Un-Bep’ee – Delta Zone # 4 Level 80 – 99
This was their third day hunting in the arctic of Delta Zone #4, as such, Un-Bep’ee never thought he would miss his dusty and sweltering village in Botswana. However, when his breath turned to miniature snowflakes and drifted to the snow ensconced ground, he couldn’t help but yearn for the blistering hot days that his old life had contained in abundance.
Turing to Michelle, he felt jealousy rear its ugly head at the Initiate Fire Mage, owing to her perpetual maintenance of a [Fire Ball] cast whenever they were not camped.
Her initial excuse when they had first scouted this Delta Zone a year back was that she had needed a light source in the blizzard that was raging at the time.
Yet over that past year when they had returned time and again, to attempt to close Dimensional Siphon’s and complete Quests, her initial claim had clearly proved to be a patent fallacy.
Un-Bep’ee had at first assumed that with his now greater than 100 Vitality, he would not feel the ill effects of cold at all. This too however had proven a falsity, as although he could survive for days in this white blanketed hell, if he remained motionless for too long and without a source of heat, the feeling would begin to leave his enhanced body just the same.
He supposed it had to do with mana and magic, because everything else seemed to have been affected by so it stood to reason that it played a roll in the malignant assault of the weather.
Saying a hundredth prayer to his ancestors for him and his Party’s safe return to warmer environs, he caught sight of a blessed thing indeed.
Up ahead of their groups position was an outcrop of rock, protruding above the thick and crunching drift of snow on which they now traversed. The most important thing was that below the outcrop in the covered yet hilly terrain was a cave. This would be the first thing remotely close to shelter they had found in over two days.
Calvin having similarly sighted the opportune geological feature, motioned for the rest to follow his lead. Collectively they crunched their way through the unnaturally silent Zone towards their expectant place of respite.
*ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRR*
Coming instantly to a halt the rest of the Party took up a tight defensive position while their Initiate Templar Charged at the origin of the deafening sound, which just so happened to be their intended destination.
Emerging from the shadowy depths of the barely visible cave at the rocky outcrop’s base was a behemoth of a snow white bear with a ridge of blue fur running along its back.
When it was free of the cave’s shadowy embrace, it reared up on its back legs to a towering height of 8 meters, issuing forth another challenging *ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRR*.
Charging in a blur at the mass of fur and roaring muscle, Calvin was forced to abort his approach and roll to the side of the beast as it slammed down onto the snow caked ground, where he would have been not a split second before.
Coming up with plate mail clanking from his evasive maneuver, the Australian cast [Lesser Taunt] on the snarling behemoth with a provocative yell in its direction.
Opening its mouth in response a large shard of ice began to form some two feet from its massive muzzle. Not letting the beast’s spell go unchecked, Michelle began to lose [Fire Bolt]’s in tandem with Farooq’s [Drilling Shot] and [Concussive Shot], Un-Bep’ee even managing to add in his own [Shocking Bolt]’s when he saw an opening.
When the giant bear warbled angrily at the ranged attackers peppering its overlarge head and body with projectiles, their Initiate Sword Adept Emily, made her move.
The tall and agile Canadian sprinted from where she had been protecting the others, to clear the odd 50 feet to the protesting monsters location in a streak of silver and blonde.
Vaulting when she reached within 5 feet of the now bleeding and enraged beast she landed astride its blue streaked back to instantly cast [Lesser Severing Strike] upon its undefended neck.
A spray of dark red blood erupted from the beast’s neck, tarnishing its already singed and arrow embedded white hide a deep red as its spine was severed:
Your party has slain a Giant Ice Bear level 84, all experience awarded equally.
Your Primary class has leveled up, +1 to Wisdom.
Your Secondary class has leveled up, +1 to Intelligence.
Your Secondary class has leveled up, +1 to Intelligence.
Willing away the notifications, Un-Bep’ee was glad his main classes skills weren’t in immediate demand, obviously due in no small part to the Party’s competent and swift dispatch of the monster.
The blonde bob cut wearing Canadian woman deftly vaulted with a rasp of her chainmail, off the collapsing body to land after a neat summersault, before breaking out into an undignified ‘booty’ dance. She then proceeded to use her upheld, Twohanded Executioner’s Sword in mimicry of a butter churn and demanded of the embarrassed onlookers.
“Did you see that landing? And then BAM! One hit baby! ONE H I T!”
“Chorra showboating Canadian’s…”
Michelle muttered with a scowl.
“Hey Michelle relax…it was good teamwork.”
Their Initiate Templar countered. At which point Emily smirked and added.
“See, at least he can appreciate style!”
The Latino’s scowl deepened as she shot back.
