The thunderous roar echoed across the wooden beams of the bridge. The deep vibrations shook the ground under Tarn’s boots and sent snow cascading down the roof of the ramshackle cabin. The others burst forth from its interior, finally freed of the confines of Vestai’s shell, but Tarn paid them little attention.
His feet drew him to a guttural sound, a low growling coming from the bridge’s far edge, that pushed away any thoughts of Narsol or Yarex. His heart was certain that this was the challenge they needed to face, the final obstacle before the Axe Dungeon would allow them to enter.
Past a series of rolling snow-bound hills and an icy pond he could see a darkened tunnel carved into the vast canyon wall. The tracks snaked over the frozen surface, held up by a thin mound of dirt. One set of rails was broken in several sections, steel beams shattered and twisted up to the sky. The second was still intact, but Tarn could see a subtle shimmer of crimson energy surrounding them, red sparks lighting up as the snow struck it.
The implication was clear. Walking the rails would not be allowed by whatever intelligence created the bridge. They would have to cross the pond to proceed, and face whatever lay on the other side of the pond.
The pond itself was flat and covered with ice that glistened light blue in the dim sunlight. Tarn could hear the faint cracking of the frozen surface, the sound already setting him on edge. A small green hut lay close to the tracks, no doubt used for ice fishing by some long-lost denizen.
It was exactly what he would have expected to find in a place like this, which he supposed was why it looked this way. Urthin had theorized the Sword and Axe created the bridge together, so it stood to reason as they got closer to the Axe Dungeon conditions would become less favorable. Which having gone through the ‘favorable’ parts of the Sword Dungeon didn’t fill Tarn with comfort.
“Alright Axe,” Tarn muttered to the chilled air around him. “Let’s see how sharp you are.”
As if in response to his comment, the snow at his feet began to tremble. The ground thundered with the approach of the gargantuan beast, the howling winds seemed to pushed aside by the hulking shape that barreled towards them. Through the gale Tarn could see a pair of fire-red eyes, cutting past the darkness like twin coals. Then came the roar, a bellow of ancient power and rage that sent ripples running through his skin.
The great bear rumbled forward towards them, a wall of brown-grey fur and muscle. A half dozen arrows lined its back, evidence of past failures that the bear’s skin had simply grown around. Its maw slathered as it walked, spittle flying rows of teeth like daggers. A pair of curved tusks stretched out before it like a battering ram.
The ursine pair of eyes settled on the team before it, as it slowed its approach across the icy unnamed pond. The bear’s breath issued forth in a powerful hiss, like a volcanic vent releasing steam.
Reaching the middle of the pond Icegore stopped and faced them, its glowing crimson eyes burrowing into Tarn like screws. Every inch of the bear felt like a malicious wall, an impenetrable obstacle of muscle and rage that stood between Tarn and where he needed to go.
There would be no finesse here. This would be a war.
//Select team
The prompt lay flashing in his interface, while the beast settled back onto the ground, front paws landing on the ground with such force they sent a visual ripple through the ice. There was no timer running in his mind, no ticking clock forcing him to decide his team quickly.
But the cold was doing that for him. With each passing minute their core temperatures dropped. The fire lit by Yarex’s attack began to succumb to the unending wind of the bridge. If they didn’t start fighting soon they would lose to the cold long before they lost to the bear.
Yet the choices were easy, even if they were not Tarn’s first hopes. The fight with Yarex had left those squad members far too depleted to fight a creature such as this, so Jental, Urthin, and Narsol were out.
His anger flared at the thought of Narsol, but he pushed it away. The orc’s suspicious behavior during the last combat would have to be addressed later, but there was no way in hell he was adding him to the team right now.
Bog was an immediate choice, and he keyed her into his interface. If she could manage to hold the bear’s attention, he could shift to a more damage dealing role. Plus, he knew she’d never forgive him if he left her on the sidelines for a foe such as this.
Looking at the great size of the beast and the ferocity with which it snarled its impatience, he was pretty sure a slow fight was a dead fight. This needed to end quickly, that meant someone who could a lot of damage in a hurry. In a perfect world that was Jental or Urthin, but neither seemed recovered from the trauma of their encounters with Vestai. Of his remaining options he chose Aryo, despite worries about his inexperience.
That left just Lash or Isca. Both were finesse choices. Lash could provide the healing, while Isca was their best source of damage over time. Tarn would miss the healing, but Isca’s greater damage potential won her out.
