Within the depths of the sewers, the survivors gathered themselves as the dust settled. Bloodstained worn, gray stone and mixed with muck and sewage as the ruined body of the two dead brigands lay motionless. One with a hole through her head, her face all but gone, the other with a hole through his torso. What had been an ambush sure to take the two young warriors' life, had quickly mutated into a pitched battle between the living and the undead.
The living had won and while it had been a matter of Victory or Death, such victories rang hollow in the face of such unflinching malice and brutality. This thing had been so close to killing all of them. Far closer than the bandits back at the ambush. That event felt so long ago now, even though it had been less than a month ago.
"Holy fuck." Saga coughed, and a few drops of blood flecked the stone beneath them. The hobgoblin put a hand on their back, making them almost lash out on reflex, but soon a green light glowed from the hobgoblin's palm. Saga could feel something inside their body tremble and convulse almost painfully before breathing became a whole deal easier. The shaman continued towards Sasha without a word as Saga took a deep breath and almost immediately regretted it as the stench down here almost made Saga hurl.
Instead, the sewers were quiet but for the heavy breaths of Saga. Each heaving breath made their lunges hurt as if they had just run a marathon. Looking down, they could see the reddish-brown blood mixing with the slow pouring of sewer water at their feet. Saga stepped away from the growing puddle and propped themselves up against a wall, face buried in their hands as they tried to still their nerves, tried to scrub the image of the woman getting her face impaled. When it didn't help, they just stared at the creature who had done it. Their eyes had a haunted, faraway look to them and they felt a new sensation billow up within them. Like storm building in the distance, moving slowly towards Saga who had no means of which to seek shelter from it.
It was a silent, hungry dread. A creeping, insidious feeling like nothing they ever experienced. It wrapped about every nerve, every cell in their body. It squeezed and tugged and burned. It made him panic and feel like needles of ice in the back of their head. Saga knew then what it was.
It was the fear of Death.
It was not a feeling they had ever felt before. There had been dark places in their life, where death had held far less sway over them where life seemed to offer so little that they felt like taking stupid risks. This feeling, this palpable, cold feeling. This fear was something they would have to come to grips with. Somehow they doubted this place had a proper psychiatrist however so Saga would have to work it out on their own.
They continued to stare at the decapitated creature as their heart was beating so hard and so fast it hurt. The anxiety they felt was worse than any of the panic attacks they had suffered back home. They heaved, feeling sick to the stomach as the rage had fully ebbed away, no longer there to keep anything in check. Now they felt as if they were but a husk of themselves. They sank to their knees, trying not to throw up, as their stomach cramped up. Tears welled up in their eyes but they held them back. They could not let themselves lose composure.
They didn’t dare look to their side, not ready to face reality and see the ruined face of their attacker turned desperate ally. Sasha soon came limping over to sit down next to them. The axedancer had several nasty cuts and a deep gash, her skin as pale as a sheet. But she offered Saga a smile, as bleak and weak as the two felt. But it was enough to reel Saga in. Instead, the two just stared at the dead creature before them.
Their silent moment of shared disbelief at surviving was disturbed by the voice of one small hobgoblin priest. The two glanced over to the terrified one who looked from their fallen comrades back to them. Saga had not realized how demure the creature was. They had features that Saga would guess were considered ambiguous for a Hobgoblin, with the coarse, heavier mane that Saga had seen on some of what Saga had assumed were male Hobgoblins. A small smile crept up on their lips. They had a feeling they might be talking to a kindred spirit in a way.
“My name is Agusti Velores of house Valores.” The young shaman started but they were cut off by Saga who raised a hand, prompting the terrified hobgoblin to stop talking. They might be kindred spirits in one way, but the hobgoblin had been the backup for people trying to kill them. And that weighed a little heavier than anything else at the moment as far as Saga was concerned.
“Hello, Agusti. Usually, I don't talk to people who try to kill me. But I think you earned it.” Saga said with a nod for the other to follow them. Sasha said nothing but was giving Agusti a far nastier look than Saga had. The hobgoblin seemed to shrink away, terrified of Sasha. Not that Saga could blame the shaman. In their shoes, Saga would be trembling. Sasha had the kind of stare that could make a statue flinch.
