I fell to the ground, weighed down by unknown elements. As I lifted my head I saw on the horizon a long mountain range that was soon enveloped by an encroaching forest that became part of my surroundings. I chuckled, blades of grass sprouted between my toes and flowers sporadically appeared all throughout in a now vast meadow. I rested on the dirt, collecting my thoughts. I wasn't home. This was... somewhere else. Even if my memory wasn't to be trusted, just looking at the open sky, seeing the two suns eclipsing one another, was enough to convince me. I picked the blue flower at my feet, curious about its strange shape. The petals were clenched tightly around the bud like a shielded knight at the beck and call of its queen. It smelled of-- "ACHOO!" It had smelled of a sort of lavender before I sprayed it with an alien virus. The shielded knight had fallen.
Red Crown (Ruined) -- A flower native to the ??? Region. An essential ingredient for health potions and curing diseases.
My hand phased through the translucent blue box that hovered above the flower. “It is not ruined." I scoffed. It was only wilted, lying in a small patch of grass. I picked it back up and tried to pocket it, not realizing I was sitting in the field completely nude. One of the petals tore off and hugged my thigh. Another translucent square appeared at my side, wider, housing three rows and columns of empty squares; all but one. The flower in my hand zipped away, filling the first square. "O-kay." I reached for the last slot, a black square with strange white lines.
Xeron’s Robe -- A cloak of scornful necromantic power; made by a dying artisan in hopes he would be able to save himself with its power it still hums with magical power. With this cloak any necromancer worth their salt could single-handedly conquer entire countries.
The description was certainly different and I didn’t feel any of that magical hum. From what I recalled it gave 12 intellect and four stamina and most importantly it gave the ability to summon up to 200 extra undead creatures. Now it only explained its origin, which, in reading it, did intrigue me, but left me curious to know if it even worked. I clicked the icon and the garment fell over me in an instant, the hood plopping over my head and the sleeves lining my arms. It was simultaneously warm and itchy. The wool was scratching my already dry hands and chafing my ass.
At least it was something.
I paced around the meadow, adjusting the cloak and trying my damnedest to figure out this whole menu thing. I could get the inventory to reappear easily and it seemed focusing on an object caused a small description to appear. Some of the information was hidden, but it was usually the name of the area.
The mouth of the meadow held a dirt path lined with blue and red crowns. It seemed preordained, but it came to a dead end, the forest its only direction. I peered into the shady expanse. It was the only way out. I looked back for a second then continued on. "Maybe a character sheet?" I closed my eyes, trying to bring the idea to the surface. I opened my eyes, but nothing had changed, only a tree that had snuck into my face. I moved around it and paused. "Menu." A slender box heeded my call, proudly standing to my left "What the..." I put my finger to the window where an a-posing silhouette sporting the name Sage--my name--stood. If it was supposed to represent me it needed a muscle reduction, not to mention the injustice of giving him underwear when I was left here to have an eternal itch on my cheeks. I skipped through some of the tabs. Reputation, status, attributes, and abilities. The reputation was shockingly empty. How could I have a reputation when I had yet to meet anyone. The status read plainly: Healthy. The only thing reminiscent of Riptide was the attributes and skills tab.
Attributes
* Intellect 7
* Agility 5
* Endurance 5
* Strength 2
* Charisma 2
They were a one-to-one scale of my old character.
* * Raise Dead -- You have been taught in the ways of necromancy. Manipulating the remains of deceased creatures allows you to resurrect their spirits under your control.
* Control Dead (Passive) -- Through your training and hard work controlling the flow of your mana you have figured out how to flick the tendrils of magic to your whim. Flowing mana into an undead entity during the resurrection process now forces them to heed your commands.
* Undead Armor -- Used defensively, a necromancer may call the bolstered defenses of their summons, pulling the nearest ones and forming a shield of bones and decayed flesh. The resulting shield can be as strong as a steel golem’s armor.
* Necrotic Rage -- With a flick of magic a necromancer may enhance their summons causing them to become enraged and attack in more sporadic and stronger ways.
* Grave Feeling -- Channeling their magic through the earth, a necromancer may be able to use nearing corpses and skeletons as clairvoyant beacons, detailing the surrounding area they encompass.
That giddy heat in my stomach I'd normally feel seeing a rare ability like Grave Feeling wasn't there. How could I be excited when I didn't have the faintest clue how to use these abilities nor whether I had the mana or actual capability to use them. I held my hands out in front of me, planting them flat on a tree. "Just think about it..." I tried to feel out my inner energy, jutting it out and sending it across the vast woods. A jolt of vertigo hit my brain, knocking me to the floor. It wasn't a punishment, only a symptom it seemed. I could feel nothing nearby. I turned around for a final look at the meadow.
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"No sense turning back."
The air had thickened with an underlying anxiousness the deeper I went. My palms started to sweat and a good amount was building up behind my ears. I pulled the hood off. It smelled of oak and lavender, but in the niceties was a foul odor ahead. I couldn't pinpoint it; a mixture of old algae on a lake and wet dog. Besides that, it was your run of the mill woods. Endless and treacherous, with a hint of danger lurking out of sight. I tried using Grave Feeling every so often, having to stop for a good minute each time to regain my head. At this point I was weaker than a peasant farmer. A necromancer was nothing without his undead battalion. I knew I was vulnerable out here, I was on constant watch, my eyes darting across the forest at any movement or sound. I probably looked silly. A lone man in the forest, thin as a stick, holding his robe like a tutu and tiptoeing, and crazily looking about as if he were seizing. But I had to. It didn't matter--big or small--what creature crossed my path, if it looked at me or even motioned towards me, I was running.
