Ethan’s quest for power as a Hat {Legendary} was about to begin in earnest.
He requested Klax and the others take him on a tour of Sanctum while he contemplated his skills, realizing that now he had enough Spirit Cores to upgrade his Demon Hat skills:
---Skill check: Ethan Hawke---
Object: Hat {Legendary}
Skills: Possession (Rank F)
Skill Siphon (Rank F)
Appraisal (Rank F)
Transmogrification (Rank F)
Spirit Cores req. to upgrade Hat {Legendary} skills (F->E): 250
Current Spirit Cores: 250
These skills are my trump cards, he thought. I’d better consider them carefully…
This is new, Hat {Legendary}. I am surprised to see you considering the tactical advantages of your skills.
C’mon, Sys, I’m a strategist at heart, don’tcha know? I’m both a Civ and a Total War man, with a dabbling of League on the side…
Possession (Rank E)
You are now able to view the memories of your possessed minions
Pretty cool, but in terms of combat capabilities…pretty meh. I’ll use it when I’m looking to acquire some juicy lore. But I’ve probably got enough of that already.
Next. Skill!
Appraisal (Rank E)
You can now observe enemies through solid surfaces.
A tactically crucial skill.
But one that’s just too passive for now…besides, I doubt that handicapped Arthurian cosplayer is much for stealth. And right now its DPS I'm needing. I’ll come back to this one when I’ve got a Core surplus. It’s probably my least used skill, anyway.
What’s next on the chopping block?
Transmogrification (Rank E)
You can now modify and equip items with up to {Mithril} level.
Ohhhhh, better shiny stabby knives…I’m considering this one, even though right now I’ve got nothing but my own lil’ black beak. Y’know what? When I find a good vein of Mithril, I’ll come back to it.
And last up, we have…the bread and butter itself…
Skill Siphon (Rank E)
You can now Steal up to {two} skills from one possessed [Host] and transfer them to a new [Host] body, in addition to any skills already transferred from a previous [Host]
Sys…let’s be real here, is this the obvious choice or is this the obvious choice?
There’s more to combat in this world than stealing skills, you kno-
Skill Siphon: Upgraded!
Congratulations! You have improved Skill Siphon (Rank F – E)
Spirit Cores Required to Upgrade: 600
Current Spirit Cores: 0
…
Fine. Go on out and eat away at every monster in the world. See if I care.
Ethan furrowed his brow as he let Klax and the others lead him through the dusty streets of Sanctum, shaking the hands of every hybrid with his wings.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Sys…isn’t that literally what I’m here for? Besides, that 600 Spirit Core requirement is meaty.
Klax introduced him to the main members of the community – such as the Blacksmith, Borlor the Dixit, a badger-hybrid with a penchant for sneezing up a storm and for wiggling his great furry snout in people’s faces. Unlike the rest, he was far more animal than human.
“Archon Ethan!” he grunted as the form of a dapper Dark Raven entered his shop. His voice was thick and gruff like a Scotsman's. “Welcome ta the house of blades. You’ll want equipment for the start of your journey, aye? Well, look no further, my Lord – Borlor’s House of Metal Wonders is here to serve you well!”
“The Archon is more than capable for defending himself, Borlor,” Klax explained. “But all the same, it wouldn’t hurt to show him what tools we have that can augment his abilities.”
“Aye Klax!” the Dixit grunted, beginning to cough through the dust-caked store that was starting to bring tears to Tara’s eyes behind them. “Let me show ye what I have in the back.”
The badger-man fumbled and tripped over at least five different mannequins of various shapes and sized.- each one meant to represent the form of a different hybrid in the community.
And Ethan was suddenly seized by a very…heretical notion.
“So, something I’ve been wondering is…can’t I possess you guys? Just for a little bit, you understand. You’ve got such fine skills and…well, I don’t like to brag, but my Skill Siphon just got bigger.”
The Hybrids stared at him with knowing eyes, as though each one thought the answer to be plainly obvious.
“Fate doesn’t like to make things easy for us,” Klax huffed. “Fauna, go ahead and cast a bind curse on the bird, and we’ll show the Archon his answer.”
“Um…are you sure I can –“
“If the spell goes tits up,” Tara says, “I’m sure the Archon can tank a fireball to the face.”
Say what no-
Ethan felt his raven form suddenly paralyzed, and then felt Klax’s firm hands lift him off the bird and place him on his own furry scalp.
And Ethan’s demon pupil dilated as he saw what they meant.
Potential [Host]….Not suitable.
Well…I’ll be damned.
“It’s the same with all of us”, the Lycae monk explained and he firmly placed Ethan back on the head of his paralyzed old Host. “Perhaps because no Archon has been able to ever directly control a human before. We share the blood of humans - though they would never admit it. The Archon we will follow, but we cannot give you the keys to success. For that, you’ll need the Delves of Westerweald and the treasures they have locked within.”
