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Those Who Walk With Heroes - a story from HWFWM
Chapter 14 ‘A shopping trip!’

Chapter 14 ‘A shopping trip!’

In the stunned disbelief that followed the diamond rank intervention the academy staff took control. They formed everyone up and marched them back to the city. The academy functionaries with the adventure society staff stayed to clear up the mess. Knowing that there would be an announcement by messenger if they were needed the Mitchells excused themselves and ducked into their villa on the way into the city. They all crashed out on the pillowed sofas in the communal area, all tired from their adventures. Eventually Lucy made a rune circle over James’ head and a wax paper packet of meat fell out, he got the hint and went outside to fire up the grill. Teddy got up and mixed some drinks from the very well appointed bar and delivered the girls cocktails, Lucy had a grasshopper in a wide triangular cocktail glass and Kyra got a pina colada in a curvy tall glass. Teddy took two local beers out to the grill and joined James in making and cooking some meat skewers.

They all sat out on the porch eating, drinking and exchanged stories, James was shocked by Lucy’s story about her assessment and the mines and hugged her so tight she thought he would never let go. James showed off his Vambrace to the girls and they oo’d at the quality of the engraving. Kyra congratulated the guys on solving the lumber mill problem without killing everything.

They put it off for a while just relaxing in each other’s company but they knew they had to consolidate the last week. Each went to their favourite place in the yard to meditate, James amongst the orchard, Kyra on an earth pillar, Lucy cross legged on the porch and Teddy on the eave of the roof. They all felt the others making gains of different levels but no one stopped until they had all had enough.

“All right gang, cards on the table time, we all haven’t worked together in so long lets see what the baseline is.”

Teddy started them off by pulling up his stats.

Theodore Mitchell

Race: Outworlder

Current rank: Iron

Progression to bronze rank 00% (1/4 essences complete)

Attributes

[Power] (Dimension): [Iron 0]

[Speed] (Swift): [Iron 5]

[Spirit] (Void): [Iron 0]

[Recovery] (Dark): [Iron 0]

Racial abilities (Outworlder)

Interface system

Looting ability

Language adaptation

Minimap

Essences (4/4)

Dark [Recovery] (3/5)

Shadow Self

Ability: [Shadow Self] (Dark)

Conjugation (darkness)

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Iron 8 (30%)

Effect (iron): Can blend self into shadows, much harder to detect with normal senses. Ignore all physical damage when struck however this will cancel the power.

Shard of Darkness

Ability: [Shard of Darkness] (Dark)

Special attack (ranged)

Base cost: low mana

Cool-down: 3 seconds

Current rank: Iron 8 (20%)

Effect (iron): A blade made of darkness made physical is hurled at the enemy causing minor damage. Can be negated by magically enhanced light.

Shadow lantern

Ability: [Shadow lantern] (Dark)

Familiar (ritual, summon)

Cost: Extreme mana, extreme stamina, extreme health.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Iron 6 (80%)

Effect (iron): Summon a [Shadow lantern] to serve as a familiar. [Shadow familiar] will fire bolts of darkness at enemies for extremely low damage. Attacks against enemies have a chance to inflict [Blindness] against enemies.

[Blindness]: enemies affected by the condition will have all senses blinded for 5 seconds.

Swift [Speed] (5/5)

Winged Feet

Ability: [Winged Feet] (Swift)

Special ability

Base cost: moderate mana

Cool-down: 5 seconds

Current rank: Iron 7 (70%)

Effect (iron): Causes a permanent significant increase in speed. Allows for slow fall and a mid air jump. Mid air jumps are limited to 1 every 5 seconds at iron rank.

By a Thousand Cuts

Ability: [By a Thousand Cuts] (Swift)

Special attack

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 9 (25%)

Effect (iron): Successful hits cause an instance of [Rapid].

[Rapid]. Buff. Stacking. Increases attack speed.

Eyes of the Swift

Ability: [Eyes of the Swift] (Swift)

Special ability (perception, time)

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 7 (20%)

Effect (iron): When activated slows down movement to your perception to make real time appear slower.

