“We need to be smart about this,” Chess said, rubbing her face after they’d all sat digesting Ashley’s choices for a few minutes.
“Let’s at least break it down to the best of our knowledge. The decision is of course still hers,” Lynn said over her shoulder, her gaze remaining steady on the darkness ahead.
“Ashley?” Chess prompted, picking up the leftover scrap from the dagger and idly turning it into a large marble in her hands.
“Please. Some seem obvious like Amber Armaments but dad always said the system likes to fool you where it can,” Ashley said, the thought making her look melancholy for a moment.
“Let’s start with the gopher in the room. Do either of you have any idea what an Einherjar is?” Lynn asked, tripping over the pronunciation of the word.
“Yes, it’s the name given to the worthy warriors that Valkyries harvest for Valhalla’s halls that I couldn’t remember earlier,” Chess said, doing her best with her limited memory on the subject. She leaned back against the cave wall and tossed her new ball from hand to hand. Keeping her hands busy kept her mind off the previous day’s events. She suspected if she stopped to think again, she’d be a mess for a while.
“So, it's necromancy?” Lynn turned to look Chess in the eye with a grim look; the darkness and meager light giving her face a sinister cast. The blade Lynn kept in her hand only added to the effect.
“Yes,” Chess said carefully while mentally sighing at the clear distaste in Lynn’s tone. Didn't she just finish praising the power of death classes before Ash made her choice? Maybe it’s an undead bias?
“Freya is a little more nuanced than that though. If you take both the synergies and Freya’s aspects into account it will likely be a worthy warrior who worshiped her or at least accepted the binding with their soul intact. Ashley told me undead are usually mindless unless they absorb a lot of mana and evolve intelligence over time. I'd be surprised if the Einherjar didn’t keep at least the combat knowledge from their life,” Chess said. “Then again I have no idea how it works, it could summon a spirit warrior to fight for a short period of time,” she amended with a small shrug.
“What about Reap?” Ashley asked, diffusing the budding argument.
“The synergies lead me to believe it's something to do with stealing power or life from something else. It’s common with death classes. Withering touch is likely similar but it lacks the binding.” Lynn said thoughtfully. “That leaves both Weapons of the Fallen and Amber Armaments along with whatever Lay on Hands is,” she added.
“I may know what Lay on Hands is. I’ve heard the term somewhere in reference to healing,” Chess interrupted.
“Oh, that’s good! I was hoping she’d get a healing ability. Now Weapons of the Fallen and Amber Armaments: they both sound like equipment abilities. Weapons of the Fallen likely needs you to harvest weapons from opponents you kill, whereas Amber Armaments sounds like a conjured equipment ability. Both have their merits. Would you tell us the ranks of your Pyths or at least the order from strongest to weakest?” Lynn pressed.
Ashley nodded, giving Lynn the order but not the actual ranks.
“What two do you think I should take?” Ashley asked after a silent moment.
“Weapons of the Fallen and Lay on hands. Lay on Hands for the healing even if it’s at a low rank, and with my magic bound, we’ll need some real healing if we want to have the best chance of leaving this place. Weapons of the Fallen simply because it will be at a higher rank than Amber Armaments,” Lynn said without hesitation.
Chess frowned. “At first, I thought Amber Armaments and Einherjar, but Lynn has a point with the healing. I’d almost forgotten about your leg; you're hiding your pain so well right now. I’d hate for you to miss out on the powerful skill, but I still think you should take Amber Armaments. Though I have some ideas about creating more equipment from ironwood,” she said before holding up her new dagger only to remember Ashley couldn’t see it because of the screens.
Ashley nodded, dropping a hand to the blade in her lap.
“Think about it, you still have some time yet. We still need to prepare and I don’t think the slavers are going to follow us anytime soon,” Chess said before turning her attention to Lynn. “Lynn, I know your magic's suppressed but do you have any skill with weapons other than that dagger you hold? I noticed you don’t have anything else in your pack.” Chess asked while she busied herself with emptying her inventory of her entire supply of Ironwood and its bark as she spoke.
Lynn nodded, her tail swishing back in forth in indignation. “Of course. The church insists on arms training before you can become a Sister, after all. I’m proficient with most small blades, polearms, and crossbows.”
“Ok, what do you prefer?” Chess asked. It’s time to start being smart about all this shit. No more letting things happen around me and getting caught up.
“A crossbow,” the sister said wryly. “But I doubt that’s possible regardless of what you accomplished with Sprig. A simple spear would be best, something short if we have to continue in tight tunnels like this," she said gesturing at the low ceiling.
