Chess lay floating on her back, buoyed by her armor, counting her heartbeats by the persistent throbbing of the growing bruise on her thigh.
Teardrop by Massive Attack starting to play in the back of her head to the beat. Huh, I forgot this song had lyrics, she thought when Musical Memory activated in her vision. She soon found herself singing along badly with a silly grin touching the corners of her lips.
They'd agreed to let Ashley use the second cast of Lay on Hands on herself when they noticed the persistent scabs softening in the water. So, Chess would have to wait a day for relief; if they didn't encounter another dangerous situation first that left someone injured worse than she was. She’d settled for rubbing some sap onto her darkening thigh and praying that it didn’t dissolve too quickly in the water.
"Store these with yours," Lynn ordered Chess before dropping two of the catchpoles onto her lap.
"It's an interesting weapon but we just don't have the proficiency to use them correctly. Mikel is attached to his already, it seems, and he showed intuitive use of it, so…" The kin woman shrugged from where she stood before handing Chess another item.
Chess looked down at the skeletons hammer prompting its window. It was lighter than she was expecting.
“Oh wow, nice,” Chess said while reading the prompt for the hammer that was a little longer than her arm.
Titan’s Steel War-Hammer of Impact
Type: War-hammer
Rare
Properties: A seamless one-piece blackened titanium War-hammer. The hammer face is split into four with an enlarged head for added mass and backed with a slightly curved 6-inch spike on the reverse.
Durability: 651/700
Weight: 1780 grams
Enchantment(s):
Increased Impact: Increase the striking mass of the hammer when still held on impact by Str (Mod) x Agility (Mod) x (Power Attack Pyth or its related Cores or Gems) Rank. Maximum 50% [Current 8%]. This effect is calculated after all Power Attack Pyth and its related Cores or Gems and/or mass-related class abilities have already been added to the value.
“Wait, is titanium common?” Chess asked, frowning up at Lynn. It’s really hard to work back on Earth. Maybe I’ll have to reevaluate some of my thoughts on tech here, she thought.
“The working of Titan’s Steel is a closely-held Bear-kin secret,” Lynn said, gesturing at the large skeleton now following Ashley back and forth across the width of the tunnel as she got used to the commands.
“No? Its armor too?” Chess asked, turning her head to peer at it as the skeleton passed close by. She didn’t get a prompt on the armor.
“No, that’s nickel-steel, I think, and in pretty poor shape. It’s seen a lot of abuse in its long life. The helm is the same,” Lynn explained with a shrug before returning to discussing commands with Ashley.
Chess studied the well-worn hammer for a bit, taking in all its nicks and dents before she stored the pair of catch poles along with her own.
“He seemed far more intelligent when we were fighting him,” Chess observed as Ashely put Dent through his paces.
“That’s the problem with the undead. Once you dominate them, they lose any intelligence they develop in their free undeath, unless...” Lynn explained.
“Unless you get the right class abilities. Gotcha,” Chess cut her off with a half-wave of the hand.
“At least she’s starting to learn,” Chess caught Lynn muttering under her breath as she turned back to helping Ashley refine her verbal control over the skeleton.
“Can I add more enchantments to this?” Chess asked hefting the hammer.
“Of course, if you have the coin or materials needed,” Lynn said.
“What Pyth’s did he have?” Chess asked.
“He’s not dead, again, yet,” Lynn said, raising a hand to her mouth.
“Oh, right you are!” Chess said with a wide smile, seeing Lynn fighting a laugh at her expense.
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Lynn Plinder shook her head at the Elf’s silly question and returned to checking her gear for damage in order to hide her mirth. She turned back to Chess once she'd regained her composure, proffering her damaged shield to the craftswoman.
This situation is just barely bearable because she can create and repair things so easily, Lynn reminded herself. Not to mention grow food.
The elf maiden gave her a Gnomish sand-ship crew salute of all things in response. Hand flat with fingers pressed together touching her brow for a full second before removing it with a jerk.
Lynn blinked at the peculiarity and turned to police the pieces of Ashley’s broken shield from the surface of the water. She must have had quite a colorful collection of tutors and minders, Lynn mused. Though Gnomish mannerisms were by far the mildest she’d seen from the elf in the past pair of weeks.
She understood the girl's naivety, but it still aggravated her how Chess missed so many obvious tasks that needed to be done to simply survive on a delve but still came up with brilliant solutions at times for the difficult problems.
She was tired of feeling like a mother-hen on the little things. She did retrieve and repair the bracer without being asked this time, she allowed.
Luminous’ guiding light protect us, she prayed with little feeling, staring at the meager light given off by the other semi-competent companion she had. At least she has the excuse of real youth, she thought.
No, Chess does too; elves mature slowly, she had to remind herself with a recriminating headshake. It was hard when faced with the physically fully developed elf.
