It took me several hours to be able to walk without tripping over my own limbs. The best was I figured out was to move each limb one by one, alternating sides. Everything else felt unnecessarily clumsy. I managed to explore the ritual room at the same time.
The room itself was built in the same style as the rest of the ruins. The high ceiling arch reminded me of some old cathedrals I had visited. The spider iconography was much more pronounced than outside, most of the finishing touches were engraved with webs and the like.
At the center was the ritual circle. When I examined it, the magic seemed to be gone for good. Parts of the carvings had even burned out. I resolved to destroy it completely before we left. I didn't want some adventurer stumbling upon it and turning themselves inside-out with an incomplete ritual.
A dozen or so meters from the circle, there was a stone altar. Nothing particular about it, except for the enchantments. It looked like the altar would work with the key enchantment in my ritual bracer. With my perception sphere, I had a good idea of where the opening was. The ritual room was a dozen meters shorter than it appeared from the outside.
----------------------------------------
Vel had prepared another meal for us while I stumbled around. Finding a way to sit down was harder than I thought, my legs took an absurd amount of space on the floor no matter how I tried. In the end, I curled them inwards.
Vel leaned against me again. I took the bowl she offered and pulled her closer with my arms.
"Do we have enough provisions to stay here a while?" I asked.
"With what's in your amulet, we have more than enough."
"I feel we'll get sick of lizard meat before we run out."
"Probably."
----------------------------------------
After the meal, I pulled out all of my enchanted items out of the amulet and put them back on. It felt a bit naked without them on. Then I did something else I had been putting off for a while. There were a lot system notifications pending in the back of my mind which I had ignored until now.
A lot had happened.
System Log
Received Perk [Blessing of Lolth] from Lolth
Received Class [High Priestess] from Gaia
Added Class Bonuses: +15 Wisdom, +15 Spirit, +10 Intelligence, +10 Mind
Gained Divine Patron [Gaia]
Gained Divine Patron [Lolth]
Error: Multiple Patrons! (Overridden by Administrator)
Applying [Blessing of Loth] rewards …
Reached Rank 1 Capstone
Gained 10 SP, 4 AP, 4 CP
Reached Rank 2 Capstone
Gained 10 SP, 4 AP, 4 CP
Arachne Ascension Ritual Activated
Added Special Race [Arachne]
Added Racial Perk [Monster Hybrid]
Added Racial Class [Arachne]
Added Class Bonuses: +15 Strength, +15 Agility, +10 Endurance, +5 Vitality, +5 Mind
General Skill [Poison Resistance] upgraded to rank III
Started physical transformation for [Arachne]
Your group has defeated [Alpha Taratect Warrior (Rank 5, Level 12)]
Experience gain reduced by 20% for fighting with a group
Experience gain increased by 50% by blessing
Experience gain increased by 100% for defeating a monster two ranks above your own
Experience gain increased by 100% for fighting an alpha
Experience gain increased by 100% for dangerous encounter
Reached Level 60
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP, 3 CP, 1 Perk
Reached Rank 3 Capstone
Gained 20 SP, 20 AP, 1 AS
Gained 20 SP, 6 AP, 6 CP from [Blessing of Lolth]
Reached Rank 4, Level 5
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP
Reached Level 10
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP, 2 CP
Reached Level 15
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP
Reached Level 20
Gained 5 SP, 2 AP, 3 CP, 1 Perk
Reached Level 23
Physical transformation for [Arachne] complete
It was a lot to take in.
"You forgot to mention you killed the alpha," I said.
"I … didn't really think about it," she mumbled, "I was more worried about you."
"I just checked, I got twenty-six levels from the kill."
"That's so many. I ignored the box. I was too worried about you."
I pulled her closer against me and kissed her cheek.
"Maybe you should check," I said, "Gaia interfered and I have a new perk from her. She also gave me a class."
"Another class?"
"I haven't looked at my status yet. I got the High Priestess class from Gaia, and the Arachne class from … well … being turned into a half-spider."
"How does this keep happening to you?" She laughed.
"Maybe it happened to you too this time," I poked her in the ribs.
"Fine, I'll check," she closed her eyes.
I did the same and brought up my status screen.
