Sovereign (The Gods' Game, Volume IV)

by Vider, Rohan M.

  Special Properties: Terrifying visage, false visage, death resistance.

  Charges: 10 / 10 (self-charging).

  Description: This item is divinely crafted and inhabited by the spirit of Cilantria Dechalan. The bound-spirit herself fuels the ring’s abilities. No charges or essence expenditure is required by the bearer to use any of the item’s abilities. Only when the ring is destroyed will Cilantria’s spirit return to the Wheel of Life to be reborn.

  Terrifying visage: A spell that paralyses a single target up to the bearer’s own level with fear. Cannot be resisted.

  False visage: A channelled ability that falsifies the bearer’s player data and magical signature. It does not disguise the player’s physical appearance or mental attributes. The illusion cannot be pierced by players and spells below grandmaster rank.

  Shielded from the divine: Trait that increases bearer’s resistance to divine magic by 0.5% x level.

  Acquired: Tiara’s Grief, ring of banishment.

  Type: Enchanted item. Rank: Wondrous.

  Requirements: Only useable by Kyran Seversan and Zarr Dwamenkor.

  Enchantment strength: Scales with the caster’s level.

  Special Properties: Expulsion, unravelling aura, divine resistance.

  Charges: 10 / 10 (self-charging).

  Description: This item is divinely crafted and inhabited by the spirit of Tiara Dechalan. The bound-spirit herself fuels the ring’s abilities. No charges or essence expenditure is required by the bearer to use any of the item’s abilities. Only when the ring is destroyed will Tiara’s spirit return to the Wheel of Life to be reborn.

  Expulsion: A spell that forcibly banishes a single summoned entity, undead, or construct, up to the bearer’s own level. Cannot be resisted.

  Unravelling aura: A channelled aura that breaks the bonds anchoring an undead to the mortal plane. This is more than a simple banishment spell and can unravel even the curse of undeath. The aura is limited in its effect by the bearer’s level.

  Death’s friend: Trait that increases bearer’s resistance to death magic by 0.5% x level.

  Kyran’s mouth dropped open in shock as he read the items’ description. Oh, Cilantria. Why?

  If he understood correctly, Cilantria and Tiara themselves were bound within the rings, which he recognised as being the two blank rings he had taken off Lesh. He didn’t understand how the twins had infused themselves into the objects, but he was humbled by the pair’s sacrifice, and awed by the items’ properties.

  I will treasure both of these rings, he vowed to the sisters, and I will honour the price you have paid. Removing his mailed gloves, he slipped on both rings.

  You have equipped Cilantria’s Wrath and Tiara’s Grief.

  New abilities gained: terrifying visage, false visage, forced banishment, and willing banishment.

  New traits gained: death’s friend and shielded from the divine.

  Your death magic resistance has increased to 16.5%

  Your divine magic resistance has increased to 16.5%

  Another Game alert dropped into his mind.

  Your quest, free the undead has been updated.

  Quest 5: Free the undead.

  Update: You have acquired an item that is capable of lifting the curse of undeath from Zarr and his people.

  Objective: Return to Crota and use the ring, Tiara’s Grief, to return Eld’s former followers to the Wheel of Life.

  Rank: Legendary.

  Reward: Unknown.

  Kyran studied the message. His plans for the future seem to be further complicated. It seemed he had much to discuss with Zarr when he next saw the lich king.

  He dismissed the notice and turned his attention to the last object in his hands.

  Found: Healer’s Wand.

  Type: Enchanted weapon (wands). Rank: Rare.

  Special properties: Can cast the cure disease spell.

  Requirements: Supportive magic (apprentice).

  Enchantment strength: 40.

  Charges: 1/1 (320 essence required per charge).

  Condition: Excellent.

  Description: The healer’s wand is attuned to supportive magic and infused within the spell design for the journeyman cure disease spell.

  Sharp relief sang through Kyran. Mirien would be alright.

  He rose to his feet, then realized his legs were still shaky. Whatever had happened, his body had taken a beating. There was no evidence of it anymore, though. Cilantria must have healed him before leaving.

