Un-Bep’ee – Delta Zone # 4 Level 80 – 99
When the rays of dawn found them through the crags of their cave and the ice encrusted landscape, they busied themselves with practiced efficiency of breaking camp in the new world. It was at the end of such measures, when Un-Bep’ee had just finished scuffing out the fire, that Calvin called the habitual ready check.
“We should be good but just in case, all check your gear before we head out, and don’t be afraid to ask for a Repair Runestone from Bep! They might be a little expensive but it’s better than having your weapon break on your great sword break mid combat…”
Bristling self-consciously the 6 foot 2 Canadian retorted.
“Come on now, aye, why ya gotta go busting my ass like that?”
Receiving chuckles from everyone including Michelle, she decided to quit while she was behind as her face reddened further, settling to instead ready her gear whilst grumbling to herself about too full of themselves Australians.
Smiling to himself about the people he called friends, Un-Bep’ee followed her example:
Sun Zealot’s Icon of Fervor (1 handed)
Level Requirement: 72
Attributes: Melee Damage + 70 – 83, Magic Power + 213 – 231, + 53% boost to all healing abilities, + 21% to mana regeneration.
Durability: 195/211
Description: A mana infused icon inscribed with journeyman support runes. A rare magical item forged by a pious smith of moderate skill, completely devoted to the light.
Blood Wo’Dan’s Spiked Round Shield
Level Requirement: 73
Attributes: Increase in Physical and Magical Defense by 21%, +17 Vitality + 2 Strength, Block Value +730
Durability: 278/293
Description: A mana infused spiked round shield inscribed with journeyman defensive runes and intermediate empowerment runes. A rare magical item, made by an unknown Wo’Dan captured smith, of some skill.
Druid of The Sky’s Runic Robe
Level Requirement: 64
Attributes: Increase in physical and magical defenses by 8%, +16 Intelligence, +4 Vitality, +17 Wisdom, +131 Maximum Health, +819 Maximum Mana, +16% Power to all spells
Durability: 192/205
Description: Competently woven mana infused runic robe embroidered with basic defensive runes, journeyman enhancement and empowerment runes. A rare magical item woven by an unknown druid of the sky.
Faithful’s Ring of Mana Regeneration
Level Requirement: 50
Attributes: +5 Wisdom, +50 Maximum Mana, + 25% Increased Mana Regeneration
Durability: 61/65
Description: Description: A synthesized ring of mana regeneration, inscribed with intermediate enhancement runes. A randomly generated and uncommon magical item rewarded to Un-Bep’ee for successful participation in the cleansing of Dimensional Siphon#3924.
Necklace of The Healers Touch
Level Requirement: 69
Attributes: +6 Intelligence, +60 Maximum Mana, + 10% Increased Effectiveness of Healing Spells
Durability: 67/75
Description: Description: A synthesized necklace of healing empowerment, inscribed with intermediate enhancement and empowerment runes. A randomly generated and uncommon magical item rewarded to Un-Bep’ee for successful participation in the cleansing of Dimensional Siphon#6103.
Seeing as all his gear was in working order he nodded to their Initiate Templar to signal his readiness and waited for the rest to do the same. When the others had followed suit they ventured from the comfy confines of the once bear occupied cave, into the snow suffocated landscape once more.
They made good time considering they were crunching through knee high snow at every step without snow shoes. So it was about mid-morning when they came upon other human tracks that led around the snow clad side of the giant mountain that was the center of the Delta Zone.
Spending a further tense two hours trudging through the snow, with the Party was barely breaking a sweat thanks to their high Vitality, when the [Communication Necklace] projected a muffled but frantic and thick Australian accent into the underside of Calvin’s breastplate.
“MAY DAY, MAY DAY, THIS IS P4, WE HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH BIG BOY AND H-“
The voice cut out for a moment only to continue a couple heartbeats later.
“THE BASTARD GOT KAREN!... ONE CASUALTY SO FAR AND HE’S STILL BLOODY HUNGRY!...FOLLOW THE ARROW FLARE WE JUST SENT UP... I REPEAT, MAY FUCKING DAY!”
As the voice of Lionel the Aboriginal Australian finished its frantic monologue, they saw an explosion of red smoke pop into existence some 3 kilometers away over the snowcapped forest, which clung to the mountains side.
