Second Skin Omnibus

by M Damon Baker

  Nearly all of the orcs had clambered onto the bridge, so I triggered the spike trap beneath their feet. The ground opened up under them, swallowing the orcs that had been attempting to cut free their companions, and screams of pain echoed from within the pit as their bodies were impaled on the cruel spikes at the bottom of the hole. Without looking up, I triggered the traps at the far end of the bridge, not only catching a few of the laggards, but trapping all of the orcs that had ventured out onto the earthen span as well.

  Tási began raining fire down upon the orcs trapped beneath us while I started shooting at the small number that still remained free. I did my best to ensure than none escaped, but three of their number managed to flee back into the forest before I could stop them. My only hope then was that Bane might manage to get them.

  With no other targets for me, I joined in Tási’s slaughter of the remaining orcs. Between her bolts of fire and my arrows, the last few orcs were soon dispatched, and we climbed down from the wall to take stock of our victory.

  We quickly looted the bodies of our fallen enemies—while many of them resembled the cruel savages that were so stereotypical of their race, more than a few reminded me of Georl. My unease at the slaughter was only made worse as I inspected the bodies of the fallen orc females.

  While most of them seemed to be just as brutish as their male companions, more than a few appeared to be of mixed heritage. The bodies of the half-orcs reminded me of the green-skinned women I had seen dancing in front of the taverns in Orlan, and while the lives of those women may have been far from ideal, their example proved that we could easily coexist with them under the right circumstances.

  “Such a waste,” I lamented as I finished looting the final corpse.

  “It was us or them, Dreya,” Tási replied, sensing my remorse.

  “I know. We had no other option once they made the choice to attack us. Maybe this was the only way it could ever be for them. I only hope that we can provide a better example eventually, something more for people to strive for. Even people like them.”

  I replaced the traps that had been triggered, and Ridge volunteered to dispose of the bodies for us in the woods beyond the canyon entrance. He easily lifted two corpses in each of his thick arms, making quick work of their disposal. While he dealt with the dead, we took care of the loot, tucking the orcs’ armor and weapons into our packs and bringing it back to our camp. Our companions had left behind the backpacks stuffed with our loot from the bandit camp when they hurried off on the elf King’s errand and we added the gear we salvaged from the orcs to them.

  Bane flew into camp a short while after we finished dealing with the salvaged loot. While Tási and I cleaned up, he delivered the bad news.

  I am sorry Sintári, but two of them got away. I was able to kill one, but once I was finished with him, I could not locate the others.

  “It’s alright Bane, you did your best,” I replied. “I should have been able to get them before they escaped into the forest.”

  “Unfortunately, I think we may have to prepare for another attack,” I added glumly. “The ones that escaped will certainly report what happened here, and I have no doubt that the orcs will return in greater numbers.”

  “You’re probably right about that,” Tási agreed. “We should move our camp up to the wall, so we can respond quickly when they get here.”

  “We need to come up with some better defenses too,” I added. “They will be ready for my traps next time.”

  We packed up our small camp, but left the heavy backpacks full of loot behind. The coins and salvaged gear would not help us in our defense, and we did not want to lose the valuable treasure if the orcs forced us back from the wall.

  Just as we returned to the wall, Ridge’s summoning expired. I didn’t try to resummon him immediately, allowing him at least a brief respite from his work while we set up our new campsite beneath the shadow of the wall. Once we had everything ready, I prepared myself for the difficult incantation.

  The process made me anxious, and remembering the rather spectacular nature of my previous failure only added to my unease. I took a moment to steady my nerves and reminded myself that my comprehension of the intricate magic had advanced tremendously since my last attempt.

  Dismissing any pretense of making a request for help, I focused my intensions on demanding the assistance I required instead and poured my will into the magic as I recited the words that would invoke the Spell’s power. Unlike my prior failed attempt, this time I felt the flow of natural magic running through me as the energy I summoned gathered around me. As the Spell’s power grew, I felt a second thread of energy burning within me. Dark energy. Shadow magic.

  The shadowy energy felt unlike any magic I had experienced before. I sensed not only its corruption but also the dark possibilities of its power. Unlike the healing and beneficial power of light magic, shadow magic was pure destruction and domination. The promise of its power was incredibly seductive—my path would lead me inexorably towards conflict, as the elf King had said. The power of shadow magic could easily help me ensure that those conflicts ended in my favor. But at the time, I only had access to this tiny fragment of its true power—a little slice of shadow magic for just one limited purpose, so I refocused my thoughts on the task at hand and concentrated on overcoming the willpower of the creature I was summoning.

  I felt Ridge’s consciousness come into focus. His will was an imposing force, rock-hard and powerful, just as he was. I sensed the energy from him as he pit himself against me, but before the contest between us could even begin, he yielded, conceding the battle between us before it had even begun.

  Clearly, things would not be quite so easy if I ever tried to summon another elemental creature, one who would resist me with all of its might. I was fortunate that Ridge was a willing servant and intended to make the most of his help for as long as he continued to offer it.

