patterns running through its core. Traits: - Crafting Component: Essential for creating healing potions, vitality-based enchantments, and restoration spells. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into a Life Essence Stone, amplifying life magic or trapping the essence of natural creatures.
Reading through the details of the item was enlightening. He had no idea that they were so specific. He looked about the cavern and the wealth of the different crystals that were found. Now he fully understood why the dead dwarven lass was so excited about her find. He also knew he needed to keep this a secret until he could better defend it. This was a major find for his little settlement, and he needed it safe and protected. He wished there was a way to bring it closer but there was nothing to be done for that now. He quickly retrieved some crystals of each color getting a new prompt each time he retrieved a new color.
You have discovered: Light Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A radiant yellow crystal glowing with a pure, warm light. It symbolizes illumination, purity, and hope, with soft golden veins flowing through its core. This crystal is sought after for crafting holy potions and light-based enchantments. Traits: - Crafting Component: Essential for creating smiting potions, light-based protective enchantments, and purification tools. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into a Light Essence Stone, used to amplify holy spells or entrap extra planar beings'' essence.
You have discovered: Fire Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A crimson crystal that radiates intense heat, its fiery glow flickering like embers. This crystal represents passion, destruction, and transformation. It is prized for crafting fire-enhanced weapons and heat-generating tools. Traits: - Crafting Component: Used in fire resistance potions, flame-based enchantments, and forging tools that generate heat. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into a Fire Essence Stone, enhancing fire magic or trapping fire elemental essences.
You have discovered: Earth Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A rugged emerald-green crystal with a solid, unyielding structure. Its surface is veined with golden lines, symbolizing stability and strength. This crystal is essential for crafting geomantic tools and fortification enchantments. Traits: - Crafting Component: Used for creating barrier potions, earth-enhanced weapons, and fortification spells. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into an Earth Essence Stone, amplifying geomancy or trapping elemental earth essences.
You have discovered: Death Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A midnight-black crystal with faint, swirling shadows within. This crystal exudes a cold, ominous aura, representing decay, finality, and necromantic energy. It is used in dark rituals and necromantic enchantments. Traits: - Crafting Component: Essential for necrotic potions, curse-based enchantments, and decay magic tools. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into a Death Essence Stone, powering necromantic rituals or trapping undead essences.
You have discovered: Dark Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A shadowy purple crystal that absorbs light, symbolizing secrecy, stealth, and shadow magic. Its surface seems to ripple, creating an illusion of depth. This crystal is ideal for crafting stealth-based enchantments and cursed tools. Traits: - Crafting Component: Used in crafting shadow-infused potions, stealth-based tools, and cursed artifacts. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into a Dark Essence Stone, amplifying shadow magic or trapping shadow-based essences.
You have discovered: Water Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A cerulean blue crystal with a liquid-like shimmer, symbolizing adaptability and purification. It feels cool to the touch and is often used in crafting frost or water-based magical tools. Traits: - Crafting Component: Used for creating frost enchantments, water-breathing potions, and purification spells. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into a Water Essence Stone, amplifying water magic or trapping aquatic essences.
You have discovered: Air Essence Crystal Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: 15/15 Description: A pale silver crystal shimmering faintly, symbolizing freedom and agility. It seems weightless in the hand and emits a faint hum when exposed to wind. This crystal is used in crafting levitation tools and speed-enhancing potions. Traits: - Crafting Component: Essential for creating swiftness potions, levitation enchantments, and wind magic artifacts. - Essence Stone Creation: Refined into an Air Essence Stone, amplifying air magic or trapping flying creature essences.
He soon had a large collection of each type of crystal in his satchel, its weight had increased appreciatively despite its weight reduction. The fact that he now had a not-so-small fortune hanging at his side was not lost on Xavier either. Luckily since the bag was bound to him no one else should be able to retrieve anything from it as long as he lived, in theory, that was how it was in the books and games so hopefully that still held true here as well. Bending over to pick up the last shard he had broken free, he felt more than heard the movement behind him and he threw himself prone right as a large amorphous appendage smashed into the crystal next to where he had been standing. Rolling quickly away to the side, ignoring the small cuts and lacerations from the crystals on the ground and the shards caused by the attack, he soon found himself in a crouched stance once again reaching for Vaeltheris and the pyrestone blades. His eyes grew to saucers when he saw the large blob of goo and crystals oozing towards him. Without conscious thought, he triggered, for the first time, his insight skill.
Name: Crystaline Ooze Disposition: Hungry The Crystalline Ooze is a mesmerizing, translucent creature, its gelatinous body filled with jagged shards of crystal that refract light in brilliant, shimmering hues. Its surface appears smooth and liquid, but it conceals razor-sharp edges that can slice through flesh and armor. The ooze moves slowly and deliberately, its crystalline structure grinding softly with a faint chiming sound. When it senses prey, it ripples and pulses, using its sharp shards and magical properties to attack and absorb its victims. Despite its beauty, it is a deadly predator, often camouflaging itself in crystal-rich caverns. Health: 130/130 Stamina: 200/200 Mana: 100/100
He mentally kicked himself for not using the skill on the spiders earlier. It would have been handy to know more about them before the fight, he then reminded himself that there was no time to really use the skill, he finally reminded himself that he needed to pay attention to what was going on now and narrowly dodged another swiping attack from the ooze. Solidly back in the now, he pulled his two blades free and stared at the gelatinous blob. It was mostly clear, only the spots where crystal shards floated in its mass seemed to be solid. Fighting this thing was going to be a pain, Xavier thought to himself then gutted up and lunged forward with Vaeltheris leading the way. The enchanted blade sunk deeply into the ooze but if it did anything there was no real reaction from the creature. Xavier had to duck and dodge back once again narrowly avoiding being struck by a pseudopod-like appendage singing from his left. He lashed out with the pyrestone blade and cleaved cleanly through the ¡°arm¡± of the creature. That elicited a reaction as the nature of the blade¡¯s metal caused a hissing sound as smoke and steam rose from the severed appendage. The ooze drew back and shuddered for several seconds before it seemed to explode, shards of crystal shot in all directions and several struck Xavier piercing clean through his armor leaving him pin-cushioned with the crystal pieces. His health plummeted rapidly, and he sheathed Vaeltheris to free a hand for the gestures required to cast Blooming Touch once again. As he did so the ooze seemed to regain its form and another quick use of insight revealed that he was indeed hurting it with his attacks, though not nearly as quick as he hoped he had been.
Name: Crystaline Ooze Disposition: Hungry The Crystalline Ooze is a mesmerizing, translucent creature, its gelatinous body filled with jagged shards of crystal that refract light in brilliant, shimmering hues. Its surface appears smooth and liquid, but it conceals razor-sharp edges that can slice through flesh and armor. The ooze moves slowly and deliberately, its crystalline structure grinding softly with a faint chiming sound. When it senses prey, it ripples and pulses, using its sharp shards and magical properties to attack and absorb its victims. Despite its beauty, it is a deadly predator, often camouflaging itself in crystal-rich caverns. Health: 63/130 Stamina: 200/200 Mana: 40/100
Narrowing his eyes he focused on the creature and cast the only other spell he knew, praying that he had time to make the magic form before the monster attacked again. His fingers worked the arcane gestures as words roiled from his lips in a language even his gift for languages couldn¡¯t translate and suddenly the necrotic energy shot from his hand plunging into the quivering blob. It tried to move away from the decaying magic as its color changed from clear to a murky grey color. However, Xavier didn¡¯t let up and followed it as it tried to retreat back into the crystalline forest. His mana nearly bottomed out and his head felt like his brain had a vice cranked down upon it, but the ooze finally stopped moving and he saw the icon for waiting prompts illuminate in the side of his vision. Holding the arcane power to the corpse for several seconds longer, just to be safe, he finally released the power and slumped to his knees. A radiant symphony of chimes reverberated through his head, accompanied by a booming voice reading the notification: "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 7! The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny¡ªan exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 20% skill allocation to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love¡ªand let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!¡± Chapter 24 - Taken Xavier closed the level-up prompt with a smile. He took a moment to examine the one for defeating the ooze and was floored. The creature alone had netted him a whopping 2300 xp. It was becoming clearer to him that the creatures in his lands were becoming more dangerous. He would need to be far more careful in his travels, that and he needed to focus on his own growth. Granted he had only been in Arath a couple weeks and already was level seven, but he had people who depended on him. He searched about the crystalline garden carefully, having been ambushed once was enough for him and he wanted to make sure that there was nothing else lying in wait before he did anything else. The garden was immense, it took him nearly an hour just to search the space for other creatures. Luckily, it seemed that the only one that called it home was the ooze he had killed. Returning to the corpse of the creature, his nose scrunched slightly. The odor rising from the dead beast was horrendous, it seemed that whatever gave it form vanished with its death and it was rapidly decomposing, its mass spreading into a thick noxious puddle filled with the crystal shards that had been visible within its body. Crouching at the edge of the puddle he wished he had some vials; he was sure there was something that the substance could be used for but unfortunately, he had no way of recovering any. He reached out carefully and tried to pick up one of the shards. That was a mistake, as soon as his fingers touched the semi-viscous liquid there was a soft hiss and pain blossomed in his fingertips. A quick glance at the corner of his interface showed he had lost several hit points just in that momentary touch. The damn thing was acid given form. He was not sure how the crystals survived being within it but assumed it was the same way glass bottles were used to hold various caustic liquids back on earth, the crystals were just resistant to acid. He pondered for a few moments on how to retrieve the shards but ultimately decided to leave them for now. He had a limited amount of water and didn¡¯t know how much deeper the caverns went. During his search he had noticed another passageway leading even deeper into the underground and it had not slipped his notice that the quest for ¡°Whose House 1¡± had not updated further to indicate he had fully explored the location. He had come to a crossroad. He could continue exploring, realizing the danger was only increasing the deeper he went, or he could go back to the village and see if Ella was awake and ready to travel again. If she was, he could return with her and Valkra and reduce the dangers slightly. Ultimately, it was the fact that people were relying on him that tempered his decision. He had found the place and now had a map to help him return to it easily. From what he could tell it had been decades if not longer since anyone else had been in the tunnels and caverns it would hold for a few more days while he got reinforcements. His mind made up, he rose and started back towards the passage that led back to the hallway and ultimately the surface. His ears strained for any sounds that would indicate another ooze or spiders but thankfully nothing echoed in the dark except his own footprints and the soft drip of water in the distance. It took him several hours to wind his way back to the surface, he had lost track of time in the tunnels and had not realized how long it had been until he came to the shaft that led back to the forest. Looking upwards he could see stars shimmering in the sky above. His rope still hung where he had left it to allow him a relatively easy climb back out of the ground, but where it had been just after midday when he started his delve it was now the deep dark of late night. Sighing, realizing he would not be making it back to the Rynthavael for a while, yet he placed a hand on the rope and started his ascent. The climb up was more difficult than the simple rappel that let him into the shaft, but his body was more than up to the task. He marveled as he climbed at how much the couple of weeks had changed him physically. He had never been weak per se, even though he had a mostly sedentary job when he lived on Earth, and his hobbies for the most part were not much different, he had still taken the time to go to the gym semi-regularly just to stay healthy. Despite that his body had been slowly yielding to his lifestyle and was getting softer and rounder. Now, however, he had barely any pudginess remaining on his form and his muscles were noticeably larger. Soon he was over the lip of the shaft and laying upon solid ground once again. He remained there for several moments just letting his body rest and recover from the climb before he rolled to his knees. As he did so he could have sworn he saw a momentary flash of movement out of the corner of his eye, a flash of white in the otherwise browns and greens of the surrounding forest. Cocking his head he looked to the area closer. Just as he was about to push himself to his feet and head out, he felt a sudden pain in the back of his head and darkness consumed his consciousness. Xavier had no idea how long he had been unconscious. What he did know however was that the world was still black, he couldn¡¯t move, and he had a headache the size of a moon. There was nothing in his interface that indicated he was blind or paralyzed, however, and his heath bar was full. He struggled for a moment and soon realized he was bound and blindfolded. That realization gave a new surge of panic, and he began to struggle harder to move. ¡°Yes, I see he¡¯s awake,¡± came a feminine voice from the darkness near his side. ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary yet. We will let the elders decide.¡± The voice fell silent for a few seconds, ¡°no, I know the only humans this deep into the forest are raiders. The elders will still want to talk to him, just like with the others.¡± Xavier stopped struggling and listened to the odd one-sided conversation. As his panic gave way to more rational thought, he slowly took stock of his situation. That he had been taken captive was easy to grasp. He seemed to be strapped to some sort of sledge as now he could feel he was at an angle and shifting slightly from side to side. The sensation of his ¡°bed¡± being drug across the ground near his feet only seemed to reinforce that prospect. ¡°Fine, you win. Give it to him.¡± The feminine voice sounded irritated but resigned. The feeling of movement stopped, and a strong hand gripped his face, fingers digging into the back of his cheeks were squeezing them forcefully into the gap where his jaw started. A move intended to force his mouth open. He tried to resist and turn his head to escape the grasp, which seemingly worked until he caught a rough backhand which set his head spinning again. The hand gripped his face once again, and this time forced his mouth open. A liquid soon filled it and he started to splutter before the hand covered his mouth and another pinched his nose forcing him to swallow or choke. As the liquid poured down his throat, he felt everything slowly fading to black and unconsciousness swallowed him whole once again. As the haze of unconsciousness slowly parted Xavier realized he was upright. It seemed the contraption he was bound to was propped against a tree and he was no longer blindfolded. Cautiously he opened his eyes. The light of early morning dawn filtered through the trees illuminating the small campsite he found himself in. Nearby was a small smokeless fire and he could make out the silhouette of a form seated next to it tending to whatever was filling the air with the plesant aroma of cooking meat and herbs. A low rumbling growl came from near his feet, and he looked down. A huge cat lay mostly silently there, its massive frame stretched out with an air of calm vigilance. Its thick, snow-white fur shimmered faintly in the soft light filtering through the canopy, the dark rosettes along its body accentuating its sleek power. Piercing ice-blue eyes watched Xavier intently, unblinking and calculating, like a predator sizing up both prey and environment. Though relaxed in posture, the slight twitch of its tail and the subtle tension in its muscles hinted at readiness, a guard ever alert to the faintest sign of threat or escape. Xavier tensed unable to move away from the frightening beast, his attention so held by the panther he didn¡¯t notice the woman who walked up beside the cat and rested a hand on its head. ¡°I didn¡¯t think the dreamveil sap would knock you out for that long.¡± Her soft but firm voice pulled his attention from the cat to her. His eyes widened slightly as he realized she was another species of Animari that he had not met yet. Not making the same mistake as he had with the spiders, he triggered insight. Name: Lianna Froststride Race: Snow Panther Animari (Iskari) Disposition: Untrusting Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: UnknownThe genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Description Description: The Iskari are a race of Animari descended from snow leopards, renowned for their stealth, resilience, and connection to cold, mountainous regions. With pale skin marked by faint rosette patterns and thick, snow-like hair streaked with silver or black, they move with feline grace and precision. Their piercing blue or gray eyes reflect sharp intelligence and a predatory nature. The Iskari thrive in harsh environments, leveraging their exceptional agility and survival instincts. Fiercely loyal and protective of their kin, they are skilled hunters, trackers, and warriors, embodying the quiet strength and adaptability of their snow leopard heritage. Stats Health: 200/200 Stamina: 210/210 Mana: 170/170 Name: Frostclaw Disposition: Wary Description: The snow panther is a large, elusive feline native to cold, mountainous regions. Its thick, snow-white fur, patterned with dark rosettes, provides excellent camouflage in snowy landscapes. With piercing ice-blue eyes and a long, bushy tail for balance, the Snow Panther moves silently, making it a masterful predator. Renowned for its agility and strength, it can leap great distances and traverse treacherous terrain with ease. Snow Panthers are fiercely territorial and highly intelligent, often regarded as symbols of resilience and grace in the wild. Their natural stealth and survival instincts make them both feared and revered by those who encounter them. Stats Health: 320/320 Stamina: 500/500 Mana: 100/00 His gaze returned to Lianna cautiously, wary of Frostclaw but her words drew his attention. She was a figure poised with quiet strength and watchful intensity. Her athletic frame was wrapped in practical leather armor and a fur-lined cape, speaking of a seasoned tracker and survivor. Snow-white hair streaked with silver framed a face marked by faint snow leopard rosettes, her piercing gray-blue eyes locked on him with suspicion. There was no warmth in her gaze, only the guarded calculation of someone ready to act if needed. She carried herself with a blend of feral grace and cautious authority, her demeanor making it clear that she saw him as a potential threat rather than an ally. One hand rested on Frostclaw¡¯s head while the other on the hilt of the sword sheathed at her waist. Over her shoulder he could see the shape of a well-crafted recurve bow and full quiver of arrows. She stood there contemplating him quietly before she looked over her shoulder and called out. ¡°Next time you should use less, we don¡¯t want to kill him yet.¡± Xavier followed her look and gawked as he saw a figure hanging upside-down by his knees from a sturdy tree limb near the fire. The figure¡¯s snow-white hair was streaked with darker accents dangles freely, catching the flickering firelight, while sharp ice-blue eyes peer out with a mix of mischief and scrutiny. The figure briefly made a face at Lianna before turning its attention to Xavier, the faint grin no longer seemed playful instead it held an edge of wariness, as though he was silently judging Xavier¡¯s every move. The faint rosette markings on his forearms and calves glint subtly, but his lean, wiry frame exuded readiness, his seemingly casual posture actually a calculated vantage point. It¡¯s clear from his demeanor that he was watching for any sign of threat, his distrust mirroring Lianna¡¯s sharp, unwavering gaze. Xavier took the time to trigger insight once more. Name: Liosan Froststride Race: Snow Panther Animari (Iskari) Disposition: Untrusting Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown Description Description: The Iskari are a race of Animari descended from snow leopards, renowned for their stealth, resilience, and connection to cold, mountainous regions. With pale skin marked by faint rosette patterns and thick, snow-like hair streaked with silver or black, they move with feline grace and precision. Their piercing blue or gray eyes reflect sharp intelligence and a predatory nature. The Iskari thrive in harsh environments, leveraging their exceptional agility and survival instincts. Fiercely loyal and protective of their kin, they are skilled hunters, trackers, and warriors, embodying the quiet strength and adaptability of their snow leopard heritage. Stats Health: 170/170 Stamina: 150/150 Mana: 200/200 Xavier now knew who the woman had been talking to earlier. Seeing the same surname of the pair he was also now readily able to pick out similar features. They were siblings. Liosan started to swing slightly back and forth from his perch as Lianna turned her gaze back to Xavier. ¡°Who are you and why are you in the Silverwood?¡± Her tone was cold and mistrusting, the large cat at her side adding to the effect with a low rumbling growl. Xavier wracked his brain trying to figure out some way out of his situation, but his options were limited. As he thought he glanced about, his eyes finally alighting on his belongings in a heap near the fire. Even from his location he could see that Vaeltheris¡¯ appearance had shifted slightly now its hilt seemed to be that of a plain short sword, much less ornate than even the hilt of his new Emberstone Shortsword. That made him relax slightly, though the blade was soulbound he didn¡¯t want it to draw more attention than necessary. The louder growl from Frostclaw pulled his attention back to the woman and cat standing before him and he finally spoke. ¡°My name is Xavier; I actually live deeper in the forest. I was exploring a new location I had found and had just come back to the surface to head back home. I honestly mean you no harm I just want to go back home.¡± He had a suspicion that keeping the details to the minimum would be better in this situation. No need to broadcast that he was a new lordling to potential enemies. Lianna rolled her eyes as though she had heard that same story a thousand times before. ¡°Troll shit,¡± she spat fiercely at his feet. ¡°We know you are with the raiders. They are the only humans who come this deep into the woods. I am guessing you got separated after you sacked one of our villages and fell down that hole while you were searching for your accomplices. Liosan told me the only footprints he found in there and in the surrounding area were yours. You are a long way from the wildlands little human. No one will be coming to rescue you.¡± With those words she turned her back on him and returned to the fire. Frostclaw remained where it was sprawled still eyeing him as if he was a meal just waiting to be delivered. When she sat near the fire she glanced back up to Liosan. ¡°We will be able to make it home tonight. The elders will interrogate him and find out where the rest of his party are then they will likely execute him the same as the others.¡± She didn¡¯t hide her contempt for him now that she felt certain of who he was. As she spoke his hope started to fade. He was going to die and there was little he could do about it. Carefully he tested his bonds, but they were immoveable, whoever had bound him knew what they were doing. Slumping further he hung his head. The despair threatening to overwhelm him before he clenched his teeth. No, he wasn¡¯t going to die like this. There had to be a way out of this situation. If he couldn¡¯t escape before they ended up wherever they were going, then he would have to plead his case to whoever these elders were. It was clear that these two had already made up their minds about him. Lifting his head he watched as the male, Liosan, dropped soundlessly from the tree and moved to join his sister by the fire. She retrieved a small pot from where it had been hanging and together the two split it contents. Seeing them eating made his stomach rumble loudly as he realized it had easily been hours if not a whole day since he had last eaten anything significant. ¡°Please,¡± he called out, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything since at least yesterday morning. Could you at least take a little pity on me and give me something to eat?¡± The pair turned to look at him, Liosan¡¯s face a cold mask while Lianna¡¯s was more measured. Eventually she rose to her feet, Liosan grabbed her arm, but she shook him off and walked over to where Xavier remained bound. ¡°You do not need to be fed to be questioned. But I will not treat our captives the way you people treat yours. We are more civilized than you raiders are.¡± It was clear she held serious animosity for the group she thought Xavier belonged to. He had a sinking feeling he knew precisely who she thought he was. He remembered the devastation left behind at Bramblegate. She finally lifted her bowl and using the spoon still resting within the cooling stew she began to feed him. She wasn¡¯t gentle about it, but neither was she cruel. It was simply the perfunctory act of feeding someone who couldn¡¯t feed themselves. When the bowl was empty, she unceremoniously turned her back on him once again and moved back to the fire. It was clear she trusted the snow panther with guarding him implicitly. Soon Liosan vanished back into the woods. The preternatural silence of the man was unsettling, though it made it obvious how Xavier hadn¡¯t known he was there when he was first knocked unconscious. Shortly after he vanished Lianna leaned back against one of the trees and started to nap. As she did Xavier renewed his efforts to try and free himself. His movements caused Frostclaw to reach out with one large paw; the panther spread its toes and curled its claws into the soft dirt just short of Xavier¡¯s feet. The threat was obvious, also the cat was clearly more than just a mere beast. Slumping once again, his helplessness clear for now at least, Xavier tried to rest. A few hours later he was awoken as Lianna and Liosan moved the sledge he was tied to. They shifted him to where the handles that rose above his head slipped into a harness worn by Frostclaw. Once the contraption was settled into place Lianna returned to his side, she examined the knots still holding him bound and finding them as secure as ever she retied a blindfold over his eyes. ¡°I swear I mean neither you nor your people harm,¡± Xavier exclaimed. ¡°I just want to return to my home.¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± she snapped. ¡°Your fate is in the hands of the elders now. I recommend you hold nothing back from them, if they are satisfied with your answers, you will get a swift death. If you vex them then they have ways of making you spill the truth.¡± With those words he felt her move away from his side and soon the feeling of being dragged started up again. Xavier fell silent and focused on the sensation, and the map in his head. Somehow, it unerringly still tracked his location and showed him heading further north, into the foothills of the mountains. Chapter 25 - Bound by Three, Proven by Deeds The map continuously updated Xavier of his location, he was in awe of the speed they were traveling. While, on foot, he could cover most of the radius of his domain in a single day, fifteen miles from the center of the confluence of ley lines that made up the Syr¡¯Vailen, they were traveling nearly three times that speed. He wanted to know what skills the duo had that allowed them such speed in the unbroken terrain. Blindfolded and bound, he resigned himself to watching his map and reviewing his skills. The first thing he did, however, was to allocate his new points from attaining level seven. Two points went into his constitution raising it to 14 and subsequently increasing his health, just in case his upcoming meeting with the elders went seriously sideways. That upcoming meeting was the reason his remaining 4 points were split between charisma and luck. Some small voice usually prompted him to place points in luck, this time it encouraged charisma as well. After applying the changes, he pondered that for a short while. Was it fate, divine guidance from Danu, or just his own subconscious that he heard at those moments he wondered. After a while, he chalked it up to another thing he would probably never figure out. Hours passed as he was drug along. He was very familiar now with his current skills. As he read the weapon skills, he was able to focus on keywords and learned that some of them could actually evolve over time. Though he had skill with knives he was starting to fight with short swords more recently and he noticed that he had not gotten a new skill for that but the experience for the daggers skill had been slowly increasing. When he had inspected it, a prompt had told him that at level 10, when he became an apprentice in the skill it would become small blades and evolve to encompass a larger number of bladed weapons. That change had him looking at other of his skills and curious about their possible evolution. One of the things he focused on was the change that happened to a skill at level 5 as opposed to level 10. Both levels marked a change in rank, level 5 meant he was now an initiate instead of just a novice, and level 10 marked him as an apprentice. However, level 10 also came with bonus experience, which made him wonder if it was every other rank change that came with that bonus or if it was every 10 levels. Gods, what he wouldn¡¯t give for someone to discuss these questions with. He had a feeling that the taciturn Iskari woman would not be interested in discussing his questions with him. He was pretty sure she would as soon kill him as speak to him. Rather than fixate on that irritation he decided to review his city interface. Mentally he selected the icon he had come to associate with that section and was promptly met with a new message. You have tried to access your city interface outside of your area of influence. All management and information of the settlement of Rynthavael are unavailable until you return to your domain. Well, that was certainly something he hadn¡¯t expected it did confirm that he had been taken outside of his lands, however. Scowling slightly, he pulled up his skills tab again more to pass the time than for any real review of the status. He was again nearly overwhelmed at the number of skills he had acquired in the few short weeks he had been in the world. That made him start to wonder about days, weeks, months, and years. He had never really had a chance to ask anyone about those and had simply been assuming that they were the same as back on Earth but now he realized that wasn¡¯t something he could take for granted. He had read many stories where they were identical but nearly just as many where they had their own timespans. As he focused on that concept he received a new prompt. It appears that you wish to display the time and date on your interface. Is this correct? Xavier would have facepalmed if his hands hadn¡¯t been bound. Mentally he selected yes, and a new icon appeared in the bottom right of his interface listing the time as 18:58 ¨C 22 Bloomrest 13097 (200 Age of Order¡¯s Dominion). More playing around with that icon revealed that Bloomrest had 40 days and was the third month of a sixteen-month calendar. That threw his mind for a loop, this world had an active calendar that had lasted for over thirteen millennia? Earth was a baby in comparison, Danu¡¯s words about Arath having influenced Earth¡¯s history might have been true. It was while he was considering this new revelation that the dragging sensation came to a stop. Xavier tensed, straining his ears for whatever was going on around him. After a short period, his blindfold was removed and he could see again, somewhat. The torchlight blinded him with its sudden illumination, and he could not see any details beyond its damnable glow. From off to his left, he heard Lianna¡¯s voice, the cold rage in her tones clear despite his lack of ability to see her features. ¡°Elders, we found this human emerging from a hole deep to the south within the Silverwood. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t traveling to see the elves as he was too far to the east to be heading in that direction from any of the known human trading settlements. The only thing that makes sense is he is one of the raiders, separated from his hunting party. It is likely one of their newer members as he doesn¡¯t wear their colors yet. His armament is better than what they usually carry, he could be a lordling from the kingdom dallying with them.¡± It was clear that she had been stewing over his background while they traveled and had cooked up quite a compelling argument against him. She had delivered that whole diatribe without taking a breath from his estimate. He heard several voices murmuring in discussion before suddenly the light was blocked out by a hulking form looming over him. As his eyes adjusted, he could make out the ursine features of another Animari. He triggered insight.
Name: Thror Ironpaw Race: Bearkin (Ursari) Disposition: Wary
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The bearkin animari, or ursari, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of bears. Known for their immense strength, resilience, and protective instincts, they are the steadfast guardians of their people and lands. With broad, powerful frames, thick fur-like hair in shades of brown, black, or silver, and deep-set amber or dark brown eyes, they project an aura of unyielding determination. Ursari are natural warriors and defenders, deeply tied to earth¡¯s strength and endurance, and their stoic demeanor hides a deep well of wisdom and patience.
Stats
Health: Unknown Stamina: Unknown Mana: Unknown
Thror grunted dismissively at him. ¡°He does not seem like much does he? Any one of our Wardens could take him down before he knew they were there.¡± ¡°Calm Thror, I do not think he is one of the raiders. I propose we give him a chance to prove his intentions,¡± came a softspoken feminine voice once more from his left. Xavier was beginning to understand there was a larger group of individuals standing there, not just the couple he had assumed. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± he called out. ¡°My name is Xavier, I come from Rynthavael, it¡¯s a village deeper in the woods. It¡¯s settled by survivors of raiders. I think we could have a common enemy.¡± He strained against his bonds for a moment trying to look to where the others were and proclaim his innocence. The torchbearers shifted and suddenly Xavier could see six others standing near Lianna. Whereas Thror wore heavy plate and scale armor, the other six seemed to be wearing more flowing robes. They each wore distinct torcs and headpieces fashioned from natural elements taken from the forest or animals that dwelt within. The torchbearers were still obscured by the lights they held but the remaining illumination had given Xavier a better idea of who he was talking to. Triggering Insight for each of the elders he quickly got their names and races.
Name: Kaelith Moonstride Race: Lynxkin (Lynari) Disposition: Neutral
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The lynxkin animari, or lynari, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of lynxes. Known for their sharp vision, independence, and agility, they thrive in roles requiring clarity, adaptability, and precision. Lynari possess lithe and graceful frames, often with tawny, silvery, or gray fur-like hair streaked with black. Their piercing golden, amber, or green eyes reflect intelligence and an uncanny ability to detect hidden threats. Distinctive tufted ears and subtle whisker-like facial markings highlight their feline lineage, further enhancing their air of mystery. Deeply connected to air¡¯s vigilance, the lynari are natural strategists, scouts, and mediators, blending sharp instincts with careful deliberation to guide their kin through the challenges of both wilderness and society.
Stats
Health: Unknown Stamina: Unknown Mana: Unknown
Name: Sylara Dawnshade Race: Deerkin (Cervari) Disposition: Curious
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The deerkin animari, or cervari, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of deer. Renowned for their wisdom, grace, and nurturing spirits, they are deeply connected to the natural flow of life and harmony. Their slender frames are complemented by soft, earthy-toned hair, often adorned with subtle antler-like growths or decorative markings. Their serene green or hazel eyes reflect a profound empathy and calm strength. Cervari are skilled healers, spiritual guides, and mediators, embodying life¡¯s gentle yet persistent growth and fostering balance within their communities and the natural world.
Stats
Health: Unknown Health: Unknown Health: Unknown
Name: Veyara FrostwhisperReading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Race: Snow Leopard Kin (Iskari) Disposition: Untrusting
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The snow leopardkin animari, or iskari, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of snow leopards. Known for their stealth, agility, and resilience, they thrive in harsh, cold environments, such as mountainous regions. With pale skin marked by faint rosette patterns and thick, snow-like hair often streaked with silver or black, they exude an air of quiet strength. Their piercing blue or gray eyes and fluid movements reflect their feline grace and predatory instincts. Fiercely loyal to their kin, Snow Panthers are natural hunters, trackers, and warriors, blending primal intuition with sharp intelligence to navigate both wilderness and social challenges.
Stats
Health: Unknown Health: Unknown Health: Unknown
Name: Arvyn Flamefeather Race: Hawkkin (Falconi) Disposition: Wary
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The hawkkin animari, or falconi, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of hawks. Renowned for their sharp eyes, precision, and discipline, they are the vigilant protectors of the skies and masters of aerial tactics. Their lithe frames are accented by feathers that blend seamlessly with their hair, often in shades of gold, brown, or gray. Their sharp, piercing eyes, usually golden or bright brown, miss no detail. Falconi are natural scouts, hunters, and tacticians, embodying air¡¯s freedom and vigilance while protecting their kin from above with unmatched dedication.
Stats
Health: Unknown Health: Unknown Health: Unknown
Name: Lyselle Silvermist Race: Foxkin (Vulpiri) Disposition: Intrigued
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The foxkin animari, or vulpiri, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of foxes. Known for their cunning, charisma, and agility, they excel in diplomacy, negotiation, and intrigue. With sleek, fiery red or coppery hair, sometimes streaked with black or white, and sharp, playful eyes in hues of amber, green, or gold, they radiate a sly charm. Their slender frames and quick movements reflect their natural adaptability. Vulpiri are master negotiators, spies, and strategists, embodying life¡¯s clever resourcefulness and thriving in both social and wilderness challenges.
Stats
Health: Unknown Health: Unknown Health: Unknown
Name: Khoran Dusksworn Race: Pantherkin (Duskhari) Disposition: Wary
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The pantherkin animari, or duskhari, is a race of humanoids embodying the traits of panthers. Enigmatic and precise, they are masters of stealth and shadow, thriving in dark forests and shadowed terrains. Their smooth, dark-toned skin is complemented by sleek black or deep midnight blue hair, and their golden or green eyes shine with piercing intensity. Duskhari move with silent precision, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. Known for their patience and strength, they are natural shadow warriors and tacticians, channeling earth¡¯s unseen power and embodying the stillness before the strike.
Stats
Health: Unknown Health: Unknown Health: Unknown
Xavier¡¯s mouth went dry. At least with the twins, he could see their basic stats. The fact that he could not see anything, but the race and name of the elders had to mean they were at a much higher level. This spoke volumes about them as from what he could understand about most people that were not combat-oriented is they rarely attained too high of a level. It was just too dangerous. He had found out that leveling skills could give experience and had to assume there were quests and such that could be completed for crafters, gatherers, and other trade skills but it was drops in the bucket compared to actual combat and exploration. The fact that these individuals potentially had such high levels inspired a new level of awe and respect in the young lord. He bowed his head slightly in turn to each of them. After a few minutes the lynari finally spoke. Her voice was a soft whisper but carried a distinct air of authority. ¡°Untie him, Lianna, we would speak to him as an individual not a captive.¡± She turned to the young Iskari who looked like she was about to swallow her tongue trying to hold back her response. ¡°You were wise in bringing him bound and blindfolded, the raiders have not found our enclave yet due to you and the Rangers. Do not take my words as a rebuke.¡± Lianna nodded stiffly and turned, moving quickly over to Xavier¡¯s side. Her knife flashed several times and soon he was able to push himself away from the upright sledge. His legs gave out on him as the extended time of being bound in one position had left him weak and stiff. Sitting roughly on the ground he was able to catch himself before he face-planted into the dirt. Lianna remained just behind him, her dagger still in her hand, just in case he tried to attack the elders, she told herself. Soon, Xavier was able to look up to the surrounding individuals. Other than Lianna there was no outright hostility from any of them. Instead, their features displayed emotions ranging from mistrust to disinterest to curiosity. He was an unknown element. His words had the semblance of truth if lacking details. At a nod from the lynari, who seemed to be the head of the group, the Cervari wove her fingers through a series of gestures and golden light surrounded Xavier¡¯s body. All of the aches, pains, and stiffness from his captivity faded within seconds and he was able to stand. He glanced at his status log to see if he could identify the spell, but it was maddeningly vague, only telling him that he was healed by an unknown spell. He slowly rose to his feet still watching the elders. ¡°What can I do to prove I mean none of you harm?¡± He asked the group, though his eyes remained on Kaelith. The differences between the different elders had become more noticeable the longer Xavier had to study them. Thror, besides being the only one in armor, was a hulking¡­ well bear¡­ of an individual. The cervari, Sylara, was tall and regal, her headpiece woven around her long deerlike ears. The iskari, Veyara, had a striking similarity to Lianna and Liosan. Xavier had a sneaking suspicion there was familial blood shared there. Whereas the falconi reminded him of Lorien, the scout back in Rynthavael who had helped him train in archery. The others also each shared distinct racial traits of the various animals they were kin to. It was the vulpiri that spoke next. Her voice was high and almost yipping as she spoke. ¡°Send him with the rangers. They are going after the raiding party that struck Tilsen. If he helps rescue the captives and return them safely back to us, I think he will have earned a measure of trust.¡± Kaelith didn¡¯t respond, her eyes simply examining the human as he stood before the gathering of powerful individuals. ¡°Do you swear you mean my people no harm?¡± ¡°I swear on everything I have that I didn¡¯t even know you were here, let alone mean you harm,¡± Xavier replied quickly. ¡°What was that?¡± The Lynari queried, her tufted ears twitching slightly as if she couldn¡¯t hear him. ¡°I swear on everything I have that I didn¡¯t even know you were here, let alone mean you harm,¡± Xavier repeated warily. ¡°I still didn¡¯t quite hear you human. Please repeat that one more time.¡± This time the small woman leaned closer to him. Slowly, not daring to move closer, Xavier spoke louder and more precisely, ¡°I swear on everything I have that I didn¡¯t even know you were here, let alone mean you harm,¡± A weight settled on him; unlike anything he had felt before. The crafty woman smiled widely as she spoke. ¡°Bound by three and witnessed by seven. If your words were untrue then the gods themselves would have struck you down. That does not mean you engender trust yet human. Will you go with our rangers to restore freedom to our people who were taken?¡± You have been offered a quest: Break the Bonds 1. You have been granted an audience with the elders of Verdantspire Haven, you have proven you mean them no harm though this was obtained through subtly influencing you to swear on it three times thus invoking the ritual of three. Remember that words have power in Arath and should not be used idly. Kaelith has given you an opportunity to prove yourself trustworthy, however, through aiding the Verdantspire Wardens in destroying a raiding party and rescuing captives. This has enflamed your ire at the situation due to your trait Unyielding Liberator. You are unable to refuse this quest. Quest Objectives: Assistance to Verdantspire Wardens in tracking and aiding in the destruction of the raiding party along with the rescue of captured Animari individuals. Penalties for Failure or Refusal: Due to your trait you cannot refuse this quest. Failure means the death or enslavement of animari captives and loss of trust in Verdantspire Haven. Potential rewards: Trust and respect from the Animari of Verdantspire Haven. Increased settlement relationship between Rynthavael and Verdantspire Haven. +5000 Experience, Xavier blinked as he read through the new prompt. It seemed the tricky little lynxkin was going to make up for her duplicity with the swearing by giving him not only a chance to earn the Animari settlement''s trust himself but between his village and them as well. A slight smirk pulled up the corner of his lips. He was only mildly irritated that he didn¡¯t have a choice to accept or not but that quickly passed as he weighed the potential boons of success. ¡°I will do everything in my power to assist in freeing your people Kaelith,¡± Xavier voiced his assent. As he replied to her by name the Lynari twitched one tufted ear. She had never told this human her name nor had any of the others mentioned it. There was more to this human than met the eye. ¡°Forgive my manners Xavier of Rynthavael. I am not sure how you came to know my name but let me introduce myself and my fellow elders. I am Kaelith Moonstride, High Speaker of Verdantspire Haven. Alongside me are my fellow elders¡­¡± She proceeded to name and indicated each in turn. Xavier bowed his head formally to each as they were identified. ¡°Lianna will return your belongings to you and take you to get some food while she fills you in on what we know about the raiders. Good luck human, much is riding on your assistance.¡± With that Kaelith and the other elders took their leave along with the torch-bearing animari. Xavier was left standing alone with Lianna who held out his possessions cradled in both of her arms. The look on her face clearly signaled she did not agree with the choices of the elders, but she was bound by their words. Xavier reclaimed his items hanging both swords from his hips once again, replacing his satchel and pouches to their original positions, and finally taking his pack and slinging it over his shoulders once more. As he took the last of his gear from her, Lianna turned and stalked away from him heading deeper into the large settlement. Xavier hurried after her, his eyes flashing from left to right taking in all of the new scenery and buildings of the hustling community. There were hundreds of various animari moving about, socializing, and working. Those were just the ones he could see; it was obvious that this settlement was easily in the thousands of individuals. How they had kept themselves isolated for as long as they had Xavier had no idea. When Lianna came to a stop it was in front of a small shop, it looked like a blend of a food cart from back on Earth and a sit-down restaurant. It reminded him once again of Samantha, the cute barista who often worked the streetside window that he spoke to every morning. A momentary pang of sadness struck Xavier before he snapped to the moment as Lianna growled out his name a second time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what did you ask? I was thinking.¡± He replied. Rolling her eyes at the thought of a human thinking the iskari pointed to the booth and the young otter-looking woman standing within. ¡°I asked if you wanted stew or the roast. Kianna is one of the best cooks in the outer ring of the Haven.¡± ¡°Um, I am not sure, what are you having?¡± Xavier stammered in return. Once more rolling her eyes at the inept nature of humans Lianna turned to the woman. ¡°Two of your bowls of selkhar stew Kianna.¡± She placed a silver coin on the counter as the young woman ladled up the steaming food into bowls, placed them on platters with still-warm dark bread, and then passed the two platters to the iskari. Xavier gratefully took the plater from Lianna, his linguist ability had triggered informing him he had learned a new language, Avara. Selkhar in that language roughly translated to seafood. Given the woman behind the counter had a striking resemblance to an otter he felt it was safe to assume she knew well the cuisine. When he sat with Lianna and took his first bite he was overwhelmingly confirmed in his assumption. The woman was a cuisine master, and he savored every bite. While they ate, Lianna explained how the raiders had been able to strike small outlying settlements between the patrols of the wardens. Tilden had been a fairly new village only established last cycle but now it had been completely destroyed. That reminded Xavier of Bramblegate, and he was fairly certain that the raiding parties came from the same location. When she finished, he filled her in on what he and Ella had found when they went to Bramblegate. The spoon in Lianna¡¯s hand broke as she clenched her fists hearing of the similar devastation. She eyed him warily, uncertain if he was telling the truth about his actions or if he was spinning the story to make himself look better. Finally, the pair finished their meal and Lianna declared it was time to go, they would meet up with Liosan in the forest and he would guide them to where the raiders were last tracked. Xavier rose and followed the dangerous woman, he still had a feeling she would rather shoot him than help him but fate, well the devious little lynari elder, had decreed they work together, and he was in no way going to try and cross her will. Chapter 26 - The Howl of Freedom Xavier followed Lianna as she left the gates of Verdantspire Haven. They exited the settlement to the east and were almost immediately engulfed by the dense forest. He nearly jumped out of his skin when after only a few hundred meters there was suddenly the huge form of Frostclaw running between him and the iskari. Angling his path slightly to give him more distance from the dangerous predator. While they ran, he received a prompt he had never seen before. Lianna wishes to add you to her party. Do you accept? Yes or No. He smiled, she may not be keen on him, but it seemed she would follow the elder¡¯s request and allow him to join and aid in the mission. He mentally selected yes and suddenly his interface updated to include small images of Lianna, Liosan and Frostclaw along with bars for their Health, Stamina, and Mana. While he examined those a small icon of a winged foot overlaying a small copse of trees appeared beside each picture and his speed tripled. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh in joy as he sprinted through the nighttime forest, the branches and underbrush seeming to almost move out of his way. Focusing on the icon he found out it was called ¡°Forest Runner¡± and he, like the rest of the party had been granted it by Lianna. His eyes almost bulged out of his head when he focused on her image and was given a brief but updated character sheet.
Name: Lianna Froststride Race: Snow Panther Animari (Iskari) Disposition: Wary - Neutral
Level: 27 Class: Ranger (Beastmaster) Active Effects: Forest Runner, Beast Bonding
Description
Description: The Iskari are a race of Animari descended from snow leopards, renowned for their stealth, resilience, and connection to cold, mountainous regions. With pale skin marked by faint rosette patterns and thick, snow-like hair streaked with silver or black, they move with feline grace and precision. Their piercing blue or gray eyes reflect sharp intelligence and a predatory nature. The Iskari thrive in harsh environments, leveraging their exceptional agility and survival instincts. Fiercely loyal and protective of their kin, they are skilled hunters, trackers, and warriors, embodying the quiet strength and adaptability of their snow leopard heritage.
