The treasure of this island could be won. The path towards it outlined between fallen petals, revealed by monsters returning from their chase. Instead of battling crowds of enemies anew, Lord Azanth’s companions avoided all risk of pain: carefully treading fallen stones to reach the pool again.

In the week that had passed before their renewed attempt to reach the underwater regions of the pirate lair, Lord Azanth had made such progress that this interruption of levelling to search for treasure could be afforded with no ill temper on his part. Moreover, even a demon intent on revenge retained a lust for gold and magic items.

Having reached Level Fifteen six days earlier, Lord Azanth had earned a new skill and with thoughtful care and the input of his dreams, had waited a day before making his choice. The new options had been: Crisp Packet Affinity; Rush of Prawn Cocktail Crisp; Cure Poison; and Invigorate.

The first skill was available only for crisps eligible to respawn after death. Placing an appropriate-flavour packaging in a safe spot, this would become the new respawn point for the crisp. While in demon form on the Seventh Plane of Wickedness, Lord Azanth would have respawned after death and this skill would have had some worth. Now, this option was greyed out and should he die, that would be the end of him.

Rush of a Prawn Cocktail Crisp on the other hand, was appealing.

Rush of a Prawn Cocktail Crisp

The delicious and stimulating reward of eating a prawn cocktail crisp becomes available to you and your allies.

Level 1 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 2 strength, and 10 Physical Attack lasting 30 seconds for all allies within 10 metres. Available

Level 2 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 2 strength, and 10 Physical Attack lasting 1 minute for all allies within 12 metres. Available

Level 3 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 3 strength, and 15 Physical Attack lasting 1 minute for all allies within 14 metres. Available

Level 4 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 3 strength, and 15 Physical Attack lasting 1 minute and thirty seconds for all allies within 14 metres. Locked (requires two stars)

Level 5 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 4 strength, and 20 Physical Attack lasting 1 minute and thirty seconds for all allies within 16 metres. Locked (requires level 20)

Level 6 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 4 strength, and 20 Physical Attack lasting 2 minutes for all allies within 16 metres. Locked (requires light blue rank)

Level 7 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 5 strength, and 25 Physical Attack lasting 2 minutes for all allies within 18 metres. Locked (requires level 50)

Level 8 – A burst of Haste, an increase of 6 strength, and 30 Physical Attack lasting 3 minutes for all allies within 20 metres. Locked (requires level 100)

Haste was a skill that gave a twenty-five percent increase to the recipient’s rate of movement and attack speed. The strength and physical attack bonuses were highly desirable for melee classes but had little relevance for his current group. Thinking ahead to leading major armies of demons as they stormed the castles of his disloyal lords, this was a skill that had the potential to turn the tide of battle. In his imagination, Lord Azanth could picture all his troops within twenty metres receiving the benefits of this skill and with a roar of appreciation of the intense rush of a prawn cocktail crisp, charging with renewed vigour into the foe.

Cure Poison was straightforwardly useful, but more so for a small group than for a vengeful army. Invigorate therefore had been the potential alternative to Rush of a Prawn Cocktail Crisp. It was a healing skill of some worth:

Invigorate

The sustenance of a prawn cocktail crisp becomes available to you and your allies.

Level 1 – An immediate heal of 6 HP for all allies within 10 metres. Available

Level 2 – An immediate heal of 6 HP and a Regeneration of 1 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 10 metres. Available

Level 3 – An immediate heal of 10 HP and a Regeneration of 1 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 12 metres. Available

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Level 4 – An immediate heal of 10 HP and a Regeneration of 2 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 12 metres. Locked (requires two stars)

Level 5 – An immediate heal of 14 HP and a Regeneration of 2 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 14 metres. Locked (requires level 20)

Level 6 – An immediate heal of 14 HP and a Regeneration of 3 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 14 metres. Locked (requires light blue rank)

Level 7 – An immediate heal of 18 HP and a Regeneration of 3 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 16 metres. Locked (requires level 50)

Level 8 – An immediate heal of 22 HP and a Regeneration of 4 HP per minute for ten minutes to those within 20 metres. Locked (requires level 100)

Again, reading this, Lord Azanth had fantasies of dark skies filled with scarlet banners; the roar of his troops as they stormed the enemy ranks; the scream of metal on metal and the shattering of wood. In the midst of all this fury, to heal the wounded all around and provide them with Regeneration would be a most valuable skill. Perhaps it was the right choice? He would only have one other skill in his build, that at Level 31. This was a life-changing decision and he did not rush it.

After a restless night in which dreams and calculations flowed together, Lord Azanth woke with a feeling of certainty and selected Rush of a Prawn Cocktail Crisp.

Few were the battles required to reach the fallen palace and the group were gathered in the shade of a wall, listening to birdsong and the slow drop of water into a nearby pool. Beyond the wall, Lord Azanth could sense the presence of the ebony golems, whose minds were closed to Telepathy and always would be.

