Fritz strode up the familiar stone scale steps, two at a time, eagerly entering the Well room and searching for the font of Power within. He needed its healing energies. It was disconcerting, only being able to hear a high whine and the fast thud of his heart. The walls of room he had just stepped within were rimmed with many small alcoves set with statues or mosaics.
He rapidly located the Well, it was part of the leftmost wall. A glowing mosaic of that same scaled stone as most of the Mer Spire was comprised of, painted with vivid colour and even more vivid depictions of women, sirens he realised, beckoning to the ships of raiders, pirates and sailors alike. Fritz didn't look too long at the depicted scene and its rough rocks, sinking ships, flayed men and tempestuous temptresses. He'd had enough of sirens to last him a lifetime, maybe three.
He placed a hand upon the mosaic, on the image of a sunken chest of treasure slipping from the hole of a ship's hull. When the cool magics poured into him he directed what he could to the recovery of his ears. The ringing subsided and the low muffled tones of voices came back into sharp relief, back with full clarity. He revelled in his restored hearing, he could clearly make out what his team were saying, then was immediately annoyed.
"The first thing you do is grope a chest," Bert said, loudly. "Right back to your old tricks, Fritz. I'm disappointed."
He turned back to his team to see them all smirking at him. A bad habit, and one he would have to rectify.
"It's the Well, and it's a wooden chest, see," Fritz explained, stepping to the side, allowing them a better view.
"That's why I'm disappointed!" He replied, which earned him some shakes of the head and a muttered "disgusting" from Lauren.
Scowling but somewhat amused by the turnabout, Fritz moved out of his friend's way as he strode to the mosaic and slapped his hand right on a painted siren.
"Huh, it's not doing anything for me," Bert said.
"Try the one of the masts, I heard you're fond of that too," Fritz said.
Bert grinned. While the other began to crowd in and place their hands on the Well.
"No power," Lauren said.
"Nothing for me either," Rosie said.
When George and Cal found the same, the team began to look around.
"That one is glowing," George said, pointing to a depiction of a silver sword.
"Doesn't look like it to me," Bert said.
"Must be split up," Lauren said, shrugging and strolling over to where her Well seemed to be. It turned out to be a statue of a regal woman in robes holding a stone star in one hand and a staff in the other.
Each of the team moved to their own Wells, received their power, then reconvened in the bare centre of the room. Fritz thought this a good a time as any to talk strategy and go over the mistakes, and successes, of the last floor, of which there were plenty.
"I think we should've been more prepared, the tonics, while helpful, were not enough to save us from the siren song," Lauren began.
"I agree," Fritz said. "Though Bert and I handled it in the end."
"Barely," Bert interjected.
"There was no way those remedies would've helped against the greater sirens and their flock. That, and I didn't expect the power of the shriek, the raw amount of sound was too much."
"We almost died," Bert said. "If not for the timely arrival of the team. Just as planned."
"Just as planned," Fritz echoed in agreement.
"You planned to get deafened and almost killed?" Cal asked sceptically.
"I was fine," Fritz lied. "My shadow mana was full, my barrier ring at the ready and my Umbral Phase was there to save me."
While he was right about his layered defences, the fight had been decided on a knife's edge. He didn't know if his protections would have worked against that screech at the end. And eventually, all his tricks could be overcome through sheer numbers. Though he didn't feel that he had been in too much trouble, not until he had been stunned by raw sound, and even then he couldn't quite believe that he'd been in deadly peril. Nor did he feel that same deep weariness or raw nerves he had after his other near-fatal encounters.
Maybe he was becoming numb to the constant danger? Or maybe he'd come to trust in his team? Or maybe the fear would come later, turning up as another nightmare? Perhaps, even though his power was still meagre compared to someone like the king or the Scale Guard, his newfound strength and triumphs had helped him steel his courage and resolve. Was this what all experienced Climbers eventually felt? His father had been fearless, or at least, portrayed himself as such. Was he destined for the same?
Too many questions, but he was glad of one thing, that it did get better. Not all would be dread and despair, even in the brutal trials of a Spire.