Stats
Health: 200/200 Stamina: 210/210 Mana: 170/170
She was more than four times his own level, no wonder he hadn¡¯t been able to see much about her with his novice insight skill. That in turn only made him more curious about the levels of the elders. Maybe with practice and luck, along with earning more trust, he would eventually be able to learn more about them as well. He had a new goal now, to grow his skill and level to be equivalent to the twins to start. He lumped them together in his goal because a quick glance at Liosan confirmed he was of the same level but a rogue, assassin. He increased his speed a little to catch up to Lianna, while still remaining wary of Frostclaw. ¡°Lianna, once I prove I am not a threat and hopefully am an ally to your people would you be able to teach me more about your beast bonding? I have befriended a shadowmane panther¡­¡± He was amazed at how easy it was to talk despite running at the speed that they were. When he mentioned Valkra however she cut him off suddenly. ¡°You managed to not only find but befriend a shadowmane?¡± She asked incredulously. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at him again, their speed not slowing as they dodged and wove at breakneck speed through the forest. ¡°They are extremely rare, hardly ever leave the Shattered Expanse. Duskhari have fits trying to bond with them and they are the most proficient in making that connection. When did you travel to those forsaken lands?¡± Her questions were pointed and bespoke her doubt in the human. Xavier broke down how he and Ella had first found Valkra and her mother, the fight with the shardfang wolves, the elder shadowmane¡¯s death, and the cub¡¯s seeming attachment. As he spoke, she interrupted asking for specific details. When he finished, she went silent for a while, and they continued to run. He did not notice as she glanced at him sidelong. Her wariness over working with him slowly waned as she wondered more and more about a human who could win the faithfulness of something as wonderous as a shadowmane and seemed to actually care about animari. ¡°You told the elders that your village is made up of survivors from another raid? Bramblegate was it not? I have seen it on some maps, it was not small. You mean for me to believe that it was destroyed?¡± She queried attentively turning to look at him several times while she spoke. ¡°Sadly yes, the whole reason Ella and I were heading to Bramblegate was to see if we could recruit people to help build Rynthavael. It was not long after we found Valkra that Ella and I saw the smoke rising in the distance. We could not run as fast through the woods as you seem to be able to, however, and by the time we got there it was all but done. We found a few still being tormented in the village proper and with their aid killed the remaining guards to free those that were in caged wagons. They all joined me, Ella, and Valkra in returning to Rynthavael. Several animari were amongst them and I am proud to call them friends. One of them helped me increase my skill in archery. She¡¯s a part of the town guard now.¡± Lianna slowed to a walk, Frostclaw coming to her side and she rested a hand on the great cat¡¯s head. ¡°I want to see this village sometime. I doubted that humans would work and live side by side with animari in Bramblegate but seems I had missed my chance to see if the rumors were true.¡± Her face darkened in anger, ¡°It is not like that in many lands, my people are hunted and enslaved in the wildlands.¡± Xavier¡¯s face showed his shock and horror at that. Something that did not escape the iskari while they walked. Something fundamental in him railed at that concept. While he knew that slavery existed in Arath, talking with his villagers had revealed how institutionalized it was in the world, subjugating a whole people just because of who they were was more than he could rationalize. They resumed their run in silence for a while longer, the mountains loomed on the horizon as they came closer to the Ironpeak range. Suddenly Lianna came to an abrupt stop. She looked upwards and Xavier followed her example, Liosan seemed to just appear out of the shadows. As seemed to be his usual, he was hanging from his knees the oddity though was the fact he was casually cutting and eating an apple in that precarious position. The strange assassin waved casually but silently to his sister before he turned narrowed eyes on Xavier. In a hushed voice, Lianna called up to her brother. ¡°He is here on the bidding of the High Speaker. She charged him to help us deal with the raiders. He also swore thrice that he intends to do us no harm.¡± She folded her arms, her body language indicated that she was done with that topic. ¡°Have you managed to find where the raiders are camped?¡± Liosan straightened his legs, losing his perch. As he fell, he performed an odd twisting motion and landed on his feet, holding a slice of apple to his mouth with what looked to be a wickedly sharp blade. Taking a bite, he nodded and gestured towards the mountains in the distance. Xavier¡¯s jaw dropped at the casual indifference the twins had at the unbelievable physical feat the assassin had just performed with such ease. Lianna performed her customary eyeroll at the vagueness of her brother''s gesture. ¡°You know full well that you need to tell us more than just waving your hand.¡± She pulled a folded map from one of her belt pouches and opened it. Opening it she shifted to stand beside Frostclaw and lay the map on the cat¡¯s back. From the lack of reaction, Xavier assumed this was a common occurrence, that or the leopard simply trusted the ranger that much. Liosan moved to the other side of the cat and looked at the map for several long moments before he finally rested a finger on it. The location was only about a mile north of where they currently were. Xavier smiled inwardly as his interface map updated with a new icon indicating the raiders camp. The now quartet took off running toward the raiders camp. It was only a matter of minutes to cover the distance, and they were soon creeping through the underbrush. Xavier trailed the others mentally cursing every broken branch or rustle of leaves he made. Compared to the others he felt like he sounded as if an elephant was stomping through the brush. Despite his hesitation, they soon crested a ridge within the foothills and were able to overlook the camp. Below them, the makeshift camp lay in a small valley of the foothills. It gave the raiders a semi-defensible position with their tents towards the back of the valley. The larger wagons with the slaves were in the center of the camp near the fire, and their other wagons were placed in a semi-circle facing the front of the valley and acting as a pseudo-wall. Overhead two moons hung low in the night sky, their red and purple light lending to an ominous illumination when mixed with the flickering light of fire the raiders had set. Xavier found himself thankful to have the powerful trio with him. There were a lot more raiders below than had been in the remaining group from the Bramblegate attack and the tents could hold a large number as well. As he watched small symbols began to appear in the air over the heads of individuals below.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Xavier¡¯s eyes widened as the number continued to grow, especially as he realized they were marks over each of the raiders. When the symbols stopped appearing he could count fifteen enemies including four very large wolves. Several of the symbols moved around the perimeter of the camp mostly. Xavier felt his shoulders drop. He had no idea how the handful of them could take on such a large force. That, however, was when Lianna started whispering. She gestured to several of the perimeter marks on the far side of the camp. ¡°Go take care of them, brother, when I see their marks vanish, I will take care of the closest two and Frostclaw will kill the wolf with them.¡± She glanced towards Xavier, ¡°Stay close to me we will be moving into the camp after the sentries fall. I will silence at least two more as we do that but as soon as my arrows strike in the firelight, they will sound the alarm. I trust that those blades are more than just for show.¡± Xavier nodded his assent and checked the swords in their scabbards, they slid free easily the couple inches he pulled them. ¡°I am with you Lianna. Your people will breathe free air tonight or I will die trying.¡± Inwardly he winced, breathe free air? Really? That¡¯s what he said he thought to himself. Gods, what the hell was he trying to prove with such vainglorious statements? Lianna eyed him a moment then shook her head slightly. ¡°I will hold you to that human.¡± She gestured towards Liosan, and the assassin disappeared. He didn¡¯t just fade into the woods he quite literally disappeared from view. Once more Xavier felt jealous of the skills and abilities of these two powerful individuals. Jealousy and an overwhelming desire to improve himself to their strength. He owed that to the people who followed him, he owed that to the animari he was hoping to ally his village with, he owed that to himself. He reaffirmed his commitment to improving his skills and level once he got back to his lands. It was nearly twenty tense minutes before the first of the marks on the opposite side of the camp vanished. As it did Lianna started to move, crouched low she unslung her bow and nocked an arrow. Carefully she, Xavier, and Frostclaw started down the ridge. Frostclaw slunk off into the woods partway down, clearly heading towards the mark that was moving where Xavier had last seen one of the wolves. He pondered for a brief moment how the cat knew when to leave and could only end up assuming it was due to that effect known as beast bonding. He truly hoped that she could teach him that in the future. Shaking his head he refocused on the present. It would do no good to plan for the future if he couldn¡¯t survive what was to come. The second mark on the opposite side of the camp vanished, it was followed shortly by a brief noise and the mark where the wolf had been vanishing as well. Three of the number were gone without an alarm made Xavier feel a lot more hopeful about their prospects. He nearly ran into the back of Lianna when she stopped and drew her bow. He could see the mark over the head of another individual just ahead of them. The only sound of warning the raider received was a soft thwip and whistle of air that caused him to turn their direction before the arrow embedded in his eye killing him instantly. As his body fell to the ground Lianna already had a second arrow drawn and within seconds it flew as well. It caught her second target in the throat leaving them only able to make a soft gurgling noise as they crumpled as well. The perimeter of the camp was broken, and no further observed sentries were left alive to raise an alarm. That left the small group of attackers free to move inward. As they crept closer to the camp Xavier noticed a small faintly glowing mark in the dirt. He gestured to Lianna to wait and inched closer to the oddity. As he did so its shape came more into view. An unusual series of sigils wound in a small spiral and there was something about them that only piqued his interest more. He held up his hand to Lianna indicating he would need a little more time to inspect the disturbance. Xavier carefully placed his hands near but not crossing where he envisioned the line of the mark would be perpendicular to the camp. Something internally loudly sounded that warning to him and he opted to trust that voice. As he studied the small sigils he had a realization that he was seeing his first true rune. Not the mundane ones that he had seen in the entry hall to the deeps but a true magic rune. Congratulations you have discovered a new rune: Warding Rune of Alarm ¨C This rune will generate a loud alarm sound when triggered. Xavier felt giddy, his class was coming into play again. It took only a couple moments to be able to identify how the rune was constructed and thus how to deconstruct it. Focusing his will on several of the small sigils he imagined them inverting slowly. To his delight they followed his desire and moments later the rune winked out of existence. Checking his interface, he smiled broadly as the tab under his Rune Engraver class that listed his known runes held its first one. He also had a skill up in his rune deciphering skill. He had not expected a single rune to provide that but maybe the rune was more complex than it had seemed. He motioned to Lianna that he was done with what he was doing. She had moved up to his side and scowled not seeing anything until the brief flash as the rune was broken down. She nodded to Xavier and moved forward once again. Taking cover behind one of the wagons Lianna and Xavier peered around to see what had changed around the campfire in the intervening minutes since they had left their overwatch. The fire was still surrounded by several individuals. One of them actually had the remaining three wolves lying around him. He was busy cleaning and sharpening a small dagger, occasionally he would test the blade, cutting a chunk of meat from a large portion that lay on the table at his side. He would inspect the cut and the blade before tossing the chunk to one of the wolves and resuming his work. The others, four of them, ate meat of their own and passed a small drinking skin between themselves. Though they were not overly boisterous, it became clear that the liquid in the skin was alcoholic in nature. Still unaware of how many of them remained in the tents Xavier and Lianna exchanged a glance before she rose over the edge of the wagon and loosed an arrow into the man with the wolves. He heard the thwip and managed to shift enough to take the arrow in the shoulder instead of the throat. Lianna spat a curse and loosed two more arrows in quick succession, but the moment of surprise was past. The wolves she struck howled in pain staggering slightly before regaining their footing and charging towards the duo. That was when Frostclaw made their presence known. The giant leopard barreled out of the shadows and bowled over two of the three wolves, knocking them to the ground in a single pounce. Its weight held them pinned while it raked bloody furrows in their fur and bit down on the back of the neck of one. The third wolf turned its attention to that struggle and started to snap at the back of the cat''s legs, slowly working its way around to try and get the beast¡¯s throat. The raiders scrambled as well snatching up swords and halberds to join in the fray. The one who had been struck by the arrow yelled in pain and anger and Xavier could hear movement in the tents. He pulled Vaeltheris and the emberstone blade free of their sheaths and ran forward. The fire-aspected sword flashed towards a guard with a halberd before she could bring it up to defend herself. She screamed in pain as the blade not only struck her forearms, causing her to drop her weapon but left smoking wounds behind in her flesh. Turning from her he lunged with Vaeltheris toward one of the sword-wielding guards. He was ready for the attack however and was able to deflect the deadly blade to the side. Lianna weighed into the melee now, she had pulled a long dagger from her belt and swung the length of her bow about as if it was a short stave. The pairing was destructive as her bow would knock weapons aside only for her to step into the gap and leave deep bleeding wounds or death behind with her dagger. Xavier was too busy with his own challenge to pay too much attention to the ranger and her bestial companion. Several more raiders had emerged from the tents and were moving to surround him. One of the newer ones actually carried a weighted net in one hand and a cudgel in their other. Xavier kept shifting to try and always keep someone else between him and that individual as he doubted that he could escape the net if it was brought into play. Then over the din of the combat a voice could be heard rising from the central tent. Suddenly a wave of energy flashed from within and Xavier could see his health bar along with the rest of his team drop suddenly. His drop was much more significant due to his smaller pool, however. He grunted in pain as the necrotic energy sapped his life but still managed to push back the blade that was coming towards his belly. The flap of the tent parted, and a man clad in dark robes with a glinting collar around his throat stepped out. Raising his hands, one holding a long white colored staff he began chanting once again. The collar at his throat flashed briefly then went dark as his words continued. Luckily it was then that Liosan suddenly appeared, a large impish grin on his face as he winked at the caster and drove his dagger into the gap beneath the man¡¯s upraised right arm forcing him to relinquish his hold on the staff. The blade stopped the utterance of words before he crumpled to the ground screaming and clutching his head with his uninjured arm. Liosan fell atop him repeatedly driving his dagger into the hunched form. The sound of fighting and the wave of magic had shaken the stupor from the captives in the cages. They cried out in fear and pain, the magic had taken from their health as well. Shrinking back away from the fighting their anguish added to the confusion of the battle as it kept drawing Xavier¡¯s attention as he hoped the slavers wouldn¡¯t turn weapons on them to force a surrender. On the other side of the fight Frostclaw was ravaging the remaining two wolves. This elicited a cry of rage as the man who had been feeding them as he finally regained his feet. He had managed to pull the arrow from his shoulder and a small rivulet of blood traced down his scale armor. One hand held the long pole of a man-catcher while his other shook out the braided and barbed coils of a ugly and vicious looking whip. His anger turned upon Lianna as she was the closest to him. Soon the crack and whistle of the whip sounded through the night air and cries of pain came from Lianna when she could not avoid its cutting strikes. She did, however, manage to knock aside the man-catcher every time he tried to bring its barbed loop towards her. Xavier¡¯s blades left blood and agony in their wakes, though he was not as skilled as the other two of his party, his opponents seemed to be the lesser armed and armored raiders. Part of him felt cheated at being left with the seeming dregs of their enemies, another much louder part of him shouted that first part into submission and was just thankful to be alive and only minimally injured. With a shout of victory he thrust and twisted Vaeltheris, its keen edge parted the leather armor of his last opponent before it parted the flesh of their belly. Hot innards spilled from the wound leaving the man disemboweled and falling to his knees trying to hold the viscera in place. Xavier turned to move towards Lianna when he caught the briefest of movements from the corner of his eye, the flap of the main tent had parted once again and a large man wearing a dark metal half plate armor. He held twinned scimitars in his hands and one of them caught Xavier in the calf. His body seized almost immediately as a new pain surged through his body. Lightning had coursed from the blade into his form leaving him immobile and helpless, just long enough for the hulking man¡¯s second blade to drive forward, its edge easily parting the hardened leather of Xavier¡¯s cuirass and sinking into his chest. Darkness encroached on his vision as the smirking raider pulled his blade free and turned to face the others. Miles away a horrified and pained scream echoed in a suddenly empty room, the bed disheveled by the abrupt vanishing of its occupant. Time lost all meaning as he slipped into the void, the tumultuous noise of the melee muffled by the slowly diminishing beat of his own heart in his ears. Soon even that noise stopped, and Xavier knew nothingness. The saga continues in Book 2 ¨C Shadows Over the Wildlands. Appendix 1 - Lovos Abridged Guide to the Races of Arath Greetings, fellow seeker of wonders. I am Lovo, a humble traveler who has roamed the untamed reaches and hidden corners of Arath, where legends breathe life and magic weaves through every stone and shadow. From the sunlit spires of Velanor¡¯s trade cities to the shadowy depths of the Underdark where the Del¡¯sh? whisper secrets, I have ventured with an unyielding thirst for discovery. The vibrant cultures, unique beings, and perilous landscapes of this world have been my teachers and companions. In these pages, you will find not just knowledge of the races and peoples that call Arath home but a reflection of their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs. May this guide inspire you to tread paths unwalked and to see the beauty in the vast tapestry of life that stretches beyond the horizon. Aetherborn The Aetherborn are beings of raw magical energy, their forms shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow. They are semi-translucent, their skin radiating hues of silver, blue, or violet, as though lit from within. Aetherborn often appear androgynous, their features smooth and ethereal, with glowing, pupil-less eyes that seem to pierce through the veil of reality. Their presence feels both calming and unsettling, as they hover or glide with an unnatural grace, leaving faint trails of light in their wake. Despite their mysterious origins, they exude a sense of timeless wisdom, as though connected to the very fabric of the universe.
Animari The Animari are humanoid-animal hybrids, embodying the traits, instincts, and spiritual essence of their animal archetypes. Each subrace displays unique physical features and abilities tied to their lineage, blending primal power with human intelligence. Animari are deeply connected to nature, often drawing strength and guidance from their ancestral spirits. They are diverse and adaptable, thriving in various environments from dense forests and windswept plains to icy tundras and shadowy jungles. Their settlements, shaped by their animal instincts, prioritize harmony with the natural world, reflecting a deep respect for life¡¯s interconnectedness. Aelori (Lionkin) The Aelori are majestic and commanding, their golden or tawny fur and flowing manes (in males) exuding power and authority. Their piercing amber or green eyes seem to shine with a mix of wisdom and intensity, while their muscular builds speak to their unmatched strength. Aelori are natural leaders, their very presence inspiring those around them to act with courage and unity. Their movements are deliberate and graceful, like a lion stalking its prey, blending calculated strength with innate elegance. Known for their honor and bravery, Aelori often take on roles as warriors, diplomats, or tribal chieftains.
Cervari (Deerkin) The Cervari are graceful and serene, their antlers often branching like living works of art, adorned with moss or flowers. Their fur ranges from soft browns and russets to snowy whites, perfectly camouflaged within their forested homes. Large, expressive eyes radiate a calm wisdom, and their slender frames are built for agility and speed rather than brute strength. Cervari move with an almost otherworldly elegance, appearing to glide through their environments without disturbing them. Known for their deep connection to nature, they embody the balance and harmony of the natural world.
Duskhari (Pantherkin) The Duskhari are sleek and shadowy, their fur often black or deep blue, shimmering faintly under the light of the moon. Their piercing eyes, in hues of gold or icy blue, seem to glow in darkness, giving them an unnervingly predatory gaze. They move with a quiet confidence, their muscles taut and ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. Duskhari are masters of stealth, able to vanish into the shadows as if they were never there. While they are often solitary, their presence commands respect and caution, as they are known for their precision and cunning. Equaris (Horsekin) The Equaris are tall and imposing, their equine features blending power and grace. With elongated faces, hooved feet, and flowing manes, they resemble majestic steeds, their frames built for strength and endurance. Their fur varies from earthy browns and blacks to dappled grays or whites, often with streaks of silver in their manes and tails. Equaris carry themselves with pride, their steady gait and upright posture reflecting their unyielding resolve. They are swift and tireless, often revered for their ability to traverse great distances and weather even the harshest environments.
Falconi (Hawkkin) The Falconi are humanoids with avian features, their sleek, feathered forms reflecting the majesty and precision of raptors. Their sharp golden eyes can spot the slightest movement from great distances, and their talon-like feet are formidable weapons. Falconi feathers vary in shades of bronze, gray, or white, often with patterns resembling hawks or falcons. They are built for speed and agility, their compact, muscular frames giving them unparalleled control in both ground and aerial maneuvers. With an air of quiet discipline, Falconi are vigilant protectors of their kin and territory.
Felvari (Catkin) The Felvari are lithe and agile, their feline features lending them an air of charm and mystery. With pointed ears, whisker-like facial markings, and long tails, they embody the cunning and grace of their feline counterparts. Their fur varies widely, from solid blacks and whites to intricate tabby or spotted patterns, often shimmering in the light. Their eyes, typically bright green, amber, or blue, are striking and ever-watchful. Felvari are natural explorers and opportunists, known for their playful yet resourceful nature.
Leporini (Rabbitkin) The Leporini are small and nimble, their long ears and fluffy tails giving them an unmistakably rabbit-like appearance. Their fur, soft and often in neutral tones like white, gray, or brown, provides excellent camouflage in their natural habitats. With their compact, wiry builds and spring-like legs, Leporini are swift and agile, capable of bounding over obstacles with ease. Their bright, inquisitive eyes and perpetually cheerful expressions reflect their optimistic outlook on life.
Lupari (Wolfkin) The Lupari, or Wolfkin, are humanoids embodying the loyalty, agility, and tactical prowess of wolves. Their angular, wolf-like features include pointed ears, sharp canine teeth, and bushy tails, while their fur-like hair ranges from ash-gray to earthy brown or jet-black, often streaked with silver or white. Their piercing eyes¡ªamber, icy blue, or deep green¡ªseem to glimmer with intelligence and determination. Lupari carry themselves with a quiet confidence, their movements swift and purposeful, evoking the coordination and vigilance of a wolf pack. Known for their deep sense of camaraderie, they are natural leaders and protectors.
Lynari (Lynxkin) The Lynari, or Lynxkin, are enigmatic and perceptive Animari, their sharp features reflecting the independence and mystique of their lynx ancestors. They are lithe and agile, their fur-like hair often a mix of tawny, silvery, or gray tones, streaked with black patterns. Their distinctive tufted ears and keen, golden or green eyes grant them an air of mystery, while their subtle whisker-like facial markings highlight their feline lineage. Lynari are known for their unparalleled vision, able to spot details others might miss, making them natural scouts, strategists, and mediators.
Selkiri (Sealkin) The Selkiri, or Sealkin, are aquatic Animari, their smooth, water-resistant skin and streamlined forms perfectly adapted for life in coastal and underwater environments. Their appearances are marked by gray or mottled patterns reminiscent of seals, with webbed hands and feet aiding in their unparalleled swimming abilities. Their dark, glossy eyes and sleek builds allow them to move effortlessly through water, making them natural navigators of the seas. Selkiri radiate a calm and tranquil energy, their movements as fluid as the waves they call home.
Serpenti (Snakekin) The Serpenti, or Snakekin, are sleek and cunning, their smooth-scaled skin and serpentine eyes giving them a mysterious and dangerous allure. Their scales range from deep greens and browns to striking black or gold patterns, while their slit-pupil eyes shimmer with intelligence and subtle menace. They often possess forked tongues and sharp, angular features, enhancing their snake-like appearance. The Serpenti move with a hypnotic grace, their every action deliberate and calculated, embodying the predatory precision of their serpent ancestors.
Ursari (Bearkin) The Ursari, or Bearkin, are imposing and powerful, their broad frames and dense fur making them stand out among the Animari. Their fur comes in shades of brown, black, or white, and their bear-like features include rounded ears, sharp claws, and a thick, muscular build. Despite their intimidating appearance, Ursari are known for their calm and contemplative nature, their slow, deliberate movements hiding immense strength and endurance. When provoked, they are ferocious defenders, capable of overpowering most foes with ease.
Vulpiri (Foxkin) The Vulpiri, or Foxkin, are cunning and charismatic Animari, their bushy tails, pointed ears, and sharp features embodying the slyness and agility of their fox ancestors. Their fur is vibrant, often in shades of fiery red, snowy white, or midnight black, with striking patterns that enhance their allure. Their quick, darting movements and ever-watchful eyes suggest a constant state of alertness, while their charming smiles often mask their shrewd minds. Vulpiri are natural problem-solvers and negotiators, adept at navigating both physical and social challenges with wit and ingenuity.
Centaurs (Velstari) The Centaurs, or Velstari, are nomadic beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a powerful horse. Their dual nature combines human intelligence and adaptability with the strength, speed, and stamina of their equine halves. Centaurs are striking figures, their human torsos tall and muscular, often adorned with braided hair, tribal markings, or ornaments made from natural materials. Their lower bodies, covered in sleek fur, display a range of colors from earthy browns to gleaming blacks and dappled grays. Known for their connection to nature and the stars, Centaurs often act as guides, traders, and protectors of sacred lands.
Dwarves (Dorn¡¯Vathrin) The Dwarves, or Dorn¡¯Vathrin, are one of the most enduring and industrious races in Arath, their deep connection to stone and metal shaping their culture and identity. Stocky and muscular, Dwarves are typically shorter than humans but broader in build, their strength and resilience unmatched. Their skin tones often reflect the hues of the mountains or mines they inhabit¡ªruddy, bronzed, or dusky¡ªwhile their hair and beards, always meticulously groomed, range from fiery red to deep black and shimmering silver. Known for their craftsmanship and engineering prowess, Dwarves are master builders, miners, and artisans.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Dorn¡¯Thrazik (Mountain Dwarves) The Dorn¡¯Thrazik, or Mountain Dwarves, are traditional and militaristic, dwelling in towering strongholds carved into the hearts of mountains. Their gray or ruddy skin and dark hair reflect the harsh, rugged environments they inhabit. They are fiercely protective of their homes and relics, their fortresses often resembling labyrinthine masterpieces of stonework.
Dorn¡¯Haldrik (Hill Dwarves) The Dorn¡¯Haldrik, or Hill Dwarves, live in rolling hills and valleys, their homes often blending into the natural landscape. Slightly leaner than their mountain kin, they possess warm, earthy tones in their skin and hair. They are known for their hospitality and dedication to farming and craftsmanship, creating goods that are as practical as they are beautiful.
Dorn¡¯Durzath (Dark Dwarves) The Dorn¡¯Durzath, or Dark Dwarves, dwell in the lightless depths of the Underdark, their pale or ashen skin and coal-colored hair adapted to the subterranean world. Their glowing red or orange eyes allow them to see in near-total darkness, but they are sensitive to bright light. Known for their secretive nature, they are masterful crafters of enchanted weapons and armor, often using rare, magical materials found deep underground.
Dorn¡¯Nethrin (Deep Dwarves) The Dorn¡¯Nethrin, or Deep Dwarves, live in expansive mines and underground labyrinths, stretching beneath entire regions of Arath. Their rough, metallic-hued skin and milky or silver eyes reflect their deep connection to the earth¡¯s veins of precious minerals. Known for their perseverance and resourcefulness, they are the ultimate explorers and miners of the dwarven world.
Dorn¡¯Valkari (Sea Dwarves) The Dorn¡¯Valkari, or Sea Dwarves, live along coasts or underwater, their bluish-green skin and hair resembling the ocean¡¯s hues. Their coral-encrusted armor and shimmering pearl accessories speak to their deep connection to the sea. Sea Dwarves are skilled shipwrights and pearl divers, their fortified underwater settlements marvels of engineering.
Elves (Sh?lan) The Elves, or Sh?lan, are one of the oldest and most graceful races in Arath, their ageless beauty and deep connection to nature and magic setting them apart. Tall and slender, Elves possess angular features, pointed ears, and eyes that shimmer with hues reflecting their magical or elemental affinities. Their skin tones range from pale alabaster to sun-kissed bronze or obsidian black, depending on their subrace. Renowned for their longevity and wisdom, Elves are often seen as keepers of ancient knowledge, protectors of natural realms, and masters of arcane arts.
Del¡¯sh? (Dark Elves) The Del¡¯sh?, or Dark Elves, are a mysterious and secretive subrace who dwell in the shadowy depths of the Underdark. Their ebony skin gleams with a faint sheen, while their silver or white hair contrasts starkly with their dark features. Their glowing eyes, in shades of red, violet, or pale blue, enable them to navigate their lightless homes. Known for their mastery of shadow magic and stealth, Del¡¯sh? are often both feared and misunderstood.
Ge¡¯sh? (High Elves) The Ge¡¯sh?, or High Elves, are the most sophisticated and politically influential of the Elven subraces. Their skin glows with a faint radiance, ranging from golden hues to pale ivory, while their hair often appears silver, gold, or platinum. Their eyes shimmer with colors as vibrant as gemstones, reflecting their affinity for magic. Known for their mastery of arcane arts and elegant diplomacy, they are often leaders among the Sh?lan.
Gol¡¯sh? (Sun Elves) The Gol¡¯sh?, or Sun Elves, are radiant and charismatic, their golden skin and fiery red or golden hair reflecting their connection to the sun. Their eyes often gleam like molten gold or amber, and their presence exudes warmth and vitality. Revered as spiritual leaders and bringers of light, they are often seen as symbols of hope and resilience.
Mak¡¯sh? (Moon Elves) The Mak¡¯sh?, or Moon Elves, are nocturnal mystics and dreamers, their pale, almost luminescent skin and silvery-blue hair reflecting their connection to the moon and stars. Their eyes, often resembling the night sky, shimmer with shades of silver, lavender, or deep blue. Known for their calm demeanor and introspective nature, Moon Elves are spiritual guides and keepers of celestial knowledge.
Mec¡¯sh? (Sea Elves) The Mec¡¯sh?, or Sea Elves, are aquatic adventurers and guardians of the ocean, their sleek, streamlined forms adapted for life in water. Their skin is often tinged with blue or green, while their hair flows like seaweed in shades of aquamarine, silver, or black. Their eyes, large and reflective, resemble pearls or ocean depths, aiding their vision underwater.
Tu¡¯sh? (Wood Elves) The Tu¡¯sh?, or Wood Elves, are the protectors of forests and sacred groves, their earthy appearance blending seamlessly with their natural surroundings. Their skin is often tan or bark-like, and their hair comes in shades of green, brown, or auburn. Their eyes, resembling polished amber or mossy jade, are both watchful and wise. Agile and stealthy, they are experts in archery and guerilla tactics.
Gnomes (Fennari) The Gnomes, or Fennari, are a race of inventive, curious, and whimsical beings, known for their small stature and boundless energy. Standing shorter than most other humanoids, Gnomes possess a wiry build, with sharp, expressive features and hair that often seems untamable. Their skin tones range from earthy browns to pale cream, with bright eyes in shades of blue, green, or amber that sparkle with mischief and wonder. They are natural tinkerers, artisans, and scholars, driven by an insatiable curiosity about the world and a deep love of storytelling and creation.
Fennar¡¯Silvari (Forest Gnomes) Forest Gnomes, or Fennar¡¯Silvari, are closely tied to nature, their lives entwined with the rhythms of the woods and the creatures that dwell within. Their hair often mirrors the colors of the forest¡ªgreens, browns, and even the occasional auburn¡ªand their skin carries a slight bark-like texture. Small and nimble, they are masters of blending into their surroundings and forming bonds with woodland creatures.
Fennar¡¯Tinkeri (Tinker Gnomes) Tinker Gnomes, or Fennar¡¯Tinkeri, are industrious and inventive, constantly experimenting with new devices, alchemical formulas, or magical constructs. Their wiry frames are often smudged with soot or grease, and their wild, colorful hair reflects their chaotic energy. Known for their ingenuity, they are equally adept at creating brilliant inventions and catastrophic accidents.
Fennar¡¯Nethri (Deep Gnomes) Deep Gnomes, or Fennar¡¯Nethri, are a reclusive and pragmatic subrace that thrives in the shadowy depths of Arath¡¯s underground caverns. Their skin carries the hues of stone¡ªgray, slate, or pale silver¡ªwhile their eyes gleam with the soft glow of luminescent minerals. With their compact frames and quiet demeanor, they are perfectly adapted to life in the dark, where they mine precious gems and metals.
Halflings (Velethrin) The Halflings, or Velethrin, are a cheerful and resilient race, known for their small stature and boundless optimism. Rarely standing taller than four feet, they have round faces, curly hair, and warm, earthy skin tones. Their eyes, often bright shades of green, hazel, or blue, shine with curiosity and kindness. Halflings prefer a simple life, valuing home, family, and community, though some are driven by wanderlust and the call of adventure.
Veleth¡¯Bryn (Hearthfoot Halflings) Hearthfoot Halflings are the quintessential Halflings, embodying their race¡¯s love of home, hearth, and community. Their hair is typically curly and ranges from sandy blonde to deep chestnut, while their skin is sun-kissed from tending their farms and gardens. They are hearty and cheerful, always ready to lend a hand or share a story.
Veleth¡¯Darun (Wanderfoot Halflings) Wanderfoot Halflings are adventurous and nomadic, their sun-kissed skin and weathered clothing reflecting their love of travel. Their hair is often wind-swept and untamed, and their bright eyes sparkle with curiosity. Wanderfoots are known for their storytelling, often weaving tales of distant lands and daring exploits.
Veleth¡¯Umbran (Shadowstep Halflings) Shadowstep Halflings are a secretive and enigmatic subrace, living in the shadows of dense forests or hidden urban districts. Their dusky skin and dark clothing allow them to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, and their quiet, deliberate movements make them excellent scouts and spies.
Humans Humans are one of the most widespread and diverse races in Arath, characterized by their ambition, adaptability, and innovation. Their physical appearance varies greatly, from pale-skinned northerners to sun-bronzed desert dwellers, with hair and eye colors spanning nearly every spectrum. Despite their relatively short lifespans, Humans are known for their resilience and capacity to shape their environment, often founding thriving cities and empires. Their cultures are incredibly varied, reflecting the unique challenges and resources of their homelands.
Kingdom of Arenvalis (Wildlands Humans) The Humans of Kingdom of Arenvalis hail from the rugged Wildlands, where survival often depends on strength and cunning. With weathered skin and strong physiques, they are accustomed to harsh environments and a life of constant toil and conflict.
Velanor (Eastern Coast Humans) The Humans of Velanor are cosmopolitan and competitive, excelling in diplomacy, commerce, and artistic innovation. Their appearance varies due to the diverse population of their bustling trade cities, which are melting pots of different cultures and races.
Tidewatch (Southern Coast Humans) Tidewatch Humans live along the coasts of Arath, their lives deeply intertwined with the sea. They are expert sailors and shipbuilders, with tanned skin, salt-kissed hair, and a rugged, adventurous demeanor.
Minotaurs (Kharosians) The Minotaurs, or Kharosians, are a proud and powerful race of bull-headed humanoids, standing taller than most other races. Their muscular builds and horned heads make them imposing figures, while their fur-covered bodies and hooves reflect their connection to their beastly ancestry. Despite their fearsome appearance, Minotaurs are deeply honorable, adhering to strict codes of conduct and loyalty. Their horns, which vary in size and shape, are symbols of their personal strength and status.
Zar¡¯kaan (Marked Ones) The Zar¡¯kaan, or Marked Ones, are individuals with infernal, demonic, or abyssal ancestry, their fiendish traits marking them as outcasts or powerful beings depending on the culture they inhabit. Their skin often carries unnatural tones¡ªdeep reds, shadowy grays, or ashen whites¡ªwhile their horns, tails, or glowing eyes betray their otherworldly heritage. Some Zar¡¯kaan bear intricate markings or brands on their skin, believed to reflect their infernal lineage or magical prowess.
Infernal Zar¡¯kaan Infernal Zar¡¯kaan are descendants of devils tied to the Hells. They are calculating, charismatic, and ambitious, their features smooth and polished, with horns that curve like a crown. Their glowing eyes, often gold or crimson, hint at their infernal cunning.
Abyssal Zar¡¯kaan Abyssal Zar¡¯kaan are tied to the chaotic demons of the Abyss. Their jagged horns, feral eyes, and wild demeanor reflect their volatile nature.
Shadow Zar¡¯kaan Shadow Zar¡¯kaan bear the marks of fiends tied to darkness and shadows. Their features are subtle but unsettling, with faintly glowing markings and eyes that pierce through the gloom. Chapter 1 - Fragments of the Fractured Soul ~The Story So Far~ Alex¡¯s life was boring, and then he died. When he woke, he met with a goddess who offered him a chance at a new life in a wonderous world of magic and fantasy, complete with all the game mechanics and interfaces he had grown to love in his video games. In this new world he has taken a new name, Xavier Ardynvael, and he has found a companion in Ella Bree, an enigmatic woman who holds a mystery. Xavier also founded a new settlement, Rynthavael, with around fifty villagers calling him Lord. The village is growing rapidly, and buildings are going up daily. His people embraced a fresh start of their own after the town of Bramblegate, their prior home, had been destroyed by raiders. Xavier went on to rescue one of the children and, in doing so, awakened two of the ley lines that made up the nexus beneath the settlement. He has delved into dungeons and completed quests but in all honesty, was all just starting. That was until his latest adventure led to him being taken captive and carted off to the animari settlement of Verdantspire Haven. There the elders charged him with a quest to assist in freeing some recently captured members of that community. Teamed up with the beastmaster Lianna and her twin brother the assassin Liosan they tracked down the raiders holding the captives and attacked. The fight was brutal and quick but unfortunately, for Xavier at least, it ended with a sword through his heart and darkness taking over his senses. ~Currently~ Xavier slowly opened his eyes. He was sitting face down on a hard wooden table. Groaning slightly, he sat up, his eyes squeezing closed again at the wave of dizziness that swept through him. ¡°What happened,¡± he managed to croak out. A voice cut through the silence like the soft hum of a thread being pulled taut, its sound resonated within him as much as it did in the space around him, feeling both impossibly ancient and unnervingly intimate. The words carried the weight of millennia yet were spoken with the clarity of a whisper meant only for his ears. Each syllable reverberated through his chest, gentle yet commanding, as if the fabric of the universe shifted subtly with every word spoken. The tone held no malice or warmth, only the calm certainty of inevitability, making him acutely aware that every moment in the speakers¡¯ presence was a thread they had chosen to weave. It was also a voice that he knew well, it was the voice of Danu. ¡°You died,¡± she said simply. ¡°You died and discovered an aspect of my blessing that I did not think you would for a while. The fates weave an interesting and ever-changing pattern around you Alex.¡± Xavier opened his eyes in a panic. He was dead. Again? Already? Despair lit his features as he realized he had accomplished so little in his second chance at life. There was still so much to see in Arath, so much to do. ¡°Be at peace Alex,¡± Danu¡¯s voice was soft and comforting. She placed a hand on his and as when he met her here before warmth and reassurance flooded through his body driving away the panic. ¡°You bear my blessings remember, part of that is marking you as a Kael¡¯Sharyn, a fractured echo.¡± She laughed melodically as he winced at her words. ¡°It is not as bad as it sounds. You will revive, in fact, you will revive any time you die. However, the mortal mind was not meant to undergo such trauma. Each time you return from beyond the veil you run the risk of shattering your psyche. When that happens, you will be vulnerable to a final death.¡± Xavier stared across the table; the goddess was just as he remembered her. Her features were perfectly symmetrical giving her an otherworldly beauty. Smooth alabaster skin was framed by long flowing vermillion ringlets which only provided a greater contrast to her eyes. They seemed to change depending on her mood and now they were bottomless voids bespeckled with pinpoints of light. A soft smile lingered on her delicate lips as she finished speaking. Xavier¡¯s breath caught in his chest once more at the sight. It was what distracted him so when he died on Earth, and it still had the same effect on him now. The beauty leaned forward across the table, her hand lifting from his to delicately touch his chest, right over where his heart lay. He could feel the beat of it surge to life once again and a warmth spread over his skin where her fingers lingered. As Danu sat back in her seat, Xavier looked down and realized he was dressed as he had been when going to attack the raiders with the animari twins. His leathers were cleanly cut through, however. The skin of his chest was exposed to the cool air of the cabin. Where her fingers had brushed was a new mark. It looked like a rock had struck a glass window. At its center was a jagged core, a focal point where the fatal strike occurred. The core appeared like a shimmering, opalescent well as if he were peering into a fragment of another realm. From the core, lines branched out in sharp, jagged patterns, like cracks on shattered glass only emphasizing the window similarity. These lines were asymmetrical, giving the appearance of something broken yet beautiful. He looked back up to Danu, she smiled at him once more as the room faded from view. The next thing Xavier felt was a full body ache with pain focused on his chest. Two female voices were shouting at one another adding to the discomfort of an already raging headache. He tried to sit up but found he was being held tightly. The voices stopped with gasps at his movement and groans. Slowly he came to realize he was lying in someone¡¯s lap, his head and shoulders propped in their arms and clutched tightly to a soft chest. Opening his eyes and blinking at the harsh torchlight he looked to see who held him. A tear-streaked but joyous face looked back at him, Ella¡¯s face. She hugged him tightly once more. Beyond the familiar features of his companion, he saw the white and black furred faces of the iskari, snow leopard animari, twins Liosan and Lianna. After a moment he realized it had been Ella and Lianna arguing. That caused him to realize briefly that he had never actually heard Liosan speak. Once more he tried to sit up, this time Ella relinquished her grip on him though she kept a hand on his back in case he should collapse. Pain flooded through his body and he noticed that the bar in his interface that showed his health was dangerously low and flashing. Ella handed him a handful of forest sage and he slowly chewed the earthy herb the pain fading over time as the plant took effect. ¡°How?¡± Lianna whispered. ¡°You were dead, I saw the raider run you through and then the wound afterward. There is no way you could have survived that.¡± Her voice trembled though Xavier wasn¡¯t sure if it was in awe or fear. Xavier hesitated before answering, as he did so he looked around slowly realizing that they were still in the raider camp. He could hear the cries of the captives in the distance along with the crackle of the fire. The air was thick with the coppery tang of blood mixed with the stench of offal and viscera. The horrid stench that lingered after combat. Finally, he looked down at himself, his clothes and armor were soaked in blood. The rent in his cuirass and tunic matched what he had seen in the otherworldly cabin. On his skin, just as he had seen after Danu had touched him lingered the mark. Everyone¡¯s gaze followed his and Ella gasped. ¡°A Kael¡¯Sharyn?¡± ¡°That is impossible,¡± snapped Lianna, ¡°they are myths. No one can come back from the dead. Even the highest of clerics cannot perform miracles like that.¡± She glared at Ella again. ¡°I do not know where you came from, but you speak falsely again.¡± Ella glared right back at the beastmaster. ¡°As I told you before, I am his. My bond with him will always tell me where he is.¡± She turned and lifted a hand to her hair, pulling it back to expose the tattoo-like mark that sat behind her ear. Xavier held up a hand to forestall the impending renewed yelling. He was thankful it was just the handful of them and not the captives as well. ¡°No,¡± his voice was soft, intending to keep his words only to the ones present. He knew the captives were all animari but didn¡¯t know if their hearing was as keen as their bestial counterparts. ¡°I met with Danu; she called me the same thing. Said it was part of the blessing she had placed upon me.¡± He looked to Ella, ¡°I told you about her before.¡± Once more Lianna¡¯s mouth snapped shut, her eyes now held a mix of fear and wonder as she looked on the strange human. Part of her wanted to strike him down, humans could not be trusted. Another part of her wanted to learn more about this stranger who claimed to be god touched, had possibly befriended a shadowmane, and spoke of a village where races mingled freely. She looked to Liosan, and her brother just shrugged before turning around and walking away, likely to go check on the prisoners. Looking at the two women Xavier put voice to his thoughts. ¡°What happened? How long was I¡­¡± he hesitated still not quite able to accept he had died again, ¡°away? How did you get here?¡± The last question was focused on Ella. Lianna was the first to respond. ¡°Lio and I were able to kill the raider leader, the one who ran you through, shortly after he cut you down. The fight only ended a few minutes ago. When it did, I came to check on you fearing the worst was true, and found her here holding your body. You were not breathing or moving, and she was crying over you.¡± She pointed at Ella as she spoke. ¡°She came out of nowhere.¡± ¡°I told you I felt his need and came to him. I cannot explain it any clearer than that.¡± Ella retorted. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Lianna looked like she was going to say something more, but Xavier intervened. ¡°I know Ella, she has been with me for a while now. I saved her from an attack several weeks back.¡± Lianna looked between the two of them. ¡°She was in Bramblegate? No, I remember now you said she was with you when you went to Bramblegate, and when you found the shadowmane.¡± She studied Ella a little closer, but the woman just seemed to be another human. ¡°Alright, I still have questions on how you found us but if you are bonded it does give credence to your words.¡± She sheathed the dagger that Xavier had only now realized she was still holding. ¡°I am going to go search for the cage keys, that is if Lio has not already opened the lock.¡± With those words she turned as her brother had and disappeared around the corner of the large tent. Left alone with Ella, Xavier studied her quietly. ¡°How did you get here? You were miles away when last I saw you. Still weak from what you did with the ley line.¡± She met Xavier¡¯s eyes and smiled her own emerald orbs nearly glowing with relief that he was alright. ¡°We are bonded remember. As long as you carry my blade I will know where you are.¡± A slightly impish smile touched her lips as she spoke the next words whispered softly so as to only reach his ears. ¡°I am Vaeltheris¡± That bombshell of a statement rendered Xavier speechless. His hand reaching for where the blade normally was sheathed at his side, he looked down at the empty scabbards before he remembered his swords had been in his hands during the fight. Ella picked the pair up from beside her and placed them in his lap. He picked up the named weapon and inspected it. The prompt hadn¡¯t changed again to confirm her statement but as he studied it he could feel a change to the blade. Her revealing that deep truth gave him a greater feel for the blade, and he could sense the connection to her. ¡°How is that possible? You said it saved you. I don¡¯t understand how it can¡­¡± He began and she cut him off by placing a finger to his lips. ¡°Secrets for now, the camp has ears, my master.¡± She leaned closer to whisper into his ear. ¡°When we are alone, I promise the full truth. You know the most important parts already.¡± Xavier nodded slowly, his world had been shattered and rebuilt by a second death, and now what he thought he knew about Ella was undergoing the same. What else did he not know about those closest to him? Was he going to find out his mastery of Rynthavael and the Syr¡¯Vailen was a lie next? He looked to his forearm and the mark that signified him as the Ard¡¯Maelor, the Sovereign of the Forge, the title Aelriva bestowed upon him when he claimed his domain slowly appeared on his skin. He let it fade once more and looked at the mark on his chest, oddly unlike his other mark it did not vanish. With Ella¡¯s aid, he got to his feet and sheathed his two swords. Then he took a moment to really look at her. She had been unconscious and unwell when he last saw her. Now a part of him expected her appearance to change knowing what he did now about her connection to the sword. She still appeared to be a young human woman however and he knew he needed to hear her answers soon. She had a striking appearance with an athletic build. Her complexion was fair with a warm undertone, and just a hint of freckles dusted across her cheeks. This still gave her a youthful, lively quality to her look. Her face retained the gentle, heart-shaped structure, with high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and full, softly defined lips he remembered from first seeing her. Her exquisite jade eyes flashed with a rare and vibrant radiant sparkle when she smiled back at him, which still felt earthy and enchanting. He noticed they somehow held an ancient presence though, that he attributed to her true nature. Her brunette hair, rich in dark brown tones with subtle highlights cascaded just past her shoulders. Once again, she was clad in rough cloth garb under soft supple leather armor. ¡°Come on then I suppose. Now that you¡¯re here we can see to finishing this quest I was given.¡± He said as he turned to follow the path Lianna had taken. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here though.¡± He said glancing back over his shoulder at her. ¡°Things just didn¡¯t quite feel right without you nearby.¡± She merely smiled back at him and moved to follow his lead. He moved quickly his mind racing as he considered the possibility that he was developing feelings for her. He didn¡¯t deny she was beautiful, and had she just been a normal woman he would have been thrilled to have her attention the way he did. Now though, he was torn, was it possible to love a sword? Was she actually the sword? Or was she something different? Gods that rabbit hole was deep when he started to head down it. He forcefully shut off that path of thought and refocused on the task at hand. Joining Lianna, he and Ella both started to search the bodies of the dead. Xavier went straight to the corpse of the man who had killed him and after kicking it once in insolent anger he knelt and began to search through his pouches. Sighing as he did so he realized that yet again he had forgotten to use his insight during the fight. Granted he had not had even an option to with this asshole, but he could have with the rest of them. While he was searching, he noticed that the icon on the right side of his UI was flashing indicating he had notifications. He consciously decided to review them later tonight while they were traveling or resting and keep his focus on setting the captives free. It was a small pouch that hung around the neck of the raider leader where he found a key. Rising with a call to the others he ran over towards the cage wagons. Liosan was standing there with a pair of picks in hand about to test the lock when Xavier arrived. The assassin moved out of his way and he put the key in the hole of the lock and twisted it. A small snick sounded, and the lock fell away easily. Xavier grinned at Liosan and handed the key to Ella to unlock the other cages. Soon a couple of dozen animari gathered around the party, from what Xavier could see it was a blend of many different types. All of them were calling out their thanks and appreciation for saving them. As one of them, a small foxlike vulpiri boy, forward from where he had been comforting a young cervari girl with coloring like a fawn, to offer his thanks Xavier noticed the odd collar around his neck. Looking at the other captives he noticed that they all wore the metal band. ¡°Lianna? Can you tell me anything about these collars?¡± He called out, several moments later she was standing at his side and lifting the boy¡¯s chin. ¡°Ice and shadow damn them!¡± She cursed seeing the collar. ¡°Suppression collars, at least they are not the full slave collars, they are nigh unto impossible to remove. Raiders and slavers use these to keep captives docile while they are transported to markets and pens. Search the tents the key rune must be here somewhere otherwise; they would not have been able to open the collars to place them.¡± One of the older captives, an ursari from the looks, his large frame hunched with age but still bearing a dignified mien spoke up. ¡°That one there,¡± he pointed to where the mage lay dead from Liosan¡¯s attack, ¡°She was the one who placed the collars on us.¡± Xavier nodded and quickly moved over to the corpse and began searching it as well. At the dead woman¡¯s waist, he found a small key. Pocketing it he continued searching but didn¡¯t find anything resembling a rune as Lianna had mentioned. He continued probing her body, though he had to pause noticing another more ornate collar wrapped around her throat. Taking a gamble, he rose and went to the large tent that he and the leader had come from. Inside was dim, too dim to really see by and he scowled. Ducking back through the flap he called for someone to bring him some sort of light. Soon Ella strode up and passed him a warmly glowing torch. Ducking back inside he was able to make out three different cots, each one had a small table and other clutter around them. Under the second one, he found what he was looking for. A medium-sized chest with a small lock on it. The key fit into the lock and as he lifted the top he grimaced. Inside were dozens more collars. It was clear this group was ready to take as many captives as they could get their hands on. A small pouch was mixed in with the rings of metal, unlacing its top he poured a palm sized disk of dark stone into his hand. Both sides of the disk were etched with a single sigil that glowed with a faint light. Xavier focused on the mark expecting his skill in rune deciphering to trigger but nothing happened. Instead, he received a new prompt.
You have discovered: Dark Stone Sigil Disk Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.3 kg Durability: 60/100 Description: A palm-sized disk made of a smooth, black stone that absorbs light, giving it an eerie matte finish. An intricate glowing purple sigil is etched onto its surfaces. The disk emanates a faint hum of suppressed power, its magic specifically attuned to unlock suppression collars and similar magical bindings. Traits: - Suppression Unlocker: When activated, the disk emits a pulse of dark energy that disables suppression collars, breaking their magical seals. - Activation: Requires a specific magical or spoken command to activate the sigil, ensuring only authorized users can utilize it. - Limited Uses: Contains enough energy for up to 5 suppression collar deactivations before needing to be recharged.