Liscura Van-Niu
[Dark Elf] [Arachne (Rank 1)]
Rank 4 | Level 23/80
100 SP | 48 AP | 22 CP | 0 ES | 1 AS | 2 Perks
Status
Health
2'875/2'875
+95%/h + 5/s
345/m
Stamina
3'240/3'240
+105%/h
56/s
Mana
5'070/5'070
+160%/h + 5/s
435/m
Focus
107/202 (95)
Bound Items
[Ravri Ritual Bracer]
0/9 spells, 0/1000 MP
[Ravri Ritual Bracelet]
-
[Ravri Ritual Focus]
-
[Ravri Ritual Circlet]
-
[Amulet of Inazesa]
134/250
Equipped Items
[Lesser Bracelet of Strength]
+5 STR
[Lesser Ring of Mana]
+5 MP/s
[Lesser Ring of Health]
+5 HP/s
Spell Slots
Magus (Arcane)
Max: 6th
52/55 (40+15)
0th: 1/9
Druid (Nature)
Max: 10th
75/80 (64+16)
0th: 3/14
Psychic
Max: 9th
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
24/54 (48+6)
0th: 0/12
Divine Spells
High Priestess (Gaia)
Max: 24th
Healing (0/10) | Protection (0/10)
Knowledge (0/10) | Fertility (0/10)
Animal (0/8) | Plant (0/8)
Earth (0/8)
High Priestess (Lolth)
Max: 24th
Darkness (0/10) | Twilight (0/10)
Magic (0/10) | Order (0/10)
Spider (0/8) | Arcana (0/8)
Runes (0/8)
Attributes
Strength
58+5
D
Intelligence
129
A
Agility
83
C
Wisdom
98
B
Vitality
61
C
Spirit
112
B
Endurance
72
C
Mind
101
B
Perks
[Monster Hybrid]
[Blessing of Gaia]
[Blessing of Lolth]
[Multiclass]
[Magic Affinity]
[Gestalt]
[Class Synthesis]
[Perception Domain (10 FP, ON)]
[Danger Sense]
[Magic Perception]
[Magic Projection]
[Improved Senses]
[Night Vision]
Classes (5/∞)
Magus (LV 8)
Druid (LV 8)
Psychic (LV 2)
Core Skills
[Arcane Magic (III)]
[Weapon Enhancement (III)]
Core Skills
[Nature Magic (III)]
[Nature Bond (I)]
Core Skills
[Psychic Magic (III)]
[Psychokinesis (I)]
Class Skills (9/10) (0 SP)
[Spell Strike (I, 1/20)]
[Multishot (I, 1/20)]
[Spell Combat (I, 1/20, 5FP, OFF)]
[Arcane Lore (II, 18/40)]
[Spell Slots (I, 5/20, 15FP)]
[Metamagic (I, 16/20)]
[Multicast (II, 1/40)]
[Magic Armor (I, 1/20)]
[Blink (I, 1/20)]
Enhancements (1/2)
[Damage (I)]
Class Skills (4/10) (2 SP)
[Nature Lore (II, 24/40)]
[Spell Slots (I, 16/20, 15FP)]
[Light Mastery (I, 1/20)]
[Shadow Familiar (I, 13/20)]
Familiar Skills (2/4)
[Share Senses] [Spell Conduit]
Familiar Templates (1/3)
[Shadow Raven] [Shadow Spider]
Class Skills (2/10) (1 SP)
[Psychic Lore (I, 16/20)]
[Spell Slots (I, 6/20, 15FP)]
High Priestess (LV 1)
Arachne (Lv 1)
Core Skills
[Channel Energy (III)]
[Divine Magic (III)]
[Patron (Gaia, Lolth)]
Core Skills
[Arachne Form (I)]
Class Skills (2/15)
[Spell Slots] [Patron Spells]
Class Skills (4/15)
[Web Weaver (I, 1/20)]
[Poison Touch (I, 1/20)]
[Spider Climb (I, 1/20)]
[Harvest Essence (I, 1/20)]
General Skills (28/42)
[Daggers (I, 15/20)]
[Light Bow (II, 6/40)]
[Light Armor (II, 23/40)]
[Dodge (II, 3/40)]
[Niu Blade Style (I, 6/20)]
[Niu Archery Style (I, 16/20)]
[Mental Warfare (I, 1/20)]
[Magic Warfare (I, 1/20)]
[Anatomy (I, 15/20)]
[Diagnosis (I, 11/20)]
[Medicine (I, 13/20)]
[Surgery (I, 3/20)]
[Herbalism (II, 22/40)]
[Alchemy (III, 17/60)]
[Tracking (II, 6/40)]
[Stealth (II, 8/40)]
[Parkour (I, 16/20]
[Foraging (II, 12/40)]
[Identify (III, 1/60)]
[Investigation (I, 4/30)]
[Meditation (II, 5/40, 5FP, OFF)]
[Memory Enhancement (I, 18/20, 5FP)]
[Logic Enhancement (I, 20/20, 5FP)]
[Mind Acceleration (I, 20/20, 10FP)]
[Mind Partition (II, 11/40, 10FP)]
[Niu Sign Language (II, 14/40)]
[Elven Language (IV, 12/80)]
[English Language (V, 6/100)]
Resistances
[Poison Resistance (III, 1/60)]
[Disease Resistance (II, 3/40)]
Mutations [Arachne (Rank 1)]
Sub-Species: [Arachne Hatchling]
Legs
Armored I
+5
Pedipalps
Armored I
+5
Exoskeleton
N/A
+0
Spinnerets