Chess’ eyes flashed at the challenge to her woodworking ability, but she said “Okay” with a nod. I bet I can make a crossbow that will blow your mind. She thought remembering the crossbows some of the guys would bring to the range on occasion. I wonder if I can make cams for Sprig, she amended to herself looking down at the unstrung bow.
With the ideas fresh in her mind she sorted through the wood and chose a block to turn into a spear for Lynn. It had a small burl near one end that she figured would turn into an amazing point after exploring it with her magic. The work took her surprisingly little time as she drew it into a shaft and folded the burl upon itself to tighten the grains further and remove any natural breaking points. She moved the metal in the wood to create a vicious yet beautiful leaf-shaped blade. She eyed the wicked tip and nodded in satisfaction.
When she looked down the shaft it wasn’t exactly straight and she frowned before she hit upon an idea. She’d seen a wire drawing machine before and with a piece of bark fiber and a sharpened piece of ironwood, she drew a circle on one of the thick blocks before willing the material out of the center of the circle. After checking to make sure her hole was as straight as she could make it, she forced the shaft through, straightening it with her magic and filling out any low areas.
It only felt like minutes later that she tapped the vigilant skunkkin on the shoulder with the butt of the weapon to get her attention. Lynn startled a little before scowling back at Chess. Her expression changed to wonder when Chess gave the spear a shake indicating the Sister should take it and Lynn examined the weapon.
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“It’s beautiful but it’s a little heavy for me,” Lynn said after hefting it and taking a few experimental thrusts at the darkness.
Chess frowned taking it back. She adjusted her jig and removed some of the wood from the shaft and after some prompting from Lynn, she thinned the blade as well. Chess worked with Lynn until she had it just right and a wide smile split the Kin-woman's face. One down, Chess thought, glancing at her silent daughter, pleased that the girl gave her decisions the time they warranted.
“Tell me your thoughts, Ashley.” Chess prompted while she picked up another block of the wood to start on another spear; this time for herself. Equipped with her new knowledge, it went quickly and took less adjusting to make it fit her as best as she could determine from Lynn's tutelage.
Her magic turned the crafting into a relaxing task. In a lot of ways, it reminded her of times she’d played with turning things on the lathe. The only part that strained her magic was folding the blade's grain. The thought of over-mana kept her cautious of overdoing it.
“I wish I could choose three, this would be so much easier.” Ashley groused. “I want Lay on Hands so I can walk again; you can’t carry me through this dungeon. I want Amber Armaments for the gear I believe it will give. Weapons sounds like I might need to kill people before I can use it.” She frowned, hugging her tail for a moment before she continued, “and I want Einherjar because it might be my only chance at it, and having something to fight for me would be nice.”
“If it’s a class-specific ability it’s likely to still be available at your level 5 choice,” Lynn reassured Ashley.
“It’s probably got some stringent requirements,” Chess agreed, disappointed that she found herself recommending against the potentially powerful ability. It might need a willing soul and matching body. We need something we can use down here, she consoled herself.
“Likely doesn’t mean it will be there for sure, right? Can you make us armor?” Ashley asked Chess hopefully.
“Yes, bracers and smaller things that should be useful; I could do more if Lynn helps me out but I only have so much of the wood,” Chess said.
Turning to Lynn, Chess added, “she has a point. This could be her only chance at it, right?”
Lynn thought for a minute before conceding. “It is possible it won't show up later. Some of the powerful abilities only show up once.” She shifted uncomfortably for a moment before continuing with more resolve. “I really don’t like the idea of an 11-year-old girl as our frontline fighter anyway. That is what we are contemplating with our recommendations,” she pointed out.
“Are you offering to take the position?” Chess asked, relieved at the suggestion.
“Well, no offense, but I have more training than both of you put together. If you think you can put some armor together for me out of that wood. It would give us the best shot. Besides I can’t exactly use my magic suppressed like this,” Lynn said in a resigned voice while tugging at her collar for emphasis.
“Ok if you’re willing, I’ll do my best to make something,” Chess said, agreeing while sorting through her remaining wood. She picked up a medium-sized block and started turning it into a bracer. She made it wrap her arm and secured her new bangle to the end of it so they wouldn’t rattle against each other. The detailed bangles lent it an artistic flair. She made the resulting bracer lock together with dovetails on one side so they couldn’t be removed without her magic. After repeating the task for her other arm, she got up and approached Lynn and started to form a pair around the Kin’s forearms.
Lynn gave her a strange look after studying the work.
Chess shrugged. “If you want them removed, ask. If I die, well, ask Ashley, as I guess she’ll get the ability. Wait, what happens if someone has full hereditary Pyths and someone dies leaving them an inheritance?”
“They can use it to fill an open regular slot or choose to discard a weaker Pyth for it. You can also refuse it,” Ashley explained before Lynn could.