My heart stopped and so did my legs when the sky had turned gray. The world jested, I could hear the gods giggling at the perfect timing. I couldn't see much past the canopy, but I could make out scar shaped clouds blotting out both suns. I only hoped it was benign and not heavy with rain. I gripped my pockets. From then on every creak or gust of wind had me on edge. It was like roaming the streets in the city in pure silence, wondering if someone was waiting in the alleyways. I scurried along, looking for any semblance of difference. The repeating maze of trees was daunting, never ending.
I dashed for a fallen tree, hoping that it hid a new path. Of course it was wishful thinking and all that awaited behind it was some sort of webbing thicker than a rope. Oh, how wondrous my curiosity could be, I prodded the web, against my better judgment, and it was subsequently enveloped by the gooey substance. It scrunched like a wad of chewing gum. There must’ve been a disconnect in my brain. How dumb could I be? Evidently too dumb. I saw a couple of nameplates appear behind the web. I thought nothing of it, a few spiders were normal. Then the nameplate grew in size and I saw the error of my ways.
Logwood Spider
It was covered in hair. Eight individual legs climbed the webbing and on its back was a jagged pattern of lime green and cobalt blue. I stared into its eyes and could sense the intent on its fangs. I backed away slowly and broke into a sprint. If you've ever turned off a light and ran from the darkness demon you'll understand the immense and immediate strength in my legs. I was deeper in the forest and it had grown nearly pitch black.
Not hearing a sound or seeing a single nameplate, I climbed a tree. I recognized the mountain range from earlier, it was lightyears away at this point. I looked straight ahead, spotting a break in the forest that spanned for miles, either a ravine or a river of sorts. I used Grave Feeling once more, getting no response again. I was both calmed and alerted, either nothing in this forest died or everything was eaten whole. I did my best not to think about it and focused on my walk.
I was halfway from that break in the woods. I could see a semblance of light in the distance. I turned and-- “Huh?” My foot pulled me back. That same webbing from earlier was holding me closely. I yanked, the thread snapping like a rubber band. I found myself stepping on it again, repeating the course over and over. The dirt had become a minefield of nettings. I looked around at the canopies not seeing any nameplates, I thought I was safe.
The webbing had stretched from the dirt to the trees, latching onto every branch and forming canopies of their own. I happened upon a mound of sorts sticking out from the dirt. It was eerily still, but had a depression at the top that tore at the faintest touch. It revealed a bubbling goo of vomit green and crimson red. My body lurched. Vomit spewed over the carapace. I coughed, the acidity of my stomach souring my throat. “What the fuck…” The hairs on my neck stood. I felt a faint breath of wind against my bare neck. CHIT CHIT CHIT. I slowly turned to the sound. Midnight eyes, reflecting only my fear, fangs dripping venom, and eight legs. I froze.
Corpsewood Spider
I stepped back, a tree grabbing me from behind. The spider screamed. I screamed too. It jumped at me. I ducked below. I yanked my feet, running faster than I thought possible. The webs accented my cloak, waving their hands at the now millions of dog-sized spiders behind me.
Run.
RUN!
You are being pursued by :
* * Logwood Spider
* Corpsewood Spider
* Decaying Spider
* Butterfly Spider
I clasped my hands together. “Oh, I fucking know!” Where was this menu earlier to warn me of them!? Where was the break in the forest!? North, just keep north.
There was a growing army behind me, their skittering legs booming like a thunderstorm. In front of me two spiders fell to the ground. I jumped back, but rushed forward, kicking one and dodging the other. I kicked and punched, stomped and slammed. Every spider that popped out before me was sent packing. Where would the next come from? How close were the ones behind me? The only answer was the roaring sound of their marching legs.
"There!" The break in the woods, it had to be.
I emerged with my cloak full of thorns and covered in loose webs, but came to a skittering halt as my heart punched at my chest. Below me, just a trip away, ran a rapid stream so fast the water was pure white. I turned to face the roaring legs, my heart beating loud enough to rival them. "COME ON!" I beckoned them forth. "If I can take one of ya, I can certainly take on all of you!" A rogue spider, either their leader or just a wiry one, jumped at me. I kicked it across the open ravine. "Right here!" Another jumped. Then another. I crumbled to the ground. "Get--AH!" A fang pierced the cloak at my ribcage. I rolled over and started taking off my robe. It was the only thing protecting me, but it was also the only thing that they were latched onto.
I tossed the robe aside, running across the cliff. If I was dying, it wouldn't be by some damn arachnid's fang. I winced, feeling the wound at my ribs. I was already breathing hoarsely and holding back exasperation. It was purple. A green liquid seeped out. I felt light-headed. "N-no!" I shook my head and kept running. I was almost free, I just needed to keep going. The chittering of the spiders began to fade in the distance, I was home free, but I didn't stop. Run until I--THUD. My eyes opened wide in horror as a spider's fangs bore in my face. I saw the world rising around me, and in an instant felt the sharpest pain in my body, only to lose both sight and feeling soon after.