Isabelle gritted her teeth as the skeleton raised its hands full of fire. The skeleton shot balls of flame at her, but Isabelle dashed from side to side and evaded them.
[Stamina 94%]
Isabelle raised her right hand. It was time to see what a little electricity did to this skeleton. Isabelle thought ‘Cast Shoot Lightning.’
[Attack missed]
The skeleton had leapt out of the lightning’s path!
[Mana 8/18]
Shit. Isabelle was over this fight already, and she was almost out of mana. Time to try out her Fang Blades. Isabelle opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 63.5/65
Item
Traits
Map of Prison grounds
+ 0.5 carry weight
Fang Blades (poisoned)
+3 poison, +8 damage, +1 str, +1 dx, +5 carry weight
Key
n/a
Potion of Endless Stamina x2
+0.5 carry weight
Potion of Greater Health x2
+20 hp, +0.5 carry weight
Gold (2631)
n/a
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
Okay, Isabelle was in love with inventory shortening.
[Fang Blades (poisoned) equipped]
Isabelle dashed forward as the skeleton cast two more balls of fire, one of them hitting her.
[-4 hp]
[You’re getting fire damage]
[-1 hp]
Shit. Isabelle could see flames wrapping around her body, though she only felt a tinge of pain like a needle with every system notice.
[-1 hp]
Isabelle swung her fang blades in unison at the skeleton, slashing six times in a flurry that knocked the wretch’s left arm off.
[204 damage dealt]
[‘Skeleton’ is poisoned]
The skeleton let loose an ethereal groan. It raised its remaining hand and, with a flick of its bony wrist, discharged a blast of flame at Isabelle.
[-10 hp]
[You’re getting fire damage]
[-2 hp]
Shit. Was the fire damage getting worse?
[-2 hp]
Isabelle had to kill this this. If it could even be killed. She lunged at the skeleton and slashed up by its head.
[Critical hit]
The skeleton’s head flew off and bounced around the room.
[402 damage dealt]
[‘Skeleton’ is poisoned]
[-2 hp]
Wait. Isabelle noticed that, even headless, this skeleton was preparing to launch another fire spell at her. Damned thing was a nuisance. It hit her with another ball of fire.
[-6 hp]
[You’re getting fire damage]
[-3 hp]
Fuck. Isabelle felt a familiar faintness and nausea. Her vision was tunneling and blurred. She had to act fast, especially with this stupid fire damage hurting her every few seconds. Isabelle pulled up her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 63.5/65
Item
Traits
Map of Prison grounds
+ 0.5 carry weight
Key
n/a
Potion of Endless Stamina x2
+0.5 carry weight
Potion of Greater Health x2
+20 hp, +0.5 carry weight
Gold (2631)
n/a
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Potion of Greater Health drunken]
[+20 hp]
That was much better. If Isabelle hadn’t had that potion, she probably would’ve died. Her fire damage seemed to also disappear on drinking the potion, thankfully.
[Clarification: You definitely would’ve died.]
The skeleton opened its bony palm, doubtlessly ready to attack again. With a scowl, Isabelle leapt at it at slashed six times.
[323 damage dealt]
The skeleton’s body shattered and scattered, littering bones across the small cave area.
[‘Skeleton’ is dead]
Damn right the skeleton was dead. Isabelle figured she ought to see if she could loot it. She focused on a nearby femur.
[Loot ‘Skeleton’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Skeleton
Item
Traits
Tattered Robes
+1 mana, +2 carry weight
Of course. She’d already looted the skeleton before it attacked her. What a shitshow.
Isabelle walked up to the door and focused on it.
[Dungeon Door - Locked]
Isabelle thought ‘Unlock.’
[Dungeon Door - Unlocked]
Great. Isabelle pushed the door open slowly, instinctively going into a crouching position.
[Current visiblity: 0/250]
Isabelle looked around the dungeon room. It was large. The door she opened was at the lower end of it. There was a long expanse where there were a couple of pools of water bubbling up from somewher below. Further on, Isabelle saw a stone staircase up to a raised stone platform where she could see three mysterious figures in black cloaks talking amongst one another.
Their cloaks seemed kind of similar to the tattered robes the skeleton that attacked Isabelle had been wearing. Perhaps these were more skeletons? Or, maybe they were those necromancers that handwritten note had mentioned. Either way, Isabelle didn’t really want to find out. Maybe she could pick them off one by one with her longbow.