“Style has nothing to do with it! Cal don’t side with her just because you wanna get some! THIS ISN’T SOME FUCKING GAME! THIS IS LIFE AND DEATH! SVETLANA WOULD NEV-“
Calvin face took on the guise of an exceedingly guilty deer in a set of headlights, and the Initiate Sword Adept snorted before retorting in an near mirrored crescendo of anger.
“I’m sorry I’m not miss perfect! I ain’t never gonna be her! SO STOP TRYNA PUT YOUR BAGGAGE ON ME!”
Seeing that Michelle was about to explode, Farooq swiftly put himself in front of Michelle and Un-Bep’ee went to Emily in a low voice petition.
“I understand your frustration here, I do, but if you could see your way to not antagonize the magical fire wielding woman behind me, all of us would be very grateful…”
“IM NOT SC-“
But seeing his frowning face donning an uncommon look of warning, she sighed and replied.
“Sorry Bep I’m just sick of her tryna kill my buzz, like EVERY time something good happens ya know?”
Not wishing to continue standing in the bloodstained snow and endlessly debating he furthered.
“I understand where you are coming from…now can we get inside the cave without killing each other or freezing to death please?”
Laughing in a throaty manner the woman nodded and with Farooq already having chaperoned a smoldering Michelle inside the small 20 foot deep cave, the Party made camp just in time to watch the light die on the tips of the snow covered pines.
Finishing [Gathering] the Giant Ice Bear’s claws, teeth and Ice Affinity Crystal, Un-Bep’ee washed his hands of blood with a canteen which he subsequently stowed in his [Major Bag of Holding].
Checking who was on watch and seeing that it was the irate Michelle’s turn on watch, he made himself busy by distributing his attributes as he called up his ‘Status’:
STATUS
Name: Un-Bep’ee
Age: 22
Titles: Survivor
Class 1: Initiate of The Light Level: 81 +1 Wisdom Per Level
Class 2: Apprentice Shaman Level: 47 +1 Intelligence Per Level
Profession: Gatherer
HP: 411/280+131(411) MP: 1483/554+929(1483)
Status Effects: Cold Environment (Reduction in reaction time by 5%, will tire 10% faster)
Vitality: 100 + 21 x 1.05 (127)
Strength: 50 + 2 (52) Dexterity: 40
Intelligence: 195 + 22 x 1.05 (228) Wisdom: 198 + 22 (220)
Charisma: 6 Luck: 6
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Undistributed Attribute points: 0
Passives –
Human: + 5 attribute points per level
Lingua System: Able to communicate verbally with any system integrated entity and be understood.
Quick witted: + 5% to Intelligence
Survivor: + 5% to Vitality
One With The Crowd: + 10% to damage dealt and -15% damage taken when fighting alongside others, -10% damage dealt and + 10% damage taken when fighting alone.
Skills – Initiate of The Light
1) Minor Body Restoration (LvL 10): Channel a minor bodily restoration on a single target and stabilize the body to moderate working condition (Amount healed, cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 10 Mana per second, Cast time: Channeled, Cooldown: 30 seconds.
2) Lesser Cure Poison (LvL 10): Infuse a single target with holy light and cure any uncommon poison present (Cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 30 Mana, Cast time: 5 seconds, Cooldown: 15 seconds.
3) Blinding Light (LvL 10): Cast forth a brilliant holy light from your main hand in all directions around you, causing those looking directly at the light to become temporarily blinded (Cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 20 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds.
4) Lesser Cure Disease (LvL 10): Infuse a single target with holy light and cure any uncommon disease present (Cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 30 Mana, Cast time: 5 seconds, Cooldown: 15 seconds.
5) Lesser Heal (LvL 10): Cast a minor holy light on a single target and heal moderate wounds over a duration of 10 seconds restoring 10 HP per second (Amount healed, cooldown and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 5 Mana per second, Cast time: 10 seconds, Cooldown: 15 seconds.
