The man on the mountain is a beacon for all that is sacred. He stands the tallest of all. The man in the river is a beacon for all that is calm. He goes with the flow most of all. The man in the plains is a beacon for all that is enslaved. He is trapped beneath the sky.
-Words of an anonymous [Chaotic Adept] owner
*=====*
Mori sat and stared at the screen in front of her once more, repeating what she had done repeatedly over the previous hour.
[Name: Mori Athanatos
Species: Lich
Variant: Bargain Lich*
Level: 18(62%)
Traits:
Physical: (Mechanical Integration), (Mechanical Skeletal Manipulation VII [+1]), (Mana Rib V), (Emotive Skull), (Free Slot)*3
Spiritual: (Multi-rune Casting), (Mechanical Affinity), (Multi-sigil Casting), (Enhanced Mind VI), (Psychic Affinity IV), (Psychic Conduit), (Psychic Flail), (Free Slot)*3
Granted Traits: (Universal Soul Language), (Adaptive Physiology), (Effeminate Skeleton)]
She had gotten three new Trait slots and she was slightly hesitant in spending them. Granted, the power was, essentially, the gods’ and she knew that whatever was given to her would do little to dissuade something like the shapeshifter, but she was still certain that she had to choose carefully.
Pure magic was always fallible and physical force was never something that she excelled at anyway. As such, she decided to put her focus into psychic-related Traits. She split each of her spiritual Trait slots into her three different psychic Traits. Spiritual Traits chosen, she focused back onto the physical Trait slots. She had the option to invest further into [Mechanical Skeletal Manipulation], but was hesitant to pick that Trait. As of late, she had not been using the Trait nearly as much as she thought she would have, though it did allow her to attach the seemingly useless arm band to her mechanical arm. She was tempted to ask Fara for another mechanical limb, but she could not bring herself to disrupt the woman’s workflow on the Kharon.
[Mana Rib V] had certainly proven to be temporarily useless, but she did not fool herself into thinking that it would never be useful; a mass mage situation would bring her to appreciate the Trait, she mused. Apart from the two other, unupgradable Traits, she had nothing else in her physical Traits. Thinking on it, she needed something that would synergize with her spellcaster-psychic niche she had created for herself. Therefore, she delved into the neverending list of available Traits. Her goal was vague at best, but she soon found something interesting.
[Internal Mana Control: Gives greater internal mana control, allowing you to use mana from any part of your body. May be upgraded by using another Trait slot.]
The trait was, again, vague on what ‘internal’ meant, but the idea of being able to cast spells from her shin would have been interesting. Nevertheless, she ignored it; she failed to see the use of something like that, though someone with a solid body like Pride might have gotten more use out of it than her. She then wondered if she really wanted to stay in her normal ‘human’ shape. Granted, she would certainly not choose a pair of horns for no reason, but there was the option of taking a ‘manabeast’ feature. She did not know what a manabeast was, but she could make a few guesses. Inspecting the Trait revealed a short list of features revolving around bones. A single Trait, though, stood out to her.
[Slinger Ape Bone Plates: A series of small, thick bone plates that protect the inside of the ribcage. Can be freely detached, no matter the species, and can be freely collected. Can be regrown with Mana. May be upgraded by using another Trait slot.]
Something that provided both protection and utility. It was almost perfect, were it not for the question of how useful the plates themselves would have been. After a few moments of thinking, she shook her head and chose the Trait; no matter how useful the detached plates were, more protection was more protection and she would never refuse something like that.
Content with her choice, she turned her attention to the books, ignoring the cracks and pops of her body and soul. There was yet more to do, even if they had all agreed to a week of relaxation while Fara worked.
*=====*
“So, has anyone chosen anything yet?” Mae asked. The death knights there shook their heads, “Good. Now then, we all know why we’re here?”
“No… I don’t know,” Ally said sarcastically, hiding a grin.
Mae rolled her eyes, “I know, I know, but just making sure everyone’s on the same page. So, who goes first?”