//Select Team:
1. Tarn Arisfal (Fixed)
2. Bog
3. Aryo
4. Isca
“Bog, Isca, Aryo!” As he keyed their names into the interface, a new timer started running.
//Initiative in 30 seconds
That was new, but there was no time to consider it. Tarn even ignored his team’s reactions, he didn’t have a spare moment to process their facial expressions. Bog would probably be happy, Aryo worried, but he pushed those thoughts away.
“Hit hard!” He turned to face the huge bear, saliva dripping from its massive tusks as it paced. “Everything you have, as fast as you can. Don’t hold anything for later rounds.”
He pulled up Icegore’s screen in his mind, hoping to use the remaining seconds to glean some new information.
ICEGORE
AP: 240
Status effects: Relentless, Iceborne
Relentless: Traditional initiative rules are negated. Icegore will take a single action after each enemy action.
Iceborne: Icegore cannot gain the [submerged] status effect.
None of that was good. There were only seconds left to absorb the information. Icegore was effectively four opponents, with a massive pool of health and the ability to take just as many actions as his team.
His interface shifted to green, and Tarn surged forward with a move action, working almost on instinct. There was little point in waiting for the bear to come to them, and maybe if he and Bog could tie it up Isca and Aryo could whittle it down from a safer distance.
The instant his boots crossed the ice onto the pond, a new status effect flashed across his thoughts.
//Gained: On Thin Ice
While this effect is active, each time an action is taken there is a (x)% chance the ice underneath will break – with (x)% relating to ice fragility. If ice breaks, the target will gain the [submerged] status.
[submerged] unable to take any actions until [helped out] of the water by a second team member. Temperature is reduced to 0 and will take 20 AP per round.
Note: The [On Thin Ice] status effect may not be removed while the character is in contact with the ice.
Current ice fragility: 10%
As he ran further across the slick surface, the cracks and groans of the frozen water under his feet continued to issue forth in a constant complaint. Nerves immediately on edge, Tarn nevertheless forced himself to keep his eyes upward as he moved forth, coming to rest directly in front of the great beast.
It was a towering wall of gray fur, spittle, and razor-sharp tusks as it glared at him. Its jaw lolled back and forth, lip turned out in a sneer to expose the white daggers that waited inside its maw. He felt his chest growing tight just looking at the creature, as both age and malevolence radiated off it like a cold heat.
His action complete, he watched his interface turn red in his mind. Limbs frozen by both still-time and the cold, he braced himself and waited to see what the massive grizzly’s first move would be.
//ACTION: ICEGORE
Tarn felt the huge intake of breath as the creature prepared for a massive bellow. It reared up onto its hind legs, towering over and leaving him in shadow. Icegore unleashed a second roar into the wind as it looked up into the stars, as if it were challenging the moon overhead to combat.
It then fell to the ground, its front pair of paws slamming onto the ice with an impact like a thunderbolt. Fractures radiated out from the site of impact as a shockwave ran across the length of the pond.
//Winterfall (Unique / Icegore) Icegore rears up and slams his paws to the ice. All ice within 100 feet loses 20% fragility. All combat abilities used within 5 feet of Icegore now reduce ice stability by an additional 5% stability. Movement actions now require a stability check.
Tarn felt no damage, though his insides were still shaking from the force of Icegore’s impact. His interface updated, letting him know the ice underneath his boots was now already 30% unstable.
“Watch the ice!” he shouted out. He could not turn to look at the others thanks to the limitations of still-time, but he was sure Bog would be charging in next. In truth, there was little they could do about the thin ice, but he called out the warning all the same.
True enough, a joyful cry of rage broke the chilled air behind him. Bog streaked into view in a flash of orange-colored energy, using her
The bear grunted in response to her strike, one burning charcoal eye closing for a moment from the impact. It was a small wound, but it was a start. Even better, since Bog’s action had started on dry ground, the ice fragility had not been impacted.
“That is my pain!” She said happily, pulling the weapon back from where she had embedded it into Icegore’s shoulder. “Now show me yours!”
Icegore began to click its teeth repeatedly, opening its huge jaws then snapping them shut in a repetitive motion. It swayed for a moment, then released a hissing cloud that engulfed both Tarn and Bog in a foul-smelling mist of warm vapor.
//BREATH OF FEAR (Melee / Icegore) Affects all enemies in melee range. Movement is reduced by half for the next two actions. If those affected do not move with their next action, they take 10 AP damage and ice fragility is increased by 5%.
