While his latest recruit looked back at him in wide-eyed fear, Tarn Arisfal found he had to laugh.
“I don’t understand, Tarn! What even are these things?”
There was a time when Tarn would have been just as shocked and horrified as Aryo. The poor farm kid stood next to him, trying to look brave and only partially succeeding. Charging at them across the smoldering ash and rock of the Shadowed Scars were a trio of nightmarish creatures, crustaceans two times the size of horses. Monstrous dark red claws snapped at the air, while their stinger-tipped tails twitched with anticipation.
Tarn, Ayro, and Jental stood directly in their path. Six months ago, Tarn might have run. Just as the kid clearly wanted to do.
But six months could change a lot. Now a magical force called still-time held Tarn in place, reminding him that whatever actions he wanted to take would have to wait for his own round of initiative. Only then a pair of pulses from the gem in his chest would push the ‘still’ back, granting him two opportunities to act.
This was his life after visiting the Sword Dungeon and being altered by its power. He had been released from prison, assisted in the fall of the Arch Mage Lurim, and endured the loss of his sister.
Once Tarn had been an orphan, a criminal, a prisoner. Robbed of choice, of purpose, of a future. But he had walked out of the Sword Dungeon a pulse-shifted captain. He had a newfound power, his team back, and a purpose in life. For the first time he could remember, everything in his life made a lot more sense.
That is, give or take the occasional giant lobster-scorpion hybrid trying to kill him.
The creatures skidded to a stop just a dozen feet from their position, having reached the full range of their movement, clicked up a cloud of dust that was laced with the salty scent of the sea. Tarn had to admit their range was impressive. They had closed 100 feet in one turn, back from the point where their spherical still-bomb had impacted with the soot-laden soil of the southern plains and released them onto the world.
At least the bomb fell from the city for once, Tarn thought to himself. But I doubt it’s a coincidence they showed up here.
Less than a mile from the still-bomb’s impact site, the smoking volcano of Antea’s Tears spat its dark contents into the sky. Half-way up its slopes, a small structure had been built there by the Arch Mage. Once Lurim’s vault for secret treasures and experiments, for the three months since the Old Bastard fell it had been home to one creative gremlin.
“You never seen a lobster before, kid?”
Ayro shook his head, eyes as wide as the farm plains from where he grew up. Based on his reaction, they might as well be facing aliens from another world.
Which, in Ayro’s defense, Tarn supposed they were. They were more than over-sized crustaceans. Like everything that had come from the mysterious still-bombs that fell upon the Realm with increasing frequency, they were familiar creatures that had been altered.
Cutting out of the back of the lobster’s carapace were long translucent wings. Shimmering with colors, they were thin and ethereal like a dragonfly’s. They looked far too light to carry the beast’s increased bulk, but Tarn had to admit they added a strange elegance.
LOBSTORPIAN AP: 50/50 Status effects: [Hard Shell] [Lumbering] [Hard Shell - innate] The Lobstorpian will take 10 less AP of damage per attack. Once the Lobstorpian has been hit four times, this status effect is cleared.
[Lumbering- innate ] This creature gains only one action on its first two rounds
Better to eat than to fight.
Lobstorpians? Tarn failed to suppress a chuckle at the name. He wasn’t sure if the Sword Dungeon was still providing these names, but whoever it was had a sense of humor he appreciated.
“Check your interface,” Tarn said, keeping his voice calm. “They’ve used up their movement. It’s going to be our turn. Remember what state you need to be in and how to get there…”
He could just tell the kid what to do, but that wouldn’t solve their larger problem. He and his team had only trained a few dozen gem-touched in the past three months, and when the inevitable Progenitors invasion came they’d have to think for themselves.
Yet despite the still-bomb attacks, few in the fractured-but-healing Realm believed the otherworldly threat of the Progenitors actually coming. The invasion the people feared was the annual Blood Summer, a torrent of orc warriors sailing across the sea each year in an attempt to march to the capitol, cutting a path of death before being driven back by Lurim’s magic.