¡°Of course, it couldn¡¯t be easy.¡± Xavier groaned seeing the need for an activation command. ¡°Why can¡¯t it ever just be a simple thing to rescue a bunch of captured people and make their lives easier.¡± He pursed his lips. Well, he guessed that was an oddly specific complaint but still, it could be easier. Heading back outside with the disk he rejoined the gathering of semi-freed captives where they huddled around the rest of his party. He held up the disk. ¡°I found the key, but it needs an activation to make it work.¡± The same elderly ursari as before spoke up once again. ¡°Keltrak¡¯s Promise¡± Xavier felt the stone in his fingers warm significantly, to the point he almost dropped it. Carefully he moved it closer to the young cervari, and the ring about her neck parted as if bisected on an unseen hinge. It fell to the ground and snapped shut once more. The young girl started crying again in relief and darted back towards the duo who were obviously her parents. Xavier freed four more of the children repeating the same phrase as the ursari had. ¡°That¡¯s all the charges it had. Unless you know a way to recharge it, I think we have to wait.¡± Xavier handed the disk to Lianna. ¡°You should hold it. We can give it to the elders when we get back to Verdantspire.¡± Lianna tucked the disk into one of her pouches. ¡°Let us get everything loaded up into the wagons it can all be taken back to help give these people a fresh start.¡± She pointed to the cage wagons ¡°We should break those, however.¡± Soon everyone was stripping the dead of weapons, armor, and items. The raider''s possessions, along with their tents and other supplies were quickly loaded into the waiting wagons. With all the hands they had to help it didn¡¯t take long for the work to be done. Xavier pointed out the collar on the mage¡¯s neck indicating to Lianna they should probably take it as well but noting he didn¡¯t have a way to unlock it. Her grimace spoke volumes to him about the item itself, but she didn¡¯t disagree with him. Liosan had found where the horses and mules had been hobbled for the night and soon the wagons were hitched. While they were destroying the cage wagons Lianna approached Xavier and held out the mage¡¯s collar. As he took it, he could still see where small smears of blood remained on the metal. He looked at the iskari woman for a moment then decided he really didn¡¯t want to know how she had removed the item. He tucked it into his pouch to inspect later, and soon the much larger group was moving back out of the little valley and onto the dirt road that would ultimately lead them back to Verdantspire Haven. Chapter 2 - Through the Eyes of the Wild The trip back to Verdantspire was mostly uneventful. The Warden duo of Liosan and Lianna were able to guide the caravan down mostly unremarkable trails and paths deeper into the Silverwood unerringly towards the animari settlement. Xavier rode in one of the wagons with some of the captivity-weakened individuals. His body still recovering from the death and revival. None of those he had helped free begrudged him that position, nor his caretaker Ella in her spot beside him. Though the animals and wagons helped make the trek faster it was still slower than the madcap dash that Xavier had achieved when it was just the smaller party of the iskari twins, Frostclaw, and himself. He was fine with that however because he had a lot on his mind, between notifications, planning, and just coming to grips with the fact he had died again, let alone the world-altering revelation of Ella¡¯s true nature. Xavier simply leaned against the back of the wagon bed, the others gave him room and Ella sat at his side, her hip almost casually pressed into the hilt of Vaeltheris. He decided to break things down into more manageable tasks. He would review his notifications first and then chew on his new status as a Kael¡¯Sharyn. He glanced at Ella out of the corner of his eye. When they were alone he would have her tell him the whole truth of what she was. The first notification that came into view as he opened the icon was, unsurprisingly dealing with the combat with the raider party. Ding! Your party has engaged and defeated an opposing party. Total Experience Earned 49,000 Xavier had to stop and reread that prompt several times, a single encounter with powerful individuals had netted him more than half of all the experience he had earned during his entire time in Arath. Closing that he moved to the next and frankly expected notification. A grin pulled up the corners of his lips as the radiant symphony of chimes reverberated through his head, accompanied by a booming voice reading the notification: "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You have gained levels 8 - 12! The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 30 attribute points to shape your destiny¡ªan exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 100% skill allocation to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. As you have achieved level 10 you are now eligible to select a combat class archetype. These archetypes will help cement your place in society and the world around you. What path will you take to glory? Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love¡ªand let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!¡± His level hadn¡¯t just increased it had leaped forward. Thirty attribute points was a huge boon to that fight, something told him that he was going to need every one of those and more, however as the words of Danu lingered in his mind. She had blessed him when she first brought him to this world, and though she hadn¡¯t given him a quest or anything it was implied that she had expectations of him. ¡°The goddess of fate,¡± he murmured softly. ¡°How much is her doing and how much is my own choices?¡± ¡°Did you say something master?¡± Ella inquired after his words. ¡°Nothing of note no. And don¡¯t call me master. That word has dark connotations where I am from.¡± Xavier glanced to the side where the young woman sat. She smirked at him. ¡°I will try but you are my master, Xavier. You are bonded to my sword after all. Others will see my mark and expect a level of deference to someone. I may not wear a collar like others but am still a bound one.¡± Her eyes sparkled slightly in the moonlight. ¡°The morals and traditions of here are not the same as where you are from.¡± She was one of few that knew his origin, he was appreciative of her keeping the secret, but her subtle reminder made him purse his lips in thought. Was he right in trying to change something that seemed as fundamental to the world? Mulling that over made his eyes go distant as he pondered the ramifications of his potential actions. Sighing he shook his head finally; it was not something he could decide at the moment. His best course would be to help those he could for now and see what would come in the future. He turned his attention back to his notifications. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Small Blades level 11. Your continued work with daggers and small swords has evolved and merged these skills into a single-encompassing one. The Small Blades skill focuses on the use of light, fast, and precise weapons like daggers, knives, and short swords. Masters of this skill prioritize speed, precision, and agility over brute force, excelling at exploiting weak points and overwhelming opponents with rapid strikes. While small blades lack the raw damage of heavier weapons, they more than make up for it with versatility, finesse, and their ability to strike critical points with ease. "It¡¯s not the size of the blade, it¡¯s how many times I can stab you with it before you notice." +22% to damage with small blades. +22% to attack while wielding small blades. Ding! For achieving level 10 in Small Blades, you have improved from Novice to Apprentice. This has increased your precision and speed with these weapons. You also now gain a basic understanding of target weak points with these weapons. Chance to strike critical blows now +.5% per skill level. Total increased chance +5.5%. You have earned 1000 xp for increasing your rank to Apprentice. Xavier hadn¡¯t thought he had done much during the fight, he was already more than happy with the huge experience gain he had received from being in the same party as the much higher-level twins. He slowly replayed the combat in his mind, the fighting with the lower and lesser-geared slavers was still intense and he realized it had taken much more of his skill than he originally thought. He had no doubt that without the two iskari, he never would have stood a chance beyond them but that was a whole other issue. With that realization, he continued through his notifications. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Light Armor level 8. The Light Armor skill represents expertise in wearing and utilizing light protective gear such as leather, padded, or chain shirts. This skill emphasizes mobility, agility, and precision defense over sheer durability. Masters of light armor turn their lack of heavy plating into an advantage, relying on speed, stealth, and clever movement to outmaneuver opponents and avoid damage. "Why take the hit when you can just not be there? Light armor isn¡¯t weakness¡ªit¡¯s strategy." +8% reduction in light armor movement penalty. He hadn¡¯t even realized his armor was slowing him down. He opened up his UI and examined his status. Switching over to the current effects tab he noticed an effect he hadn¡¯t paid very much attention to before. Armortoll ¨C The reduction in speed, agility, and movement due to worn armor. Base Armortoll: -3% per piece of lightweight armor worn. (Chest, Legs, Hands, Feet) Total: -12%. Adjusted Armortoll: +8% reduction in total penalty. Adjusted Armortoll: -11% So even wearing the simple light leather armor he had been using still affected him. He wasn¡¯t overly surprised. That was a common issue in every game he had ever played. Still, the fact that aspects of this world so matched different game dynamics was just a little disturbing. He would have to look into what the penalties for other types of armor were. Not that he was overly keen on the idea of wearing something as cumbersome as plate armor, but it didn¡¯t hurt to know the options. The next notifications were about individual relationship gains he had received from the now free animari captives ranging from 50 to 100 points increase for each. He went through those with more of a glance to see the numbers but didn¡¯t focus overly much on them. He expected the people to return to their village or other animari settlements. Finally, he came to the one he was hoping for and an update to the quest that started him towards the raiders came up. Quest Update: Break the Bonds. Your audience with the elders of Verdantspire Haven, set you on a path of opportunity to prove yourself trustworthy. With the aid of the Verdantspire wardens Lianna and Liosan you have tracked down the raiding party responsible for taking the captives and slew them. Additionally, youbWere able to free all of the taken animari people and secured a way to remove their submission collars. Return to the Verdantspire Enclave to receive your reward.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Quest Objectives: Assistance to Verdantspire Wardens in tracking and aiding in the destruction of raiding party along with the rescue of captured Animari individuals. Return to Verdantspire Enclave and speak with the elders. Potential rewards: Trust and respect from the Animari of Verdantspire Haven. Potential settlement relationship between Rynthavael and Verdantspire Haven. +5000 Experience. Xavier smiled in satisfaction, though he couldn¡¯t help but laugh slightly as a line from an old TV show played in his head. His smile broadened to a grin as he verbalized the words, ¡°There''s a plan in everything, kid, and I love it when a plan comes together.¡± That drew a look from Ella and several others in the wagon. Xavier shrugged at the scrutiny and simply said. ¡°A famous saying where I am from. Especially when everything works out.¡± As the wagons trundled on through the night Xavier wrapped up his new notifications and turned his attention to where to allocate his new points and skill percentage. The skill he wanted to update most currently was insight. He had a feeling that the stronger it became the better information it would provide. Several moments later he had made the change, and insight was now level 2. He scowled at how slow it seemed to level compared to his other skills. ¡°Of course,¡± he thought, ¡°if I remembered to use it regularly that might not be an issue.¡± He resolved to try and remember to use it on everyone and every creature he encountered. With that task done, he looked to his attributes. Thirty points was a lot to play with. Having just come back from death he was sorely tempted to dump a large portion into his constitution to deepen his health point pool. That, however, seemed short-sighted. A long-term fix for a temporary problem. He did add four points to the stat however just to be safe bringing it to a respectable 18. Now knowing the fact that his armor actively hampered his agility he decided to increase that as well. Being able to avoid getting hit and strike his foes better would indirectly reduce his chance of dying again and that was enough for him. That went for dexterity as well. He still hadn¡¯t quite figured out the difference between the two attributes, but both said they movement and speed in some way and fourteen more points were spent bringing them to 18 each as well. That left him with twelve more points to allocate. Those were going to be more difficult as he was not sure of the correct path ahead of him. He thought back to the line about combat archetypes in his leveling prompt and another semi-translucent window opened in his view. He had a good idea of what he wanted to do combat-wise. Though he felt it would be foolish to not at least examine all of the possibilities. Classes like the paladin or barbarian, though potentially powerful sounded either too onerous or reckless for his tastes. Mage could be interesting, but he had only learned, or even seen a handful of spells in use and doubted he would be able to find more easily in the forests. Sorcerer, on the other hand, natural untamed magic? That was downright intriguing, and he wondered how that might play out. Ultimately it was Lianna¡¯s example that only served to reinforce his thoughts. Back when he was just playing games, be it table-top or video he always had a preference towards companion classes, summoners, beastmasters, wardens, etc. The diversity of having another companion to take on more enemies or just balance out his shortcomings was just too useful to ignore. He looked closer at the ranger class and received updated information about it. There it was, Beastmaster, the subclass he had been hoping to see. His mind made up, he quickly selected Ranger as his archetype and a series of new prompts filled his view. Congratulations Ranger! You don¡¯t just survive in the wild you own it! - Rangers are skilled survivalists, hunters, and marksmen who excel in traversing and thriving in the wilderness. Combining martial prowess, nature magic, and tracking expertise, Rangers are both guardians of the natural world and deadly hunters of their chosen prey. Core Features of the Ranger 1. Natural Explorer Rangers are at home in the wilderness and gain unique bonuses in natural environments. Spot hidden traps or ambushes more easily in outdoor settings (+20% to skill checks). Gain an advantage on survival checks for tracking, foraging, and navigation (+20% to skill checks). Ignore difficult terrain and move faster while traveling in natural areas. At higher levels, this can be expanded to the ranger¡¯s party or group. 2. Favored Enemy Choose a specific type of creature (e.g., beasts, undead, dragons, or aberrations) as your favored enemy. As an initiate Ranger, you may select one favored enemy. Higher levels allow choosing additional favored enemies. Can identify weaknesses or behaviors unique to that enemy. Gain bonuses when tracking, fighting, or gaining knowledge about your chosen enemy type. 3. Fighting Style Select a combat specialization to suit your preferred style: 4. Primeval Awareness Rangers gain a supernatural sense of the natural world and their enemies. Higher levels allow the ability to commune with animals or plants for guidance. At higher levels, rangers can detect the presence of certain creatures within a radius (e.g., undead, dragons, elementals). As an Initiate Ranger, you may now select your favored enemy and fighting style. Your favored enemy must be selected from beings you have fought in the past. These selections do not need to be made immediately. Things were making more sense now about how they had been able to travel so quickly. Lianna had one of the class skills higher-ranked rangers received. Her Forest Running had been a huge help in catching up to the raiders. He shifted his view to focus on the new class archetype tab for Ranger and saw he had the skill now as well. However, it stated that it only affected him at his current level and only increased his speed by 50%. ¡°Have to start somewhere,¡± he thought to himself then continued reviewing his new abilities. Favored Enemy: Unknown, you have yet to select a favored enemy. Fighting Style: Unknown, you have yet to select a fighting style. Primeval Awareness: Your ability to detect abnormalities, survive, and track creatures in the wild has been increased commensurate to your level of Ranger. He was going to have to think long and hard about his favored enemy. To be honest, he had no idea the complete scope of enemies there were, or which ones were immediate threats to his small settlement. That choice could wait for now. His fighting style, however, was an easy one. He was already working on improving his two-weapon fighting skill, having an automatic improvement in it due to his class was just icing on the sweetroll. Selecting that option gave an immediate skill boost to his style. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Two-Weapon Fighting level 20. The Two-Weapon Fighting skill allows you to effectively wield two weapons simultaneously, providing a unique blend of speed, versatility, and relentless aggression. Early on, the penalties for dual wielding can make it challenging, but as mastery grows you learn to unleash devastating combos, fluidly strike with both hands, and defend against attacks using either weapon. "Why settle for one blade when you can have two? Twice the steel, twice the chaos." At your Apprentice (level 20) skill level you have the following penalties and abilities. -10% Main-Hand attack/damage, -20% Off-Hand attack/damage. Basic dual strikes, off-hand parry, simple dual weapon combos. You can currently wield a medium weapon in your main hand and a light weapon in your off-hand. Yep, his new class was already amazing. Not only did it give a bunch of new abilities, but it also gave him a new skill, and not at level 1, he was starting the two-weapon fighting skill at level 20! It also explained why he had been having such an issue with the two swords. He was just glad they counted as light weapons, and he could use them both still. He turned to look where Lianna was walking and talking with one of the freed captives, as they had made their way towards Verdantspire she would occasionally stop and undo one of their collars as the key recharged. She had managed to remove a good number of them over the hours of their trek. Xavier hoped that he had managed to gain some respect in the skilled woman¡¯s eyes. He hadn¡¯t seen any prompt notifying him of a change in relationship with her but his money was on that happening when he completed the initial quest. As a fledgling ranger, and hoping to follow her path of a beastmaster, he wanted to be on her good side and maybe get some advice and tutelage. As those thoughts went through his mind a shout rose from the front of the caravan. Lights could be seen bobbing through the woods up ahead. Lianna made a distinct whistling sound, Xavier realized it mimicked one of the birds he had started to recognize in the woods. Well, it mimicked in sound but there was a precise pattern to the whistle. From the distance, off to the right of the group and away from the lights came a response. Lianna finally broke a smile and waved the group forward. They were almost back to the safety of the enclave and were now being escorted by unseen wardens. Chapter 3 - The Verdantspire Celebration It did not take long before the lights in the distance resolved into the animari settlement of Verdantspire. A large gathering of armed guards, friends and family of the recently freed captives, and the elders were waiting for them. The cheers of the Animari fill the air, their joy and relief palpable as loved ones rush to embrace those thought lost forever. Tears of joy mingled with tears of pain and sorrow as they took solace in being reunited with those who had been missing. Xavier, Ella, and the twins remained to the side until everyone had made it past then they moved forward to where the elders stood patiently. The lynari elder was flanked by the others and she wore a small smile on her face, as Xavier came to stand before her. There was a new warmth in the eyes of the diminutive feline woman as she spoke. ¡°You have done as you said you would, and our people have been returned. Wounds can heal now for those who lost loved ones thanks to your deeds. Today, you have proven yourself not just a wanderer, but a protector of our kin.¡± As she spoke a prompt filled Xavier¡¯s vision. You have been completed a quest: Break the Bonds 1. By aiding the Verdantspire Wardens in destroying a raiding party and rescuing the animari captives you have shown your trustworthiness to the elders of Verdantspire Haven. High Speaker Kaelith personally recognizes your efforts in aiding her warriors. Quest Rewards: You have received +5000 personal relationship points with the Elders of Verdantspire, the Verdantspire Wardens and with each of the individuals you have assisted in returning. Relationship has gone from +0, Indifferent ¨C "Your existence doesn¡¯t affect me one way or the other. You¡¯re like a potted plant in the corner," to +5000, Close Friend ¨C "They know a little too much about you, but somehow that¡¯s okay." Increased settlement relationship between Rynthavael and Verdantspire Haven +1000, Mutual Respect ¨C We recognize your worth my friend and will lend a hand in tough times¡±. +5000 Experience. One more prompt followed the quest update informing him of additional personal changes in his relationship with the twins. You have received +3000 relationship points with Lianna and Liosan Frostride. The points were not enough to increase his relationship level with the two again but it did take him more than halfway to the next one. The Kaelith motioned for Xavier and the others to follow before turning and heading back towards the center of the settlement leaving the celebrations behind. Elder Kaelith spoke softly her voice only really loud enough for Xavier to hear her. ¡°This victory has brought hope, but the Wildlands remain fraught with danger. If you are willing, there is more to be done.¡± Her words carried weight, hinting at even larger challenges yet to come. Xavier didn¡¯t immediately respond, expecting another quest prompt but when nothing appeared he looked towards the Lynari. ¡°The people of Rynthavael are at your service as am I, High Speaker. What can be done to assist you further?¡± He was slightly off-put by the break in what was clearly a chain of quests but decided he must not have reached the requirements for its continuation. With a slightly dismissive wave, she rejoined, ¡°That can be discussed later Xavier, tonight we should feast and celebrate those to whom you have restored their freedom. We will have a ceremony in the morning to solidify the new relationship between our settlements.¡± Xavier followed Kaelith deeper into Verdantspire where an impromptu celebration was being put together. While they walked their conversation turned to small talk and Kaelith described various parts of the settlement. As Xavier followed where she directed his attention, he noticed that there was only Animari everywhere he looked. After a while, his steps stopped, and he looked directly at the elder. ¡°This whole time we have been walking I have only seen Animari. Is that normal or am I missing something,¡± he queried. The lynari¡¯s footsteps paused as her eyes met his. She remained silent for several long moments before she shook her head sadly and started walking once again, ¡°No, you are not mistaken. There was a time once when we traded freely with all, and these streets were filled with travelers. Times have changed, however. The elves have become insular with their leaders touting elven superiority to the west. In the mountains, the dwarves were never overly outgoing people, but the gates of their underground kingdoms have opened less frequently. To the northeast, the king who brought the nomadic tribes together was once seen as fair and just has gone silent, and now the kingdom is a den of barely veiled villainy and brutality. The tribes and clans of Animari have all withdrawn, taking shelter in hidden villages or coming to the sanctuary of Verdantspire. This is what we will discuss on the morrow.¡± As she finished speaking, they rounded another one of the amazing buildings of the settlement. Like many of the others, it looked half-grown, half-built. Truly unique architecture as far as Xavier was concerned. They had come to the central hub of Verdantspire, and it was awe-inspiring. An enormous flagstone plaza nearly a hundred feet in diameter surrounded a central raised stone platform. What truly drew the eye, was what floated in the center, in a place of unmistakable reverence. There a crystalline obelisk hung in mid-air, roughly five feet above the exact center of the platform. Its towering form was smooth and multifaceted, though beneath the surface veins of emerald, gold-green, and pale silver traced a delicate lattice. A soft hum reverberated gently beneath the sounds of the crowd as they moved about on whatever tasks they were doing. The sound rose and fell in time with pulsing streams of light that extended from the base of the obelisk and sped off through clear crystalline channels laid amid the flagstones. Xavier had no doubt he was looking at another nexus of ley lines like that of the Syr¡¯valen. Wrenching his eyes from the sight he turned once again to the feline elder at his side. Her smile was now knowing as she nodded and exposed her right forearm, and an intricate design coalesced into sight. At its center was a swirling vortex surrounded by elegant, vine-like tendrils that curled into leaf patterns glowing softly in a golden green color. The vines were interwoven with angular, shard-like shapes forming a stable framework glowing with an emerald hue. Spiraling arcs and feather-like extensions flowed through the design as well, their glow a gentle silver, adding a sense of motion and freedom. The mark shimmered faintly, and its elements appeared to subtly shift and swirl, almost as if giving life to the balance of the nexus¡¯s energy. Behind Xavier, Ella gave a small gasp as she covered her mouth with one hand. The duo of nexus masters both looked to the young woman and she flushed slightly shaking her head as if to indicate she didn¡¯t mean to interrupt their discussion. ¡°I see you mark bearer,¡± She spoke softly. ¡°Any who are bound to a nexus of magic can recognize another if they know what to look for. We carry a subtle aura about us that is quite distinct. This is another reason why we defend Verdantspire so fiercely. This is the Lir¡¯Valis a nexus of Life, Air, and Earth.¡± The mark on her arm faded from view and she lowered the sleeve of her robe once again. ¡°You do not need to show me your mark, I would additionally advise you not to show anyone you do not trust. You have shown your resolve in assisting our people and have taken the first steps towards building trust between my people and your settlement. Tomorrow will strengthen that trust and in time we may be more than just friends but true allies.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Xavier smiled broadly at the Lynari. ¡°I truly long for that day High Speaker.¡± He turned his attention back to the town center, and it was such in more than just name. The flagstone plaza was surrounded by shops and buildings of all sorts. A large hall dominated the northern edge, its smooth walls were traced with the emerald hue of elemental earth giving it a solid sensation. Xavier could envision it as the seat of the governing body of Verdantspire and had little doubt they would be having discussions there soon. It also gave him ideas for his own townhall back at Rynthavael and he made some mental notes to discuss with his crafters. Continuing to the left of it, he noticed the first of three gardens all equidistance around the plaza. This one held moss-covered stones and plinths amid hardy plants clearly indicating its favoritism for the earthen element. To the west of the plaza, Xavier could see an open-air market where stalls and workshops were alive with business and trade. He thought it was interesting that the majority of the vendors he could make out all appeared to be either Vulpiri or Felvari. The fox and feline Animari held an obvious appreciation for commerce. The next garden separated the market from the grove of trees that sat to the southeast. This garden, Xavier judged to be dedicated to the element of life as it was filled with serene, lush greenery and brilliantly vibrant floral blooms. Even at this distance, he could almost feel the rejuvenating energy of the place. The grove seemed slightly odd, but he assumed a forest haven with a nexus of life elemental magic wouldn¡¯t be unusual to have copses of trees, but he did resolve to see what was so special about this one that it held such a place of honor near the nexus itself, that is if he had a chance to. The last garden separated the copse of trees from the amphitheater directly to Xavier¡¯s left. The garden was more open than the other two, consisting largely of sparse trees lined with breezy pathways. The trees were decorated with chimes and feathered ornaments that tinkled delicately as they swayed in the almost everpresent breeze marking the garden¡¯s dedication to the element of air. Finally, he looked to the amphitheater, it was carved into the hillside and seemed to both extend and make itself separate from the plaza at the same time. His passive ley line resonance let him feel the twists of the air ley line through the structure and he had no doubt it would perfectly reverberate with those who stood on the platform around the obelisk, carrying their words effortlessly to any who sat in the audience. Xavier shook his head; he felt like a tourist seeing a world wonder for the first time. He mulled that thought a moment as he realized that¡¯s exactly what he was. Only this wonder wasn¡¯t just man-made¡­ er animari-made¡­ whatever it should be called, but a natural wonder as well due to the ley-line nexus. He relaxed and simply enjoyed the wonder of the place, eyes catching more minutia of the details such as the glyphs for each of the elements carved into the various flagstones, and the much smaller crystals that hovered in a low orbit around the obelisk moving positions slightly as the various energies moved from it to the channels. The place was a real marvel to behold. That wasn¡¯t the only thing he noticed, however. As the High Speaker had said earlier, there was a celebration being put together in honor of those who were liberated and those who were instrumental in that freedom. All around the plaza tables and chairs were being positioned. Food and drink were being placed in multiple locations, ensuring that one was never far from something to enjoy. The scents and sounds were a cacophony near to overwhelming if it hadn¡¯t been so joyous in nature. Up on the raised platform, a small troupe of players took their places and soon music of a primal, visceral nature filled the air lending to the celebration. From where he stood surrounded by the elders and the detachment of Wardens who seemed to be everpresent around them, Xavier could see people streaming in from the paths and alleys that joined the plaza to the rest of the settlement. Hundreds if not over a thousand souls were easily present and Xavier got a good look at just how large this place actually was, in souls that called it home if nothing else. It made him honestly happy that he was not at odds with them. They would wipe his small village from the face of Arath if they were, it also made him worry about the trials to come if Kaelith¡¯s words were an indication. The celebration went long into the night and much enjoyment was had by everyone. Xavier was thanked and hugged multiple times by those he helped to free and those who were friends and family to them as well. Several times he was roundly kissed and winked at, much to the seeming irritation of Ella as she remained close to him. He noticed that the twins were receiving much the same treatment as well though, so he didn¡¯t think much of it simply assuming it was individuals caught up in drink and celebration of life. Interestingly, Lianna seemed to be more flustered by the attention than receptive to it. She did not try to hide or shy away, simply the soft white fur of her cheeks took on a noticeably reddish tinge that Xavier was curious how happened. He didn¡¯t know fur could blush, maybe that was something of this world since he knew for a fact there were no cat-girls or any other sort of animal person on Earth. Liosan on the other hand, seemed to revel in the attention and merriment. He was performing with tumblers, dancing with anyone who caught his attention, and drinking and eating as if he were not going to see the next sunrise. Strangely, even with all of that Xavier never heard a sound come from the young man¡¯s mouth. Yet another oddity he would ask Lianna about if he got the chance, and if the prompt he received earlier about her mood change towards him was true. The soft light of predawn had started to light the morning sky by the time Xavier and Ella were shown to rooms where they could rest and recover. Xavier had questions he wanted to ask of the young woman, but they seemed to elude his drink-addled mind and she shook her head as she guided him into his room and aided him to bed. Nearly as soon as his head touched the soft down filled pillow sleep claimed him for its own. Ella smiled gently over the man as he slept before she made her way to her own room and succumbed to exhaustion herself. A loud knocking on the door shook Xavier from the pleasant dreams he had been lost to. Forcing his eyes open and blinking away the dregs of slumber he called out and pushed himself into an upright position. ¡°I¡¯m up, stop with the noise, it feels like you''re banging directly on my head!¡± He winced at how the sound of his own voice made his head throb and even the bright light of the day made his head hurt and he could not help but wonder just how much he had imbibed the night before. Opening and closing his mouth to get a dry bitter taste from it he looked to the door as it opened, and Ella walked in fresh as she had slept a full night and had not been partying until the wee hours of the morning. ¡°The High Speaker asked me to wake you. She said the ceremony is ready and your presence is required.¡± She smirked slightly at his discomfort before holding out a small vial. ¡°Drink this it will help. I had a feeling you were overdoing it last night.¡± Xavier took the proffered vial and looked at it dubiously. It wasn¡¯t that he distrusted Ella anymore, she was bonded to him after all and he had missed her presence, he just distrusted anything but water to drink at the moment. Taking a deep breath to steel his resolve he tipped the vial back and swallowed the contents. A pleasant ginger flavor filled his mouth and warmth suffused his body. Soon the headache and draining hangover left his body and he felt refreshed. He looked at the vial and then to Ella. ¡°That was amazing, I would have given my right arm to be able to sober up and avoid hangovers like that back on Earth.¡± He snapped his mouth shut realizing he didn¡¯t know who might be around to hear his words. She sighed and looked at him shaking her head. ¡°We are alone currently and too high up for someone at the window I believe but you need to be more careful Master. We don¡¯t know who you can trust with the fact that you are not of Arath,¡± she admonished him. Her tone was not in line with her words in any way. ¡°Come now, get dressed it seems you have a busy day ahead of you and the gods only know when we will be able to go home.¡± He waited for several moments for her to leave the room before he got out of bed and followed her suggestion. Moving over to the basin of water that had been left on the side table he quickly washed his face and ran his fingers through his hair. It had grown longer and was starting to get unruly since he had come to the world. He would need to see someone to get it cut short once again before it started causing issues. After only a handful of minutes, Xavier stepped out of the doorway to the room he had been using and joined Ella in the hallway. He was glad to have her there, not only because he was becoming accustomed to her presence, but he also had no clue where he was or where he needed to be for that matter. He sighed inwardly, he really had drunk too much the night before. Chapter 4 - Shadows Over the Wildlands Ella guided Xavier from the building they were in. It turned out they were only a couple streets away from the nexus plaza and that was the direction that they walked as they stepped onto the street. She didn¡¯t lead him to the large official building he had noticed the last night, however. Instead, she led him around to the small path between it and the earthen garden. As they walked, he started hearing raised voices from up ahead. At first, he could not make out the words but as they drew closer, he easily identified the voice of Lianna coming from a small circular dome-like with steam rising out of the top center of it. ¡°No, I will not do it. How could you even ask that of me? You know what happened,¡± her voice had a mix of anger and almost pleading tones. He couldn¡¯t make out the soft response to her words, instead only hearing the muffled sound of High Speaker Kaelith. As he approached the door the two wardens standing guard outside nodded to him and one reached over to open the passage for him and Ella to enter. Inside the two women cut off speaking abruptly as they heard the sound of the door shifting. Xavier had to duck slightly to pass through the doorway and felt like he had been hit in the face with a wet towel. The small dome, it turned out was a sweat lodge. He grunted softly as the heat and moisture caused his body to dampen instantly. When he was able to see through the rising steam, he noticed that it wasn¡¯t just the two women he had heard but all of the elders were there as well. A second look confirmed that they were all in their small clothes also, fur, feathers and exposed skin soaked due to the conditions of the room. Xavier glanced over his shoulder and noticed Ella was already stripping down to match, her clothes going into a small basket near the doorway. She sat in one of the open spots her face serenely innocent as she returned his look. He was pretty sure she knew what to expect and had negelected to tell him since he had made her wait while he got ready. He narrowed his eyes at her a moment, to which she only smiled, before he followed her example and stripped as well. The guard who had let them in had remained in the open doorway long enough for them to place their items in the baskets. He then took them outside of the room and closed the door behind himself leaving them to their discussion. Xavier looked over each of the elders and Lianna. All but the Iskari seemed relaxed and serene, simply enjoying the heat and moisture of the steam. Lianna¡¯s muzzle wore her strain evident however and her eyes were narrowed slightly though if in anger or agony, Xavier was not certain. ¡°I did not expect to meet with you all in a room such as this,¡± Xavier started. ¡°Though I am not going to complain, the heat feels wonderful on muscles I hadn¡¯t realized were still sore. I used to enjoy going to the sauna back home.¡± He snapped his mouth shut suddenly, realizing that he had said more than he intended to. Kaelith¡¯s eyebrow rose slightly at his words then nodded to the Vulpiri elder who made a slight motion in the air. Xavier felt the subtle shift when she was done but could not tell what had happened. It was then that the High Speaker actual spoke once again. ¡°Elder Lyselle just made it to where no one outside of this room can hear anything said within. Before you speak, however, I want you to be aware that part of this ceremony revolves around the steam. There is an herb in the water that gives the steam truth speaking properties. As long as you are breathing it in you will be unable to lie,¡± the Lynari woman said. Xavier, stiffened slightly at that statement. He was unaware that such a thing existed and was really taken aback at the fact he had not been warned before entering. Ella, at his side, reacted similarly both now tense and suddenly untrusting of the others in the room. Kaelith held up a hand placatingly. ¡°Be at peace Xavier of Rynthavael. We mean you no harm, nor do we intend to dig into your secrets beyond your intentions towards Verdantspire. Due to the realities of the times we live in we have to take precautions for our people however. Nothing said within these walls will be repeated outside of them.¡± Each of the elders nodded along with the High Speakers words. Lianna sat stiffly where she was though, and it took Kaelith looking directly at her before she finally gestured her agreement to the words as well. While that didn¡¯t completely placate Xavier¡¯s mood at being tricked, yet again, by the smiling High Speaker, he did relax slightly. He did decide to be much more cautious around the High Speaker as it was clear her feline nature lent to a more manipulative nature. ¡°Alright,¡± he responded, ¡°it seems trust has yet to be fully earned between our people. Though I am now curious about this herb. It seems it would be a good thing to have on hand back in my village as well.¡± It was the Cervari, Elder Sylara Dawnshade Xavier remembered, who responded this time, ¡°We would be happy to provide you with some cuttings. You have proven yourself and your village enough to discuss trade in the near future. That is not the point of this morning however.¡± Kaelith nodded and took up the discussion, ¡°No we called you here to discuss the relationship between our settlements, and the surrounding troubles instead. The steam ensures that all words are true and honest for both our safety and your reassurance.¡± Xavier took a deep breath, wincing slightly as he realized he was only exposing himself deeper to the effects before he finally relaxed and just accepted the situation for now. ¡°Alright, I guess I can see the wisdom in that. Where do you want to begin? I am anxious to see an alliance between our settlements. Though Rynthavael is small right now I intend for it to grow to rival the ruins it is built upon.¡± Once again, he said more than he had originally intended but he did not try to take back the words once spoken, the were after all his actual intent. He glanced towards Lianna, her presence was now somewhat a mystery. She was not an elder as far as he was aware, and she was clearly at odds with at least part of what was going to be discussed. Kaelith noticed the shift in Xavier¡¯s gaze and nodded, ¡°That is as good a place to start as any. I told you last night of the growing tension between our people and the Kingdom of Arenvalis. It was not always so, however. Yes, there have always been issues with raiders taking slaves, but they were infrequent and not so focused on Animari. It has only been in the past decade or so that the shift has occurred. Rumor is that is also when sightings of King Ironthorn became more infrequent. We need to know what has happened to cause this change so we can better protect our people.¡± She gestured towards Lianna, ¡°We have asked her to escort you into the wildlands as she is one of few Wardens who have traveled them.¡± Lianna stiffened and Xavier could hear a low whine from the woman before she snarled. ¡°I will not go with the human to those lands! You cannot possibly ask this of me. Why would you expect me to go back there?¡± The Iskari Elder, Veyara Frostwhisper, was the one who answered. ¡°Niece, you know that you are unquestionably the best one to escort him safely. We do not ask you this lightly especially given your history, but it needs to be done if we are to be able to take precautions.¡± Xavier now knew the relationship between the Elder and the twins he had noticed before. They were family just not as close as he had originally thought. Lianna growled again but the stare from her aunt kept her silent beyond that and she relegated herself to crossing her arms and leaning against the wall unwilling to say more lest she embarrass herself or the gathered Elders. Kaelith took command of the conversation once again. ¡°We know you are an outsider, it is why we want to send someone familiar with the wildlands with you. They are more dangerous than ever before and someone unfamiliar with these lands could unknowingly end up in more trouble than expected.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes widened at the admission of the Elder¡¯s knowledge. He suddenly felt like a very small animal in a room of hungry predators, though the Elders made no hostile gestures or even spoke harshly he felt trapped. ¡°How? I didn¡¯t say anything¡± Kaelith chuffed softly, sounding almost like a light laugh. ¡°You did not have to say anything. Lianna told us about your blessings. Your actions told us much more, however. You do not act like one from the Silverwood, or even from Eldoria in general. Though we could assume you came from somewhere else on Arath it was the blessings of the gods and now your own wariness that confirms our suspicions of your actual nature. As you have said, it is clear that trust does not yet fully exist between our peoples, but I would like to believe it is starting between ourselves. As I said before anything said here will not be repeated elsewhere. Your secret is our secret. This I swear, this I swear, this I swear.¡± High Speaker Kaelith Moonstride, the Leader of the Animari of Verdantspire Haven has sworn an oath to keep all secrets divulged in this meeting. As the leader of her people all Animari beholden to Verdantspire Haven are bound by this oath. Breaking this oath will have dire ramifications for any who would dare to do so.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The sudden prompt gave Xavier pause. While the Lynari had tricked him into making an oath before he hadn¡¯t realized how serious they could be. The fact that the universe seemed to back them when the words were said in triplicate confirmed his suspicion that there was more to them than just words, however. Studying the faces of those across from him for several long moments he turned to look questioningly at Ella. She pursed her lips in thought then nodded slowly. ¡°They have sworn Master. The consequences of breaking such an oath would be dire not only for them individually but as leaders, for their people as well.¡± Xavier closed his eyes briefly as he wrestled with what to say before he looked back to the others sitting in the room, and then he began telling his story from waking on the fateful day he died on Earth though he left out details about Ella¡¯s nature. When he finished, he was met with a variety of expressions ranging from shock to awe to serene contemplation. Kaelith nodded as if she expected something of the nature while Lianna stared at him with slack jawed incredulity. ¡®You are right,¡± Xavier stated, ¡°I am new to Arath and would likely blunder into issues without aid. Ella has been my guide so far, but she has made it obvious that her knowledge is limited to the areas around my lands. She was not much of a traveler before joining with me.¡± He looked to Lianna, ¡°your help would be appreciated if we are to be successful. I know you distrusted me when we first met but I hope to continue proving myself to you.¡± The Iskari continued to stare at him, though her mouth shut when she realized her expression. Pain passed over her features before she spoke. ¡°I cannot, not to those lands. Please do not ask this of me.¡± She turned to nearly plead with the Elders. Sylara placed a comforting hand on the Iskari woman¡¯s leg speaking softly to her. ¡°Child do not let the past rule you. This could bring you the peace you obviously still have not found. Trust that we do this for the best of all yourself included.¡± Xavier could see the inner struggle that Lianna fought before her shoulders slumped and she gave a slight nod. The Cervari pulled the younger woman into an embrace and whispered into her ear for several moments before releasing her and resuming a seat beside her.
The Iskari Beastmaster Lianna Frostwhisper has offered to become your traveling companion. Do you accept? Yes or No
Though surprised at the sudden prompt Xavier focused on yes and accepted the update. He looked to the woman who now wore a resigned expression though it seemed more of one resigned to the gallows than anything else. It seemed Xavier had more than just Ella to learn more about and he hoped that he could earn the trust of the Iskari enough for her to open up to him. Kaelith, in turn, looked back to Xavier and spoke softly. ¡°We request that you, as an unknown individual, travel to Ironhaven to seek answers as to what has changed in the Kingdom of Arenvalis. Why is there an increase in hostilities to their neighbors and travelers. And if possible, to find and free any others of our people still in the markets.¡± You have been offered a quest: Shadows Over the Wildlands Recent tensions between the Kingdom of Arenvalis and its neighbors have escalated beyond mere territorial disputes. Reports indicate a surge in hostilities toward the Animari, as well as an increase in slave trade activity in Ironhaven. Verdantspire Haven cannot afford to ignore this growing threat. Elder Kaelith has tasked you with infiltrating Arenvalis, uncovering the cause of its newfound aggression, and, if possible, dismantling any Animari trafficking operations within Ironhaven. However, the Kingdom of Arenvalis is no mere den of raiders; its laws are strict, its watchful eyes many, and its ruler, King Rorik Ironthorn, is not a man easily swayed. Proceed with caution¡ªdiplomacy may serve you better than steel, but you must be prepared for either. Quest Objectives:
  1. Investigate the Hostilities ¨C Travel to Arenvalis and uncover the source of rising tensions with the Animari and other neighboring factions.
  2. Gather Intelligence in Ironhaven ¨C Identify key players in the slave trade and locate any Animari captives.
  3. Liberate the Enslaved ¨C Free any Animari prisoners in Ironhaven without alerting the full force of the kingdom.
  4. Determine the Kingdom¡¯s Intentions ¨C If possible, secure an audience with influential figures to gauge whether war looms on the horizon.
Challenges & Considerations: Penalties for Failure or Refusal: Rewards: Do you accept? Yes or No The size of the prompt that appeared in Xavier¡¯s vision was enormous compared to other quest prompts he had received. He wondered if this was due to the nature of the quest or due to the fact it was coming from someone with more details about what he would be facing. It took him several long minutes to read and then reread the details before finally focusing on yes and accepting the quest. It must be the next quest in the chain he was expecting to see last night. Now he understood why it didn¡¯t happen immediately. He needed the elders to better understand himself and to trust him more before something of this magnitude. ¡°I would be honored to help your people and mine with this quest High Speaker Kaelith. I would need to go back to Rynthavael and inform my people that I will be traveling and possibly away for a while due to this, however. They only expected me to be gone for a couple of days and this seems as if it would take much longer than that. If acceptable I will head home immediately and set out for Ironhaven within the week.¡± Xavier bowed slightly as he spoke showing respect to the Elder and her companions. ¡°We did not expect you to rush off to those dangerous lands without preparation Xavier,¡± she responded with a smile. She gestured towards the Ursari elder, Thror Ironpaw, who in turn held out a small black metal collar. Seeing it Lianna¡¯s jaw stiffened, and tears began to well in the corner of her eyes. Speaking gently Kaelith said, ¡°Take this slave collar and its key. It is part of the reason Lianna was so adamant about not going. Her freedom would be forfeited if found in the Wildlands, however this would mark her as already being a slave. Place it upon her before you leave the woods, and you will be prompted to set its restrictions. You do not have to set any when offered the chance as the collar itself will be indication of her ¡®status¡¯ enough. I am trusting you with one of ours, do not betray that trust, Xavier.¡± Her voice had turned icy serious when she spoke the last. Hesitantly, Xavier took the collar and stone from the man and looked between it and the resigned Iskari. He had a sinking feeling this would not help their relationship and completely understood why she was so resistant to the plan. ¡°I would not put you through this if you do not want to Lianna. I can find another way and you can sta¡­¡± She cut him off abruptly, ¡°The High Speaker is right, this is the best way.¡± She shifted slightly exposing her right hip to him. A part of her fur was missing in an intricate sigil branded into her skin. ¡°That was my collar before I was freed with my brother. It is why I know where we are going so well.¡± Xavier gasped. It was no wonder the woman hated humans so much. Also, why she had such aggression towards the raiders when they attacked the camp. ¡°I have no words¡­¡± was all he could utter at the confession. The shock stilling his tongue suddenly. Lianna rose suddenly and left the room wordlessly. Xavier watched her go and looked back to the Elders. ¡°I will watch over her as if she was one of my own people. I swear she will not wear this cursed thing longer than absolutely necessary and there will be no restrictions placed upon her.¡± Kaelith nodded in acceptance and Veyara spoke. ¡°I will hold you to that human. She and her brother are the only family I have left. I am placing a lot of faith in you and if it were not for the fact that we recognize your worth and that you will lend a hand in rough times we would never have allowed for this.¡± The words the Iskari elder used immediately brought to mind the change in relationship between his settlement and theirs and Xavier understood it was why such a thing was possible. It also drove home the importance of relationships in this world, they were not just ambiguous ideas but quantifiable and unavoidable if one wanted to survive. ¡°Go and gather your things, we will have Lianna meet you at the southern gate so you may begin your travels.¡± Kaelith said. ¡°We wish you safety and a quick return home.¡± Xavier rose and turned to leave before pausing and looking back to the gathering of venerable Animari. ¡°I do have one request before I leave. My village is small currently and there are still many dangerous beasts in the forest. Could your Wardens help keep my people safe while I am away?¡± Thror was the one to answer the request. ¡°We have asked much of you human and recognize that it places risk on your people. I will task the Wardens to patrol around your village as well. Who should they speak to, so they are not attacked?¡± Xavier thought but for a moment before responding. ¡°I will let Braegor know they will be visiting soon. He is the blacksmith of the village but was an alderman previously, so he leads in my absence.¡± Thror acknowledged the statement and Xavier and Ella walked out of the room leaving the Elders behind in the steam. Xavier knew his world was about to expand greatly and behind him, still in the damp chamber the Elders of Verdantspire exchanged looks of worry and hope that this outsider human could be the change that prophecy had spoken of. Chapter 5 - A Felvaris Offer and Departing Verdantspire Xavier and Ella were surprised at the efficiency after the sweat lodge meeting with the Elders. The guards, as if anticipating their departure, had the baskets of their gear waiting for them just outside of the doors. As a result, they were quickly dressed and reequipped with their gear and soon ready to depart. Speaking softly to one and other while they dressed, they decided to make a quick stop in the marketplace before heading out as neither had been able to visit it and they did not know when they would next be back. The left out that part of their reasoning was also to allow Lianna time to do what she needed to prior to their meeting her at the southern exit of the city. The market was only a short walk from where they had met with the elders of the city and soon the duo was surrounded by the calls and rejoins of vendors and their customers. As Xavier had previously noticed the majority of the vendors were either Vulpiri or Felvari. The fox and feline, respectively, Animari seemed inclined to mercantile endeavors, and it brought a smile to Xavier¡¯s lips as he inwardly thought, ¡°Khajit has wares if you have coin.¡± Ella noticed the growing smile and raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t press him on the matter at the moment. Instead, she pointed out several well-crafted pieces of leather armor that seemed close to his size and would be good replacements for the articles he currently wore who were starting to show their abuse. They moved over to the Felvari vendors stall, the merchant seemed to be a general merchant, and her stall held a variety of items. Xavier looked at several different things before he finally inspected the pieces. Luckily none of them appeared to be enchanted and as he picked up each one he got a prompt detailing it.
You have discovered: Direwolf Hide Chestguard Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 4.5 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: A rugged yet flexible chestguard crafted from the thick hide of a direwolf, dyed dark gray to retain a natural, stealthy appearance. The reinforced layering enhances durability while keeping the wearer agile. Traits: - Wolf¡¯s Resilience: Provides moderate resistance to slashing and piercing attacks due to the thick hide. - Stealthwoven: The treated leather minimizes noise when moving, making it ideal for hunters and scouts.
You have discovered: Direwolf Hide Leg Guards Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 3.2 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: A set of reinforced leather leg guards offering both protection and freedom of movement. The flexible knee joints allow for fluid motion, while the thick hide shields against minor impacts and environmental hazards. Traits: - Enhanced Mobility: Designed to provide agility without restricting movement. - Cold Resistant: Retains natural insulation, protecting the wearer from cold environments.
You have discovered: Direwolf Hide Gloves Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.9 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: A pair of fitted gloves made from supple direwolf leather, ensuring a firm grip on weapons and tools. The fingers are reinforced with extra padding for hand protection without compromising dexterity. Traits: - Hunter¡¯s Grip: Increases grip strength, making it easier to handle weapons in wet or icy conditions. - Clawguard Reinforcement: The fingertips are reinforced, reducing damage from direct impacts or abrasions.
You have discovered: Direwolf Hide Boots Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 2.5 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: High-quality leather boots crafted from direwolf hide, offering silent footsteps and excellent traction on uneven terrain. The soles are reinforced with a thin but sturdy hide layer for added durability. Traits: - Silent Stride: Footsteps are nearly soundless, improving stealth movement. - Firm Footing: Provides better balance and grip on unstable or slippery surfaces.
You have discovered: Direwolf Hide Armor Set Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 11.1 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: A masterfully crafted leather armor set made from the resilient hide of a direwolf. This armor balances protection, mobility, and stealth, making it ideal for scouts, hunters, and light-armored warriors. The treated hide retains its natural cold resistance, while expert craftsmanship ensures superb durability and flexibility. The set includes a chestguard, leg guards, gloves, and boots, each designed to enhance the wearer¡¯s agility and endurance. Traits: - Wolf¡¯s Resilience: Provides moderate resistance to slashing and piercing attacks due to the thick hide. - Silent Hunter: Footsteps and movements are dampened, improving stealth. - Predator¡¯s Adaptability: Increases reaction speed and agility in combat and tracking. - Direwolf¡¯s Endurance: Reduces stamina drain from prolonged movement or combat.
Set Bonuses, Resistances, and Stats (When All Pieces Are Worn
Attribute Bonus Description
Slashing Resistance +10% Thick direwolf hide provides moderate protection against cutting weapons.
Piercing Resistance +5% Natural padding absorbs some impact from arrows and thrusting attacks.
Cold Resistance +15% Retains insulation, preventing heat loss in cold environments.
Impact Resistance +5% Some shock absorption against blunt force attacks.
Mobility Bonus +10% Lightweight and flexible, allowing for quick movement and agility.
Stealth Bonus +15% Treated leather reduces noise, enhancing sneaking capabilities.
Grip Strength +5% Reinforced gloves improve handling of weapons and tools.
Balance Bonus +10% Enhanced traction from boots allows for improved footing on rough terrain.