Fly like an Arrow

Ability: [Fly like an Arrow] (Swift)

Special ability

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (50%)

Effect (iron): Projectiles thrown or fired by you fly twice as fast as they normally would.

Wraiths Dash

Ability: [Wraiths Dash] (Swift)

Special ability

Base cost: moderate mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 5 (35%)

Effect (iron): Speed forward on the ground for an ongoing mana cost.

Dimension [Power] (4/5)

Teleport

Ability: [Teleport] (Dimension)

Special ability (teleport, dimension)

Base cost: High mana

Cool-down: Varies with distance travelled.

Current rank: Iron 3 (90%)

Effect (iron): Teleport self over a moderate distance, increasing with minor threshold advancement.

Dimension Rift

Ability: [Dimension Rift] (Dimension)

Special ability: (Teleport, Short range astral tunnel)

Base cost: Mana dependent for length of effect

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): A rift in reality appears, the caster is able to travel through into another rift opening in short range of the first, anything that comes into contact with either rift will be partially teleported to another dimension, strength of material in contact will effect how much of an effect the rift will have. Alternate use, the caster can open a single rift and use it as dimensional storage.

Effect (bronze): Damage is more effective against enemies of lower rank. Tunnel distance is increased. Causes an ongoing damaging effect for a short while.

Dimensional Instability

Ability: [Dimensional instability] (Dimension)

Special ability (de-buff, stacking, deleterious)

Base cost: low mana

Cool-down: 5 minutes

Current rank: Iron 5 (15%)

Effect (iron): can cause an area of effect to the limit of the casters aura that force enemies to feel the effects of dimensional instability normally felt through effects such as teleporting. Will effect enemies that have immunities to such usual effects such as astral affinity.

Dimension Blade

Ability: [Dimension Blade] (Dimension)

Conjugation (blade, teleport)

Base cost: extreme low mana, increasing with target being cut

Cool-down: none

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%) This ability cannot be increased until the user is bronze rank.

Effect (iron): Create a Dimensional Rift no longer than 2m, effectively works as a sword, and teleports anything it comes into contact with to another dimension. Higher rank items and targets will require more mana.

Effect (bronze): base cost for effective cutting is significantly reduced. Ongoing damaging effect for a short while. Your aura has greater control over blade properties.

Void [Spirit] (4/5)

Aura of the Void

Ability [Aura of the Void] (Void)

Aura (time, dimension, void, physics)

Base cost: None

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (80%)

Effect (iron): enemies within the aura have a slowing effect. For every enemy that is affected you have a slight speed increase.

Black Hole Hand Grenade

Ability: [Black Hole Hand Grenade] (Void)

Special attack (gravity, explosive)

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 5 minutes

Current rank: Iron 9 (10%)

Effect (iron): when thrown the grenade will form a black hole that pulls enemies towards it, on contact will cause damage to the enemy. After a short time the grenade will explode, explosion is increased for the amount of damage caused by the gravity effect.

Poison of the Void

Ability: [Poison of the Void] (void)

Special attack (poison, area)

Base cost: low with ongoing mana cost

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 3 (40%)

Effect (iron): causes a minor health and stamina drain that replenishes the caster. Mana cost will increase for distance spread. Will not affect allies within your aura.

Void Pull

Ability: [Void Pull] (Void)

Special attack (Gravity)

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 6 (65%)

Effect (iron): Throws a black hole that when stationary will pull objects towards with great force, enemies against the black hole will suffer ongoing resonating and disruptive force damage.

Two of Teddy’s abilities had crossed over the bronze threshold and they gave him big thumps on the back in congratulations, it made sense as they were his big damage dealing abilities and he had trained hardest to use them. Many of his other abilities had crossed multiple minor thresholds after the climactic battle.

“Go on I’ll go next then.” Kyra said and put her abilities up.