"Splitting the team worked," Bert said, pulling Fritz out of his thoughts. "You lot would have been instantly enthralled by the scarlet siren's song."
"Still, next time we fight sirens we should be more prepared," Lauren said. "We can't have you two deaf and wounded for half a Floor."
Fritz couldn't disagree so he didn't.
"You're right, of course, however..." Fritz said.
"Look at all this sirensilk!" Bert finished for him, opening his pack and flinging some sheets of silk up and over the team.
Lauren tried to scowl but she soon smiled, her eyes glittering with delight as the shining fabric floated in the air and fell across across her hair.
"It is nice," she admitted, grasping a patch of silk and running it through her fingers.
"What does it do?" Rosie asked. "Is it magic or just pretty and soft?"
"That's a good question. Lauren, you know things, what do you know about this wonderful silk?" Fritz asked wrapping a scarlet sash around his neck like a scarf.
"Well, from what I learned in my mother's store and from what Sapphire told me, this is quite the fabulous fabric, one that is much sought after even beyond Rain City," Lauren explained.
"Really? I didn't think our 'grand' city had anything other kingdoms would want," Fritz said.
"Every Spire, even minor ones, produces something valuable. Just how valuable that particular material is might be variable, depending more on its uses rather than pure rarity. The Mer Spire is one of the more consistent suppliers of sirensilk, and is one of the goods Rain City is known for," she continued. "There are other precious materials the Spires provide though. The Rain Spire is known to create Rainstones, that badge you found has one. It also supplies the water-aligned iron that can be forged into Rainsteel. And that's not all, there are unique Treasures, such as Raincallers and Weather Watches."
"Rain this and rain that, can't they be more creative with the names," Fritz bemoaned.
"Makes sense to me, comes from rain Spire put rain in the name," Bert said.
"Climbers not poets," Lauren agreed. "And you wouldn't want to get rainsteel confused with cloudiron or seasteel, which have far different properties even if they share alignments."
"There's a lot of water stuff like that?" Rosie asked.
"More than I can remember without a list," Lauren replied. "Not just water either, the Rain spire has an air and cloud alignment as well. Along with some hints of lightning and weather."
"Those alignments aren't the same thing?" Cal asked.
"No. Though I don't know where the line is really drawn on these things. You'd need to find a scholar for that," Lauren sighed.
"And the sirensilk?" Fritz reminded gently.
"Oh. Yes. Sirensilk is stronger than other cloth, far stronger than mundane materials. It's particularly resistant to being cut or stabbed, though it doesn't do much against a club or a mace, you would need padding for that. And it takes to enchantment well, even if the silk is water-aligned."
"Is that bad?" Bert asked, wrapping a long, red ribbon around his knuckles.
"Not bad per se," Lauren said, tilting her head this way and that. "Though it does effect the efficiency and the kind of inscriptions it can hold. For example, it would be better at receiving water-aligned enhancements, like cleansing or waterproofing. Not that it needs the proofing, mind you. Water slips right through it, making it dry out almost instantly and nearly weightless when submerged."
"Sounds wonderful," Fritz said.
"I've heard it is, we should keep some for ourselves, get something nice made by a tailor, rather than sell it all off," Lauren suggested.
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Fritz, and seemingly the entire team, couldn't help by agree.
"I'll get me a dress," Rosie said. "All pretty and stuff."
"I'll likely have battle-robes made," Lauren stated.
"I don't have much use for new clothes, these are all I need," Bert said motioning to his pristine clothes, that he must have mended recently with its Imbuement. "But this stuff feels pretty good as a hand-wrap."
"I'll get a whole outfit done. Trousers, shirt, and socks," Fritz proclaimed. "As befitting someone of my noble station."
"I might just have to do the same," George agreed. "Though I'm more inclined to have some underarmour clothes made of it. And get some cooling runes sewn in."
"A grand choice," Bert said.
"How much gold do you think we'd get for all this if we sold it all?" Fritz asked out of curiosity.
"At least a thousand triads," Lauren said. "Maybe up to two thousand."
The group were stunned by the statement, their eyes going wide as they stared at Lauren. Even Fritz was startled by the enormous estimation.
"That much?" Cal croaked.