Then again, Isabelle remembered she only had three arrows left. Unless she managed to do a stealth+crit combo on all three arrows, she would probably have to get a little closer. Sure, the fang blades were doubtlessly powerful, but if these necromancers were half as powerful as that skeleton had been, Isabelle didn’t want to face them head on. Maybe she could give the arrows a try, and if they didn’t work, she was in a big, dark cavern room. Maybe she could keep sneaking around if she hit one of them and evade detection.
[Combat mode activated]
Isabelle stopped moving. Why had combat mode activated? She was still pretty far away from the necromancers.
Isabelle then saw the fishy head of a disturbing monster surface out of one of the nearby pools of water.
[Current visiblity: 0/250]
Isabelle was relieved she was still invisible. But what was this horrible thing?
The monster rose out of the water, groaning and shaking droplets of water off its scaly flesh. It was some disgusting human-fish hybrid, with webbed feet and hands and a disgusting fanged fish head. The beast lumbered around, scratching itself and sniffing the air.
[Current visibility: 37/250]
Was that thing sniffing her out? Shit.
[Fang blades equipped]
Isabelle darted through the shadows, staying in a crouch. She circled around the fish monster, eventually managing to stay behind its back. Isabelle inched closer and closer forward.
[Current visibility: 68/250]
Her visibility was still increasing. Isabelle would have to pounce quickly. She drew her fang blades and leapt on the fish monster’s back, slashing at its neck and back and around to its chest.
[Sneak attack]
[Critical hit]
[405 damage dealt]
[‘Kuo-toa’ is dead]
[Current visibility: 0/250]
[Combat mode deactivated]
Whew. That was close. Isabelle crept up to the dead body and focused on it.
[Loot ‘Kuo-toa’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Kuo-toa
Item
Traits
Necklace of Clam Husbandry
+0.5 carry weight
Miscellaneous Barnacles
+3 carry weight
Gold (5)
n/a
What a weird collection of inventory items. Isabelle took the gold, then she focused on the Necklace of Clam Husbandry and thought ‘Learn More.’
Item: Necklace of Clam Husbandry
Traits: +0.5 carry weight
Description: This necklace, made of clam shell and twine, does not actually improve chances of clam husbandry. However, it is lauded by Kuo-toa as able to do so. As a result, the necklace gives its wearer a +5 char bonus when interacting with Kuo-toa, as well as an intimidation bonus against clams of all kind.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Well, that was… weird. But it only took up 0.5 carry weight, and who knew if it would end up being useful, so Isabelle took the Necklace of Clam Husbandry too. She did not take the miscellaneous barnacles, no char bonus could convince her to carry a bunch of gross barnacles around.
Inventory: Kuo-toa
Item
Traits
Miscellaneous Barnacles
+3 carry weight
Isabelle looked back up to the cloaked figures above the stone staircase as she crept forward. She noticed now there were only two of them standing there talking. The third had walked over to some sort of shrine, and was holding a torch. Isabelle thought if she was going to try and kill one of them with an arrow, now was a good time. She walked further forward.
[Combat mode activated]
[Current visibility: 0/250]
Perfect. Isabelle opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 63.5/65
Item
Traits
Map of Prison grounds
+ 0.5 carry weight
Longbow
+3 damage, +1 carry weight
Standard Arrow (poisoned) x3
+1 poison
Gold (2631)
n/a
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Longbow equipped]
[+3 damage]
[Standard arrow equipped]
[+1 poison]
Isabelle crawled forward a little.
[Current visibility: 0/250]
She focused on the necromancer holding the torch by the shrine. She squinted and drew and arrow. Feeling assured of her aim, she released it.
[Attack missed]
Shit.
[Current visibility: 20/250]
[Stamina 98%]
Shit.
[Current visibility: 20/250]
Isabelle was furious at herself.
“Hey,” said the necromancer holding the torch to his two companions. “Did somebody just throw something at me?”
“No,” said one of the others. “Your mind’s probably playing tricks on you.”
[Current visibility: 0/250]
Isabelle was feeling thankful for her system. She wondered why a couple of her attacks had missed recently.
[Clarification: Your dx score has an effect on how often you miss attacks, as well as how successful your attacks can be. Dx also affects and is affected by your lockpick and slight of hand levels.]
Of course. At least Isabelle knew now. She’d have to try and add more dx points next time, missing her shots all the time was getting extremely frustrating.
Isabelle crept forward and drew her next arrow. She aimed it at the far away necromancer again. She waited a little bit, ensuring her aim was steady. Isabelle fired.