Looking to the rest their Party leader spoke.
“Alright guys, stick on me in loose formation till we get within visual range of friendlies or Big Boy, understand?”
The Initiate Sword Adept countered.
“Relax Cal, it’s not our first rodeo, we know what we’re about.”
To which he gave her warning look and Michelle snorted and was about to give her some not so friendly advice before Un-Bep’ee thought it was best to diffuse the situation.
“Understood, lives are in the balance, we follow till you signal otherwise yes?”
Nodding at his response the others gave their own nonverbal agreements and without another word they made haste to aid the already beset Party four.
As they moved faster than a horse on open terrain, through the snow blanketed environs, they closed with blistering speed on the distress signal and eventually caught a glimpse of their Quarry’s head through the snowcapped pines.
To describe the Frost Giant Ran Ji’nor as ‘big’, did the bipedal mass of blue skin and ice encrusted hair a genuine disservice. With every footfall of his sequoia trunk sized legs, the ground shuddered in response. When he swung his spikey club like shard of pure ice, trees splintered and when it came to meet unfortunate boulders, they were cleaved asunder.
When the titan-esk monster *ROOOOAAAAARRR*’ed at the remaining members of Party four barely evading its Meteroic strikes, there was little doubt in the minds of all present that the monstrosity that pursued them was the true embodiment of the word ‘giant’.
Coming to an abrupt halt Calvin held up a hand for his Party to do the same as he pulled out the [Communication Necklace] and spoke at the yellow crystal in his palm with a steady but serious voice.
“P2 here. Eyes on Big Boy and P4, over.”
“P1 receiving. Still two k’s out from signal because some zasranees didn’t put enough into VITALITY! Ahem…lend ranged support till others arrive but do not get close, YOU HEAR ME P2!?”
Hearing the rising tension in Oksana’s voice their leader offered no argument when he replied.
“Copy P1, don’t take too long though, you might miss out on all the fun, over.”
“Now is not time for lip Calvin, go and save the other raspizdyay kolhoznii Australian before he is squished! Over and OUT!”
Smiling at her response he turned to the others and added.
“You heard the lady, Michelle, Bep’ee and Farooq, you’re on max range harassment. Watch out for friendly fire and move loosely together, if that big fucker targets us, I draw its attention and you guys leg it. Clear?”
The blonde Canadian let out an exasperated sigh before replying.
“Cummon yo-“
Putting a hand on her shoulder to prevent more wasted words, Un-Bep’ee responded.
“Clear.”
“Clear.”
“Clear.”
The others swiftly following suit and Emily finally succumbed to the glowering and tense looks of the others by adding a deflated and begrudging.
“Clear...”
And with that they made haste to the trembling trees that sluiced their snow around the desperately fleeing Party four.
When the three ranged attackers got close enough to lay siege to the office block sized blue humanoid, they didn’t stand on ceremony and loosed projectiles with deadly precision. Having sufficiently refined their targeting to the left side of the of the Frost Giants delivery van sized head in the space of thirty seconds, the behemoth *ROOAAAAR*’ed in anger whilst it turned its ice encrusted brow to face their general direction to make its displeasure known.
Seeing several trailer long spikes of ice begin to form in its now raised club free hand, their Initiate Templar glowed white as he let out a shout that was the hallmark of his familiar [Rallying Cry] and commanded.
“SHIELDS NOW!”
Feeling the boost Calvin’s skill provided, the Party instantly complied as Un-Bep’ee Cast [Minor Wall of Earth] directly in front of them followed by Michelle’s transparent red dome of [Lesser Fire Shield].
Tightening their loose formation to conform to the cover provided by the defensive skills, Un-Bep’ee held his breath and paid close attention to Michelle’s fire shields opacity, should he have to replace it swiftly with his own [Lesser Sanctuary].
The staccato *THWAK!* *THWAK!* *THWAK!* *THWAK!**THWAK!* *THWAK!* *THWAK!* *THWAK!*, was the only way he could tell the icy harpoons had been ablated by his earthen wall as Michelle’s [Lesser Fire Shield] began to flicker to the rapid onslaught of the projectiles impact’s. Thanking his ancestors that her shield withheld the initial assault Calvin yelled over another bellowed *ROOAAAAR* of their attacker.
