No one spoke to try and disagree with Scott’s grim words, instead seeming to settle into their own thoughts. Cyn wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment, and for her the first step in preparing had to be checking if anything she had been given would be useful. Starting with her belt of pouches, Inspect did not give any more information than she already had from just looking at them.
Opening the pouches up to reveal the items that came with it, Cyn found she had three red potions, three blue potions, and what looked like small, dense crackers. The crackers were the cloth wrapped rectangle she had briefly noticed when first picking up the items. Using Inspect, she was able to identify the red potions as health potions, and the blue ones were predictably mana potions. Inspect did not give any detailed numbers however, just informing her that drinking the potions would restore a small amount of health and mana respectively.
Survival Wafer (Rare) - An unappetizing meal alternative. A single wafer provides all of the daily nutrition required by an Awakened human. Eating more than one wafer in a day may cause severe side effects.
There were ten wafers in total. The rare quality tag on them made her think it would be difficult to get more. Cyn would run out of fresh water long before she ran out of wafers, but the limited amount was still a concern she filed to the back of her mind while picking up the next item.
Waterskin (Common)(Water) - A container specifically made to hold liquids. Has a mouthpiece to allow drinking. Able to be attached to a belt.
Enchantments: [Endless Spring]
This was the first item she had seen with an enchantment on it. Cyn was able to use Inspect on the enchantment name within the pop-up description to get an idea of what it did.
Endless Spring Enchantment (Faulty) - Allows the waterskin to be infused with mana to inefficiently convert raw mana into drinkable water.
So she wasn’t going to be running out of water anytime soon then. As long as the mana use to regeneration ratio wasn’t terrible, that is. ‘Faulty’ sounded at least a step below common on the rarity scale, if not more. The enchantment was exciting regardless, since the others likely had limited uses for their mana and could instead just use it to keep them safe from dehydration.
The waterskin also showed what was inside of it. Perhaps there were other liquids that she could put in? Potions maybe? If she could get her hands on another one that is, since she would likely need to continue to carry around fresh water for drinking.
Saving the gift for last, Cyn used Inspect on her cloak next. While doing so, she couldn't help but notice that using Inspect was rapidly becoming second nature, and no longer took real effort to use. That was encouraging, because if all skills took the amount of effort to trigger Inspect had at first they were going to be useless to fight with. If it just took practice, Cyn was destined for many training montages, and probably a whole lot of just waiting on her mana to regenerate.
Novice Cloak of The Arcane Hall (Common)(Soulbound) - Keeps the wearer dry in rain.
+1 Mind.
‘Useless thing wouldn’t even stop an angry kitten!’ ~ Stelphan, First Lichweaver
There was a lot to unpack in that short description. It was the second item she received with the ‘Soulbound’ label, and both related to her class choice. The label itself did not respond to Inspect, so Cyn was forced to keep her previous speculation about its meaning. This was the first item to have stat points on it, and it was also the first time she had seen what could be called flavor text. In games, flavor text generally held little value beyond immersion, but this seemed to communicate that the cloak should not be used to defend yourself.
While that was useful information, the flavor text was also an attributed quote. ‘First Lichweaver’ felt like some kind of title, so maybe it was an important individual from The Arcane Hall? Was this something she was supposed to already know? With every Mage related item so far including odd details and giving her fragments of information, she took a breath to brace herself for even more unanswerable questions and carefully untied the ribbon around the box.
Except it wasn’t a box. As soon as the silver ribbon came untied the cloth gift wrapping collapsed in on itself, completely losing its box shape. What the fuck? She froze a moment before picking up the now shapeless mass to unwrap and reveal…a crown? No, it was a circlet. Simple in design and of a lightweight silver metal, it was adorned with only a single, colorless gem that Cyn assumed was meant to rest on the forehead.
Radiant Diadem (Unique)(Soulbound) - The Awakening Gift given by The Arcane Hall to the newly Awakened Mages of the 242nd dimension. Mana can be infused into the diadem to illuminate the surrounding area.
+1 Will.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
That was a long winded way to explain she now had a magic headlamp. Not that Cyn was complaining, a magic headlamp was pretty cool, and the small stat boost was probably nice. More than anything she was kind of grateful Inspect had not triggered another round of questions this time since everything there that might be questionable she had already seen elsewhere. Well, it triggered no questions except for what happened to the box. The wrapping and ribbon both lacked descriptions beyond what they were made of. The wrapping was dyed cotton cloth, and the bow was dyed silk ribbon. No explanation on why they had once been box shaped. She could only assume it was some kind of magic, but since it didn’t seem important she did not linger too long on it.
The cloth could potentially be useful, so Cyn folded it into one of her empty pouches to keep. She actually had an idea for how to use the ribbon. Without a hairbrush it would never be cooperative, but between the ribbon to tie it back and the diadem to hold it down she might just be able to keep her mass of red hair in check. Or at least out of her face. Tying the ribbon was harder than she thought it would be, but after a few tries the plan was mostly successful. Cyn then took the time to figure out the buckle of her belt, where the pouches could sit comfortably, and how to properly clasp her cloak.
Properly outfitted with what she had been given, Cyn still looked silly in her frog shirt, shorts, and with no shoes, but at least now the only thing she had to hold was her staff. Considering its use as a walking stick and bonking stick, her hands were probably the best place for it anyway. Satisfied, Cyn’s attention was once again returned to her new companions.
Sam looked like he had put on everything he had, but paired with only his lime boxers it made the poor man look more absurd. There must have been some kind of strap included to hold his longsword, as it was now hanging across his back, atop the red cloak. Belt and pouches sat on his bare waist, and his newly gloved hands were fiddling with the pouches. It looked uncomfortable overall. He was standing in the same place he had sat down after their introductions, but the unfocused look in his eyes made Cyn suspect he was reading something in the menu.