"That much," Lauren stated, grinning as wide as Bert was. "With it being woven into sheets and shawls, rather than being simple threads, its value has soared like, well, a siren."
"We're rich?" Rosie asked dumbfounded.
"I wouldn't say that, but it could probably afford an estate in the upper ring," Lauren said.
"That's rich!" Rosie argued.
"Very rich!" Cal added.
"Moderately well-to-do," Fritz corrected. "The truly wealthy reside in the Palace Ring."
"Was your old house in the palace ring?" Cal asked.
"Yes," Fritz said. "On the very outer area though, right by the wall with the other lesser nobility."
"Oh, right by the wall," Bert said unsympathetically. "With all the other 'poor' nobles."
"As it so happens, yes," Fritz admitted, shuffling his shoulders.
Bert scoffed while Cal and Rosie simply shook their heads in some small derision as if he didn't know how good he had it. He did know, and that's why he would get what he could of it back, woe betide any that would deny him and his family.
"How nice that must have been," Lauren sighed.
"Alright, that's enough bemoaning how right and proper my early upbringing was," Fritz said anger edging his voice. "Remember, I did lose it all. And tragically."
"True as the rain," Bert said earnestly, which quieted the team.
"Time to align some Attributes, I think," Fritz said into the sudden lull. "Keep an eye out?"
"As you command," Bert said, grinning again.
Fritz slipped into his Sanctum, evading the pitying and condescending stares of his team.
It was raining, but he found himself in the grey, almost silvery pavilion. He was seated in a gracefully styled wooden chair of the same material, right next to the moonsilver brazier and the blue-green fire burning within. He spared the flame only a glance, his eyes instead drawn to the brazier itself.
Gone were the fire-breathing, brass lizards of before, now there were moths sculpted in pristine silver. On their wings were glyphs that were difficult to read though Fritz could faintly make out the concepts of containment, purification, and disconcertingly, chaos. It was concerning, to say the least, but not really why he was here. Honestly, he was just glad the moonsilver held the flickering fire in place and seemed not to be under any strain. He noticed it wasn't even hot to the touch when he ran a finger over one of the embossed moths.
Even the eldritch flame, though smaller in size, looked brighter, more pure, likely a result of its imprisonment in the moonsilver. He wondered how this would affect his offerings at the precipice, or perhaps even the Ability evolutions he would have to choose next level. Thinking of choices he ruminated on his own. He had six Attributes to align, really he should have used them last floor, but he had been distracted, that and he didn't exactly know what to increase.
He considered his Attributes, and when he concentrated he was able to see the glyphs without viewing his entire Spire Sheet.
---------
Attributes
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Strength: 9
Agility: 9
Endurance: 9
Perception: 18
Focus: 12
Memory: 9
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Advanced Attributes
---------
Awareness: 18
Control: 9
Dusksong: 12
Grace: 6
---------
Fritz knew he wanted to improve his Dusksong, what with his increased reliance on its mana. Although he worried about the effect it would have on his moods and impulses. He'd already snapped once at Cal and didn't want to repeat that again. Focus should help stifle the fae influence, though he didn't trust it to stop it fully. Really, he concluded, he needed time to adjust to the odd tune humming in his chest.
Awareness and Perception were fine where they were, and perhaps were a little too high, so he had little desire to increase them at this time. Strength and Endurance hadn't been dragging him down as of late. His Agility, while important, was far less appealing than the Advanced Attribute of Grace, which would allow him to both dodge and strike more precisely, more perfectly. To be able to refine his form into an inevitable, untouchable state would be a great boon and something he greatly desired. Though that could wait for the future, when he could truly take advantage of the Attribute and had time to practise his techniques and sword style.
Memory might help his lapses in recollection, could assist in organising his mind, and perhaps let him grasp more of his father's fencing. Though he found that unlikely right now, another Attribute for later. Control had helped him a lot, mostly on the last floor when he had to combat the siren song, and at other times with his shaping of his Abilities. It would only get stronger and it had already saved his life.