“WE NEED TO KITE THIS FUCKER! ONE OF HIS FEET WILL CRUSH US SHIELD’S AND ALL!”
Receiving vigorous nods of agreement he continued.
“I’M REAR GUARD, BEP AND MICHELE WILL QUICK SHOT HIS ASS WHILE WE KITE IT BACK THE WAY WE CAME! BREAK FORMATION ON 3!”
“2”
“1”
“BREAK”
On his mark the others began sprinting away from the fiery translucent dome while the Asian Australian jogged backwards as his armor clanked in protest at his effortless motion.
When they were clear of the sight obscuring [Minor Wall of Earth] they saw the Frost Giant was now taking lazy, almost ponderous, ground quaking steps to their recent location. All the while summoning more icy and oversized javelins to pelt the now vacant dome of flame anew.
Vying for his harried attention, the faint voice of the Korean Initiate Archer Yui barely cut through the cacophony of battle to the rapidly retreating Party as it emanated from their Initiate Templar’s chest.
“P5 on site! Have eyes on P2 and P4. P4 recovering and P2 drawing agro, moving to divert Big Boy’s attention, over!”
“P1 here, have just arrived. Will grab attention when P4 gets too cold. What is your position P3 over?”
Queried the faint commanding voice of Oksana as Michelle and Farooq ceased their fleeting harassment of the now thoroughly enraged Ran Ji’nor and continued their barely impeded flight over the snow caked terrain.
“P3 here. Sorry P1 but we got a little tied up with one o’ them frost wisp’s and a few o’ his friend’s, all safe and sound bu-“
And that was all Un-Bep’ee heard of Sean the Initiate Man at Arm’s report before another deafening *ROAAAAAAAR* was released by the looming Frost Giant as it was peppered with spells and arrows on the back of its icily haired head.
Turning in an inexorable way that only the truly large could empathize with, Ran Ji’nor turned his ire and a new set of ice javelins on Yui’s Party and their hastily erected defensive skills.
Slowing their retreat as the shadow of the Giant made its way to the now entrenched P5 Un-Bep’ee cast [Refreshing Rain] on his Party as they came to a halt to watch in awe as the white translucent dome of one of P4’s defensive skills flickered in response to the impact of another round of oversized icy projectiles.
As promised, Oksana’s party made itself known with a volley of fresh multicolored projectiles to the back of the behemoth’s head. From a safe distance, through the now naked and conspicuously green pines, P1 continued its assault on the extremely aggravated Bipedal monstrosity.
Seeming had enough of being denied its illusive prey it bellowed.
“PUNY BUGS! HOLD STILL!”
Following its ear bleeding pronouncement that echoed off the near total white landscape, the Frost Giant began to glow a faint blue as thick gusts of white vapor began to rush towards and encircle his massive form, through and above the comparatively shoulder high pines.
Just barely audible over the howling torrent of gathering wind, their leader screamed.
“TIGHT SHIELD FORMATION!”
Closing to the Initiate Templar he cast [Lesser Sanctuary] followed instantly by his [Minor Wall of Earth]. As the wind continue to howl unabated, they huddled together and shared concerned looks whilst sheltering under Un-Bep’ee’s defensive skills.
After a full minute the wind had stopped completely and the Canadian asked in the now eerie silence.
“What? Was that it? That wa-“
But failed to finish as a sound began to build accompanied by a vibration that penetrated his very bones, causing even his strength enhanced jaw muscle to be overcome as his teeth started to chatter.
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To Un-Bep’ee’s musically uncultured ears, the sound was akin to a large horn being blown louder and louder as it reached its deafening crescendo.
When the horn ceased there was a rushing *THHHHHWWWWWWWWP!* sound and a split second later his [Minor Wall of Earth] was obliterated by a torrent of ice and his [Lesser Sanctuary] stuttered before failing as Michelle replaced it with her [Lesser Fire Shield].
As the dripping of melting ice accompanied by its cacophony of cracking as it incrementally shifted en masse, to better inhabit the area, Un-Bep’ee took a second to marvel at the absurdity of the near uniform ice dome that straddled their Initiate Fire Mage’s defensive skill.
The voice of Calvin broke his fascination, who seemed to have retrieved his [Communication Necklace] whilst speaking into it frantically.