  Querying the Game, Kyran checked on the time. A little over an hour had passed between his possession and now and there was still ample time before the disease worked its way through Mirien.

  He glanced at the empty audience hall. Despite Cilantria’s message, he was still curious about the Reaper.

  A quick search won’t hurt.

  ✽✽✽

  Cilantria had been thorough.

  In the five minutes Kyran took to rifle through the necromancer’s camp and the rest of the audience hall, he turned up nothing of note. He broke off his search and made his way to the first of the five remaining free spirits on the level.

  The spirit, a level thirty wraith, was no longer in hiding. The wraith flew forward at his appearance, wailing angrily at his intrusion.

  Calmly, Kyran reached out to Tiara’s Grief and activated the spell within.

  Kyran has cast unravelling aura (duration: until deactivated, range: 2m radius around the caster, buff: banishes undead creatures of level 33 and below).

  As a precautionary measure, he prepared an offensive spell weave while he waited for the spirit to draw closer. But it proved unnecessary.

  The moment the wraith crossed the boundary of the unravelling aura, its ethereal form began to dissipate, transforming into little more than a wisp of smoke by the time it reached Kyran. Then, with a forlorn sigh, the wraith vanished altogether.

  Kyran has banished a level 30 wraith.

  Marvelling at the effectiveness of Tiara’s spell, Kyran dropped the weaves of his own working and set off in search of the Tower’s next restless dead.

  ✽✽✽

  Three hours later, the last of the Tower’s free spirits had been banished.

  Congratulations! The free spirits in the Ivory Tower have been put to rest. You have completed the quest: Lay to rest the restless dead. Reward: None.

  At a slight but noticeable vibration on his right hand, Kyran looked down in surprise. It was the hand on which he wore Tiara’s ring. The resonation, he was sure, had come from the ring itself, and it seemed to him almost a gesture of thanks.

  Are Cilantria and Tiara both still aware in the rings? The thought was both reassuring and disturbing.

  “You’re welcome,” he murmured in response—just in case.

  He was back in the entrance chamber, on the Tower’s first level, and it was time to rejoin his party. With Tiara’s Grief, setting the Tower’s restless dead to rest had been a simple enough task.

  The spirits that had been higher than his own level and immune to the ring’s unravelling aura had been few and far between. Kyran had defeated them handily enough with his own abilities.

  Kyran took stock of himself one last time. The Amulet of the Prime was safely stored in the owl lockbox, and Cilantria’s note was destroyed. He was ready.

  With a last look around, Kyran set a hand to the Tower’s orichalcum doors. A tingle passed between the door’s enchantments and Cilantria’s ring on his left hand. He had been worried at first that he would be forced to destroy the doors to escape the Tower, but it seemed that bearing Cilantria’s spirit within her ring was enough to allow him access.

  “Kyran!” Aiken’s voice rang clear and anxious through the mindscape. “Did you find a cure?”

  “I did,” he assured his companion. “What’s wrong?”

  “Mirien’s deterioration has accelerated,” answered Gaesin. “Hurry, she does not have much time.”

  Kyran cursed vehemently. According to the informa
tion the Game had provided earlier, Mirien should have hours still before the disease overran her.

  He began running. “On my way.”

  Skidding around a corner, Kyran dove through the leather flap covering the bathhouse door and dropped into the sunken pool. As he reached the party’s campfire, he pulled out the wand and handed it over to the impatiently waiting Gaesin. “Here,” he said.

  Kyran fell to his knees by Mirien’s unconscious form. His own face whitened as he beheld her condition. Mirien was a pasty, unhealthy shade of grey. All the vitality and energy that so often animated her face was gone.

  Damnit. He had almost been too late. He might still be too late. The wand only had a single charge. If Mirien’s condition was so far gone that Gaesin failed in his first attempt to heal her… they might not have enough time to recharge the wand for a second attempt.

  He almost wrenched the wand from Gaesin’s hands then. With an effort of will he kept his hands still at his side. Gaesin was better suited to this task.