There are clear benefits to having someone that has and can manipulate ironwood with us. The first few skeletons would’ve likely done us in otherwise.
Stop, you’re spiralling again, she told herself and turned to watch Chess work as a distraction.
It still fascinated her to watch the ease with which the young Lady could manipulate wood. More useful than my shadows. More profitable too. She thought while trading the pieces of Ashley’s shield for her fixed one.
She watched the elf knit the broken boards back together with the alternating reverse wedges she seemed fond of. Lynn admitted it created a very strong bond without using glue. There were a few craftsmen at the Heel that would pay well for her services if she was interested.
It was almost mesmerizing how beautiful the girl was when she worked. The wonder and pure pleasure clear on her face. Even battered and floating on her back in full armor in a dark cave with her hair in complete disarray she radiated with her charisma.
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Lynn had rarely found other species attractive; she usually didn’t see the appeal of furless humanoids. But she could appreciate the symmetry and natural poise of the young woman before her. Even when she’s deliberately slouching, it’s like a natural tease.
Lynn felt a small jolt of her carefully suppressed jealousy. Reminding herself that Chess was remarkably pleasant for someone that had eaten off a mithril platter most of her life.
And, she had to admit, a hard worker.
Though that, she attributed to whatever tutors she had for music and construction of all godless things.
Lynn shook her head for a third time, turning to look about the bare tunnel they waded in. There is so little here for dangers, she thought. The empty expanses of never-ending tunnel kept her constantly on edge, leaving her more than a little weary as the days passed.
It’s making me irritable, she allowed herself to admit.
She glanced at Mikel. At least the Muskrat had gotten the picture quickly. Tribals were often like that; you learned fast when young or you died. It was just how Astra worked.
She turned back to watching Chess work. The wood moving like honey under her touch before solidifying into the form the elf desired. How does she do that?
Chess was a lesson in contrasts and confusing talents.
I need to figure out what exactly her Pyth’s are. What combination could let her manipulate wood like that? Lynn knew the elf was keeping secrets and didn’t blame her, but the mystery nagged at her.
It’s not a combination, she reasoned after watching for a few more minutes until Chess finished with the shield.
It has to be a Core. She wasn't simply removing material like some of the woodworking pyths allowed; she was folding it, moving the grains.
Would a single-core allow for the fine control she displays? Lynn mused as they got back in formation and headed out again.
Chess had chosen to swim like Ashley and Mikel to save herself from putting weight on her injured leg. Lynn approved and elected to take point wading through the water one heavy step at a time.
Lynn studied her mace more closely as she walked using the side edge of her shield to cut her way through the water as the temple instructors had taught.
She's making the wood stronger. She hefted the weapon. Heavier. It's barely been damaged by the combat it has seen.
Lynn had yet to bother Chess with the small dings it had accumulated from pulverizing bone thus far. Two complementary cores? Ones that led to her amazing class skill? Wood Pyth and a core perhaps? She racked her brain for any obscure Pyths and Cores she could think, of but nothing fit.
She hung her mace from the hook on her belt and put a finger under her collar and ran it around the perimeter to give herself momentary relief. The collar’s suppression aura constantly itched at her fur. The tingle of its magic standing the hairs on end in a never-ending circle. Luminous, but I miss my abilities, she thought.
She turned and gave the incomprehensible elf a side-eye.
Maybe it's a Gem, she forced her thoughts back on track, despite the mere idea giving her a flutter of dread in her belly. Only the very rich had them, and she may be stuck in a dungeon with one.
Perhaps I’m overthinking it all, and her Charm is a core ability, and the wood manipulation is a class ability. But no. I’ve verified she can manipulate the wood without music and her class would require it.
Her musings were interrupted by the growing aura of a skeleton and she sighed.
“Incoming,” she announced, the others all confirming except for Mikel.
This skeleton they dismantled easily when they found it. Lynn had Ashley command her new large friend to approach to arm's length, then reach out, then grasp, and then hold the approaching smaller unarmed skeleton while Lynn removed its skull with her ironwood mace before digging out its soulstones and putting them in a pouch.
She had Chess store the dead Delver’s skull and chain before they continued.
“Take two steps back. Follow,” Ashley said behind her and they continued. This became a litany as they efficiently dismantled a staggering 6 delver skeletons in the next hour of travel.
Lynn allowed Chess to finish most of them after the first so she’d get used to the heft of her new weapon. She regretted giving Chess the hammer but told herself she's better with a spear or the mace, and the elf had an affinity for hammers. Likely her construction training.
She's strong for an elf and her aim is impeccable, Lynn noted paying closer attention to Chess as she dismantled the pinned foes with precise blows to the base of their skulls. On the last one she even managed to hit it so that when the skull popped into the air, she could catch it in one upheld hand.