[Sneak attack]
[Critical hit]
[Stamina 98%]
The arrow struck right through the necromancer’s hood and burrowed into the back of their head. Their body went limp, falling forward in a heap and dropping the torch on the floor.
[512 damage dealt]
[‘Kobold Necromancer’ is dead]
[Archery increased to level 3]
Of course it was a kobold. Isabelle should’ve known. Isabelle watched as the flame from the torch spread across the floor. It seemed some wet, flammable substance had been dripped over it, as a small stream of flame was quickly gaining strength.
[Current visibility: 25/250]
“What was that sound?” asked one of the remaining necromancers.
“I don’t know,” said the other necromancer. “Gak! Did you hear that?”
The flames spread further across the floor. One of the necromancers rushed over to see their companion lying dead on the ground, and the flames from their torch engulfing the floor.
“Gak!” said the necromancer. “Shit, someone’s killed Gak!”
Both of the necromancers drew fire into the hands, running in circles around the ground. One of them caught fire and screamed. The other necromancer quickly switched their hand to some sort of water spell and cast that on them, but it was an ill-fated choice. The water didn’t put of the fire, instead it made it spray out further, catching both of the remaining necromancers further on fire. It must’ve been grease on the floor. Their screams grew louder and louder, and they ran in circles. Isabelle almost felt bad for them, and considered trying to shoot one with an arrow to put them out of their misery, but she decided she’d rather not waste the arrow. As the fire raged on, the two kobold necromancers fell limp to the ground.
[‘Kobold Necromancer’ is dead]
[‘Kobold Necromancer’ is dead]
[Current visibility: 0/250]
Isabelle was thrilled, and also a bit relieved. After the amount of fights she’d had to do before at the Citadel and now in this dungeon, she was really happy to be able to get rid of a few foes without them even really noticing her. Isabelle went ahead and stood up. She walked up the stone steps and stood on the edge of the top step, watching as the flames slowly died down, until she could walk forward without risk of catching herself on fire.
Isabelle knew she wanted to loot the necromancer’s bodies, but she also knew her inventory was almost full. Isabelle focused on the large amount of poison spider venom in her inventory and thought ‘Discard.’
Large blobs of spider venom exploded over the floor. It was fine. Isabelle had plenty of poisoned weapons at this point.
Isabelle walked over to the dead kobold necromancers. She focused on the first one.
[Loot ‘Kobold Necromancer’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Kobold Necromancer
Item
Traits
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Ring of Improved Destroy
+3 destroy
Staff of Undead
+5 mana, +2 carry weight
Super cool. Isabelle took all of it.
Inventory: Kobold Necromancer
Item
Traits
n/a
n/a
Isabelle took a few steps and focused on the next dead necromancer.
[Loot ‘Kobold Necromancer’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Kobold Necromancer
Item
Traits
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Letter from the SNS
n/a
Gold (205)
n/a
Isabelle took the gold and the letter from the SNS, though Isabelle didn’t know what the SNS was. The necromancer robes were nice, but she’d already gotten some of those, so Isabelle didn’t see a use in taking them. Especially with her carrying capacity limited.
Inventory: Kobold Necromancer
Item
Traits
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Isabelle stepped gingerly, avoiding the small speckles of remaining grease on the ground, and reached the final dead necromancer.
[Loot ‘Kobold Necromancer’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Kobold Necromancer
Item
Traits
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Standard Arrow (poisoned) x1
+1 poison
Gold (25)
n/a
Isabelle took the gold and recovered her arrow from the necromancer’s head.
Inventory: Kobold Necromancer
Item
Traits
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Perfect. Now if only Isabelle could get into those treasure chests back at the start of this room! It didn’t feel fair that she couldn’t get into them, considering all she’d been through. Isabelle looked around the necromancy area, seeing more than a fair share of human and animal and presumably also kobold bones. Disturbing. She looked at the shrine. At the center was a hexagon painted in blood. Bones and skulls were suspended in the air by string, dangling over the hexagon.
[Activate ‘Necromancy Shrine’?]
Isabelle paused. She really thought ignoring the shrine was a good idea. Then again, Isabelle really wanted to know what would happen. She wondered if she could take a wis+int check to see if activating the shrine would put her in danger.
[Clarification: Sure. Think ‘Check Necromancy Shrine Danger.’]
That made sense. Isabelle thought, ‘Check Necromancy Shrine Danger.’