  But his churning emotions demanded an outlet. Mirien’s life was at stake. He had to do something. “Is it working?” he burst out.

  “Shh,” Gaesin replied sternly. “Let me work.”

  Kyran opened his mouth, but closed it with a snap again.

  Adra squeezed his shoulder in reassurance. “He will not fail, Kyran,” she said.

  Kyran bit his lip and said nothing. He should not have delayed by completing Tiara’s task before returning to the party. He’d thought he had ample time, and it had seemed the most efficient course. Now, though…

  “Trust Gaesin,” Aiken said.

  He did. He would. Breathing in deeply, Kyran settled himself to wait while the half-elf worked.

  ✽✽✽

  Mirien opened her eyes.

  Her body felt strange and unnatural, not hers. Kyran’s bloodless face and bloodshot eyes appeared over her.

  “Mirien!” he gasped. “How do you feel?”

  “Like death,” she wheezed. At Kyran’s alarmed look, she laughed hoarsely. “I’m joking.” She tried to lift her head to look around, but embarrassingly her body failed her. “Where are the others?” she asked, dropping her head back in defeat.

  “Gaesin’s still sleeping. Healing you took a lot out of him. Adra and Aiken are out scouting.”

  “What happened?” she asked. “The last thing I remember…” She paused, her memory still fuzzy.

  “You placed yourself in harm’s way for me,” Kyran told her. “A ghoul struck you unseen from behind. It was nearly fatal.” His eyes grew distant. “I was… worried. I—we—came so close to losing you. Too close,” he muttered. He hesitated, seeming on the verge of adding something further, but then seemed to think better of it. Clearing his throat, Kyran took her hand in his. “Thank you, Mirien,” he said gravely. “Once again, it seems I am in your debt.”

  She tugged weakly on her hand, uncomfortable with his praise. “Only doing my job. It was not anything I wouldn’t do for any of the party,” she said. Now why did I say that?

  Kyran blinked. “Of course, I didn’t mean to imply...” Reddening slightly, he let go of her hand.

  To fill the silence before it became awkward, she quickly asked, “Was I injured?”

  Kyran latched onto her question and replied just as hurriedly. “You were, but that was not the worst of it. You were infected.”

  Mirien’s own eyes widened. “I was?” She twisted her head, trying to peer at her back. “How did you cure me?”

  “Now that’s a long story,” he replied with a smile. “You sure you want to hear it now?”

  She nodded.

  “It began with the spectre…”

  ✽✽✽

  “… and then I hurried back to camp, and Gaesin cured you with the wand,” Kyran said, concluding his tale.

  “Incredible,” Mirien breathed. “Two spectres… and both former followers of Eld, you say?” He nodded. “Did you find out what the artefact Cilantria wanted was?”

  Kyran fell silent. He had left out any mention of the amulet in his tale. “I did,” he said finally. “But it’s not something I can speak about.”

  To his relief, Mirien was not offended. “I understand,” she said. “It’s quite an adventure you had,” she went on with a wry grin. “I’m sorry, I missed it.”

  He lowered his gaze, guilt biting at him again. “I’m sorry, Mirien. I should not have brought us to Celne. It’s my fault that you almost died.”

  At a light touch on his arm, he jerked his gaze upwards to hers.

  “No, it isn’t,” Mirien said. “I pushed us into helping the ivoranors, remember? And I am glad I did. Sula sounded monstrous from your description. You did all Myelad a favour by putting an end to her.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” Mirien broke in sternly. “This isn’t your fault, agreed?”

  Kyran’s lips turned up. “Agreed.”

  “Good, so what’s next?”

  “Aiken and Adra are scouting the northern trails leading out of the city right now. After you rest up, we will resume our journey.” He rose to his feet. “For now, I better leave you to it. Gaesin will not be pleased if he knew I kept you awake this long.” He began walking out of the bathhouse.

  “Kyran?”

  He paused, then turned around.

  Mirien’s gaze fixed on his. “Thank you,” she said.

  He nodded and left her to her rest.

  Game Data

  Kyran’s Profile (Condensed)

  Name: Kyran Seversan.