Kyra Mitchell

Race: Outworlder

Current rank: Iron

Progression to bronze rank 00% (3/4 essences complete)

Attributes

[Power] (Earth): [Iron 2]

[Speed] (Mirror): [Iron 4]

[Spirit] (Diamond): [Iron 4]

[Recovery] (Life): [Iron 0]

Racial abilities (Outworlder)

Interface system

Looting ability

Language adaptation

Pocket mirror - storage power

Essences (4/4)

Earth [Power] (5/5)

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Boulder Throw

Ability: [Boulder Throw] (Earth)

Special attack

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 30 secs

Current rank: Iron 3 (40%)

Effect (iron): A boulder will materialise in mid air almost instantaneously. Boulder can then mentally be thrown with great force over a moderate distance

Earth Spike

Ability: [Earth Spike] (Earth)

Special attack

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 30 secs

Current rank: Iron 3 (25%)

Effect (iron): Within a moderate distance of the caster form an earth spike to project from the earth.

Earth Wall

Ability: [Earth Wall] (Earth)

Special ability

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 4 (40%)

Effect (iron): Summons a large earth wall from the ground to absorb a high amount of damage.

Terraform

Ability: [Terraform] (Earth)

Special ability

Base cost: Variable mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 2 (25%)

Effect (iron): manipulate the ground in a short distance around the caster.

Seismic Sense

Ability: [Seismic Sense] (Earth)

Special ability

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 5 (80%)

Effect (iron): a passive ability that allows the user to sense vibrations through the ground, will form a coherent picture of the area around the user.

Life [Recovery] (4/5)

Life Bolt

Ability: [Life Bolt] (Life)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: 30 secs

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): A bolt will be fired on casting causing a small amount of healing to a single target. Life bolt has an extreme reaction to undead targets.

Effect (bronze): A second bolt of healing is available per casting for the same mana cost.

Life Aura

Ability: [Life Aura] (Life)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: 2 min

Current rank: Iron 9 (20%)

Effect (iron): This is not an aura power. Life aura can be cast on a single target to interrogate target health status. When cast on allies will cause a very slight ongoing healing effect.

Life Charge

Ability: [Life Charge] (Life)

Special ability

Base cost: Extreme high mana

Cool-down: 1 hour

Current rank: Iron 9 (50%)

Effect (iron): Extremely high healing magic.

Lucky

Ability: [Lucky] (Life)

Familiar (ritual, summon)

Cost: Extreme mana, extreme stamina, extreme health.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%) Familiar must be re-summoned with a bronze rank ritual to advance.

Effect (iron): Lucky the puppy is summoned as a familiar. When absorbed effects the look of the summoners hair. Will cause a moderate ongoing healing boost. When deployed from the user will produce a low ongoing healing effect in a small area of effect.

Mirror [Speed] (5/5)

Self Reflection

Ability: [Self Reflection] (Mirror)

Special attack (retributive)

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 30 min

Current rank: Iron 4 (35%)

Effect (iron): Once activated any damage taken can be reflected onto enemy within 5 seconds, must touch enemy.

Line of Mirrors

Ability: [Line of Mirrors] (Mirror)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 5 (70%)

Effect (iron): Can see through allies eyes and vice versa.

Paired Mirrors

Ability: [Paired Mirrors] (Mirror)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 7 (75%)

Effect (iron): Owned mirrors can be paired to form a permanent 2 way communication to be used over large distances. Iron rank only allows one pair to be bonded.

Slice of Mirror

Ability: [Slice of Mirror] (Mirror)

Special attack

Base cost: Low Mana

Cool-down: low.

Current rank: Iron 9 (95%)

Effect (iron): Fire a small piece of mirror at an enemy for low damage. Enemies hit with the mirror are afflicted with [7 Years Bad Luck].

[7 Years Bad Luck] (affliction, unholy, stacking): Wherever the enemy afflicted with this power steps finds mirror shards on the floor that deal minor damage. Enemies effected by this suffer an instance of [vulnerable].

[Vulnerable] (affliction, unholy, stacking): All resistances are reduced. Additional instances have a cumulative effect.