"I didn't want to..." Agusti started, trying to explain themselves but Saga cut them off. The second Saga raised their hand, the hobgoblin fell into a state of terrified silence. Saga almost felt bad for the demure creature.
“We can talk about that later.” Saga interjected as they motioned over for the Hob to come closer while the berserker pointed to Sasha. "Heal Sasha while I take a look at what your buddies had on them." The young shaman did so as the Hobgoblin hurried up next to Sasha while putting a hand over the worst of injuries while she stared daggers at the healer. But once the little hob began to let that healing light of theirs flow into the purple-haired warrior, her eyes closed and she let out a soft grunt of pain. Saga in the meanwhile carefully looked anywhere but the ruined face of the female brigand while they looted the body of anything of worth.
Taking the possession of a dead warrior could be seen as an offensive thing, but that kind of thinking was reserved for honorable opponents. Not thugs and bandits. Sadly, it appeared that the thug didn't wear much in the way of useful gear. Both the whirling airborne ax and the one she had wielded with the buckler were seemingly normal weapons. As was the buckler. The only thing of actual worth seemed to have been a small amulet on her person.
[Ice Clover Amulet: Bolsters resistance against frost magic while empowering the wielders to own.]
It seemed far better in the hands of Sasha, so Saga tossed it her way, glancing down at the grotesque flesh golem, expecting it to pop up ready to fight at any second. But it didn't. So Saga turned their attention inwards, looking for their strange guide, to see what they had gained. As soon as the text lit up before their mind's eye, they gasped. The gasp drew both Sasha and Agusti's eyes as Saga stood open-mouthed, staring into themselves.
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[You have slained 'Viola' (Warped Fleshgolem LVL 13). You have gained 4500exp. You have gained a level. You are now level 5. You have gained +2 Might. +3 Grace. +2 Spirit. +1 Mind.
Active Skill acquired: Withering Blows [ Magical, Enhancement, Melee. ] You can infuse death energy into your blows to apply a withering effect, marginally weakening the target's armor. Upon reaching 10 stacks, a piece of the target's armor shatters slightly, lowering its durability by a great amount. Mana Cost: Low.
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Passive Skill acquired, Head Hunter [1 out of 3]: When in battle if you are the one finishing an elite or stronger opponent, gain +50 percent experience. This skill goes on a 24 hours cooldown upon a successful killing blow.
Skill Level Up, Shield Bash, level 2: [ Physical, Charging attack, Melee. ] Dash at speed towards an enemy and smash into them with your shield, dealing moderate physical damage and stunning the enemy for a moment. Launches enemy backward upon impact and doubles the stun on a critical hit. This ability always critically hits when in Rage State.
Skill Level Up, Battle Cry, Level 2: [ Mental, Area of Effect. Buff.]
Unleash a battle cry to rally your allies and disrupt sonic attacks and skills. All Allies within a 6-meter radius gain a small boost to Physical Attack and Defense.
Skill Level Up: Slayer of Undead [3 out of 10]: You deal 3% more damage to undead.
Born For Battle [2 out 3]: Every ten minutes you remain in active combat, you gain a moderate bonus to both brawn and spirit. ]
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“What is it?” Sasha said, at first tense and alert for danger, only recognizing the faraway look on Saga's face. "No way. Already?"
“Level 5,” Saga said and felt a stupid grin crawl across their face, despite the death and destruction around them. Something was alluring and almost dangerous to level up. The dopamine rush it gave them was rather staggering at times.
"Damn," Sasha said. "Let's see it then."
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Saga Ljungborg.
Level 5.
Path of the Berserker.
Brawn: 23 (19+3).
Mind: 13
Spirit: 19
Grace: 17
Traits:
Twice Risen: Having already passed through the realm of Death before reincarnation, you have a natural affinity with Death. Your touch and presence unsettle the undead as a result.
Raging Spirit: Your spirit is wild and untamed, when you are pushed to your limit, your power is raised exponentially as you enter a [Rage] State. When exiting Rage, you gain the Exhaustion state.
