“I have never seen such an incompetent and irresponsible… creature as that Daggat.” Elyndris wriggled in circles.
“You don’t know many goblins, do you?” Zuss took a seat on top of the hearth. Birdy crawled into her lap. It was uncomfortably warm, but she couldn’t move now.
“Irrelevant. What if we were attacked?” Zuss shrugged.
“We weren’t. You’ve got to learn to relax.”
“There is a DEMON at our doorstep!”
“We’ll handle it.” She scratched the cat, who purred in response.
“Do you even know what a demon is?”
“Nope.” Zuss was sure they could kill it and reap that sweet, sweet experience.
“When someone says demon, they mean a creature that is outside of the system. We don’t even get experience for killing it. Not directly.”
“What? Why not?”
“It’s not part of the system. It’s from somewhere… outside. Hell. Or the dreamlands. It has a lot of names.”
“Well, that’s just great. We go through the effort of offing one of these things and we just get orc shit?”
“We might be able to get something from it. I’ll bring it up in the morning.” The worm stopped pacing, or… slithering, and looked towards Zuss. “Why do you follow him?”
“Who, Dag?” The worm nodded. “Well, that’s difficult to put into words. It started because he was the only one who really took charge, you know? We were kids, but still. He made plans and put them into action. Everyone else just survived.
Then he showed us the system, and he really became a boss. We were a big thing, at the time. The crew you didn’t mess with. That was all Daggat. After that… things went wrong. People got hurt. He made some mistakes, but so did I. So did Klaw. Now… I guess it’s habit? Or maybe because he does all the thinking.”
“He’s interesting, that is sure. He has aspirations to lead the party. I am not sure he has what it takes.”
“If anyone does, it’s him. Why bring it up? Do you want to lead?” Elyndris thought for a moment.
“No. I don’t think that is my path.”
“What is?”
“Tell you what. You tell me what you want, and I will tell you what I want.”
Zuss leaned back against the wall. What did she want in all this? Power was nice. So was a home, once they disinfected it a bit of course. She decided to go with the easy answer.
“I am just living one day at a time.”
“No, not good enough. If that were true, then you would still be back with the other goblins. Er, hobgoblins.” She thought back to that day and shuddered.
“I didn’t have a choice to leave. I… got hurt. Then a human rescued me. After that, my old boss tried to kill me.”
“So, if you could leave Daggat and Klaw, would you? If it was safe to, I mean?”
“Why do you even care?”
“Because you have to trust your allies more than you respect your enemies. I need to know if I can trust you.”
Zuss pondered the question. She knew instinctively that she wouldn’t. It wasn’t even an option. But why? Was it love for her only family? No, not that. Loyalty? Greed? No. She knew why. Her brothers helped her, and she them. But there was something more.
“I want to be a predator. Not just a predator, the apex. I don’t want to be hunted. Daggat and Klaw are the same. We are a pack.”
“Good. Of predator and prey, you can always trust a predator to act in their nature. You can never trust prey.”
“Your turn.”
“I will be an avatar.”
“What’s that?”
“It is a title. One who has attained the perfect monster body, a dragon. Has fully completed their class progression, a champion. And one who breaks their soul's natural confinement, a demon. Attain all three and you will have power equal to that of the angels. An avatar.”
“You want to be a demon?”
“Demon is just a term for something out of the system's control. The angels vilify them.”
“Why? Can’t they mind their own business?”
“Greed. They want to be the ones in power.”
Birdy yawned and jumped off Zuss’s lap. Then she eyed Elyndris. The worm shifted uncomfortably. Zuss hopped down and rubbed her legs. That was getting a bit too warm.
“Watch the main room. I am going to do a quick patrol.”
“Take the cat with you.”
“Birdy does what she wants. Luck.”
Zuss slipped out of the room and activated deepen shadows. It was like a blanket, giving her a certain measure of comfort.
For a haunted manor, it was surprisingly silent. She skulked through the hallways as though it was her territory. There was so much to explore, but she didn’t want to go too far. If she had a run-in with the demon, then she would want to be able to flee easily.
The first door she tried led to a small room with only one seat built into the wall, and a hole cut into it. Roots grew from the hole. She shut the door and shuddered.
A while later she found a room that interested her. It was near the great hall, easy to get to. Inside was a rug-strewn room with several comfortable-looking lounge chairs around a fireplace. This fire was much smaller than the hearth. There was a bookcase filled with scrolls and small books as well as a cabinet with a glass door. Dozens of bottles were on the other side.