“The person with the least amount of Trait slots,” Idle said, “Which happens to be me.” She explained her Status Page to the others quickly.
[Name: Idle
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(62%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Strengthened Skin II), (Free Slot)*2
Spiritual: (Enhanced Sense III), (Free Slot)*2
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
“Get [Universal Soul Language],” Desire cut in, “It’ll make everything so much easier.”
Idle raised her brow, “Why? Do you need more of us to talk to the living or something?”
Aerolat and Desire shook their heads, “No, though it may be her hidden motive. Having the ability to speak with others is invaluable when doing something other than fighting.”
Idle rolled her eyes, “Fine, fine, I’ll take it. But everyone else has to take it then. Deal?” A chorus of ‘deal’s came from the gathered death knights and Idle shrugged, “So, I think I’ll just dump my physical Traits into [Strengthened Skin] and see if I can be even harder to kill than before. And then I’ll just throw the other spiritual slot into [Enhanced Sense].” They nodded, watching as she stiffened and began to convulse, falling into Fury’s arms
Fury placed Idle on the ground gently as she began to convulse. “Alright, my turn then,” Fury said, “I already know what I’m getting.”
“Tell us your status screen first!” Ally shouted playfully. Rolling his eyes, Fury obliged.
[Name: Fury
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(41%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Wing Muscle Structure), (Free Slot)*3
Spiritual: (Fire Breath II), (Free Slot)*3
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
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“Okay, so you’re going for wings and upgrading your other Traits?” Aerolat asked.
Fury nodded, “Yeah. If I can find wings, then that’ll be what I choose. And I’ll take the speaking one you made Idle get.” They tended to him as he went down spasming and they laid him next to Idle.
“I am next.” Pride explained his Status Page in short order.
[Name: Pride
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(36%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Enhanced Manapaths), (Free Slot)*3
Spiritual: (Sole-mana Casting), (Multi-sigil Casting), (Free Slot)*3
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
“I will be choosing [Enhanced Mind] for two of my spiritual Trait slots and [Universal Soul Language] for the last. The physical Trait slots will go into [Enhanced Manapaths]. Will there be anything else?” he asked.
They all shook their heads, “B-Be safe…” Jel said lightly. Pride gave a genuine smile at Jel and eased himself to the ground, slight spasms twitching across his body. “I t-think I’m next then. H-Here’s my Status P-Page…”
[Name: Jealous
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(1%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Free Slot)*4
Spiritual: (Sole-mana Casting), (Free Slot)*4
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])
“I am assuming you will be following Pride in his magical ventures?” Aerolat asked. Jel nodded, “Good. But will you be choosing everything to be the exact same as him?”
She shook her head, “N-No… I want to g-get [Multi-sigil Casting], but I a-also want… Ah… I-It’s kind of embarrassing…”
“Go on,” Aerolat urged, “What do you want?”
Jel writhed in place for a few more moments before looking up, “I-I want [Chaotic Adept]...” she admitted.
A short silence passed through them for a moment before Aerolat sighed, “That’s fine, but why?”
“W-Well, the mistress thinks so much differently t-than us, and I thought that, i-if I got the Trait, I c-could think more like her…”
They shrugged and Desire pulled Jel into a crushing hug, “That’s fine, Jel. We don’t mind that, though I don’t think the mistress is that far gone. Either way, you do you!”
“T-Thanks… I-I think I want to get a m-mana based organ though…”
“Like I said,” Desire said, “You do you.” Jel nodded and seized up, falling to the ground. Desire placed her in the line up of unconscious death knights and turned to the last three, “And then there were three. Alright, spill it, what’re you three choosing?”
The three sisters looked between each other before Tisi was chosen to go first, “I believe that I am much more interested in magical ventures than physical ones, therefore I am following Jealous and Pride in their magical talents. Of course, the obvious three needed in this case, then…” she trailed off, turning to Mae.
“We decided to try to do something like Fury and go the flying route. We’ll all sink our Trait slots into that for now. I’m going to be a runeslinger, just so you know. And Ally’s going to-”
“I’m gonna be the melee girl!” she proudly announced.