That magic was gone, yet mysteriously so were the orcs. The fleet was weeks overdue at this point, despite lookouts scouring the coast for any sign of the yearly threat, none had been seen.
Tarn still worried about the orcs, and had left Bog in the capitol to keep an eye on things. But his mind was on the Progenitors. They were coming, he was sure of it. The still-bombs were proof, an opening gambit.
“Think fast, junior.” Jental chided with a chuckle, her purple gem-created spear already in her hands. “If you are scared, I can soothe you after I kill them.”
Tarn shook his head. Of all the new recruits he had tried to add to their growing roster of gem-touched, Jental had been by far the most proficient at using her new abilities. Fast, efficient, and bursting with confidence, she was a force on the battlefield. If only she could learn to work with others.
The text inside Tarn’s mind shifted from red to green, and he felt the movement return to his limbs. It was time to go to work.
INITIATIVE SHIFT – FIRST PULSE
Tarn gave the interface inside his mind a quick check, just an eyeblink. He knew Aryo would take longer to process the information. No matter how many times you practice out of combat, the real thing is another matter.
TEAM STATUS Tarn Arisfal / Pulse-shifted Captain / Lv 6 / AP – 100/100 / Status effects: Taunt aura Jental / Lone Wolf / Lv 1 / AP – 60/60 / Status effects: Antisocial (Innate) x 3 Ayro / Zephyr / Lv 1 / AP – 40/40 / Status effects: None
“You first,” Tarn said to Aryo. “Remember what we talked about, and what you need to focus on. You can do this.”
The nerves were visible, but so was the big grin on Aryo’s face. They had fought some very easy still-spawn already, but this was his first real test. Just as he and Tarn had discussed, the kid got in motion immediately, selecting the ability [Opening Gambit]. Perfect for a movement-focused class like the Zephyr, it allowed him to move and attack all in one action.
Opening Gambit (Ranged/Zephyr) The Zephyr targets an enemy within 60 feet, line of sight required. The Zephyr immediately moves the full distance to the target and inflicts 10 AP damage. This movement is not affected by terrain or other objects in the path Permitted once per battle, only on first initiative. Note: This ability counts towards entering the [accelerated] state. First to the fields, first to the harvest.
Fist extended; Aryo became a golden blur as he shot forward towards the center of the trio of creatures. He connected with a shock, as a golden sheet of electrical energy encased Aryo like armor.
Ayro (Zephyr) now in [accelerated] state. Damage prevented by [hard shell]
“Good job, kid,” Tarn yelled out, selecting [move] himself and closing to melee range left-most lobstorpian. The prevented damage wasn’t important, the critical thing was getting Aryo into his key state.
Aryo looked back, a broad smile written across his freckle-covered features. The winds blew ash across the burned landscape, throwing his dark hair into his face. The kid looked every inch the farm boy he was, but now his harvest was monsters instead of crops.
There was a spark in his eyes Tarn needed to see. Growing confidence. If Aryo was to go where Tarn secretly hoped to take his team, he’d need it.
For her first pulse, Jental planted her long onyx spear into the ground and launched herself into the air. With the precision he’d expect from her long career as a mercenary, she flew across the ash-cracked landscape. Somersaulting with a flourish, Jental landed in a cloud of volcanic dust front of the right-most of the strange crustaceans.
Vault (Movement/Lone Wolf) The Lone Wolf targets an enemy within 20 feet, line of sight required. She may use her spear to propel herself forward up, landing within melee range of the target. Provided the target is not in melee with any other ally, her next attack will strike twice. Requirement: Kill count of 1. Resets Kill count to 0. Note: May be used for free on the first round of initiative. Friend or foe, don’t get too close. I like to bite.
Tarn shook his head at the joke inside her ability’s flavor text. The whole point of Jental’s assigned class seemed to be that she solo targets without assistance, which lined up perfectly with the mercenary’s personality. ‘Perhaps more trouble than she is worth,’ Urthin would say. Thus far Tarn had found Jental too useful and competent to leave off the field, but Smiley’s point was a good one. Jental did not play well with others.
Targeting the same lobstorpian Aryo had hit, Tarn called up his
Might as well use [Long Pull]. I won’t be shooting again after this.