Mirror Maze

Ability: [Mirror Maze] (Mirror)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: 5min

Current rank: Iron 4 (05%)

Effect (iron): 10 perfect copies of the caster will appear and be able to be moderately controlled within casters aura.

Diamond [Spirit] (5/5)

Diamond Golem

Ability: [Diamond Golem] (Diamond)

Summon (ritual, summon)

Cost: High mana.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Iron 5 (80%)

Effect (iron): Summon a [Diamond golem] to serve as a temporary summon. The golem is a high hit point low attack defender. When it receives enough damage it will explosively separate into 3 smaller golems with less hit points. When these are destroyed they are also explosive.

Diamond Lantern

Ability: [Diamond Lantern] (Diamond)

Familiar (ritual, summon)

Cost: Extreme mana, extreme stamina, extreme health.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Iron 6 (50%)

Effect (iron): Summon a [Diamond lantern] to serve the summoner. [Dimond lantern] will orbit the summoner and fire resonating force bolts. When absorbed will change the appearance of the summoners eyes, when absorbed will provide ongoing mana replenishment.

Encased

Ability: [Encased] (Diamond)

Special ability

Base cost: Moderate Mana

Cool-down: 2 minutes

Current rank: Iron 4 (95%)

Effect (iron): Encased in impenetrable armour for 5 seconds, cannot move whilst encased.

Diamond Weapons

Ability: [Diamond Weapons] (Diamond)

Special ability (conjuration)

Base cost: Low Mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 6 (90%)

Effect (iron): Summon a sword and shield made entirely of diamond.

Resolve of Diamond

Ability [Resolve of Diamond] (Diamond)

Aura

Base cost: None

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (80%)

Effect (iron): You have an indomitable aura that is much tougher than normal auras of your rank, provide protection against attacks 2 ranks up from the users rank.

“Lucky! You made bronze rank!” Lucy exclaimed.

Lucky bounced around in a circle barking and trying to catch his tail.

“Let’s hope he grows up a little bit.” Kyra said, then catching him mid leap scratched his tummy. “But not lose all his pupsieness.”

“It’s not a surprise you healing abilities have mostly all made bronze rank, you’ve been spending so much time at the clinic, sometimes feel like I hardly see you.” Teddy said giving her a firm one armed hug.

“Well I’ll chuck mine up, I’ve made a few breakthroughs as well I think.” James said.

James Mitchell

Race: Outworlder

Current rank: Iron

Progression to bronze rank 00% (3/4 essences complete)

Attributes

[Power] (Bear): [Iron 6]

[Speed] (Rat): [Iron 3]

[Spirit] (Eagle): [Iron 4]

[Recovery] (Animagus): [Iron 0]

Racial abilities (Outworlder)

Interface system

Looting ability

Language adaptation - including animals

Princess power - storage

Essences (4/4)

Rat [Speed] (5/5)

Empty the Sewer

Ability: [Empty the Sewer] (Rat)

Summon (Compost circle)

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 1 Hour

Current rank: Iron 3 (15%)

Effect (iron): Summons 5 rats from the circle. Within a small aura surrounding the rats they spread pestilence leaving multiple afflictions. [Typhoid], [Black death], [Rock joint]. Bite from a rat causes summon to die but will break through any resistances.

[Typhoid]: Persistent high temperature, piercing headache and high mana drain to cause a premature mana headache.

[Black death]: extreme black vomiting and moderate health drain.

[Rock joint]: Debilitating effect on agility, enemies affected are slower.

Prehensile Tail

Ability: [Prehensile Tail] (Rat)

Special attack

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 9 (70%)

Effect (iron): Summon an enormous rat tail from the summoner. The appendage will last 60s and will be completely controllable during that time. The tail has a 5 x base strength boost. For the purpose of other special attacks it counts as an unarmed attack.

Omnivorscent

Ability: [Omnivorscent] (Rat)

Special ability (immunity)

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 5 (40%)

Effect (iron): User is immune to all poisons and toxins.