Desire smiled, giving them a thumbs up, “That’s good, then. Be sure to keep Fury alive, then; I don’t want that idiot to get himself killed.” They nodded, following the other death knights in sleep. “Now then,” Desire said, “My turn.”
Aerolat raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Did you get a level during your outing last night?”
“Yep. I got a bunch of experience from talking to people. Crave and Avar both went out to fight in the alleys and got some experience from that too. We’re up to level two now.”
“That’s good. So, your picks?”
“[Conversational Affinity II] and [Physical Restoration II],” Desire said, “I know that I’m not going to be a good fighter, but I do want to be able to deal with people. I think that’s something pretty lacking on the team.”
The floating orc shrugged, “Fairs fair. Do you know what Crave and Avar are choosing?” he asked, gesturing to the little cove in the corner the two shared.
“Well, I convinced them to get the language one, but they’re going to be taking something to help with their respective talents. You get it. Alright, time for some shut-eye.” Desire fell over just as she finished talking, leaving Aerolat alone.
He sighed, “A day in the life…” he laughed, “Perhaps it’s something from the mistress…”
*=====*
[Name: Mori Athanatos
Species: Lich
Variant: Bargain Lich*
Level: 18(62%)
Traits:
Physical: (Mechanical Integration), (Mechanical Skeletal Manipulation VII [+1]), (Mana Rib V), (Emotive Skull), (Slinger Ape Bone Plates III)
Spiritual: (Multi-rune Casting), (Mechanical Affinity), (Multi-sigil Casting), (Enhanced Mind VI), (Psychic Affinity V), (Psychic Conduit II), (Psychic Flail II),
Granted Traits: (Universal Soul Language), (Adaptive Physiology), (Effeminate Skeleton)]
[Name: Pride
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(36%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Enhanced Manapaths IV)
Spiritual: (Sole-mana Casting), (Multi-sigil Casting), (Enhanced Mind II), (Universal Soul Language)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
[Name: Fury
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(41%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Wing Muscle Structure II), (Lizard’s Wings II)
Spiritual: (Fire Breath IV), (Universal Soul Language)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
[Name: Desire
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 3(46%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Physical Restoration II)
Spiritual: (Universal Soul Language), (Conversational Affinity II)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
[Name: Avarice
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 2(23%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Dexterous Fingers)
Spiritual: (Manufacturing Affinity), (Universal Soul Language)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
[Name: Crave
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 1(97%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Restored Brain)
Spiritual: (Enhanced Memory), (Universal Soul Language)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
[Name: Jealous
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(1%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Mana Crystal IV)
Spiritual: (Sole-mana Casting), (Universal Soul Language), (Multi-sigil Casting), (Chaotic Adept II)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])
[Name: Idle
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lesser Pyrausta
Level: 5(62%)
Traits:
Physical: (Articulate Vocal Cords), (Strengthened Skin IV),
Spiritual: (Enhanced Sense IV), (Universal Soul Language)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])]
[Name: Allecto
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Lizardman Zombie
Level: 5(19%)
Traits:
Physical: (Membrane Wings III), (Wing Muscle Structure II)
Spiritual: (Universal Soul Language), (Aerial Coordination), (Swordsmanship III)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])
[Name: Magaera
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Human Zombie
Level: 5(21%)
Traits:
Physical: (Membrane Wings III), (Wing Muscle Structure II)
Spiritual: (Sole-mana Casting), (Multi-rune Casting), (Gunmanship II), (Universal Soul Language)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])
[Name: Tisiphone
Species: Death Knight
Variant: Orc Zombie
Level: 5(17%)
Traits:
Physical: (Membrane Wings III), (Wing Muscle Structure II)
Spiritual: (Sole-mana Casting), (Multi-rune Casting), (Multi-sigil Casing), (Universal Soul Language), (Enhanced Mind)
Granted Traits: (Advanced Sapience [Psychic])