He selected the option in his mind, reaching out in preparation for the gem to create the longbow in his hands, just as he had done dozens of times in the past. The move was almost second nature at this point, as natural to him as breathing.
Yet this time, nothing materialized. His gloves were empty, his gem glowing crimson as always but producing no weapon of any kind. He looked down at his gem, shocked to see the red energy dim, nearly dark.
He blinked in confusion, and then the crystal in the center of his chest brightened back to its original illumination. In another heartbeat, his hands were filled with the arcane energy of the bow again, as if nothing unusual had happened.
The hell? He’d have to ask Isca about it later. There was no time now. Putting the center creature in his sights, he quickly fired off an arrow just as his pulse timer was ending. The red shaft found its mark in the beast’s shell, doing a reduced 20 AP damage but also removing one attack from the [hard shell] counter.
SECOND PULSE BEGINS
“Aryo, remember to let me get my link before you choose your ability.” His mind was still thinking about his sputtering ability, but he had to put it behind him and focus on the battle at hand.
Tarn reached out with pulse-link, which had become the core of his combat strategy. An artifact of Isca repairing his fractured gem with an unattuned one, he had been given the ability to combine his actions with those of others, creating new and surprising hybrids.
Originally, he had not been able to see how his link would work with another gem unless he was in combat. With the new gem-touched though, he was able to see some of the hybrids even when out of the still. This one from Aryo’s Zephyr class seemed ideal.
Grounded (Pulse-link with Zephyr) The pulse-shifted captain may enter [grounded] state by linking with an allied Zephyr in [Accelerated] state. The captain will move to the targeted ally’s location, within 50 feet. Line of sight required. If the linked ally loses the [accelerated] state, the pulse-shifted Captain loses [grounded]. Grounded - An attack that affects or changes movement will not prevent, cause, or reduce movement. Damage from the attack can still occur.
“Great!” Tarn gave Aryo a thumbs up, which the kid nervously repeated back. “I’m all set.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
To his relief, this ability fired off without a hitch. There was a crimson rush of energy, and then he found himself standing next to Aryo’s left, the hissing forms of the lobstorpians only a few feet away.
Thanks to his [taunt aura], any creature within 20 feet of Tarn would have to attack him if they could. That would include both the center and left lobstorpian, leaving Aryo free to attack without fear of losing his low AP. Jental’s target was just out of the range of the aura, leaving her free to use her Lone Wolf abilities.
Jental was already carving into the right-most creature, her
Aryo finished off with a simple [lightning strike] attack, doing 20 AP which the [hard shell] reduced to 10. Particles of electrical energy washed over the creature like raindrops, sending vibrations throughout its body.
“Good round, all!” Tarn shouted as his interface began to shift to red. It was important to keep the kid’s spirits up. This wasn’t Aryo’s first fight, but in the previous ones Tarn had kept him on the edge of battle, darting in and out.
In the long run, that was probably the better way to use the kid’s movement focused abilities, but Aryo would end up front and center with some horrifying monster at some point. Better to do it now, with help at the ready, and see how he handled himself.
INITIATIVE SHIFT - LOBSTORPIAN
The familiar feeling of still-time freezing his muscles took over, but Tarn felt relaxed and at ease. This was where he needed to be, the place where he made sense. Not in some room in the Capitol, running through reports and meetings with Ramad, or even up on the mountain researching Lurim’s magical artifacts with Lash.
The lobstorpian far to their right lunged at Jental, swiping at her with one giant crimson pincer. The attack, which his interface informed him was the blandly named ‘Claw Bash’, landed easily. Tarn watched as only a half-bubble of her AP disappeared.
Ten damage? I expected them to hit harder than that. Maybe this wasn’t going to be a good test for the kid after all.
The rightmost of the creatures thrust its tail forward, the foul stinger headed straight for Tarn’s chest. He braced himself for the impact, even as Aryo cried out in warning.