Dana, Hex, and Scott had moved to one side of the room and were speaking in whispers. All three appeared now properly outfitted, although the Archer had been nearly there already when they arrived. She now had her quiver on, and it had a few arrows in it. Cyn was pretty sure it had been empty before, so maybe it was enchanted like the waterskin? Hopefully, since making usable arrows was not an easy thing to do.
Hex looked like he was from some kind of dystopian RPG. His clothes were casual enough to almost work with the provided gear, and he also had a dark purple fitted mask on that covered his entire face below the eyes. Cyn would have expected the daggers to be attached to his belt, or in thigh sheaths, but they were instead sheathed upside down on his upper arms.
Scott looked intimidating. There was no other way to put it. Between his already black outfit made mostly of leather and the wicked looking spiked mace it would have been easy to believe the room they stood in was the Guardian’s own boss room. Cyn had been a bit apprehensive about the older man being their Guardian, but one look at him now and any doubts fled. He belonged here.
“Shit. Hope I wasn’t holding us up.” Sam’s deep voice sounded embarrassed, but when the group of three turned to face him and Cyn they just collectively shook their heads.
“Don’t worry about it. Clearly you and Cyn had less time to ready yourselves before coming here.” After a brief pause Scotts eyes flicked to the door and he continued, “We were just discussing what might be expected on the other side of that door. Me and Hex think it's gonna be rats. Big ones.”
“What makes you say that?” The Warrior sounded perplexed at their guess, but Cyn agreed. It was probably rats or maybe undead.
“I’ve played my fair share of tabletop games, even did time as a dungeon master. Rats just make sense for the scene.” Sam nodded slowly as Scott spoke, as if he understood. Maybe he did. When the Warrior had spoken about choosing his class it sounded as if it was deliberate, so it was not out of the question that he had at least some familiarity with RPG’s.
Between his reaction to missing out on being a Mage and agreeing with Scott about what they would be facing, Hex also seemed like he was connecting whatever this was to RPG concepts. Scott being so familiar with them took Cyn by surprise, but she realized that judging the Guardian based on his age going forward would be a mistake. She glanced at Dana; and that seemed to make the Archer feel the need to voice her own thoughts. “I think it’ll be undead. Walking skeletons or zombies.”
Seems like none of them were fully ignorant at least. Instead of sounding silly by agreeing with both sides, Cyn changed the topic. “Regardless of what we might fight, we need some kind of plan. I have a healing skill, but it doesn’t sound like it's the kind that could do much in the middle of a fight so we can’t be reckless.”
Everyone's faces brightened at that, and Hex sounded straight up excited. “You’re a healer?! When you said you were a Mage I assumed we needed to prepare for stray fireballs.”
Cyn couldn't help but smile. The sudden shift in mood embodied one of the reasons she always played healer. “I wouldn't call me a healer…yet. Mages seem to be able to do both. The healing skill I have just says it accelerates natural health regen and closes wounds. Without testing I really don’t know how effective it will be. Plus, I also have damaging magic. It just sounds a bit dangerous to try, especially in close quarters.”
Scott nodded. “In terms of a plan, there isn’t much of one to make until we have more information. Guardian seems like the kind of guy that should go through the door first, and I have no problems with that.”
“You could just open the door and see what it looks like. Worst case scenario the door is rushed as soon as we open it, but me and you could probably hold it shut for a bit while we make a plan.” Sam’s idea was pretty sound. There was nothing that indicated they would have to leave as soon as the door opened. Taking a short look was low risk, especially if the Guardian was the one to do it.
“That sounds like a safe option. Good thinking. Anyone else have a better idea?” Scott did not pause long before continuing, genuinely not seeming to mind being the guy in line of fire. “Let's get this party started, then.” He strode towards the door confidently, shield strapped to one arm and spiked mace in the other. But when he got to the door, Scott paused and looked back.
“I don’t have a free hand to open this. Need one of you to do it.” None of them had moved with the Guardian initially, but now they all repositioned themselves around the door. Sam went for the handle to pull it open, Hex beside him and seeming ready to help hold the door shut if needed. Dana and Cyn stood a little behind Scott. They had not discussed it, but Cyn felt they both wanted to get a look and not just depend on one set of eyes to observe what was on the other side if it could only be opened briefly.
Sam stopped his hand inches from the handle and met eyes with the Guardian. Both men nodded, and the Warrior grabbed the handle.
And did not pull it. After a few seconds of awkwardness Hex asked tentatively, “Sam? You OK?”
“Yah, just…just a second. This isn’t really a door.” They waited for him to explain that, but he did not. His next words, after a short silence, were instead instructions. “Everyone over here. We have to be touching.”
There was some hesitation, especially from Cyn and Dana, but ultimately they complied and ended up collectively locking elbows to make a human chain. Almost instantly after Dana, who was last, joined the chain Cyn had a pop-up appear. This one did not immediately leave the corner of her vision, so assuming it was related to the door she focused on it in order to make it readable.
Please confirm you are ready to enter the first floor of the transitional dungeon. If you are entering with a party, all members of your party must be touching and confirm they are ready before the dungeon will start.
[Ready][Not Ready]
Below the message were five check marks, two of which were glowing green while the other three seemed grayed out. Cyn confirmed she was ready with Inspect, and the third check mark started to glow. Then the fourth. She heard the Archer mutter behind her, “So much for that plan.” just as the final check began to glow, and once again her vision went black.