She tried to open it but found it was locked. The glasswork was fine and looked expensive. She lifted her dagger to smash it. Then hesitated. If she broke the glass, it would be loud. Zuss knew about locks but had never actually seen one in action. If she could figure out how to open it… she could get into places nice and quiet like.
She brought her dagger to the keyhole.
Twenty minutes later, she smashed the glass. Eh, she gave it a try.
The bottles turned out to be, as she hoped, alcohol. It was quite the haul. All some variation of whiskey. At the bottom of the cabinet were boxes of those sticks Daggat had been chewing on. She gave one a sniff then put it back. Not her thing.
Whoever had lived here before was not only wealthy but left without taking their stuff. That was good for the crew, they could use the stuff. Did they leave because of the zombies? Or was that later?
She took a sip from one of the bottles and then noticed something else. Above the fireplace were two swords. Each was slightly curved and had bronze cage-like hand guards.
Zuss scampered up the fireplace and took them. They were only resting on pins, easy to remove. She was no expert, but they felt balanced in her hands. She gave a couple of test swings. These could be fun.
Now to find something to test them on.
She left the sitting room and went on the hunt for some corpse wood. She didn’t have to look far. A handful were loitering outside one of the side doors to the great hall. She activated deep shadows once again and moved towards them.
The first fell easily, she ignored the notification. The weapons were a bit awkward to use, they were sized for someone taller and she was not practiced. But, hobgoblins had long arms, so her reach was far greater than the zombies. The others fell just as easily.
Were all undead so easy to kill? Even the grasping roots were more dangerous. She was slightly embarrassed to have been scared of them before.
Eventually, she grew bored and retreated to the hall.
Elyndris was sitting on one side of the table and Birdy was on the other. Her tail swished back and forth.
A while later, while Zuss was practicing swinging the swords, there was a subtle shift in the room. It didn’t visibly darken, but the shadows seemed a tad more malicious. The warmth was harsher, no longer gentle.
The door at the far end pushed open at that moment.
What stepped through was not a standard corpse wood, nor was it the demon. It wore a nice suit. Behind it shambled in six corpse wood. They must have been waiting for this moment.
“Elyndris, wake the others.” She lifted her blades in a challenge. The creature coughed and then spoke.
“Pardon. But it seems you are squatting in an occupied residence. I would ask that you leave.” Its voice was a dry whisper, but it had an echoing quality that seemed otherworldly.
“I don’t see no one here. Just the dead.”
“My master is very much alive. I have been ordered to remove you myself.”
“Do you do all of your master's dirty work?” The butler, Zuss realized that was what it was, adjusted its collar.
“Yes, I do.” Then it lashed out.
It lifted an arm and whips of thorn-covered vine extended from within the coat sleeve. Zuss dashed forward and leaned back just in time to dodge it. Two more whips flew at her and she danced away from them. Where they struck the ground, gouges cut into the wood. She would need to be careful to not get hit.
Zuss was close enough to strike. She swiped at his head. It, almost politely, leaned away from the attack. Then he whipped another vine at her. The vine wrapped around the sword she tried to block with, then wrenched it from her grasp. It flew across the room.
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Now she was forced to backstep, dodging and weaving through the flying vines. This was oddly familiar to her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the regular corpse wood start to close in.
Then there was a roar. Klaw lept into the fray, landing claws first on top of a corpse wood.
Zuss slipped under the table and activated deepen shadows. She could dodge but was no good in a direct fight. She heard someone yelling. Daggat, giving orders.
“Hunter! Tend that fire! Klaw, Anath, cut through them. Elyndris you… do whatever you do, I guess. Where’s Zuss?” She rolled her eyes. He HAD to be in charge all of the time, didn’t he?
Klaw grunted in pain. That was her sign. She dashed out from under the table, deepen shadows still active, and moved to the wall. She hugged it as she circled the enemy. Klaw had a vine wrapped around his wrist and he was holding a vine, pulling it towards him. Anath was at the edge of the battle, stabbing corpse woods. Daggat stood on the table barking orders. He could at least TRY to help.
The butler didn’t notice her as she circled it and scampered up the wall. She had to put the sword in her mouth to climb. Maybe these were not for her after all.
She kicked off the wall and soared towards it. In the air, she grabbed the blade with both hands.
She brought it down upon the butler.