N/A
+0
Venom Glands
N/A
+0
I was surprised to see that Arachne had been added to my list of races, next to Dark Elf, instead of replacing it outright. I wondered what would happen if a human went through the ritual, and it worked, would they be a human-spider hybrid?
I brought up the descriptions for both of my new classes.
Arachne
Automatically added by the [Arachne] race
Description
Created through a dark ritual, the Arachne is the hybrid of a humanoid and a spider. Originally created by an ancient civilization of Dark Elves, the ritual whose knowledge has been lost to time, was said to be extremely painful and was reserved for the high priestesses to be elevated in the image of their goddess, Lolth.
Bonuses
+15 Strength, +15 Agility, +10 Endurance, +5 Vitality, +5 Mind
Core Skills
[Arachne Form]
Starting Skills
[Spider Thread] [Spider Climb] [Poison Synthesis] [Poison Resistance]
High Priestess
Requirements: [Priestess], Patron Blessing
Description
Blessed the divinities they worship, high priestesses are often the head of a religious organization or important individuals. Their ability to channel divine energy directly and bring about miracles makes them a valued ally.
Core Skills
[Channel Energy] [Divine Magic] [Patron]
Bonuses
+15 Wisdom, +15 Spirit, +10 Intelligence, +10 Mind
Level Skills
Lv 1 [Spell Slots] [Patron Spells]
Spells
Full Progression
I had a feeling the high priestess class was a requirement to undergo the ritual and it was why Gaia had given it to me, she had wanted me to survive for some reason. She had said that Lolth was one of her previous identities, one that likely hadn't been worshipped for a long time if the state of this temple was any indication.
Maybe it was simply for her entertainment but she didn't really give that impression when she appeared before me. She had seemed more like a mother who wanted her child to succeed. She had given me a second chance at life after all.
I shook my head. It was best not to dwell on it. What happened, happened. I wouldn't rely on a convenient deus ex machina saving my ass at every turn.
Next, I took a look at what the Blessing of Lolth and the other new perks did.
"I take back everything I said," I mumbled, "Gaia is the best goddess."
"I agree," Vel said right next to me, "she gave me the same blessing as you. The Alpha gave me enough levels to almost catch up with you. And she also gave me the High Priestess class for some reason."
"Don't try to think too hard about it," I shrugged, "she probably has her own reasons. I don't think she has a master plan for us, she just took the opportunity to tip the scale in our favor for some reason."
"Well, I won't complain. I can finally upgrade my class."
"Nice," I grinned.
----------------------------------------
While Vel took care of her class upgrades, I turned towards my own. The new Class Synthesis perk opened up some interesting possibilities. I could combine all of my current classes into one, this would make leveling faster at the cost of some skill slots. But then, I would be leaving the advantage that Gestalt brought to the table.
The other option would be to embrace the spirit of Multiclass and use Synthesis to add more classes to my current kit. I could combine Magus with other combat classes, Druid and Psychic with an arcane full caster, High Priestess with other divine classes, and leave Arachne alone. Leveling the equivalent of eight or more classes for the price of two was very tempting.
Decisions, decisions.