“So, are you hoping the guildmaster forgets about the materials he lent you before you evolved?” Djarleen asked with a smirk as we got back to her shop. “Because I can tell you, he will remember eventually. The longer you wait, the worse your punishment will be.”
“Oh shit!” I froze, staring at Djarleen like a deer in the headlights.
“Relax. Forgetting once isn’t a big deal, especially considering the type of day, no week, that he’s been having.” She said, looking at the ceiling while she was thinking. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m proud of the havoc you’ve caused Angus. You really kicked the Steel Bee’s nest.”
“Thanks?” I replied, wondering why the guild needed to be thrown into disarray like that.
“Oh relax, if something big didn’t happen every so often those old curmudgeons would start pestering me. This gives them something to do other than look over my shoulder.”
“Well, you’re welcome, I guess.” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “Hey, just a thought, but is there a potion that will improve memory? No matter how high my stats must be by now, I still forget important things on occasion.”
“There is, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. The Eternal Memories potion. Legendary grade, oddly enough needs water from the river Lethe as its base. Anyway, you will never forget anything. Ever. It’ll take a while, but the sheer amount of inane details you remember in striking detail will drive you mad.”
“Is there a slightly less, potent potion?” I asked.
“Sure there is. Using the sap of a Forget Me Not, you can make a common potion that’ll help you memorize stuff for an hour. Great for cram sessions. Of course, the guild trainers all knew about that potion as well, and if you are forced to drink a cleansing potion all that information you crammed will be flushed right out. So we all had to drink a cleanse potion before any of the tests, making the potion useless to us. I’m assuming you want something in the middle of those two potions?” She grinned at my exasperated expression.
“Well, no. I just have this habit of forgetting to do stuff, like give the guildmaster back his things. I don’t think a cram session potion will help with that.”
“Nope. Nothing can help you with that, sorry.”
“Ah well, was worth a shot. Thanks anyway Djarleen, I’m off to the inn to head out for the night. Say, are you going back to the guild with me in a few days?”
“No. Contrary to what you are thinking, this store does need to be open on occasion so that I can have enough money to live.”
“Oh, sorry. Last question then, and I’m off for the night. Is there any chance you would be willing to help me with this ritual?” I asked, pulling out the book on how to acquire the highest grade of poison resistance.
Eyes growing, Djarleen reverently took the book and started lightly turning through the pages, careful not to damage it in any way. “This is incredible.” She muttered, reading through the procedure. After a few “Of course” and “brilliants” she looked back at me. “This isn’t that complicated, but it will need a deft touch. I’ll do it, but it’ll cost you.”
“How much?”
“Normally, I would say enough so that I could go through the ritual as well, but it is level dependent. I’m level 65 now, and they say that at level 35 the chance of death crosses the 50% threshold. So, I’m going to charge you ten platinum.”
“Done.” I said with a smile. “How long will it be taking?”
“Two days for every five levels. Don’t worry, I’ll set everything up. I assume that the list of poisons you left at the front desk were for this?”
“Exactly.”
“Very well then, we can start on it the day after the meeting with your dwarves. Can I keep the book until then so that I can practice on the procedure? I might also make a copy of this for myself.”
“If you want a copy, then I’m only going to pay you three platinum, with the stipulation that I get half of any proceeds you make performing the ritual on anyone else.”
“Seven platinum, and ten percent.”
“You wouldn’t be getting anything without my book, five platinum and 50% of the profit.”
“Grrr, fine. Five platinum and fifty percent. That is for the ritual only, not if I end up selling the client the ingredients.”
“Very well, but don’t let any adventurers gather all the ingredients. They will keep trying until they kill themselves to get the recipe, and we will be left with nothing.”
“Do you think me an idiot? Of course I wouldn’t do that. Now, get out of here, I’ve got studying to do.” She made a shooing motion with her hands, and I took off.
Heading to the inn, I was still weirded out that all the drakelings on the street seemed to give me a bit of a respectful berth. As I entered the inn, I caught Alnoss with her back to me. The weirdest part was how her tail was sliding up and down the customer’s tail as she dropped a plate of food in front of him. I couldn’t quite make out the customer, as her body was in the way.
“Evening Alnoss.” I said, smiling as I saw her jump a bit.
“ANGUS! WELCOME BACK!” She said, while flying across the room to give me a massive hug. “Don’t go disappearing for a week at a time again. Things just aren’t as interesting without ya.”
“Sorry, I had no choice in that.” I apologized, then looked up to see Khaliss staring at me. “Hey there Khaliss, sorry to interrupt your meal like that.”
“No need for apologies, I was actually hoping you would be by before long. Can you get him a plate dear?” He asked, looking at Alnoss.
“Sure thing.” She said, sauntering over and kissing his snout before heading back to the kitchens.
“Sit.” He said, sliding out the chair across from him. Once I had, he started back up, “Well. First thing’s first, what level are you?”
“Ten, why?”
“Excellent! We can begin training.”
“Wait, what training? Why?”
“For heading back to the dungeon of course! We only have to spend three days there now, but since you helped evolve the entire city the king has decided that you should have the honor of being in the first of the dungeon teams. We will be given an entire day to get the lay of our dungeon, and adding whatever we need to it.”