It screamed in pain as she sliced down his back. His bark was hard, much sturdier than the other corpse wood. Then the butler kicked her. It was a practiced, skillful kick. One that put his full weight into it. She felt a crack in her chest and flew back, her chest burned with pain. Something definitely broke.
Anath screamed. “ZUSS!” Then charged the monster. It was still struggling with Klaw, so it only faced her with one vine whip. The spider girl screamed again, tears flowing down her face. Not tears of sorrow, Zuss realized. But frustration and rage. She was PISSED. Zuss had a suspicion that it wasn’t just her getting hurt that fueled that rage. She was still drunk. Whatever normal mental walls she had were gone, and this was the result.
“Fuck yeah, tear it up,” Zuss whispered. That hurt, but she was used to pain.
She slashed and stabbed with her spider legs with zero thought in defense. That was all well and good because the butler could do nothing else but defend.
By now, all of the corpse wood had fallen and Hunter's aura was active again. He was running towards the fight with his torch. Daggat was gone. Zuss limped towards the fight.
Klaw was lifted into the air by the vine he was holding, and then was slammed onto the table. Luckily, the table was sturdy. But Klaw released his grip. This freed the butler's arm, which immediately joined the storm of strikes Anath was contending with.
Anath held both arms in front of her face as her legs slashed. Lines of blood broke her perfectly pale skin. Zuss growled.
Then something smacked into its head. Elyndris. The worm was latched to its eye and was burrowing through. The creature screamed and reached for it.
Zuss didn’t let the opportunity go to waste, and neither did Anath. Both girls struck it at the same time. It didn’t seem to notice, as it focused on dislodging the worm. It did and tossed her to the side.
Zuss went for another strike, but the butler spun. Vines swung out and knocked them both back. Anath’s arms were red. That wasn’t good.
“Very well. We will add your corpses to the pit.”
Hunter lumbered in like a bull and he was met with a volley of vines. They were met by a torch and burned away.
“Klaw! Catch!” Daggat threw something from the kitchen. Klaw jumped and caught it, then drank it without question.
He growled and lowered into an animal-like pose. His growl grew in intensity and a muzzle formed and his hair darkened. Klaw howled. He had transformed into a dark wolf-bugbear hybrid. He tore into the undead, ignoring or ripping past the flying vines. His fur was thorn-proof, it seemed.
Klaw managed to get in close and was tearing chunks from the undead’s neat outfit. Beneath was a mass of wriggling thorn-covered vines.
The butler was forced to step away from the wild beast only to be met with Anath on the other side. Hunter hit it square in the chest with his torch, and a bright light flashed. The undead screamed.
Zuss, momentarily blinded, didn’t stop. She jumped off of a chair and flew at his head. Rather than slashing down, she stabbed.
With a thunk, the sword speared through its neck.
The butler fell to his knees.
“If you kill me… the master will take it personally.”
Daggat casually stepped onto a chair and the table so he could look down at it.
“Oh, we're sooo scared. How many other lackeys does he have? If you tell me, we will spare your… unlife.” Klaw held down one arm, Anath pinned the other, and Zuss held his legs together. Hunter held his torch in its face.
“The lady, the prodigy, the woodsman, and I serve the master in our eternity.” He stammered out. Even the dead fear death.
“So three. Thank you. Oh, and I lied. Obviously.” Then he jumped off the table, grabbed the sword hilt, and decapitated the monster in one movement.
Everyone fell to the ground in relief. The bastard took the kill. That was HER sword. Zuss tutted.
“Alright, I admit,” Daggat said, “It was a pretty bad idea to rest inside the haunted house.” Anath, Klaw, and Elyndris laughed. Hunter gave a polite chuckle.
“Hey! I leveled up!” Anath said.
“Same,” Elyndris added.
“Well no wonder, it was a level ten awakened corpse wood.”
Zuss felt her ribs. She hissed in pain. Damn, they had held up for so long so far. It was just one. Should heal quickly, but it will suck.
“Anyone going to be able to go back to sleep after that?” Daggat asked.
Everyone shook their head.
“Then, how about some breakfast?” Said Hunter, an eager smile on his face.
