[https://em.wattpad.com/26bf22feecb87896ce5f1e7b0f1d9d189917899e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f655f766e677151536870446961773d3d2d3731343034373536372e313539313539643536393165653134323733383138313337313036312e706e67]
http://unisci24.com/288269.html
Note to Readers.
Hi all, I'm trying out a new combat system to make the game more fluid. Everything basically works out the same way, except when you enter combat you use your attack dice to deflect, and use the combined attack damage of your enemy to see how much damage they strike you with.
For example: If you're attacked by 2 enemies who attack with 3 dice each. Then you would roll 6 dice using a 6 sided die to calculate the damage (Link to online dice below). Then minus that amount by how much you deflect with your own dice. Then by how much protection your armor offers. So it would be: Attack Damage - Deflections - Resilience = Amount of Health Points lost.
Additionally: For those who've played Survive on Coroleya, you can use the characters you've created and continue playing in The Story of Grey Steel. However, you will not be able to use any of your race, magic, or warrior abilities. You will begin the game with 2 Attack Dice like Grey Steel. You also have the option of starting off with half of your natural resilience, magical resistance, and health points, just to make it more challenging for yourselves. Weapons, equipment, and everything else can be brought along into the next story.
- Weapon Damage translation into dice amount.
- 10 Weapon Damage = 1 Dice
- 20 Weapon Damage = 2 Dice
- 30 Weapon Damage = 3 Dice
***Let me know in the comments if it's become too difficult or too easy.***
Quest Objective
- Survive.
You’ll be playing Grey Steel, a minotaur with a burning desire for vengeance against the creatures that destroyed his life. (If you're using the new combat system you can drop Grey Steel's health by half to make it more challenging for you.)
[https://em.wattpad.com/0105d35f1d3b6372dcba51d987725eb11bd16f5a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f647a334c32396a30736b414f55773d3d2d3731343034373536372e313539313561323133366233316630303236323830323237383836392e706e67]
***
Seventeen years had passed since Grey Steel had lost his family in the blood storm. Seventeen years since the hellish creatures it had unleashed upon Coroleya had ravaged his homeland. Seventeen years of living with the burning hot rage inside of him. Seventeen years of watching the Honor Blades fail to stem the tide of evil. Seventeen years of regrets...
Raised by his uncle Cold Steel, Grey had learned what he needed to survive on his own, the people here treating him kindly despite his stubborn refusal to become apart of their world, but now the time had finally come to leave it all behind. The problem was he had yet to tell his uncle about his decision, nor did he think he would be pleased to learn that Grey wished to join the Honor Blades.
Since abandoning the order himself, his uncle had spoken little of them only to mention that the order founded by Ice Eyes so long ago was somehow tarnished and was no longer what it used to be. But Grey felt he had no other choice. There were only two paths to take in the Land of Dreams, either he become a farmer, or he become a warrior like he’d dreamt of for so very long.
With night drawing to a close, Grey stared around the village that had taken him in as a child, the smithy where he’d learnt to craft tools, the small temple where he’d listened to stories of Ice Eyes, the festival grounds where’d they celebrate the coming of dawn, and the forest where’d he spent most of his youth learning to hunt. And finally his home for the past seven years, a squat thatched roof house made of red brick that glistened with sweat.
Standing in the shadow of the doorway, he felt his heart beat a little faster, slid the door open, and stepped inside the place that had become his home. The cosy building decorated with rows of skulls atop book shelves, scrolls that had been passed down through generations, and tapestries that showed the Honor Blades in bright plate armor facing the coming darkness. The fireplace warm as flames crackled and danced, while the rusted greatsword of his uncle rested comfortably on the mantelpiece appearing as magnificent as the day he had first laid eyes upon it as a child, and had known what he had wanted to become.
Crossing the wooden floorboards that squeaked beneath his great weight, he reached up an arm for the ancient blade, the rusted hilt flaking in his palm. The blade much heavier than the practice swords he’d used to fight with his uncle.