Scurry

Ability: [Scurry] (Rat)

Special ability: Agility boost

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: Combat status dependant

Current rank: Iron 7 (10%)

Effect (iron): At the start of every fight receive a 10 second boost to agility. Agility will be boosted to 200% with a small increase with every minor threshold advancement.

Scenting

Ability: [Scenting] (Rat)

Special ability

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): User can see scents in the environment.

Effect (bronze): User can see aura trails.

Bear [Power (5/5)

Koda

Ability: [Koda] (Bear)

Familiar (ritual, summon)

Cost: Extreme mana, extreme stamina, extreme health.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%) Familiar must be re-summoned with a bronze rank ritual to advance.

Effect (iron): Koda the junior bear is summoned to serve the summoner. When absorbed will significantly increase the strength of the summoner.

Hibernation

Ability: [Hibernation] (Bear)

Special Agility

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (70%)

Effect (iron): Meditation adds instance of [Integrity] buff, stacking.

[Integrity]: heal over time, mana over time. Instances drop off over time.

Ursa Family

Ability: [Ursa Family] (Bear)

Special ability (Retributive buff)

Base cost: moderate mana

Cooldown: 5min

Current rank: Iron 6 (50%)

Effect (iron): Attacks against an ally cause and instance of [Fortitude].

[Fortitude]: Becomes stronger with each instance.

Standing Kodak

Ability: [Standing Kodak] (Bear)

Special ability

Bas cost: Nil, Passive power

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (65%)

Effect (iron): 2 foot planted attacks deal 200% more damage. Absorbs 50% of incoming damage.

Bear (Bare) arms

Ability: [Bear (Bare) Arms] (Bear)

Special ability

Current rank: Iron 5 (15%)

Base cost: Nil (Passive power)

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (60%)

Effect (iron): Unarmed attacks do 400% damage

Eagle [Spirit] (5/5)

Rise

Ability: [Rise] (Eagle)

Aura (Spirit) (Boon)

Base cost: None.

Cool-down: None.

Current rank: Iron 7 (40%)

Effect (iron): Allies within you aura have their perception and perception powers significantly increased. Allies spirit attribute will be temporarily increased. Enemies within the aura will have a sense of dread of a predator above.

Vision of the Eagle

Ability: [Vision of the Eagle] (Eagle)

Special ability

Base cost: Low Mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 9 (95%)

Effect (iron): Can zoom vision up to 10x

Peregrine Dive

Ability: [Peregrine Dive] (Eagle)

Special attack

Base cost: Low Mana

Cool-down: low.

Current rank: Iron 9 (90%)

Effect (iron): Limited teleport to above an enemy. User will be accelerated to terminal velocity to strike enemy. Chance to be used as an execute ability [Last Shadow]

[Last Shadow] (execute, holy): As an execute effect, damage scales exponentially with level of injury.

Birds of a Feather

Ability: [Birds of a Feather] (Eagle)

Special ability

Base cost: moderate Mana

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 4 (90%)

Effect (iron): Can communicate with birds and bird like creatures over a large distance. With non intelligent birds can sense and convey feelings.

Wing Sweep

Ability: [Wing Sweep] (Eagle)

Special attack (wind, summon)

Base cost: Low Mana

Cool-down: low.

Current rank: Iron 9 (30%)

Effect (iron): Summon an enormous wing to blast back enemies, a torrent of wind accompanies it.

Animagus [Recovery] (4/5)

Inner Beast

Ability: [Inner Beast] (Animagus)

Special ability (animagus, shapeshift)

Base cost: Very high mana

Cool-down: 24 hours

Current rank: Iron 6 (30%)

Effect (iron): Transform into an animal of your choice for one hour. The animal of your choosing will be the prime example of that animal.

Shaman

Ability: [Shaman] (Animagus)

Summon (Leaf circle)

Base cost: Moderate mana to enact then mana dependant effect.

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 5 (45%)

Effect (iron): Summon the spirits of the ancients to heal yourself or allies. Occupant of the circle does not have to be the caster. The occupant of the circle can trade mana for health.

