I watched as Kiara walked towards me after leaving Shad’s side. I had been delving with the dryad for a couple of years now and I appreciated her straightforward nature quite a bit. We had become friends in truth two years ago after an incident with an uncontrolled fire from a beserk mage. I finished sealing the vials I had been working on and put away my crafting supplies. It had been a relief to claim this strip of mostly dry land while we waited for Shad to recover from their second misadventure.
“Mavrich, I told the elf they needed either a goal to pursue or to retire from the dungeon. I think it is best for the party.” Kiara crossed her arms and looked at me levely.
“There is no part of me planning on arguing with you, Kiara,” I told her. “I appreciate you weighing in with Shad and helping their recovery. When do you estimate they will be ready to continue? I am hoping, selfishly, that we have another day here so I can make more stamina potions for us.”
I watched as she glanced back at Shad shuffling pathetically upright and towards our latrine pit. Turning back to me she shook her head gently. “We’ll be leaving in a few hours. Samir and Scree won't take long to find the temple now that we have a base. Level zero or not, they survived something they shouldn’t have. Some skill or trait is involved, and I won’t pry on that. When not scolded by their companion, I've noticed the elf says a lot but imparts little - is there anything I should know? I plan on making them power-level their class skills the rest of the floor and having Samir stand down from clearing the threats.”
Returning Kiara’s serious look with one of my own, I balanced my speculation with facts. “They are capable of whatever they pursue, as you have seen, but are very susceptible to acting without thinking too deeply. You can use that to further your goal. They seem aimless, probably most frustrating to me.” I paused and then corrected myself. “That aimlessness is for us though. I think they are pursuing something we aren’t aware of, but that’s just my gut speaking.”
“And will they pursue their goal or leave do you think?”
I thought back to my last instance with Shad and Nattens. “Unless their companion abandons them, I imagine Shad will achieve their goal. It just may be incremental instead of grandiose.”
“That’s fine. I prefer to have my students achieve consistent success for their efforts and suffer setbacks in small doses.” Kiara grew silent as she took in everyone’s activities. I saw her eye sweep pause on Chad. Our tank was oiling the leather on Engli’s harness and sneering at Samir wrestling with Rakshasa. “He’s going to be more of a problem than usual. You knew that and still invited him. Why?”
Impressed again by her astute insight, it took me a moment to respond. “Honestly, I figured he would push Shad out of their comfort zone. Engli is always a balance for their companion, which has proven true so far here. Shad will have to deal with the fact that Chad will endanger them through his sheer entitlement constantly. And if Shad doesn’t deal with it, they will continue getting hurt and Night will force the issue.” I shrugged at Kiara’s frank stare.
Kiara nodded when I didn’t add more, accepting that’s what would be said. “I’m guessing three glasses before we leave. Thank you, Mav. Let’s see if we can’t get this elf to the second floor in one piece.”
Once Kiara had walked away I decided it was a good time to check my interface to see what she was in for. I selected party composition and scanned the information.
Samir Zorlu
Arcane Battle Mage
Level 5+
Companion Rakshasa
Chad Fortescue
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Paladin of Eunomia
Level 5
Companion Engli
Kiaralongh Nahele
Warden
Level 5
Companion Scree
Reev Sicario
Assassin
Level 5
Companion Fergie
Mavrich Guerisseuse
Alchemist
Level 0
Companion [redacted]
Shadark Ember
Ranger
Level 0
Companion Night
Scrolling down to Shad’s information, I selected their class to see that overview.
Ranger
Apprentice
Class Weapon Skills: Bows, Daggers, Swords
Class General Skills: Marksmanship, Dual-Wielding, Throwing, Tracking, Trapping, Hunting, Fishing, Skinning, Butchering, Camouflage, Slinking, Perception, ??, ??, ??
Class Terrains: Mountain, Forest, Swamp
Class Triggered Skills: Ranger’s Stance, Hunter’s Sight, Hunter’s Steps, ??, ??, ??
Class Traits: Cunning, ??, ??, ??
Class Titles: Track It, Trap It, Hunt It, Shoot It, Stab It, ??, ??, ??
Seeing Shad's class titles, I couldn’t help the guffaw that broke free. Clearly, the elf had renamed them - something we could do to personalize our classes. It was also interesting that they had unlocked so many skills, traits, and titles that they hadn’t used yet. I didn’t see anything that explained how they survived the lightning bolt. I supposed I could ask Valen about it when we returned to Helmsword.
I exited the interface secure in the knowledge that I hadn’t misled Kiara. Shad would indeed be able to keep up with reasonable goals through the dungeon, and appeared to be underplaying their abilities slightly. Of course, our skills were paltry compared to the rest of the party.
Before I could switch to my next activity I noticed Shad heading my way. Taking pity on them, I moved to meet them. Seeing the relief in their eyes, I responded with a sympathetic smile. “It’s good to see you moving about. You look like you need to rest again though - why don’t we sit by the cookfire Samir set up?”
Samir clearly heard the conversation, stopped wrestling with Rakshasa, and made room for us to join her at the fire. Not as chatty as Reev, Samir wordlessly filled us cups of tea from the pot nestled in the rocks. Thanking her, I turned to Shad and waited for them to settle down and have some sips.
I pulled up the floor map on my interface and projected it toward Shad and Samir. “We’ve mapped about 45% of the floor between all of us. While you were out, Shad, we decided to split the party and use this village as a hub to open the rest of the map. Samir and Scree are going to do that scouting. They will leave as many creatures as possible for you to grind. Samir could solo this floor so they won’t be in danger as long as they don’t enter the mini-boss temple without us.”
Night came over and settled behind Shad while they reviewed what I was saying and showing them. The elf leaned back and looked thoughtfully at Samir while Night appeared to communicate with her companion. “Could you take Night with you? We would like to work on our synergy and attunement distance, and it would be an opportunity to do so if I can stay here safely while she is protected with you.”
Samir didn’t hesitate to assure them. “Yes, that is easy enough. I would ask that we add your Collapsible Sack to Rakshasa’s harness in case we need it.” Shad nodded agreement in turn.
Pleased at the exchange, I weighed in to do my part to keep Shad on track. “Once you get Samir the sack, I need you to help Reev break down more of the gator he brought in earlier. While Samir and Kiara focus on your class skills, Reev and I will push your general skills.”
Shad gave me a tired but determined thumbs up, levered themself up and headed towards their gear. Presumably, they were getting their butchering gear and the sack for Samir. Glad we were remedying the crash course Shad had been on, I lifted my gaze to the dungeon’s ceiling. The impenetrable mist of a cloud layer met my gaze and absorbed my hopes. Onward.