“ALL O’ THA SCHITTY EXCSHEPT ONE!” Someone slurred from a corner. “I shoulda knowed you’ld fuck me ovar given tha chanshe.”
We both turned to see a kobold, drunk as a skunk, stumbling his way towards our table. It took a second, but I recognized him as the player that had tried stealing from me. “And why would I help a thief like you?” I asked in an icy tone.
“B’cuz. *hic* B’cuz. You revolved all the oth’r kobolds. But nots tha adv’nt’rersh. B’cuz yer a DICK!”
“Wow, such a compelling argument makes me just want to jump out of my seat and rush to your aid.” I retorted.
“That much sarcasm in a single sentence should be outlawed.” Khaliss muttered, shaking his head. “And just why should we be helping you?”
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“B’cuz I shaid sho.”
“No.” Khaliss said, before I could reply. “You are weak. How long have you been among us, and you’re only what level?”
“Threeve.”
“Three? Or was that supposed to be five? Doesn’t matter, both are weak. You haven’t tried to make yourself stronger. You haven’t tried to seek out quests.”
“NOBODY WOULD GIV’M TO ME!” He screamed.
“BECAUSE YOU’RE A DAMN DRUNK! You come through here, acting entitled, expecting everything to be handed to you. I gave you the same rodent extermination quest I gave Angus, and you STILL haven’t completed it. What, do you expect us to just hand you quests?”
“Yesh.” Holy shit, he actually said that with a straight face.
“Then you joined the wrong side. Look around you, find something worth doing, and make something of yourself. You won’t get any sympathy from any of our citizens, and if you keep going on like this I’ll see to it that you are exiled.”
“Ya can’t do that.”
“Yes, he really can.” I interrupted before the poor guy could dig himself deeper. “Listen, I think I have a way to help you.” I said, pulling him along to a quiet corner of the room, where I angrily whispered, “Have you sent in a support ticket?”
He gave me a blank look, so I continued, “Nevermind, just go sit in your corner and don’t talk to anyone, I’ll see what I can do to get this figured out.” Hopefully he listens, because I just don’t want this guy around anymore.
Emily,
There’s an issue with one player in the city here. He wasn’t at max level, so remained a kobold while everything else evolved. Since this isn’t a starter city anymore, can we get him sent to the new kobold starter city?
Thanks,
Marty
Sending off the email, I saw the player sitting and staring at the bottom of his empty cup, I guess trying to refill it by force of will. I caught Alnoss’ eye as she was checking customers, pointed at the player and shook my head no. When she gave me a head nod of acknowledgement, I headed over to resume my conversation with Khaliss.
“Sorry about that, hopefully we get an answer soon as to what to do with him.”
“Not your fault, you don’t control the actions of all adventurers.” He said, before taking another bite of his food. I looked down at the plate Alnoss had just set in front of me, breathing in a fantastic aroma.
“Some of the merchant guild brought a lot of seafood, and sold me the recipe as well. Called it a cioppino, whatever that is. Seems like it is almost whatever you caught that day in the harbor was. Tasty though.”
“You got the description down pat, and the recipe is fantastic as always.” I said after taking a bite. Khaliss and I ate our fill in general silence. Once we were done, he got back to his point.
“Now, back to the dungeon training. This time we will head out fully expecting to demolish those light siders who challenge us. The king liked having you as a wandering challenge, so you will be fulfilling that role again. So we have a few days where you will learn to harness and control your new abilities.”
“I understand the practice, but is it really going to be that difficult? The manipulations are already at advanced level 1.”
“I guess we need a demonstration. Follow me back to the barracks.” Getting up, I followed him out the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Just dark enough, this will be perfect.” Khaliss said as we arrived. I looked around, surprised how dark it got when the sun started dipping. We would normally have an hour or so of sunlight left, but the next mountain over was in the perfect position to drop the new city into deep shade. The backlighting of the mountain did make a fantastic visage, as high winds carried bits of snow that glinted in the fading glow.
“Pay attention!” Khaliss barked, and I turned to see him in an attack position, only he was at least fifty feet away from me. “Now, you will unlock this at level 25, but I’m showing it to you early. [Dancing shadow steps].” With the activation of his skill, his body seemed to seep into the shadows, and he performed a series of small teleportation steps that covered the distance to me in less than two seconds and had his spear tip dimpling my throat ever so slightly.
“An incredibly useful ability for closing distances. Each step can cover ten feet, and you gain an extra step every five levels.”
“Damn, that was cool. Any limitations?”
“Of course.” He replied with a snort. “After your initial activation, you have a minute before it can be used again. You can also only move through shadows. Now this next one is similar to something you already do, and I expect you to master it swiftly.” Walking over to a training dummy, he demonstrated that his training spear would be useless as the blunt tip did nothing but make a dull thunk against the iron armor of the dummy.
