*****
[ V.A.L.H.A.L.L.A ]
Magnus / Einar Sibbison
Age: 32/18
Strength - 27+23
Endurance - 26+17
Agility - 25+3
Perception - 21+8
Wisdom - 20+3
Mysticism - 24+10
Runes:
Gungnir’s Strength (Chest) Legendary (Hidden)
Max Training Stat for Strength, Endurance and Agility is racial limit plus 50. 2.5 x Growth Rate
25% Bonus to Perception - No Stat Limit
Max Training Stat for Wisdom and Mysticism is 50. 1.5 x Growth Rate
Rune Level Bonuses:
Lvl 1 + 10% Bonus to Strength and Endurance
Lvl 2 + 10% Bonus to Agility and Perception
Lvl 3 Divine Protection. 50% Damage Reduction for 1 Minute. Cooldown: 2 Days
Lvl 4 Healing of the Gods - 100x Healing and Wyrd Regeneration Rate for 5 minutes. Cooldown: 1 Day
Lvl 5 Thor’s Blessing - Summon one bolt of lighting to strike one target. Cooldown: 7 Day
Lvl 6 Rune Empower - All stats are doubled for 1 Minute. 7 Day cooldown
Experience 17%
Warrior’s Defense (Back) Intermediate
10% Bonus to Endurance
Rune Level Bonuses:
Lvl 1 + 5% Bonus to Endurance
Lvl 2 + 5% Bonus to Endurance
Lvl 3 + 5% Bonus to Endurance / Resist Damage
Experience 100%
Warrior’s Blessing (Stomach) Advanced
10% Bonus to Strength and Endurance
5% Bonus to Damage
Rune Level Bonuses:
Lvl 1 + 4% Bonus to Strength and Endurance
Lvl 2 + 5% Bonus to Strength
Lvl 3 + 7% Bonus to Endurance
Lvl 4 + 5% Bonus to Damage
Lvl 5 + 10% Bonus to Strength and Endurance
Experience 100%
Might of the Viking (Right Arm) Advanced
10% Bonus to Strength
10% Bonus to Damage
Rune Level Bonuses:
Lvl 1 + 10% Bonus to Strength
Lvl 2 + 7% Bonus to Strength
Lvl 3 + 5% Bonus to Perception
Lvl 4 + 5% Bonus to Strength
Lvl 5 + 10% Bonus to Strength
Experience 100%
Forked Rune of Elements (Head) Advanced
15% Bonus to Wisdom and Mysticism
Advanced Lightning Affinity
Intermediate Fire Affinity
Basic Ice Affinity
Rune Level Bonuses:
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Lvl 1 + 10% Bonus to Mysticism
Lvl 2 + 8% Bonus to Mysticism
Lvl 3 + 15% Bonus to Spell Damage
Lvl 4 + 25% Bonus to Wyrd Recovery
Lvl 5 + 10% Bonus to Mysticism
Experience 100%
Strength Milestone - Rank 1 - All damage done with melee weapons is increased by 25%. Muscle is denser, resulting in a 10% decrease in damage taken from all attacks.
Endurance Milestone - Rank 1 - Resists Attacks as if twice normal height and weight. Health increased by 25%. Body is naturally more resistant, resulting in a 10% decrease in damage taken from all attacks.
Agility Milestone - Rank 1 - Attacks are 30% Faster. The ability to see incoming strikes and dodge or parry them is increased by 25%.
Boon:
Freyr’s Enduring Endurance - No physical fatigue while in Alfheim.
Time Remaining: 9 Days
*****
A point to each stat… that is a boon indeed.
Hallad entered his view, coming toward him and both men picked him up, helping him to stand on one leg.
“Wait… let me rest. Find the others who need more help and take care of them first,” Einar ordered. “Someone go get Thorve if it's safe!”
He could see the frown on both their faces but each one nodded, gently setting their leader down on the wind swept soil.
“Don’t move,” Hallad said before jogging to check on a few of the others.
Thorlief grunted as he ran toward the woods.
Scanning the area, what struck Einar the most was how quiet it was. Even with the ringing in his ears fading, there was a silence that felt like a graveyard.
A few groans and shouts from the Vikings could be heard but there were no more undead shambling about, weapons and armor banging into each other. Gone was the presence of death.
“Einar what can I do?!”
Varitan was still about twenty yards away, running with a speed that seemed surprising of one in chain armor.
“Nothing for me. Go help the others.”
Slowing his approach the elf glanced around for a moment and then shook his head, continuing on his intended path.
“They are all being cared for. Those who are dead can wait. You told me that yourself before. The ones who are injured appear to have someone already caring for them. Now then, you look like you could use some help.”
Pointing at his ankle that even with a leather boot on was bent sideways, Einar shook his head.
“Unless you can heal like Thorve, I’m not doing anything for a bit. The only other thing I can think of is…”
Glancing around the clearing, he couldn’t stop the smile that came upon his lips.
“Do you mind looking for our armor and weapons from the men who died before? Somewhere out here should be their equipment.”
Snorting, Varitan rubbed his eyes with a gloved hand.