VENEMOUS LAUNCH (Melee / Lobstorpian) The lobstorpian attacks with its tail, striking an opponent in melee range. That enemy takes 20 AP damage, as well as gaining the [poisoned] status effect – taking 10 AP damage at the start of its round for 3 rounds. If the enemy was undamaged before this attack, they are sent 30 feet in a random direction. Smarter than they look.
He felt the pressure against his chest as the barbed stinger contacted his armor. There was a burning sensation as the poison entered the energy field of his gem, the pain fusing with the mystic field created by the crystal. Tarn grit his teeth but stayed silent. He’d been hurt worse than this, and he had plenty of AP to absorb the poison. With Rykin gone and especially with Bog not here, sometimes getting hit was his job.
The movement portion of the attack fizzled completely, defeated by his [grounded] status.
Now it was just on to the final of the three creatures. They’d only get one action each the next two rounds due to [lumbering]. Tarn intended not to let them get to their third turn.
The lobstorpian seemed to shudder as it prepared its move. Tarn waited for the claws or the stinger and was surprised when instead the delicate wings on the back of the monster began to beat feverishly instead. As they did so, a fine white powder sprayed into the air.
SEA SALT Using its wings, the lobstorpian scatters a cloud of dust in a ten-foot circle around itself. All enemies and allies inside the area will lose one positive status effect. (Oldest effect will be removed first). Enhances the flavor of any battle.
The field of white particles scattered into the wind, landing upon both the center and left lobstorpians, as well as Tarn and Aryo. Tarn was grateful the [hard shell] status was gone from both creatures, and the loss of his [taunt] aura was not that bad. It had kept the attack focused on him.
Aryo losing [accelerated] was a bigger problem, but it was also an opportunity to see if the kid could recover on his own.
INITIATIVE SHIFT Status Effect trigger: Poison [3]: Tarn Arisfal
As Tarn’s interface turned green, he kept his eyes on Aryo while selecting [Chain Flail]. The sword-based [Striking Slash] had been his go-to melee attack inside the Dungeon, but there he had little need to manage enemy attacks. Now it had become more important to keep the damage headed in his direction.
He felt the steady burn of the [poison] in his system, but it had already faded to background noise. He chose the [heavy swing] option, gaining double damage on his strike. The iron ball at the end of the crimson flail of energy grew in size as it swung towards the frozen crustacean. Deprived of its [hard shell], the weapon ran through the beast like a hot knife, delivering 30 AP of damage. In an eyeblink it was shattered, already dissipating into tiny spheres of energy.
Far to his left, Jental let out a cry of jubilance as she used her
Two down. He turned his eyes to Aryo. The kid had lost his key status effect and needed to get [accelerate] back up if he was going to do enough damage to kill his lobstorpian this turn. Even one of the creatures could be a threat to Aryo at this low level.
Of course, he had no intention of letting anything happen to the kid. That was why Urthin and Isca were shrouded and standing by, just passing their actions every pulse unless needed. But Aryo and Jental didn’t know that, and that was the important thing.
Come on, kid. Do the math.
Aryo appeared as frozen as his opponent, his eyes wide. Tarn could hear him muttering to himself, no doubt watching his first pulse timer tick down.
“Gotta get it back,” the kid whispered. “Which ability? Can’t get hit…”
Tarn had reviewed Aryo’s abilities with him before the fight, but of course there hadn’t been several tons of angry, poison-filled crustaceans staring the poor kid in the face.
“Take a breath,” Tarn said calmly. “Do you need to move? Do you need to attack?”
“I-I don’t know. I need to get [accelerate] back. Wait! I know it – I pick [rapid move] and I – “
SECOND PULSE BEGINS
“Dammit!” Aryo shouted, his face growing red. Tarn suppressed his sigh, worried the kid would hear it. [Rapid move] had been the right call, it would have reactivated [acceleration] and still given an opportunity for attack. He’d just been a second or two late making the choice.
Now damage was off the table, but he still needed to move. A standard move wouldn’t get his [accelerated] back, but [swift retreat] would, along with getting him out of melee range. Aryo had six abilities, he just needed to pick one.
