It was late afternoon, and the campus courtyard was still full of people, horses, and wagons. Skawa told me, “Oh good. The comic relief is almost here. I may be guilty of slowing them down a little bit. ‘A time for everything’ and all that.”
Just then several masked horsemen entered the campus, and behind them it looked like there were a hundred more. They were too far away for me to use Analyze even at its reduced capability.
Skawa clarified, “There are 107 bandits total on 103 horses. The missing horses are my fault, but they will be okay. The bandits include members of a crime organization within the capital. They organized this and hired three large groups of highwaymen to assist in their robbery. They range in levels from 12 to 40, mostly at the higher end of the scale.”
“Why didn’t you stop them entirely?”
“And miss this? Are you crazy!?”
One of the bandits, apparently their leader, was dressed almost as a rodeo dandy, with big boots, chaps, a gaudy vest and a large hat. He spoke loudly, but his mask partly muffled his voice. “I’m sure you know why we are here. Give us the wagon with the Formless Abider, and no one gets hurt.”
Asiel replied. It sounded as if he were using a normal speaking voice, which was odd because I was about ten yards from him. “Do you believe it is a good idea to try to rob directly from the duchy?”
The leader shouted his reply, “For hundreds of platinum, it is a good idea to rob from the kingdom.” His men laughed or shouted in agreement.
Then the dandy was suddenly being held aloft by some invisible force, just a yard in front of Asiel. “There are only two reasons you and everyone with you are not dead right now . The first is we would have to waste time looting your corpses and cleaning up the mess.”
Just then there were shouts of terror from the bandits. Something I could not see was spooking them badly. Many had started to retreat, but a big funnel of wind surrounded them and the bandits could not leave. Their horses were not spooked, but many of them reacted to the terror of their riders, many of them who were thrown to the ground. The free horses who desired had no trouble exiting the funnel.
“Now that’s impressive,” stated Odd. “I would not have had that much control – allowing the wind funnel to let horses stroll leisurely out while trapping the people inside. Ace! His illusions share the same dichotomy; they panic the people but seem to have a minor calming effect on the horses, which should be thoroughly spooked by the terror their riders are exhibiting.”
Asiel continued after pausing for effect, “The second reason is I need you all to deliver a message. These grounds and the village of Cottages are protected by the duchy’s guard, the village guard, and two Level 50 unkillable Wraiths. Please pass that information on to all of your unwise acquaintances.”
The dandy was suddenly back on his horse, and the terror the others felt was lifted. The funnel of air vanished. They turned tail and ran, feeling regular fear now. I remembered that Asiel was a telekinetic and Orian was an illusionist and aeromancer. Either one of them could likely have decimated the entire gang.
Skawa commented, “Quality over quantity. It’s always fun to watch.”
I look forward to seeing more.
“As do I. How was Asiel speaking at a normal volume, yet everyone could hear him?”
It is a telekinetic force applied to the words he speaks. His voice does not need to travel; he just pushes it directly to everyone in the area. The technique is referred to as ‘amplification by location’.
“It is a great intimidation tactic. I use it sometimes in my Playground.”
Ferret asked, “So the thiefs gone now and not come back? I did not like them anyway.”
“Yes. Gone thieves.” || Yes, the thieves are gone.
“Stupid they return.” || They would be monumentally stupid if they returned.
“Them I like not.” || I did not like them either.
Captain Pokka stated gratefully, “Thank you for your assistance, Orian and Asiel. The guard may have been able to protect our cargo, but many of us likely would have died.”
Orian responded with a smile. “You are welcome. That was fun. It was the first opportunity I have had to use my skills outside of training in a very long time.”
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Just then Uncle Ralf realized something. He shouted, “Alert! Our wall guard, Drahm Frahm, didn’t sound the alarm. Healer, follow me!” I immediately turned to the gate and started running after him. It only took 30 seconds to pass through the village gate, open the security door, and run up the steps to the top of the gate wall. Harron and Dad joined us as we ran up the steps.
There were three prone bodies immediately visible at the top of the wall. I only recognized Drahm. He had lost an arm just below the elbow, but was alive and unconscious. There was also a dead adult Human male, and a seriously injured Covargh male my age. The teen was a barely conscious Level 8 bandit named Corval Hirsut. He looked at us with fear and a sort of acceptance.
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“Forrest Rhodes,” commanded Harron, “attend to the guard. I will treat the bandit. Have you reattached a limb yet?”
Puzzled and doubtful, I replied, “How do I do that?”
“His detached arm still possesses most of its vitus, its life. That means you can heal his body and his arm back together.” Dad looked at me, just as surprised, and cocked his head at the bandit, as if to say, that I might as well try it.
By then Harron was already examining Corval who had been stabbed in his lower stomach and bore other numerous wounds. I knelt down near guardsman Frahm’s shoulder, on the side of his severed arm. It was within reach; I picked it up, examining the end which had been torn off his body. The attack which severed it must have been very quick and clean. It appeared almost as if a laser might have cut through the arm, accomplishing a very clean dismemberment. It wasn’t a laser though, because there was no sign of cauterization, just exposed bone and muscle and blood.
I removed the leather sleeve remaining on his arm. Seeing what I would need to do, Uncle Ralf cut the leathers away from the upper arm. Not sure how I would reattach it, I laid it down across his chest, near enough to the severed part of his arm so that the two ends could touch. With one hand, I picked up the still attached part of his arm, and held it at his side. With my other hand I moved the severed part next to it, bringing the two ends together.