As much as he wanted to increase his Dusksong, he knew he couldn't risk its impulse warping effects, yet. He dismissed Grace, even if it would increase his evasive prowess it wasn't essential at the moment. Eventually, he decided to pick the least interesting, but far more functional Attributes to align, increasing his Focus and Control. Raising them to fifteen and twelve respectively. Though they seemed boring compared to the others, he valued the sanctity of his mind and the clarity of thought both Attributes conveyed.
Fritz stared around his Sanctum as he made his choice. His willow's branches grew taller, and the beating of the rain calmed minutely as his mind was more able to handle the myriad sensations around him. With a sigh Fritz returned to the real world, finding himself the first to do so, the rest of his team, save Bert, deep within their centres.
Bert noticed he'd surfaced and asked, "Grab more of that faerie magic?"
"No. I've decided to be cautious, and add to my Focus and Control," Fritz said.
"What!?" Bert cried. "Have you been possessed? Replaced with a changeling?"
"Of course not," Fritz scoffed. "It is just that situations have arisen that have forced me to reassess my demon-may-dare attitude."
"Are you trying to say you're learning from your mistakes?" Bert asked incredulously.
"What mistakes? Everything I have ever done has been well considered and completely correct, even in retrospect," Fritz espoused, smirking with all the self-satisfaction he could muster.
"There's the Fritz I know," Bert said, breathing out an exaggerated sigh of relief.
"How about you, what are you planning on aligning? And are you still holding on to your last Passive choice?" Fritz asked, dropping his prideful act.
"Yeah, still waiting on the next floor for the Ability. But I'll split my Attributes between Strength, Vitality and Agility."
"A balance of offence and defence?"
"Exactly right."
"What are your Attributes up to anyway?" Fritz asked.
"I don't remember them all, but my Strength and Endurance are twenty-four, my Agility is eighteen, and my Vitality is thirty."
Shocked by the huge Attribute levels, Fritz stared at his friend in mute envy.
"Oh, and six Bloodwell," Bert added with a smug grin.
"How are your Attributes so high?" Fritz blurted out before the obvious answer came to him. "Wait, let me guess. You have nothing in Focus, Memory and Perception, like the idiot Brute you are."
"Correct, well mostly correct, I have three whole points in Perception," Bert claimed with that same smug expression.
"No wonder you're near impossible to kill. All that Vitality."
"Don't forget my Traits and Passives," Bert reminded him.
"How could I? And yet you continue with your stupid beast plan even with such a great set of Powers," Fritz groused.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bert said, yet his grin grew even wider.
Fritz shook his head, but he couldn't suppress his smile. While his friend's obstinate denial could be frustrating, in moments like this it was just endearing.
"What's this about a beast?" Lauren asked.
"Never mind," Fritz and Bert said in unison.
"Increased your Focus as well?" Fritz asked Lauren.
"Correct, the passionate nature of Essence of Fire has led me to some... irresponsible words and deeds," she admitted slightly sheepishly.
"I don't know about that. I thought it was a great lark when you said you'd light that noble on fire," Bert said.
"Maybe in the moment. It'll have consequences," Lauren said dejectedly.
"And that's why we're Climbers. If we make trouble we can just Climb higher to outrun it," Fritz proclaimed. "Power is freedom after all."
"I'm not sure that's the truth of the matter," Lauren hedged, though it looked like she agreed far more than she liked.
"We'll deal with it on the outside," Fritz said. "I'll help out if there's any repercussions. Some of the blame for that particular encounter lies on me, even if those pampered nobles were spoiling for a fight."
Lauren smiled weakly, then paled when considering what might happen once they were outside the Spire and the likely reactions of her family. Obviously, she'd been focused on the immediate Climb and not for the future after.
Fritz felt for her but he also had his own problems on the outside, the insulted nobles probably being the least of them. The lurking dread of the Nightshark reared its ugly head and he quickly pushed away that worry. Burying his fear was easier than usual, perhaps an added benefit of Focus or perhaps Control, and one he was glad to have. Being preoccupied with the politics and threats on the outside was a detriment to survival in the Spires.
When Fritz was pulled out from his thoughts, it was by Rosie's boasting about how she'd aligned more to Strength, Endurance and Durability.
"My scales as as tough as iron," she stated.