Predator¡¯s Adaptability Active Bonus Improves reaction time and movement speed when tracking or engaging in combat.
Silent Hunter Passive Bonus Footsteps are quieter, improving stealth-based actions.
Direwolf¡¯s Endurance Passive Bonus Reduces stamina drain by 8%, useful for prolonged battles or long-distance travel.
The armor was a Scout¡¯s or, in Xavier¡¯s case, a Ranger¡¯s dream. Though he had been wearing a full set of leather armor that one of the Ryntavael villagers had crafted it wasn¡¯t to this level of work and had been piecemealed together. The fact that a designed set could carry so many bonuses inherent to its crafting was astonishing. It also reinforced the fact that Xavier still understood little about the world or its crafts, something he really needed to learn more about. Xavier sensed her before he saw her. A shift in the air, the subtle hush of footfalls too measured to be careless. The Felvari merchant moved like a whisper on the wind, silent but deliberate, the kind of presence that made itself known without demanding attention. When she finally stepped into view, the sunlight flickered across her tawny fur-like hair, catching golden streaks that shimmered like a coin under a merchant¡¯s careful scrutiny. Her emerald-green, slitted eyes swept over him, sharp and assessing, weighing him not just in gold but in worth. A slow smile played at her lips, amused, knowing, as if she had already mapped out the conversation before, he could even open his mouth. She was dressed for both business and mischief, flowing robes of deep purple and midnight blue draped elegantly around her lean frame. They were loose enough to suggest ease, and fitted enough to promise quick movement should the need arise. A finely worked leather belt sat low on her hips, lined with discreet pouches, each no doubt carrying something of interest, coin, ledgers, trinkets, secrets. Her tail flicked, an idle motion betraying amusement as she finally spoke, her voice smooth and warm, wrapped in the practiced cadence of a seasoned negotiator.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Xavier, was it?¡± She tilted her head just slightly, studying him with the measured patience of a predator who already knew the outcome of the hunt. ¡°Nyssara hears you are a man who appreciates quality. Perhaps we should discuss an arrangement¡­ one that benefits us both.¡± The firelight danced in her eyes, and Xavier had no doubt this was a woman who never left the table with less than she came for, though he wondered how she knew his name. He then realized she must have been at the celebration the other night and likely heard of him there. "Ah, friend, this direwolf hide leather armor, so fine and superbly crafted, yes indeed! Nyssara sees that each stitch sings of skill and care, like soft whispers ''neath the moons. The hide is both strong and supple, protecting you as the direwolf''s embrace would, ja. Wear it and feel the wild power of the lands themselves guide your every step, just as a gentle purr comforts the soul. Truly, this be a treasure worthy of a wanderer such as yourself." Once again Xavier had to bite back a near laugh, the woman even spoke similarly to the race of felines from the games he had enjoyed so much. It took him a few moments before he could respond and as he got control of himself, he triggered insight.
Name: Nyssara Shadowwhisper Race: Feline Animari (Felvari) Disposition: Welcoming
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
The Felvari, or Catkin, are a race of nimble and cunning humanoids who embody the grace, agility, and predatory instincts of felines. Their feline features include pointed ears, sharp eyes, and long, expressive tails, while their fur-like hair comes in a variety of colors and patterns¡ªranging from sleek black and snowy white to golden tabby and spotted leopard-like designs. Their slit-pupil eyes, which shimmer in shades of green, amber, or icy blue, grant them superior night vision, while their lithe and flexible builds allow them to move with silent precision. Felvari are naturally inquisitive, clever, and independent, thriving on personal freedom and the thrill of the hunt. Though often playful and mischievous, they are also fiercely protective of their kin and highly adaptable to their surroundings.
Stats
Health: 150/150 Stamina: 140/140 Mana: 140/140
¡°It is an amazing set of armor. So well done that I fear I do not have the coin to purchase it,¡± came Xavier''s easy reply. "Ah, friend, you have a keen eye indeed, yes? I am Nyssara, keeper o'' these prized wares, purr. Feast yer gaze upon this superb direwolf hide leather armor, each stitch sings of wild grace and skill, a marvel truly wrought by the best hands in the lands, purr. The starting price is set at 1600 gold coins, a fair sum for such quality, wouldn¡¯t you say? Now, perhaps we can parley like true kin and find a number that pleases us both, yes? Do consider, friend, and let the purr of satisfaction guide yer choice." Xavier almost dropped the piece of armor he had been holding. The price was a small fortune in his estimation. He had no real idea the value of the Arathian currency as he had nothing to associate it with in Earth terms. He glanced at Ella who didn¡¯t seem overly surprised by the amount the Felvari had named. Pulling up his inventory interface he looked at what was in his satchel and inwardly groaned. He thought he had a good deal of coin for as long as he had been on the world. However, the four platinum and 70 gold coins in his satchel was not nearly close enough to what the merchant was quoting. He leaned over to Ella and whispered as softly as he could. ¡°How much is a platinum coin worth?¡± Just as softly she whispered back, ¡°One platinum coin is worth 100 gold ones. You have platinum?¡± She glanced at him a slightly surprised look on her face briefly before she schooled her expression. Neither really noticed the perk in the Felvari¡¯s ears at their exchange, not realizing how sensitive the feline¡¯s ears actually were. Xavier chewed on his lip a moment; 470 gold coins was barely a quarter of what the merchant wanted. He knew the armor would be a good upgrade and replacement to his worn gear, but he couldn¡¯t quite figure out how to make the trade happen. Then his eyes fell on another item in his satchel, the small box with the jewlery. A grin appeared on his face as he matched eyes with the merchant. ¡°Do you have somewhere that we could sit and discuss trade?¡± "Ah, friend, come inside Nysarra''s booth, purr. This little nook be our private haven, where we may parley freely without pryin¡¯ eyes. Step in, and let us discuss trade in peace, purr, there¡¯s much to show and many secrets to share." With those words, she led the two into her stall and the private section near the back. Curling up on a mound of cushions she motioned for the two humans to take seats across a small table from her on another collection of pillows. The two sank gratefully into the plush comfort and Xavier pulled the small box from his satchel. He was careful to open it away from the Felvari¡¯s eyes as he inspected the pieces of jewelry within. Allowing Ella to see the works as well they motioned back and forth to one another as they tried to decide what piece to offer to the merchant. Unwilling to part with any of the enchanted pieces for now Xavier ultimately pulled out a single ring and placed it on the table.
You have discovered: The Golden Laurel Band Item Class: Common Item Quality: Superb Weight: 0.14 kg Durability: 80/100 Description: A thin golden circlet designed to resemble a laurel wreath, with fine leaf engravings. Traits: A symbol of refinement and status, reflecting light beautifully.
Nyssara looked to the small band and then back to Xavier opening her mouth to respond before she stopped and looked at the ring again. The only indication of her surprise was the flick of one of her ears suddenly. "Ah, friend, purr, what have we here? This ring, though fine in craft, is quite the unexpected treasure indeed! As a merchant who holds every glint of artistry in high regard, I must inspect it closer, purr. Let me have a proper look at its details, each facet may whisper a tale of its own, yes? Now, do tell me its story while I admire its gleam, purr." Xavier motioned for her to examine the ring as she felt necessary. As she did, he told a slightly different story of how he found the band. Instead of letting it be known that it was discovered in the treasury of Rynthavael, he spun a tale of how it was found on the long-dead body of an explorer in the mine he had recently discovered. He didn¡¯t know for certain how much of his story she believed but he thought he had done a passable job given he had found other items on the body of the poor dwarven soul. While he spoke, she rolled the ring back and forth in her fingers, a soft purr rumbling in her chest, eventually, she pulled out a small jeweler¡¯s loupe and held it to her eye as she looked closer. "Ah, my friend, purr, this ring be of fine quality indeed, with craftsmanship that tempts one to fancy a Sylmyrian touch. Yet, let us not get carried away by such tales, purr. The Sylmyrian, enchanting as their legends be, are naught but myths to most, purr. Their lore, like whispers on the wind, is more fable than fact. Still, the skill here is plain for all to see, a true marvel in its own right, purr." She set the ring down on the table, a calculating look in her eye as she turned her attention back to the duo seated across from her. "Ah, friend, purr, this ring ye offer is a marvel of fine craft, no doubt, yet its worth falls a touch short of the grandeur of this direwolf hide leather armor, purr. There¡¯s a clear difference in their value, a gap that must be bridged if we are to strike a fair bargain, purr. Consider the ring as a worthy credit toward the armor, with the balance reflecting that disparity, purr. What say ye to this arrangement, friend?" Wary of the fact that she didn¡¯t mention the value of the ring or how much of a gap there was between it and the armor Xavier hesitated a moment. He closed the box of jewelry and tucked it back into his satchel as he mulled her suggestion. He had a hunch that the ring was worth quite a sum given its actual origins. That much was clear by her initial comment about it evoking Sylmyrian legend, far truer than she obviously knew. He had had a little experience with merchants like this back on Earth when he had been traveling and the souks in the Middle East were notoriously skilled at haggling. He picked the ring up once again and looked at Ella. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can cover the difference. The armor is amazing but with the travel we have to do I think having the jewelry might be more beneficial to trade elsewhere.¡± "Hold, friend, purr, wait a moment before you scamper off with that fine ring. Let Nyssara offer you a deal as sweet as a moonlit purr. Trade that ring along with a little extra, 100 gold coins, yes? And you''ll be adorned in this glorious direwolf hide leather armor, fit for a desert wanderer and as fine as the sands of Sunspire, purr. A deal so fair, it tickles the whiskers, friend. What say you to this bargain, hmm, purr?" Beside him, Ella nodded slightly at the new proposal. Xavier placed the ring back on the table and fished a single platinum coin from his satchel setting it beside the ring. He still had a suspicion that the Felvari was getting the better part of the deal, but it was something a lot closer to what he could stomach. Nyssara made both the coin and ring disappear quickly before she rose and retrieved the purchased armor. Soon Xavier had replaced his worn equipment with the new supple leather and marveled at how well it seemed to fit. Once more he pursed his lips wondering how much of this was fate or luck and how much of it was Danu¡¯s involvement. Deciding against going down that rabbit hole he thanked Nyssara for the goods and stepped out of the shop. He chuckled softly as he noticed a new prompt and opened it. Congratulations! You have learned a new skill ¨C Barter level 5. The Barter skill represents a character¡¯s ability to negotiate better deals, manipulate prices, and maximize value when dealing with merchants, traders, and sometimes even black-market dealers. A skilled haggler can reduce costs, increase payouts, and even influence merchants into revealing hidden goods or giving exclusive deals. At higher levels, Barter turns every trade into a battle of wits, persuasion, and psychological warfare. "Why pay full price when you can make them think they got a good deal?" +0.15% Discount on purchase prices. +0.15% Increase on sales prices. That confirmed that he had done enough for the world to recognize he had some skill in bartering. He still felt that he got the short end of the deal given he was certain that the Felvari was much more skilled than he was since she was a merchant. Xavier and Ella continued through the market for a short time though not so long as to make Lianna wait if she had headed towards the gate relatively quickly. They picked up multiple items that would serve them on the way back to Rynthavael, foodstuffs and the like mostly. Soon, however, they made their way towards the southern entrance to Verdantspire and as they came to the small square plaza there, they were met not only by Lianna and Frostclaw but High Speaker Kaelith. Lianna was outfitted with the same gear she had worn on the attack on the raiders, form-fitting dark leather armor, a large bow unstrung and slung across her back beside a quiver of arrows, a small pack that sat almost in the small of her back and finally a short sword belted at her waist. Frostclaw seemed to bear the majority of her travel gear, several large packs were tied together across the great cat¡¯s muscular back. Lianna, looked up to the two as they approached, a resigned and haunted look in her eyes as opposed to her normally fiery demeanor. Frostclaw, as if sensing her mood, growled low at the two before Lianna placed a hand on the feline¡¯s head settling her. High Speaker Kaelith Moonstride¡¯s expression was an enigma wrapped in silence, her golden eyes half-lidded yet razor-sharp, betraying nothing yet seeing everything. She watched the duo approach with the patience of a hunter and the wisdom of an elder, her gaze neither cold nor warm, but weighing, measuring, understanding. The faintest flicker of amusement, so fleeting it may be imagined, played at the corners of her lips, a subtle, knowing smirk that hints at knowledge left unspoken. Her tufted lynx ears remained still, save for the occasional twitch, an unreadable gesture that could be curiosity, calculation, or quiet warning. Xavier came to stand before her feeling as if he was standing at the edge of an ancient woodland at dusk, her eyes upon himself, and suddenly feeling uncertain whether they were friend or predator, or simply waiting to see which he truly was. She beckoned for him to approach, and he did so, taking a knee so he was more on her level instead of towering over her. When she finally spoke, it was in her usual soft voice, ¡°You depart now with one of ours on an important mission, Xavier of Rynthavael. We trust her wellbeing to your care especially when it comes to the collar within the Wildlands.¡± She rested a hand on his cheek almost matronly. ¡°We do not forget what you have done for us so far, you have returned many to us already. Please see our daughter back to her family safely human and prove to us your worth. May Lir¡¯s Embrace keep you chosen of the gods.¡± Xavier recalled from the discussions the previous night that the Animari referred to Danu as Liranya and he quickly made the connection between the High Speaker''s words and the deity. ¡°May her embrace shelter you as well High Speaker. I hope to return soon with news of what transpires in the kingdom and hopefully with more of your kin as well.¡± She patted his cheek lightly as he rose. Lianna didn¡¯t speak as she turned and strode off towards the woods leaving the two to hurry to catch up to her or be left behind. Kaelith watched for several moments before she departed the plaza herself, heading back to wherever it was she was needed. As Xavier and Ella caught up to the fast-moving Iksari the woman motioned slightly, the duo was invited to Lianna¡¯s party and once they accepted all their steps quickened further. Xavier noticed the same buff icon as before, Forest Runner, once again next to the images of the party members as proof of what the Ranger had done. Soon the forest enclosed around them, and they ran south, homeward to Rynthavael for Xavier. Chapter 6 - Revelations in the Woods For the first while of their southern trek towards Rynthavael, the companions were silent, focused on running and their surroundings. As the hours passed, however, Xavier started to mull over questions he had building inside. Now was the perfect opportunity to query two who had been in the world much longer than he had and maybe gain some understanding of topics that kept coming up. He motioned to Ella to catch up as he quickened his own pace to match that of Lianna. ¡°Lianna, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± he began. ¡°I have some questions that you might be able to answer. There is still a lot of this world I don¡¯t understand, and since you are now aware of my past, your knowledge could help fill in some of the details.¡± The Iskari woman slowed her pace slightly. The nature of her talent drastically slowed the consumption of stamina along with increasing speed, so none of the trio were short of breath. However, it was difficult to maintain a long conversation with the treacherous terrain and trees whipping past at such speeds. She turned her gaze slightly, and he could finally see her face for the first time since they had departed. Her eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed, a clear indication that she had been crying while they ran. Xavier winced, seeing the woman¡¯s features, and came to a complete halt, Ella almost bounced off his back as she nearly ran into him. ¡°What do you want to know human?¡± Lianna queried. Her tone wasn¡¯t malicious or angry just resigned and full of sorrow. ¡°We must not dally the longer we take the more possible harm from Arenvalis.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the slowing or possible harm that is making you cry Lianna,¡± Xavier pressed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to wear the collar if you don¡¯t want to. We can find another way to get to Ironhaven and you can go back home.¡± ¡°No!¡± She cut him short with an agonized cry. ¡°You think I did not already consider that? As the elders said, this is the best possible way. Gods know I do not want to put that accursed thing back on my neck. I could not argue, disagree, or even resist those who owned me when I last wore it. Can you imagine being a small child and having no ability to play or simply be a kid? At least my owner did not find Animari attractive. We were just labor to him.¡± She spat as she finished her words as if even thinking about the man made her bile rise. ¡°But to go into Arenvalis without a collar as an Animari would only result in my freedom being taken from me by another. My people are not seen as people in those lands. We are lesser beasts, servants,¡± she hissed out the final words with a feline growl, ¡°slaves.¡± Her vehemence was palpable to Xavier and Ella. Both took a step back at the sheer violence couched in her words. Xavier unknowingly rested a hand on the hilt of Vaeltheris, and the motions drew Lianna¡¯s eyes. Seeing his posture, her eyes narrowed dangerously, and a deep rumbling growl emanated from Frostclaw, who had come to his lady¡¯s side. Realizing what he had done, Xavier jerked his hand away from the blade and held both of his palms out in a placating gesture. Trying to ease the sudden tension between the party. Ella stepped closer now and held her own hands out to the irate Iskari and snow leopard. ¡°Lianna,¡± Ella whispered soothingly, ¡°we are not going to hurt you. Xavier wants to work with you and help both of our people. You have heard we have Animari in our village who are free and work and play right alongside everyone else. That is what Xavier wants to see more of. He has a hatred for slavery. Even though I am bound to him, he dislikes me calling him master.¡± ¡°Why do you call him that?¡± Lianna snapped. ¡°Your very words and actions make me trust him even less with what the elders have charged him with. You have been awfully secretive about your relationship with him. Do not think I have forgotten how conveniently you showed up at the raider camp. I know we did not leave any tracks or trails to follow. Forest runner obscures those.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly at that admission, and he looked back to the path they had been running, expecting to see some broken branches or at least disturbed earth and grass to mark their passage. Nothing however was out of place, the land and vegetation as pristine as it had been before their arrival. The skill, talent, whatever it was showed even more utility than he had previously recognized in it. It also made the gamer in him crave it more. Ella sighed and lowered her hands. ¡°Secrets can be damning, I agree, but these are not mine to share anymore. I am Xavier¡¯s as much as the blades he wields are. Someday, he might tell you the details, but trust me; I mean you, nor Verdantspire, nor any Animari in general harm. Xavier does not either.¡± Lianna calmed slightly, and Frostclaw stopped his growling. Though her stance remained tense she nodded slightly and turned to start walking south once more. She had not forgotten Xavier had questions and maintained a slower pace to allow for them. The other two quickly caught up to her but kept a slight separation from her so she didn¡¯t feel pressured. Xavier was the first one to speak while they walked. ¡°Lianna, what does it mean to be traveling companions? I get the feeling from the fact I got a notification about it when both you and Ella joined me that it is something more than just traveling together.¡± ¡°It means we have goals and wants that are in common. You could have hired me to go south to the costal cities of Drakkenport or Velanor and I would have traveled with you as a guide or guard. We would be traveling companions but not travel companions. We would just be traveling together not seeking a common goal. The world sometimes recognizes when people are aligned and gives them this distinction. We are both more and less than party members. I do not know more details than that as it is not a common thing. But you say you and Ella are companions as well?¡± Xavier shrugged slightly then nodded. ¡°We became companions early on. Long before she was bonded to me.¡± That question made him curious though. He had not checked that particular screen on his interface since the bonding. His eyes unfocused slightly, enough that he could see his UI and the path before him and selected the tab for companions. Both Ella and Lianna were listed there, and he could see some minor details about each including their classes, levels and stats. He still couldn¡¯t see their attributes or skills, but he assumed that was normal. ¡°Yes,¡± he confirmed, ¡°You both are on my companions tab.¡± Glancing to Ella he continued, ¡°see you are more than just my bonded. You are still my companion at the very least.¡± Ella rolled her eyes slightly; she already had known that since he was on her companions list as well. She had more details about the bond between them due to Vaeltheris but was not going to share them with others around to hear. Maybe she would get a chance to do so when they camped for the night. Something she decided to do when Lianna slept, and it was their turn to keep watch. Xavier broached the next topic carefully; he already knew how volatile it could be but needed to know so he could perhaps plan a better path. ¡°Is wearing that collar going to be an issue, Lianna? I don¡¯t want to force you to do it. It is obvious how much it bothers you.¡± The feline woman¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°I know you are an outsider, but surely you have had slavery where you are from.¡± She glanced at him, and he nodded sadly before she continued. ¡°It is not just a plain piece of metal. It is a bastardization of the collars used to control mages after the Magewar Reckoning. It does not just mark you as a slave it is enchanted to control the wearer based on what orders and limits are given when it is placed. It is why I had no freedom as a child. I have to trust that you will not put any restraints on me.¡± Her last words were whispered again, showing just how deeply she feared such an action. Unwittingly, she had revealed more information about the world Xavier had no clue about. What was the Magewar Reckoning and collars for controlling mages? Did that mean all mages were slaves as well? Wait, the mage from the raiders did have a collar on, one that he still had in his satchel. He fished into the bag and withdrew the dark metal ring. ¡°You got me this off of the raider who was a caster. Does that mean this is a slave collar?¡± Lianna did not recoil from this collar in the same fashion as she did from her old one. It could be the fact that she did not have the same emotional distress attached to it, but Xavier was certain there was more to it than just that. ¡°That is both true and untrue. A veyhn¡¯shaar is a slave collar in the fact that it controls and limits mages, but if you were to place it on the neck of anyone who could not wield magic, then it is just a metal ring. Few actually call them Veyhn¡¯shaar anymore, by the way, and simply refer to them as sealrings or voidbands. Drekh¡¯tar on the other hand, the slave collars, can affect anyone they are placed upon. They do not have the same capability of restricting magic as a sealring does but beyond that they are the same. I do not know why sealrings only work on mages, beyond my knowledge or even wanting to know.¡± She had calmed down somewhat while they continued to walk. Xavier wanted to keep her talking and keep her mind off wearing the collar eventually but felt the need to reassure her that he had no intention of restricting her with the collar, it was only part of her disguise to enable them to walk unhindered in the kingdom to the north. ¡°As I told the elders I will place no restrictions on you when or even if we go through with the disguise. It is to keep you safe in hostile lands, not control you. I want you to trust me as I am putting trust in you. Hopefully, my actions will prove that to you.¡± ¡°Time will tell human, time will tell. Come on we should run again. We are still almost two days away from your village even with my talent.¡± With that she took off running and the others raced to keep up with the fleetfooted ranger. The rest of the day passed with relative quiet. Frostclaw helped them avoid several larger beasts roaming the woods, a bear and a tall greenskinned humanoid with arms reaching to its knees to be specific. Dusk had fallen when they found a clearing to make camp in. As Ella and Lianna gathered wood for the fire Xavier was nearly giddy with excitement, he was going to get to use his new rune that he had learned from the raider camp. You have learned a new Rune ¨C Alarm
Attribute Details
Level 1
Rank 1
School Air (Zephira) & Life (Vitalora)
Casting TimeIf you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. 1 minute
Range 30 feet
Duration 8 hours
Components V, S, M (a small silver thread or engraved rune stone)
Effect Inscribes a protective rune in a 20-foot radius, alerting the caster when an unauthorized entity enters the area.
Alert Options Audible Alarm: A loud chime or ringing within the area.
Mental Ping: A silent alert to the caster (within 1 mile).
Rune Appearance Faint glowing glyphs, pulsing with soft sky-blue (Air) or golden-green (Life) energy.
Usage Commonly used for securing camps, doors, and hidden pathways against intruders.
He sat in the middle of the camp studying the information in his UI. Luckily, unlike the raiders, their camp was small, and the 20-foot radius would cover them all. He knew they would still keep a watch but this gave them an additional set of protection. It also explained the large number of silver strings that the mage had been carrying. He had thought it was an odd thing to carry around but that was before he knew about rune components. It seems his crafting skill had some very specific details. He paused and pursed his lips in thought. Does that mean the mage was a runecrafter as well? Or could all mages craft runes to some extent? Was his crafting just a redundant function of magic? He shook his head fiercely before going off down a rabbit hole he was unlikely to emerge from, especially since he knew next to nothing about runecrafting or magic and was just speculating on everything. As he focused on the rune in his UI he noticed a small glimmering translucent sigil take shape on the ground in front of his seated position. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he recognized the shape, it was the same one he had seen when he first found the rune. Instinctively he pulled out one of the silver strings and began laying it along the water¡­ no manamark on the ground. As he did so a series of words beyond even his talent for languages to translate fell from his lips. As the last of the string was laid in place it vanished and the sigil flashed briefly before fading to a soft golden-green glow, barely visible against the moss of the ground. He had done it, he had laid his first rune. ¡°May the world tremble!¡± He thought inwardly in enthusiasm. That was right about when the alarm set off, a loud clanging noise filling the clearing as the two women returned with their foraged supplies. Wincing and covering his ears, Xavier dismissed the rune amidst glares from the duo carrying firewood. ¡°May the world tremble¡­¡± he thought again forlornly. Where had he gone wrong? He looked back at the information on the rune and noticed it had options. Ones he had not acknowledged when he laid the first one. Sighing he tried again, there were subtle changes to the lines of the rune this time and soon he had another one in place, this one with a mental warning to him, soft chimes instead of a klaxon like call in general and excluding party members and their minions. Preparations in place the small party enjoyed a quiet meal of a crunchy bread, dried meat and some hard cheese. Nothing to write home about but filling and quite tasty actually. Soon they turned discussion to who would have what watch. Xavier ended up with first watch, Ella taking the interrupted sleep of midwatch and Lianna having the last one. Frostclaw would not actually be pulling a watch but aiding the party as a whole throughout the night. Plans in place Lianna moved to the otherside of the fire and curled up in her blankets next to Frostclaw. Ella and Xavier remained seated next to the fire quietly talking about what had happened after Xavier had left initially to explore what turned out to be the mine and then Xavier recounting what he had discovered so far in that place. He also remembered that it was not cleared completely, and they would need to return soon to explore it more fully. After a while of talking Ella looked over seeing the soft rise and fall of Lianna¡¯s breathing as she appeared to have finally fallen asleep. Neither of them had noticed that one of the Iskari¡¯s ears had been angled back towards them as the woman listened to everything they said. ¡°Ok, I think we are safe now. What do you mean you are Vaeltheris?¡± Xavier whispered in demand. ¡°That¡¯s kind of a big bombshell to be dropping on me out of the blue¡± Ella raised her eyebrows not understanding any of his euphemisms but answered the question she could. ¡°It is¡­ complicated. I am the sentience of the blade but not.¡± She half questioned herself. ¡°I told you the blade holds the collective consciousness of the last survivors of the Sylmyrian civilization. That gives it an awareness of sorts. About 20 or 30 years ago¡­ quite frankly I lost count, I woke up holding it. As the centuries passed Vaeltheris realized it was trapped and had no way out, so it eventually gave birth, I guess, to me. I share much with the blade, I know what it feels since it is an extension of me and I of it. We are two parts to a whole it seems. That is why when you bound the blade to your soul you tied me to you as well. It is also why I cannot wield it myself other than as a dagger in self-defense. Wherever you go with the blade I can follow, in times of duress I can manifest near the blade, like I did when you died.¡± Xavier stared at her in silence for a long while. Neither noticed the anxious flicking of Lianna¡¯s ear that was turned towards them. Finally, Xavier spoke softly. ¡°I can see why you kept this a secret. Is that what you meant by they were no longer your secrets? They¡¯re mine now aren¡¯t they?¡± Ella smiled softly and nodded. ¡°Yes Master. Now you have bonded my blade nothing can be kept from you. Aelriva told me of a prophecy before the fall of Sylmyria.¡± Her voice took on a sing-song tone as she remembered the words of the little sprite. ¡°When the heavens burn and the earth does sigh, A mark long forgotten shall pierce the sky. From the ruins of ages buried deep, A herald shall wake from an ancient sleep. Bound by chains yet fated to free, The weary, the lost, the enslaved, the plea. With shadow and flame their path shall blaze, Through trials of darkness and blinding haze. Balance calls from the fractured core, Where power slept in the times of yore. The gods shall waver, their thrones shall shake, As the chosen rises for justice''s sake. Beware the path of riddles and strife, For truth lies tangled with death and life. By will alone the course is set, For the marked one holds the cosmos'' debt. An ancient bond, a world to mend, The age-long cycles shall find their end. Through trial and fire, the chains shall break, And the gods'' dominion the earth shall quake." She finished and took a deep breath as she came back to the present. ¡°Aelriva and I believe that whoever bears the mark of the Syr¡¯Vailen is the one spoken of and who should bear Vaeltheris to restore the lost civilization.¡± Xavier sat quietly for a while after Ella stopped talking. That revelation further cemented his concern that he was not in control of himself, he was sure now that Danu was playing a longer game with him as a pawn. There was no way to know what choices were his own and what was actually foreseen. He grappled with this for several long minutes before he remembered something Danu had told him before he was restored to life. ¡®Fate is destined to happen, who fulfills that fate is unknown. If not, then someone else days or even centuries in the future could be the key. You make your choices and if they fulfill what is to be then you are the one.¡¯ At the time Xavier thought that was an awful like that Matrix movie with the whole ¡®There is no spoon¡± concept. Now, however, it was a rock he could cling to, he would make his own choices and see where the chips fell. The rest of Xavier¡¯s watch passed in silence, after their discussion Ella lay down near him in her own blankets and was soon deep in sleep. Frostclaw would raise his head and look at Xavier every so often then off into the forest but nothing besides the sounds of night animals and bats blended with the gentle noises of the wilds at night. After his time passed he gently shook Ella awake and moved to his own blankets to sleep. When Xavier awoke, he felt as if someone was watching him. Rubbing the night crust from his eyes he sat up and saw Lianna staring at him. After a few moments she looked away, staring at Ella instead. Xavier rolled up his things and moved to sit near the fire across from the Iskari. ¡°Something bothering you Lianna? You seem rather tense this morning,¡± He asked. While waiting for her answer he pulled over his pack and started digging out some hard tack and dried fruits for breakfast. ¡°I am fine,¡± came the curt reply. It was clear she wasn¡¯t, however, Xavier just attributed it to the same concerns from the day before. She was getting closer to having to wear the collar and the whole situation was setting her on edge. Finding the food he was looking for he pulled out enough for all three of them and then proceeded to nudge Ella awake. As she stirred and sat up he handed her a portion of the food before splitting the remaining between himself and Lianna. For her part Lianna went even more reclusive. In silence the trio finished breakfast and then stowed the little bit of their camp. Xavier, still proud of his second attempt at runecraft, dismissed the alarm rune and soon the party was on the run once again. Another mostly uneventful morning passed. The presence of, if not the guidance of Frostclaw helped them avoid conflict with the forest denizens. It seemed that the day would pass without any issues until around midday Lianna came to an abrupt halt and spun on the two. ¡°There is no way she is your sword! That is impossible. What else are you lying about? How did you fool the elders into trusting you?¡± Lianna erupted, her hands on her sword though not drawing it yet. Xavier¡¯s eyes widened and he back pedaled away from the angry ranger. Ella right at his side her hand resting on her bow, ready to pull it free if needed. Though the accusation made her cry out in fear at the secret being known and her master threatened and possibly killed before he could make a change. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xavier demanded in return. ¡°Have you lost your mind? I know the thought of the collar scares you but this is a new way to try and get out of it.¡± ¡°I heard you two talking last night,¡± Lianna snarled. Frostclaw once again moving to her side adding his own growls to her anger. ¡°I do not know what games you are playing at but I am not a fool, you must have tricked the elders despite the truth steam. Lured me out here to what actually enslave me and sell me to Ironhaven and gain favor?¡± ¡°For gods sake Lianna can you not grasp I don¡¯t mean you any ill will. I told you to go back to Verdantspire if this was too much for you. Why would I send you home if my goal was to enslave you?¡± He pulled out the woman¡¯s old collar and threw it on the ground. ¡°Take the gods be damned thing and throw it away. Its clear the plan of you going in disguise will not work. Ella and I will go to Ironhaven on our own and figure things out without you.¡± Ella, on the other hand, while the two were yelling at each other, had moved to Xavier¡¯s side and suddenly pulled Vaeltheris from its sheath. The sound of metal sliding free caused both Lianna and Xavier to stop and turn to face the young woman. A resolute look settled into Ella¡¯s features and she turned holding the blade flat across her palms in front of Lianna. ¡°You are Xavier¡¯s companion, just as I am. Though there is no bond between us or real reason for you to trust me this is the only way I can think of to prove to you that he is not lying about me at least. I am Ella Bree Vael. In the tongue of a long dead people Vael meant blade. I was born of this blade just as you were born of your mother. I am the maiden of the blade¡± As she spoke Vaeltheris began to glow softly, that glow spread into Ella¡¯s hands and partway up her arms before she turned tranlucent and appeared to be pulled into the blade before it clattered to the ground. Both Xavier and Lianna stared at the slowly dimming blade before Xavier rushed over to scoop it up from where it had fallen. He called out for Ella several times to no avail. Looking in horror at Lianna he was at a loss for what to do. The Iskari could only stare back in equal amounts of horror and surprise. The two searched the local area wondering if Ella might have tried to come back or had just teleported somewhere nearby. After ten minutes however there was a soft glow next to Xavier¡¯s side that slowly formed into the figure of the young woman. Sighing softly as if she had just finished with a huge burden Ella smiled weakly at the two. ¡°It is not easy for me to do that and takes time to get the energy to return. When I came to you from the village it was the sense of your death that provided me with the will and energy to come to you as fast as I did. I cannot die, as far as I know, I will always return to the blade, and it will take me longer to return. I am bound to Xavier as long at Vaeltheris is and that is bound to his soul.¡± Lianna looked from the woman to the man and back again. She had been so certain that the conversation she had overheard was just lies. All humans lied, even this one. She knew that to her core, but he had saved some of her people from the raiders. He had been respectful of her and her brother. He had died to save her people; she saw the mark of the Kael¡¯Sharyn appear on his chest. He was god-touched. If she was wrong about Ella and Vaeltheris, could she be wrong about him as well. Her turmoil only grew as fear and loathing that had dominated her childhood and youth battled with what was right before her and her hope for it to be true. In the end it proved too much for her and her eyes rolled back in her head as she collapsed to the ground unconscious. Chapter 7 - Decisions in Rynthavael As the Iskari collapsed towards the ground Xavier rushed forward and caught her guiding her down gently instead of letting her fall. Frostclaw surged forward, a deep threatening rumble in the great cat¡¯s chest, until he saw the human wasn¡¯t harming Lianna. Realizing the human was helping his lady, the cat¡¯s stance shifted, and he instead padded over to lay beside the unconscious woman. Xavier and Ella set about making a brief resting spot while they waited for Lianna to awaken. They broke out some of the hardtack and cheese they had picked up in Verdantspire and had a brief meal. They were just finishing their food when the Iskari woman started to shift and regain her consciousness. When Lianna fully awoke, she saw the two humans sitting nearby eating and watching her. As she sat up Xavier extended a hand with some of the travel bread. ¡°You should eat Lianna, we figured this was as good a time as any to rest. We can get moving once more after you are ready,¡± he stated simply. The feline woman took the food gratefully though still slightly warily. Her whole perception of the two had gone through a major upheaval and she still wasn¡¯t sure how she felt about them. Yes, she had a stronger relationship with Xavier, he could see that in his interface as could she, but at her core she still had deep-seated mistrust and hatred for humans, that now that she knew what she knew, couldn¡¯t really extend to these two. When Xavier looked back to her, he saw in her eyes both the wariness and a small glimmer of something new, hope. It was only a short while later they were back on the move towards Rynthavael, and the miles were eaten rapidly by the pace they could set with Lianna¡¯s talent. Even with that speed however it was not until late afternoon that they could see the first signs of the village rising above the forest. There was more smoke than either Ella or Xavier could remember, and a sudden twinge of panic was struck in both of them. Pressing harder, they managed to increase their speed just a little more and before the setting sun had touched the horizon, they came to the small hillock overlooking the settlement. To the relief of Xavier, the buildings were not on fire, but there was far more activity and buildings, both built and being built, than he had expected. When he had left there had only been just short of fifty individuals who called Rynthavael home. Now, from his vantage point, he was certain there were a lot more than that. From his side Ella spoke softly. ¡°It was not like this before we left. The air is different, heavier. There are more people down there and a sense of urgency that did not exist before.¡± Xavier nodded in agreement, and the trio started down the path from the top of the hill and into the village proper. As they walked Aelriva, the sprite tied to the Syr¡¯Vailen and in turn all of Xavier¡¯s lands, flashed into view at Xavier¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Tis good ye have returned, Ard''Maelor. Yet I bear grim tidings. It seems the Kingdom of Arenvalis stirs from its slumber, growing ever more fierce toward its neighbors. Refugees have been pouring in, seeking the haven of Bramblegate and the river¡¯s bounty from their docks. But upon finding the village in ruins, they turned their steps deep into the forest. Thy modest band of hunters and scouts have discovered them and brought them hither. Many linger still, their hearts buoyed by tales of thy deeds in Bramblegate, hopeful that ye might grant them shelter and protection in these troubled times." Xavier managed, barely, not to react in startlement at the sprite¡¯s sudden appearance and instead focused on her words while they walked. While it was good his village was growing, he needed people to fulfill the requirements for leveling the settlement, he had hoped to gain them in a more controlled and measured fashion. Refugees could bring all manner of issues if he remembered the news stories from back on Earth. Sighing at what could not be helped he resolved to make the most of the matter. ¡°How many new people do we have now Aelriva?¡± He queried of the small flyer, her ever changing nature still caused him a slight pause but it was becoming much more normal to him the longer he knew the diminutive sprite. ¡°Nearly a hundred souls have come to these lands, some journeying further down the river, seeking refuge in the south behind the protective embrace of forest and mountain, a desperate bid to escape the shadows of Arenvalis. Yet, sixty-eight have chosen to remain, their numbers comprising thirty-two humans, twelve dwarves, ten halflings, six gnomes, six Animari, and two Gan Ceann. By fortune¡¯s grace, one among these carries the vocation of Builder, whose skilled hands have swiftly advanced the work of crafting new homes for all who now call Rynthavael their sanctuary. Thus, our fledgling community grows ever stronger with each passing day." Came her reply. Xavier couldn¡¯t help but notice the emphasis on vocation. It was yet another distinction he had been unaware of in Arath. Turning his gaze upon the little sprite he paused a moment. ¡°Ok I am aware of archetypes and classes for gathering and crafting what is the importance of a vocation?¡± Aleriva smiled but her voice took on the air of instructor that he had heard from her before. ¡°Listen well Ard¡¯Maelor, the path of a vocation is not akin to the simple art of gathering or crafting, which are but the common archetypes and subclasses of trade. A vocation is a higher calling, a mark of true mastery and dedication. To be recognized in such a way, ye must reach a personal level of 15 so as to achieve ye subclass and hone thy skills to at least that of a mid-journeyman, or level 30 in the requisite arts. Only then may ye stand before the great capitals and major cities to be certified in your chosen vocation, unlocking talents and abilities far beyond the mundane. These specialized talents are what set thee apart, allowing thy craft to blossom into something extraordinary. So, take heed: if ye desire to wield true power in thy art, strive for the path of a vocation, for therein lies the promise of greatness." Xavier nodded as he listened, it was yet another aspect he would need to learn about when he had time but for now, he had questions about the import of a builder. ¡°Ok so crafting archetypes and subclasses give skills and abilities to individuals kind of like my Rune Engraver gave me the ability to channel and decipher runes. Didn¡¯t we already have a stonemason and carpenter who were building buildings however?¡± As he spoke, he remembered them mentioning they could build basic structures but as neither was a builder nor had blueprints they would be level 0 buildings. "Aye, behold the fruits of our labors. Orrik and Rhett have been busily organizing and building homes and shops throughout the village, yet it is Sorin Ravenna, the certified builder, whose skilled oversight quickens our work as if touched by magic. The other carpenters and stoneworkers have taken her lead, transforming the old builder''s hut into a proper workshop in but a short time. Now, cast thine eyes upon thy interface, and see for thyself: several grander buildings stand complete or nearly so, gathered around the sturdy stone edifice of Hearthstead Hall, which shall one day serve as the town hall of our burgeoning village. Meanwhile, frameworks for smaller structures rise near the forge, heralding the promise of further growth. Truly, the difference in progress under her guidance is as clear as day." Xavier did as Aleriva suggested and his eyes unfocused allowing the tabs for the village and subsequently for the village buildings to overlay his vision. He kept them mostly transparent so he could continue walking but was amazed at the changes just a couple days had made.
Building Name Building Quality Building HP Building Level Building Material Capacity
House 1 Above Average 300 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 2 Above Average 300 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 3 Well Crafted 350 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 4 Above Average 300 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 5 Above Average 300 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 6 Superb 400 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 7 Above Average 300 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
House 8 Well Crafted 350 1 Stone & Wood 1 Family
Lodge 1This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Well Crafted 600 1 Stone & Wood Up to 30 Individuals
Lodge 2 Superb 700 1 Stone & Wood Up to 30 Individuals
Workshop Above Average 500 1 Stone & Wood N/A
Tradesman¡¯s Shop 1 (Incomplete) Above Average 450 1 Stone & Wood N/A
Tradesman¡¯s Shop 2 (Incomplete) Above Average 450 1 Stone & Wood N/A
Tradesman¡¯s Shop 3 (Incomplete) Well Crafted 500 1 Stone & Wood N/A
Tradesman¡¯s Shop 4 (Incomplete) Above Average 450 1 Stone & Wood N/A
Tradesman¡¯s Shop 5 (Incomplete) Superb 600 1 Stone & Wood N/A
Hearthstead Hall (Incomplete) Well Crafted 1200 1 Quarried Stone N/A
Great Forge Superb 1500 1 Quarried Stone Up to 15 Individuals
The village truly was growing in leaps and bounds, Xavier couldn¡¯t help but remember how it was just a cluster of ruins mere weeks ago. That made him more determined to ensure that nothing would threaten his people. He closed the interface and spoke to Aleriva. ¡°Gather together Braegor, Orrek, Rhett, this new builder Sorin, Capitan Coren, and any others you think would be able to provide insight then bring them to the Syr¡¯Vailen. We need to discuss this threat from the north and how to stand against it.¡± Aelriva bobbed in the air once and vanished, Xavier continued into the village. He paused briefly as the dark sleek form of Valkra emerged from the brushes along his path and Lianna covered her mouth in shock before rushing forward to kneel near the shadowmane cub. She gushed over the beast and even Frostclaw padded forward touching noses and chuffing with the little one. Valkra for her part, reveled in the attention though she lowered her head and eventually rolled to expose her belly to the much larger snow leopard. The pause was not long and soon the trio were heading towards the hall once again, Valkra cradled in Lianna¡¯s arms as the woman cooed at the purring cat. In just a few minutes they had moved deeper into the warrens and were standing on the mosaic that made up the Syr¡¯Vailen. Lianna¡¯s eyes were moving everywhere taking in the details and differences between this ley line nexus than the one back at Verdantspire. She had had no idea something such as this was as close as it was, she also doubted that the elders knew about it either. It took about thirty minutes for Aelriva to notify everyone Xavier had wanted and for them to make their way to his location. Soon there was a low murmur of discussion in the chamber as other villagers had heard about the meeting and came to see what was going on. The rising threat from the north was in the back of everyone¡¯s mind since the arrival of the refugees and now, for at least the original villagers, their Lord had returned and it seemed he was going to determine what the village was going to do in light of the situation. ¡°You all know why I have gathered you here. Though you don¡¯t know the full details of what I know,¡± Xavier began. ¡°This is Lianna, a Warden of Verdantspire Haven. It is a large settlement of Animari to the north and one I am hoping to build an alliance with.¡± The cacophony of murmurs from the gathered villagers grew at that pronouncement though the key ones that he had called for by name merely nodded in agreement, they had long worked with Animari in Bramblegate and then in Rynthavael as well and saw no reason to not ally with a larger group of them. ¡°While I was away, I met with the Elders of Verdantspire and they tasked me to help rescue some of their people who had been taken by raiders, much like how I had found you in Bramblegate.¡± Xavier continued. A low rumble of angry voices and shouts of rage at the raiders filled the hall at that and Xavier had to hold up his hand to get them to quiet back down. ¡°Arenvalis won¡¯t stop with Verdantspire, if there are already refugees seeking shelter here, they will come for them as well. I have agreed to the High Speakers request to travel into the Wildlands and find out why the change has come to be. Why they are targeting Animari in specific but also those who live on their borders. We may be deeper in the woods, but we have no real defense besides our unknown location to prevent their aggression for now. This is a threat that must be dealt with before it becomes too late.¡± Several heads of the core advisors nodded to that, but it was clear there was some hesitation with others. Xavier looked to each of them in turn nodding for them to speak their minds. Coren was the first to speak up. The retired soldier turned Capitan of the Guard¡¯s voice was deep and measured, ¡°we need defenses m¡¯Lord. As you say, they do not know of us now but if they start ranging the woods it is only a matter of time.¡± He motioned to the builder Sorin. ¡°With her help we can establish fortifications around the village. Walls, trenches, and towers. Ways to protect our people and at least slow attackers. I will also take those who are willing and able to start training them in martial skills. We have enough people now that a proper guard can be established. There are even those from the refugees who were guards before. By your leave I will start organizing them after this meeting.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t disagree with his Capitan. He, after all, was the one who chose the man for the position and to doubt him now, especially, in front of all these people would undermine both of their standing. ¡°See that it is done, work with Braegor to get what supplies you need.¡± With that he turned his attention to the Gan Ceann blacksmith who he had tasked with maintaining the village in his absence. ¡°I know you want to just smith Braegor, but I need you to continue coordinating the village for a little while longer. I promise I will find someone to take the alderman position in full as soon as I can, but this cannot wait.¡± Braegor, his head held under his right arm, simply tilted his head up and down in agreement. ¡°As you wish Lord Vael, we have more smiths with the refugees and have started in earnest making tools as required for the village. We can shift the majority of those to outfitting the guards that Coren organizes with little difficulty; however, we will need more raw materials sooner rather than later.¡± Xavier smiled at that, ¡°well then, I have good news. I found a mine to the north only a two-day trek.¡± He pulled out his map, laying it on the floor to show them where the new resource was located. ¡°It is not fully explored however, do not go deeper than the doors at the end of the mine. There is a stone bridge beyond the doorway, and I was attacked by spiders after crossing it. The mine seems to be safe to utilize now though. Make sure the miners have a number of guards with them there and back and they should be safe.¡± The smith and guard captain saluted with a hand to their chest in acknowledgement and Xavier continued to look about the group. Amara, the same ranger who had helped him with his archery skills several days ago spoke up next. ¡°Can we count on others for help? We are still small and barely number in the 100s counting our children. If we are attacked, even by beasts while you are away, I am not confidant in our safety.¡± Again, Xavier was able to smile and reassure the people. ¡°Verdantspire has agreed to have some of their rangers patrol the woods around our village and help to keep the beasts down along with help to handle any potential attacks.¡± Lianna stepped forward at those words her demeanor tense in the crowd but still confidant in her people when she added, ¡°The elders will have several groups roving these woods. You can expect them to start making contact within a day or two. They would not have run here the way we did.¡± Once again it was Braegor and Coren who verbally acknowledged the information stating they would be watching for them and making sure they were not detained or unduly troubled when they arrived. Amara seemed relieved to hear that information as well though Xavier was sure he recognized a new interest in the woman¡¯s eye and the potential for training opportunities for his people. Xavier looked at his people with quiet resolve. Though wary they were united behind him. He had proven to them in the past he would do everything he could to protect and help them. Though, there were murmurs from some of the new arrivals in the crowd that they should avoid conflict and drawing attention from Arenvalis, Xavier was certain that would not be an option for long. ¡°So we build up our defenses, arm and train our people, and seek further alliance with Verdantspire, is there anything else we might be able to do?¡± Aelriva was the one to speak up at the end. "Aye, wake the next ley line. The power of earth doth restore the very defenses of Rynthavael. Ye have grown strong enough now to venture deeper into the Deeps and rekindle its ancient might. Yet mark me well: ye must first clear the first floor of the Deeps, for only then can ye descend further to where its hidden heart awaits." As she spoke a new notification appeared in Xaviers vision as one of his quests was updated and he was really beginning to enjoy the much more detailed notifications. He pondered the change to them as he read the message. "The path below has long been shrouded in silence, yet silence does not mean stillness. Beneath the sanctuary of your nexus mosaic, the Deeps have slumbered, untouched and unguarded for untold centuries. What has stirred in the dark during our absence? What secrets lie buried beneath the stone?" Quest Accepted: "Drums in the Deeps I ¨C The First Descent" The first level of the Deeps awaits, its halls echoing with the unknown. Though you have restored the Ley Lines found upon this level, it has been long since any foot has tread the rest of these paths, and in the absence of watchful eyes, others may have claimed them. To secure the foundation of Rynthavael, you must descend into the forgotten depths, uncover what lurks within, and reclaim it for the future of your settlement. Objective: Rewards: "Tread with caution, but do not falter, what sleeps beneath does not always sleep forever." He then opened his quest log and noticed that all of the quests had undergone the same detail update. He didn¡¯t have time to figure out what was the cause of that but instead sought out the quest he had received after waking the first two lines of elemental power. "The veins of the Syr¡¯Vailen slumber still, much of their power buried beneath the weight of ages. The nexus stirs, yet much remains untouched, dormant lines waiting to be woven once more into the fabric of the land. To awaken them is to breathe life anew into the heart of Rynthavael." Quest Accepted: "Sleeping Lines ¨C The Third Awakening" Beneath the mosaic, the slumbering Ley Lines whisper of forgotten potential. Though some have been restored, many remain untouched, their energy sealed away by time and neglect. To strengthen the nexus and Rynthavael¡¯s future, you must delve deeper into the Deeps, seeking out the buried threads of power and restoring their flow. Only by mastery of the Syr¡¯Vailen can this task be undertaken. Objective: Conditions: Rewards: "The world¡¯s pulse is waiting to quicken once more¡ªwill you be the one to awaken it?" Xavier thought over Aelriva¡¯s words quietly then indicated that the meeting was over. ¡°Thank you for the advice, everyone. Go and start on what we have discussed.¡± He focused on the new builder, ¡°I trust you can protect our people Sorin? If you are not up to the task speak now.¡± The builder, though not yet of sworn fealty to Rynthavael and Xavier saluted in the same manner she had seen the others do. ¡°I will see it done Lord Vael.¡± Then she hurried out of the chamber, her voice already ringing through the hall as she called out for different individuals to follow her to the workshop. After the chamber had cleared of villagers only Ella, Aelriva and Lianna remained, besides the two great cats. Xavier turned his gaze to Aelriva. ¡°Why are they all calling me Lord Vael? And the Ley Line quest says I need to be level 15 to wake the next Ley Line. I am not strong enough for that yet. I am only level 12.¡± She met his gaze, her usual mirth returning as a twinkle in her eyes. ¡°Aye, I may have told Braegor the meanin'' of the word ''Vael.'' As ye well ken, it meaneth ''blade,'' and now they see ye as that very blade, Ard''Maelor.¡± She gestures toward the soft glow of Vaeltheris. ¡°Twas he who first coined the name, and lo, it has taken root. Ye are a Lord now, Xavier, best accept that honor, for they recognize ye as such. And as for the Ley Line, ye shall be ready when ye chance upon it. I sense much work yet to be done ere ye can reach the Earthen heart." His gaze followed her motion to the blade, and after she said her piece, he locked eyes with her once again. ¡°Are we alone?¡± He queried. She paused her ever shifting orbs closing for but a moment before she opened them and nodded. ¡°You knew about Ella and the blade, didn¡¯t you? Even before she told me.¡± He stated knowing full well she had. Aelriva flew over to hover right before Xavier. She bowed deeply though her wings kept her steady before his face. When she met his eyes once again hers reflected the deep ancient knowledge of her position. "Aye, I knew it well. She and that blade are the very embodiment of what remains of the Sylmyrian folk. I have long discoursed with her, uncovering the truth of her nature ever since she awoke. I guard the Syr''Vailen, yet I am bound to the Ard''Maelor and the legacy of the Sylmyrians. And now, ye stand as the Ard''Maelor, the people," she said, gesturing once more toward the softly glowing blade then to the room in general, "they follow ye and shall guide ye if ye but heed their call. Trust in Ella and Vaeltheris, for within ye lies the power to become a steady, stabilizin'' force for Arath." At that moment Xavier felt the weight of fate upon his shoulders stronger than ever before. He remembered what Danu had said about fate and destiny and knew it wasn¡¯t a completely forgone conclusion but there was too much that seemed to be lining up driving him towards some cosmic goal. He only hoped he was strong enough to survive the journey and protect those who had come to depend upon him. Chapter 8 - Beneath the Stone The decision to descend into the Deeps and try and locate and potentially restore the Earth Ley Line left little time to do much more in the village if the trio wanted to get on the road towards Arenvalis before too much time had passed. They checked their gear and decided to take a brief detour to visit with the village healer and see if they had any additional herbs or hopefully potions to supplement the small amount of forest sage each one of them carried. Xavier led the two women through the warrens towards where he had last known the herbalists and healers to be working. Hoping they hadn¡¯t moved yet he was relieved to find them in the same room near the vault. Lila Fairbrook looked up from the alembic she was currently working with. Her tanned face held deep hazel eyes was framed by long auburn hair that was currently held in braids. She smiled warmly seeing who had entered the room. ¡°How can I help you, Lord Vael?¡± Xavier inwardly winced at the title again, he knew he needed to get used to it, but it was a major change. ¡°Lila, do you happen to have any herbs or potions to help with healing? We are going to follow Aelriva¡¯s recommendation and head into the Deeps and from what she was saying we want to make sure we are as prepared as possible.¡± The healer came from around her table and led them over to a small set of shelves near the back of the room. On it was several trays with a handful of potions. There were diminishing numbers as the vials got bigger and more ornate. Xavier breathed a momentary gasp as he had not yet seen actual healing potions in the world. He inspected a vial from each tray and was not disappointed with the work of the herbalists so far.