Finally, both ends touching in approximately their normal alignment, I activated Heal Other. It took a few seconds, but the detached arm shifted and rotated slightly to its fully correct alignment. Before skin covered the reconnecting area, I saw bone and muscle reform. After 15 seconds, the arm appeared to be normal and Heal Other deactivated. His stats showed that his HP were close to max, but that he was still under some form of toxic influence. He had also lost a lot of blood, but I had a solution to both. Activating Bless Blood, the toxicity soon went away and Drahm seemed fully healthy, though still unconscious.
“Good work,” stated Harron, who had been observing for the last several seconds. Drahm had been under the influence of some sort of sleep powder or potion, but he is currently in a normal sleep. He will awaken soon as his mind has time to process what has happened.”
Uncle Ralf and Dad were guarding the now sitting bandit, who had apparently been watching us as well. He seemed to be relieved that guardsman Frahm would fully recover. He didn’t say anything, but I could see it in his eyes and body language.
The Mayor asked him, “Are there any more bandits in town?”
It was my first opportunity to analyze him at a full D level and Harron as well.
Corval Hirsut – male Covargh, age 16
Level 8 Alchemist, Rogue
Bandit
Harron Ronvaldt - male Human Skolturi Hybrid Primitive, youthful
Level 35 Cleric, Physician
Cleric of Honor
“No,” Corval replied. “Just Dheck and I, that’s my dead … associate. We were sent ahead to try to prevent an alarm as our bandit assembly approached. We are very good at concealing ourselves. We waited at the top of the wall until the predetermined time. As expected, the guardsman did not notice us. We observed numerous groups pass beneath us, including the unusual one with Forrest, an Earth Elemental, and somehow a Trichyan. I knew from that point things could not go as had been planned. I signaled to Dheck that we should leave, but he commanded that we stay and do as we were ordered. When that time came -”
Dad interrupted, “That is all I needed to know right now. We’ll listen to your full story at trial.” Corval remained silent, very likely concerned for his future. Guardsman Frahm awoke, very surprised at having two full arms. He asked what happened, and Dad gave him a short summary. During that discussion, Uncle Ralf and I relieved Corval of a dagger, short sword, two pouches, and some sort of potion bandolier.
“I’ll finish your shift, Drahm” Uncle Ralf stated. You go watch the remaining ceremony. I already know what a Formless Abider is”
Drahm was very surprised to hear about that. Harron added with a short laugh, “Oh, I never got to that part of my speech. Let’s finish out the ceremony.”
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Guardsman Rallee told us to leave the dead bandit up here, and the town guard would take care of it. The rest of us, including the young bandit, went down the stairs and back to campus. Most of us rejoined the students, including guardsman Frahm and Corval. Dad continued to where Mom was, and Harron went back to the administration steps where Asiel and Orian had remained. He spoke to them privately for about a minute.
Asiel asked Cleric Ronvaldt to continue. “As many of you have already seen, guardsman Frahm is well. Two bandits had disabled him, hiding in shadows. I’ll just summarize the rest of my prepared speech so that the consequences of the attack can be handled quickly.”
“I am sure many of you are unaware of what a Formless Abider is. Simply put it is a large, sort-of fungus monster which heals extremely quickly once it is damaged beyond a certain point. Its normal healing rate is about that of a person at level 8 or 9. But the more damage it receives above that threshold, the quicker it heals. We have studied them for centuries, and they feel no pain. Instead they heal up quickly to 90% health, at which point they have returned to their normal healing rate. Their total hit points are extremely high. The one we have brought here has over 9000 hit points. When it is attacked, it forms a mildly abrasive, mildly toxic pseudopod and counter-attacks almost leisurely. It uses about the same amount of force as that used to attack it. It’s as if it doesn’t desire to hurt its attacker, just requesting ‘leave me alone!’.”
“Imagine for a moment why clerics in general or a school like this would be interested in having access to a creature like this.” He stopped talking for about 15 seconds, serious in his request. I started thinking. Harron specifically mentioned clerics. They could leisurely heal the 900 initial points of damage, while the Abider’s regeneration would handle damage above that. And it attacks back, so healers can train self healing as well.
This is -
“Yes, it is the perfect creature for healers to train on. Typically we have to hurt each other and heal each other in an almost never-ending cycle of training. But with Abbie, that’s what the Duchess’ daughter named it, a cleric can train both their attacks and healing skills endlessly.”
“I would normally take time to explain more and answer questions, but under the circumstances I believe it better right now to investigate the bandit Corval Hirsut.”
At that, the crowd began to disperse, most of the people heading back to town. The Mayor walked over to speak to us. “Corval Hirsut, expect to be tried in less than an hour. You didn’t kill anyone, so I don’t expect your punishment to be severe.”
The bandit interrupted in almost a whisper. “I killed Dheck.”
Although this surprised my Dad, he continued, “You didn’t kill any of ours. Arrjee, when you get to town, please speak with Dorra Marson and let her know we would like her to be our empath at the trial. Guardsman Frahm, please remain here as both witness and victim. Onre, see if you can find a guard to relieve guardsman Rallee. I would like him to attend as chief of the village’s guard. I will ask the two Skolturi to attend the trial as well. Being a Justicar,I have been curious to witness Asiel fully in that aspect of his duties.”