Hefting it in one hand, he turned back towards the doorway, when his eyes caught movement out from the corner of the room. The furrowed brow, and greying fur of Cold Steel materialising from out of the shadows, his uncle’s rasping voice as cold as a winter storm. “I see you, child.”
“Uncle, I only wish--.”
“--wish what?! To steal my blade and scurry off into the night. Tell me, do you think yourself worthy to carry such a weapon?!”
Grey stared into his uncle’s heated gaze, and for the first time he felt a fire burn deep inside of him, all of his regrets, dreams, and hopes flooded through the back of his mind. “No, but I want to be.”
Cold sneered at the reply, his head half shaking from side to side. ”Then it seems I have failed you, Grey. Go if you wish, and take that accursed blade with you. You are no longer welcome here.”
Tears pricked Grey’s eyes at his uncle's words, but his path was set, and there was no turning back now. He would heed the call, just as his father had once, and just as his uncle had done.
He shouldered the greatsword on one shoulder, and in the flicker of the flamelight Grey thought he saw pride in his uncle’s eyes, but that could have a been a trick of the light or wishful thinking on his part as Grey left the home that had taken him in.
***
(You’ve acquired 3 Meals that will each restore + 5 Health Points, a knife, and a Potion of Magic that gives + 50 Magical Resistance for one encounter. You’ve also saved up + 180 Gold Pieces.)
Having planned his journey to the Citadel of Fire for some time now, Grey followed the path eastward out of the village to where the forest of Minthol lay, collected the bag of supplies he’d set aside in the hollow of a tree, and waited for Sky to show up. Knowing him, Grey feared his friend had gotten himself lost or changed his mind, fortunately he did not have long to wait when he saw a light emerge from within the darkness, only his friend wasn’t alone. Amaryllis was with him.
Roughly the same age as he, Amaryllis was something of a beauty among his people with soft light grey fur that accentuated a slim frame, horns that delicately curled to either side, and bright green eyes that always seemed to study him. “Why is she here?”
Sky gave him a sheepish grin, “I sort of told her where we were going, and she insisted that she come along with us.”
Amaryllis sniffed her nose in disapproval. “I can speak for myself Sky. I wish to travel to the Citadel as well and thought it fitting that I have an escort.”
Scowling darkly at Sky for giving away their plans so quickly, Grey swung round on his heels to face her. “Go home Amaryllis, I’m sure your father won’t be too pleased about you running off like this.”
Amaryllis’ eyes flashed green with fury. “You wouldn’t dare tell him, and besides you will need my help since I’m the only one with a proper map.”
Grey had to almost growl at that, a map would make life so much easier, but having to deal with Amaryllis seemed a high a price to pay. Perhaps he could snatch it away from her somehow or lose her along the way.
But even as he had those thoughts, he found himself shaking his head. “Fine, but you do as I say.”
Mryllis smiled sweetly. “Fine.”
Done talking, Grey spun on his heels once more, lifted the greatsword onto his shoulder, and stormed off leaving the pair of them to catch up to him. Be damned if he was going to let either one of them get in the way of his dream of becoming a fabled Honor Blade. In his mind, he could already see himself standing among their illustrious ranks, battling foes from all across Coroleya, his armor glistening with a light so pure, and bright that it drove back the darkness.
He circled round the outskirts of the village, and took the dirt path leading north, a part of Grey wondering if he’d ever see this place again, his head swinging back to catch one last glimpse of the village that had become his home, before speeding up once again.
Several miles out, Sky half hopped and ran to catch up to him. Built much scrawnier than Grey with short legs, and a cheerful attitude that didn’t sit well with most people, Sky had been the first one to truly accept him here. It was why Grey had trusted him so much, and why he valued him as a friend. “Come on Grey, you can’t stay mad at me. I’m sorry, alright. You know how I can’t keep myself from talking. In fact if you’d wanted to keep it a secret you shouldn’t have told me.”
Grey chuckled at that. “You do realise if she gets killed her father will hunt you down.”
Sky winced. “You don’t have to remind me. I know very well what will happen if he catches me, but you got to admit, she is pretty good to look at, and besides she has plenty of gold, which is exactly what we need right now if we are ever to make it to the Citadel.”