You have discovered: Simple Healing Potion x 11 Item Class: Common Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.5 kg Durability: N/A (Consumable) Description: A small glass vial containing a crimson-red liquid with a faint herbal scent. The potion is a basic yet effective remedy, used by adventurers and healers alike to mend minor wounds and restore vitality. Traits: - Gradual Restoration: Restores 15-25 HP over 10 seconds after consumption.
You have discovered: Greater Healing Potion x 8 Item Class: Uncommon Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.6 kg Durability: N/A (Consumable) Description: A deep crimson liquid with a faint golden shimmer, held in a reinforced glass vial. This potion provides stronger and quicker healing, making it a preferred choice for seasoned adventurers. Traits: - Enhanced Restoration: Restores 35-50 HP over 10 seconds after consumption. - Wound Sealing: Helps close minor wounds and slow moderate bleeding.
You have discovered: Superior Healing Potion x 2 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 0.7 kg Durability: N/A (Consumable) Description: A rich ruby-red potion with golden veins swirling through the liquid. The vial is reinforced with protective runes, preventing magical decay. This potion provides rapid and powerful healing, allowing warriors to recover from near-fatal wounds. Traits: - Advanced Regeneration: Restores 75-100 HP over 10 seconds after consumption. - Deep Wound Sealing: Closes moderate wounds, preventing excessive bleeding. - Minor Vitality Boost: Slightly enhances stamina recovery for a short period.
Xavier could really begin to appreciate the power of herbalism now. He had enjoyed the minor effects of chewing on herbs themselves, but it was a pale substitute for what a crafter could develop it seemed. He made note to speak with Lila when he got time to try and learn more about how to make the potions as well. ¡°These are perfect Lila; can we take all of these or are they needed for the villagers?¡± The woman had already moved back to where she was working and waved a hand towards where Xavier stood. ¡°They are yours Lord Vael. I am working on more of the Greater and Simple ones right now. We have the right essence crystal powder to make them. The two Superior ones were left over from Bramblegate and I do not have the components to make more of them.¡± She fixed him with a steady gaze. ¡°It would be helpful if we could establish trade or find another way to get essence crystal if you want to continue having potions and not just steeped tonics.¡± A new quest prompt formed in Xaviers vision "Magic is more than will and words, it is shaped, refined, and given form. Without the right materials, even the greatest of artisans are left grasping at shadows. Essence crystals are the key, yet they remain beyond our reach. Seek them, and the path to greater craft shall unfold." Quest Offered: "Crystalline Dust" The refinement of arcane craft in Rynthavael requires a steady source of raw essence crystals or essence crystal dust, rare materials vital for enchantment, alchemy, and other higher-level crafting. Whether through discovery or trade, securing these resources is the next step toward unlocking the settlement¡¯s true potential. Objective: Rewards: "The spark of creation lies not just in power, but in the hands that shape it. Find what is needed, and the forge of magic shall burn brighter." This quest offering was almost immediately followed by one marking it as complete, a fact that made Xavier grin in spite of the trials ahead. Through careful exploration, a Crystal Garden has been discovered¡ªan extremely rare ley line phenomenon where all eight elemental aspects have crystallized into a physical form. A significant quantity of these essence crystals has been successfully harvested, opening new paths for magical advancement within Rynthavael. Completion Outcomes: Rewards: He took a moment to quickly look through other notifications that had been minimized recently. It seemed that this was not the only quest he had received and completed at the same time. When Braegor mentioned needing access to more raw metal and he informed the smith of the mine he had found Xavier had received and completed one called ¡°Veins of the Earth¡± it was almost identical to the crystalline dust quest, but he had only received the base 1000 experience for that one. However, that was not the end of the good news. The experience from the two quests took Xavier over another threshold and he heard the blessed sounds of gaining another level. "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 13! The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny¡ªan exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 20% skill allocation to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love¡ªand let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!¡± Xavier moved over to an empty table and began pulling large shards of crystal out of his satchel. As he did so he opened the interface for the settlement and gave Lila access to the vault as well. Lila¡¯s eyes widened as more and more crystals of various colors came out of the bag at Xavier¡¯s waist. She nearly knocked the alembic over as she rushed over to examine them. Xavier smiled to her as he spoke, ¡°I have given you access to the village vault. Please see that these get deposited there and use what you need. I need to finish securing the garden but as you can see it is a large one.¡± He paused as he looked over the village UI briefly. ¡°Since you have sworn fealty, I have a request of you Lila. Would you become the village herbalist?¡± It took several long moments before the question registered with the almost overwhelmed woman. When she turned her gaze from the crystals back to Xavier the realization registered in her eyes, and she quickly took a knee before him. ¡°Yes Lord Vael! I would be honored to serve in this role.¡± Xavier focused on the village interface and selected Lila as the herbalist from the dropdown menu. He had now found 2 of the 6 roles available to him at the settlements current level. He knew of several others he would like to fill roles but needed to find a chance to talk with them still. Dismissing the interface, he offered a hand to the kneeling woman and helped her to her feet. She was positively glowing with joy and the rest of the herbalists in the room all gathered around to congratulate her. Using the distraction as a chance to leave the trio and pair of cats quickly made their way back through the warrens to the mosaic that made up the Syr¡¯Vailen and the gateway that led to the Deeps. Xavier took a moment to pause and admire the mosaic and the changes that had happened when he last woke Ley Lines. The tiles that made up the Life and Death representations were still vivid and radiated with vibrant energy. He could not help but glance at the tiles representing earth and wonder at what it would look like and the abilities it would give him. Ella coughed softly pulling Xavier from his momentary distraction. He looked at the two women sheepishly then turned his gaze on Lianna. ¡°I know you were charged by the elders to accompany me to Arevalis, what I do now is for my people. I cannot leave them defenseless when I poke the beehive of that kingdom. You don¡¯t have to accompany us into the deeps. Last time we traveled there and awoke a ley line it nearly killed Ella and nearly broke my mind. It would be unfair of me to expect you to just follow us blindly into such danger.¡± Lianna studied the humans standing before her. Her emerald orbs shifting back and forth between a known outsider and the conundrum that was a sentient blade given human form. She couldn¡¯t deny that even now part of her wanted to abandon the charge of the Elders. Xavier had given her an out back in the woods, she still had the collar tucked in her bag from where she had picked it up off the forest floor. Inwardly she recoiled at that remembrance and quickly shifted her thoughts away from the accursed object. The lordling intrigued her, she couldn¡¯t deny that either. Something about him, his actions, and his presence however made her want to learn more. There was something magnetic to his aura and she was drawn to it a surely as a moth to a flame. Deep in the depths of her being she knew she could not abandon him, not until she knew more about this unique man from another world. She shook her head slowly and met Xavier¡¯s steady gaze with her own unwavering resolve. ¡°We are traveling companions Xavier, that means if I can then I will follow you wherever you go.¡± Xavier smiled, relieved that the powerful ranger would accompany them into the dangers below before taking a deep breath and moving resolutely through the portal and down the stairs to the Deeps. It was a short while before they exited the stairs into the entry hall that Xavier remembered from before. The two paths leading off to the crypt and the garden were just as they had last been, as was the large Ouroboros on the back wall, what had changed however is one of the archways, near the ouroboros, was no longer just solid stone, it was now open and revealing a new pathway. Taking that as an indication of which way they needed to go Xavier led the way both swords in hand. Ella followed right behind him, her bow at the ready but with a torch in hand to illuminate the passages. Frostclaw and Valkra padded along beside one and other next the dichotomy of the large white snow leopard walking next to the small ebon shadowmane panther cub would have been funny in different setting, but both had an aura of danger about them as they prowled forward. Lianna brought up the rear of the group, like Ella she had a bow in hand, but she also was cataloging everything she saw, her loyalty was still to Verdantspire even if this young lordling and his village were potential allies. Similar to when they had sought out the Life Ley Line the passage was initially the stone worked passage which gave way to rough stone caverns. As they traversed these passages though they started noticing slight tremors, the ground would shake underfoot, and small rivulets of dust and gravel would fall from the ceiling and clatter across the ground. This coupled with the tons of rock and earth overhead grated on the nerves and poise of the group as they traveled. Sweat slicked clothing and gave purchase to falling dust leaving them all feeling grimy and gritty. Even the two beasts were starting to growl at each other in the narrow confines. They all took an audible sigh of relief when the passageway walls suddenly disappeared, and a large cavern opened up before them. Coming to the end of the passage they looked out over the new terrain noting how it appeared partially collapsed. Rock formations littered the floor intermixed with small crystalline growths. Stalactites and stalagmites covered the floor and ceiling however it was obvious that numerous ones had broken off and collapsed accounting for at least some of the piles of broken stone. The light was not enough to see across the chamber fully, but they noticed a number of tunnel entrances at different heights and angles in the walls that they could see. Xavier sheathed his emberstone shortsword and lit another torch off the one held by Ella. This cast additional lights and shadows in the cavern. With the additional light he took a step down the incline before him into the chamber. The floor roughly evened out after a short decent and the party slowly moved deeper in, about twenty feet into the chamber the ground trembled ominously, the ground vibrating beneath their feet and they heard crashing sounds of several stalactites collapsing in the dark recesses of the cavern. They stopped walking spreading out to maintain balance and not run into one and other. As the tremors ceased, they looked at one and other then up to the dangerous daggers of stone hanging overhead and shuddered at the potential for sudden death from above if another tremor struck. They waited for nearly a minute to ensure no more tremors struck before the started moving again, Xavier had only taken two steps when the ground just to his left erupted in an explosion of stone and dirt. Yelling he covered his face with his arms managing to prevent the larger stones from striking him senseless. Ella had not been so lucky however and fragment of a stalagmite had knocked her to the ground sending her torch spluttering across the ground. Both cats had the wherewithal to avoid the clattering stone without injury and moved around whatever was causing the disturbance. Lianna was able to hop back out of the debris as well her bow instantly coming up to the ready, an arrow nocked and pulled until she could see what was lurking within the dust cloud. The dust settled as a screech of stone on stone filled the cave, and the very ground beneath the party¡¯s feet rumbling as what was hidden within came into view. An enormous serpentine body was slowly revealed by the settling cloud, it was covered in stone-like scales that glistened with embedded mineral veins. As the beast¡¯s head oriented on the group its four ember-like eyes burned with a predatory intensity. Powerful clawed limbs pulled its body free from the ground and it coiled hungrily before them. A guttural roar, sounding more like stones grinding together that something coming from a living throat, reverberated through the cavern once again shaking the dangerous poniard like protrusions hanging above and the beast reared back as if a snake preparing to strike. Xavier quickly spent the mana to trigger insight.
Name: Stone Scaled Wyrm Disposition: Ravenous
The Stone-Scaled Wyrm is a titanic burrowing predator, its body covered in jagged, rock-like scales that grant it incredible durability. Reaching up to 30 feet in length, it moves through stone as effortlessly as a fish through water, using its clawed forelimbs and serpentine body to maneuver. Its four ember-like eyes glow with an eerie intensity, detecting vibrations deep within the earth. Its serrated maw is lined with crushing teeth capable of pulverizing even the sturdiest armor. When it moves, the very ground trembles, warning of its presence moments before it erupts from below to ambush prey.
Health: 310/310 Stamina: 200/200 Mana: 0/0
The thing was a horror! Xavier only had time to quickly note the creatures¡¯ stats before it lashed out. Its head lunging forward, wicked teeth flashing towards him as he tried to backpedal out of its way. Only luck, if one could actually call it that, kept the monstrosities teeth from closing over Xaviers entire upper body as he tripped backwards over one of the broken piles of stone. That did not prevent one of the clawed limbs from scraping over his new leather armor and leaving deep furrows in the toughened material. That sudden movement shook the rest of the party out of their momentary stupor and all of them surged to motion. Ella scrambled along the stone floor to recover her bow and rose to a knee smoothly drawing and loosing several arrows, each one shattered on the stone scales of the serpentine beast leaving nothing but scratches and small stone chips. With yowls of anger both Frostclaw and Valkra lunged at the monster darting nimbly through lashing legs and Frostclaw narrowly ducking the lashing tail. Sadly, their attacks only had the minimal effect of drawing the creatures attention away from Xavier who was rolling to his feet, glad to not have the snapping jaws in his face any longer. Lianna on the other hand, had noticed the limited impact of Ella¡¯s arrows and took a slightly different approach. Aiming her bow towards the ceiling she sighted on one of the stalactites over the beast¡¯s body and loosed her arrow. With a sharp crack it struck the stone projectile and caused it to snap and plunge down towards the ground. Its length, compounded by the weight of its stony composition caused the point to slam into one of the scales, cracking it and driving into the soft flesh beneath. This drew another roar from the wyrm, one that not only shook the earth but released a shockwave of energy that momentarily stunned Xavier and the two cats as they were within its 10¡¯ range. More of the sharp protrusions overhead shook free and careened to the ground narrowly missing the two women as they darted out from under them. Frostclaw was not so lucky, in his stunned state one of the plummeting stalactites struck the great cat a glancing blow to the shoulder digging a deep furrow through his fur and knocking him to the ground. The wyrm lunged at the prone feline, its jaws closing fiercely over Frostclaws torso leaving bloody wounds in the pale fur. Yowling in pain as the attack shook the stunned debuff from it the cat immediately began to writhe and claw at the monster¡¯s head. Long claws dug furrows through one set of the beast eyes causing it to recoil in pain and release the cat who dashed back out of range limping slightly from the shoulder wound but still growling aggressively. Lianna, seeing her longtime companion in the wyrm¡¯s jaws uttered a string of profanity in Avara, the Animari language, so fast and intense that Xavier¡¯s ability to understand couldn¡¯t keep up. He didn¡¯t need to know the exact words to understand the meaning behind them though. Her bow snapped again and again in quick motion. Several more stone daggers plunging from the top of the cavern towards the wyrm. Unfortunately, in its movements the projectiles missed and only crashed to the stone floor creating more debris to clutter the battleground. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Xavier, now having shook off his own stunned effect, lunged forward with Vaeltheris. The softly glowing blade¡¯s edge shimmered slightly as it struck the scales of the beast and cut clean through them and deep into the wyrm¡¯s flank drawing a geyser of greyish blue blood and a whiplike crack of the monster¡¯s tail. The appendage slammed into Xavier once again knocking him from his feet as he was left sprawled on the ground. Ella ground her teeth in frustration, she knew her bow was not strong enough to shatter stalactites like Lianna¡¯s was. The fact her arrows had done nothing to the scales of the beast was not lost on her either. Still, she strung and drew another arrow to her cheek as she searched the beast for some sort of weak point. When she spotted the shattered scale on the creatures back from Lianna¡¯s earlier attack she knew she had found her target. Waiting until the monster paused a moment in its gyrations, she released the string, and the arrow flew true sinking nearly to the fletching, due to the close proximity, into the soft muscle that was now fully exposed. They wyrm roared again in pain, something it hadn¡¯t felt in decades due to its almost impossibly strong armor and dove beneath the stone floor a moment later. Several long moments passed as the companions and their beasts recovered their footing but otherwise remained still, searching for some sort of indication where the wyrm might erupt from next. After nothing happened for a short while Ella took a step towards Xavier to check on him and was launched into the air as the wyrm burst forth beneath her. The strike caused her not only to be launched from the ground but knocked the bow from her hands once again. She twisted and just barely missed being trapped between the beast¡¯s jaws like Frostclaw had been but took several long gashes down her ribs, eliciting a scream of pain as she did so. Xavier rushed forward, Vaeltheris once again darting into the wyrm¡¯s body and sinking to the very hilt at the base of its head. The enchanted blade missing the spine of the beast but still striking a critical hit. The monstrous creature recoiled and drug Xavier along with it as it moved. His body dangling from where he clung to the hilt of his weapon, along the beasts neck. More of the grey blue blood poured down his arm and into his eyes momentarily blinding him as the viscous fluid stuck to his face. Planting his feet on the side of the beast¡¯s neck, Xavier ripped the blade free and took a large part of flesh and stone scales with it. As wyrm succumbed to its wounds, its massive body trembled, sending deep, shuddering vibrations through the ground as it slowly collapsed to the earth, Xavier riding the wild undulations down. A low, guttural rumble built from within its core, like the grinding of boulders deep within the earth, resonating through the cavern walls. Its ember-like eyes flickered, their glow fading as its strength waned. Then, with a final, haunting bellow, a sound like distant thunder mixed with the crumbling of collapsing stone erupted from its maw and echoed through the tunnels. The sound fractured into a harsh, rasping exhale, a slow, drawn-out groan of shifting rock and deep, guttural cracks, before ending in a final, sharp crack, as if the earth itself had split apart. The silence that followed was heavy, filled only with the settling dust and the faint echoes of its last, seismic breath. The group remained tense, Xavier still standing atop the monster¡¯s body, wary of any others that might burst forth. Carefully they relaxed their stances not hearing or feeling anymore tremors in the ground. They took careful stock of their situation, Lianna and surprisingly Valkra, were the only two completely uninjured. Xavier slid of the corpse and made his way over to Ella while Frostclaw did the same towards Lianna. Three of their limited supply of potions were unstopped and consumed slowly restoring vitality to the injured and leaving them anxiously wary of what else the floor might contain. Ding! You have slain a level 15 Stone Scale Wyrm +7200 Experience. The experience for just one creature was massive, it was not enough to help Xavier into the next level, but he was only 2735 points away from level 14. Before moving on they took time to examine the beast¡¯s corpse. And while it took time, effort, and the magical nature of Vaeltheris to cut away the scales and hide they were not disappointed in the haul.
You have discovered: Stone-Scaled Plates x 9 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 4.5 kg per plate Durability: 100/100 Description: Large, jagged plates of mineral-infused chitin, harder than steel and exceptionally resilient. These plates retain the wyrm¡¯s natural durability, making them ideal for forging high-quality armor and shields. Uses: - Armor Crafting: Can be used to forge heavy armor that grants resistance to bludgeoning and fire damage. - Shield Reinforcement: A properly forged shield with these scales grants a +1 defense bonus and an earth-based reaction ability to absorb impact.
You have discovered: Tremor Core Item Class: Very Rare Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 2.3 kg Durability: 95/100 Description: A dense, pulsating gemstone found at the wyrm¡¯s heart, brimming with seismic energy. It glows faintly with residual ley-line power and reacts to vibrations and movement. Uses: - Earth Enchantment: Can be embedded into weapons to add earthquake-like impact effects or seismic shockwaves. - Alchemy & Spellcrafting: Used in the creation of earth-based spells, explosive runes, or shockwave grenades.
You have discovered: Wyrm¡¯s Fang x 2 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 1.8 kg per fang Durability: 100/100 Description: Serrated, adamantine-like fangs capable of puncturing even enchanted armor. These fangs harden over time, increasing their natural piercing power. Uses: - Weapon Forging: Can be reforged into a greatsword, war pick, or polearm with armor-piercing properties. - Alchemy: Ground into powder, it can be used to create potions that enhance physical resistance.
You have discovered: Hardened Wyrm Hide x 3 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 2.5 kg per strip Durability: 90/100 Description: The wyrm¡¯s inner hide, beneath its stone scales, is a dense, flexible material that resists heat and pressure. It retains trace seismic energy, making it ideal for specialized crafting. Uses: - Lightweight Armor Crafting: Can be used to craft light or medium armor that grants tremor-sense within a short range. - Alchemical Uses: When infused with magic, it can be used to create earth-resistant cloaks or belts that enhance physical fortitude.
You have discovered: Echoing Heartstone Item Class: Very Rare Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 0.9 kg Durability: 95/100 Description: A rare, mystical gem formed from the wyrm¡¯s lifeblood, solidifying into a core of residual sound and force magic. It radiates a low, harmonic hum, responding to vibrations and pressure. Uses: - Shockwave Enchantment: Can be mounted onto a shield or weapon, allowing it to emit shockwaves when struck. - Tremor-Sense Attunement: If attuned, it grants the wielder a temporary tremor-sense effect when pressed to the ground.
Xavier had never been so glad that he dedicated more time to his lore reading. Where before when he would pick up items of higher quality or rarer nature, he would be left to wonder what they were used for unless Aelriva was nearby to help identify them. Now, however, he was able to make out each of these items. It left him wondering if there was more that he could gleen if he knew more lore and history however, something he would be seeing to changing nightly if possible. As the trio rose from the grisly task of dismembering the dead beast, covered in the viscous grey blue blood and other viscera they all grimaced looking at one and other. After a slight debate they agreed to head to the garden and its pools of water to clean at least the worst of the grime off before continuing deeper into the tunnels. A short trip back and return later, the trio along with the two cats were much cleaner and happier, also aware they needed to come explore the gardens more fully as there were some significant changes that had happened since the Life Core had been awakened. Standing in the cavern with the corpse of the wyrm once again they looked at the various tunnel entrances in consideration. Most of them were roughly the size of the beast and it made sense that they were likely its doing and not the way deeper, at the back of the cavern though was another larger passageway that led roughly down and towards the left, its interior soon obscured as it turned further around the bend. Roughly certain that this was the passage they were looking for they started to descend it as well using the same formation they had to begin with. Xavier only held Vaeltheris and a torch this time instead of both blades. He would not be caught off guard as with the wyrm. The floor of the tunnel maintained a slow descent, it twisted back and forth and sometimes seemed to loop around itself as they went, soon they had lost all sense of direction in the twisting tunnel and were only thankful that it had not had branches off to lead them astray. That soon changed however, as the passageway leveled out it started to branch and fork. A single tunnel leading off into the gloom on the right, a forked division splitting the path in front, several openings to the left, and so forth. The place had become a damn labyrinth in their descent. In an effort to make sure they could make their way back every time they chose a passageway to follow, they etched a sigil, something that would not be confused as random markings, into the stone next to the entrance or division that they followed. Hours passed as they found dead ends, loop backs and collapsed tunnels. Xavier could see from his interface that, counting the fight with the wyrm, they had been underground exploring for the better part of eight hours. They were footsore and exhausted by the time they found another semicircular chamber. The chamber was vast and crumbling, once grand seemingly dwarven architecture was now marred by time and destruction. The air was thick with dust and the acrid scent of decay, while flickering crystalline sconces still cast uneven light across the cavernous space. Massive stone pillars, some still standing but cracked, others reduced to rubble, hinted at the room¡¯s former majesty. The walls, where still intact, were adorned with ancient reliefs of miners and craftsmen, though they bore deep scars, some from seismic shifts, others from corrosive forces that have melted through the stone. Jagged fissures snaked along the ceiling, occasionally releasing loose pebbles and dust, while fractured archways lead into unknown depths. Pools of stagnant water glistened in the dim light, their surfaces marred by a faint, iridescent sheen, and sections of the floor had crumbled into uneven pits, revealing buried pathways and forgotten tunnels beneath. The entire sanctum felt heavy with the weight of history, a place where the echoes of the past still linger, whispering of both triumph and catastrophe. The numerous tunnels immediately left the group wary of another wyrm attack. They gripped their weapons tighter and moved slowly into the chamber, heading towards a larger collection of intact pillars and what appeared to be stone benches gathered around them. The chamber reminded Xavier of some of the smaller chambers he had found in the mine, rooms for miners to rest and relax when not returning home between work shifts. It also gave Xavier hope that they might have found a mine closer to Rynthavael. The pools that littered the floor drew their attention due to the sheen, but the soft hiss when Xavier stepped in one made revealed their acidic nature further explaining some of the damage to the walls. They deliberately skirted the remaining pools as they finally made it to the benches. They settled upon the hard stone grateful for a chance to rest, leaning back against the intact pillars they remained wary but tried to rest for the time being. As they rested the torches slowly sputtered out leaving the chamber lit by the dim sconces, this worked out well as it allowed their eyes to adjust to the soft light and extended the range they could see beyond the pool of flickering torchlight. Taking turns, they set a guard rotation and gave way to wary sleep. The semi-regular sound of stone and earth shifting and falling in the tunnels left whoever was awake and on guard tense and jumping at shadows. The rest was not fulfilling, though it did allow them to recover somewhat. However, during the third watch, Lianna¡¯s watch, that the tenuous peace was broken. It started with a slowly increasing scraping noise, that sounded like something being drug across the stone, coming from several of the tunnels. Startled, Lianna sat up from where she had been trying to relax during her watch and strained her ears. The scraping noise soon was accompanied by a soft odd clicking noise that seemed to call and reply from first one passageway then another. Lianna shook her head in confusion as she tried to piece together what was happening. It was not long before a pungent, stomach-churning stench wafted out of several of the tunnels, specifically those where the clicking noises were louder. The smell was a sickly combination of rotting flesh, scorched minerals, and acrid bile. The air of the chamber grew thick with the burning tang of acid, sharp enough to sting the nostrils and leave an unpleasant metallic taste on the tongue. Beneath the acidic bite, there was a cloying, fungal musk, as if something was decaying from within, and exuding a damp, moldy scent that clung to everything it touches. Lianna¡¯s ears, just like the two felines, flattened to the side of her head as her own growl added to theirs. She moved carefully, eyes shifting from one tunnel to another as she nudged Xavier and Ella awake. Both recoiled as they came to consciousness and caught the smell as well, though their senses being less than Lianna¡¯s they were luckily less impacted by it. They all gathered closer together, backs to one another as they moved to prevent any surprise. Thus, they were not caught flatfooted when from the jagged tunnels, twisted forms burst forth in a frenzy of snapping mandibles and clattering limbs, their grotesque bodies writhing unnaturally as they forced their way into the open. What seemed to be once-smooth chitin now appeared cracked and ruptured, all the while leaking sickly, luminescent bile that hissed and smoked upon contact with stone. The acidic puddles now made more sense. Multi-faceted eyes pulsed with an eerie, spectral glow, each flickered as though something unnatural was festering behind them. Each movement was accompanied by the brittle grinding of fractured exoskeletons, their warped frames pulsing with an unnatural hunger. Jagged mandibles, slick with bubbling acid, snaped wildly at the air, strands of venom stretching between them as they prepared to strike. Their mangled legs, half-melted and malformed, twitched and spasmed, propelling them forward with an unsettling, erratic gait, as though their bodies are no longer fully able to obey the laws of nature. Xavier triggered insight and suddenly knew what the creatures were and his stomach flipped in apprehension.
Name: Corrupted Ankheg Disposition: Frenzied
The Corrupted Ankheg is a grotesque, twisted aberration, it¡¯s cracked chitin leaking glowing, acidic bile that sizzles against the ground. It¡¯s mandibles, jagged and malformed, drip with corrosive saliva, while its spectral, flickering eyes radiate an unnatural hunger. Moving in erratic, spasmodic bursts, it lurches forward with brittle, splintering movements, its warped body seemingly fighting against itself. The air around it is thick with the stench of decay and acid, a foul omen of its relentless, mindless aggression.
Health: 180/180 Stamina: 140/140 Mana: 0/0
Two were initially visible, one bursting out of the tunnel near Lianna, its pincers spreading as a hissing green spray of fluid shot from its head causing her to twist away trying to avoid being struck by what was obviously an acidic spray this motion was almost mirrored by the second one emerging near Xavier and unleashing its own spray. Xavier was not as nimble as the Iskari, however, and the fluid coated his shoulder and empty hand immediately causing the flesh and leather to burn and hiss, open wounds forming from the sudden damage and eliciting a yelp of pain as he tried to scrub the fluid from his flesh on the rock of the closest pillar. The brutal suddenness of these two pulled the attention of Ella who moved to assist Xavier only to have the ground crumble beneath her as another exploded upwards out of the ground, its jagged mandibles closing around her ankle in a brutal bite, acid already starting to eat away at the leather of the woman¡¯s boot as she screamed and tried to drive the arrow in her hand into the head of the creature to make it release her. Frostclaw was the best prepared of the group for the suddenness of the attack. He had crouched in anticipation of the noise closest to him and pounced on the ankheg that surged out of the floor tunnel as soon as it came into view. Yowling at the pain of the acid the large cat did not release its hold on the monstrous bug, instead his great jaws closed over the cracked carapace of its shoulder causing further crunching as the pieces continued to shatter beneath the bite. Valkra, even as a cub moved with the inherent grace and stealth of her kind, crept up and pounced on the back of the one biting Ella, the shadowmane¡¯s teeth found purchase on the back of the creature¡¯s neck though her jaws were not strong enough to break the carapace like Frostclaw could. Instead, her bifurcated tail with its long stingers whipped forward and sunk into the cracks injecting the paralyzing venom into the creature causing it to freeze up and allowing Ella to wriggle her ankle out of the pincers that had been holding her. The melee devolved into a chaotic scrum as each ankheg was a significant threat to be dealt with. Lianna pulled her sword and circled the hissing creature who had targeted her initially. Frostclaw continued savaging the bug beneath his great weight, each bite and rake of claws eliciting a renewed spay of acid that slowly was dissolving the cat¡¯s fur and flesh though not deterring its resolve. Xavier, gritting his teeth in the pain of the flesh of his hand melting struggled to pull his second sword and return the attack to his foe. Ella and Valkra worked in tandem, now that Ella was free, though her boot was slowly dissolving still from the remaining acid. The duo was still able to keep the creature off kilter though it still attacked with near mindless abandon. Xavier was having the most trouble, the pain from his hand distracted him and decreased his capability to fight. Still, he was able to mostly avoid further acid splashing across his body as he struck out cracking chitin and cutting the creature. Back and forth the two flowed, the mindless aggression of the ankheg matched by the relentless resolve of Xavier¡¯s goal to survive. This continued until mostly through luck Xavier was able to drive the point of Vaeltheris into the creature¡¯s multifaceted eye and brought his emberstone shortsword hard against the spindly neck severing the head from the body. The heat of the blade cauterized the neck though, preventing the sudden spout of acid that would have showered over the exhausted human. Heaving a gasping breath, he turned intending to aid his companions only to find that each of them, though burned and injured as well, had been able to deal with their own rivals. The cavern grew silent once more, only the gasping breaths and hissing of slowly dissolving stone. Xavier collapsed to the stone roughly his legs going out from underneath him in painful collapse. Ella and Lianna mirrored his motion as Frostclaw nearly crawled to Lianna. Valkra padded silently over to Xavier nuzzling into his side, her sleek, midnight-black fur warping the light around her, making her presence almost imperceptible as she moved. Xavier could only marvel at the dangerous little feline and imagine how much more deadly she would be as she grew. He gently ran his hand over her soft coat searching for critical injuries. Ding! Your party has slain 4 Corrupted Ankhegs +6300 Experience. That notification was immediately followed by the celebration sounds of another level as the voice sounded in his mind accompanying the usual prompt. "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 14! The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny¡ªan exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). (Total of 12 points remaining to distriubute) Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 20% skill allocation (Total of 40% remaining) to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love¡ªand let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!¡± Further potions were imbibed as they sought to recover from the perils of the insectoid attack. Xavier laid a hand gently on Frostclaw and focused on the one life spell he knew. Words of power filled his mind and slipped from his lips, his free hand contorted through several somatic gestures before golden light suffused his other hand and poured into the cat¡¯s body, closing wounds and restoring his hit points. He repeated the action several times, mostly restoring Frostclaw to full health. ¡°Do we try and rest again or continue deeper?¡± Xavier posed the question to the other two. Lianna shook her head, and Ella pursed her lips in consideration before answering. ¡°I do not think we should stay here, there is no way to know how many more of those,¡± she shuddered, ¡°things remain in these passages. I say we loot them and press on; the sooner we clear this floor the sooner it is safe to traverse once again.¡± Xavier, finding no reason to argue, moved towards the bodies and began carefully moving them carefully to avoid any acid that poured forth with the motion. Ella and Lianna joined him and soon they had another collection of parts carved from the beasts.
You have discovered: Corrupted Chitin x 18 Item Class: Uncommon Item Quality: Above Average Weight: 3.5 kg per piece Durability: 80/100 Description: Dark, warped, and semi-melted, this chitin has absorbed the Ankheg¡¯s unnatural energy. The surface is twisted and uneven, giving off a faint acidic aura. Though its resilience is comparable to hardened leather, prolonged use may cause strange side effects. Uses: - Acid-Resistant Armor Crafting: Can be reforged into armor that grants acid resistance, though extended wear may lead to unpredictable mutations. - Cursed Shield Forging: Infused by a skilled enchanter, it could be turned into a shield that absorbs damage at the cost of the wielder¡¯s vitality.
You have discovered: Acid Gland x 4 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 1.2 kg per gland Durability: N/A (Organic) Description: A swollen, pulsing sac filled with highly corrosive bile. The gland writhes slightly, as if it still holds a lingering life force. The acid within is potent enough to melt metal, making it a highly valuable resource for alchemy and weapon enhancements. Uses: - Alchemy: Can be distilled into Acid Potions or weapon coatings, dealing 5-10 acid damage per hit for 1 hour. - Traps & Warfare: Can be thrown as an acid bomb (30 ft. range, 15 - 18 acid damage in a 10 ft. radius).
You have discovered: Warped Mandibles x 5 Item Class: Uncommon Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 2.8 kg per mandible Durability: 90/100 Description: Serrated, jagged, and partially melted, these mandibles still carry traces of mutagenic corruption. Despite their twisted appearance, they remain razor-sharp and can be reforged into deadly weapons. Uses: - Weapon Forging: Can be reforged into a blade or clawed weapon that deals bonus acid damage. - Armor-Piercing Enhancement: Blacksmiths can use these mandibles to reinforce weapons, increasing their penetration against armored foes.
The items joined those of the wyrm in Xavier¡¯s satchel. The deliberate care they took ensured they stayed much less coated in detritus than previously. After a short deliberation they decided to move towards the most downward tunnel, knowing that their ultimate destination was a supposed stairway that would lead down to the next actual level of the Deeps. Chapter 9 - The Hunger that Waits Below The tunnel leading away from the dwarven chamber sloped downward in a long, gradual curve, its walls lined with rough-hewn stone, worn smooth by the passage of time. Shadows flickered in the glow of their torches, stretching and shifting with every step. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of damp earth and mineral deposits, while the occasional gust of stale air carried the faintest whisper of something distant and unseen. A faint miasma of ammonia and rot wafted with each subtle draft. The attack by the insectoid ankheg had left its mark, not just in blood and broken stone but in the lingering tension that gripped the group like an unseen hand. Every faint sound in the darkness, a distant drip of water striking rock, the skittering of unseen vermin, or the soft crumble of loose stones, sent jolts of unease through the party. Shoulders tensed, hands tightened around weapons, and wary eyes darted toward imagined threats lurking in the shadows. Even those most accustomed to underground spaces found their nerves fraying under the weight of uncertainty. When a pebble dislodged and clattered down the sloping passage, someone started, inhaling sharply, only to exhale in relief as the noise echoed harmlessly into the dark. A nervous chuckle followed, then another, rippling through the group like a shared confession of their mutual anxiety. Soft laughter came quickly but never lasted long, swallowed by the oppressive quiet of the deep. The descent stretched onward, their footfalls muffled against the stone, yet every step carried the unshakable awareness that something, or perhaps many things, could still be watching from the darkness ahead. ¡°These tunnels are horrible,¡± Lianna muttered, her hand resting on the back of Frostclaw, as the great cat tried to offer her comfort with his presence. Ella nodded in agreement, she stooped and scooped up the smaller frame of Valkra in one arm as she sought the same reassurance from the little shadowmane. ¡°We¡¯ve come to far too turn back without completing the floor at least. I think once it is cleared, we can rest easier before the descent to the next level and searching for the earthen core.¡± Xavier looked back at the two women; his eyes showed his concern for them though his face was resolute in his determination to continue. They continued the downward slope, as they went the air continued to grow thicker with the scent of damp stone and something far more¡­ old. Xavier continued at point; his grip tightened around the hilt of Vaeltheris as his boots crunched on a patch of loose gravel. The deeper they descended the more unnaturally smooth most of the tunnel grew, which drew stark contrast to the sections that bore huge, jagged furrows as if great claws gouged deep into the stone wall. The eerie quiet grew heavier and pressed down upon the group, its overbearing only broken by the occasional soft echo of water dripping or pebbles falling. Another chill draft of air snaked upwards through the tunnel carrying a heavier aroma on it causing Xavier and Lianna to pause. The smell was not rot as originally thought, but something far more primal, something aberrant and out of place. The two exchanged looks as Lianna¡¯s sharp eyes took in the details of the walls searching for signs of attack. Beside her, Frostclaw let out a low growl of warning, while Valkra pressed into Ella¡¯s arms closer, the little cub¡¯s ears twitched as if she was hearing something just out of range of the others. ¡°There is something unnatural about this place,¡± Lianna murmured, her grip tightening on her bow reflexively. ¡°It is not just deep tunnels. Something down there is waiting.¡± Xavier let out a slow exhale as he gave his agreement to her statement. ¡°Then I suppose we should not keep it waiting for too much longer.¡± It was not much longer before the passage widened to a vast underground ravine, the path turning to hug the edge of the sheer drop. The yawning chasm stretched beneath them, its depth near impossible to measure in the dim glow of bioluminescent fungi that clung to the walls. Soft shifting shadows rose from the pale blue and green hues of the pulsating fungal light. As the group studied the new surroundings the air changed again, its presence seemingly thickening. Dust and pebbles rattled on the ground; their movement barely noticeable at first but it grew increasingly perceptible. The shifting was not random, it came in rhythmic deliberate pulses. Xavier sucked in breath through clenched teeth, a heartbeat. Xavier then crouched and pressed one gloved hand against the cold stone. The rhythmic shifting wasn¡¯t the earth itself. Something massive lurked below and its breathing was causing the disruption. Lianna joined him, her fingers moved to trail over a fresh new grove gouged into the rock. It was deep, sharp and unmistakably deliberately made. ¡°These are not erosion,¡± she whispered softly. ¡°These are feeding marks.¡± Her statement brought a sharp exhalation from Ella. ¡°We are walking into its nest?¡± The trio looked uneasily at each other but there was no other way forward. Rising they started their descent into the dark ravine following the narrow path down the cliffside. Eventually, the path along the ravine ended at a natural archway of stone. It was carved not only by time, but the claw marks indicated something much less patient was involved as well. Beyond the arch, a cavern stretched out opening into a vast expanse, its ceiling lost in the darkness that gathered above. The fungal glow that had been present in the ravine was much weaker here, it almost seemed as if nature recoiled from whatever lingered within. Eyes adjusting to the dimmer light the group started to make out details from within the cavern. Bones littered the rough and uneven floor, some of them were old and they could actually watch as they crumbled to dust at the touch of the irregular breeze that rose through the deep dark, however, others were freshly marked with jagged breaks and tears showing their marrow seemingly freshly devoured. Scattered through the remains and bones were a collection of rusty weapons, shattered hafts, and torn cloth scraps indicative of long forgotten owners. The momentary silence was broken by Frostclaw, his low rumbling growl was matched by his bristling fur. Valkra, having been set down by Ella during the decent, pressed closer to Xavier¡¯s leg her small body fuzzed out and trembling as she stared into the cavern. The feline growl was answered by a faint and wet slithering sound that echoed through the vast open space. It didn¡¯t move enough to indicate something moving so much as something stirring. Ella peered around the archway as she scanned the darkness. The knuckles of hand whitened as she gripped her bow tight enough to make the leather wrap creak. ¡°It is too quiet.¡± Lianna shook her head, one hand on Frostclaw briefly to comfort the beast, her feline eyes catching movement that the others could not make out in the darkness, it vanishing as soon as she focused her attention on it. ¡°No, it is not too quiet. It is watching us.¡± Xavier gritted his teeth and dropping his torch reached back to draw the Emberstone sword in his other hand. ¡°Then let¡¯s go and make our greetings to it.¡± As he took the first step a deep bone-rattling tremor shook the cavern, pebbles bouncing across the uneven floor as the ground swelled beneath their very feet. The fungal glow started to actually flicker and began to pulsate in slow uneven waves taking its lead from the presence of something immense and ancient starting to move. The next tremor was not even remotely subtle. The earth buckled and cracked leading to the whole party needing to stagger backwards away from a massive chitinous shape that emerged from the shadows. It was led by long mandibles whose jagged edges resembled the teeth of a saw more than anything else. They were followed by a serpentine bulk of a body, plates of hardened stone similar to the stone wyrm they fought earlier but on a much larger scale, shifted with an unnatural grace. A low grinding sound filled the cavern, not a roar or the shifting of the body, but more of a deep intake of air. Something massive was tasting the new flavors that hung there, clearly aware of them now. The cavern shuddered once more as the beast moved and fully emerged, unlike the wyrm this creature¡¯s many-limbed form curled along the cavern walls as it turned its red glowing eyes on Xavier and his companions. It released a single slow shuddering exhale that filled the cavern. Xavier shifted his stance taking more of a defensive posture and raising his blades before himself. ¡°I think it knows we are here.¡± And with those words he triggered insight.
Name: Nul¡¯Zarak, the Maw of the Deeps (Apex Predator of the Deep Caverns) Disposition: Ravenous Hunger
A massive subterranean horror that has roamed the depths for centuries, Nul¡¯Zarak is a fusion of wyrm and insectoid terror, its chitinous, stone-plated body perfectly adapted to the darkness. It relies on tremorsense rather than sight, lurking unseen before launching devastating ambushes. Its serrated mandibles can crush stone, while its gaping maw devours prey whole, trapping victims inside its crushing inner jaws. When cornered, it burrows through the cavern walls, using the environment as a weapon against its foes. Only those who understand the rhythm of the earth can hope to defeat this primeval beast.