“This is P2! Did anyone else make IT?!?!”
Feeling stupid for forgetting about the life and death situation he was in, Un-Bep’ee waited with baited breath, as the seconds seemed to stretch on, whilst the Party collectively waited for a response.
“P1 here. Donovan and his yelda is getting lucky tonight for quick thinking…”
Chuckling as they heard Donovan the Initiate Earth Mage object in the background, she continued.
“All accounted for aswell…other Party’s report, over?”
A distraught Lionel the Initiate Archer sounded off next.
“P4 here. The fucker froze Jenny instantly!….down to bloody three of us now……..over.”
Following his bitter announcement there was a rumble, which could only be attributed to the architect of their current predicament. Sharing concerned looks with their party Calvin barked out.
“Michelle, get us the hell out of here!”
Jumping to action she demanded of the rest.
“Everyone huddle up to one side, unless you wanna get cooked!”
Quickly doing as instructed the rest looked on while she began to send [Fire Bolt] after [Fire Bolt] to the opposite and increasingly receding icy dome.
Un-Bep’ee could just make out the report of Sean, as the Irish man updated the rest on the situation outside.
“P3 here. We were lucky enough to be clear when he brought the ice hammer down…..I see some red flashes through the ice sheet to the east, is that one of you lot? Over.”
And with another [Fire Bolt] from their Initiate Fire Mage the now sauna like environment rapidly dissipated as negative pressure caused the gathering steam to be expelled into the bright daylight, poking through the newly made tunnel.
“P2 here. That’s us and we’ll be back in action in 30 seconds, over.”
The ground rumbled again as Michelle threw another [Fire Bolt] at one of the tunnels edges to widen it, Oksana spoke again.
“P1 here. P5 report status? Over.”
There was however no response to her query and the ground rumbled louder this time as the Irish Initiate Man At Arms spoke in alarm, dropping all pre-arranged communication protocol.
“P2 GET MOVING FAST, HE’S HEADING STRAIGHT FOR YOU!”
As the ice overhead began to form stress fractures and release loud cracking sounds. The Party did not have to be told twice, forming a single file, they took turns to slither up the uneven and slick ice tunnel toward the blue sky above.
Being the last out Un-Bep’ee whipped his head in the direction of the now booming *THUD!* which this time was also accompanied by the sound of splintering ice.
Looming over him like a sky scraper the foot of the Frost Giant that had just made landfall was but 30 feet from their group. Just as Un-Bep’ee was about to put up more defensive walls his leader commanded.
“FUCK DEFENSE! RUN!!”
Jerking to follow the frantic command he heard the whizzing of projectiles behind them before there was the soft *thud*’s of their impact paired with an aggrieved *ROOOOAAAAARRRR* that caused his ears to start ringing.
Afraid to look behind him as he and his Party slid and flailed their way across the impromptu tundra, he tried not to laugh as the ringing in his ears persisted, whilst his allies in front comically traversed the new terrain.
Noticing the Giant’s shadow was no longer present he chanced a look behind him as he felt the earth shaking vibration of the monstrousness foot contacting the ice. The back of the blue skinned beast was now facing them as it had obviously turned in search of its assailant. However still unable to hear anything over the persistent ringing he channeled [Minor Body Restoration] on himself as he slowed his flight slightly.
Sound returned to his world with a *pop!* as he could once again her the cracking ice, hail of projectiles and voluminous huffing breath of Ran Ji’nor.
Signaling to the others to stop it took him a full minute before he had convinced everyone that it was safe to do so before quickly restoring their own hearing with his skill.
Calvin asked the others once they were all healed.
“So anyone got any bright ideas on how to take down this overgrown smurf?”
Having recovered some of her bravado after not being able to do anything against the Frost Giant thus far their Initiate Sword Adept ventured.
“Well I thought of something…but I’m not sure if it will work better than what miss hot stuff can do…”
Receiving a scowl from Michelle and an ‘out with it’ hand gesture from Farooq she continued.
“Well you know how your friend Kivar made you guys that batch of vodka from those weird potatoes you found?”
As the fight continued in the background a couple of hundred meters away, she got confused looks from most of the others, when Calvin added.