  Combat level: 33. Civilian level: 32. Health: 330.

  Attacks: 44.2 (slash), 67.3 (psi wave), 84.2 (shock bolt).

  Defences: Physical (45.7), psi (33), spell (33).

  Resistances*: 16.5% divine, 16.5% death.

  Class skills

  Beast bonding (86.5), body control (67.3), light armour (39.6), psionics (67.3), telepathy (67.3), air magic (84.2), earth magic (84.2), supportive magic (84.2), spellcasting (63.8), water magic (51), nature lore (33.6).

  Other skills (0 combat and 0 civilian SP available)

  Fire magic (43.4), longsword (10.4), telekinesis (26.5).

  Commander (16.0), governor (14.4), mage lord (48.0), scrying (14.4), travelling (14.4), feudal lord (14.4).

  New abilities (9 combat and 4 civilian AP available)

  None.

  New items

  Cilantria’s Wrath (+16.5% divine magic resistance).

  Tiara’s Grief (+16.5% death magic resistance).

  Chapter 15

  04 Novo 2603 AB

  Spirits, undead, constructs, and the like cannot be players. Only a spirit housed in a mortal body of living flesh can be a player. This is an irrefutable and uncontested rule of the Game. —Jostfyler Graldvir, Game scholar.

  It took Mirien the entire day to recover. Kyran put the ‘free time’ to good use, and wandered the city, while Gaesin watched over Mirien.

  With the Reapers gone, Celne was free of threat and safe to explore. Near the city’s western outskirts, Kyran found a smattering of plants and herbs. While they weren’t of immediate use, they proved beneficial in practicing his civilian skills. It made a welcome change from training with scrying, he thought wryly.

  By the day’s end when he returned to the party’s camp, even though he had not gained any civilian levels, he was pleased with his progress. He found the rest of the party already at supper. Aiken and Adra had returned from their own forays with fresh game. The pair had not ventured any great distance beyond the city boundaries—the forest was too dangerous—yet small game was in ample supply.

  After supper, Kyran inspected the equipment the others had looted from the Reaper camp while he was in the Tower. Other than a few charms and trinkets, most of the necromancer’s equipment, which was geared towards death magic, proved useless to the party.

  But Mirien’s suspicions had proved well founded. Many of the Reapers had carried a charm against mind-affecting spells. To his chagrin, he saw
some even bore protections against novice disabling spells. In future confrontations, he would have to be more careful with his spell choices.

  Found: 9 x bracelets of simple mental protection (immune to confusion, terrify, sleep, charm).

  Found: 1 x ring of disentanglement (immune to grasping roots).

  Found: 3 x rings of free movement (immune to slippery ice).

  Found: 5 x rings of advanced divine protection (increases resistance to divine magic).

  Kyran distributed the items between the party. The ring of disentanglement and one ring of free movement went to Mirien, and the other to Adra. He kept only one bracelet, a ring of free movement, and two rings of divine protection for himself.

  You have equipped a bracelet of simple mental protection.

  You have equipped a ring of free movement.

  Of all the items the necromancers had carried, the rings of divine protection were the most expensive and intriguing. Kyran equipped one.

  You have equipped a ring of advanced divine protection (+8% divine resistance).

  Your divine magic resistance has increased to 24.5%.

  Then another.

  You have equipped a ring of advanced divine protection (+8% divine resistance).

  Your divine magic resistance is 24.5%. Note, the bonuses received from items do not stack with each other. Only the effect from one item can be active at any one time.

  Kyran’s brows furrowed as he read the Game message.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Mirien from where she sat across from him. The whiesper was well enough to move again—if gingerly—and was eating with the rest of the party.

  “The bonuses from the necromancers’ rings are not cumulative,” he said. “Yet they seem to stack with Cilantria’s ring.”

  Mirien frowned. “That doesn’t seem right. Item properties shouldn’t stack with each other,” she said, unconsciously echoing the Game’s message.

  He nodded. He inspected Cilantria’s ring again, his eyes widening as he realised what was different about it.