Health: 650/650 Stamina: 500/500 Mana: 0/0
What he saw made his mouth go dry. The stonescale wyrm from before was a difficult fight, this would be a complete nightmare. He motioned for everyone to remain still as the abomination¡¯s head stared in their direction. After a few moments it turned vanishing back into the inky darkness. The group moved carefully back up the ramp a short way into the chasm hoping that the narrow path and seemingly bottomless void would reduce the likelihood of the monster attacking immediately. After several agonizingly long minutes of nothing happening beyond the occasional tremor reminding them of the beast waiting for them below, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief then huddled together to plan. Lianna moved to the edge of the ledge peering downwards to see if there was another way into the monster¡¯s lair and keeping an eye out for further movement. Frostclaw remained near her, his great form tense and ready to pounce at a moment¡¯s notice. Ella, with Valkra tense and unleashing soft yowls, held an arrow nocked to her bow though her eyes kept returning to Xavier for guidance. The soft shifting light of the fungi gave their shadows a wavering dance heightening the tension as they had to watch to make sure the shadows were theirs and not an attack. Ella shuddered finally, ¡°The beast did not even charge us. It just sat there watching, like it was inspecting us and found us lacking.¡± Lianna nodded slowly. ¡°It is clearly not afraid of us. It is just waiting for us to make a mistake and walk into its trap.¡± Xavier gritted his teeth yet again. ¡°Then we will not give it a chance to spring the trap. We need to make the first strike. When I examined it, I learned it has a lot of characteristics of both the stonescale wyrm and the ankhegs, with something else making it much more malevolent but I couldn¡¯t identify what that was.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ella sighed, ¡°great so my arrows will be less than useless again.¡± ¡°No, do like we did with the wyrm,¡± Lianna suggested, ¡°do not target it because of the scales but aim for the ceiling. Maybe we can bring some of the stalactites down upon it.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Xavier agreed. ¡°I doubt we have much that can cut those scales.¡± He inspected Vaeltheris¡¯ edge speculatively. Lianna raised a finger, ¡°Did you see how it moved? Its underbelly looked decidedly different when it reared up to look at us.¡± ¡°Yes, it seemed less armored there.¡± Ella concurred, ¡°if we can get it to rise up again, force that weak spot to be exposed then we could attack there.¡± ¡°A good option,¡± Xavier agreed, ¡°we¡¯ll have to see if we can make it do that. Alright, so where do we fight it? Charge in, or try to lure it out here?¡± ¡°If we fight it here it is less likely to be able to burrow under us like the ankhegs and wyrm did.¡± Ella stated as she gestured towards the ledge drop-off. ¡°It still might be able to collapse the ground though, and if it does¡­¡± Lianna frowned as she continued to stare over the edge. ¡°I doubt any of us would survive that fall and it likely would remain half burrowed into the wall so as to not fall itself.¡± Xavier pondered for a moment an eyebrow raising as an idea struck him. ¡°What if,¡± he started, ¡°we use that against it. Maybe we could force it towards the edge instead of it pulling us down.¡± Lianna shook her head with a doubtful look on her face. ¡°I do not think we have the means to force it to do anything. More likely we would need to lure it somewhere and frankly I do not like the chances of survival being stuck between the ledge and that monstrosity.¡± They all fell silent for a while chewing on different ideas before, one by one, they came to the same conclusion. They would have to enter the monster¡¯s lair and fight it there. ¡°Alright,¡± Xavier broke the silence, ¡°if we must enter there then I will go first. Ella, you try to knock more of the fungus loose from the walls and try to illuminate the cavern more. The shadows are not our friend with this creature as it doesn¡¯t need to see us, but we need to see it. Lianna, you aid Ella but since your bow is the stronger also take shots of opportunity. Knock stalactites down when you can, aim for its underbelly when its exposed, basically make a nuisance of yourself as I hold its attention.¡± He looked to the two great cats that accompanied them. ¡°Not sure if you two understand me but just do what you did before. Harass and distract but don¡¯t let it hit you.¡± He knelt and scratched behind Valkra¡¯s ears, ¡°Especially you little one, I didn¡¯t save you just to let some ugly bug have you for a snack.¡± Everyone checked their gear to ensure they had what remaining potions they had close at hand, just in case they were required. Their weapons were hefted, bow strings tested, and arrows counted. Lianna went one step further and wrapped a couple arrowheads in cloth dipped in oil and shifted several larger vials from her pack to straps on her belt. When Xavier raised an eyebrow watching her motions she smiled grimly at him. ¡°Oil flasks, can be thrown and then lit either with a torch or one of these arrows.¡± She indicated one of her recently adjusted creations. ¡°You¡¯ll have to show me how to do those later, I can see how they could come in handy,¡± he replied. She nodded her assent then there was nothing else for the group to do to prepare. The time had come for them to either break the monster¡¯s hold over this level of the deeps or fail horribly and likely fatally. They opted not to focus on the latter option as they took the remaining steps back to the lair. As they walked Lianna took a deep breath, ¡°We only get one shot at this. I doubt it will let us just run away.¡± ¡°Then we need to make this count,¡± Ella agreed. She rolled her shoulders slightly trying to relax some of the anxious tension building in them. Grimly, Xavier spoke quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s finish clearing this level, the Earthen Ley Line waits below.¡± As the archway came into sight once again, Xavier and his group felt it¡ªthe oppressive weight of the presence lurking below. The air hung thick with the acrid stench of Nul¡¯Zarak, mingling with the fetid rot of its past victims. Every instinct screamed at them to turn back, but they had already chosen their battleground. Before they even reached the opening, Ella and Lianna acted first, moving with silent precision according to what they had planned. Their hands moved in almost perfect unison, tossing their flaming torches forward, sending them skidding across the stone floor toward the archway. The moment the firelight touched the cavern; their bows were already drawn. The two women unleashed a barrage of arrows that streaked through the air, striking the clusters of hanging bioluminescent fungi, causing them to rupture and collapse to the ground below. The glowing spores burst apart on impact, increasing the spread of the soft, flickering light across the battlefield. The creeping shadows recoiled, the darkness losing its grip as more patches of the cavern were revealed. The faint glow spread across the grotesque remains strewn about the floor, illuminating further half-buried bones, shattered weapons, and broken stone formations. Then came the answering response from within. A low, guttural tremor rolled through the earth beneath them, deep and resonant. It was not just movement, but a warning. The stone walls shuddered, dust and small fragments raining from above as something massive began shifting in the deep darkness of the cavern. As before the still intact patches of fungus reacted to the presence of the creature, pulsing violently as they seemed to sense the impending doom that the creature presented. The small group spread carefully; weapons poised to react as a thunderous crack split the air. From the depths of the chamber a massive form slithered forth, its gargantuan, chitinous limbs dragging its segmented body into the open. Nul¡¯Zarak coiled its monstrous length around the stone formations, its glowing red eyes burning and slowly sweeping the room as it tasted the air with a slow, rumbling breath. Its mandibles twitched, dripping a sickly green viscous fluid that sizzled as it met stone. The beast did not charge. It watched. It measured. It calculated. It was intelligent in the way a predator is intelligent. It knew that fear and hesitation would serve it just as well as its fangs. With sudden and terrifying speed, it struck. Moving in a manner that was wholly unnatural for something of its size, Nul¡¯Zarak lunged, its mandibles snapped shut, clacking loudly as they crashed together in the location where Xavier had been standing just mere moments before, its body continuing forward and slamming into the wall. The impact shattered the stone and sent jagged rock shards flying through the air in all directions. Xavier continued his roll to the side feeling the tremor vibrating through his bones as he tightened his grip on his blades. ¡°Keep it in the light! Keep moving, don¡¯t let it hit you,¡± he barked out to the women as he used one of the shattered columns to shove himself back to his feet. He needed have worried, however, Lianna and Ella were already in motion. The two women repositioned quickly, circling around in opposite directions to locations along the sides of the cavern. Arrows streaked both towards the creature and into the stone formations over its head. Most of the arrows had no effect, shattering on the stone and chitin of the monster¡¯s hide or clattering impotently against the stone formations overhead. One struck true however and the sharp dagger of heavy stone fell striking the creature below. That caused the effect they had been waiting for as the monstrosity reared up roaring in anger and pain. The faint glow of the spores spreading throughout the cavern revealed the target they had been looking and waiting for. Its underbelly was exposed and vulnerable. ¡°There it is!¡± Lianna shouted and knocked a fresh arrow and loosed it directly at the fleshy exposed segments that lined the creature¡¯s underside. Nul¡¯Zarak let out raw furious shriek as the arrow struck true. Its mandibles parted wide as it twisted in violent pain. Its massive body crashed against several stone pillars, shattering them and sending stone debris flying in the process. With another sudden movement that belied its size, the creature burrowed down immediately vanishing into the stone floor. The sound of battle cut off with an alarming instant silence. Several seconds passed, and then came the first tremor, then the second¡­ Xavier had a sudden odd sensation. He swore he could feel where the creature was moving through the stone. ¡°It¡¯s going to strike from beneath us,¡± he shouted, ¡°scatter!¡± True to the shouted warning, and the odd sensation Xavier had felt, the ground suddenly split apart right beneath where they had been standing. Large stone sections buckling and shattering as the beast erupted upwards. The resultant shockwave blasted out from the site and sent Xavier skidding across the stone as the sheer force of the eruption threatened to bring the whole cavern down. Boulders and stalactites rained from above and the party had to continue to dodge and scatter constantly to avoid, narrowly, being struck with the falling threats. Lianna, highlighting her nature, leapt to the side and sent a flaming arrow streaking towards a large cluster of the bioluminescent growth still attached to the ceiling. The impact caught the fungi alight and it erupted spilling more of the glowing spore across the battlefield below, an action that further highlighted the monster¡¯s movements as a decent amount of the cascading spores coated the back of its hulking form. As Lianna¡¯s arrow triggered the cascading spores, Ella yelled at the beast drawing its attention to her. ¡°Over here buggy! You want me, then come and get me!¡± Enraged the creature lunged towards the noise and retreating patter of the woman¡¯s footprints. Its mandibles snapped out its hunger and anger, but its rage caused it to make a mistake. Its tender underbelly was exposed again. Xavier roared out seeing the weak spot. ¡°NOW!¡± Lianna was moving before the word was fully out of his mouth. A quick succession of arrows left the ranger¡¯s bow, each one aiming for the vulnerable segments. Nul¡¯Zarak screeched out in its pain, the massive abominable form writhing and twisting violently. As the beast roiled in its suffering Xavier, throwing caution to the wind, lunged straight at the serpentine form of the monster. Though in pain, the creature was not without awareness, and it twisted trying to crush the man in its massive mandibles. Xavier was just able to twist Vaeltheris, wedging the blade¡¯s length between the overwhelming force of the pincer attack and the blade flared, its magical nature allowing it to resist the devastation of the attack. Xavier wrenched the blade sideways slowly forcing the maw open further and leaving a new exposure for the two archers. Both Ella and Lianna aimed shots, one flaming and the other plain, into the creature¡¯s throat and the sharp projectiles pierced the delicate flesh. Each shot caused a new recoil from the abomination, its massive coils thrashed against the stone pillars fragments and sent cracks splintering across the ground. The newly spastic movements of the monster further destabilizing the glow of the fungi causing them to pulse erratically, the light flickering in chaotic patterns added to the jagged shadows thrown about the cavern. Through the chaos, however, Xavier saw something else, opportunity. As Nul¡¯Zarak reared upwards to avoid new searing pain within its mouth, the wounded length of its underbelly was exposed once again and Xavier charged towards the towering monstrosity, Vaeltheris flared in his grip as if revealing in the impending mortal strike. Nul¡¯Zarak had not become what it was by chance though, it sensed the movement below and lunged down towards the assaulting human, its gaping jaws widening further in an effort to swallow the offending morsel whole. Air reverberated within the beast, a deep sucking force filled with the stench of death and decay roiled out of the abyssal throat. Xavier didn¡¯t stop nor hesitate; he leapt into the descending path. Ella screamed in horror at what appeared to be a suicidal attack from the man she had become bound to. Lianna grimly bit her tongue bidding the human a peaceful rest as she drew back yet another arrow. Xavier had other plans than his own death, at the last second, he angled Vaeltheris sideways, jamming the enchanted blade between the awesome mandibles yet again preventing them from slamming shut on his tender flesh. The Emberstone blade came upwards leaving a scorching path through the inside of the creature¡¯s mouth. The impact force of the monstrous bite sent tremors through Xavier¡¯s arms and shoulders, its pressure intense and even causing strain on the wonderous blade. Nul¡¯Zarak screeched in fury and pain determined to crush the offending obstacle, but Vaeltheris held, the enchanted blade flaring even brighter as it defied the weight of the beast¡¯s behemoth strength. Xavier gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he fought to twist the blade, inch by excruciating inch the mandibles crept wider. Xavier could feel the raw primal power coiling beneath his digits, the visceral hunger that the beast embodied, ancient and endless, enough to claim countless lives and still be ravenous. ¡°But not today,¡± Xavier thought to himself. ¡°Lianna, now!¡± Xavier cried out. He had seen where Lianna had clamored atop a jagged rock formation, where she had already lined up her shot. The moment Xavier forced the maw open, she let her arrow fly. The shot streaked through the air, a trail of flame following behind it, piercing directly into the soft, exposed roof of Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s mouth. The impact was instantaneous and devastating. A wet, sickening crack shook the beast moments before a violent, convulsing tremor started through it. Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s entire body seized, its mandibles shuddering as the arrow lodged deep inside, the burning tip searing flesh and nerve alike. A wave of horrific shrieking erupted from the beast, as its spasming form smashed wildly into the cavern walls, sending boulders crashing to the ground. Xavier wrenched Vaeltheris free just in time, vaulting backward as the beast reared back in its death throes. Nul¡¯Zarak convulsed, its body writhing in agony, the arrow buried deep within its skull sending shockwaves of pain through its form. Its massive bulk crashed against the cavern wall again and again, collapsing an entire section of stone, half-burying itself in the rubble. Until it unleashed a final, shuddering screech that echoed through the Deeps, the sound filled with raw hatred and fading hunger. Followed by encompassing silence, the air going still as if it itself recognized the passing of the fell beast. The only disturbances left were Xavier¡¯s heavy breathing, the settling of dust, and the faint pulsing glow of the fungi that had survived the carnage. Slowly, Xavier straightened, Vaeltheris still gripped tightly in his hands. It was over. The Maw of the Deeps had closed for the final time and would never open again. Chapter 10 - Tremors of Fate As Xavier and the group stood amidst the ruins of their hard-fought battle, the heavy silence was broken only by their ragged breaths and the distant trickle of water seeping through the cavern walls. The Maw of the Deep lay defeated, its grotesque form collapsed in on itself. Even as they tried to recover, Xavier¡¯s interface pulsed to life, a cascade of notifications chiming in rapid succession, detailing experience gains, loot rewards from the brutal encounter. He barely registered the messages, still focused on the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. Then, a familiar sound, a soft, irritated growl, caught his attention. From behind a heap of shattered rock and debris, a powerful form emerged, its pale coat dusted with flecks of dirt and stone. Frostclaw, padded into view, his resolute golden eyes remained calm despite his writhing bundle. Gripped carefully in his jaws, dangling by the scruff of her neck and squirming in protest, was Valkra. The shadowmane panther cub twisted and kicked, letting out a series of indignant, high-pitched growls, but Frostclaw remained unbothered by her struggles, carrying her forward with the same patient ease of an elder cat managing a wayward kitten. Lianna, who was still catching her breath as she hopped down from her vantage point, arched an eyebrow at the sight. Her sharp gaze flicked between the two felines, her expression shifting from mild amusement at the odd sight to sudden realization. Her companion had kept the little cub out of the fight. The thought settled over her like a sudden breeze, cooling the heat of battle that still burned in her veins. Frostclaw, in-fact, had deliberately removed Valkra from dangerous conflict, tucking her away behind the safety of the stone barricade while they fought the monstrous abomination. Whether it was instinct, experience, or a protective bond forming between them, the older predator had ensured the cub would not meet the same gruesome fate as so many other creatures caught in the Maw¡¯s ravenous grip. Valkra let out a final, frustrated chirrup as Frostclaw unceremoniously deposited her onto the stone floor. The little panther scrambled to her feet, shaking herself off before looking up at her much larger counterpart with wide, reproachful eyes. A silent moment passed between them, something unspoken but understood in the language of beasts, before Valkra huffed and flicked her tail, as if to say, I could have helped, you know. Lianna exhaled, shaking her head with a small smirk. ¡°Looks like someone didn¡¯t appreciate the babysitting,¡± she murmured. Xavier chuckled, rubbing a hand over his face before glancing at the exhausted but victorious group. ¡°At least someone had the sense to keep Valkra safe. The rest of us were too busy nearly getting eaten. In our planning I had thought they would help like the fight with the ankhegs, seems Frostclaw thought better, thankfully. I doubt either of them would have been able to do much against this beast¡± As he said the last, he turned his gaze upon the massive corpse. Frostclaw merely blinked, regal and indifferent, as if the whole matter had been beneath comment. He had only done what was the best option for the little one. He would have joined the fray if Lianna had called or was in true danger. While Lianna and Ella moved to the great cats to check on them and provide them with praise Xavier sank to the ground leaning against one of the monstrous stone plates of the Maw. He allowed his eyes to unfocus slightly and began reading the cascade of notifications from the battle. The first had a new sound accompanying it. A fanfare of trumpets along with the sound of hundreds of people cheering.
Congratulations, Champions of Rynthavael! Through grit, steel, and unwavering resolve, you have conquered the First Level of the Deeps, securing it for the people of Rynthavael! What once lay in darkness, infested with corrupted ankhegs, stone-scaled wyrms, and the terrifying Maw of the Deep, is now cleansed by your courage and strength. Achievements: Threats Eliminated ¨C The dangers lurking below have been vanquished, ensuring the tunnels are no longer a death trap for the unwary. Path Secured ¨C Rynthavael¡¯s villagers can now begin expanding into this level of the Deeps, reclaiming lost knowledge and resources. New Opportunities Unlocked! ¨C With the first level cleared, the path forward to the Earth Core now lies open. This is a momentous step in Rynthavael¡¯s growth, one that will be remembered for generations. But deeper mysteries and greater dangers still await. For now, bask in your triumph¡ªyou have carved safety from shadow, strength from struggle, and victory from the abyss!
The first level of the Deeps has been explored and secured. The echoes of unknown dangers have been silenced, and the halls long forgotten now stand ready for renewed purpose. Though remnants of the past remain buried deeper below, this marks a vital first step in reclaiming the depths beneath Rynthavael. Completion Outcomes: Rewards: "The echoes of the past fade, but the path ahead remains uncertain. The Deeps hold more secrets yet to be uncovered..." He had done it, the first level was cleared, and his people would prosper from that. It also seemed that the world recognized the feat itself.
Your name echoes beyond the depths! By vanquishing the monstrous Nul¡¯Zarak - Maw of the Deep, you have done more than claim victory¡ªyou have carved your legend into the world itself! Word of your triumph spreads like wildfire, carried by traders, scouts, and whispers in the dark. The depths trembled before you and your group¡¯s might, and now, all of Arath begins to take notice. +500 Reputation Gained
Congratulations ¨C Your reputation level has increased from Level 2 ¨C ¡°Who Are You Again? - Your name might be whispered in the winds, but most can¡¯t recall it. If you were a knight, you¡¯d be the one who gets left out of the battle plan. People might nod at you in the market, but they¡¯re mostly confused.¡± to Level 3 ¨C ¡°Somewhat Known, Still Forgettable - Ah, you¡¯ve been spotted once or twice. Someone might remember you from a tavern brawl or for getting lost in the woods. But don¡¯t expect anyone to remember your name unless it¡¯s written on your cloak.¡± Xavier didn¡¯t know for certain what reputation did, but in games it usually lent to gaining more opportunities for quests, deals, and recognition. He was curious how it actually spread through the world as there was no one down here in the Deeps to actually see what they had done. Sighing he chalked it up to another unique quirk of the world he still didn¡¯t fully understand. Dismissing that notification, he moved on to the next one. Ding! You have slain Nul¡¯Zarak ¨C The Maw of the Deep +12000 Experience. The amount of experience made him sit up and reread the short prompt. He had thought the amount of experience gained from slaying the Stonescale Wyrm was immense, but this was another 50% on top of that. Twelve thousand for a single kill? It just went to show something he was learning quickly about Arath, danger and reward go hand in hand. The higher the danger the better the payout. Since he happened to survive this most recent encounter he was going to enjoy his proverbial meat. The next prompt brought exactly what he had expected, and he chuckled softly, Aelriva had been correct¡­ again. "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 15! The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny¡ªan exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). (Total of 18 points remaining to distribute) Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 20% skill allocation (Total of 60% remaining) to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love¡ªand let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!¡± He was now just the level needed to be in order to address the next quest in the chain for Sleeping Lines. He took a moment to ponder, not for the first time, how much the little sprite knew that she didn¡¯t inform him of. He also wondered idly if there was a way to get her to divulge more information. Shaking his head slightly he assumed she would tell him what he needed, no more and no less. It slightly frustrated him knowing that it was likely that there were others just like Aelriva who were guiding him but not fully informing him, his thoughts of course turned to Danu at that moment. He was sure she somehow had a hand in this, just didn¡¯t have a way to prove or even really hint at the truth of it. He went on to his next notification. Quest Offered: "Drums in the Deeps 2" The first level of the Deeps has been secured, but the depths do not rest so easily. Faint tremors ripple through the stone, and distant sounds, scraping, shifting, something alive, reverberate from below. The deeper halls remain untouched, their secrets and dangers unknown. If Rynthavael is to claim the Deeps fully, the next descent must begin. Objective: Potential Challenges: Rewards: "The silence of the first halls has been reclaimed, but below, the danger of the Deeps still lingers. Something waits in the dark, will you be the one to unearth it?" He had a feeling that the next quest for that chain would be coming after he finished the first one. It also brought to mind how many links would exist in this particular chain. From the sounds of it the Deeps were immense and could go several dozens of layers deep. Though the idea of a continuously extending questline was appealing, he was not sure he wanted to spend weeks on end in the vast underground expanse. Slowly pushing his exhausted body back to its feet he turned to look at the corpse of the massive level boss. He just knew there had to be some good drops off the creature, especially given what they had found on the lesser monsters of the level. Not for the first time he lamented the fact they actually had to carve the corpse up and didn¡¯t just receive the dropped items by ¡°looting¡± it like in some of the games he had played. Real life was just so much more, well messy than in games. Resigned to the dirty task, he hoped to find some source of water nearby instead of trekking all the way back to the Life Ley Garden, he resized Vaeltheris to a more appropriate tool and began to break down the body of the dead monster. After a short period of time, he was joined by Lianna and Ella. He was, once more, thankful for Lianna¡¯s experience with beasts as she seemed to know inherently where to cut and search. As they worked Xavier took the time to query the Iskari ranger in why and where she cut. This actually elicited a detailed description of what she was doing. It turned out she had attained adept rank in a rare skill called Beastial Lore that not only helped her understand animals, beasts, and monsters in general but had subskills that went on to further aid in harvesting better parts from the creatures as well. Xavier was just starting to wonder why he had not picked up the skill yet when suddenly¡­ Congratulations! You have learned a new subskill ¨C Beast Harvesting level 1. The Beast Harvesting subskill is a core part of Bestial Lore, focusing on the efficient extraction of valuable materials from creatures. Whether for crafting, alchemy, enchantment, or trade, a skilled harvester knows how to maximize the yield from a fallen beast. From mundane animal hides to the arcane essence of magical creatures, this subskill ensures nothing goes to waste. "Some see a monster. I see gold, potions, and high-quality armor waiting to happen." +0.3% Increased Yield. +0.3% Reduced Risk of Material Damage. +0.2% Increased Quality. Congratulations! Since you have learned a subskill you have also gained the corresponding skill ¨C Bestial Lore level 1. The Bestial Lore skill represents a deep understanding of animals, monsters, and magical beasts. It allows a character to analyze, dissect, and exploit the biological traits of various creatures, granting advantages in combat, survival, alchemy, and crafting. Hunters, beast tamers, and scholars alike benefit from understanding a creature¡¯s weaknesses, useful body parts, and behavioral instincts. The higher the skill level, the greater the insight, from recognizing a creature¡¯s mood to understanding how to harvest magical essences or counter beast-based curses. "I don¡¯t just hunt monsters¡ªI study them. That¡¯s why I¡¯m still alive." +0.3% Increased Damage against creatures. +0.3% Better Harvesting Yield. +0.2% Better Beast Interaction. After minimizing the new prompts, he looked at the corpse again and noticed new glowing areas and the ghosts of lines crisscrossing it indicating locations to cut. He was anxious to level the skill and subskill to see what else it could provide as Lianna¡¯s adept rank had led to her procuring interesting items already. Diving back into work beside his two companions they spent the better part of the next several hours dissecting the remains, and the results were amazing.
You have discovered: Chitinous Mawplate x 2 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 6.2 kg per plate Durability: 100/100 Description: A massive fragment of Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s outer plating, hardened over centuries to a near-impenetrable density. The chitin is layered and mineral-infused, capable of withstanding tremendous force. Uses: - Armor Crafting: Can be reforged into heavy armor, a shield, or fortification plating. Properties: - Natural Damage Resistance: Reduces non-magical slashing and piercing damage. - Tremor Buffering: Dampens seismic tremors, providing stability against knockdowns. - Potential Enchantment: If imbued with Earth Energy, it could grant resistance to underground hazards or seismic attacks.
You have discovered: Fanged Mandible of the Maw x 2 Item Class: Very Rare Item Quality: Superb Weight: 5.8 kg per mandible Durability: 95/100 Description: One of Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s massive, serrated mandibles, still humming with residual power. The edges appear naturally jagged, honed by the creature¡¯s millennia of burrowing through bedrock. Uses: - Weapon Forging: Can be reforged into a scythe, glaive, or greatsword. - Armor-Piercing Bolts/Arrows: The mandible¡¯s natural jagged edges make it ideal for high-penetration projectiles. Properties: - Jagged Edge: Wounds inflicted by this weapon do not close easily, making healing magic less effective. - Burrowing Strike: On impact, the weapon delivers a concussive shock, fracturing armor and weakening enemy defenses. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. - Earth-Touched: May react to the Earth Ley Line, gaining additional effects when used underground.
You have discovered: Eyes of the Maw x 2 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.9 kg per eye Durability: 80/100 Description: The red, glowing eyes of Nul¡¯Zarak, still faintly pulsing even after death. They seem to react to movement, as if still aware. Uses: - Alchemy & Augmentation: Can be distilled into potions or fused into weapons/armor. Properties: - Darkvision Elixir: When refined, grants enhanced vision in absolute darkness. - Tremorsense Augmentation: If embedded into gear, grants limited tremorsense, detecting enemies through vibrations. - Elemental Resilience: Temporary resistance to blindness, illusions, or disorienting effects.
You have discovered: Mawborn Fangs x 17 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.7 kg per fang Durability: 90/100 Description: Several smaller fangs from Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s inner maw, razor-sharp and laced with residual venom. These natural blades remain lethal even after extraction. Uses: - Weapon Crafting: Can be shaped into daggers, claws, or armor-piercing arrows. - Alchemy & Poisons: The venom can be distilled into a paralytic agent. Properties: - Armor-Piercing: Weapons crafted with Mawborn Fangs ignore natural armor resistance. - Paralyzing Toxin: When refined, the venom can be applied to arrows or melee weapons, causing temporary paralysis on targets. - Unstable Corruption: If mishandled, the venom can cause hallucinations and erratic movement.
You have discovered: Chitin & Shell Fragments x 23 Item Class: Uncommon Item Quality: Above Average Weight: 2.0 kg per fragment Durability: 80/100 Description: Shattered remnants of Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s outer plating. While not as resilient as the Chitinous Mawplate, these pieces retain some of their natural density and can be repurposed into lighter armor or reinforced plating. Uses: - Armor & Shield Crafting: Can be reforged into durable light or medium armor. - Fortification Material: Can be layered onto structures, making them more resistant to seismic shockwaves.
You have discovered: Residual Acidic Ichor x 4 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Well Crafted Weight: 0.5 kg per vial Durability: N/A (Liquid) Description: A thick, dark-green fluid extracted from Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s stomach lining, retaining highly corrosive properties. This ichor bubbles and shifts as if it still carries a remnant of its monstrous origins. Uses: - Alchemy: Can be distilled into Acid Potions or weapon coatings, adding 5-10 acid damage per strike for 1 hour. - Siege Warfare: When boiled down and concentrated, it can melt through stone and metal, making it an effective material for acid-based traps or siege weapons.
You have discovered: Burrowing Tendon x 4 Item Class: Rare Item Quality: Exquisite Weight: 1.5 kg per strand Durability: 90/100 Description: A long, sinewy tendon harvested from Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s burrowing muscles. This material retains a natural elasticity and high-tension strength, making it a prized resource for crafting enchanted rope, high-tension bows, and flexible armor joints. Uses: - Enchanted Rope Crafting: Can be woven into unbreakable cords, climbing ropes, or grappling hooks. - Bowstring & Whip Reinforcement: Blacksmiths can reinforce bowstrings, whips, and tethers, increasing weapon durability and tensile strength. - High-Tension Gears & Traps: Artificers can use these tendons in complex mechanisms requiring flexibility and durability.
Each item as it was harvested was identified and placed into Xavier¡¯s satchel. Lianna was turning out to be worth her weight in gold, quite literally with the items she could locate and the fact she had empty vials and items for storing what was harvested. The space folding properties of the Xavier¡¯s satchel amazed him each time he watched something much larger than the bag vanished into its depths. The one problem was, even though it held larger items and somewhat reduced their weight it didn¡¯t eliminate the weight, and it was starting to grow extremely heavy. He seriously began to hope they could find the Earth Ley Line quickly, and not just to be able to start their mission into the wildlands quickly. Too much more weight and he would have a hard time moving around let alone fighting. While the items were wonderous and already had Xavier thinking about who to give them to so as to draw the most positive impact for the village out of them they did not stand out any more than unique items from the other creatures they had slain. All of them except one that is. Something deep inside the creature seemed to almost have a siren song pull to Xavier and he worked his way deeper into the flesh and viscera of the monster. It took him some time as he had to keep pausing to take items from the other two as they cut them loose but finally he laid a hand on what had been drawing him in. As he did so two things happened; one, he received a prompt with the brilliant red boarder of a legendary item, and two the very cavern around them trembled slightly. Xavier could feel something deeper pulse in time to his touching the item.
You have discovered: Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s Ley-Infused Heart Item Class: Legendary Item Quality: Masterwork Weight: 8.5 kg Durability: 100/100 Description: A massive, petrified core of residual ley energy, buried deep within Nul¡¯Zarak¡¯s remains. It throbs faintly, as if linked to something deeper beneath the surface. Uses: - Ley Enchantment & Artifact Creation: Can be attuned to the Earth Ley Line. Properties: - Earth¡¯s Pulse: Grants an enhanced connection to the Earth Ley Line, allowing the wielder to sense ley fluctuations underground. - Stonebound Fortitude: Increases physical resilience and resistance to knockback effects. - Burrower¡¯s Insight: Grants temporary perfect navigation in underground tunnels, preventing the user from getting lost.
¡°This isn¡¯t just a part of that creature,¡± Xavier stated as he lifted the throbbing stone piece free from the tender flesh, its weight much more than its size would indicate. ¡°No,¡± Lianna agreed as she looked around them watching dust and sand settle from the tremor. ¡°It caused the whole earth to move. Considering what it came from I am almost afraid to think what it is signaling¡± Ella grimaced slightly thinking about the implications, ¡°whatever it is, it just rang a very large bell¡± Xavier hefted the piece of stonelike material thoughtfully, something about it still called to him. Something similar to what he felt pulling him further down into the Deeps. ¡°I don¡¯t think whatever it is truthfully means us any harm. I feel a more calming and calling presence from it. I think its associated with the Ley Lines. We need to go deeper and find the Earth Ley Line to be certain though.¡± Finished with the corpse of the Maw they collectively decided to explore its den. Hopefully they could find some water to wash the putrid innards of the beast from their armor and bodies before they continued the search for the passage to the next level. Ella and Lianna retrieved their torches from near the entry archway and Xavier lit another from the one Ella was holding. Between the torchlight and the bioluminescence of the fungi the darkness of the cavern was well pushed back. What they beheld was both tragic and awe inspiring. In the center of the cavern was a large stone archway, nearly twice the size of the one that had let them into it originally, the upper half of the arch was collapsed into rubble strewn across the floor but what remained was still covered in the remnants off intricate carvings and frescos. From what the trio could make out they appeared to depict some sort of trade taking place around the arch. This was further reenforced by the numerous pillars and foundations of pillars that still littered the cavern. Closer inspection showed fragments of what looked like worked stone laid out in distinct pathways, roads perhaps throughout the area. The cavern was obviously not always the corpse strewn den of a monstrous creature. From the looks it could have been a market or some sort of underground outpost. Moving between the uprights of the shattered archway they found more remnants of a roadway; it was broad more of a boulevard than a small road. Clearly the arch and the road were a central part of the area, this was only further highlighted as several hundred yards past the archway, previously hidden in the dark gloom, stood a shattered obelisk-like structure. Its remaining sides were covered in deep gouges and claw marks, a scratching post of sorts for the Maw it would seem. Further desecration of the monster of this forgotten ancient ruin. Here and there Xavier was able to make out small individual sigils, letters but not words. They were from numerous different languages, his trait Linguist, identified them all as he found them, Sylmyrian was the most common one found, but there was also Khazridan of the ancient dwarves. One section held a small swath of archaic Avara which represented the Animari. Further sections held what his talent identified as Sylvaerion, Velkrithian, Nimbrahan and Brindallan; prime elvish, something known as early Zar¡¯kannan, old gnomish and ancient halfling respectively. Each one he identified gained him a small prompt stating he understood the language now. His list of known tongues was growing massive, and he had only been in the land a handful of weeks. The ruins were not the only things found however, beneath the dust and rubble lay shattered shields, armor and weapons. The desiccated and weathered skeletal remains still lay within the armor or hand broken fingers wrapped around failed defensive and offensive items. One mostly crushed skeleton was against the remains of one of the pillars, a shattered half buried staff clutched in its hand, on the ground next to it, the fabric all but decayed to nothing was the colorless remnants of a long-forgotten banner. While many of the remains seemed to be human, it was not the only race represented by the dead. Scattered through the corpses were those of gnomes, dwarves, diminutive bodies that could only be halflings, even some Animari and another handful of an odd race Xavier couldn¡¯t quite identify but Lianna told him were the Marked Ones or Zar¡¯kaan. ¡°They fought a battle here, but it doesn¡¯t look like it was against each other, odd that we didn¡¯t find any elvish bodies with them. I saw some sigils of their ancient language over in that direction.¡± Xavier pointed off to one of the sides of the cavern when he met back up with the two women. ¡°Every race that seemed to have a representation in the place but them.¡± Ella shook her head slightly and led them to where she had found a broken stone tablet. Xavier took a knee next to it and wiped the dust from it. It contained a line of sigils in Sylvaerion. ¡°Beware the Maw¡­ beyond the gate¡­ only hunger remains.¡± Beyond where the tablet lay was several dozen bodies all clad in the tattered remains of elegant armor. ¡°The elves were here as well it seems,¡± Ella remarked. ¡°It was not a random attack. Everyone was fighting against something. From the looks of it something massive.¡± Lianna tossed aside the piece of broken weaponry she had been inspected. ¡°Fighting something and they lost. Given the devastation I would guess this was either when the Maw first arrived or when they tried to take the cavern back from it.¡± Xavier could only nod in agreement. ¡°At least they were avenged, even if it took far longer than it should have.¡± As he looked around something nagged at the back of his mind. A small bit of information trying to be drug to the surface. A brief passage in one of the lore books he had been reading mentioned grand underground highways and trade posts. Remnants of old empires and powerful dwarven crafting¡­ what they were called though he couldn¡¯t quite¡­ ¡°Could this have been part of a Grey Road?¡± He suddenly blurted out. Ella and Lianna looked at one another before back to him. Ella was the one who spoke first as she too looked about the cavern. ¡°It might have been but those were centuries old. I do not think these corpses could have been from that long ago. The cold and lack of weathering conditions would have let the bones survive for decades maybe even nearly a century but not long enough to warrant one of those.¡± ¡°No,¡± Xavier agreed, ¡°I don¡¯t think they died when the place first fell into disrepair and ruin, not when the Maw first took it. I think these corpses were part of an army sent to try and retake it. That means the Deeps under Rynthavael could likely connect to other places and a far larger subterranean system than I had even guessed at.¡± ¡°Our lore does mention lost tribes who lived underground and who traded with the deep folk. There has always been rumor and stories about creatures and monsters who would come out of the deep dark caves and caverns to steal unruly children and unwary travelers, but I always took those as more myth and ways to get kids to behave¡± Lianna retorted. Xavier grinned at the Iskari. ¡°Every myth has a grain of truth to it. At least that was the saying where I was from. Turns out the grain of truth for most of the myths back home was actually glimpses of Arath but that¡¯s beside the point.¡± The discussion helped turn their minds from the long dead army that surrounded them, smiles once again on faces despite their exhaustion and grime. The trio continued deeper into the cavern searching for the way forward. The deepest part of the chamber well away from the chasm that led them down in the first place lay a gruesome nest of jagged stone and a near countless collection of broken and gnawed bones surrounding a large circular depression. As they drew closer, they could see the depression had been ground smooth, likely from centuries of the beast¡¯s stony scaled form curled within it. Adding to the macabre scene were literal spires of bones, not piles but carefully arranged tower formations as if set up in trophy. Each spire decorated by broken weapons and armor. Nul¡¯Zarak obviously had more than just bestial intelligence, it had made these deliberately. Scattered amid the spires and surrounding the depression were pulsing patches of a blackened fungi, they had noticed smaller clusters of the stuff throughout the cavern, but it grew thicker and more abundant the closer to monster¡¯s nest. Xavier¡¯s paltry herbalism skill didn¡¯t register anything when he studied it and none of the companions really wanted to test touching the horrid stuff so they steered well away from the patches where they could. Opting more for safety than curiosity when it came to these at least. Here and there, among the remains, were much larger and older skeletons. Far to large to be human or any of the other races they had found so far. It clearly marked the Maw of the Deep as the area¡¯s apex predator. He had held this location from great and powerful beasts and seeming armies in the past. Xavier looked to the two women who accompanied him and offered a silent prayer of thanks to Danu and any other gods who might be listening that they had not met the same fate as so many before. Ella shuddered and nudged one of the massive skulls with her foot. ¡°This is not just a feeding ground. It is more a graveyard than anything else.¡± ¡°It is a lair,¡± Lianna corrected her. ¡°Clearly that creature had been here for decades if not centuries. It may have been what drove out the original inhabitants. Its size alone along with the marks and damage we had found just leading here show that it kept the number of other creatures in the area under control.¡± She looked to Xavier, ¡°Your people will have to patrol and watch over this level to keep it from becoming infested again. You need more villagers.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t agree with the woman more. She had cut to the crux of the very thing he had been thinking himself. If they could clean and maintain this area it would also offer a fall-back location if the surface was attacked. Aelriva had mentioned that the Syr¡¯Vailen could keep things from coming up from below, he wondered if it could do the same in reverse, providing a defensive ward against encroaching enemies from above. He made a mental note to discuss it with the sprite before he left for the wildlands. As they continued past the nest, they finally beheld the far edge of the cavern. It also ultimately granted them the first view of what Xavier was certain they were searching for. The same odd attraction he had felt earlier with the Ley-Infused heart, and to be honest, with the other Ley Line Cores he had found so far radiated up from a massive stone doorway. Its huge gate lay partially collapsed but still mostly intact. Deep uneven gouges marked the stone gates making it seem as if something, likely Nul¡¯Zarak had tried to tear them asunder and failed. An impressive feat considering how the monster had burrowed through the stone of the cavern floors and walls with relative ease. Stepping closer to the closed portal Xavier could make out faint sigils carved into the slabs. They were too worn to be able to make any meaning of them, but they still radiated with a soft inner glow. In addition to the grooves from enormous claws there were cracks and fractures not only in the gates but the archway that held them. Lianna traced her fingers over some of the sigils delicately until she came to one of the deep gouges. ¡°It looks like it was designed to contain something. Or defend against something maybe? The real question though, was it the monster we just killed or something worse beyond?¡± A jagged, human-sized opening yawned at its center, where a portion of the gate had broken away, revealing a narrow gap leading into the unknown. The darkness beyond it was absolute, swallowing the glow of the cavern¡¯s fungi as if rejecting even the smallest traces of light. The air felt different as it emanated from the opening heavier, colder, with a deep-seated pressure that sat at the edge of perception. It was not just another chamber; this place was sealed for a reason. Xavier pointed to the gap. ¡°Only one way to know for certain, I do know we need to go that way though. I feel as if they ley line is calling me. When I woke the first two, I started to sense the lines more. Its as if they are almost talking to me and urging me to find them.¡± He glanced to Lianna and gave her an apologetic smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to mention it before, but I felt it with the nexus of lines in Verdantspire as well. While they were not as welcoming as the Syr¡¯Vailen ones they still seemed¡­ friendly to me.¡± She merely raised an eyebrow at him, he was full of secrets, but she was becoming more understanding of why the longer she knew him and the more she actually learned about him. Ella smirked, casting Xavier and Lianna a sidelong glance. ¡°Well, standing here staring at it isn¡¯t getting us anywhere.¡± Before either could respond, she stepped through the gap, disappearing into the black. The light from her torch vanished instantly, as if consumed by the void. A beat of silence followed her rash action. Then, Valkra padded forward without hesitation, her small, sleek form slipping through the opening with the ease of a shadow. The panther cub paused just inside, glancing back at Xavier with a slow, deliberate blink, a challenge. Follow, or be left behind. Xavier sighed. ¡°Of course.¡± Lianna, arms crossed, arched a brow and grinned at Xavier. ¡°That was definitely a challenge.¡± He shook his head, then checked to ensure his swords were easily accessible and loose in their scabbards before stepping through the breach after them. The encompassing darkness swallowed him whole. A second later, Lianna followed, her form tense and alert. She held an arrow nocked but not drawn on her bow with one hand and the flaming brand of a torch with the other. Frostclaw brought up the rear, his deep blue eyes piercing through the shadows ahead, feline orbs seeing more detail in the faint light of the torches. Beyond the threshold, the air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else, something old, untouched by time. And beneath their feet, the earth pulsed softly, as if acknowledging their presence. Whatever lay ahead, the Deeps were not done with them yet. Chapter 11 - The Path of Stone Xavier stepped through the opening in the door and out into the expanse beyond. Ella and Valkra were standing just a few feet beyond the gap and Lianna soon joined them with Frostclaw bringing up the rear. The change in atmosphere was immediate and apparent. Not only did the air feel heavier around them, but it was also laced with a deep earthen scent reminiscent of freshly turned rich soil. There were no sounds beyond the soft flickering of their torches and the soft patter of their own footprints; even the ever-present sound of dripping water that had marked the previous passages was silent. Xavier raised his torch casting its shifting light in a larger area. The natural stone caverns from prior to the lair was gone. Here the walls, ground and what they could see of the ceiling was either unnaturally smooth or worked stone. It was clear that this was man-made, or the equivalent there of. ¡°This must be a Grey Road,¡± Xavier insisted. ¡°It is the only thing I can think to explain why the stone is worked the way it is.¡± Ella nodded slowly looking around with her own torch. ¡°It certainly does not feel like natural caverns anymore.¡± Lianna moved over to the side, her hand tracing over the worn shaped stonework. ¡°That is because it is not natural. This was carved and placed. There is also something more. I can feel a faint hum beneath.¡± Xavier moved next to her side and laid his hand on the stone as well. As before he could feel the slight hum and thrum of energy. Its cadence was a slow and steady beat, almost as if he could feel the heart of the world pulsing beneath his fingertips. ¡°It is alive, just like when we found the other Ley Lines. I¡¯m sure we are getting closer to the Earth one.¡± He whispered softly. ¡°Be wary, there is no way to know what is defending or living around it.¡± With those words he unsheathed Vaeltheris once again and moved slowly down the path. As they continued deeper, the passageway revealed glimpses of its former purpose, its subtle changes spoke of an age long past. Ancient waystones, partially buried under centuries of dust and debris, stood like forgotten sentinels, their surfaces worn smooth by time. The inscriptions carved upon them had long since faded, leaving behind only faint, unreadable etchings, whispers of languages lost to the dark. Beyond the waystones, ruined archways stretched overhead, their once-proud forms now reduced to crumbling remnants. Some sagged dangerously, their supports cracked and eroded, while others had collapsed entirely, leaving only jagged edges to mark where they once stood. These structures gave the impression of places of rest, or maybe crossroads where merchants may have once gathered, now they were nothing more than hollow echoes swallowed by the depths and passage of time. Further along the path, the walls bore ancient murals, carved deep into the rock. Though worn and broken in places, their images were still discernible; figures leading carts, merchants guiding beasts of burden, caravans passing through vast open chambers that no longer existed. The details were intricate, their craftsmanship speaking of a people who had not merely carved a road but built a lifeline beneath the world. Yet now, only these silent images remained, the travelers they depicted reduced to dust. The images suggested more to the passages Xavier had read about the Grey Roads in the old lore tomes. The further they walked the more certain he was they now traversed one of those mythical pathways. Most disturbing though was at times, the road itself shifted beneath them, its once-stable foundation tilting and changing in unnatural ways. Some sections would suddenly dip sharply, as though unseen hands pulled them downward, while others rose abruptly, those same unseen hands shoving the pathway away from its foundation. It was not erosion alone that had twisted the passage, something deeper had altered the very stone itself. The thought unsettled Xavier, a gnawing unease settling in his chest. What had happened here? And what waited for them at the end of this path? They had been traversing the roadway for nearly an hour before they came to the first unexpected changes. Though they had slowly become accustomed to the unnatural twisting and warping of the road that did not explain the small pile of bones now laying in the middle of it. Unlike the skeletons they had found back in Nul¡¯Zerak¡¯s lair these bones were not ancient and faded with time, they were fresh. Lianna and Xavier knelt beside them while Ella stood watch. The two trackers examined the bones and noticed that the pile was not the only ones, scattered about in the distance were other pieces if not intact bones. ¡°These are not ancient, something fed recently on these.¡± Lianna stated cautiously. She indicated the fresh crack marks showing where something had cracked the bones open to devour the marrow from within. ¡°Those are to deliberate to be the work of time.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked about the area. ¡°Seems we are not alone.¡± He motioned to several deep furrows in the stone, claw marks like what they had found from the ankheg¡¯s on the first level but slightly different. ¡°Any idea what might have caused those?¡± Lianna shook her head slowly and Ella knocked an arrow to her string. ¡°Whatever it was it is clear we are in their hunting grounds now.¡± Ella whispered. Wary the group continues down the road, the walls slowly narrowing causing a natural chokepoint in the passage forcing them closer to one another. Beneath their feet the worked stone of the road shifts and grinds as if the very ground they walked was uncertain. This was further complicated by sudden gravity changes. First a moment of weightlessness, their steps light, almost unmoored with a long loping skip, then a sudden crushing heaviness, as though the very air itself has turned against them. Their muscles strained with each step, adjusting to the unnatural forces at play. It was while struggling through one of the oppressive sections that they heard a noise besides their own passage. Faint whispers of sound, not voices exactly, but something much deeper and older. Xavier felt it most keenly, his inherent link to the Ley Lines coming into play as the Earth Ley Line called him forward, deeper. Those whispers of power only grew the further they moved down the road, the passage opening back to the wide highway like passage then squeezing down to sections that they could only walk two abreast. The travel had allowed them to mostly recover from the trauma of the first level of the Deeps but it had its only psychological effect on the group. In one of the narrow sections, they heard a new noise. Skittering, a soft rapid clicking, nearly imperceptible, at first but it grew in volume spreading around them like a living thing along the walls. The sound surrounds them, above, behind, around. Before they have a chance to react to the sounds creatures spring from the darkness. From the shadows overhead, moving with an unnerving silence besides the sounds of their claws on the stone, came several carapace clad creatures. Their elongated frames belying the grace at which they moved. Glowing lidless eyes shifted, locking onto Xavier and his companions. Two of the monstrosities let go of the stone they were crawling across to drop into the center of the party. Long vicious hooked appendages lashing out at whatever was closest to them. A third remained on the wall, one of its long limbs striking downwards towards the group forcing them to remain defensive. The last one hung further up, away from Xavier¡¯s group but watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The first of the two that dropped into the group lunged towards Xavier, its mandibles snapping over empty air with a loud clacking noise. The deadly hooks on its clawed arms swinging dangerously close to Xavier¡¯s throat. He lunged back out of the way of its near decapitating strike and quickly triggered insight. As the magic took instantaneous effect, and he knew what they were facing. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Name: Flesh-Feeder Disposition: Feral Aggression
The Flesh-Feeders are opportunistic subterranean predators, drawn to areas of death, ley energy fluctuations, and weakened prey. Though they lack higher intelligence, they hunt with eerie coordination, using their natural camouflage, burrowing tactics, and fast, brutal attacks to overwhelm their victims.