“Now what?” Aryo looked over at Tarn, panic in his eyes. “I lost my chance. I can’t keep the screens clear in my mind - I can’t-“
“Yes, you can.” Tarn smiled, forcing his voice calm. This was the teaching moment he wanted. One that would help build the kid, give him the confidence he’d need. “You’re doing fine, and you’ve still got twenty-five seconds left. Just focus and-“
As Aryo stammered, Jental suddenly appeared from above as a streak of purple energy, blocking out the ash-covered sun. With a triumphant cry, she fell upon the final lobstorpian, piercing its shell with the sharpened tip of her spear.
FINALE (Ranged / Lone Wolf) The Lone Wolf targets an enemy within 40 feet. Leaping through the air, she attacks with her spear. Damage is 40 AP + 10 AP per the Lone Wolf’s current kill count. Requires: Kill Count > 1 Usable once per-battle. The Lone Wolf may take no melee action next round. The Kill Count is reset. If they’re looking at me, I’m happy. If you’re seen, you’re someone.
The creature let out a shrieking cry as its carapace fractured in two. Lunging forward in its death, the huge form crashed to the ground directly at the stunned Aryo’s feet. In seconds, it began to dissipate into tiny spheres of energy, the majority of which flowed towards Jental’s violet gem.
As with each battle since leaving the Sword Dungeon behind, the resolve points rewarded for ending the combat were a fraction of what Tarn had seen in the past. Despite many combats with still-spawn, he was still just over halfway to level 7, while Jental and Aryo were struggling to reach 2.
Tarn quickly peered into the dark stone and ash where the strange lobstorpian has just been. No gems again, which meant no more gem-touched to train. No gems, only a trickle of resolve, and a missed opportunity to train Aryo in quick thinking.
Great, just great.
“That’s how it’s done, kid.” Jental winked at Aryo. “Don’t freeze like that. I won’t always be around to pull your cute butt out of the fire like that.”
Aryo looked back at her, jaw agape, his face finding new and deeper shades of red. Tarn balled his fists in frustration. Yeah, she’d saved the kid but that wasn’t the point – and saving him hadn’t been the point to Jental either. For her, it was just another moment to show off.
Damnit Jental!
Passing out of the shroud Urthin had hid her within, Isca’s wings buzzed as she landed next to the startled Ayro. Immediately Tarn felt a sense of relief at her appearance. Like Tarn, she’d been in a team and knew the damage that had been done.
The Kithikin patted Ayro on the back, her expression encouraging. The kid’s shoulders straightened a bit, nodding to whatever questions he was being asked. Isca was doing her part, making the right lessons were learned, salvaging what they could.
“Another win in the books,” Jental said with a grin, as her spear slowly melted away, returning to whatever strange material the dungeon’s gems created the out of. “Pop, pop, pop and down they go. Two for me and one for you. I think these still-bombs are getting easier!”
“You know why we were here,” Tarn said, lowering his voice. “An easy fight means a learning opportunity. So tell me, Jental, what did you learn out there?”
“I’d say I learned I was awesome, but we both knew that.” She blew a stray hair from her eyes, then furrowed her brows as she finally read Tarn’s expression. “Oh, what? What did I do wrong now? Is this about the kid? Hey, Tarn. He dropped the ball, there. Not me.”
“You’re right, Jental.” Tarn sighed. “You’re talented, a natural in combat. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need anyone, and Ayro will never stop dropping balls if you don’t let him learn to pick them up. Someday you might need him to have your back.”
“The farm boy?” Jental laughed derisively. “I sure hope not! Tarn, maybe you need to think more about who you’re giving these gems to. Instead of training someone to be good with this power, why not just give it them to people like me who are already good?”
“Maybe that’s how you get Lurim,” Tarn said, feeling his frustration rise. “Giving power to people who are born to want it. Maybe kids like him are the one who can help the most.”
“If the Realm needs that kid’s help, we’re all in a lot of trouble.” Jental chuckled, smiling devilishly as she turned away. “You keep dreaming, Tarn. You and flygirl can play coach all you need to. That’s not what I signed up for. I’m here to use what I have, and you know you need me. So, let’s just leave it at that.”