Tarn could feel the anxiety growing in his stomach. It was not natural, not borne of his worries about the team or his own survival. This was magical, yet the effects were the same. He felt the fears whispering in his mind, conjuring images of claws and teeth, cutting and tearing. They urged him to run and escape the terrifying beast before him.
He ignored the fear, but he could see the pattern developing. The bear was setting the board, creating the environment that suited its purpose. It would strike soon, now that it had tilted the table in its favor. The trick now would be to survive long enough to figure out how to react.
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A buzz filled the air, Isca taking to the skies. Tarn thanked the moons her flying ability was innate, as it would allow her to take an action as well. Even better, the Kithikin was one party member who didn’t have to worry about the ice fragility.
A trio of emerald darts fell from the sky, lodging into the rippling muscles of the beast’s massive back. They pumped toxins into the grey-furred skin, landing right next to the collection of ancient arrows that already lined his hide.
The initial 10 AP damage was of little impact, but more important was the [infectious toxin]. An escalating poison, it would do an increased amount of damage at the start of each of Isca’s turns, capping with a huge burst of 50 AP at the end. It was probably her best move, but she had taken Tarn’s instructions to hit hard to heart.
Icegore shook its head, likely already feeling the impact of the poison. Tarn waited to see if there was more table-setting to come, or if the beast was prepared to unleash its first real attack.
Eyes that glowed red like smoldering cinders stared back at Tarn and Bog. Inhaling deeply, Icegore let out another bellowing roar, this one covering both of them in a stream of hot spittle that spewed forth from the great beast’s maw.
//URSINE MARK (Ranged / Icegore) Icegore roars at up to three targets in melee range, using a cone attack with a maximum width of five feet. All enemies within this cone will receive an extra 10 AP damage on any future attack from Icegore.
There was a golden blur of electrical energy that streaked by them both, like a flash of lighting on the ice. Aryo quickly disappeared behind the bear, now hidden by the massive bulk of their opponent. Over the wind Tarn could hear the landing of a few rabbit punches to the creature’s backside.
Like Bog, Aryo had chosen a move-and-attack option, avoiding any ice related penalties this round. The attack itself had done little damage, but now Aryo was in his [accelerated] state and had access to his more powerful abilities.
//SWIPE
Tarn grunted as his world turned red for a moment. There wasn’t much elegance to the attack, just a simple swiping of one massive paw across them both. With claws as long as his hand, the ability itself didn’t have to be complicated. He picked up 30 AP damage and a [bleed] status effect, as was sure Bog had gotten the same.
The preliminaries were over, and now it was just a simple question of could they take down Icegore before either the bear or the ice sent them to their deaths.
The damage race was on.
Tarn could feel the effects of the bear’s [fear] pushing at him as life returned to his limbs, but he focused his will and kept himself in place. There was a brief flash of pain from his chest, the damage over time [bleed] from Icegore removing 10AP from his total.
His hand went to his belt, where the red and white tube of the [stim] object waited. Though his tension reminded him of the need for its 50 AP restoral, he kept his hands away from the healing device. The great beast’s shadow fell over him, its deep rumbling breath mixing with the cracking of the ice all around him.
Past this monster was the Axe Dungeon, and he didn’t come all this way to run. He was here to fight.
He selected
//Ice fragility: 40%
He felt the comforting heat of the blade as he held it before him, sending it in an arc and slashing into the deep, thick fur of Icegore’s right shoulder. The beast let out a bellow at the impact, as another 30 AP fell from its total. Even better, the [burn] status was added to the [poison] Isca had already put there.
His pulse coming to an end, Tarn studied his interface in frustration, wishing he had some way of knowing exactly how badly they’d hurt their massive foe. Whatever the total was, he’d added to it. Now it was Icegore’s turn again.
Tarn braced himself for another swipe of the bear’s enormous front paws, as this would satisfy Bog’s second [taunt] token, while still allowing a retaliation against Tarn for landing the burn. But Icegore barely seemed aware of his presence, instead thrusting its two sharpened front tusks violently at Bog.
To Tarn’s shock Bog bellowed in pain as the sharpened points of the horns cut into her. The armor cast around her from her gem actually flickered for a moment. She cried out from the pure force of the attack, and Tarn watched in horror as 50 AP fell from her total.
“Bog!” he shouted, cursing the still-time that froze him in place. She was only a hit or two away from death, and was still carrying the [bleed] status, which was about to remove another 10 AP. The [fear] status would be pushing at her to move, and she needed to.