[…]
[Your wis+int check succeeded]
[Activating this specific Necromacy Shrine will not put you in immediate danger]
That was enough for Isabelle. She thought, ‘Activate Necromancy Shrine.’
A loud whirring sound wooshed through the air. The shrine’s bloody hexagon glowed, and the suspended bones rattled. A purple steam swirled around Isabelle. It quickly disappated, and the glowing faded away.
“The Secret Necromancy Society sees you, Isabelle, and thanks you for your contribution to our cause,” said a deep, distorted voice echoing from the shrine. “Please consider joining us for our monthly ritual. We would be more than happy to have you.”
Quest: Join the SNS
Description: The Secret Necromancy Society has invited you to particaipate in their monthly ritual. Read the letter from the SNS in your inventory for more information on the meeting and how to prepare for it.
Reward: Possible SNS Membership
Activate? Y/N
Woah. So the SNS stood for Secret Necromancy Society? That made enough sense. However, Isabelle wasn’t sure she wanted to activate that quest just yet. She still had to find Oglo. Isabelle thought ‘No.’
[Quest has been saved in the questing menu. You may access it by thinking ‘View Saved Quest.’]
One quest at a time, Isabelle figured. It was something to look forward to, though. She felt kind of honored.
Isabelle looked to the system’s green arrow. It was pointing her to the only door nearby. She was thankful for the system’s direction, Isabelle may not have even noticed the door otherwise. It was faint and gray. Isabelle walked over to the door and focused on it.
[Dungeon door - open]
What a relief. Isabelle had been worried she’d have to dig around the burnt, ashen ground for a key. Isabelle pushed the door open and crouched.
[Current visibility: 0/250]
Isabelle looked through the doorway, seeing a tunnel with beads of light puckering out near its end. She didn’t see anything malicious. Finally.
Isabelle stood up and walked quickly down the tunnel, excitement and anticipation building up in her chest. Soon, she was engulfed in the shimmering light of day, and was walking through thick, tall grass. It was itchy, but it felt wonderful to breathe fresh air, to finally be free.
[Achievement Unlocked: Break out of prison]
Isabelle had done it. The green arrow at the top of her vision faded away. Isabelle wondered if the system could tell her where exactly she’d come out of the dungeon into, even though it probably couldn’t direct her location any more now that she was officially out of prison.
[Clarification: Yes. You are in the outskirts of Wheatstar, near the left of the Citadel.]
That didn’t tell Isabelle too much, but she did know she wanted to stay as far away from the Citadel as she could until she could figure out how exactly she was going to take out Oglo.
Isabelle walked in the light through the thick grass and fauna, eventually finding a dusty road that lead to small, more rural buildings. On she walked, eventually happening upon a large community board covered in posters. It looked interesting enough, so Isabelle walked closer to observe. She saw a lot of posters for different kobold farmer’s markets. She saw a few for live kobold jazz. And then Isabelle saw a poster that made her heart beat twelve times as fast.
WANTED: A new player has spawned in Beaubinte. Location unknown. Anyone able to find the location of this new player and bring either information or the player themself to the Overlord will recieve a gracious bounty payment.
REWARD: 5000000 gold
Fuck! Isabelle didn’t think anybody really realized she was a player, anybody but Tahsi and Sir Jingles, but still. Isabelle snatched the poster and tore it to shreds, looking around to make sure nobody saw her. Thankfully, it seemed like nobody was out walking at this hour, though it was bright and sunny. Then, Isabelle saw yet another poster that raised her blood pressure. This poster immediately prompted a quest dialog.
Quest: Save Tahsi
Description: Tahsi has been sentenced to public execution by Cloud Reach! They plan to have him hanged tonight ‘when the moon is high’ in the city center between Whitebridge and Nightbridge. Stop the execution to save his life.
Reward: Saving the life of one of your party members
Activate? Y/N
Fuck’s sake. Poor Tahsi. For a second, a small part of Isabelle wished she almost hadn’t seen the poster. But the pressure was on. She couldn’t deny this quest request, not after messing up so bad and getting Tahsi’s home burnt down. As silly as he was, he’d done a lot for her. Maybe Isabelle could finally pay him back.
Isabelle thought yes.
[Quest ‘Save Tahsi’ activated]
[Loading quest]
[…]
[…]
[Quest prepared]
[Prepare to break Tahsi out from the captivity of the Cloud Reach guard. You may be able to find out where they are holding him by talking to kobolds in nearby bars.]
Isabelle took a deep breath. She had some serious work to do.