Swinging her hips proactively, Jental headed back to the carts where the horses were resting.
There was a faint sound before Tarn, like someone was tearing a sheet of fine cloth. With footsteps as silent as moonlight, Urthin stepped into view, visible as he emerged from his shrouded state.
“Jental.” The disapproval in Urthin’s voice was clear. “I see she continues to be a challenge. As I expected.”
“Yeah.” Tarn rubbed the back of his neck, watching the departing form of Jental as she sauntered into the camp. “She’s a pain in the ass, all right. But I can’t argue with her skills. She can back it up.”
“But are her skills worth the impact to the rest of your team?” Isca looked off at Ayro. The boy stood a distance away, arms folded as he craned his neck up at the volcanic smoke in the sky, his back to the battlefield and his mistakes.
“Is she worth the trouble?” Tarn sighed. “Maybe. When we finally get back into the Sword, combat there is going to be a lot different than fighting still-spawn out here. In there, there’s not a lot of room for error.”
“Either way, that future lies above with your small gremlin friend.” Isca pulled her goggles up onto her forehead, staring up at the smoldering peak. Tarn heard the catch in her voice, the battle between hope and worry.
Lash’s attempt to make a key that would reopen the Sword meant more than just a way for Tarn to investigate the source of the still-bomb attacks. It was the first step on any road home for Isca, back to her conquered world.
“Lash produces your future as well, Isca.” Urthin’s deep voice carried the same conviction Tarn felt, the weight of their shared promise to the kithikin. “We owe you for your assistance, but I have not forgotten that your heart lies inside the Sword.”
Tarn smiled as he put his arm around each of his companions. For days he had needed to be ‘the leader’, training new gem-touched recruits like Ayro and dealing with Jental’s justified but frustrating confidence. It was good to let that weight slide away and just be himself.
“Smiley’s right, grease monkey.” He gave Isca’s shoulder an extra squeeze and was rewarded with her leaning in a bit closer. “We’re going to get you back home, and we’ll put things right there. That’s a promise we all intend to keep.”
Tarn stared up the side of the mountain, to where Lurim’s tower had been carved into the ebon stone on the side of the peak. A hundred treasures lay inside, yet there was only one he and his team were focused on.
“Lash was so excited he’d perfected the key to getting back into the Sword,” Tarn laughed. “I’m surprised he hasn’t run down the side of the mountain to pull us up there himself.”
“Indeed.” Lurim nodded. “I must admit I did not anticipate the speed with which he has taken to mage work.”
“Surprise? From you, Smiley? I thought the Order of the Shattered Stone could see the future!”
Almost imperceptibly, Urthin’s expression grew darker.
“Knowing history is not knowing the future, Tarn.” His tone suddenly turned dark and pained. “Only a fool would think so.”
“Urthin, if I said something—”
Tarn stopped as he felt a faint tingle in the back of his spine, one he had come to recognize over the past few months. Since leaving the Sword, Isca has been as hard at work as Lash – finding ways to increase their gem functionality. Some of these unlocked features had been minor quality of life fixes, but the ability to message one another across great distances had been a breakthrough.
Tarn would take a few skeletal vibrations in trade for that.
INCOMING MESSAGE: [BOG] MESSAGE PROCESSING: 25% complete. Est. 45 seconds.
“Hang on,” he said. “Bog’s checking in from the coast.”
Written in crisp, clear blue letters, the messaging ability Isca had unlocked within their gems had proven an incredible boon. It had allowed them to stay in constant communicating while they scattered across the Realm, dealing with still-spawn and training new gem-touched.
Wasting time, some on the new Realm Council called it. Probably from a room too full of tables, self-important men, and a lot of hot air.
Talk about wasting time.
He watched the bar showing the process of the message grow with only mild interest. His mind was more focused on Lash’s Key, on getting back to the Sword, on getting to the bottom of these still-bombs. About taking action.
Those thoughts vanished like mist before the sea as the message completed processing. Just four words, but they changed every plan and presumption Tarn had.
[[ORC INVASION FLEET SIGHTED.]]