“You weren’t bloody kidding when you said it was fast,” Laura said as the team crossed the Gate back into Markandon’s forests.
“I’m already halfway at level 9 myself,” Alton commented.
Jonas didn’t comment. The levels would slow down quickly anyway.
“First thing first. The two lowest levels lairs in the zone are the Spiral Cave, which we did with Cowen, and the Tree Maze, which is supposed to be around the same level, 125 or so.”
“It’s a bit above the Dying Grove in Vuneras, but we all have one more Milestone and half a dozen levels. Well, except you,” Ira commented.
“Well, as long as it is not an Ancient, we should be alright. The Tree Maze has four guardians total, and it is about a day walk from here, apparently,” Jonas replied.
“I remember Cowen talking about a Tree Circle? Is that the same one?”
“No, different lair. Much higher as well, near 160.”
“It is not just Green Apes, after all,” Alton told Ira as they met their first new enemy.
“I don’t know what I expected, but not that one,” he replied, half laughing.
Green-tailed Hedgehog
Level 144
Health: 1281
Mind: 405
Endurance: 1221
Aether: 0
“A hedgehog with… a long tail?”
Ira turned toward Jonas, who was repressing a laugh as well.
“That’s why you clutched that guide all the time.”
“Well, yes. There is also an elusive green feline listed in the guide, but apparently, the critter stayed out of range, and the original scouting teams have no additional information on it.”
“Green cat. Why not. But green hedgehog, sheesh…”
Green-tailed Hedgehog: 1154XP/6 contributors = 144XP.
“Okay. I don’t even want to know how this tastes,” Laura added, looking at the remnant of the hedgehog’s decomposition.
Hedgehog Tail
Basic item
Requires: none
Provides: cooking component
“We can still foist this to a Gatepost reseller,” Jonas replied helpfully.
The two trees that bent toward each other to make an arch were the obvious entrance to the lair.
“Remind me why you can’t simply step across that ‘maze’?” Ira said.
“If you cross a tree line, then apparently every single creature in the lair beelines towards you. Including all the guardians. I presume a high tier team would find it easy to do it that way, but we are only about qualified for this,” Jonas explained.
“And if we get pushed into it by some creature?”
“The same thing, I assume.”
“Do we have at least a map?”
“It’s completely linear, no branching.”
“Then why is it called a maze?”
“Because it says so on the location descriptor?” Jonas shrugged.
The team filed between the two entrance trees, finding itself in a neatly delineated pathway between trees spaced by five yards. The whole was vaguely reminiscent of the tier one trunk regular “orchard”, except on a more densely packed scale.
“What can we expect?”
“It says mossy growths. Apparently, four-foot roots with moss growing all over it. The guardians are different though, animals, possibly in packs,” Jonas replied.
He then pointed to what looked for all purposes like a giant turnip with a mottled brown and greenish bark that had come out on root-like legs from between two trees.
Maze Bulb
Level 124 veteran
Health: 2034
Mind: 670
Endurance: 1918
Aether: 259
“Oh, come on. They can cheat?” Ira said.
“I’m guessing they can cross safely. After all, what are they going to call upon them? Professionals?” Jonathan joked.
“Single veteran, meaning it’s on the upper range of levels. Good. Your call,” Ira said.
“I’ll take it,” Jonathan replied.
Since he’d shot up in levels, they had fished out one of the prized loot items from their trek last year. A heroic plate belt from further down the Line. Just swapping out his old quality belt from lower tier-two had significantly boosted Jonathan’s vitals and armour up.
That was what made the transition from tier three to four significant. Once you reached tier four, teams started getting heroic gear, without needing traded stuff as often as they did. They wouldn’t be getting that for a while, however. The Ancient that had arrived in the Vuneras lair was one of the lowest levelled ones, and they would need significant levels before they did pick a fight with it.
Ira ran toward the turnip-shaped creature which visibly rotated. Although it had no obvious head, eyes, or anything, it probably had a front and a back. Which were mostly relevant for Alton’s skills or some of the Bulb’s attacks.
Maze Bulb lashes for 94 (124-30) earth damage.
The root-like tentacles sprouted from small holes to the side of the vegetable monster, lashing out all around. The melee fighters would have to absorb the attacks, then.
Stolen novel; please report.
The team closed in, before starting to clobber, pierce, and slash the giant turnip. In answer, it sprayed some awful-looking – and stinking – liquid from the leafy top.
Maze Bulb sprays Grounded Juice. -20% regeneration.