“But don’t you worry,” Tara said with a mischievous wink. “We’ll be there to help ya out. And then we can go on the rampage we've always wanted.”
Klax fixed the Minxit with his stern, firm gaze. His nostrils flared strangely, but when he spoke, it was with his familiar calm tone.
"The Archon will do as he pleases," he said. "He is not a tool to be used by us, Tara. We are his compatriots. Remember that."
Before the haughty cat could reply, the Dixit then finally returned with a handful of blades, mauls, and armor in his hands.
“Aye, my Lord,” he nodded. “We’ve got daggers, shortswords, broadswords, greataxes, handaxes, bardiche, Kunai, throwing knives…and a couple of chainmail breastplates freshly made. Now, I’m afraid all the materials are up to {Steel} level in quality – shortage of ore you understand. Should you find any higher quality ores on your travels, perhaps you could bring them to me if you get the chance? Anyway, I’m sure we can try a few different modifications so that what we have suits your particular…forms.“
Ethan held up a single, jet-black wing. “That won’t be necessary, my good man.”
Skill Activated: Transmogrification
Before the eyes of the hybrids, the power of their Lord was realized: one of the sharpened longswords slowly morphed into a series of six steel nails that fit snugly over Ethan’s raven claws.
Item acquired: Steel Claws
DMG (Base): 15 (+2 STR)
And I ain’t stopping there.
His glowing beak poked at the iron chainmail hauberk and began to twist and contort the armor into a shape that affixed itself cleanly to his bird-breast, and after five seconds he was strutting around Borlor’s shop with a chainmail breastplate that covered his feathered torso.
Item acquired: Birdplate (Steel)
Armor PROT: 10
Enemy DMG must exceed this number to damage the wearer.
Looks like the little guys out there won’t be bothering us anymore, Sys! Now, we’re really monster evolving!
Whatever…
“By…by the Horns of Karfangg…” Borlor murmured. “The powers of the Archon are beyond even what we thought…”
“Indeed…” Klax said, sharing the Dixit’s awe. “One must wonder what else good Ethan has up his…feathered sleeves.
“Hah! That’s the way!” Tara shouted above them all. “Take everything and use it ta make yourself stronger. Leave nothin’ for the enemy to use!”
Fauna the Hopla stared unblinkingly at the new creature strutting before her.
“What?” Ethan asked them all. “Never seen a bird so…fly before?”
…I want nothing more than death.
This System…is shutting down…
----------------------------------------
A few more stops around Sanctum and Ethan was dizzy with praise. Not that he was complaining, but so many people bowing or shaking his claws or complementing his plume was new…really new.
“So, Ethan,” Tara asked him. “Have you decided on your first Delve yet?”
Ethan had been considering it, but if he was being honest each one of them seemed similar to the last.
Delve 1: The Festering Den (Grade F)
Delve 2: The Twilight Sepulcher (Grade E)
Delve 3: The City of Illusions (Grade C)
“Think carefully upon it,” Klax said. “These Delves are made to challenge even the most stalwart of warriors. We only know their locations, not the evils at their hearts.”
“You don’t know what I’ll be facing?” Ethan asked.
“The magic of the Delves are…special,” Fauna explained. “The mind of the party members who enter often warp the environments inside in strange ways.”
“So it’s a kind of Silent Hill type deal?” Ethan said aloud, even though this provoked nothing but confusion from his companions. “In that case, maybe we’ll get lucky and I’ll actually get the skills I want if I just think about them hard enough.”
He considered the Delves again as they stopped in the middle of the Sanctum square.
“The Festering Den,” he said. “Sounds like the place where I can find some damage over time effects. Poison, maybe. That’s one thing I could use for sure.”
“Oh yeah,” Tara said with an approving nod. “A nice slow death is the way to go, right?”
Ethan nodded. “Besides, with my speed I should be able to give enemies a little caustic nibble and then fly away, watching ‘em get weaker and weaker until…BAM! Dive bomb strike.
Tara’s smile with infectious.
I think you may have found someone just as sociopathic as you.
How nice.
“Before we get going we better grab some potions,” the Minxit said with a lick of her lips. “There’s only one hybrid in Sanctum for the job.”
“Oh, Tara…” Fauna groaned. “D-do we have to? He’s such a…an odd person.”
Tara’s eyes flashed to Klax, who heaved a heavy shrug.
“We’ll have to face much worse if we’re going to be aiding the Archon on his quest for power,” he explained. “Come, Fauna, let’s swallow our pride.”
“Besides,” Ethan winked at the shy Hopla. “After this, I’ll get you a shiny new staff. I can't wait to see what kinda explosions you can make. And that chicken thing? Hella good way to take the piss outta that old man back in the forest.”
Fauna’s blushing face hid a slight smile as the team then followed Tara.
"Trust me, Ethan," the Minxit said. "You're gonna love this guy. With friends like him, you won't need foes. And every new enemy's gonna be shitting bricks around you."