"And your skin's as tough as leather," Bert said giving her a playful punch in the arm before shaking his hand out as if he hurt his fist.
She smirked, it was a brutal expression.
"How about you Cal? Increasing your Strength like Bert?" Fritz asked.
"No, I'm going with more Endurance and Momentum for now. Without a mana source, I use my Stamina a lot. Bringing out and putting away stuff from my Personal pack really take its out of you. And now that I store some rocks in it so I can throw them, it's getting tiring," Cal explained.
"Even with Tireless?" Fritz asked.
"Yeah."
"Still, that's quite the synergy," Fritz complimented.
Cal nodded, smiling self-assuredly, almost smugly.
Bert really was a bad influence.
"And George, what wonderful power did you decide to pursue?" Fritz inquired.
"I've been splitting my alignments between Might, Essence of Metal, and Speed," George said.
"You have a magic Attribute?"
"Two, my Trait, Forgeheart, activated them," George explained. "Though I don't have a use for Essence of Fire yet."
"I guess Lauren wasn't the only one that gained a lot from the Hidden Door," Fritz stated.
"It was well worth all the heat and pain," George agreed. "Let's hope I can still get something like Heat Blade, or Flame Strike."
"You might, Influences are only cleared once you leave the Spire," Lauren casually explained while tying her hair back with a golden ribbon.
Fritz had never thought to ask about that, taking it for granted. But he nodded along as if he knew that fact for sure anyway.
"Well, take a rest, team, I've got some Doors to look at," Fritz stated, standing and striding over to the three Doors set between the artworks.
The first door was carved of opulent white marble adorned with gold. For a second, Fritz wanted to chisel off the precious substance, but soon remembered that you couldn't take anything from a Well room. He ran a hand over the smooth, cold stone, sighing at the unfairness of it all. There was no scent or breeze seeping through the grand arch, or none that he could feel at least. When searching with his Door Sense Fritz received a vision of an empty, pristine palace. He was swept down a seamless marble hall and into a deserted throne room. Well, deserted save the giant figure sitting the fifteen-foot-tall, gilded, white throne.
The huge man-alike was plated with ornate armour of that same white marble as the rest of the palace and held a great black sceptre with a head of gold shaped with three cruel, grinning faces.
Immediately his greed was stoked by the gold-adorned weapon and throne. However, he quickly put a damper on his avaricious impulses.
Fritz pulled away from the Door, seemingly this Floor's trial was a powerful singular monster, similar to the green glass bull he, Bert and Sid had fought. And he didn't know if he had enough confidence in the team for them to defeat such a monster, not without casualties at least.
The next Door was made of grey stone brick, and the smell of damp, dust and mould wafted from within. When Fritz applied his Door Sense he found himself in a library, its walls beset by some oppressive weight. He didn't get the impression of any monsters, though there were faint traces of traps and other mysteries. That, and he felt that this particular Floor was large, or rather more allowing of more Climbers than the regular nine. There was also one other sensation, one Fritz hadn't been exposed to before, but one he thought might be telling him there were other Climbers already within. As he studied the feeling he only became more sure of the fact, though couldn't tell who or how many there were.
Perhaps it was the Nobles? Having finally left the sixth Well and easily climbed to the eighth Floor with the aid of their guide? If so, Fritz could use that chance to head that problem off before it left the Spire. However, it was far more likely it was any of the other Climbing teams that had entered before them and it wasn't worth getting entangled in either competition or outright robbery.
Fritz turned to the last Door, the pale coral cave dripped with icy cold seawater and no wind blew from its opening. He immediately realised this was a sure sign this door led to an underwater floor. He searched its depths with his Door Sense and was appalled by what he detected.
Long fleshless eels of animated bone and ghostly fish swam through the dead reef, seeking fresh prey, hungering for the blood and the warmth of the living. Undead and underwater, what a terrible combination. He immediately discounted this Door as a choice, there was no way he was going to risk encountering undersea ghost sharks or what ever other lifeless things lay within.
The other two Doors held great risks, and he had no true preference for the middle or the left Floors. He would have to put this choice to a vote. The question remained, which should he choose?