As we took our first steps, free of the invisible shackles that held us, a new feeling rose in our chests. Sure we were forced into this mission, and sure we were now banned from a city in less than a day, but the fact that we were essentially taking the proverbial hobbits to the proverbial Isengard filled me with a sense of purpose I just didn't get stocking a grocer's shelves for $10.50.
The second step, however, brought about another thing entirely, and I'm not so sure it was a good thing either.
With trumpets heralding the arrival of some sort of royalty, a new screen popped up for Tah'Styr, Fahkir, and I, and with it a voice not unlike a used-car salesman or a Gameshow-host rang in our ears. The voice was definitely male and sounded like he had a broad smile permanently fixed to his face, probably by way of too much Bo-Tox. He was very boisterous, so much so that the text that was being used as "subtitles'' was in all-caps, Though it still sounded off, as if he wasn't used to speaking.
[CONGRATULATION!!~~]
[DEAR, ADVENTURER, YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY, SURVIVED, YOUR FIRST NIGHT!!]
[AS SUCH, YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR SPECIFIC, TUTORIAL, AND HAVE GOTTEN A, TASTE, OF WHAT YOUR NEW, EXISTENCE, IS LIKE!!]
[WITH, SUCCESS, COMES, REWARDS, AND WITH, REWARDS, COMES, PRIZES!!!]
[ *(^$##^& has awarded you enough "XP" to le-level up-up ]
[Tah'Styr Level up x1]
[Fahkir Level up x1]
[Onimous Level up x1]
[WITH ALL OF THOSE, PRIZES, GIVEN OUT I'LL LEAVE ,YOU, WITH SOME PARTING, WORDS!! DON'T BE, COMPLACENT, CONTINUE TO, GROW, ELSE YOU MAY, PERISH!!]
All four of us stopped in our tracks wondering what just happened. Before we could even start to discuss what just happened, another box appeared.
[ A new Quest has been added to your [Log] ]
[ {Cunning Action} has been added to your [Abilities] ]
"So... What just happened?"
We all looked to the speaker of the voice and saw a very bewildered Motherly-Wolf cocking her brow at us. I quirked a brow and returned her confused glance before asking my own question.
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"What do you mean? Are you saying you DIDN'T just hear the voice just now or see your notification?"
"What the bloody hell do YOU mean? What voice have you all heard? Did you three go mad or something? And what bloody notification?!
That threw me for a loop and as if she was reading my mind, Tah'Styr voiced the question.
"Are you saying you DON'T get notifications? How do you know when you level up then?
"Wh-Whot?!"
If before she thought us as peculiar, now she thought we were absolutely nuts. Her mouth was agape as she physically recoiled from us, stumbling back a bit as if she was slapped.
She started to chuckle, slowly at first, but before long, turning into an outright tear-shedding belly laugh.
"OH-HOHOHOHO~! An' 'ere I thought yew three were jus' naive village folk. Tuns out, you're all completely an' totally deranged! AN' PEOPLE THINK HIGH- ELVES AR' LOONS! OH-HOHOHO~!"
She threw her arms out as she yelled her complaint, but with one last regal laugh she huffed out a sigh and shrunk in on herself. Resigned with her fate, she began to mumble to herself.
"Oh Mana-Wells take me, I'm noh gunna make it back. I'm sorry foh runnin' mum, I swears i'll nevah leave again. I'll make shuh I attend evry lesson..."
She continued to mumble but it got more and more incoherent as her tears and snot started to muffle her voice. -Well I guess no one is exempt from turning ugly when crying- The muffled tinny voice of our diminutive friend pulled Tah’Styr and me from watching the train wreck.
"So we leveled, what changed for you guys? I got {Action Surge} which allows me to take an extra action between rests."
"Well I got three, funnily enough, well technically one but it has three different modes. It's {Channel Divinity} and the modes are:
{Turn Undead} which causes the Undead within 30 feet that can see or hear me to flee for a minute or until they take damage if they fail to resist it,
{Harness Divine Power} which allows me to restore a used slot per day,
and {Preserve Life} which allows me to restore hit points of creatures within 30 feet of me by 5 times my cleric level divided amongst those I choose.
"What about you Onimous? Did you get a simple yet effective ability like Fahkir, or something complex like mine?"
It was indeed a simple yet effective ability.
"A simple one: {Cunning Action} Each turn I can use a bonus action to Dash, Disengage, or hide. The good ol' fashion Hit-and-Run tactic, I like it quite a bit. Oh, and by the way Tah'Styr Your soul bond has given me some interesting additions to my saves:
-1 to STR
-1 to CON
+4 to WIS and CHA
"Speaking of charisma though. Fahkir, did your visor always look like a face?"
"My visor what now?
True enough as I brought attention to the matter she took it off and turned it to her showing a sculpted face on the face of her helmet. It resembled one of those roman war masks but distinctly female, though styled to resemble the Goddess Dike, or as she is commonly referred to as Lady Justice. A stylized blindfold with multiple vertical slits covered the eyes and was painted in a Metallic red that also ran down the cheeks like bloody tears. The lips were similarly painted but with the stony expression that was molded, it looked more eerie than seductive.
What was more surprising was the fact that her torso armor took the greek approach and was molded to look like... well, naked, just for a woman instead of men. Metal breasts tipped with nipples, abs, and navel lead down to her crotch that was covered with a wide strip of crimson cloth. All of it in excruciating fine details with any overly flat surface sporting Baroque filigree. -Judging by what I 've seen, she probably has a molded crotch plate that wouldn't be mistaken on a sex doll.-
"Are you fuckin' kiddin' me 'ere?! This is so god damned embarrassing. Who decided I wanted to go around fightin like some exhibitionist?
"Heey~ you'll be looking good while doing it though."
Tah'Styr didn't miss her chance to tease the dwarf, but even her rich outfit took on a more lewd aspect. The once loose and flowing padded robes she wore cinched up all over her body. It formed around her curves in a salaciously devious way. The standard "boob pocket" often seen in anime made its appearance hugging her heavy bosom. Her thick thighs and perky ass had a similar treatment and if it wasn't for the fact that Tah'Styr didn't show discomfort, I would have thought it was giving her a mean wedgie with how the fabric conformed around her tail and was subsequently eaten by her tight ass cheeks. It was like her once thick robes were made of plastic and had been vacuum wrapped around her body leaving just enough wiggle room for her to have freedom of movement while still looking obscene.
I on the other hand? I had my leathers blue shifted a tad, like murky water.
"What is up with male armor always getting the shaft?! Focking Blue, that's all I get. Not even a codpiece."
"Heey~ would you like it to have a codpiece?"
With Tah'Styr's seductive tone she went to cop a feel but was interrupted by a person that we all forgot existed for a moment.
"Whot the Fock happend to yew?! I Look away to hide my shame foh a mere moment an' the three of yew 'ave a wardrobe change? whot in the twice damned Mana-wells is goin' on 'ere?!