Animage

Ability: [Animage] (Animagus)

Special ability (animagus, shapeshift)

Base cost: High mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 9 (80%)

Effect (iron): Transform one part of your body for a high mana cost to that of an animal for a short duration. Duration beyond a short while will have an exponential mana cost. Base cost will rise to Very High mana cost for a transformation of two body parts.

Apex Predator

Ability: [Apex Predator] (Animage)

Special ability (Spell, Intimidate)

Base cost: moderate mana (increasing with high level enemies)

Cool-down: 1hr

Current rank: Iron 6 (15%)

Effect (iron): Intimidate targeted enemy. Successfully intimidated enemies will be inflicted with an instance of [Vulnerable].

[Vulnerable]: Cause your attacks to be more effective against an enemy.

“So many that are so close! Once the band is back together for good we should have no problem getting those across the line!” Teddy said

“Koda has ranked up as well! What a boy!” Kyra crooned over the furry lump in the corner. Koda raised his head from where he was napping and made rolling over look like a huge effort.

“Best for last guys.” Lucy said.

Lucy Mitchell

Race: Outworlder

Current rank: Iron

Progression to bronze rank xx% (x/x essences complete)

Attributes

[Power] (Magic): [Iron 4]

[Speed] (Vision): [Iron 0]

[Spirit] (Mind): [Iron x]

[Recovery] (Illusion): [Iron x]

Racial abilities (Outworlder)

Interface system

Looting ability

Language adaptation

Essences (4/4)

Magic [Power] (5/5)

Magical Artisan

Ability: [Magical Artisan] (Magic)

Special ability

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 4 (70%)

Effect (iron): Significantly increases mana available. Grants the user the ability to use magical tools and vehicles.

Magical Master

Ability: [Magical Master] (Magic)

Special ability (Perception)

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 9 (90%)

Effect (iron): Significantly increase mana available. Can see magic.

Magic Missile

Ability: [Magic Missile] (Magic)

Spell: Magic Missile

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: 5 Sec.

Current rank: Iron 4 (20%)

Effect (iron): Fires a magic missile that magically tracks a target.

Mana Lantern

Ability: [Mana Lantern] (Magic)

Familiar (ritual, summon)

Cost: Extreme mana, extreme stamina, extreme health.

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Iron 4 (80%)

Effect (iron): Summon a [Mana lantern] to serve as a familiar. [Mana lantern] will significantly increase mana recovery when absorbed. When deployed will increase mana recover to user an allies in a small aura.

Rune Lore

Ability: [Rune Lore] (Magic)

Special ability: Rune projection

Base cost: Variable mana

Cool-down: Nil.

Current rank: Bronze 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): Increased mana regeneration. Project runes that will form a portal window to dimensional storage. Alternate use is to produce a varied range of combat rituals, these rituals are supplied by the casters own mana to be powered. Flexible usage requires a varied mana input. Only one ritual or storage power may be used at a time.

Effect (bronze): Two rune circles may be used at the same time for an increased mana output, the effects may be the same or different.

Vision [Speed] (4/5)

Fog of War

Ability: [Fog of War] (Vision)

Special ability

Base cost: High mana

Cool-down: 2 min

Current rank: Iron 6 (80%)

Effect (iron): For a short duration enemies in a small area of effect have a thick mist obscure their vision. User and allies can see through the fog and the extent of it.

Focussed Eyes

Ability: [Focussed Eyes] (Vision)

Special ability (perception)

Base cost: Nil

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 8 (90%)

Effect (iron): Increased aim with all projectiles.

Double Vision

Ability: [Double Vision] (Vision)

Special ability

Base cost: High mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 5 (40%)

Effect (iron): Confuses enemies vision to see double in front of them increasing their chance of missing for a short duration.

Vertigo

Ability: [Vertigo] (Vision)

Special ability

Cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: Varied

Current rank: Iron 3 (30%)

Effect (iron): Causes enemies to lose balance and an effect similar to standing room a great height looking down for a short duration. Cost is increased to very high to prolong the effect.