Grey laughed again, his mood somehow brighter with his friend alongside him, perhaps bringing Amaryllis wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. He had wondered how he would pay for passage up the river. Still, it was a long way to Shadow’s Bay, and if the rumours were true, none of the roads were safe anymore, even this dirt path.
Careful to keep his eyes focused ahead of him, he let Sky do most of the talking while he kept watch on his surroundings, the countryside where he’d spent most of his adult life, changing to pastures as they began to pass farms. The people who worked the land, giving them weary looks as they passed by. With more than a few clutching pitchforks, or carrying crossblades.
Slowed by having to continually wait for Amaryllis to catch up, Grey wondered if they should stop at one of the farms to rest up, and get some sleep for the night. They still had some light left, but it wouldn’t be long before it was too dark to travel, and as far as he knew there was nothing inbetween here and Shadow’s Bay.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
(Click here to stop and get some rest.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Not wishing to push his companions to their limits, Grey stopped at the nearest farmhouse, and after some coaxing from Sky. They were given some food, and allowed to sleep for the night inside. While not luxurious, Grey awoke feeling refreshed, and ready to continue on the road. (+10 Health Points. + 1 Honor.)
(Click here to press on.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Deciding it would better to keep moving, Grey pushed his companions to keep moving along, Amaryllis complaining all the while, when eventually they were forced to stop and sleep on the cold, wet, dirt. The next morning Grey awoke still feeling exhausted. (- 5 Resilience for next encounter.)
With morning finally arriving, Grey immediately set out back on the road. Amaryllis mumbling something about not getting enough sleep, while Sky ducked into the bushes to relieve himself, an act which angered Amaryllis immeasurably. “You truly are the most disgusting person I know Sky.”
To which Sky replied with a roll of the eyes, a reaction that did not please her either with Amaryllis taking the time to explain how one should act in front of someone so far above his station. Not that she really was.
As far as Grey knew, Sky and Amaryllis had grown up in the same small village, and known each other their whole lives. The only difference being that Amaryllis was raised up in the temple with her father a priest, and mother a priestess, while Sky was raised by his father a traveling merchant who rarely came home.
It’s probably why he and Sky had gotten along so well, Sky abandoned by his elders to take care of himself, while Grey had--
Shaking his head before he could relive the memory, Grey refocused his attention back on the road. The path winding down a hillside, before taking them back up again to an overlooking cliff.
There he stopped to catch his breath, and stare out at the lands that separated the farms from the Ashen Lands, a name recently given to places where the soil had been turned dark, the trees had become twisted beings, and the air toxic with poisonous gases that could suffocate a man if exposed for too long.
Turning back to his companions, Grey said, "This is your last chance to turn back.”
And for a moment Amaryllis was completely silent, each of them exchanging looks with each other, before Amaryllis shook her head, and Sky mumbled something about not leaving him alone with her.
Heart pounding a little with excitement, he started down the hill with his uncle’s greatsword ready in hand. Sky drawing a dagger that he’d concealed in his cloak, and Amaryllis sticking close behind them. The group making their way down into the blackened ground, the noxious fumes filling their lungs, making it difficult to breathe.(- 10 Health Points.)
Head pressed downward to avoid taking in too much of the poisonous fog, Grey cautiously made his way through the Ashes of what had been a farm, his arm brushing aside the stalks of grain that wilted to either side. The farmhouse where they stored their harvest, a hollow, empty shell. The quiet of the Ash sinking deep into him as they left it behind. (- 15 Health Points.)
When he was startled by the sound of a cracking branch.
Head whipped around at the possibility of danger, Grey saw Amaryllis wince, then heard another distinct crunch closeby.
(Click here to order your friends to wait while Grey checks it out.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Whispering a quiet word to each of them to stay where they are, he circled his position, maneuvering himself towards the sound. The poisonous smog getting into his lungs, when he saw what it was that’d made the sound, a pair of goblins who seemed to have their eyes on Sky, and Amaryllis. The creatures readying themselves to pounce.