  As the energy faded, I opened my eyes to see Ridge standing in front of me. He waited patiently for me to provide him with his orders for the day, but before I did, I needed to ask him a few questions.

  “Welcome back, Ridge. Did you have enough time to rest?”

  “I need no rest, Mistress,” he intoned. “You may call me as often as your needs require.”

  “Thank you, Ridge, I appreciate your willingness help us. Tell me, the heartstone’s summons lasted for one full day, do you know how long my Spell will keep you here?”

  “I will remain as long as you maintain the magic, Mistress,” he replied.

  The Spell description only vaguely mentioned that the summoning would last until it expired. But based on Ridge’s answer to my question, it sounded like the summons might be similar to my trap Spells. So, I pulled up my personal sheet to see if it would offer me any additional clues. Focusing on my Aura stat provided me with the answer I had expected.

  Aura 615/715

  100 Aura Reserved

  Summon Elemental - 100

  Just like my trap Spells, the summoning magic required constant maintenance in order for it to continue to function. Only, instead of keeping a trap in place, this magic held a summoned elemental in my service, theoretically indefinitely.

  “Ridge, if I understand this magic correctly, I can keep you here for a very long time, practically forever,” I explained to him. “Will that cause you any difficulties?”

  “I have no other obligations, Mistress. I am willing to stay for as long as you need me.”

  “Very well. You know the plans, so please continue to work on our fortifications. We need to prepare for another possible attack. If I need to redirect your efforts, I will let you know.”

  Ridge inclined his stony head in my direction before setting off on his task. He quickly amassed another pile of blocks and began adding them to the already formidable wall. I only spared a few moments watching his progress before sitting down beside Tási to begin planning for the impending attack.

  “They got very close before we saw them,” Tás
i remarked. “Maybe we should have Ridge clear some of the brush and trees.”

  It was a good starting point. With a clear field of fire, I might have been able to stop the three orcs who escaped during the previous fight, but I decided to let Ridge continue his work for a while before redirecting his efforts.

  “I agree,” I replied. “I’ll tell him to clear out some of the obstructions after he’s had a little time to improve the fortifications. I can place a few more traps in the area he opens up for us as well—those should slow down the orcs’ approach.”

  “Do you think we should get rid of the bridge?” Tási asked. “Ridge could make the trench cover the entire length of the wall instead.”

  I considered the idea for a few moments before replying.

  “Perhaps, but we would need to figure out some way for our friends to cross over when they return. Let’s see how things look after Ridge has some time to work on the wall and clear out some room first.”

  “Bane,” I said to the little Rhastoren as he lay perched on my shoulder. “I need you to keep scouting for us. The orcs are not the only threat we face.”

  I will begin searching the forest immediately, Sintári.

  With his words still echoing in my head, Bane leapt off my shoulder and into the sky. I watched him as he flew away, mesmerized by his verdant scales glistening in the sunlight. The graceful sight of his body in flight was truly a marvel to behold.

  “Tási,” I said turning to face her as Bane vanished into the forest. “I need to check my notifications; can you keep an eye on things for a while?”

  “Of course!” She offered willingly.

  I settled down onto one of the rough rocks that served as a chair for our new campsite It was decidedly less comfortable than our prior location, but the threat of an imminent attack required us to make the most of the situation. Opening up my UI, I focused on the pending notifications and let them scroll.

  Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.

  . . .

  Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.

  Quest completed – You have completed the hidden quest Defender of the Realm. An attack against your lands has been successfully repelled. In addition, your forces incurred no casualties during the battle. For these feats, you have been rewarded with 5500 XP. This Quest is repeatable.

  I was somewhat surprised when the notifications ended without the level-up window making an appearance. Curious about both the proficiency points I had gained and just how close I was to gaining another level, I pulled up my personal sheet.

  Dreya Dae

  Sintári Female

  Title: Sintári

  Level - 24

  259379/261200

  Health - 308/308 Aura - 615/715 Endurance - 308/308

  Sintári – Sintári interact with their surroundings in unusual ways. The effects of these interactions can be unpredictable

  Class – Warden – Wardens gain a 10% bonus to skills associated with nature or which have natural effects

  Specialization – Protector

  Mastery –

  STR - 32 (+3)

  CON - 26 (+2)

  DEX - 24 (+2)

  INT - 23 (+2)

  WIS - 21 (+2)

  CHA - 39 (+3)

  Abilities

  Ignore Armor – Your next arrow will ignore a portion of the target’s armor. Cost – 20 Aura. – 35%

  Stun – Your next arrow has a chance to stun its target on hit. Cost – 20 Aura. – 34%

  Block – You may attempt to use your bow to parry a single melee attack. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 20%

  Swarm – Your next arrow duplicates itself in flight. Cost – 20 Endurance and 20 Aura.– 45%

  Flurry – Perform three rapid strikes with a bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 24%

  Parry – Chance for your blades to block next melee attack targeted at you. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 23%

  Hamstring – The next arrow fired has a chance to cripple your opponent. Cost – 20 Aura. – 31%

  Hilt Bash – Stun your opponent with a successful hilt strike from your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 22%