Daggat
True Name: Daggat
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: goblin [ +2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Scavanger; Small Size]
Monster Level: 7
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 20
Will: 10
Charm: 12
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Fledgling Alchemist
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Act: Usurper
Act: Touch of Death
Skills(0/3):
Alchemy: 1 [Source: Fledgling Alchemist]
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Mind Codex: 1 [Synergy: Mental notes + Copy Tome]
Party Leader: 1 [Source: Usurper]
Notable Natural Skills:
Literacy: Apprentice
Biotraits (2/6):
Base size: Small [Source: Goblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Hypnotic Gaze [Mutations: Dominating Gaze]
Temperature Resistant Skin [Synergy: Fire Resistant Skin + Cold Resistant Skin]
Scavenger [Source: goblin]
Death Sight [Source: Touch of Death]
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 charm
Extreme Temperature Resistant Scales [Synergy: Fireproof scales + Temperature resistant Skin]
Fire breath
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Dark vision [Night Vision Enhanced]
Deepen Shadow
Other:
Variant: +10 Intelligence
Notable Gear:
Strange pure-white sword
Hunter
True Name: Hunter
Soul: Mortal
Genseed: Ogre [ 8 Str, 2 Dex, 6 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Ogre's curse; Large Size]
Hearth Tender Level: 6 [+1 Str, +1 Con, +4 Wil; Invoke Torch, Hearth Fire]
Attributes (1/5):
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 6
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 8
Will: 13
Charm: 7
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Slayer
Skills (1/7):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Invoke Torch: 1
Hearth Fire: 1
Sacred Flame: 2 [Perks: Debilitating Warmth]
Encompassing Warmth: 1
Brilliant Bash: 2 [Perks: Hearth Flame]
Bounty Hunter: 1 [Source: Slayer]
Biotraits (0/1):
Base Size: Large
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Other:
Curse: Ogre Curse
Zuss
True Name: Zuss
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: hobgoblin [ +1 Str, +3 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Nimble Fingers; Small Size]
Monster Level: 7
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 8
Will: 10
Charm: 9
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Alacrity
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Deep Shadows: 1
Path Finding [Type: Climbing]
Notable Natural Skills:
Stealth: Apprentice
Climb: Apprentice
Biotraits (1/7):
Base size: Small [Source: Hobgoblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Mutations: Dark Vision; Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Improved Body Control [Synergy: Improved Balance + Improved Nerve Conduction + Improved flexibility]
Nimble Hands and Feet [Synergy: Nimble hands + Prehensile Feet]
Cold Resistant Skin
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Smoke Aura
Lesser Wings
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Enhanced Scent
Deepen Shadow+, Widen Shadows
Pet:
Name: Birdy
Genseed: Cat
Attributes:
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 4
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 2
Will: 2
Charm: 3
Biotraits:
Lesser Wings
Anath
True Name: Anathema
Soul: Monster/Mortal
Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
Monster Level: 4
[Class] Level: 4
Attributes (1/6):
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 10
Will: 9
Charm: 8
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Skills(5/6):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Skill Boosts: Survival (1)
Notable Natural Skills:
Survival: Apprentice
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits [1/4]:
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction]
Extra Limb (Arachnid), x4 [Source: Variant]
Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant]
Multi-eye [Mutations: Magnified, Night Vision; Source: Variant]
Hardened Chitin
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Claws
Dark Vision
Other:
Variant: Arachnid Traits
Klaw
True Name: Klaw
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: Bugbear [ +3 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Rough Fur; Small Size]
Monster Level: 7
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 19
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 8
Will: 9
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Strength
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1
Burst of Strength: 1
Attribute Boost: Strength (+2)
Notable Natural Skills:
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/7):
Base size: Standard [Source: Gremlin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Claws [Mutations: Forged, Retractable]
Dense Muscle Fibers
Rough Fur [Mutations: Insulating Fur; Source: Bugbear]
Dense Bone
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 constitution
Fire-proof Scales
Claws [Mutation added: Burning]
Notable Gear:
Mountain Heart Armor
Elyndris
True Name: Elyndris
Soul: Monster
Genseed: Larva [ 1 Str, 1 Dex, 1 Con, 1 Int, 1 Wil, 1 Cha; miniscule Size]
Monster Level: 6
Attributes (8/12):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 7
Will: 7
Charm: 7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Blasphemy
Skills (0/2):
Burst of Strength
Pounce
Biotraits (3/6):
Base size: Miniscule
Jaws
Enhanced Touch [Mutation: Tremor Sense]
Complex organs
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
+2 constitution
Jaws [Mutation: Powerful Jaws]
Other:
Curse: Ungenesis