(To see the results of this battle. You will need to roll the dice for yourself and your opponents. Here's an example of how to do it. Since you've been attacked by 2 enemies who attack with 3 dice each. You roll 6 dice using a 6 sided die to calculate the damage. Then minus that amount by how much you deflect with your own dice when you roll for your turn. Then finally by the amount of Resilience you have. So it would be: Attack Damage - Deflections - Resilience = Amount of Health Points lost.)
[https://em.wattpad.com/937a37af618063356ae21012822179074309fd58/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4e444e326974396e3739577246673d3d2d3731343034373536372e313539313561316537633866663265393230313630313939333536372e706e67] X 2
(Click here once you’ve defeated your enemies.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Bounding forward swiftly, Grey cleaved the head off the first, before kicking the second in the chest, the creature clawing at his leg, before he drove eight inches of steel into its ribcage. (+ 1 Honor.)
(Click here to move quietly away from the sound.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Wordless waving his arm for them to follow him, Grey started away from the sound, when two goblins rushed into the clearing, one of them attacking Sky who was forced to slash wildly with his dagger, while the other tossed a stone to hit Grey hard in the chest.
(To see the results of this battle. You will need to roll the dice for yourself and your opponents. Here's an example of how to do it. Since you've been attacked by 2 enemies who attack with 3 dice each. You roll 6 dice using a 6 sided dice to calculate the damage. Then minus that amount by how much you deflect with your own dice when you roll for your turn. Then finally by the amount of Resilience you have. So it would be: Attack Damage - Deflections - Resilience = Amount of Health Points lost.)
[https://em.wattpad.com/937a37af618063356ae21012822179074309fd58/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4e444e326974396e3739577246673d3d2d3731343034373536372e313539313561316537633866663265393230313630313939333536372e706e67]X 1
(Click here once you’ve defeated your enemies.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Winded slightly, Grey heard Amaryllis scream as he charged forward to attack the goblin that had thrown a stone at him, the creature scrambling to avoid the greatsword before being split in two.
The weapon wet with goblin blood, he spun around to help his friend with the second, only to find it dead with Sky wincing in pain to cover up a claw mark on his arm. (- 15 Health Points. - 1 Honor.)
“What are they?” Whispered Amaryllis.
“What does it look like? They’re goblins of course,”replied Sky sarcastically.
“Goblins don’t look like that.”
And for once Grey had to agree with her, the creatures they’d slain here were nothing like the goblins he’d seen in caves by his village, where those had deep mottled green skin, these had a grayish hue, with crimson red eyes, and bellies that looked like they hadn’t eaten anything in months.
“Father says the Ashen Lands change everything that lives here. That the Lightbearer no longer shines his light there anymore. That we must seek it out,”said Amaryllis with a note of caution.
...Grey watched his father open the door with steel in hand, mother telling him not to go outside, when a gust of wind blew the door from his father’s grasp. The blade in his father’s hand, somehow dulled by the light outside. The growl of the creature’s outsid--
The brief glimpse into his memory, causing Grey to shake uncontrollably. It seemed no matter how much time had passed, the pain of that moment had been imprinted into him, taunting him.
Feeling their concerned gazes on him, Grey forced a smile. “Come on. There may be more of them around.”
Wordlessly following his lead, he took them further into the place that had snatched away the lives of thousands. The dregs of the Blood Storm’s power somehow redirected into the soil they walked upon, each step harder than the next. The stench almost overwhelming. (- 20 Health Points.)
Too afraid to stop walking or they'd die, they continued like that for many miles, each of them pushing themselves to take the next step further. Their strength, and resolve somehow bonded together by their will to survive. (- 25 Health Points.)
When at last they broke free of the smog, Grey half collapsed to his knees, the greatsword dropping from his hands. Sky letting out a whoop of delight. ”I knew, we’d make it. That wasn’t so--.”
Sky’s words cut short by sudden gasp as he saw something ahead of him.
Fearing it was another attack, he half stumbled up to his feet, sweaty palms trying to wrestle the greatsword from the ground, and felt his jaw drop open in surprise.