Yet as Tarn saw the [berserk] status suddenly appear next to her name in his interface, it was clear she would stand and die before she’d flee.
[berserk] – If slotted, this activates once the Bruiser drops below 25% of her AP total. She will instantly gain 40 temporary AP. While in [berserk] state, the Bruiser gains access to a special list of hand-to-hand melee attacks, but may not use any of her other abilities. All melee attacks against the Bruiser will do an additional 10 AP.
Once in the [berserk] state, the Bruiser must attack every pulse or become [stunned]
The moment the still released her, Bog lunged forward with a blood-curdling scream. She threw her axe to the ice, where it wedged into the frozen water for a moment before disappearing in a flash of orange particles. Arms stretched out in front of her, she slammed into the surprised bear, grappling it by the neck and actually driving it backward a few feet.
Tarn hadn’t seen [berserk] before, but the effects were clear and easy to understand. As she pounded the bear’s jaw with a massive haymaker, the spittle from the creature flew across the air between them. She may have earned herself another turn of life, but she was sure to be Icegore’s only target now, and there was no way of telling how effective her attack had been.
The ice beneath them groaned again, as it lost another 10% stability.
Still finding itself grappled in Bog’s muscular hold, Icegore spread its paws wide as a look of concentration came to its coal-red eyes. Tarn watched as wounds on the creature began to close, fresh strength seeming to pour back into its slumping frame. In moments it looked rejuvenated again, while the ice all around it seemed to firm up.
//FROST FUEL (Unique / Icegore) Icegore may activate
The bear grunted as its pulse ended, sending warm moisture in the air with renewed confidence. It turned its eyes back at Bog, a low growl emanating from its interior. Even with the additional AP granted by her [berserk] status, Tarn was worried it wouldn’t be enough.
The stim was at his belt, but he was helpless to use it.
Just then a shadow crossed over head, and a pair of tiny darts streaked down from the sky. Tarn looked up to see Isca gliding overhead, just as one of the darts struck him in his back. The pain was brief, and was followed by immediate relief.
//SPOT HEAL (Ranged / Needle)
The Needle may target up to 3 allies within 25 feet. Each targeted ally regains 20 AP and loses all negative status effects.
Requirement: All allies targeted must be in melee with the same opponent.
Usable once per combat.
Tarn felt the vice around his heart loosen a bit as he saw a second of the healing projectiles embedded in Bog’s right bicep. The [bleeding] and [fear] status effects vanished from her listing on his interface, as did his own. The 20 AP restored was a small benefit, but losing the damage over time was huge.
Thank you, grease monkey!
It was a heads up move, and he appreciated her for it. If they all lived through this, he’d have to think of how to best show that appreciation.
Yet his smile drained from his face almost immediately, as Icegore powerful jaw clamped around Bog’s arm and bit down hard. Bog’s roar could have been from pain or anger, it was impossible to tell, but the 30 AP loss put her right back on the edge of death again.
Worse still, the second count of [Frost Fuel] triggered, and the bear lost the [burning] status Tarn’s Flaming Strike had given it. It healed off another 20 AP of damage, and the ice around them all got a little more stable from the effect.
It would be Aryo’s pulse in a moment, but Tarn found himself looking at his boots, where thin cracks in the ice were healing themselves. Frost fuel, it’s right in the damn name.
It needs the ice to be solid!
“Aryo” Tarn shouted. He couldn’t see the young man around Icegore’s bulk, so he’d have to hope he was heard. “Don’t attack – do your triple move!”
“What?” The reply was muffled from the mass of fur and muscle between them. “But Tarn, the ice-!”
“Just do it!” Tarn shouted. The kid’s pulse was half gone already, he didn’t have time to explain.
//Relentless Advance (Unique / Zephyr)
The Zephyr makes three distinct movement actions, each up to twenty feet in distance. He may not take any actions between movements, and he must make all three.
Requires: Momentum
Aryo’s form became a golden blur as he dashed to one side of the bear, stopping for only an eyeblink before moving again, and then a third time. He ended his move standing right next to Tarn, chest heaving. Underneath their feet, the ice began to groan and creak under the assault, which is just what Tarn wanted.
//Ice fragility: 75%
If Icegore was aware of his plan, he gave no notice of it. As the great bear’s turn came around, it once again slammed into Bog with its tusks. Bog’s grip on the beast loosened, but with a cry of rage she kept her fingers gripped into its bloody fur. The damage was severe, and left Bog back at 10 AP.