I think I know where you’re going with this...not a bad idea actually…but we’ll have to get close…or up a tree…yeah that could work a tree ought to do it..”
Their fatigued and temperamental Fire Mage angrily interrupted his rambling.
“We are wasting TIME! Just what the fuck are you two on about!?!”
Smiling a toothy grin as the Frost Giant *ROOOOOOOAAAAR*’d in the background, Emily supplied.
“Molotov’s B A B Y Molotov’s!”
A still confused Un-Bep’ee asked.
“I’m sorry but moli-whats?”
But he didn’t get a reply as his heart sank when a shaky, Italian accent came from the [Communication Necklace] still dangling free of their Initiate Templar’s breastplate.
“They’re all dead….I…I tried…we only had one shield skill…I made it out when the ice cracked…I’m all…The rest of P5…They’re gone…”
Feeling rage building inside of him at the unbalanced nature of the fight so far and the ruthlessness of the bellowing beast now pursuing Sean’s Party as they drew it away from Oksana’s fleeing group. He swallowed his questions and with his anger seeping into his voice said to his shocked and silent allies.
“Whatever it is, just tell me what is to be done, so that their deaths will matter.”
Seeing the others shocked expressions morph into shared looks of resolution, they quickly sketched out a plan. Following which, Calvin set about relaying the details to the other surviving members of the Raid Group for coordinated execution.
Some 15 minutes later their Initiate Templar was at the swaying top of the tallest pine they could find that was close by. Normally with the alpine environment, being what it was, this would have been an easy feet, however when the slope was covered in a torrent of ice it usurped the conifers usually sturdy root structure.
This led to a drastic reduction in the available trees on which to perch the potential ambusher of the Frost Giant Ran Ji’nor. And yet, they had managed find a suitable candidate amongst the trees toppled brethren and now the bellowing monstrosity was being led with projectiles from, P4, P3 and P1 on a lazy arc straight towards them.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that the plan was the conglomerate brainchild of P2’s members, the ignominious honor of being the most dangerous piece in it, fell directly to them. As Un-Bep’ee and the rest of the Party hid behind what little cover there was in the now demolished and icy landscape, the ground trembled with another titanic footfall.
Their Initiate Sword Adept, was sporting an apprehensive face as she whispered from her hiding spot.
“Look I get that someone has to be here to pile on the damage, but does it have to be us?”
Michelle retorted with a corresponding hiss and grin.
“Well maybe you should have thought of that before you opened your showboating mouth!”
Another bone shaking *ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAR* drowned out Emily’s response and Un-Bep’ee attempted to curtail further argument as he hissed.
“Your both going to get us killed if you do not cease this bickering! At the very least save it for after we engage the moving building yes?!”
Receiving mirrored vicious scowls in his direction from both women, he heard the muffled sniggering of Farooq and he immediately began to regret intervening whilst the ground rumbled once more.
Silently, he watched as the behemoth of a humanoid bellowed in frustrated rage, summoning more car length javelins of ice to launch at it’s constantly out of grasp harassers. Drawing almost level to the hanging Calvin, he visibly struggled to cling on as he oscillated with the wildly rocking treetop.
Holding his breath the Initiate of The Light watched transfixed, as the monstrosity moved past with the laziness of an oil tanker, oblivious of the potential threat lurking close by.
When the frost encrusted Giant had its back toward their Party, their tree bound Initiate Templar lobbed the first of Kivar’s magically over-proof vodka. The thrown bottled summersaulted in slow motion, straight towards the back of the Giant’s head, then with breath catching in his throat, Un-Bep’ee watched aghast as it continued past its intended target.
However he breathed an overdue sigh of relief when he heard the smash of glass and noticed the clear liquid contents of the bottle splash down Ran Ji’nor’s half raised knee.
The following three projectiles of Kivar’s alcoholic creation found their target as the Giant traveled toward its spread out and relentlessly attacking humans, all but indifferent to the alcoholic onslaught of Party 2.
Tensing in anticipation at what was likely to come, Un-Bep’ee looked to Michelle as she began to cast her [Fire Ball] for the second stage of the plan.