‘You’re up kid,’ said Daniel. A week of levelling up together had brought about a transformation in the attitude of this human. At first Condescension and Superiority stood either side of the older cleric, as he explained at tedious length how best to enter battle with a group of their composition. As the young monk had demonstrated his ability to split up their opponents and when Liam’s powerful Magic Missiles had brought down the Hit Points of their enemies with surprising rapidity, Daniel had spoken less and used his skills more. It had become almost a game for Aengus to bring monsters to the group at such a consistent and rapid rate that the cleric’s mana pool was in danger of being depleted.

To see a scornful man sweat and suffer as he exhausts his skills. To observe that man as he ceases his pontifications in concentration upon the fighting at hand. To hear his tired acknowledgements at the end of the day. That was to feel pride in his young companions.

Taking a step around the corner of the wall, the young monk entered the room from which the cleric and the fighter had been forced to flee. He took another. A third. A rumble of heavy feet on stone: the ebony golems were active.

They come!

As the monk ran away towards a decorated arch that still stood, despite its ancient provenance and lack of supporting walls, Lord Azanth triggered Rush of a Prawn Cocktail Crisp to give everyone, and especially the youth, a burst of Haste. Thundering and causing the ground to tremble so much that Lord Azanth could feel the motion through the body of Liam, the golems pounded past and followed the monk under the arch and into the distance. As the sound of the chase receded, a silence grew. When birds no longer sing, they have fled the scene.

‘Follow me,’ said Patricia.

In his former life, Lord Azanth’s expertise was as an anti-tank specialist. With expert eye he appraised the human fighter who led the way. Stocky, strong, intelligent, and observant, her physical skills were excellent. Compared to demons of her level, however, Patricia’s lamellar armour and large shield fell short of her needs. Without magical enhancement, she would struggle against monsters Level 30 and above.

‘Come on Liam,’ Kate touched the arm of Lord Azanth’s companion. The older of the brothers was staring towards the arch through which the monk had led away the ebony golems.

When the young mage brought Lord Azanth into the chamber, the promised pool came into view. Green water, clear enough to see ten metres down to a mosaic in the floor. Although many of the pieces were broken, it was evident the artwork portrayed a large anemone, its long tendrils filling the rectangular space of the pool. Across from the ledge on which they stood and at the base of the pool there was an exit under the water. This dark opening was the route they had been promised. Heart be still, no need to stir when the pirate’s treasure was mere rumour. That this underwater passage led to nothing of interest was the most likely result of their explorations.

‘Drink your potions.’ The cleric drew a crystal vial and as Liam did the same, Lord Azanth felt a sudden unease.

My companion. Before you plunge into this ominous, green water can I confirm you’ve checked that this container in which I reside is not liable to leak? I have no faith in the resilience of fried potato; It would be a sorry and foolish way to die, were I to become wet and disintegrate.

Nobody likes a soggy crisp. Don’t worry. The Tupperware is airtight.

Complacency is a failing with a multiplicity of harmful consequences.

You’ll be fine.

‘Follow me,’ Patricia lowered herself into the pool and soon after Liam followed.

Lord Azanth felt himself submerged. Demons were never inclined to spend time in water and Lord Azanth felt an unpleasant constrictive pressure on his box. Would the seal of his container be as secure as his companion asserted? It seemed so. By their potions assisted, the humans could breathe in the water and they pushed their way through to the exit and into a dark corridor that sloped away from the pool.

Their cleric must have had the Light skill, for a small, bright sphere appeared on her fist. Beyond her, the corridor stretched away downwards into darkness. Now the humans waited. According to their plan – to which Lord Azanth had acceded, having complete confidence in the skills of the youth – the young monk in whom everyone had invested their soul stones would be able to shake off the pursuit of the ebony golems and return to the pool room ahead of the monsters.

Anything?

My Telepathy has but a range of three metres. You will see your brother’s return before I will be able to communicate with him. Do not fear on his behalf. If youth has its faults, they are not a lack of bravery, quick judgement, confidence, and initiative. Aengus is an impressive human and has mastered the necessary art to lead the ebony golems some distance away before he returns to us.

All the same, Lord Azanth was relieved when soon after a dark shape splashed into the pool and resolved itself to be the young monk. Grinning, Aengus swam up to them all and as he got a pat on the back from Daniel, gave a thumbs up to his brother.

With Patricia, their warrior, leading the way, the group now formed up and descended the dark, underwater corridor, their movement slow as a result of being in full equipment. For decades, Lord Azanth had ruled on the Seventh Plane of Wickedness and in doing so, he now appreciated, had limited his experiences to the conduct of war and politics among the demon elite. Never, into the watery depths of a pirate lair had he ever descended. He found the experience stimulating. Unknown corridors invited exploration and the prospect of treasure urged him onwards. Hard though it was to make the admission, perhaps his former life had become somewhat stale.