Health: 95/95 Stamina: 80/80 Mana: 30/30
Grimacing Xavier stepped forward to meet the creature¡¯s second clawed attack. Vaeltheris came up in defense catching the middle of the Flesh Feeder¡¯s forearm, as it did so the blade flared brighter while the edge of it first cut deep into the carapace and meat beneath before continuing through the appendage and sending it clattering to the ground behind him. The monster clattered its mandibles together clearly in agony from the wound but continued forward trying to snap its jaws around Xavier¡¯s face. The second creature that had dropped in the middle of the group surged towards Lianna. This, however, turned out to be a mistake on its part. Lianna, working with a perfect sync with Frostclaw, something bred of long familiarity and practice. The great cat¡¯s jaws closed on the back of the Feeders¡¯ head crushing the chitin beneath the powerful bite. The monster immobilized and fading from Frostclaw¡¯s attack turned out to be easy prey for the skilled ranger as her arrows found gaps and cracks in the natural armor quickly ending the beasts life. Ella contended with the third monster, the one still hanging nearby on the wall and taking swipes of advantage when anyone came within its range. As the creature swung a vicious hooked appendage at the woman, she brought her bow up catching and turning the strike into the stone beside her. Utilizing the brief opening she quickly drew and fired an arrow into one of the monster¡¯s lidless eyes sending a spray of ichor across the wall and showering down on her. The creature clawed fiercely at the impaling shaft knocking it free and unleashing a new torrent of the sickly fluid. It lashed out angrily at Ella once again, she narrowly ducked under the hook on the end of the creature¡¯s claw, rising behind it and loosing another arrow into the weak point in the back of the monster¡¯s shoulder. Its mandibles parted in a noiseless howl of pain. The unnerving silence of the creatures evident even in the most critical of distress. Valkra growled and bounded back and forth. Her claws, stingers, and jaws harassing the legs of the two on the ground aiding both Lianna and Xavier in their struggles. Chuffing and growling in communication with Frostclaw the two cats both turned their attention from the dying monster, riddled with Lianna¡¯s arrow shafts, to the one remaining a threat to Xavier. Valkra darted forward and one of her lashing tails sunk its stinger into a small gap between the chitin on the monster¡¯s leg. Her paralytic poison coursing through the beast causing it to suddenly seize up immobile. Xavier had not noticed his new aid, his attention focused solely on remaining alive as he fought and countered the Feeder¡¯s remaining claw and mandibles. When it suddenly froze still before him, he dropped his torch and wrapped both hands around Vaeltheris¡¯ hilt. Three quick strikes followed that action first, divesting the beast of its remaining arm, then coming back suddenly through the thin but armored neck of the beast sending its threatening head soaring through the air. His final strike of the three came down hard on the beast. Vaeltheris split the armored chitin of the humanoid form, driving lower the blade bisected the creature and the two halves fell slowly away, collapsing to the ground on either side of where Xavier stood panting. In the time it had taken Xavier to finish off the monster opposing him, Ella had managed to avoid further attacks. Each time she blocked, parried or dodged the lethal edge of the creatures hooked claw she was able to loose another arrow into its form. Its movement slowed perceptibly with each new sprouting shaft until it lost its grip on the wall and collapsed to the ground. The hard clatter of its carapace on the stone was highlighted by another tzzt sound of an arrow flying through the air. This time it buried its length between the ruined and the remaining eye of the creature. It¡¯s limbs twitching for several moments as if it was trying to rise before its body finally realized the actuality of its death and stopped moving. The final remaining Feeder, still hanging on the wall well out of reach of the party, clicked its mandibles together in consternation. It was torn between diving into the fight, hunger especially after seeing the deaths of its companions, was nearly driving it to a frenzy. Just as it was about to move, surge forward, attack, and feed; the earth shuddered. This was not a reaction to the burrowing monsters, nor the battle that was up until just a few moments ago, raging back and forth in the tunnel. No this was something far stronger, older, and deeper. Xavier could feel the ley line pulsing once again. Gravity around them started to fluctuate wildly. The sudden changes dragging the monster from the wall and slamming it with chitin cracking force into the ground between the party members. Vaeltheris and two arrows pierced the new openings quickly ending the monster before it could regain its feet. Ding! You have killed flesh feeders x 4. +4000 experience. (Bonus +250 experience for flawless teamwork & environmental adaptation) Total earned experience +4250. With combat over the experience prompt filled Xavier¡¯s vision before he minimized it out of habit. His chest heaving with exertion he looked first to Ella, then Lianna before checking the two great cats that accompanied them. Heaving a sigh of relief that none of them appeared injured beyond a handful of small cuts, scratches and bruises, Xavier sheathed Vaeltheris once again. ¡°That was too close, yet again,¡± Xavier stated. ¡°These ambushes are getting more and more dangerous.¡± ¡°I am more curious as to what is going on with the stone and earth around us. Gravity fluctuations are not normal, in fact, I have only really heard of them in the Blasted Lands and that area was destroyed by enormous magical means.¡± Lianna quipped. ¡°Whatever is causing them here has to be of enormous potential as well.¡± ¡°The Earth Ley Line?¡± Ella queried. ¡°I think so,¡± replied Xavier, ¡°And it knows we are close. I am not sure if it trying to help or hinder us however.¡± The power surged again, this time focused on Xavier, nearly pulling him rapidly down the hall into the darkness. Xavier was able to regain his footing and pull himself to a stop. Panting at the strain he dug his feet in to prevent himself from being dragged any further until, just as suddenly as it started. Xavier was allowed a moment of reprieve. The rest of the party ran down the passage to find him on his knees breathing deep and hard as he recovered his breath. Ella helped him to his feet, and he nodded his thanks to her. Lianna rested a hand on Xavier shoulder, checking that he had not been hurt by the power dragging him suddenly down the roadway. Xavier patted her hand to let her know he was fine as he reluctantly stood upright finally, he was bruised and abraded by the sudden pull which left him stiff and sore, but he was well beyond that. Opting to not go back and harvest the monsters for the time being the small party continued downwards. After a few more narrow passages and twists, luckily without the clattering of the feeders, the small party came to a massive, cavernous hall. On the opposite side, in the middle of the way directly across from them was another enormous archway, pristine and untouched by time. Unlike the gateway from above this one remained sealed and intact. Its surface retained its intricate engravings which spiraled into three distinct circular indentations. The deep emerald green of earthen magic glowed in veins through the surface of the doorway. It didn¡¯t so much seem contained as much as controlled. Xavier slowly began to step towards the door, the second step he took caused the door to flare with power, the indentations glowing brightly with a golden glow that offset the emerald one. A deep tremor shook the cavern before the very stone around the party spoke. Its voice a deep base with undertones of grinding rock. "The weight of the earth is eternal. Do you seek its strength, or will you crumble beneath it? The trials of the Earth Ley Line has begun" Ella winced and raised her bow once again. ¡°Why is it always trials? Can not one of these ley lines just say its happy to meet you and let you wake it? She glared at Xavier as if it was all his fault. ¡°Power isn¡¯t given its earned Ella,¡± Xavier replied once again stepping towards the doorway and placing his hand on the carved stone. The power surged and tingled beneath his hand, testing his resolve and magic, before just as suddenly it winked out and the door rumbled softly parting in the center as it opened to the continuation of the road beyond. The path forward had been revealed. Xavier sighed just knowing he was not going to enjoy this but then walked through the shimmering black of the gateway itself. Chapter 12 – The Weight, The Rhythm, and The Watcher Once past the gateway the darkness that had obscured the room slowly vanished. As if awakened by something treading the long unused pathway awoke something dormant and clumps of moss and lichen that clung to the walls and ceiling started to gently glow. Their bioluminescent shapes bathing the chamber in a soft and gentle light. Xavier and the others carefully made their way across the smooth floor to the center of the room. Ahead of them stood another archway, closed and secured against passage. They gathered around the only other feature within the chamber, a small plinth rose up from the floor. The top of it bore a slight depression in the rough shape of a handprint. The three companions exchanged glances while inspecting the object. It bore no traps that any of them could detect. Xavier especially spent several long minutes examining every exposed inch of the stone and surrounding area until he was satisfied that it was nothing more than what was presented. The question on all of their minds was what would happen if the handprint was filled. Scowling slightly Xavier broke the silence. ¡°This is clearly the way forward. I have no doubt that the doorway will not open without this being triggered.¡± He set his torch down, the light of the moss more than enough to illuminate the surrounding area. Ella caught his arm as he moved to place his hand on the plinth. ¡°Wait, one of us should do it. Not you. You are too important to lose again.¡± Xavier shook his head and gently removed her hand from his arm. ¡°The quest to wake the lines is mine. I should be the one to activate them. It might not react to anyone else. Besides you are both here to make sure I am safe.¡± Ella grimaced and looked to Lianna for support. The Iskari simply shook her head, Xavier was right, he should be the one to proceed if any of them were to do so. Clearly unhappy with the idea Ella took her hand back from Xavier¡¯s grip and shifted so her back was to the group, eyes facing outward to watch the room and hide the slight shimmer of unshed tears building in her eyes. Xavier took a long slow breath then lifted his hand placing it into the depression so that his whole hand lined up with the vague impression at the bottom. As soon as his hand fully covered the mark the room shifted. A deep vibrational thrum resonated through the plinth, up into Xavier¡¯s arm and through his body. As it reached his feet the wave passed into the room and the whole chamber reverberated with its passage. A weight slammed into everyone in the room. Not just the pull of gravity increasing but it felt as if the stone above was crushing down upon their meager frames as if the weight of the very world was upon their shoulders. Xavier collapsed to a knee beneath the pressure. Lianna¡¯s shoulders bent into a severe hunch, only her Animari resilience allowing her to remain as upright as she did. Ella¡¯s bow dug into the ground as she used its length to help support her as she strived to resist the pressure. Frostclaw and Valkra both were driven to the ground, their yowls of discomfort echoed through the chamber before even those were crushed beneath the weight. Xavier¡¯s awareness of the room collapsed into itself, he lost sight of his companions and the two felines as he struggled just to maintain his own position and not be ground into the stone he was upon. Slowly, as he struggled, he began to feel more than just the pressure. The initial vibration had masked the continuous rising and falling vibration that resonated within his very bones. As he became aware of the new feeling it reminded him of how he could feel distant thunder or the rumble of collapsing stones in the mountains when he was hiking back on earth. Seeking anything but the overwhelming crushing feeling his consciousness latched onto the new sensation using it to drown out the sensation of weight. Gradually, as he gave into the bone-deep vibration he became aware of a soft whisper, not words, but more the impression of something observing, something ancient and vast. It spoke without speaking and Xavier reveled in the language of earth and time. As he became less aware of the pressure he fought to rise to his feet once again. In response the whispers he heard deepened, became rougher, its tone ground against his senses oppressively and lost any sense of meaning. It threatened to crush his very consciousness as if it were in a great mortar and pestle. The more he struggled to rise the worse the sensation became until the strain caused small trickles of crimson to leak from ears, the corners of his eyes, and from one nostril. The pain threatening to sap his sanity caused him to relax, the less he struggled the less the whispers ground upon his essence. Relaxing slowly, he felt the whispers grow clearer, slower, and more inviting. Though there were no words, no riddles, no commands he could feel its presence both patient and unmoving. He slowed his breathing and leaned into the whisper. Fighting his own instinct to resist and struggle against the weight bearing down from above and the pull of gravity from below. The more he relaxed and yielded to the pressure the easier became to bear it. A slow realization built within as he became one with the whispers. ¡°The mountain does not move for the wind, nor does it need to. The river does not fear the stone, nor does it break against it.¡± That realization was a dam break, and he became aware of a soft glow building beneath himself. Faint emerald light thrummed in time to the vibration within his bones, with each beat it spread further out through the chamber tracing ancient unseen runes embedded in the very stone beneath their feet. Xavier¡¯s sense of awareness spread with the glow, not seeing as much as feeling the changes. The runes were not magical, nor were they controlling, they were solid, balanced, structured. They were representations of the essence of the stone itself. Xavier marveled that he was only just now becoming aware of the runes and the pulse of the glowing power. The weight from before had been so oppressive all aspects of the chamber had been driven from his mind. His own essence reached out into the glow beneath him and his consciousness blossomed, not leaving his body but expanding dramatically. He felt grounded, a part of the stone beneath his body, and sank into the very bones of Arath itself. He felt, so much as knew, the mountains rise and fall over the eons of time. His awareness spreading over the crumbling ruins of ancient civilizations long buried and forgotten. He felt the soft tickle of roots slowly burrowing through his presence as they wrapped around those lost structures and wormed their way deeper into the supporting strength of the stone. As the nature of the earth was to remember everything, so too did Xavier exist at that moment, at one with the timelessness of the deep core of the world. The light within the runes on the floor grew brighter with each pulse the more Xavier yielded to the earth. A soft grinding noise filled the chamber as figures coalesced in the surrounding stone. Humanoid shapes made of rock and crystal seemed to flow out of the walls and walk slowly towards the group. Their presence was not threatening nor aggressive but observant. They had witnessed countless individuals undergo the trial, most to be crushed beneath its unyielding presence struggling to the end to try and overcome the inevitability of earth. Some few, like Xander coming to understand, embracing and becoming one with it. One of the figures reached out a hand towards Xavier, as if offering to help him to his feet. Unseeing, Xavier took the hand. As he did the remaining pressure and overwhelming gravity vanished and he heard the grinding whispers once again. ¡°You have stepped into the flow. Now, you are part of it.¡± Rising to his feet with the assistance of the figure the room around him began to vanish, dissolving but not being destroyed, instead it gave way to new perception. As if a scene out of some sci-fi movie the walls warped out away from him giving way to an endless horizon of stone and sky. He had fully melded with Arath itself. His being no longer the individual but the stone, the weight, the ley pulse, the very essence of the Earth Ley Line. The enormity threatened to overwhelm his conscious mind. Then, as suddenly as it had happened it was gone. Xavier paused, his mind his own once again but more. A slow smile spread on his lips as he realized it wasn¡¯t truly gone but more a part of him now. He was aware, just as he had become of life and death energies, of the earth around him. The figures melted slowly down into the ground leaving Xavier standing physically unchanged but forever altered in his understanding of the world. As the last of the figures vanished into the stone floor the weight and pressure on the others vanished as well. Unaware of anything that had happened in Xavier¡¯s perception the two women and two beasts only knew the crushing weight and then relief. ¡°What happened,¡± Ella gasped the easing of the pressure causing her to nearly overcorrect and stumbled. ¡°Gods that was horrible.¡± Lianna regained her posture with greater ease and grace, but her eyes were narrowed as well. She turned her gaze upon Xavier who despite the fact she had seen him nearly collapse was now standing tall and proud. ¡°You did something did you not?¡± Each of the women moved to comfort the felines as they were also able to rise again finally. All eyes on Xavier he took several long breaths considering what he had experienced. ¡°The earth does not fight. It does not yield. It simply is. To stand with it is to be upheld. To fight it is to be buried,¡± Xavier said speculatively. ¡°The weight was never really there but was our perception of it. Or more my perception of it. Now that I have accepted it the Earth Ley Line has accepted me. This part of the trial is passed.¡± As he spoke a deep chime resounded through the chamber the doors at the far end of the chamber slowly began to part and open. ¡°Let¡¯s go there is more to do before we can fully wake the line.¡± He began walking towards the door and the next trial. Ella and Lianna looked askance at each other. Neither sure how nor happy with the fact that it was Xavier¡¯s perception that had impacted them so much. Ella, already bound to the man to her very core, was the first to be able to accept the explanation quickly followed behind him. Lianna was only a few steps behind, her mind struggling with the concept still. Behind the Iskari woman the two felines padded silently: Frostclaw watching his mistress and Valkra¡¯s eyes speculatively on Xavier¡¯s back the intelligence in the orbs even more curious about the human than previously. The archway gave way to another chamber that unfurled before them, its vast expanse of stone and silent power, the very air surrounding them thrummed with a presence older than kingdoms, older than memory. The silence gave way to deep, rhythmic vibrations that coursed through the ground feeling less like sound and more like the breathing of the world itself, slow and inexorable. Looking down at the sensation the group realized that beneath their feet, the floor was a vast mechanism of concentric stone rings, each etched with glowing runes that pulsed counterpoint to the breathing sensation like a slumbering heart, their steady rhythm disrupted by an unseen flaw. Along the edges, towering monoliths of black basalt, streaked with veins of emerald ley-line energy, loom like ancient sentinels. However, unlike sentinels they were not still, each one tilted, rotated, and shifted, moving in a deliberate yet fractured cadence, as if caught in a song missing its ending measure and leaving it in an eternal loop. The earth quivered beneath them, not in chaos, but in a controlled, measured tremor, a harmony thrown into a discordance. At the very center of it all, a solitary pedestal, carved from primal stone, stood unmoved by time or disturbance, waiting. As Xavier approached, its surface shuddered, and from nothingness, an inscription carved itself into existence, its glow quiet but certain, as though it had always been there, simply waiting to be seen. Xavier did not know the language, nor did his talent translate it yet somehow he knew what the words meant. "To move the earth, one must know its rhythm. Align the song or be buried in silence." As the words were read the room shuddered aggressively and the monoliths became more unsteady, movements increasing in speed and variation, their glow fluctuating wildly. Lianna, her ears flicking much the same as the two great cats, narrowed her eyes in discomfort. ¡°The stones¡­ sing, but out of key and out of sync. It is uncomfortable to listen to. Not quite painful but discordant.¡± Ella nodded slowly, he had pulled an arrow and was holding it up watching as its fletching shifted with the variations of the air in the chamber. ¡°The stones are not moving on their own. They are reacting, something¡¯s throwing them off. I get the feeling if we mess this up the whole chamber would collapse.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Xavier felt it all, his new understanding of earth feeding the sensations into his body in a way that was suddenly instinctive as much as conscious. Closing his eyes he let his resonance sink into the energy of the ley line beneath his feet. The song bloomed within him, its harmony missing and discordant as Lianna had observed. The underlying melody was fractured as though something was disrupting it. As the song of the earth filled his being Xavier became aware of each of the monoliths representing a note in the music. Their movements were not random but nor were they structured. They were a song disrupted. He allowed his awareness to flow over the rings within the floor, feeling their position in relation to each other and to the monoliths themselves. It was there that he found the true discordance. The rings were misaligned and that caused the monoliths to react to each other in the wrong cadence. Xavier reached out and placed his hand on the stationary pedestal. His eyes remained closed as he let the music flow into himself, through himself, and back into the stone. The truth of stone being unyielding echoing in unconscious mind reminding him to not try and force change upon the music but to gently guide it. His hand shifted on the pedestal, and he pointed to a spot on the floor indicating a specific ring. Ella followed his gesture and saw where the ring could be moved, she quickly crouched and adjusted the stone the way he indicated. In response the monoliths movements shifted slightly. Some spinning slower, some faster, and some tilting in a different angle. Lianna¡¯s eyes widened as the discomfort of what she was hearing lessened slightly and she moved opposite of Ella to be ready for any indication from Xavier for that side. Seconds extended into minutes into hours it seemed. The group lost track of time as they worked in harmony. Xavier patient and waiting, guiding the others to the exact moment to make an adjustment to the measure of the music. As they worked the erratic movements slowed, the discordant sound lessened, and the glowing runes came more into harmony. Finally, after an unknown length of time, the monoliths stood in perfect unison, their runes matched their pulsing glow in time with the thrum of the glowing ley lines beneath their feet. As the air stilled the song of the earth filled the chamber. It was not a melody that could be heard with mortal ears, nor a tune shaped by instruments. It was a vibration, a resonance, a truth woven into the very bones of the world itself. It moved slowly, deeply, unshaken by time, its rhythm measured in the shifting of mountains, the patient growth of roots through stone, the steady cycle of land rising and falling across eons. It was wholly unlike the other elements, not chaotic like fire, nor fleeting like wind. It did not flow as water does, but instead held, cradled, and endured. Its pulse was steady, a low, thunderous hum that thrummed beneath the feet of those who were present, not a sound, but a sensation, a whisper of stone pressing against flesh, of the weight of the world neither crushing nor yielding, but simply existing. Xavier opened his eyes as the music settled in his very soul. Everyone present could feel the shift and knew they were changed by it. The universe agreed with that understanding and all three received prompts indicating that their endurance and constitution both received a permanent +4 enhancement. New health and stamina flowed into their bodies ad they shifted fundamentally to reflect the change in their attributes. A deep, resounding tone filled the chamber, a soundless sound, one felt in the bones rather than heard with ears. As it faded the ley line responded. The pedestal next to Xavier sank into the earth, the monoliths stood still but to the party it felt as if they were watching and waiting for their next action, a script appeared hanging in the air where the over where the pedestal had been. Like before the language was unknown but Xavier and the others all knew the meaning as if it had been etched into their very souls. ¡°He who walks with the earth need not move mountains. He need only know where they will stand.¡± The deep resonance of the ley line pulsed through the chamber, steady and unshaken, as the final monolith locked into place. The once-chaotic sequence of floating stone slabs now stood in perfect harmony, their ley-infused glyphs aligned in an ancient, forgotten pattern. The low hum of power swelled, filling the cavern with an unspoken acknowledgment, the trial was not over, but it had shifted. As the echoes of the last movement faded, the far end of the chamber, a space previously obscured by the ever-shifting monoliths, began to stir. The ley pulse deepened, rolling through the ground like the weight of a mountain settling into place. A fracture split the stone, not with the violence of collapse, but with the precision of something shifting, and awakening. Stone peeled away, not crumbling, but moving with purpose, layers shifting aside as though the cavern itself was making way for something greater. From the newly revealed recess in the rock, a colossal figure emerged, its massive bulk composed of living stone, molten ley veins, and deep-rooted vines that coiled around its shifting form. In what was becoming second nature Xavier triggered insight and learned about the newest monstrous being standing opposition. His scowl deepened as he noticed the details of the construct¡¯s information.
Name: Verkhaz, the Earthbound Watcher Disposition: Impassive
A colossal being of living stone, molten ley veins, and deep-rooted vines, Verkhaz is an ancient sentinel of the Earth Ley Line. His four massive arms, each carved from unyielding rock, rest in deliberate stillness, not in idleness, but as a silent test for those who stand before him. His helm-like head, etched with constantly shifting runes, does not see in the mortal sense but perceives through the ley itself, attuned to the balance of the world.
Health: ???/??? Stamina: ???/??? Mana: ???/???
Verkhaz rose with deliberate finality, each movement sending small tremors rippling outward. His helm-like head, carved with faintly shifting runes, tilted slightly, as if observing them not just with sight, but through the ley itself. His arms, four in total, rested at his sides in perfect stillness, it was not an idle stance, but an invitation, a test unspoken. Then, the cavern rumbled again, no longer from movement, but from the voice of stone itself. ¡°You have walked the remnants of a Grey Road, endured the earth¡¯s weight, and moved with its rhythm. But to wield its power, you must stand against its might.¡± Ella eyed the construct before glancing towards Xavier, ¡°You always take me to the most interesting of locations and get me involved in the most interesting of situations. You do know that I did not have to face down titanic stone golems prior to meeting you right?¡± Xavier shrugged as he hefted Vaeltheris. ¡°Who says it¡¯s me? I blame the Iskari.¡± Lianna rolled her eyes at the exchange. She was rapidly becoming accustomed to the oddity of this human and his uniquely bonded companion. ¡°No, I agree with her. It is all you Xavier. Makes me worry about what we will find in the wildlands. If this,¡± She gestured towards Verkhaz, ¡°is any indication my money is on a kingdom of wyverns if not dragons.¡± Xavier sighed as the two teamed up on him. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with this first then we can worry about the future.¡± His eyes traversed the nearly three-story monstrosity. ¡°This is likely to hurt, a lot.¡± Verkhaz did not shift at all for the length of the discussion. It merely watched, waited, and judged. Any indication of its thoughts was unknown however, its nearly featureless helm hiding all usual methods of facial expressions. Xavier turned to study the construct for a moment then impulsively rushed towards it. The soft emerald light of the ley line that was illuminating the cavern glinted off the blade. Though not a master of the weapon Xavier was growing more skilled with it, and he moved with deliberate precision. Though the golem like creature did not move the room filled with the sound of metal clanging against stone while Xavier struck at each of the joints that he could reach as quickly as he possibly could. The enchanted blade struck true but had met stone that did not break. Verkhaz weathered the blows for several minutes, unmoving, unfaltering until it simply shifted, motion as inevitable as the weathering of mountains or the erosion of time. A single backhand came across the conflict. Xavier barely registered the movement before nothing less than a wall of stone caught him preempting his ability to block and flung him away. His battered body struck the floor, the impact driving the air from his lungs before rolling and then skidding across the floor coming to rest against the feet of Ella and Lianna who crouched down to check on him. In the back of his mind, he realized this was not a battle that could be won through power alone. Xavier shook his head, his vision swimming and ears ringing from the power of the blow. Coughing he spat dust and the taste of stone from his mouth. As his focus returned, he could see that the single strike took more than half of his life away. With a frantic worry he struggled to his feet only to see that the guardian remained stationary where it had been when he was knocked to the ground. Fully upright, though unsteady still, he felt the earth around him shuddering in slow paces, almost like the beat of a heart. The very same heartbeat he had felt previously in the trials. Aware of it now, he realized it was not just raw power that thrummed through the veins of the earth but a distinct rhythm. There was a distinguishable flow there as old as the very world itself. Words from before echoed dimly in his mind. "To move the earth, one must know its rhythm. He who walks with the earth need not move mountains. He need only know where they will stand.¡± The Earth Ley Line was not something to be conquered. It was not his enemy or something that he needed to break. Nor was it something he could simply impose his will upon. In the same way that the Life and Death Ley Lines were balance to each other Earth was balance, eternal and unwavering. Dimly he could hear the yells and roars of his companions and the great cats as they danced around the legs of the construct, arrows and claws rebounding from the stone harmlessly while their agility was enough to keep them from the slower strikes of the stone creation. ¡°Get back,¡± Xavier yelled. He shifted his stance, steadying himself as he let his movements sync with the rhythm of the ley pulse¡¯s natural cadence. ¡°It can¡¯t be hurt like that. I have an idea.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes closed, his breathing deepening as it also attained a sync with the earth¡¯s resonance. Varkhaz surged forward like an avalanche, its movements knocking everyone else out of its path causing them to collapse or rebound off the cavern walls. Xavier stood immobile a small tree in the path of crashing doom. However, when the massive strike of the guardian fell, he did not attempt to block it head on. Instead, he shifted the way the guardian did. The song of the earth aligned his movements, his body turned enough for the force of the blow to slide along his blade and past his body. He did not clash with Varkhaz¡¯s implacable strength, he redirected it. He did not struggle against the inevitable nature of earth; he flowed with it. In that moment the battle changed. Where previously the motions from the guardian were seemingly unstoppable, they now acted as a guide to the man standing before it not overpowering but supplementing. Xavier moved in tandem with the guardian as if anticipating the next movement and shift of the stone being before it happened. To Ella and Lianna it was as if it was one of the most graceful and incredibly choreographed displays they had ever experienced, and steel met stone in a dance of unison instead of defiance. In what seemed like an eternity but was in reality only a matter of moments the fight drew on until a sudden final blow. Xavier, blade in hand, lunged forward the tip of Vaeltheris striking the center of Varkhaz¡¯s chest, but not in a devastating blow but a tap, an acceptance, acknowledging the power of the element not dominating it. With that tap Varkhaz stopped moving completely. The tremors of the cavern slowed; the air grew heavy with potence. And Varkhaz knelt. The heavy thudding of the ley pulse steadied as the earth settled back to a natural peace. Xavier had passed the final trial of the Ley Line. He stepped slowly back and sheathed Vaeltheris. Varkhaz rose ponderously to its feet, its presence no longer overwhelming but welcoming and approving. Its massive form began to sink back into the ground, its eternal watch to resume. As it vanished though the resonant voice filled the chamber once again, now clearly coming from the construct. ¡°You have felt the weight of the earth and moved with its song. The path ahead will test more than your strength, it will test your foundation. Do not forget the patience of stone, nor the wisdom of roots. Go forward, knowing the earth will always remember." With those final words the guardian¡¯s head merged with the stone floor once again and it was gone. Ella, having recovered her feet, rolled her shoulders to push away the ache. ¡°Why does it feel like we just got lectured by a pile of rocks?¡± Lianna shook her head and checked on Frostclaw. ¡°I hope not all piles of rocks are like that. I certainly will not be taking what looks to be solid stone for granted again.¡± Ella grinned to the Iskari, ¡°It was not as hard as it seemed it would be.¡± ¡°I seem to remember you collapsing during the first trial.¡± Lianna rejoined. ¡°And yet, here I am still standing, so¡­ success!¡± Came the response. Xavier stared at the two, bemused at their exchange. ¡°We all came through it intact, so I have to agree with Ella, it¡¯s a success.¡± At the center of the chamber where the construct had vanished, the earth parted, revealing a massive crystal of emerald ley energy, pulsing like a living heart that rose up on a pillar similar to the ones that held the cores of life and death. Xavier stepped closer and placed a hand upon it, a wave of energy surged through him, and he felt the acceptance and awakening of the Earth Ley Line. Quest updated. ¡°Sleeping Lines 3.¡± You have gained the understanding of Earth. It is not a power to bend and control but one to embrace and guide. Return to the Syr¡¯Vailen to complete the quest and finalize the awakening of the Ley Line below Rynthavael. The opening where the construct had appeared in the far wall remained, now that they were not distracted by its presence, they could see that it was the way forward deeper into the depths. Now was not the time to continue that direction however, it was time to go back home and then forward into the wildlands. Chapter 13 - Rynthavael Awakens The return to the surface was relatively uneventful. They were not too deep into the second level so had not drawn much attention besides from the elemental forces of the Ley Line. When they reached the first level they could feel the change in atmosphere. Though the ruins were unchanged in the handful of hours it had been since they left them, the huge carcass of the Maw still laying where they had butchered it, the oppressive atmosphere was gone, and it was just a bunch of old underground ruins. Xavier continued to study them as they made their way across the broken tiles of the roadway and towards the crack in the wall that would lead them back to the crevasse and upwards into the upper tunnels. He still mulled over the ideas of it being a place for his people to fall back and defend themselves should the worse come to pass. Making note to pass the idea to Braegor he set it aside for now and focused on simply getting back to the surface. He was still getting use to the odd sensations he was receiving from being more in tune with the Earth Ley Line, cracks, crevasses and variations in the earth and stone stood out more starkly to his senses. He had a sensation overhead and far to his right that when he focused on, he was certain was some sort of rodent burrowing through the earth. He hoped as he became more accustomed to the sensations it would become more background noise instead of drawing his attention as much as it did. It could be very distracting otherwise. All three of the companions felt a deep relief when they finally entered into the rotunda that marked the entrance to the deeps. There was a presence there that was different than before. While the chamber had seemed more vibrant after waking the Life and Death Ley Lines now it felt more¡­ solid as well. Cracks and broken stones seemed to have vanished during their foray into the Deeps this time and the room seemed more intact than before. It made Xavier wonder what other changes would happen as they unlocked more floors and lines deeper down in the darkness. The small party made their way up the stairs leading to the mosaic chamber, the room had become an ersatz meeting place while the crafters worked on town buildings and halls above ground, so it was not uncommon for there to be any number of individuals meeting and discussing plans. As it was, there was a good number of people in the chamber when the trio emerged from the archway that led to the Deeps, not as many as when they brought Emily back but still enough to form a large greeting party. It was thus there was a large number of witnesses to the waking of the mosaic¡¯s earth section. As before power surged when Xavier¡¯s foot first struck the tiles of the mosaic. His very presence magnified the energy in the room and the semi-dormant Earth Ley Line responded with a force that shook and rattled the very foundations of the chamber. The ground beneath his feet groaned and shuddered reminding the trio of the enormous stone guardian awakening from its long slumber. The once-stagnant stone beneath the mosaic began to pulse, and the very air filling the chamber seemed to grow heavier, more robust, as if the earth itself was stretching and drawing in a deep breath. The tiles of the Earth section the mosaic, which similar to the rest of the dormant mosaic had been quiet and unyielding, now vibrated with life. The previously muted colors now radiated with deep greens and earthy browns, their shades growing vibrant and rich, and swirling into new patterns that evoked the images of roots breaking through stone. Cracks took shape along the edges of the Earth section, and from those fissures, moss and small saplings burst forth, their leaves glowing with a soft golden hue. The symbol of the Earth Ley Line, a sturdy tree with roots began to glow with a deep, emerald green light, radiating strength and resilience, and the mosaic¡¯s tiles shifted slightly the very stone beneath the section realigning, setting into place, and reconnecting with the ley lines below. From beneath the floor, a low, rumbling sound began to resonate, like the growl of the earth itself. The walls seemed to pulse with a deep, resonating hum that made the stone of the chamber seem alive. As the sound continued to build, a deep tremor reverberating through the chamber, cracks began to spider across the floor and shot outward from the nexus. The air grew even more dense with the scent of damp earth, the rich smell of freshly turned soil mixing with the faint trace of minerals. The atmosphere became increasingly dense, creating an intense sensation that grounded the witnesses and heightened their awareness of their position in the world. As the changes culminated the room was filled with a new, ancient energy, one that was both deeply rooted, yet full of potential. The vibrations in the stone traveled up into Xavier¡¯s body, and he could feel the power of the Earth Ley Line awakening, stretching its influence outward, filling the space with its quiet, solid strength. His connection to the ground beneath him deepened, and he could feel an innate pull toward the Earth¡¯s core, as if the ley line is guiding his very essence into the heart of the world. For the Syr¡¯Vailen, the Earth was alive again, and Xavier was its catalyst. Xavier closed his eyes becoming accustomed to the new sensations as the room slowly descended back to normal stability. The three sections shone with the radiance of their awakened state drawing an even greater stark contrast to the still dormant sections. When Xavier opened his eyes to gaze upon the tilework those sections seemed almost accusing to him, challenging him to restore their glory as well. Normal sound returned to the chamber and the witnesses erupted into discussion over what had just taken place. Many of those present had been present for the waking of the previous lines as well so they were, though amazed, not overly surprised this time around. The newcomers, several of those who had joined the village with the refugees, were awestruck however, Xavier could hear the talk about how the earth felt more real to several of them, or how they felt more stable. One or two also mentioned a greater awareness of changes in the earth around them, details of the stone and ground more vivid. Xavier¡¯s notifications indicator was flashing once again, the nature of the moment having caused them to auto minimize so Xavier could react to things as they happened. Now that some normalcy had returned Xavier smiled to the crowd and motioned for them to continue what they had been doing. He would talk with them later to make plans for his departure but for now he wanted food and rest. Leading Ella and Lianna up and out of the warrens he noticed Frostclaw and Valkra take off into the woods for hunting of their own. The trio headed towards the heavenly aroma of fresh cooked food and were soon rewarded with plates heaped with still steaming meat and roasted vegetables. While they sat and ate Xavier opened and reviewed his newest notifications. The first several were unsurprisingly quest updates and new quest prompts. Xavier was still mystified by the change in detail from when he originally arrived on the world. Quest Completed: "Waking the Earth ¨C The Foundation of Power" The Earth Ley Line has awakened. Its power, once buried beneath ruin and neglect, now flows freely once more, reinforcing the foundations of Rynthavael. The land responds, its strength renewed. The echoes of the past linger, but the path forward has been reclaimed. Completion Outcomes: Rewards: "The foundation is set. The earth endures, and now, so shall you." Quest Completed: "Sleeping Lines III" Another of the slumbering ley lines beneath Rynthavael has been restored, their energy now pulsing through the land once more. The flow of magic has strengthened, resonating with the settlement and its surroundings. As the nexus grows in power, so too does the world around it. Completion Outcomes: Rewards: "The lines no longer sleep. The nexus awakens, and with it, new possibilities unfold." Quest Accepted: "Sleeping Lines IV ¨C The Weave Deepens" Though several ley lines have been restored, the nexus beneath Rynthavael remains incomplete. More lines slumber, their energy buried beneath layers of stone and time. As the weave of magic strengthens, so too does the complexity of its restoration. The path ahead grows more demanding, but the rewards will shape the future of the settlement. Conditions: Objective: Challenges: Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Potential Rewards: "The weave of the world is vast, its threads entwined in forgotten depths. More remain to be found, more to be restored¡ªwill you see the pattern through?" Bigger quests led to bigger rewards, on top of the experience and items they found in the Deeps from the various monsters they had to overcome, Xavier was rewarded with another several thousand experience from completing the quests themselves. He grinned broadly as he opened the next notification and was rewarded with the now Pavlovian sound and text as the radiant symphony of chimes reverberated through his head, accompanied by the familiar booming voice reading the notification: "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 16! The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny¡ªan exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). (Total of 24 points remaining to distribute) Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 20% skill allocation (Total of 80% remaining) to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness. Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love¡ªand let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!¡± Xavier closed the notification and opened his stats interface. His eyebrows rose as he saw he was only 8% away from level 17 as well. He briefly considered putting off heading towards Arenvalis until he saw that 8% was still over ten thousand experience points. The large numbers coming from the monsters and quests they were completing were nice, but it was clear that to continue growing they would have to face even harder challenges. He took a moment to assign his attribute points, he did not want something to happen during their trip that would cause him to forget, and the points be assigned randomly. Thinking about their recent trials and what likely would be ahead he placed 4 points each in strength, constitution, agility, and dexterity. He knew this was keeping him more balanced overall but the fact that he was often in the thick of the fight with his swords drove home the need to be able to take a hit while dishing out damage. The points in agility and dexterity lent to his ability to dodge and strike successfully. That left him with 8 points to assign. He looked over his scores for several long moments. His lowest scores were intelligence and endurance both sitting at 14. These were followed by Strength, Wisdom and Charisma at 16 points each. Luck, in turn, sat at 18 and then Constitution at 26 points with Agility and Dexterity rounding the scores out at 28 points. He wasn¡¯t disappointed by any of the scores, especially considering how well he had been able to hold up. When it came down to it though he knew harder fights were coming and though the recent ones were short if there were more enemies, he would not have the energy to last. With a sigh he put six points into endurance and the last two into luck. Satisfied with his new attributes he mentally selected ok and applied the changes. When he turned his attention back to his food, he was surprised to find his plate was empty. He felt full and sated but couldn¡¯t remember the taste of the meal. Something that slightly disappointed him because the meals that he had enjoyed before in the village were always a treat. Pursing his lips slightly at the annoyance he resolved to pay more attention to the present when provided a treat of similar nature. Shrugging slightly, he decided to turn his attention to the new settlement spell. He was excited about it because it was the first new settlement spell, he had learned since getting the mark. The tab for spells came into view and he saw the spell for summoning the forest golems that had been instrumental in preparing and clearing the ruins and forests surrounding Rynthavael so far. Nothing had changed about it, however one of the greyed out and jumbled spells that was directly beneath it was clear and readable now. As the quest had stated its name was Living Forest Labyrinth. The name conjured images of trees making vast mazes surrounding the village complete with great bovine protectors wielding enormous axes. It turns out that it wasn¡¯t quite like that but much more effective. It didn¡¯t conjure walls of trees or stone, it didn¡¯t make walls or barriers at all. It was something much deeper and ancient, the very forest responded to the power of the Earth Ley Line. The spell had an initial cost of 1000 mana and required a daily upkeep of 250 mana. Something that could be done with the village mana pool though it would require a period of not summoning the golems initially. Xavier took a quick look at the villages mana and was surprised to see that it was actually sitting nearly full at 1386 of 1500 mana. It seemed with the influx of villagers they had not been asking Aelriva to summon as many of the constructs as before. He would make sure that changed, they would need all the labor they could get to continue building the village up in his absence. Though it did mean that he would be able to cast the spell immediately. Returning to the spell¡¯s description he read it over in detail to make sure he understood what was actually going to happen. Settlement Spell: Living Forest Labyrinth
Attribute Details
Spell Type Defensive Barrier ¨C Natural & Ley-Bound
Mana Cost Initial Cost: 1,000 Mana Upkeep: 250 Mana per day
School of Magic Earth (Terramara) & Life (Vitalora)
Range Encircles Rynthavael¡¯s Outer Borders
Duration Persistent (As long as upkeep is maintained)
Effect The Living Forest Labyrinth manifests as a sentient, ever-shifting woodland, designed to obscure, mislead, and repel intruders. Paths twist and change at will, preventing unwanted entry while guiding allies safely through.
Key Features - Shifting Terrain: Trails change unpredictably, ensuring no intruder can map or memorize the landscape. - Natural Misdirection: An unseen force compels trespassers to wander in circles, subtly nudging them away from Rynthavael¡¯s heart. - Selective Passage: Only those recognized or welcomed by the settlement can find safe routes through the labyrinth. - Ancient Resonance: The spell is woven directly into the ley lines, drawing upon Earth¡¯s strength to fuel its continuous evolution.
Defensive Strength - Prevents Large-Scale Invasions: Forces enemies to split up and get lost rather than march in formation. - Repels Lesser Threats Automatically: Sapient individuals with weak wills are instinctively deterred. - No Physical Barrier Needed: Unlike walls, the labyrinth is alive and reacts organically to threats.
Weaknesses - Ley Disruption: If the ley line is disturbed, the labyrinth may weaken or temporarily lose its effect. - High Mana Upkeep: Requires daily investment to maintain its adaptive properties. - Not Impassable: A skilled druid, Animari tracker, or leywalker may find a way through with effort. It also does not affect natural occurring beasts and creatures.
Additional Notes This is Rynthavael¡¯s first true defense, a gift from the Earth ley line. It ensures the settlement remains hidden and protected, allowing only those deemed worthy to pass.
The spell was amazing. In essence, it put an everchanging forest barrier around his lands. It not only would help keep the village hidden but would effectively shift and confuse any unwelcome visitors. He looked further down the spell description and found where he could add and remove individuals, groups, and even whole settlements from the effects of the spell. He could also delegate such capabilities to others as well. With a mental effort soon all of the villagers including the new refugees were given immunity and he made his guard captain, Braegor, and Ella administrators. After a short while he added Lianna to the administrator role as well. She was his companion and was his primary contact for the Verdantspire Animari. Chuckling softly, he added the Verdantspire Wardens to the immune section of the tab. Belatedly he had remembered that some were going to be helping patrol the woods around Rynthavael and did not want to hinder them unduly. Looking to the two women he grinned. ¡°Want to see what this new spell can do?¡± He motioned towards where the construction was going on for Hearthstead Hall, though incomplete it still offered multiple floors and he assumed they would be able to get a better view from the top of it. The trio moved at a walk to where Xavier had indicated. When they reached the balcony surrounding the mostly intact third floor they looked out over the woods. The view was amazing but nothing out of the ordinary. Xavier quickly pulled up the interface again, confirming that he still had the mana to apply the spell. Selecting yes when he was prompted to confirm his attention, he felt a thrum of energy rush up from the Syr¡¯Vailen. The wave of invisible energy rushed out through the village and into the surrounding forest. For several long moments nothing happened. ¡°Was there supposed to be something noticeable happening?¡± Lianna queried slowly. Her already impressive Animari senses straining to notice any change. Scowling in disappointment Xavier nodded. ¡°It says the forest is supposed to become a labyrinth for any not welcome to the village. I thought something would happen to show¡­¡± He cut off suddenly as Ella gasped and pointed. In the distance he could see the trees visibly swelling, seeming to stand taller, denser, and their limbs layering into one and other. Glancing towards one of the regular hunting paths Lianna almost laughed watching it shift slightly, its recognizable path twisting back on itself opposite of what it originally had been. The very mass of the forest had answered to his spell and was now adjusting itself in odd intervals. The oddest part was where they could see hints of one of the villages hunting parties moving through the wood. As the small group made their way the forest shifted back to what it was leaving them with a known path back home. Xavier slapped his hands on the banister in happiness. The delay of waking the Earth Ley Line was more than worth the loss of time. He paused and glanced down at the banister; it had felt more solid beneath his hands than it had just a few days ago. Pulling up the building interface he grinned even more. All of the buildings hit points, and resilience had increased by about 15%. He sighed in relief. The village was more secure than he had hoped for. Looking off towards the north, the direction that he knew the wildlands were in, he took a deep steadying breath. Soon they would have to depart and answer the quest of the elders. He only hoped they would be ready for what they would find there. Chapter 14 - Wardens, Beasts and Bonds. The next several days passed with relative stability, however, the air in Rynthavael carried a sense of momentum unlike before. The weight of uncertainty, the underlying tension that had once slowed the settlement¡¯s growth, had shifted, replaced by something far more potent: confidence. Word had spread quickly about the new enchantment protecting the village. Living Forest Labyrinth, wove through the trees surrounding their land and turned the very woods themselves into an effective defense that now turned against invaders, shifting paths, obscuring trails, and confounding those who did not belong. The knowledge that Rynthavael had become more than just a vulnerable foothold in the Silverwood had ignited something within its people. Where there had once been carefully rationed construction, slowed by the underlying fear of attack, now new structures were rising daily. Palisades were reinforced, their watchtowers expanding higher, offering greater visibility beyond the treetops. Homes were being built larger, sturdier, with the settlers and refugees no longer hesitant about putting down permanent roots. Xavier could feel the difference. The people walked with purpose now. They were no longer just survivors, no longer simply fleeing a horribly situation or simply holding on to the dream of a future, they were building it. He paused near the newly established training grounds, where several warriors were sparring under the watchful gaze of one of Rynthavael¡¯s newer seasoned veterans and Captain Coren Halewood. The dull clang of practice weapons rang through the air, interspersed with sharp commands and the occasional grunt of exertion. Nearby, a group of craftsmen were finishing the work on Hearthstead Hall, the finalized building would become the town hall of the newly established village, the framework of additional meeting chambers beginning to take shape. Decisions were being made now, not just for survival, but for the long-term governance of the settlement. Xavier turned his gaze toward the forest¡¯s edge, a noise heralded the arrival of several of the village hunters accompanying wardens from Verdantspire arrival. Their timing was impeccable Xavier thought considering they were leaving in the morning. With Rynthavael growing stronger, the world beyond its borders was shifting in kind. And with it, new challenges would soon follow. It was a small contingent of Animari all clad in woven leathers that seemed to shift in the light causing those wearing them to seeming fade in and out of sight amid the trees of the forest. The effect was as mesmerizing as it was disturbing. Xavier could easily see how this elite group of warriors could protect the Animari settlement from nearly all outside incursions. He also knew he wanted to know how it was done and if he could do similar for his own guards. He moved towards the north-eastern gate, one that had only recently been completed, to meet the new arrivals. The group moved with measured deliberate steps their natural agility and awareness gave them a perfect synchrony with the forest they emerged from. At their head a lone Duskhari walked, his gaze shifting to take in the entirety of the settlement within just a short few moments. His eyes settled on Xavier as the young lord emerged from the gates. A single hand gesture caused his contingent to halt, falling into an easy relaxation. The Duskhari continued forward with the hunters and was soon introduced as Kaelar Thornclaw. He was a striking specimen of the Pantherkin Animari, standing nearly 6¡¯6¡± tall, his sleek black fur was marked with old battle scars where it was visible beneath armor blended of dark leather woven with bark. Piercing amber eyes scrutinized Xavier as a long battle marked tail lashed back and forth behind him. After several long moments he finally nodded his head slightly and spoke. His voice was deep and soft, the rumble of distant thunder in the night gloom. "Rynthavael, it stands on a ley convergence, yeah? An¡¯ the land, oh, it feels it¡¯s wakin¡¯. But heed me, young lordlin¡¯, it ain¡¯t just yer people who¡¯ll be answerin¡¯ its call, non. The deep woods, once quiet an¡¯ still, now stir with unseen things. The forest, she shiftin¡¯, drawin¡¯ out beasts long thought lost in the dark recesses. The power o¡¯ the ley, it breathes new life into the mana o¡¯ the Silverwood, an¡¯ creatures, they be drawn to it. Some, hah, they just predators, huntin¡¯ for their due. Others, though? Others be ancient things, things the world best left slumberin¡¯. Not just beasts o¡¯ claw an¡¯ fang, non, these be remnants o¡¯ past ages. Monsters that walked afore the world was torn asunder. Ye¡¯ve changed the balance, lordlin¡¯. Not just in these forests, but in the world itself. Now the land, she adjustin¡¯ to this new way¡­ an¡¯ ye best be ready for what comes next." Xavier was taken aback from the sudden lecture of his impact on the Silverwood, partially from the scolding sounding tone but also from the accent that reminded him of the few Cajun individuals he had known back on Earth. He was readying to retort in his defense when the Duskhari lifted a single hand to stop him. "Non, don¡¯t be takin¡¯ my words as a rebuke, lordlin¡¯. I bring ¡®em as a warnin¡¯ from High Speaker Moonstride herself. She say ye need to understand, each time ye breathe new life into yer nexus, it don¡¯t just call to people, non. It calls to the land itself, to things that stir in the deep places, to creatures that feel the shift an¡¯ come seekin¡¯ what¡¯s changin¡¯. That¡¯s why I brought the number o¡¯ Wardens I did. We ain''t just here for words, we intend to honor the pact, to keep yer settlement safe from the wild things that now wake. The threats, they be growin¡¯, but so are we, yeah? Ain¡¯t no beast yet that a Duskhari can¡¯t track¡­ or put down if need be." Though he didn¡¯t smile there was no animus to be felt from him. He had an air of serious mien, his discipline evident in his every action. Xavier placed his right fist in his left palm and bowed to the Animari, the addition of the information coming from Kaelith soothing the initial irritation at the manner of the Warden Capitan. ¡°Rynthavael welcomes you Wardens of Verdantspire.¡± He stood and motioned to the gate. ¡°Our allies are always welcome, please make yourself at home. Captain Coren is¡­¡± He cut off as the captain walked out of the gates, as if the mention of his name summoned the old guardsman. ¡°Is right here he would be the best to coordinate with.¡± The old soldier and Dushkari warden took several minutes sizing each other up before clasping forearms each recognizing a kindred spirit in the other. Kaelar made a gesture to the waiting contingent of wardens, and they were soon gathered introduced and followed the trio into the city as the hunters went back into the woods. While they walked Xavier focused on his interface giving all of the new wardens¡¯ immunity to the labyrinth spell and giving Kaelar administration of it similar to Coren in case he found the need to bring additional wardens. Outside of Kaelar, none of the wardens accepted shelter within the city, opting instead to return to the woods and their roving patrols. Kaelar informed Xavier and Coren that it was the normal for the Wardens. They would return on regular intervals with information on what has been seen and game that was caught. It would supplement the food supply of the village significantly. Xavier, Coren, and Kaelar made their way to the training grounds and spoke for long hours discussing patrols, duties, and joint training. Kaelar agreeing that his wardens would take hunters and scouts out on patrols to help them hone their skills and grow in strength. As the discussions drew on Lianna and Ella came searching for Xavier. Lianna seeing the Warden Captain drew to a rigid attention her left fist held to her chest in salute to one of her seniors. Kaelar returned her salute. "Ahh, greetin¡¯s to ye, sister Warden. Yer brother, he sends his well wishes, yeah. Say he thinkin¡¯ of ye, watchin¡¯ the winds for news o¡¯ yer hunt. An¡¯ I see now, ye been walkin¡¯ lands where no tracks lay before, paths once left untrod now know yer step. Hah! Ye grown stronger since last we spoke, that much is plain. I see it in yer stance, in the way the wilds sit easier ¡®round ye now. Tell me, how fares Frostclaw? That great beast still prowlin¡¯ at yer side, keepin¡¯ them sharp eyes on all who dare tread too close?" There was a clear sound of pride in the Duskhari¡¯s voice as he spoke to the woman. ¡°I hope Liosan has not caused you too much trouble in my absence. He always has been reckless and impulsive, even if he is one of the best scouts in the Wardens.¡± Lianna laughed as she moved forward and hugged Kaelar. ¡°Of course, Frostclaw is still with me. Hes out hunting with a new friend. Xavier here has a young Shadowmane that hunts with him. I never would have believed it had I not met Valkra myself.¡± Kaelar turned apprasing eyes upon the young lordling. Scrutinizing him anew. "A Shadowmane, ye say? Hah! That be a rare thing this far south, yeah. Even rarer still that one would take to any outside the Duskhari, non. Those beasts, they ain¡¯t just shadow an¡¯ fang, they be spirit an¡¯ instinct, an¡¯ they don¡¯t bond with just anyone. For one to trust ye, lordlin¡¯, that speaks to somethin¡¯ in yer soul. A fire, a stillness, a way o¡¯ movin¡¯ through the world that don¡¯t break the balance but walks with it. That ain¡¯t a thing to be taken lightly, non. One day, ye¡¯ll have to sit an¡¯ tell me that tale, yeah? Somethin¡¯ tells me it¡¯s worth the hearin¡¯." The Duskhari stroked his chin for a minute. "Hnn, we saw the signs long ¡®fore we neared yer lands, lordlin¡¯. This¡­ this ain¡¯t just some beast wanderin¡¯ too close. Non, non. Deep gouges in the bark o¡¯ trees older than memory, claws raked ¡®cross stone like a blade through flesh. An¡¯ the scent, hah, a musk thick with challenge, with claim. This thing don¡¯t belong near settled lands, no sir. An¡¯ yet, here it prowls. It be a Gloomclaw Mauler. Hah! Ain¡¯t seen one so close in an age. Territorial, smart, patient. Ye don¡¯t get that big without learnin¡¯ when to fight an¡¯ when to watch. It¡¯s watchin¡¯ now, seein¡¯ what we are, weighin¡¯ if we be worth the effort o¡¯ a hunt. So tell me, lordlin¡¯, ye ready to prove we ain¡¯t prey as it¡¯ll come when it¡¯s ready. An¡¯ when it does, it won¡¯t be leavin¡¯ till one of us is dead" Xavier glanced at Lianna, she had been a font of information about creatures in the past however she only shrugged. Kaelar related lore and legend about the creature. He reiterated that they had not been seen in this or even the previous age. It made the creature out to be something of primal fury and intelligence. Day slowly faded into night and the gloom of dusk grew around the settlement. The last glimmer of daylight faded as the sun settled behind the Silverwood canopy, it left Rynthavael lit only by the flickering glow of torches and lanterns. The settlement had eased into the steady rhythm of their evening routine. The fires of the forge dimming, the merchants closing up their small stalls, and the majority of hunters and scouts belonging to the village returning from the deeper woods. It was as the twilight settled that the guards standing some of the newly built guard towers noticed the change, the ever-present sounds of the forest had gone unnaturally silent. The usual chorus of insects and the distant calls of forest denizens vanished all at once. Xavier had been walking the inside of the wooden palisades when the strange occurrence caught his attention. To him it seemed as if the woods had taken a deep breath and held it. It only took a handful of seconds after he paused to consider the change when a horn split the silence. Its call rising further to the west from where he was at, and he took off at a run to where it rose from. As he drew closer, he heard one of the guards calling out in alarm. ¡°Something is moving! Something big and it is coming in fast!¡± It was then that he heard the growl, deep and resonant, so low that it seemed to vibrate the very ground beneath him. He pushed himself to run faster. By the time Xavier¡¯s usual party, as well as Kaelar reached the outer defenses, the torches along the perimeter flickered violently, and the air thick with an unfamiliar musk. Rushing to the small walkway within the battlements they looked out into the surrounding woods. It was there that they saw movement, A shadow as tall as a warhorse, and as broad as a boulder, lumbered forward from the treeline with deliberate, thunderous steps. Golden-amber eyes flickered in the darkness, like distant lanterns, unblinking, watching. The Gloomclaw Mauler had come. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Xavier triggered insight as soon as he could make out the beast.