“[Shadow strike].” Thrusting forward, his spear now sheathed with a shadowy, leaf shaped blade, he cut straight through the dummy as if it were nothing. “This is available at level 1, and it just feels incomplete. I wonder what you adventurers can do with it?” He said with a grin, before continuing. “And finally, the ability you just unlocked.” At this he turned and pointed to three dummies across the yard. “[Binding shadow chains].” Eight chains launched out from different shadows and pierced through the dummies, the points incredibly sharp. As the spear tips of the chains reconnected with the shadows, they merged into them again, leaving a chain pierced through the body that was anchored in two separate shadows. The chains also had wicked barbs on them, to better shred any struggling flesh they went through.
“Holy shit.” I breathed in awe.
“You won’t get the same results as me, of course. At level ten you get one chain, and it takes a lot to maintain the barbs and any other alterations you make. Every ten levels you get to add a chain.”
“How long does it last?” I asked one of the most important questions, internally excited that I was getting a crowd control skill.
“Until the target receives damage from a source other than the chains.” He said with a grin that I mirrored, glad that we could root someone with a damage over time skill that wouldn’t dispel itself. “Once you get skilled enough, you can begin making hybrid skills. Observe. [Piercing shadow dance].” Fully coated in shadow, he started a lunge with a shadow strike, but used the dancing shadow steps skill to cover the distance instead, smashing through the chest of the central dummy. The shadow step allowed him to bring his weapon with him without removing it from the body of the first dummy, and by chaining together these steps he managed to hit the combined three dummies five times.
The first strike was a simple thrust through the chest of the central dummy. The second was a spinning jab with the base of the spear to the stomach of the dummy on the left, shadows turning the flat portion into a piercing point. Stepping forward only to blink back and diagonally, he unleashed a wicked upward slash from 4 to 10 across the spine of the right hand dummy. Spinning into his step, he generated enough power to bisect the left hand dummy from 2 to 7 while facing the front of the dummy. His final slash was completely horizontal, and from where he stood midway between the remaining dummies, managed a double decapitation and dropped panting into a defensive crouch.
“That. Hah. Takes a bit. Hah. Out of you. Hah.” He explained, still trying to catch his breath.
“That was epic!” I finally managed to say something.
“Now you see what can happen when you have skills that work together. Still not wanting to do that training?”
“Ok, you win. I’ll do your training regimen. Just in two days I need to head back to the alchemists guild for a meeting with some dwarves. After that, Djarleen will have to be on hand to poison me a few times.”
“Ha! You’ve been back for a day, and already got voluntold for my training and now Djarleen is going to poison you repeatedly? You have some rotten luck my friend.”
“Tell me about it. Sadly, the poisoning is all self-inflicted. I found a ritual that should make me immune to any poison that isn’t divine in origin, and I’m fairly certain those are quite rare.”
“So why are you going to be attempting both at once?”
“Well, the poisoning should only take four days, but I want to increase the difficulty as much as I can. If there’s one thing I learned in my time here, it’s that things go wrong in battle. If I can fight through the agony of my blood being on fire while training, I can do it in real battle.”
“It’s about damn time.” He said with a smile. “Shrik and I were wondering when you would start getting serious about this. Unfortunately I now owe him a gold coin, and he’s going to be smug for at least a week. Know what the best part of this is?”
“I’m dreading this, but no, I don’t.”
“Well, you knew instinctively that it would be bad. You can manipulate shadows and earth even while paralyzed, so there will always be something to practice. Isn’t that great?”
“Oh, joy of joys.” I said, completely deadpan and received mocking laughter in return.
“How about this then.” He said when he got his laughter under control. “Survive the training, and do well enough in the dungeon and I’ll teach you this move.” Standing once more, he took his spear and trained it on a group of five undamaged training dummies, the group set up as a square protecting a central dummy in mage gear mock up.
Eternal night,
Rise once more to claim the dying light.
Pierce and scatter,
Their blood to spatter.
[Shadow eruption]!
With the final words of his incantation, Khaliss sunk into the shadow, his spear immediately piercing through the swell of shadow that had formed beneath the group. Shooting skyward, his spear impaled the head of the training dummy, savagely ripping it off while spikes of shadow launched outward to impale the remaining dummies in several places. As he came to rest, the dummies that had been impaled were slowly corrupted by the shadows that had drained away as if they were a liquid, and within ten seconds had fallen to the courtyard as useless scraps.
“Dear god, that move is. Is. Completely badass.” I finally managed to mutter through my shock.
“Thanks, I have only gotten it to Intermediate level three. I can only imagine how awesome it will be when I finally master it, but it takes a toll. Half my mana and stamina at my current levels.”
“Understandable. Definitely a way to demoralize a group if you want to use it as your opening salvo. Or a great trump card for when they are almost finished.”
“My thoughts exactly. But, in order for you to learn it you will need to have almost mastered shadow manipulation, as well as be level 25 as it incorporates bits from dancing shadow steps and shadow strike.”
“Consider me sufficiently motivated.” I said with a smile. “Now, do you mind if I head back to the inn and get some sleep?”
“Sounds like a good plan.” He said, and as we made our way back I couldn’t help but gently rib him a bit.
“So, you and Alnoss, huh?”
“Of course. Do you think I would send a promising recruit anywhere but to my mate for watching?”