Guss shrugged. The attack seriously neutered his usual background healing spell, but the single veteran enemy did not trigger worry. Outside of his sweeping attack, only Jonathan got any damage.
That immediately changed as Jonas spotted another mottled turnip shape coming out from between two trees. Before he’d shouted a warning though, Ira crossed and intercepted the incoming additional veteran.
“Be careful about where we’re fighting! Wandering critters from further on the maze’s path can still spot us and come.”
Jonathan acknowledged the notification from Ira with a small headshake, and edged closer to the centre of the path, trying to keep as much distance as possible. Meanwhile, Ira moved the other Bulb further along, to avoid the close-range fighters being in range of the two.
Once settled, the team quickly finished the first root critter before moving to the second one, making sure they did not stray too close to the tree borders.
Maze Bulb × 2: 3868XP/6 contributors = 496XP.
“This lair should give us some serious experience,” Ira noted.
“I’m only half-way through the level. It’s not going to be enough,” Jonas replied.
“Does not matter. There are plenty of creatures outside anyway,” Jonathan added.
Ira pointed to another Bulb slowly ambling along the pathway further in the maze.
“Until then, there are plenty here as well.”
The clearing was clearly the last one of the lair. No tree path left from this one. And the green feline matriarch draped over the ornate wood coffer and sunning herself on the slanting ray of the sun was clearly the last guardian. Along with the three smaller cats, two green-furred and a black one that were gambolling around.
Maze Matriarch
Level 115 elite
Health: 3428
Mind: 1091
Endurance: 1989
Aether: 1734
“Whoops, ancient chest,” Laura announced.
Jonas couldn’t see the descriptor yet. In a few more days.
Tree Maze
Ancient Treasure
Common equipment
Requires: Level 103
“Okay, so not ancient fight,” he breathed in relief once he got the equipment type.
“It could at least give us something good instead of some trash,” she grumbled back.
“I’m mainly worried about getting the completion for Alton. He has to make it to the end. That’s his tier four that’s at stake here. If not, then, we’ll have to level a bit and try again. Next lair is over 10 levels higher.”
“I’ll make sure I’ll be sticking around, don’t worry about me,” he immediately replied.
“This is just an elite. And three normal critters,” Ira said.
“So, presumably, elder-level combat. Don’t forget that,” Jonas warned.
“How do we split this?” Ira asked back, looking at Jonathan.
“Depends on what the kittens do. Different colours mean probably different attacks. You tackle the elite, me the kittens?”
“Worst case, I pick the black. Or one of the green. Let’s do this.”
“After you,” Jonathan acknowledged.
The Matriarch sprang up instantly as the two defenders ran into the clearing. The smaller cats stopped playing and beelined toward the two armoured figures.
Ira jumped over the incoming cat menace as Jonathan slashed to keep their attention. The cat mother shuffled her fur as roots ran across her body.
Maze Matriarch armours up. 22% of damage is reflected as earth damage.
“Ouch,” yelled the Calculating Barrier.
You slash for 89 fire damage (70 effective) and suffer 19 earth damage.
“Stop fussing,” Guss replied after seeing the descriptor.
“I’m not worried about me, I’m worried about the rest,” Ira explained.
Elemental Spray does 108 damage (fire) to Maze Matriarch.
“Spell damage doesn’t reflect. Only the melee,” Jonas announced before switching strategies.
“Hit the small ones first. We’ll deal with the elite after.”
“Hey, where is the black one?” Jonathan asked back.
Jonas instantly looked around. Ira was slowly pushing the matriarch backwards, Jonathan’s swords were slashing at the two snarling green cubs. But the black-furred one was nowhere to be seen.
“Everyone, yell if you spot it. It will probably have a very serious attack if it’s not immediately on us.”
Jonathan replied, “the green ones have poison claws. Just different attack, nothing bad.”
He immediately added, “So far.”
The first of the green cats fell with a final hammer blow from Laura, and both melees switched to the second one. Jonas kept firing elemental bolts at the Matriarch, but the absence of the black cub worried him.
The health of the next cat dropped fast, and it snarled one last time as Laura finished it again. The three looked around, trying to spot the missing cub, but it was still nowhere to be found.
“Okay, be careful about the attacks on the elite, since it reflects damage.”
Guss yelled. Jonas turned to him and spotted the black cub’s claw extended into the healer’s back.
“I’m blind!”
Black Curse: -90% Focus, -5 mind/sec.
Jonas sprinted toward the healer, as the cub turned and ran into the tree line.
“Jonathan. Don't let it go away.”
The defender hesitated, then realized there would no longer be any additional critters to come calling and ran outside of the clearing. Meanwhile, Jonas grabbed Guss.