“Well, that’s a relief. What happens if you remove a Pyth that a class skill requires?” Chess asked.
“Your class ability will be locked at whatever rank it was before you removed the Pyth. Your education is seriously lacking in some aspects and is quite considerable in others,” Lynn said, turning to look at Chess and giving her a curious look before turning her attention back to the bracer that Chess was forming on Lynn’s forearm. Shit! There I go, looking like an idiot again, Chess thought, dropping her gaze back to her work and pressing her lips into a firm line.
After Lynn’s bracers, she moved on to greaves. It took further input from Lynn to get the knees correct.
Once Lynn was happy with the greaves, they fell into a heated conversation on how to form the breastplate and skirt. Chess' movie-filled imagination was harshly corrected by Lynn’s pragmatism more than once.
Eventually, Chess relented to making something removable unlike the arm and lower leg protection because Lynn refused to be locked in if she needed to relieve herself and because of her tail. This led to a discussion on how to make string from bark, something that Chess needed for Sprig anyway. Chess found herself striping out the inner bark fibers and soaking them in the pool they’d fallen into earlier.
All the while Lynn kept a diligent watch on the two exit tunnels, often quieting the others so she could listen. It seemed to Chess the longer Lynn heard nothing the more uneasy she became and it bled into her mood.
“While you wait for the fibers to soak you should try to make me a shield, there should be enough left for it and a couple of dozen arrows for that bow,” Lynn suggested, eyeing the small pile of the remaining wood.
Finally done thinking about it, Ashley cleared her throat and said, “I choose Amber Armaments and Lay on Hands.”
After giving the girl a moment to read the prompt Chess asked if she’d share them.
“Huh,” Ashley said before she shared it with Chess.
Lay on Hands: Heals target for the equivalent of 5xRankxWill (mod) days upon touch. It can be used Rank times in 24 hours. It doesn't set bones or prevent scarring. Stacks with ongoing healing effects.
Rank 2
Amber Armaments: Extrude sap to form hardened amber equipment. Can maintain up to Rank x Will(mod) created Items. The cast time for each item is 10 minus Rank minutes until zero. All items fade after 12 hours or can be dismissed at will. It can only be used to create up to (common) styles of armor, weapons, and camp items. The durability of items based on Constitution mod. -3: Bone, -2: Copper, -1: Bronze, 0: Iron, 1: Steel, 3: Moon Steel, 5: Mithril, 11: Adamantine.
Rank 2
“What do they do?” Lynn asked.
Chess gave the sister a considerate look, stopping Ashley from explaining them for the moment with a raised hand.
“Do you promise to keep it to yourself unless Ashley gives you permission? I have a feeling this is valuable information that could be used against her in the future. Truthfully, she’s probably told you too much already,” Chess said remembering Kan’s talk about the value of such information with a bittersweet frown.
“I swear on the Luminous’ light to keep your confidence in this matter unless given leave otherwise,” Lynn said solemnly. “Is that good enough for you?”
“Ash?” Chess asked Ashley who nodded before giving Lynn a brief explanation.
“Well, that’s useful. I think you should concentrate on armor and have Chess make your weapons. Resizing armor as you grow is tedious even for someone with her abilities,” Lynn said nodding toward Chess.
“Breastplate and helm at the very least,” Chess agreed.
“Okay, but I want you to make me vambraces like yours,” Ashley agreed, studying Chess' new bracers, shifting in her seat and rubbing harder at her wound.
“Deal,” Chess said. I can use the wood from my boxes for arrow shafts and have enough for another spear and the bracers, she thought, sorting through her small pile of leftover wood.
“How does Lay on Hands work,” Ashley said and her eyes got a faraway look for a moment. When she then moved her hands over her wounded leg Lynn stopped her.
“Wait, you said it doesn’t prevent scarring, right? We should stitch it better before you use that. I left it open so we could get the sap in deeper,” Lynn explained, taking a tentative look down both tunnels before turning to dig in her pack. Bringing out a small sewing kit she approached Ashley with an apologetic look and knelt to remove the bandages.
“Sorry dear, this will hurt,” Lynn said to Ashley before turning to Chess and nodding towards the exits. Chess saw Ashley take a deep steadying breath before giving Lynn the go-ahead as she took up Lynn’s old position. She did her best to hold her new spear in a stance she’d seen the men use while drilling Ashley.
Ashley’s muffled whimpers filled the cave for long minutes as Lynn worked and Chess stood a stoic guard, peering into the black tunnels. The feeling that something was going to stalk out of the sinister dark and eat them grew the longer she peered into the void and she tightened her grip on her spear. What the fuck, get it together, she thought as the unease only increased.