When Calvin and Emily had explained to him what a Molotov was, he thought at first that it would be completely useless against their frosty foe, however the Australian had assured him that given that the potato like root vegetable it was derived from was magical in nature and the resulting fermented and bottled vodka had an item description of its own:
Kivar’s Karnet Yam Vodka
Level Requirement: 50
Effect: Causes heavy intoxication
Restrictions: Only effective on those with Vitality bellow 350
Description: An alcoholic concoction distilled from karnet yam’s preserved in a stoppered glass bottle. An Uncommon and highly flammable beverage distilled and bottled by the Cook Kivar that would even cause an elysian dwarf to think twice before consuming it.
Almost assuredly meant that it would result in something akin to magical napalm. He wanted to ask what napalm was but was afraid at wasting more time on pointless questions and just nodded like it was a good thing indeed.
Emily also pointed out that seeing that they didn’t have any dry cloths for wicks and Michelle having flat out refused to climb up the tree to light the thing, all they would need to do instead was get it on the oversized smurf and have their Initiate Fire Mage do the lighting from a safe remove.
And so as Michelle’s [Fire Ball] sailed through the air to the back roaring Frost Giant’s head, Un-Bep’ee prayed vehemently to his ancestors that their plan succeed.
When the ball of fire made contact, he was unsure what exactly he was expecting to happen, with only the rudimentary notions of magical flame and the suffering of the murderous mountain of a monstrosity for his enhanced mind to go by.
What actually happened was what would happen if an overlarge sculpture of ice was to combust into a giant pillar of blue tinted flame.
Releasing an inhuman *ARRRRUUUUUGGGHHHHH!* of pain, the giant threw away its enormous club frantically into the sky, in a futile effort to use both of its now free hands to douse the intensely burning liquid.
The ground shook and trembled as it flailed and batted at its flaming head and back, causing only a small fraction of the burning substance to dislodge for its efforts. Un-Bep’ee couldn’t help but grin in vindictive glee as the knee where the first bottle had smashed caught fire as well.
While the ground bucked and rumbled as they fled for their very lives from the incendiary tantrum of the giant. It seemed like Ran Ji’nor’s death throws lasted a full two minutes as it howled and batted at itself in vain, yet in actuality it had been no more than some 15 or so seconds before they received an all too welcome notification of their success, and in Un-Bep’ee’s case, this was doubly so:
Your Raid Party has slain Delta Zone #4 Boss ‘The Frost Giant Ran Ji’nor’ level 90, all experience awarded equally.
You have completed the quest – A Cold Reception (T3) – 10000 Manamotes awarded.
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.
Your Secondary Class has leveled up, +1 to Intelligence.
You have reached level 50 in your Second class, Secondary class evolution's are now possible:
>Initiate Spearman (Common)
>Initiate Shaman (Uncommon)
>Initiate Seer (Uncommon)
>Initiate Stormcaller (Uncommon)
>Initiate Cleric (Common)
>Initiate Pathfinder (Uncommon)
...Selection time remaining 4 Minutes 59 Seconds…
The monstrous corpse of the Frost Giant, now devoid of life collapsed to the ground with the loud splintering of tree trunks and shattering ice.
Almost immune to the strangeness of such situations by now, Un-Bep’ee selected Initiate shaman being that so far, he was more than happy at the synergy with his primary class. Again notifications scrolled past from resultant from his decision:
Secondary class Apprentice Shaman has evolved into Initiate Shaman.
The skill Roots of Ensnarement has evolved into Roots of Entrapment.
The skill Refreshing Rain has evolved into Rejuvenating Rain.
The skill Refreshing Rain has evolved into Rejuvenating Rain.
The skill Minor Wall of Earth has evolved into Lesser Wall of Earth.
Drawing his attention away from the blue boxes, he noted that cheers were breaking out in celebration from the surviving Raid Party members at their shared victory. The normally surly Michelle exuberantly adding to the hubbub as she exclaimed.
“Finally! I can get a proper fucking second class! Its Chain Lightning time bitches!”
He was genuinely interested in what class she had received and opened his mouth to ask when a loud whistling sound caught everyone’s attention as their shared exuberance cut off abruptly.
*BOOM!*
The next thing he knew, he heard something akin to a cannonball hit the ground from the direction of where Sean’s Party had once been. The crash and whizzing sounds of ricocheting ice instantly followed. Then Un-Bep’ee was hit by something in the leg and watched helplessly whilst his perspective of the world spun before jerking to an abrupt halt with a thudding *crack*.