“Balls, I can barely see you.”
“Stay with me,” he replied, dragging him closer to the snarling Matriarch.
Guss blinked as the blurry figures started to appear in view. With people at least visible, he tried a first regeneration spell on Alton whose health had dropped from the reflected stabs and breathed more steadily as he realized the curse did not affect his actual spells.
Jonathan ran back into the clearing, pursuing a yowling black furry shape. The cub ran over to his matriarch before turning and swiping at Laura, who stumbled as the same curse took hold on her. The cat turned and found itself facing Jonathan who’d jumped over it, trying to block the escape.
Jonathan’s dual swords slashed the black menace who hissed and backed up until it got next to the matriarch. Then, surprisingly, the cat melted into smoke who was drawn into the cat mother.
Jonas noted immediately that her vitals had shot up, just before she swiped at Ira.
Black Curse: -90% Focus, -5 mind/sec.
“Bollocks,” he said, squinting at the vague silhouette.
“Guss, you’re good?” Jonas asked.
“Half aether. It should be okay,” he replied.
Maze cats × 4: 6040XP/6 contributors = 754XP.
You have completed Markandon Tree Maze Lair.
“Whew. That was a weird fight,” Jonathan said, as the three blinded Professionals dropped on the ground.
“I think it’s a simplified version of the one we’d get if it was an actual Ancient,” Jonas said, before turning toward Alton.
“And you’re good. Well, we’re all good. Congratulations on your access. Two done, two to go.”
Jonathan stopped and blinked, before raising his hand.
“Something’s changed.”
Tree Maze
Ancient Treasure
Heroic equipment
Requires: Level 115
Common equipment
Requires: Level 103
“What do you mean, there’s a piece of heroic equipment in it? There’s no such thing,” Laura replied.
“There is now,” Jonathan confirmed. “It wasn’t there before the fight.”
“I see no heroic gear on the descriptor. Just the common item.”
She moved to the coffer and threw back a glance. Jonathan gestured, inviting her to see. She pulled open the lid and fished out a pair of plain green leather gloves.
“Nothing else in here.”
“Still says it has a 115 heroic in,” Jonathan insisted.
“Look for yourself.”
The Careful Barrier moved in, frowning at the empty box. Then he pulled the lid closed and reopened it immediately. Laura gasped as she spotted a shining item in the middle of the wood board.
“Told you.”
Steel-Twined Wood Ring
Ring
Heroic equipment
Requires: Level 115
Provides: +1 Solid Defence rank, +16 FOR, +14 CON, +181 end, +3% vitals per potential
“That ring is insane,” Ira said once Laura passed along the ring, allowing everyone to see the descriptor. None of them had the requisite skill sphere for the skill, though, which slightly surprised Jonas.
“And I think we now know what Adjustment VII brings,” he said.
“Additional gear?” Jonathan asked.
“Just like when we started. We got guaranteed items on every creature until we all had a full set. This is looking like the same for the second set of equipment, the one you only start to find once you’re fighting 300+ final guardians. And like our original free gear, it is exactly of the maximum quality for the encounter.”
“It wasn’t an Ancient guardian.”
“No, but it could have been one.”
“Not that I am complaining,” Jonathan added while putting the ring on his right hand, before pulling back his ringmail gloves over it.
They were walking briskly toward the Plaza now. Jonas had finally gotten his last Milestone, and it was finally time for him to switch.
“That’s a pretty insane rush. Totally unlike razing a zone’s lairs,” Ira commented after slowing a bit to get up to Jonas’ side.
“Normally, it is all prepared weeks or months in advance. Nobody ever switches Profession for one Milestone. And it’s not over. Once we’re done, it’s straight toward Airaneron for Laura’s unlock, then back and forth for their three new Professions… then toward the British sector for us two.”
“The French demise will be reward enough, hopefully.”
“It’s going to take time to mop up his generals afterwards. But yes, the whole Dominion should collapse once Napoleon’s gone. And England should be safe.”
“Except for the Chinese.”
Jonas looked at his friend incredulously.
“They’re after the eastern colonies. Not England. Unlike the French next door.”
“You really think they are going to stop once they’ve kicked us out of their ‘lands’? I head they are related to Genghis Khan. Maybe they’ll storm all of Asia and Europe,” Ira said.
“Not going to happen for a while. If that happens… we’ll deal with it later.”
Then the Plaza came in sight, and Jonas found himself instinctively slowing down.
Ira put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
“Want some dwale?”
“Are you kidding me?”