Ten days until the Duel with Edbert
Dawn
First things first, I needed to check out exactly what went on with the system, and as soon as I actually let myself focus on the ethereal windows around me, I noticed several messages.
“You have successfully bonded with a Totlelong. You may store this monster within a reliquary or your ritual mark. Simply choose a reliquary in your possession and touch the monster with it. Alternatively, think ‘return, Totlelong’ and it will return to its place upon your ritual mark.”
Which led me to question what a ritual mark was. Either way, it needed a reliquary, because as I waited for my friends to wake up, I had no one to ask. Melody and Rurin seemed to be reading something similar that I did not know, based on how their eyes moved.
Whatever, let’s do this. I thought about the words, ‘Return, Totlelong’, and suddenly felt energy from myself and the turtle dragon hatchling merged. It wasn’t as intense as the electric feel that passed between me and its parent on our deal, but nonetheless it was similar. Soon, I felt a burning warmth on my left shoulder, upper arm, and chest.
What? Why was my skin burning? What was a ritual mark and how did I have one? I took my shirt off with some struggle. There in its place was a series of dragon-like scales and turtle-like shell growths in places. Around them and through them was a painting quality tattoo of my Totlelong nudging a ball into the air like it was a seal, not a turtle.
Cerbearus was going to be fast friends with her. But how did I get her out? I read through the still open window and saw a second paragraph as I flicked my fingers to move its scroll bar.
“To summon your monster(s) from a ritual mark, simply say the words “I summon thee,” and the monster’s name. In the case that one is unable to speak, a mental command can do the same to summon a monster from a ritual mark - but only if the user is bleeding.”
Maybe making a deal with the Beast King was close to a Faustian Bargain? Had I made one?
“I summon thee, Totlelong.” I said, only to have it launch forth into a beam of energy, and coalesce at an angle so it fell in front of my arms. Dad instincts made me catch it without thought and soon I had a preening dragon turtle hatchling being held like a baby.
“You’re getting a reliquary, too,” I decided. As useful as the ritual mark was, I didn’t need the possible Hekatondronan equivalent of a pair of horns and a tail to mark me as someone with a contract with a Beast King.
It let out chirps and happy growls, and I stopped my movement to put it down for a moment. “I think you need a name first though… I know your parent is named for a greek philosopher, but naming you for one is probably the same as flying a flag saying ‘Deal with a beast King!’.. So how about Fragarach? My answer to the battle.” It chirped, apparently fine with the name. “It’ll be Rach for short.”
With a movement of the scrimshaw reliquary I had saved for something special, she was one of my regular team.
Which led me to the next system window and concern.
“Beast King Squire- You have spent a time assisting a Beast King, Aristotle the Drachlys with their concerns and gained rewards which grant some measure of the strength of the Best King. Your Body stat is increased by five, and your Charisma and Mind stats have been increased by three.”
As soon as I read it, another appeared.
“Paladin of the Precipice- You have been chosen by both a Beast King and one of the Eight Saints as their disciple. As such you stand on the precipice between civilization and nature, man and beast. You now have the ability to store a number of monsters in a ritual mark. In addition, your Charisma and Body stats have increased by three. You may channel a percentage of your health into others by touch.”
Which led me to ask the only question I could ask.
“What in the… When was I chosen by the Eight Saints? I’ve never even talked to one.”
Well, I could figure that out later. With the increased stats, and the three hundred and fifty experience points that I was awarded for supposedly completing the Dragon Fang Bog’s Dungeon, I should check out my stats.
[[ Name: Wade Calhoun
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Age: Fourteen Years (14)
Active Class: Shepherd (Level 008)
Other Classes: Stranger (Level 002)
Orphan (Level 008 [Effective Level 10])
Guard (Level 008)
Total Level: 0026
Experience: 0350
Class EXP Cost to Next Level: 1
Traits:
Inquisitive - You have a keen curiosity and the braveness to feed that curiosity with knowledge. You receive a permanent boost of ten percent to XP and one point to your Knack, Mind, and Charisma Stats.
Outworlder – You receive a permanent boost of three points to your mind and charisma stats. You receive a bonus of two points to your body, and knack stats.
Elemental Alignment (Earth) – Locked.
Elemental Alignment (Nature) – Locked.
Elemental Alignment (Fire) – Locked.
Elemental Alignment (Water) – Locked.
Beginner’s Luck – Four times per day, you may activate this trait to provide a bonus to yourself and all allies. It provides a bonus of your total effective orphan (or Orphan plus Orphan prestige class) level to any one statistic you (and/or allies) choose. It lasts one minute for every level in Orphan you have. Any luck increases you gain from effects also apply to friendly humans and monsters in your vicinity.
Beginner’s Eyes – A portion (20%) of your analysis skill rating is added to your weapon skill ratings for purposes of attack. In addition, you may now up to two times per day increase (to 50%) the percent of your analysis skill added to weapon skill ratings.
Porter & Pelikvern’s Pal – While in the Tidewarren and Highwater regions, you may utilize a special whistle to summon Gerald the Pelikvern to provide messenger and delivery services from yourself to others.
Tipsy Tauracean Tavern Cheer – You are now a favored customer of Tipsy Tauracean Tavern and receive a discount and other services and aid from the Tipsy Tauracean Tavern and its subsidiaries.
Strange Ways- Dungeons may generate special treasures for you and allow you access to areas that you may otherwise not be able to access within dungeons. Depending on your wisdom, and luck stats, you may receive additional guidance prompts from the system. While in battle or dungeons, you generate an additional twenty percent experience points for yourself and ten percent experience points for your compatriots. This bonus is retroactive within twenty-four hours. This trait does not evolve to allow for use outside of the Stranger Class until level 16 in the Stranger Class.
The Riddle of Steel - You have begun to learn the secrets of stone through the whispers of your partner’s insights. You may not follow in their footsteps yet, but you can at least see the places where the greatest of warriors have stepped. One-twentieth of your wisdom and intelligence will add to your dexterity and strength when it comes to melee battle. This trait may be upgraded.
Beast King Squire- You have spent a time assisting a Beast King, Aristotle the Drachlys with their concerns and gained rewards which grant some measure of the strength of the Best King. Your Body stat is increased by five, and your Charisma and Mind stats have been increased by three.
Paladin of the Precipice- You have been chosen by both a Beast King and one of the Eight Saints as their disciple. As such you stand on the precipice between civilization and nature, man and beast. You now have the ability to store a number of monsters in a ritual mark. In addition, your Charisma and Body stats have increased by three. You may channel a percentage of your health into others by touch.
Stats:
Body – 040
Mind – 033
Knack – 28
Charisma – 033
Health Points: 75/75
Mana Points: 66/66
Primary Monsters:
Baloo the Cerbearus (Level 6)
Bagheera the Ossicarn (Level 6)
Bedevere the Beelebian (Level 5)
Fragarach “Rach” the Totlelong (Level 5)
Softail the Alpha Jackanack (Level 15)
]]
I could look into more, but I didn’t bother. I was too busy wondering why I could suddenly see Health Points. Had they been there the whole time in my sheet and I just didn’t bother to notice? Whatever the case, I had what I came for and now needed to help the others to wake back up. Reaching for the pyramidal device which was Bedevere’s reliquary, I returned my bee monster partner to its home.
Then I looked at Rurin and Melody. “I don’t know how long you can stay, but can you help me wake up the others before you go?”
They both gave a nod, and we got to work. Based on the system prompt alone, I only had ten days remaining to finish up my training and my plans to actually stand against Edbert, his Faerir, and whatever other tricks he had up his sleeves.