6) Lesser Sanctuary (LvL 10): cast a barrier of holy light around your location with a diameter of 5 meters absorbing up to 1000 points of incoming damage (Diameter, damage absorbed and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 100 Mana, Cast time: 5 seconds, Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Skills – Apprentice Shaman
1) Roots of Ensnarement (LvL 10): Call forth roots of ensnarement on a patch of ground within 5 meters of your position, causing it to ensnare any enemies appendages present within a diameter of 5 meters of the targeted ground for 5 seconds (Duration, Diameter and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 5 Mana, Cast time: 2 seconds, cooldown: 1 minute
2) Shocking Bolt (LvL 10): Call forth a bolt of electricity at a target within 20 meters of your location, dealing 15 – 80 electrical damage with a small chance to stun the target (Range, damage and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 15 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
3) Obscuring Fog (LvL 8): Call forth a magical fog to obscure your foes surroundings for an 8 meter radius around you, while leaving you and your allies vision unhindered (Radius, mana cost and cooldown scale with skill level). Cost: 12 Mana, Cast time: 10 seconds, Cooldown: 58 seconds
4) Refreshing Rain (LvL 10): Call forth a refreshing rain on you and your allies of 20 meters in diameter that increases health and mana regeneration for all those affected by 50%, for a duration of 2 minutes (Diameter, regeneration and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 20 Mana, Cast time: 10 seconds, Cooldown: 5 minutes
5) Miniature Twister (LvL 10): Call forth a small, rapidly spinning column of wind on a target within 20 meters of your location, dealing 5 – 10 wind damage per second for a duration of 10 seconds (Damage, range and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 2 Mana per second, Cast time: Channeled, Cooldown: 30 Seconds
6) Minor Wall of Earth (LvL 10): Call forth a wall of hardened earth within 2 meters of your position, standing 2 meters high and stretching 4 meters with a width of 50 centimeters (Height, length and width scales with skill level) Cost 20 Mana, Cast time: 5 seconds, Cooldown 1 minute 30 seconds
Still awed by the skills he could cast with but a thought, Un-Bep’ee quietly luxuriated in the transparent ‘Status’ screen that detailed his increase in strength over the past two years since Svetlana’s self-sacrifice.
He and the rest of the Party had also seen fit to purchase a [Basic Vitality Empowerment Potion] wanting to squeeze out every advantage this uncaring system had made available to them so as not to lose another comrade.
Distributing the sleeping blankets to the others, while Michelle had calmed down enough to use her magic to start a campfire with some wood Farooq had excavated from a nearby snow drift, Emily having taken up lookout duty while Calvin had dug a pit for the fire.
Un-Bep’ee found comfort in the quiet and practiced functioning of the group, especially considering the adversity they faced and overcame every waking moment in this changed world. He habitual scanned the surrounds whilst he reminisced about his naive dreams of studying to become a doctor in Botswana had been.
In the Scorching country of his birth he had wanted to improve the lives of his small community, in spite of the rife corruption, child slavery and forced militia conscription. The more he thought of what would have become of his grandparents and his village after he left for 5 years to self-indulgently study whilst they weathered the harsh realities of life, made him feel like the hungriest of hippo’s.
He supposed his new outlook stemmed from what he had witnessed the people of the world as a whole were capable of. The supposed first world countries people were just as petty and callous, if not more so than any brainwashed and indoctrinated child soldier turned adult militant, if not more so.
Yet the exception of the tyrant Benjamin’s reach still loomed as an ever present and near unspoken specter over all. Last Un-Bep’ee had heard of the monster by way of trading information with their current Outpost’s Council, he was besieged by a group calling themselves the Shakti.
The Shakti as Councilor Gloria told it, were a newly created faction comprised of mainly people of predominantly Indian descent and ruled by militaristic generals. They seemed to be solely concerned with the acquisition and defense of territory for the ever swelling number of converts to their shared cause.
Trying to console himself of the worry that he and his current Party would never be conscripted by the group owing to the fact that they were apparently several thousand zones away from their main area of operations.
Despite being a pacifist at heart, in this instance at least, Un-Bep’ee hoped that whatever the abomination of a man had done to earn the ire of such a group, leading them to them deploy tens of thousands of people in response. He fervently wished it resulted in his blight being removed from this world once and for all.
Turning his mind to less macabre and vindictive thoughts, he reminded himself as his eyes roved over his assembled Party members, in spite of all the old and new world’s ill’s, he had somehow managed to find a new tribe to call his own. And although he still frequented the bulletin board of their new ‘Settlement’s’ central building, to look for his grandparents or other familiar villagers, in the hope of finding their names posted on the rapidly dwindling survivors list. Right now, these people before him and a few other survivors at their ‘Settlement’ where, for all intents and purposes, his new family.
Breaking him from his musings a familiar Russian voice came out with a slightly tinny quality, from the [Communication necklace] around their Initiate Templar’s neck.
“This is P1, no casualties. Have made camp for night, but still no sign of Big Boy. Other Party’s Report in, over.”
The ‘Big Boy’ in question was a frost giant that had been wreaking havoc recently in the Delta Zone for any Party that stayed too long. As if in response to its appearance their Settlement’s terminal had issued the first T3 quest they had ever seen or heard of:
A cold Reception (T3) – Reward = 10000 Manamotes
Level Requirement: 75
Recommended Group: 15 – 25
Restrictions: Only one tier three quest acceptable at any one time.
Time Till Expiry: 25 days 13 hours
Description: Travel to Delta Zone #4 and dispatch the Zone Boss Frost Giant Ran Ji’nor. Quest is shareable.