“I should have known better than to ask… for you, yes. That I will do. You’re certain they are here?”
“Somewhere,” Einar gestured with a hand from his seated position. “Mine was gone from the road and none of the men spotted any of the equipment the last two days. Surely the undead were planning on using them or perhaps…”
He paused, a frown forming as the leader of the pack gazed at the spot the portal had been.
“Would they take the items back to their realm?”
Clearing his throat, Varitan huffed.
“That wouldn’t make sense, would it? I mean… Why not just use them here? The casters seemed intelligent.”
Unable to shake the uneasy feeling, Einar said nothing for a few seconds.
“Maybe… regardless, if you don’t mind looking, I’d appreciate it.”
Without another word his Elven friend moved off, starting to poke and dig through the items that were scattered across the clearing.
Letting out a sigh, Einar glanced down at his foot, wishing he had his healing ability.
Nothing like getting used to the perks of the rune and not having a chance to use it.
***
“Warriors we stand here today, grateful for all the gods who have given us a boon none would imagine.”
Einar carefully held his mug of ale high, making sure not to lose a drop since they only had a single keg to share with all.
“Know that what we have been blessed with will be forever a sign of their commitment to us as our blood that was spilled is to them.”
Cheers and shouts of acknowledgement came as each Viking lifted their cup with care.
“Now let us toast our friends, the children of Freyr and their mages who assisted us in this fight!”
Another round of shouts came and Varitan and the other elves all bowed, a smile present upon each of their faces.
“So let us–”
“DRINK!” Thorodd shouted, cutting off their leader and no one wasted a second, lifting the prized liquid to their lips and draining the cup dry.
Grinning, Einar drank his, watching each of the men and women present laugh and congratulate each other.
Thorlief pulled a small flute out and somehow those large fingers moved with a speed and deftness that wasn’t expected.
Music filled the woods they were in, the roaring fire, shouts of joy echoing into the darkness.
“It was a good plan,” Einar said as Osvif came to stand near him. “You did us all a great service by coming up with it.”
“And you were the pin that held the wheel together,” replied his childhood friend. “Without you and your damn ability to cast spells, we’d never have stood a chance.”
“You give me too much credit.”
“Because you shot fucking lightning out of your ass!”
Both of them laughed, watching the Vikings and elves acting as one tribe. No longer did they sit separately but now they were listening to each other tell stories and shared jokes.
As Osvif left, Einar almost groaned when Thorve came up to him.
“You are going to be in trouble.”
“Because?”
“Everything you do… I swear you could shit and it would turn gold if you touched it.”
Chuckling, he shrugged and watched as their healer’s eyes never stopped staring at him.
“You and I both know the path I am to walk. You know what is waiting for us next.”
“And yet I have no doubt that you will somehow manage to appease the gods and vanquish the threat.”
“Even if it means more deaths than this time?”
“Tell me, Einar,” Thorve said as she frowned. “How many deaths is too many to stop Ragnarok?”
Like an animal who found themselves trapped in a snare they never knew was coming, he winced.
“There is no limit.”
“Exactly. Which means the gods realize this. In all my life, Einar, I have never heard of any Viking receiving a boon that granted more than one stat, let alone a point to all of them!”
She glanced at the others who were celebrating nearby after realizing how loud she had shouted her last comment and let out a sigh when she noticed none were paying them attention.
“When we return, just be ready for what is going to happen. I know I already warned you about this… just please be safe.”
He could see the way her lips were pressed tight and pulled in. Small crow's feet appeared around her eyes, worn out from a day of healing and summoning the men who had died back to life.
“I will and thank you,” Einar replied. “I know this is new for all of us. The truth that Ragnarok is close and we are but moments from seeing the door of Hel, not just a single gate thrown open. Fire and frost giants descending upon all realms and other things the tales of old warn us about.”
Crossing his arms, his eyes focused on the life everyone was enjoying around him for a moment.
“This is why we fight. So that everyone, not just Vikings but elves, dwarves, beastkin and all the others I have yet to lay eyes on yet will be able to one day gather together and rejoice that for a time, we are safe.”
She nodded, mimicking his gaze as the music continued to play from Thorlief’s instrument.
Suddenly, Thorodd ran up to the pair of them, a wide grin on his face.
Grabbing their healer's arm and pulling he started to laugh.
“Stop sucking on something sour, you two and come dance!” he exclaimed, pulling a surprised Thorve near the fire and the few Vikings and elves who were dancing.
A small scream came and stopped as she gave up her initial protest and followed the large man. In just a moment, Thorve was laughing and smiling as the pair danced around the circle, claps and feet stomping against the ground to mark the beat.
It was all he could do not to cry as Einar smiled.
Odin… Freyr… Thor… all of you… I owe you so much. Thank you for this gift. What you have given is far greater than anything I would have imagined. Watch over us as we prepare for this last fight.
After offering a silent prayer, he moved to where everyone else was and joined in, laughing and dancing with them, letting the fire embers travel upward into the night sky and forgetting about all the pain and suffering they had endured the previous few days.