Having the air knocked out of his lungs and a throbbing sensation emanating from where his head should have been, he blinked his eyes at the now upside down viewpoint before them.
Moving with a supreme effort of will, he used his un-twisted arm to lever himself off the thick tree trunk he’d come to an unwelcome stop upon, his body flopping over itself whilst causing his head to face up toward the clouded sky.
When his scream and the excruciating pain from the maneuver had stopped echoing throughout himself and the world about him, he gradually became aware that there were in fact screams and crying taking place that belonged to someone other than himself.
Coming to something resembling his senses, he fought against the waves of pain and fatigue that were awash in his mind and began to channel [Minor Body Restoration] on himself.
Groaning in agony as two of his limbs popped in ways they were not supposed to while too many broken bones grated and scraped against his insides as they took too long to get to their natural position.
It was when Un-Bep’ee was down to about half his blue mana bar that he noticed his thoughts had cleared. With his red health bar now safely back to above the halfway mark, he stopped the skills channel to save his mana for those in more critical condition.
His body protested as he first raised his head and finding that nothing grated or popped unnaturally, he then raised his torso in a bit to assess the state of the others.
For the next hour he moved about the destroyed terrain in a fugue state as his mana bar depleted and refilled. The mana loss headaches that came due to his formidable regeneration being unable to keep up with his constant skill use, were mechanically curtailed when he would retrieve a [Mana Vapor Potion] and continue to stem the suffering of the survivors.
When the screams and cries had been reduced to moaning and the occasional groans with the help of the other surviving Initiate Cleric Loraine. The now more able bodied gathered the dead at Oksana’s instruction and brought them to rest side by side.
Hating himself for the necessity he collected their Manamotes, and with Lionel and Donavan, stripped the mangled bodies and distributed their items to carry back to the Settlement and return them to friends or in now all too rare cases, loved ones.
Calvinn, Oksana and Emily made a crude wooden platform of felled trees and branches, then placed the bodies on top before using the remaining wood to finish the pyre’s construction.
Oksana took up the unwanted mantle of pastor for the now deceased as she gruffly eulogized to the scant survivors.
“Everyone knew today would be a thing of danger and sacrifice…We knew but we came anyway…We came to carve place for our kind in this uncaring, brutal world….Those behind gave their lives so we may carry on.”
Pausing as she choked back a sob as her tears flowed unhindered while she continued.
“I will not forget their pain and suffering. I will make their sacrifice the thing that drives me onward to push back the monstrous darkness while I still draw breath!”
Pausing again, this time to look at the gathered, battered figures before she carried on.
“If there comes a time that you question the reason for fighting, why we struggle every day to gain strength that this warped system offers us! Think back to this day and the many like it! Let them be your fuel to stop them from coming AGAIN!”
Silence reigned amongst the survivors while the Russian woman’s clenched fists trembling in controlled rage as she continued to unflinchingly meet the affirmingly grim gazes of those present.
Clearing her throat after she’d steadied her breathing, Oksana accepted the proffered bottle of [Kivar’s Karnet Yam Vodka] that had already done the rounds and took a swig before hurling it to smash upon the pyre’s base, then nodding curtly to Michelle. Stepping away from the pyre she joined the others to watch silently as the Initiate Fire Mage’s skill sent their comrades off in a burial befitting the warriors they had become.
Un-Bep’ee closed his eyes against the tears that streaked his chocolate skin as he engraved the names of the ones he could not save into his very being.
Of the 29 individuals that had set out to bring an end to the Frost Giant Ran Ji’nor’s tyranny of Delta Zone #4, only 15 stood vigil to their comrades cremating corpses.
As the last of the days light slunk off in shame at what it had witnessed, the Lesser Yeti’s released their hooting calls. No doubt attracted by the large pyre and smell of roasting flesh, making their attempt to usurp the mourner’s right to grieve.
Unfortunately for the white fur and demonstrably faced beasts, the humans were all too obliging of the chance to violently vent their grief upon the beasts from folk tales and urban legend made manifest.
And so as the survivors took up weapon and spell against their new foe in exhortation of battle, their combined efforts echoed throughout the darkened, frosty hills of Delta Zone #4 while staining them an even darker shade of crimson than before.