Boon of the death Goddess: Marked by the Goddess of Death, you are anathema to the Undead. All your abilities and attacks deal a moderate amount of extra damage to the undead. You cannot be turned upon death by undead creatures or necromancy.
Rage: Condition, Temporary: Rage heightens your pain tolerance and makes you immune to mind control and similar mental attacks. Rage does not break preexisting mind-altering states.
Active abilities:
Withering Blows [ Magical, Enhancement, Melee. ] You can infuse death energy into your blows to apply a withering effect, marginally weakening the target's armor. Upon reaching 10 stacks, a piece of the target's armor shatters slightly, lowering its durability by a great amount. Mana Cost: Low.
Battle Cry, Battle Cry, Level 2: [ Mental, Area of Effect. Buff.]
Unleash a battle cry to rally your allies and disrupt sonic attacks and skills. All Allies within a 6-meter radius gain a small boost to Physical Attack and Defense.
Head Hunter [1 out of 3]: When in battle if you are the one finishing an elite or stronger opponent, gain +50% experience from that kill. This skill goes on a 24 hours cooldown upon a successful killing blow.
Shield Bash, level 1: [ Physical, Charging attack, Melee. ] Dash at speed towards an enemy and smash into them with your shield, dealing moderate physical damage and stunning the enemy. Launches the enemy backward and doubles the stun on a critical hit. This ability always critically hits when in Rage State.
Taunt, level 1: [ Mental, Resistible, Area of Effect. ] Draw the ire and attention of enemies around you. Enemies that have been taunted deal 20% percent less damage to you (35% if Berserker is enraged).
Blood Eagle, level 1: [ Physical, Execution Move, Melee. ] Finish an opponent by ripping out your weapon in a brutal fashion, dealing damage equal to 30 percent of targets missing vitality. If this ability kills the target, refresh the cooldown.
Passive Abilities
Slayer of Undead [1 out of 10]: You deal 1% more damage to undead.
Unyielding [1 out 10]: Whenever you engage a foe superior in numbers, gain a small boost in brawn and grace for each opponent present. Stacks up to 3 times.
Born For Battle [2 out 3]: Every ten minutes you remain in active combat, you gain a moderate boost to both brawn and spirit.
Any weapon, Any Time: You can wield any weapon at a level below your current improvised weapon proficiency.
Relentless Regeneration [1 out of 3)]: Your regeneration of Vitality is permanently increased by 50%. If enraged, this bonus is doubled.
Proficiencies:
Spears (Experienced) Experience to rank up: 2900
Shields (Intermediate) Experience to rank up: 200
Swords (Intermediate Experience to rank up: 500
Improvised weapons (Novice) Experience to rank up: 810
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"Headhunter? "
"I take it from your reaction that it isn't exactly common?"
"It's not exactly rare, but you generally see it with paths based around the assassination, big game hunting, and other such things."
"It feels like the magic is pushing me to be as active in combat as possible. No incentive to hang back at all. Not that I was expecting there to be, being a berserker and all. Seems it's hellbent on pushing me into the thick of it."
"Certainly seems that way," Sasha said. chewing her lower lip as she pondered on something. "Saga?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell anyone about the skill. If they ask for you to share who you are, hide that one."
"You can hide skills from others?"
"Of course. Either through passive skills or enchantments. Remember the innkeeper back at Hemgård?"
"Yes. " Saga blinked as they remembered the man's character sheet. It had seemed quite barren compared to Saga's own. "He didn't show all of his skills."
"Nope."
"I suppose I could hide Headhunter then." Saga looked to the skill. A way to level up faster did seem incredibly powerful but it wasn't without a price. If they were in a large-scale battle, this ability forced them to go after the stronger and more dangerous opponents or the skill was essentially a waste. And that meant if someone knew they were a headhunter in a battle, they could better predict what they would do. Focusing on the skill, they saw it grey out slightly, a crossed-out eye showing up next to it.
With the leveling out of the way, their eyes turned to the hobgoblin again. Putting a little bit of steel into their voice they spoke directly to the shaman.
"Now then. Answers"