Collectively the party swiveled their heads to focus on the yellow talking crystal as Calvin held it in his palm like an elderly person who had just been handed a smartphone to speak on, replying in on overly loud and formal fashion.
“This is P2, no sighting of Big Boy either, encamped in a cave till the morning. All safe and sound, over.”
Following a moment’s pause, another voice emanated from the crystal in the Initiate Templar’s hand, this time it was a man’s, with a thick Irish lilt to it.
“This is P3, everything’s hunky dory on our end. Camped between two boulders, would ye believe? Still no sign of Big Boy tho, over.”
Another moment of silence stretched before a voice with an Australian accent markedly different to that of Calvin’s broke it.
“Ey Fellas, this is P4 speaking. All our people are in tip top shape considering how bloody freezin it is! We found some large tracks that just might be Big Boy, looked fresh in the snow too! We are currently tied to the trees 15 feet off the ground to sleep, you wouldn’t believe it but its warmer up here then the stinkin ground!...um…Over?”
Sharing amused and excited looks, the Party once again focused on the necklace when another female voice, with a Korean twang to it bounced of the small caves walls.
“This is P5, currently camped on rock ledge. Our front liner is a little banged up from a Lesser Yeti, but should be ready by morning. Also found large tracks in snow but they were almost completely covered with snow. Over.”
Now intently focused on the device, the Party eagerly waited for Oksana’s directions and after a few moments that were filled with only the sound of a crackling fire they were rewarded.
“This is P1, In morning all Party’s to converge on P4’s Position. For those of you who did not pay close attention in strategy meeting, that is the south eastern quadrant of the Zone. If you spot Big Boy on way, do not engage, instead you are to break communication silence immediately and keep a safe distance. Confirm?”
“P2 Confirm’s, over.”
“P3 Confirm’s, over.”
“This is P4 confirming and looking forward to some company, over.”
“P5 Confirm’s, over.”
“Ok Party’s get rest, in morning we hunt! P1 over and out!”
After Calvin tucked the [Communication Necklace] back under his plate mail, before turning to the others and instructing.
“Alright you guys heard the lady! Looks like we hopefully might have enough Manamotes to be able to upgrade the Settlement to a City and mabybe get some gear upgrades aswell if we can finally hunt down this frosty bastard tomorrow!”
Receiving smiles and nods in agreement he continued.
“Emily, you finish your Watch, then it’s Farooq for four hours then me till sunrise. Any last minute bright ideas or complaints?”
Trying not to laugh at the man who he had once seen scramble ten feet up a rock wall to get away from a spider no bigger than his pinky finger acting in an overly commanding way, Unbep’ee replied to his friend of three and a half years in mock subservience.
“No problem’s here boss man!”
Receiving a scowl and a half smile in return, the rest save for the still fuming Initiate Fire Mage, laughed at the pair and went about getting ready to sleep.
The night passed without incident and when Calvin’s watch was finished, Un-Bep’ee set about distributing the breakfast rolls Kivar had made for them, much to the enjoyment of the others.
Thankfully the drop in temperature overnight was not the only thing to have cooled as Michelle’s temper had improved immensely as she was now just grumpy, as opposed to livid, for which the rest were silently grateful.
In retrospect, the fiery Latino American had responded in a frighteningly proactive way to her lovers passing, much to the wary surprise of the other three survivors.
Where Calvin had turned his sadness and anger upon himself and his choices, only meting it out in short bursts to the now ubiquitous monsters. The Initiate Fire Mage had taken it out on monster and human alike and was gaining a bit of a reputation for someone best to be avoided.
It was not that she was attacking her fellow man and woman physically or magically, well not yet at least, he amended to himself. It was just that if there was a bone to be picked, she would most definitely be the one picking it, and with a fierce zealotry that was more than a little unnerving.
This led to the irritating turn of events of being unable to fill their sixth slot with a reasonable candidate, with Emily being the only one so far to last more than a week against her surly and ill-tempered onslaught.
He had hoped that the two years since Svetlana’s death would have allowed her time to heal and return to some semblance of her old self, however the prickly and quick to anger ex film star’s personality was apparently here to stay.
So although it was strange to admit, it was a good day for Party of fives morale when the Initiate Fire Mage was only moderately vitriolic to those in her immediate vicinity.
Going about the business of getting comfortable on a rocky and half frozen ground, and having their general plan of attack mapped out days in advance, there was little of import left to say. Thus a weighty silence descended amongst them and although many feigned rest, not a single one of their number managed to sleep through the cold and frosty night.
Thus while each kept a weary eye on their surroundings, the hours of darkness dragged on. And sure enough, down to the last combat tempered man and woman, their thoughts focused on the inevitable battle that was to come.