Mind [Spirit] (4/5)

Psychic Shriek

Ability: [Psychic Shriek] (Mind)

Special attack

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 30 secs

Current rank: Iron 5 (95%)

Effect (iron): A non-verbal cry. Causes a brief period of intense disorientation to a single target. Causes minor damage to the target.

Clarity

Ability [Clarity] (Mind)

Aura

Base cost: None

Cool-down: Nil

Current rank: Iron 6 (50%)

Effect (iron): Improves clarity of thinking speed to self and allies within aura.

Amnesia

Ability: [Amnesia] (Mind)

Special ability (curse)

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 4 (25%)

Effect (iron): Short term curse causes the enemy to forget the last 30sec for 30sec.

Astral Projection

Ability: [Astral Projection] (Mind)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: None

Current rank: Iron 6 (20%)

Effect (iron): Project your consciousness outside your body to a range determined by power of the ability. Whilst in this form you cannot affect or be effected by physical matter. You may be detected by aura senses in this form. Your body is left defenceless whilst using this power. Any damage to your body will cause your consciousness to be immediately recalled.

Illusion [Recovery] (4/5)

Houdini Palace

Ability: [Houdini palace] (Illusion)

Special ability

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 15 min

Current rank: Iron 2 (10%)

Effect (iron): Summon illusionary mirror walls around target for a short duration.

Switch Teleport

Ability: [Switch Teleport] (Illusion)

Special ability

Base cost: Moderate mana

Cool-down: 30 min

Current rank: Iron 4 (15%)

Effect (iron): Select one person to switch teleport. Base cost increases to high mana to switch teleport with an enemy.

Playing Possum

Ability: [Playing Possum] (Illusion)

Special ability

Base cost: High mana

Cool-down: 18 Hour

Current rank: Iron 1 (90%)

Effect (iron): Negates an enemy attack.

Kansas City Shuffle

Ability: [Kansas City Shuffle] (Illusion)

Special ability

Base cost: Low mana

Cool-down: 5 min

Current rank: Iron 5 (35%)

Effect (iron): Conjure a small illusion to distract an enemy.

“Best for last my ass, I’ve got a fair bit of catching up to do, that last week was helpful in pushing rune lore over the edge though.”

Lucy raised an arm and glyphs streamed from her eyes, twice as concentrated as they had been before and twice as fast. They formed one circle at the end of her arm where her hand was splayed, the runes a couple of centimetres from the tips of her fingers. The glyphs kept streaming down and through the first circle forming another and she pulled her arm back which spread the gap between the two circles so there was about a metre from her hand to the first and a metre to the second. She swung the collection over to empty space and fired a missile. As it left her hand it glowed it’s usual unaltered royal blue hue. As it hit the first circle of runes it twisted in a torrent of fire out the other side, as it hit the second lightning wrapped around an almost solid looking column of fire as it disappeared and dissipated into the open air.

“Well, damn. I think the locals swear by gods plural and that’s definitely worth swearing by more than one god.” Teddy said.

Lucy winced and jabbed a finger at her temple.

“High mana powers at bronze level when you’re iron rank isn’t as much fun, even with a mana pool as big as mine.”

Teddy was working on the whiteboard, clearing of some graffiti from the last time the group had a ‘meeting’.

“The way I see it is that we’re all making some really good progress through our powers, especially for only having just graduated.” They all turned to look at Lucy, “hopefully, but none of us are on the ‘path to bronze’ yet. We need to fill the last few powers. The market should be flooded with cheap awakening stones after all those forced manifestations, maybe a third of them in the phenomenon were awakening stones?”

“Also, Teddy and I want to head to somewhere a bit more high magic for a little while to find some niche items then return to Greenstone.” Lucy said.

Kyra sat up excitedly.

“Are you telling me that we’re going on not one but two shopping trips?!” Her face lit up with glee.

Teddy and James looked at each other and shrugged.

“What the hell, it’s only Monopoly money.”