Damn it! Tarn’s turn came around again, and he was left with a choice. He stared down at the stim on his belt, knowing it would give Bog back another turn or two of life. Yet it would cost him an action, and the ability to weaken the ice further. Let Bog die and win the fight, or save her and risk losing them all.
He could feel Narsol’s judgement over him, asking him what was he willing to risk?
There was no choice. He wasn’t going to win by losing his team.
Pulling the stim from his belt, he slammed the metal tube down onto Bog’s leg. The device worked immediately, removing all negative status effects and restoring 50 AP. The rage in her eyes suggested she wasn’t even aware it had happened, but Tarn felt a hint of relief all the same.
As initiative shifted back to Icegore, Tarn watched the massive bear’s burning red eyes finally turn towards him. The beast pulled one muscled leg out from under Bog’s grip and swiped it in a wide arc, managing to catch Bog, Tarn, and Aryo all in one attack. Each of them took 20 AP, and either gained or regained another count of bleed.
Behind Icegore There was a green woosh of color and then an impact rippled across the ice. Tarn’s interface quickly registered an action by Isca, but in the suddenness of the event he could barely process it. All three of them were thrown to their feet and even the bear found itself knocked flat as the ice stability finally reached zero.
There was an ear-splitting crack, and Tarn felt the ice under him give way. The world turned dark and frigid as he was immediately plunged into the freezing darkness. The sound of the bears cry of surprise was lost as the depths of the pond began to pull at him.
//GAINED: SUBMERGED DAMAGE: 20 AP
Tarn’s head bobbed up and down, smacking itself on the ice sometimes, finding open air on others. He opened his eyes, barely able to see in the dark murk of the pond. A huge shape passed through the water nearby as the bear scrambled back towards the hole they had both made. There was blood passing between them, mixing in the icy water.
[submerged] unable to take any actions until [helped out] of the water by a second team member. Temperature is reduced to 0 and will take 20 AP per round.
Tarn could feel the cold eating into him, pushing against the dwindling strength of his generated armor. There was no motion in the water now save his own gentle treading. Icegore had found its way back to the surface, but Tarn took some solace in the hope it would no longer be able to heal.
A pair of hands suddenly thrust itself into the depths, grabbing him by the collar and bringing him up and out of the water. The bright light of the sun stung his eyes as Aryo’s blurred form came into view. The frigid air bit at his chilled skin, and he went limp as the Zephyr pulled him fully onto the pond’s surface and helped him sit upright.
As Aryo’s pulse ended, the pair of them were cast in shadow as Icegore charged again. It leapt over the hole in the ice, slamming into Tarn and sending him careening across the pond. Tarn slid out of control, watching 30 of his remaining 50 AP fall from his total. He skidded to a halt, prone on the frozen ground at the edge of the pond, with the massive bear looming over him.
As life returned to his limbs, Tarn knew this was his last pulse. One way or another, this would end here. He couldn’t see the remaining Icegore’s remaining AP, but the bear looked as haggard and wounded as he felt. Its fur was matted and dripping both blood and freezing water, its left ear was missing, and its breath came in labored huffs.
It looked determined and fearless, but near death. Yet the determination was still in its eyes, an uncompromising resolve to finish the task, or die trying. Tarn looked up at Icegore, and saw not an enemy but an obstacle worthy of his respect.
“You or me,” he wheezed up at the bear. He called up [striking slash], filling the sword with a flame that barely touched the cold. “We both gave our all.”
Selecting Icegore as his target, Tarn thrust the sword upward with all his might. It passed through the bear’s throat just below his jaw. He could feel the resistance as layers of fat, muscle, and bone pushing back against his attack. Shouting with exertion, he forced the blade forward until the summoned weapon was hilt-deep in the hide. Warm blood poured from the wound, washing over them both.
Exhausted, Tarn fell back to the ice. Icegore let out a mournful cry, one that echoed across the bridge, then collapsed with a thunderous crash to the snow. They lay together, each of them releasing hard-fought breaths into the chilled air.
Tarn’s eyes closed as he listened to his own labors mixing with those of Icegore. As the wind whipped around them, he heard the calls of Bog and Isca but they seemed distant and hollow. All his mind could focus on was a pair of heartbeats, both slowing.
Time seemed to slow, until there was only one heart still beating. Tarn thought it might be his own, but he couldn’t be sure. Sleep called to him, and he accepted its warm embrace.