Spread out for thousands of miles were the remains of the great army that had marched to battle against the Troll Kings. The muddy ground littered with the rusted tools of war, amidst a quagmire of death. The rotten bloated corpses of those that had died kept preserved by the marshes that had grown over this place.
“What now?”Asked Sky.
Grey looked back towards Amaryllis and felt a touch of pity for the young minotaur caked in dirt,her green eyes no longer holding that cool gaze that always told people that she was better than them. “We’ll rest up here, get something to eat, and continue on later. Shadow’s Bay, shouldn’t be far now.”(You can choose whether or not to eat a meal.)
“I suppose I shall gather some wood shall I?”asked Sky.
Grey smiled and nodded his head in thanks, his friend shooting him a grimace before moving off to collect deadwood from the clearing.
Once he’d disappeared from sight, Grey asked, “Why did you want to come with us, Maryllis?”
About to sit down, Amaryllis looked up at him in surprise. “That, that is none of your concern. Your role is guard me, and nothing more.”
Teeth clenched at the imperious tone in her voice, Grey had half a mind to leave her there and then, but again he was reminded of the duty Honor Blades had to all of Coroleya. They were the guardians of the world, and if he wished to become one of them, he would need to follow the way of light, a path few ever followed.
“Very well, if you do not wish speak of it, then at least tell me why you did not join a caravan? Or one of the traveling merchants that pass through by our village? Why come with us?”
As the suns dipped lower in the sky, Grey thought he saw a tinge of sadness in her eyes. “There was no time to wait. Once I heard Sky’s plan to leave. I had to go with you. It was the only choice I had,”she replied.
“There always a choice Maryllis.”
“Not for me,”she whispered.
Sensing she would say no more, Grey moved to stand watch over the camp, a part of him wondering what kind of trouble she’d gotten herself into. For as sure as there were four suns in the sky, a woman like Amaryllis doesn’t just up and leave home for no reason, especially not one that was born into a family like hers. There had to be a reason. And those reasons usually meant trouble.
It was then that Grey realised that Sky had yet to return back to camp.
Greatsword sweeping upward to rest upon his shoulder, he sprinted back towards Amaryllis, grabbed her roughly by the arm, and dragged her towards a nearby bush, just as a group of heavily armored minotaurs in cobbled together pieces of armour entered the clearing. Amaryllis’ face going from sheer outrage at his touch to sheer terror.
Six in all, each one them looked like they had been dipped half a dozen times in a muddy river, their ashen covered skin, and grizzled faces giving Grey an queasy feeling in his gut. Somehow a part of him knew they were looking for them, when a seventh minotaur, cleaner than the rest, entered the clearing, hauling a bruised and battered Sky. “Where are they boy? You’d said they’d be here.”
Jaws bloodied, Sky stared around the campsite, his gaze half flickering to the brush where they were hidden when he shook his head. “They must have left.”
Scowling darkly, the leader kicked Sky hard in the chest, and drew the longsword on his back.
(Click here to remain hidden.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Angered at the betrayal, Grey remained hidden, saw the longsword plummeting downward to kill his friend, when a crossbow bolt miraculously sprouted in the throat of the minotaur. With more whistling through the air to kill two more, the band of scavengers breakings, and fleeing from the clearing. (- 1 Honor.)
(Click here to step into the clearing.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Swallowing the raging fear inside of him, Grey stepped out into the clearing. “Wait!”
When a crossbow bolt miraculously sprouted in the throat of the minotaur. With more whistling through the air to kill two more, the band of scavengers breakings, and fleeing from the clearing. (+ 1 Honor.)
Stunned by the speed of the attack, Grey watched as a warrior armored head to toe in shining plate armor strode into view, greatsword strapped to his back, and crossblade in hand. His sudden appearance taking all the breathe from Grey’s lungs as he gasped in awe.
The warrior whirling round to look at him with silver eyes, the tips of his horns painted silver as well, before nodding his head, and kneeling down beside Sky.
To be continued...