“I got three levels in War-Hammers for that!” Chess grinned and held the soulstones out to Lynn who took them, unable to suppress her own grin at the silliness.
She’s no doubt received many more than that after the skill she’s shown now that she has a weapon that is nearly perfect for her. A Luminous blessed hammer of all things.
She likes to make things into a game, Lynn noted the possibly useful fact, thinking further on the catch and realizing she’d been trying to do it for at least the last few foes.
Lynn watched as Chess returned to fiddling with the hammer that rested on her chest thoughtfully while kicking lightly with her legs to keep up with Lynn’s meager pace.
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I should’ve known better than to wish for an end to the tedium, Lynn admonished herself another hour and another handful of skeletons later. Dent’s armor was starting to look even more battered, but Lynn had to admit it was a good idea to leave him armored, considering his effectiveness against even the few armed and the one underwater skeleton.
Ashley seemed to relish in commanding him, and Lynn felt she was attempting to make her eat her words a little about his usefulness with her rapid-fire commands.
Lynn kept quiet on the subject. Anything that prevents injury to us.
Every fight was a risk of serious injury and death to her amateur team with Ashley unable to heal for most of the next day. And every time they encountered a new foe’s aura, she felt the worry in her soul.
Luminous’ light protects us, she tried to reassure herself, but the prayer was starting to feel hollow to her ears.
She was loath to admit it to herself but she was starting to believe he didn’t see her light anymore and another was responsible for their continued success in this hell's pit. She’d not heard of Luminous doing anything like what this Freya had done for her companions for centuries.
She could also appreciate her aspects. A warrior goddess for women, for Delvers.
Lynn looked at Chess and Ashley, both mother and adopted daughter, heavy with the weight of divine favor, and gritted her teeth under the weight of her blasphemous thoughts. You’re sworn to Luminous, she admonished herself.
As they traveled, Lynn’s mind returned again to the mysteries of Chess.
She kept catching on the idea that Chess’s skills with wood had to come from a Gem. It was the simplest explanation for what she could do. Her fear grew with every confirming theory she thought of.
As her surety grew the feeling that it was her duty to see them all out alive or die in the attempt grew. The last thing she wanted was to become the sole survivor only to find out that Chess hadn’t been discarded as she claimed but was some important heir. Elven nobles were terrifying enough on their own; she could only imagine an enraged royal.
The thought brought to mind her conduct after Chess had been injured. I could hang for that, she thought with regret but gritted her teeth and pressed forward increasing her pace.
Just get everyone out safely and they will see the necessity, she reasoned forcing her thoughts back to Chess.
Someone was raising Chess to be the perfect wife for someone powerful before whatever had befallen her; Chess kept the details close to her chest.
Music and magical sculpture to make golems for some high lord animator maybe? Musical instruments? She nodded, feeling that would fit well if she were pressed to give a firm guess.
Minstrel was a strange choice for actual class though. Likely she chose after she escaped or was discharged by her minders. Not that it really matters with what that core or gem lets her do.
Who are you, really, Chess? she wondered before she discarded the chain of thought for now. The tunnel ahead looked like it ended in a sharp turn.
“We need to stop as soon as we find a dry space,” Lynn said as the pool grew deeper again, feeling a deep aching in her legs from pushing her wet fur through the water. She spared a look for the skeleton, but it still stood shoulders and head above the water for now.
“I could use a nap,” Ashley agreed.
“If we don’t find a place soon, we can just find a dead-end, and I’ll make a platform and wall, I have more than enough wood now,” Chess offered swimming up on her back to look up at Lynn.
“Huh, I never considered that,” Lynn nodded, liking the idea.
It didn’t take them long to find such a place and Chess got to work while Ashley and Mikel stood watch. Leaving Lynn again to her thoughts.
I had it all planned out. Military service for four years, delving until 30, making team-leader and hopefully setting myself up with a decent Core. Then marriage with 3 or 4 kids before serving out the remainder of my years as a sister of Luminous. It's what ambitious women did when they didn't come from wealthy families and were given the opportunities she'd gotten through the Sisterhood.
Now, she was stuck in a dungeon with two, no three, complete novices while she was suppressed by a blasted collar and didn't know if she could expect to live through another hour. Delves were supposed to be researched and planned for. Not done by the seat of your pants starting with next to nothing.
Now, on top of all that, she was starting to have doubts about Luminous. What does it mean?
She sighed deeply and peered into the persistent darkness over the guarding pair's shoulders while trying to empty her mind with little success.
Lynn constantly felt like the trap was about to let out beneath her.
She took a corner of the completed platform after Chess offered to take the first watch and curled up.
Tentatively, she looked up like she’d seen Chess do a few times when seeking guidance and said something that made her insides absolutely roil.
“Freya, I’ll do my best to see your lost daughters safely through this. I’m open to any help you can give,” she said very softly before she closed her eyes and held her sodden tail tight close.