Name: Gloomclaw Mauler Disposition: Calculated Domination
A towering force of muscle and primal instinct, the Gloomclaw Mauler is more than just a beast, it is a ruler of the untamed wilds, an apex predator that has honed its craft over generations. It does not attack recklessly, nor does it hunt for sport. Instead, it watches, learns, and strikes with overwhelming power only when it deems its prey worthy of the effort. Its massive ursine frame is covered in coarse, shadow-woven fur, blending seamlessly with the Silverwood¡¯s darkness. Its claws, the length of daggers, are reinforced by natural keratin as strong as obsidian, capable of tearing through reinforced wood and stone. It does not rely on brute strength alone, however, this is a predator of precision.
Health: 720/720 Stamina: 550/550 Mana: 0/0
Disturbingly the creature didn¡¯t just rush in to attack, nor did it snarl or roar in rage. It stalked closer with a confident predatory air. A hunter that knew it had its prey where it wanted it, and the kill was only a matter of time. It moved slowly, just outside of the torchlight on the palisade, close enough to be glimpsed but not clearly seen. A sudden movement was highlighted by the crack of splintering wood. The beast had raked one massive claw against the palisade and left deep gouges in the reinforced timber that made it up. Yells rose from the handful of men atop it as the structure shuddered and threatened to collapse from the single attack. Arrows flew after the shadow of the monstrosity but seemed to have no effect. Kaelar¡¯s tail flicked back and forth, his amber eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°It aint just huntin¡¯, it be makin¡¯ a point.¡± The words made Xavier tighten his grip on Vaeltheris. He worried about further waking the ley lines if this is what it would draw. The attack was as sudden as it was violent. With the sound of a landslide the Mauler surged towards the palisade. The thunderous impact echoed through the night as its claws sunk into the wood and tore a section of the wall asunder with terrifying ease. The guard who had been standing atop the section barely had time to react leaping to the side and sprawling on a still intact section, his spear skidding off the walkway and into the darkness below. Just as suddenly the mauler was inside the perimeter of the wall. Lianna¡¯s bow sung out three times in a rapid succession. One arrow bounced harmlessly off the thick fur of the ursine beast. The second stuck but only barely sank into the thick muscle barely fazing the creature as it surged forward. The final arrow found a weakness in the joint of its shoulder. That brought forth a grunt and caused the beast to shake and turn its attention towards where the pain had come from. Kaelar snapped out a sharp order, he lunged forward with his spear and the few wardens who were in the village to report closed ranks around him cutting off the Mauler¡¯s route towards the heart of the village. They were not trying to corral it; however, they worked as a team to draw its attention. Ella, in turn rushed to one of the close by guard towers, scaling its ladder with an urgent speed. Reaching the platform, she drew an arrow to her cheek, her eyes steady and studying the creature below. It quickly became apparent that this was not a beast she could eliminate with a single shot. That made her hold her arrow, waiting for when it would matter most. The mauler reacted to all of it with unnatural instinct. It did not strike out with rage nor snarl in frustration. It sidestepped the spear strike from Kaelar with a grace the belied its massive bulk. Its head dropped below the swing from one of the Ursari Wardens, causing its axe to swing harmlessly overhead the move a pivot as if it knew the incoming strike was coming before it ever happened. The beast moved not as a rampaging animal but a war honed predator that had complete control over the fight. Then its attention focused on Xavier. Their eyes met and Xavier knew. The beast could sense his inherent connection to the ley lines and the nexus of the land here. It had come for him specifically, drawn to the power developing. The mauler charged; Xavier braced bringing Vaeltheris up in defense as he met the beast head on. The clash and impact sent shockwaves through the ground kicking up dirt and loose stones from the sheer force of the blow. Xavier¡¯s arms trembled beneath the pressure, however, his boots dug into the soil beneath him his new connection with the power of the Earth Ley Line gave him a resilience he had not felt before. He stood solid against the force of the mauler while its claws scraped and squealed against the magical steel of his sword. Kaelar used that moment to strike, darting in from the side his spear dug a deep mark into the flank of the mauler. The blow caused the beast to twist violently, and a deep resonant snarl erupted from its mouth. Its massive claws swung outward striking Kaelar and hurling him backwards. The agile warden rolled with the force of the blow landing in a crouch and snarling his own anger as his free hand rose to wipe a small rivulet of blood from his nose. The distraction gave Xavier an opening of his own. With a shout he lunged forward and Vaeltheris sunk deeply into the mauler¡¯s shoulder. That blow was marked and caused the beast to stagger backwards. Its eyes flared in anger as for the first time it felt real pain and that caused it to hesitate. It was not over though; a white blur came out of the shadows between buildings. Frostclaw had joined in to the attack. The snow leopard surged forward from the side of the mauler, his powerful legs propelling him into a vicious pounce. Claws raked across one of the mauler¡¯s hind legs forcing it to adjust its weight and causing a shift in its balance. Frostclaw had vanished back into the shadows before retaliation from the forest monster. The gloom swallowing the great cat like a ghost fading from view. As the mauler turned searching another shadow struck, this time from above. Valkra leapt from one of the rooftops, she had used the chaos of the fight to gain an advantage from above and landed on the Maulers back. Her claws found purchase in the beast¡¯s thick fur, biting deep as she snarled and raked at its exposed hide. It was the bite of the stingers on her twin tails that caused the mauler to buck and roar violently as it tried to dislodge her. Between the animals, Wardens and Xavier the mauler was on the defensive for the first time in the battle, for the first time in long ages as a matter of fact. A fact that Ella took advantage of. As the beast threw itself backwards to try and dislodge Valkra it lifted its head exposing the underside of its throat for a brief moment. Long enough for Ella to exhale and loose her drawn arrow. It flew through the night sky and struck true, but not deep. It staggered the mauler with a non-fatal blow, but it now knew that it was not standing amidst prey. They were much more dangerous. It chuffed in a deep rumbling tone, not one of pain but of acknowledgement. Having managed to shake Valkra from its back just moments before the arrow struck it stepped backwards away from the threat that Rynthavael presented. Its aggression replaced, not with fear but with understanding. Slowly, deliberately it turned and lumbered into the forest. Just before the woods closed around it and it disappeared from view it stopped and looking back at the defenders of the settlement, it drug its claws down a large standing stone leaving deep claw marks. A clear marking though the collected defenders had no idea of its meaning. Rynthavael had withstood its attack, but the beast still lived and now it knew the threat, something it would not forget. The defense of the village redoubled after the attack. Carpenters moved to replace the damaged section of the wall despite the late hour in effort to restore the protection as quickly as possible. Those who were involved in the fight collapsed as the adrenaline of the moment wore off. They were luckier than they had any hope of being given the foe. Xavier and Kaelar having taken the brunt of the damage and both were given healing tinctures from one of the village healers. As the night deepened there was no indication that the monster would return so the village slowly settled into a wary rest. The firelight flickered along the walls of Hearthstead Hall. The light cast long shadows over the gathered supplies for their journey. The others had gone to rest or finish their preparations, but Xavier remained, adjusting the last of their gear before their departure for Ironhaven. Ella¡¯s footsteps were light, barely a whisper against the stone floor and he didn¡¯t turn as she approached, but he felt her presence beside him, steady, unshaken. For a moment, she said nothing, simply watching as he secured the last of their packs. Then, with practiced ease, she reached into her own satchel and pulled something free. The movement caught Xaviers attention, and he turned noticing what was in her hand, a collar. Its dull metal glinted in the low light, an unremarkable thing to anyone who didn¡¯t know the history behind it. But to Xavier, it was more than just a length of metal, it was a symbol of one of the things he detested about Arenvalis, and about Ironhaven in particular. Ella held it up between them, her expression unreadable. "I will wear it," she said simply. Xavier finally looked at her, his jaw tightening. "You don¡¯t have to." Ella tilted her head, her keen eyes searching his face. "You said the same about Lianna. But she will, because she has to. She cannot walk in Arenvalis as a free Animari and we need her as a guide." Xavier exhaled slowly, his fingers curling into his palms. "You shouldn¡¯t have to bear that weight just to make things easier." "Maybe not," she admitted, rolling the collar between her fingers before meeting his gaze. "But you are thinking about this the wrong way." She took a step closer, holding the collar up between them, her fingers firm against the cold metal. "Lianna wears hers and remembers a time when it had power over her. You see it, and it reminds you of something that grates at you. But me?" She shrugged slightly, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "It is just a piece of metal." Xavier studied her for a long moment. It was something about this woman that appealed to him. Ella never let things weigh her down. She was unshaken, unburdened in ways the rest of them weren¡¯t. But this wasn¡¯t just about her, it was about Lianna, about trust, about the mission ahead. And Ella had seen it before Xavier had. "If I wear it," she continued, softer now, "it changes the way Lianna sees hers. She will not be alone in it. It¡¯s not about what it means to me, Xavier. It¡¯s about what it means to her." His fingers unclenched. He turned his gaze to the collar, then to Ella. "And what does it mean to you?" he asked. She grinned, tossing the collar once in her hand before triggering the rune that unlocked the device. Tossing the rune to Xavier, she slipped it around her neck, fastening it with a quick snap and it hung loose against her skin, more mockery than restraint. "It means I get to piss off some slavers and make them underestimate me," she said with a wink. "And that? That, I am perfectly fine with." Xavier let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "You¡¯re impossible, you know that don¡¯t you" "That¡¯s why you like me." She gave him a quick, light punch on the arm before stepping back, arms crossed over her chest. "Besides," she added, "if we are going to play our parts, we do it right. Ironhaven does not get to control the terms. We do." Xavier met her gaze, something unreadable passing between them. He was still uncomfortable with the fact she was bound to him. It was easy to overlook that she was an embodiment of the sentience of Vaelthris when she stood before him. However, at this moment he understood her intentions, and that made all the difference. With a final nod, Ella turned and strode toward the door, leaving him alone with the weight of his thoughts, and the knowledge that soon, they would walk willingly into the heart of Ironhaven¡¯s cruelty. But they wouldn¡¯t walk in as victims or even unaware of the dangers, they would walk in ready to burn it all down if they had to. Xavier stared at the doorway that Ella disappeared through. He knew he was seeing her as more than just a companion and party member. She was more than just the sentience of his blade. She was flesh and blood and¡­ enchanting. A sudden realization struck him as he recognized why he was so upset about her in a slave collar. He had been developing feelings for her. Chapter 15 - Into the Wildlands The night was cool and quiet, the heady aroma of the Silverwood drifting on the gentle evening breeze. Kaelar stood at the edge of the settlement, his golden eyes locked on the young Shadowmane cub that sat outside of the forest line. Valkra held an unnatural stillness. It was not the stillness of a frightened cub, but that of a predator who had learned patience. One who had learned to wait. Her sleek, dark fur melted into the night nearly camouflaging her from view, only her piercing golden eyes reflected the glow of the distant torches. Kaelar exhaled through his nose. The Duskhari and Shadowmanes had always shared a bond, an understanding between the Animari hunters of the wilds and the panthers who moved like ghosts through the natural terrain. Their ancestors had learned to fight beside one another. Something they had passed down through generations with more and more of the Duskhari learning to partner with the intelligent creatures. They had hunted together, had shared the burden of protecting their kin, and yet, this cub had chosen Xavier. Kaelar needed to know why. He stepped forward, his movement deliberate, measured. Valkra¡¯s ears flicked, but she did not turn. She had known he was coming; he had not bothered to mask his steps out of respect. "Tell me somethin¡¯, little huntress¡­" Kaelar said, his voice low, steady. "How is it ya came ta de Silverwood?" Valkra¡¯s tail curled slightly, but she did not answer with anything else. Kaelar crouched down, resting his forearm on his knee. His tail swayed slow and thoughtful behind him. "Shadowmanes don¡¯ belong here," he continued. "Not in dese woods. Yet here ya are." For a long moment, Valkra made no move, then, her gaze shifted, not to him, but toward the thick tree line, toward the path she had taken to reach this place. Kaelar understood. In a way long developed between the two species he could read her motions. His voice softened. "Yer mama." Valkra stayed silent, but her tail flicked once, sharp and deliberate. Kaelar¡¯s jaw tightened. "Who took her?" The cub¡¯s ears flattened slightly. Then, her tail lashed. A quiet huff of breath escaped her nose, anger, memory, loss. Kaelar exhaled slow the subtle motions of the cub¡¯s tail and ears told him all he needed to know. "Shardfangs." His voice held no uncertainty. Valkra did not move, but her golden eyes burned with confirmation. Kaelar had hunted those beasts before, larger, stronger, more cunning than any normal wolf. Their scales were like knives, their silence more dangerous than their fangs. They were not beasts that killed for need. They killed for the joy of it. And once they had marked something, they did not stop. His golden eyes flicked toward the faint scars along Valkra¡¯s flank. "She fought ¡®em." He queried. Valkra¡¯s ears flicked slightly, but she did not break her stillness. Kaelar let out a breath through his nose. "¡¯Course she did. Das what a mama do." She had not gone down easily. Shadowmanes were as unyielding as the wolves that had hunted them. But one against a pack? Kaelar clenched a fist against his knee. "She gave ya time ta run, didn¡¯t she?" A slow blink was the only movement from the cub. Kaelar exhaled, shaking his head. "She knew what she was doin¡¯." His voice was quieter now. "Knew ya was worth savin¡¯." He could picture it. The wolves closing in, their glowing eyes flashing in the dark. The panther, wounded but unyielding, standing her ground as her cub fled into the unknown. A final roar of defiance. A last stand. Valkra had run. Not because she was weak, but because she was smart. And then¡­ Kaelar¡¯s gaze lifted, watching the way the cub¡¯s ears flicked toward the settlement, toward Xavier¡¯s quarters. A slow realization settled over him. "But ya didn¡¯t just run, did ya?" Valkra¡¯s golden eyes finally met his. Kaelar snorted. "Non, little shadow, they found you, didn¡¯t they? Ye may think it was chance, mayhap even fate, but I tell ye, hunters like us? We call to those meant to walk beside us. An¡¯ they answered, yeah? They came when the night was thick with blood an¡¯ fangs, when yer mother made her stand. They fought, not as hunters, non, but as kin who saw what must not be lost." Xavier and Ella. The two who had found the Shardfangs that took her mother. The two who had fought beside her. The ones who had finished what she couldn¡¯t. He gave a slow nod, his tone softer now. "Ye walk with ¡®em now, Valkra, but make no mistake, it weren¡¯t just their choice. It was yers too." Valkra¡¯s tail curled slightly, slow and deliberate. Kaelar let out a deep breath, then straightened, arms crossing over his chest. His golden gaze locked onto hers, steady, unshaken. "Aight, listen up, little huntress. Since ya made yer choice, I¡¯m gon¡¯ give ya a charge." Valkra¡¯s ears twitched forward. "He don¡¯ got de instincts ya got. He don¡¯ see de world like ya do. But he¡¯s walkin¡¯ a path dat¡¯s gon¡¯ need him ta be more den he is now." Kaelar exhaled slowly. "Ya been watchin¡¯ him. Now, watch over him." A long moment passed. Then, Valkra lifted her head and gave a slow, deliberate nod. Kaelar snorted. "Good. Den we got an understandin¡¯." Turning on his heel, he walked back toward the settlement, his voice carrying one last time over his shoulder. "Keep him safe, little huntress." Valkra watched him go, then turned her gaze back toward the path Xavier would soon walk. She had already made her choice, and she wasn¡¯t going to fail. Valkra was not the only beast Kaelar sought out that evening. He also found where Frostclaw lay. The huge snow leopard sprawl in the hallway outside of the chamber that Lianna had claimed. Kneeling beside the great cat Kaelar stroked the beasts muzzle and was greeted with a deep rumbling purr. The two had known each other long enough that no words were needed for this communication, however. Kaelar saw the Iskari twins as adopted children, he was after all the one who had found them as they fled into the woods nearly two decades ago. The sight of the two bedraggled Iskari cubs clinging to the back of a fiercely protective snow leopard was not something to be easily forgotten. The two shared a long look before Frostclaw dipped his muzzle slightly and pressed his forehead to Kaelar¡¯s. He would bring her back safely, her and her companions. Kaelar rose, nodded once more to the leopard and then left the warrens to return to his evening patrol around Rynthavael. The morning air carried the scent of damp earth and the lingering crispness of the night, the sky painted in muted hues of violet and deep amber as the first rays of dawn stretched over Rynthavael. Though the village had long settled into its rhythms, the battle the night before had caused a disturbance in the usual routines. However, this morning there was a quiet energy as its people stirred early, gathering in small clusters near the central pathways to witness the departure of Xavier, Ella, and Lianna. Some watched in silent respect, others offered quiet nods, but no one turned away and no one showed overt fear at what was to come, despite the fact that they all knew what this journey meant. Not just for Xavier and his companions, but for Rynthavael itself. The Wildlands were shifting. Arenvalis'' presence was growing. The future of this place, this home they had built together, depended on what lay ahead. At the village gates, Kaelar stood waiting, arms crossed, his golden eyes unreadable. Though he would not be traveling with them, Kaelar had insisted on accompanying them to the boundary of Rynthavael¡¯s influence. "Won¡¯t have ya slippin¡¯ off like ghosts," he had muttered before they had separated for sleep the night before. Though none of them had truly expected anything less from him. So, they walked together, through the well-worn paths of the settlement, then deeper, beyond the standing stones that marked the village¡¯s core, beyond the last of the newly reinforced defenses and into the wood line that marked the edges of the village. Here, the Living Labyrinth began. This area of the Silverwood was different now, reshaped by the magic that had been woven into it when the Earth Ley Line had awakened. The trees were taller, their roots intertwined beneath the earth in unseen, deliberate patterns. The undergrowth shifted and swayed in ways that defied the wind, guiding and protecting those who belonged, confounding those who did not. For three days the journey was almost carefree, they traveled beneath the shifting canopy of the Living Labyrinth. The security of the spell left the woods feeling welcoming with a familiar and comfortable air around them. Though the wildlands lay in the distance the presence of Rynthavael still clung to the forest here. But Xavier knew the moment they stepped beyond its reach, they would be leaving something else behind, too. It was not completely evident when they reached the edge of the settlements influence as the trees slowly shifted to appear and behave more as normal trees the closer, they got to the edge of the spell. Xavier realized the change because he had been reviewing information about the growth of the settlement, he was nearing level two and was excited to see what it brought, when the interface suddenly greyed out and he got a warning message that he was beyond the perimeter. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The others realized it at the same moment as well, they could feel the change, the shift in atmosphere. The air had turned sharper, an unease that had not been there before, even when they had traveled to Bramblegate the first time now charged the surroundings. Though Silverwood had always had an ancient and unpredictable feeling, this was different. The trees seemed to stand stiff, their branches almost reminiscent of bracing against some unseen threat or pressure. It was as if the very land, beyond the influence of Rynthavael, was tense and restless. Arenvalis¡¯ influence had spread even this far into the Silverwood, not just its military and mercenary presence but something much deeper. The weight of pending war, conquest and something much more sinister pressed against the party. Ella rolled her shoulders, the collar she had clasped around her neck back in the village rose and fell with the motion drawing attention to it once again. ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered, ¡°definitely not home anymore is it.¡± No one responded, no one felt the need to, they could all feel it. And, they all realized, the road ahead had just begun. Kaelar stopped walking and leaned against a tree. His gaze sweeping over the trio, lingering first on Xavier, then Lianna before settling on Ella, who as had become her new normal was grinning back at him. "Ain¡¯t too late ta turn back, y¡¯know." He said softly, though he knew they were committed to the journey and the quest of the Elders. Ella¡¯s grin widened. "Wouldn¡¯t be fun if we did." Kaelar snorted but said nothing. Instead, he turned back to Xavier. "Wildlands ain¡¯t what dey used ta be." His voice was low, steady, carrying the weight of someone who had seen what lay beyond. "De land¡¯s restless. De people too. Ain¡¯t just soldiers pushin¡¯ forward. Somethin¡¯ else stirrin¡¯ in dat dust." Xavier nodded. He had felt it too, even before they had begun this journey. Something ominous was growing in the north and it gave a heavy weight to everything it touched. Kaelar let out a slow breath, then crouched down to Valkra¡¯s level. The Shadowmane cub sat still, watching him with sharp, knowing eyes. "Ya remember what I told ya, little huntress?" His voice was quieter now, just for her. Valkra gave a slow, deliberate nod. Kaelar¡¯s expression softened, but just a little. "Good." Then, he stood, turning back toward the village. "Ain¡¯t gon¡¯ hold ya up, den. But don¡¯ ya forget, y¡¯all got somethin¡¯ ta come back to." Xavier met his gaze, then offered a nod of his own before he cupped his right fist in his left palm and bowed to the Warden. Without another word, Kaelar stepped back the very forest seeming to swallow him and he vanished from view, leaving them to the road ahead. With the Warden¡¯s departure the trio conferred for several moments. Lianna¡¯s eyes kept returning to the collar around Ella¡¯s throat, she had spent a lot of time watching the woman over the past several days amazed and horrified at the casualness of her wearing the hated ring of metal. Xavier watched her as she seemed to struggle before he finally spoke. ¡°I still say you don¡¯t need to do this Lianna. We can find another way.¡± He said. She pulled out her own collar once again, turning its form over in her hands for several long minutes before she replied. ¡°Thank you Xavier,¡± her voice was barely more than a whisper. ¡°But, you know as well as I that this is the best way forward. Even if it feels like the worst for me.¡± Suddenly she withdrew the rune for the collar and triggered it, much the same way Ella had done several days before, she tossed the runestone to Xavier and quickly closed the collar around her neck. It snapped in place with a resounding finality to her ears and she winced. As the metal closed into a seamless band dark energy rippled through it and runes along it flickered briefly. Something new happened, Xavier received a prompt that had not appeared when Ella had done it. He pondered that a moment before he read the prompt. The Drekh¡¯tar has been placed and recognizes your authority. You may now configure restrictions for the Iskari slave Lianna. To finalize restrictions, speak the command: ¡°By my will, you are bound¡± He was then given a series of options that could limit her ability to speak, move, configure punishments, and enforce compliance with specified duties. His face became more horrified and angrier as he read through what the collar could actually do. Ignoring all of those he opted to do as he had promised her and placed no constraints. With a look of pity in his eyes he whispered, ¡°By my will, you are bound until I can safely free you once again.¡± The runes on the collar flared once more before settling back to their dull steady state. Lianna seemed to slump, and Ella quickly moved to her side and wrapped an arm around the woman giving her emotional support. ¡°I have you chain sister,¡± she spoke softly. The two women remained like that for several minutes before Lianna gave an audible heaving breath and pushed herself upright once again. It was done, she wore a collar once again even if there were not any constraints at the time. She dug through her pack and pulled out a folded series of papers. When Xavier opened them, he realized they were forgeries of slave documents that had been acquired through Verdantspire¡¯s networks. Ella held out a similar fold of documents. It seemed both realized what would be required, that or Ella had been following Lianna, Xavier wasn¡¯t sure which it actually was. He folded the two sets together and tucked them into a pouch on his belt where he would be able to retrieve them if needed. Several more days passed with the tension causing none of them to get very restful sleep when they paused at night. On the morning of the fifth day, they came to the ridge where Xavier and Ella had first overlooked Bramblegate. Valkra bristled and growled and Frostclaw crouched as if anticipation of something attacking, both great cats watched the ruins carefully. The wilderness had been slowly retaking the ruined village, but it was clear that something new was living in the remnants. Something if not specifically hostile, then not friendly at the very least. Rather than running the risk of injury and further delays they opted to swing wide around the destroyed settlement and make straight for the grasslands of the Wildlands. As they continued the great trees thinned and ultimately gave way to the open flatter lands and bramble choaked hills that marked the edges of the Wildlands and what Arenvalis was claiming as part of their kingdom. The shifting terrain was immediate as it was clear that beyond the trees there were more patrols, the roads were hard packed and showed evidence of repeated passage of feet, animals, and caravans. The two cats moved to take up positions on either side of Xavier. Lianna had spoken to Frostclaw tried to impart that a slave wouldn¡¯t have a bonded animal so he needed to help with the disguise. Ella and Lianna for their part moved to trail Xavier and his feline cohort, their heads hung slightly to further the disguise in case any eyes were upon them. Ella reached up and adjusted her collar slightly, her usual smirk much more subdued. ¡°Feels nothing like the Silverwood,¡± she muttered. Xavier couldn¡¯t disagree. There was something fundamentally wrong with this land. It felt unclean for lack of better terms. He would be happy to finish their quest and get back to the woods. Lianna shook her head. ¡°This is worse than I remember but the Blasted Lands feel far more unwelcoming. Hopefully we never have to go to there. Just thinking about them makes my fur crawl.¡± They continued in a northwestern direction following one of the well-trod roads nearing high sun they could see a cluster of buildings in the distance. Xavier adjusted his swords and pace, trying to mimic what he had seen of the mercenaries he had fought in the past. Lianna and Ella made sure their placement was proper for what would be expected of slaves. Their motions were restrained and controlled, not completely subservient but not defiant either. It was in this manner they came up to the wooden barricade placed across the road. Several soldiers stood guard around it, armored and seemingly well-armed, they wore tabards that bore a distinctive crest. Lianna murmured that it was the crest of Arenvalis before they got within earshot of the people. The whole thing screamed military checkpoint, something Xavier hadn¡¯t expected to find in this world but from what the refugees, Wardens and Verdantspire Elders had relayed it was not terribly surprising either. Frostclaw led Valkra off into the grasslands unbidden and the last Xavier could see they pair were skirting the checkpoint, likely to meet them on the far side so as to not raise questions or draw additional attention. As they approached one of the guards stepped forward, one hand raised in the universal stop motion as the other hand gripped the hilt of his sword in readiness. ¡°Halt and state your business,¡± he barked out in a clipped tone. Xavier didn¡¯t hesitate to respond. ¡°Bound for Ironhaven, mercenary work.¡± That caught the attention of an nearby officer who was sitting astride a horse in the shade of one of the buildings. He nudged his animal closer to listen and observe what was going on. His eyes flicked across the group examining Xavier at first but coming to settle on Lianna and Ella, his hooded gaze lingering on them for several long moments before he spoke. ¡°The slaves?¡± He inquired, his voice was affectless, assessing Xavier¡¯s response. Careful to not tense Xavier held himself as calm as possible. ¡°Mine,¡± he responded monosyllabically. The officer raised a single eyebrow. ¡°Papers?¡± Xavier pulled the documents he had secured in his pouch when the women provided them out and held them up to the officer. The mounted man scanned through them briefly then motioned to Lianna. ¡°Step forward,¡± he commanded. Lianna, without hesitation, moved forward. Xavier only caught the momentary tensing of her shoulders due to the fact they had been in such close proximity for the past couple weeks. Folding his hands over the pommel of the saddle and leaned forward slightly. ¡°Your name?¡± His eyes lingered on Lianna¡¯s face as he questioned her. She hesitated but for a second then answered. ¡°Lia,¡± her voice was soft and meek. Far different from what Xavier was used to from the fierce woman. The officer hummed to himself a moment. ¡°Obedient, how long has she been yours?¡± Xavier kept his voice neutral and disinterested. ¡°Long enough.¡± Inwardly he wanted to get away from the inquisitive officer but knew it would call their disguise into question. Smirking slightly the officer studied Lianna a few moments longer before turning his attention to Ella. ¡°And this one?¡± Ella cocked her head slightly, her eyes rising to the officer¡¯s knee and a confused look passing over her face. ¡°Same?¡± She responded in a low mutter. It took everything within Xavier to keep from sighing and facepalming at the woman¡¯s actions. The officer let his gaze linger on Ella for a little longer than Xavier really thought necessary but ultimately said. ¡°They will do.¡± He passed the documents back to the guard on duty with a motion to hand them back to Xavier. ¡°Welcome to Arenvalis, mercenary. Be of mind, the wildlands are being tamed you will not be ale to get away with what was done in the past.¡± With those parting words he returned his mount to the shaded area he was enjoying before, and the guard raised the barrier allowing the trio to pass. As they moved through the small clutch of buildings a hand brushed against Xavier¡¯s cloak, the subtle move drawing his attention and he felt a small piece of parchment pressed into his palm. He closed his fingers over it instinctively but made no other motion or bothering to look at the individual who passed it to him. Xavier¡¯s thoughts about the two felines were correct and several miles beyond the checkpoint the two great cats emerged from the tall grasses of the plains and rejoined the party. They kept a steady pace until the sun started to settle into the horizon. Only then, well beyond the checkpoint, did they set camp. Sitting next to the fire Xavier pulled the note from where he had tucked it in his pouch and unfolded it. It was written in a simple script though far different than the usual written ones he had come across so far. His talent for languages quickly identified it as ¡°Arenvalis Rebel Code.¡± Handing it to Lianna she pursed her lips in thought as she read it then nodded. ¡°Watch the ruins, the fire still burns.¡± Neither were entirely sure if it was a warning or an invitation, but both knew for certain now that there was still a resistance hidden within Arenvalis. They were not going to have to do this alone, they just had to find the right people. Chapter 16 - Tithe of Blood That night Xavier took the first watch. He needed to review his UI and look for ways to just do better. The first thing he looked at was his inventory. He had removed the majority of what they had found in the Deeps into the armory at Rynthavael. Poisons, weapons, armor, all of that ended up on the shelves there for the crafters and guards to better protect the village in his absence. He felt good about that decision since he regularly forgot what was in his satchel during battle. This way he could ensure it was used to the best purpose possible. Next, he pulled up his skills tab. Having auto-accepted any skills change to remove the distraction of their notification prompts he was surprised to see just how much his skills had improved.
Skill Level Progress to Next Level Rank Bonuses
Survival 15 26% Apprentice +30% to building survival-related structures and fires. +30% to foraging
Cooking 8 38% Initiate +16% to flavor of prepared dishes. +16% yield from cooking ingredients.
Woodworking 8 49% Initiate +16% to crafted items. +16% to crafted wooden weapon damage.
Crafting 9 39% Initiate +18% to crafted items. +18% to crafted tools.
Spears 3 13% Novice +6% to crafted items. +6% to crafted tools.
Clubs 3 13% Novice +6% to club damage. +6% to attack while wielding a club.
Small Blades 23 86% Apprentice +46% to damage with small blades. +46% to attack while wielding small blades.
Tracking 9 58% Initiate +18% to tracking prey.
Herbalism 16 63% Apprentice +32% to herb effect. +32% to harvest quantity.
Archery 8 56% Initiate +16% chance to hit. +16% arrow damage. +16% chance to recover arrow.
Life Magic 1 45% Novice
Death Magic 1 23% Novice
Rune Channeling 3 67% Novice +6% chance to successfully etch a rune. +6% rune efficacy.
Rune Decyphering 3 23% Novice +6% chance to successfully learn a rune. -6% chance to trigger rune being studied.
Keen Eye 9 87% Initiate +18% chance to spot hidden or valuable item, resource or opportunity.
Trap Awareness 6 75% If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Initiate +12% chance to disarm or set trap. -12% chance to trigger trap.
Woodlore 9 67% Initiate +12% to survival skills in woodland locations. +12% to tracking skills in woodland locations.
Insight 8 23% Initiate
Light Armor 20 46% Apprentice +20% reduction in light armor movement penalty.
Two-Weapon Fighting 20 89% Apprentice -10% Main hand hit/damage, -20% Off Hand hit/damage. Can use up to medium weapon in main hand and up to light weapon in off hand. Gains a basic offhand parry, can execute simple dual weapon combos.
Barter 5 2% Initiate +0.15% Discount on purchase prices. +0.15% Increase on sales prices.
Beast Harvesting 12 32% Apprentice +3.6% Increased Yield. +3.6% Reduced Risk of Material Damage. +2.4% Increased Quality.
Beast Lore 8 32% Initiate +2.4% Increased Damage against creatures. +2.4% Better Harvesting Yield. +1.6% Better Beast Interaction.
The number of skills he had accumulated in the short period of time was almost overwhelming. He sighed when he saw the two skills in magic, he had completely forgotten he had that capability now, he had been so focused on just surviving that all his attention was into avoiding being hit and hitting things as hard as he could with Vaeltheris. It had worked out well for him so far, but he knew that wouldn¡¯t be the case forever. He needed to remember everything he had at his disposal. He placed the 80% of skill growth that he had been sitting on from leveling into his small blades skill as it had been keeping him alive so far. Then tweaked the skills to show in sections instead of a whole list. Soon he had a tab for martial skills, magic skills, crafting skills, and general skills. Smiling now that he no longer had pages of skills to wade through just to find a single skill he closed the section. He next switched over to look at his attributes, luckily, he had remembered to apply his points and had nothing to update there. He was still impressed with his numbers. Already at level 16 just within a few weeks of coming to Arath he had grown in leaps and bounds. His body shown it as well. He was much more muscular and fit than he had ever been back on Earth. ¡°Fighting to survive nearly daily will do that to you I suppose,¡± he muttered to himself. Shaking his head slightly he closed the tab and switched over to the city interface, he was not surprised when he got the red warning message that he was outside of his city¡¯s sphere of influence and was unable to view or change anything on that section of tabs. Satisfied with the updates and changes to his interface he closed the semi-translucent screen and turned his attention to the vast plains surrounding their small camp. Lianna had set a small nearly smokeless fire giving them limited light and a way to warm rations and water. Xavier had watched how she had done it closely and was sure he could do the same in the future if required, another small bump to his survival skills he supposed. He leaned back against the rock that was making up his impromptu chair and listened to the night sounds, the plains were far different that what he had become accustomed to in the Silverwood. It was like this that Lianna found him when she woke for her turn at watch. The Iskari woman rose from her bedroll and made her way over to where Xavier was seated. He turned his attention from the surroundings to her when he felt her draw near. He grinned at how, when he was focused, the connection with the Earth Ley Line meant nothing could sneak up on him, walking at least. ¡°Quiet night?¡± Lianna queried as she took a seat nearby. ¡°It has been so far. Different sort of quiet but still quiet. Can¡¯t quite shake the feeling of something building out there however.¡± He replied just as quietly as she had. She nodded, the fur on the back of her neck was still slightly raised leaving her unsettled. ¡°I have it for now. Go get some rest. Gods know we will need it if things go badly.¡± Unconsciously she touched the collar around her throat scowling slightly at the feel of the metal. ¡°I will in a few minutes, I have a couple questions for you before I do though.¡± Her eyes shifted from the plains to where he sat, curiosity in her gaze. ¡°Questions for me?¡± He chuckled softly knowing she was surprised he wasn¡¯t just asking Ella. ¡°I respect your knowledge as well, besides Ella has admitted she hasn¡¯t been outside of the area around Rynthavael much and I know you have.¡± Again, she nodded to him. ¡°Alright what questions do you have for me then?¡± ¡°Magic, outside of what I know and what that slaver tried to cast on us when we rescued your people, I have not seen nor really heard much of it. I know it exists, I just expected to see, well more of it.¡± He stated bluntly. ¡°Ah, well Xavier, you also have not been outside of Rynthavael much. But you are not wrong in how¡­ limited it is. A couple ages ago Magi tried to take over, they went to war with kings, emperors, nations and cities. Proclaimed they had the right to lead due to their magical prowess. Lore says they nearly succeeded as well. Mind you, history is not my strong suit, you would be better off to talk to the Elders or read more of your own lore books for it. But the long and short of it was the people revolted against their attempt. Several of them were captured and forced to adapt a version of these.¡± She fingered her collar briefly, ¡°To be specifically for those who are magically inclined. Ever since then most nations require mages to be collared and registered. They are generally allowed to use cantrips and simple spells but anything more is regulated by the nation they live in. For the safety of the people.¡± Xavier looked mildly horrified, both at the attempt of the mages and the resulting answer of the people. ¡°What about those touched by the gods? Are clerics and divine magic users similarly constrained?¡± ¡°Not as such, they are bound by their gods and church. I think I have heard of a couple nations or cities that were more theocracies, but it is not common.¡± ¡°So, when we get to Ironhaven or eventually Thandor¡¯s Reach, I shouldn¡¯t ask about magical tomes or spells.¡± Xavier smirked slightly trying to lighten the mood. ¡°Only if you want a collar of your own. It is clear that the collars Ella and I wear are not Zor¡¯kaan but Drekh¡¯tar.¡± She replied but a small smile came to her lips. Xavier¡¯s talent for languages triggered on the two words and quickly translated them into something he could better understand. Both were ancient Arathian, basically the precursor to the common tongue used now. Zor¡¯kaan basically meant sealed power. Fitting for a tool meant to bind magic users. Drekh¡¯tar simply meant submission binding. He did not like either term or their implied use, but knowledge of any sort was a powerful asset. Rising to his feet he smiled at Lianna. ¡°Thank you, gives me something to think about, I just wished I had looked at that mage¡¯s collar closer before turning it over to the Elders.¡± He bid her a good night and headed over to his own sleeping roll to retire. The night passed without incident. Morning found the trio up, dressed and eating a cold meal of travel rations. They had not seen much sign of wild game while traveling the slowly deteriorating roadway through the plains the day before so hunting was scare, and they felt it would be better to leave that to the cats for their food instead. Breaking camp they made their way back to the roadway. Xavier found it odd that what once seemed to be a well-traveled and maintained route was allowed to fall into such disrepair. He worked on his tracking skill while they moved, the usual tell tale sign of travelers was well worn away, in fact most of the tracks of wild animals were days if not weeks old as well. ¡°Lianna, are you seeing what I am seeing?¡± He turned to look at the more skilled ranger. Something about the lack of wildlife rubbing him wrong. ¡°I am, there is something wrong here. Even the land and wildlife are feeling it. Frostclaw and Valkra had a hard time finding enough to sate their appetites yesterday and I am worried more about them today. We may need to get more meat for them when we next find merchants.¡± She motioned to the dry grasslands around them as she spoke. It was then that Xavier noticed both great cats slinking closer by than before, they were just barely within the high growth of dry grass on the edge of the roadway where prior they would roam out further afield to hunt. He paused his walking and focused his attention more on their surroundings. It was eerily silent the only sounds being that of the wind through the grasses. Scowling he lengthened his stride when he started walking once again, hurrying to the top of the rise ahead of him. From the top of the ridge, he confirmed there was no movement, no birds, no anything around. It was as if something had stripped life from the whole area. Then he noticed it, well Ella did and pointed it out to him. Near the base of the ridge there was a half-collapsed structure already being reclaimed by the earth around it. Even from the distance they could tell it was the remains of an old waystation. Its decrepit state only reenforced the fact that this roadway seemed to have been deliberately abandoned. It spoke volumes to the state of Arenvalis¡¯ relationship with its neighbors. It took them about half an hour to descend from the ridgetop to where the ruins lay. Scorched beams and shattered stone lay strewn about, signs of clear disturbance. Lianna moved ahead of the party and was the first to see the fresher signs of distress. Drag marks, broken weapons and spots of seemingly fresher dried blood. She found several sets of tracks leading into the area and then a single set leading away. Xavier caught up to her and knelt beside her as she traced fingers over several of the marks. A scowl was on her face when she finally gave voice to her observations. ¡°Raiders,¡± her voice was tight and strained, ¡°or more slavers.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes followed the path she pointed out and could not help but notice the small trail of blood that complemented the tracks. It was fresh enough to still draw insects, they were not far away, far enough to not be easily seen though. Ella called out from back near the structure. She was standing next to a half-buried marker post. What had caught her attention was a crudely scorched symbol in the old worn wood. The shape was unmistakable, and as fresh as the tracks they had been studying. It was the mark of Ironhaven whoever had taken refuge here were a tithe that had been taken. The attack hadn¡¯t been random, they were targeted, and this was the ambush site. Xavier¡¯s jaw tightened as the implications settled in. His fury was burning in his core. Lianna¡¯s ears flicked towards the trail leading away from the ruins, her eyes focused on the trail once again. ¡°They are not very far ahead,¡± she motioned to some distinct marks in the tracks. ¡°You can see they are moving slower. Dragging something at times. They have prisoners, I do not think they had killed anyone when they struck.¡± Ella rejoined them after looking in the partially collapsed structure. ¡°No one was left behind. Considering how close they were to the checkpoint they are not afraid of the military hindering them.¡± Lianna nodded slowly. ¡°Which means the raiders, slavers and mercenaries of Ironhaven are operating with impunity if not endorsement of the powers that be. Things are much worse than I expected. I do not ever remember hearing of them attacking within the boundaries of the wildlands, they always attacked beyond their borders.¡± Ella looked between the two. Her fingers traced along her bowstring slowly. ¡°What do you wish to do Xavier?¡± He growled softly. ¡°I want to attack and rescue whoever they have taken but doing that risks exposing us.¡± Lianna spoke up softly. ¡°We could trail them and see what we could learn. Our disguises held at the checkpoint. It would also let us know for certain where they are going, though their path does head towards Ironhaven and where we need to go first.¡± ¡°We follow, I want to know if this is a group just gathering for the slave market and striking at random or if that mark was proof of Arenvalis turning a blind eye to the expansion of Ironhaven¡¯s works. There is too much we don¡¯t know right now. If Arenvalis is endorsing it then this is more than just random raids, even those into the Silverwood, it¡¯s a system being built or expanded. If it is a system, we need to know how extensive it is if we are going to be able to do anything about it.¡± The two women nodded grim looks on their faces as they trio turned and moved carefully down the trail of the raiders path while Valkra and Frostclaw moved further afield helping to hunt and scout their new prey.