  Blood Price – Your arrow inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost – 30 Aura. – 35%

  Blind – Your next arrow has a chance to inflict blindness on a successful hit. Cost – 30 Aura. – 34%

  Achilles Strike – Cripple your target with a slash of your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 24%

  Penetrator – Advanced Ability – Your arrow pierces through armor easily. With increased proficiency it may penetrate through even greater barriers. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 60 Aura. – 15%

  Disable – Advanced Ability – A successful strike of your blade to an extremity renders the affected limb completely useless until healed. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 60 Endurance. – 5%

  Sintári Abilities

  Natural Affinity – The Sintári’s unique connection with the natural world may manifest itself in random ways at times. While these effects are generally beneficial, they are also typically outside the direct control of the Sintári. Modifier – Charisma.

  Control – Effect varies, applies to all Sintári Abilities. – 27%

  Protector Abilities

  See Truth – Once per day, the spoken words of your target become visible to you, allowing you to see the truth held within them. Strength and duration of this effect increase with proficiency. Cost – 60 Aura. Modifier – Wisdom. – 18%

  Spells

  Enhanced Sight – May be cast on self or ally. Improves visual acuity of the recipient in dark or obscured conditions. Cost – 20 Aura. – 46%

  Create Trap – Place a magical trap upon an area. Size, type and trigger of traps is determined by your proficiency. Cost – 40 Aura. – 50%

  Elemental Arrow – Your next arrow is imbued with elemental energy and causes additional elemental damage accordingly. Cost – 30 Aura. – 27%

  Bolt – Release a Bolt of pure Lightning at your target(s). Cost – 40 Aura. – 22%

  Find Weakness – Highlights vulnerable points on the target. Modifier – Intelligence. Cost – 80 Aura. – 8%

  Summon Elemental – Summons an Elemental creature. If you succeed in binding it to your will, the creature will serve you faithfully until the spell’s expiration. Modifier – Charisma. Cost 100 Aura. – 7%

  Skills

  Bow – 49%

  Critical Hit – 39%

  Blades – 33%

  Long Sword – 35%

  Short Sword – 28%

  Dagger – 26%

  Critical Hit – 28%

  Two – Handed – 29%

  Pole Arms – 14%

  Spear – 23%

  Armor – 29%

  Medium Armor – 34%

  Perception – 43%

  Environmental – 45%

  Identify Enemy – 42%

  Identify Person – 39%

  Combat Dodge – 25%

  Subterfuge – 30%

  Stealth – 35%

  Find Trap –11%

  Disarm Trap – 8%

  Set Trap – 10%

  Manipulation – 34%

  Persuade – 46%

  Barter – 30%

  Survival – 24%

  Tracking – 26%

  Identify Creature (Beasts) –19%

  Skinning –13%

  Field Dress – 12%

  Alchemy – 17%

  Herbalism – 25%

  Potion Craft – 21%

  Lore – 3%

  Identify Magical Item – 5%

  I was so close, barely less than two thousand XP for my next level. And it was level twenty-five, a level that would grant me another Ability as well. If I could figure out some way to gain that level before the orcs returned, perhaps that new Ability might even help us in the upcoming battle.

  “Tási,” I said as I closed the window. “I’m really close to gaining another level. One that will grant me a new Ability. I really need to k
ill something.”

  “Well, that’s not morbid or anything,” she replied with a look of mock disgust.

  “Morbid or not, it could help us when the orcs return,” I countered.

  “Why don’t you have Bane add finding potential victims for you to his scouting duties?” Tási offered sarcastically.

  “That’s a great idea!”

  “I was joking!” She protested.

  “I know, but it’s actually a good idea. He can look for things that aren’t too powerful for us, and then we can take them out.”

  “Oh, so now it’s ‘us’ that need to go on a killing spree?”

  “You wouldn’t force me to go out there all alone, would you?” I replied dejectedly.

  “Oh, stop it already!” Tási protested at my shameless manipulation. “Of course I’ll help you, even if you are a bloodthirsty lunatic.”

  I let Tási’s comment slide and crushed her in a tight bear hug.

  “We’ll have loads of fun slaughtering all kinds of horrible beasts together!”

  “Alright,” she gasped. “Just let go of me, I can hardly breathe.”

  “Sorry,” I apologized as I released her. “I didn’t mean to squeeze you so tight.”

  “You’re much stronger than you realize,” Tási commented in response. “Far stronger than you should be.”

  “I know, I just forget sometimes.”

  My Deathless status alone gave me a clear advantage over this world’s natives, and I had used that advantage to pour a great deal of my stat points into Strength. On top of that, I had the Amulet boosting my Attributes by an additional ten percent. The combination of these factors made me far more powerful than my relatively low level would imply.

  “Well, let’s just focus your Strength on killing things rather than suffocating me, alright?”

  “It’s a deal,” I replied happily.

  We tossed around a few more ideas for our defenses before Bane finally returned. He had not seen any orcs, but did manage to spot several creatures in the woods as he had flown above the trees.