Second Skin Omnibus

by M Damon Baker

  We practiced our magic for a while longer before heading back home, but as we did, curiosity finally got the better of me, and I pulled up my sheet to have a look at my progress.

  Dreya Dae

  Sintári Female

  Title: Sintári, Empress

  Level - 64

  1883385/18911200

  Health - 506/506 Aura - 964/1364 Endurance - 506/506

  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 – Warlock

  STR - 61 (+6)

  CON - 42 (+4)

  DEX - 42 (+4)

  INT - 33 (+3)

  WIS - 33 (+3)

  CHA - 80 (+8)

  Abilities

  Ignore Armor – Your next arrow will ignore a portion of the target’s armor. Cost – 20 Aura. – 36%

  Stun – Your next arrow has a chance to stun its target on hit. Cost – 20 Aura. – 35%

  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. – 47%

  Flurry – Perform three rapid strikes with a bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 42%

  Parry – Chance for your blades to block next melee attack targeted at you. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 43%

  Hamstring – The next arrow fired has a chance to cripple your opponent. Cost – 20 Aura. – 32%

  Hilt Bash – Stun your opponent with a successful hilt strike from your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 41%

  Blood Price – Your arrow inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost – 30 Aura. – 37%

  Blind – Your next arrow has a chance to inflict blindness on a successful hit. Cost – 30 Aura. – 37%

  Achilles Strike – Cripple your target with a slash of your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 41%

  Penetrator – Advanced Ability – Your arrow pierces through armor easily. With increased proficiency, it may penetrate through even greater barriers. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 60 Aura. – 20%

  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. – 41%

  Shockwave – Advanced Ability – Your arrow explodes on contact, dealing minimal damage but generating a stunning shockwave in a radius around its detonation. Size and scope of this effect increase with proficiency. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 120 Aura. – 42%

  Combine Abilities – Advanced Ability – You may channel more than one Ability into a single attack. Success depends on your proficiency with each individual Ability. Modifier – Intelligence. Cost – 150 Aura. – 12%

  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. – 84%

  Shadow Armor – Use your shadows to form a barrier that not only absorbs incoming damage, but also lashes out at any foes within its reach. The power of this armor’s offense and defense depend on how much of your darkness you channel into it. Modifier – Shadow Magic Affinity. Cost N/A. – 23%.

  Protector Abilities

  See Truth – Twice 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. – 48%

  Spells

  Enhanced Sight – May be cast on self or ally. Improves visual acuity of the recipient in dark or obscured conditions. Cost – 20 Aura. – 52%

  Create Trap – Place a magical trap upon an area. Size, type, and trigger of traps is determined by your proficiency. Cost – 40 Aura. – 53%

  Elemental Arrow – Your next arrow is imbued with elemental energy and causes additional elemental damage accordingly. Cost – 30 Aura. – 28%

  Spike – Launch Ice Spike(s), delivering bonus cold damage on a successful hit. Cost – 40 Aura. – 22%

  Bolt – Release a Bolt of pure Lightning at your target(s). Cost – 40 Aura. – 29%

  Find Weakness – Highlights vulnerable points on the target. Modifier – Intelligence. Cost – 80 Aura. – 22%

  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. – 42%

  Shield – May be cast on self only. Manifests a forward-facing barrier against incoming projectile attacks. Duration and resistance of the barrier are based on proficiency and modifier value. Modifier – Constitution. Cost – 80 Aura. – 24%

  Entangle – Create an area of entangling vines that will hold any foes caught within its radius. Area of effect, the distance you may cast the Spell, and the power of your vines will all vary based on your Abilities and proficiency. Modifiers – Strength and Dexterity. Cost – 150 Aura. – 28%

  Compel – Force a sentient creature to answer a single question. If you successfully dominate their will, the target will reply with a truthful answer to one question you ask. Modifier – Charisma. Cost – 80 Aura. – 8%

  Slumber – Area-of-effect sleep Spell. All enemy creatures caught within the boundaries of this magic who fail a Constitution check will fall into a deep state of unconsciousness. Modifier – Charisma. Cost – 350 Aura. – 1%

  Fireball – Launch an orb of raw fire energy at your foes, which will explode on contact. The force and magnitude of this blast will vary depending on your proficiency and modifiers. Modifiers – Intelligence and Wisdom. Cost – 300 Aura. – 9%

  Shadow Magic – Affinity 17%

  Life Drain – Rip the life force from your target and add it to your own. This will either restore your own Health or add a temporary boost to it if it is already full. Modifier – Constitution. Cost – 150 Aura. – 5%

  Skills

  Bow – 68%

  Critical Hit – 54%

  Blades – 51%

  Long Sword – 50%

  Short Sword – 53%

  Dagger – 60%

  Critical Hit – 44%

  Two-Handed – 57%

  Pole Arms – 14%

  Spear – 23%

  Armor – 45%

  Medium Armor – 47%

  Perception – 58%

  Environmental – 56%

  Identify Enemy – 56%

  Identify Person – 54%

  Combat Dodge – 26%

  Subterfuge – 41%

  Stealth – 41%

  Find Trap – 20%

  Disarm Trap – 20%

  Set Trap – 20%

  Manipulation – 59%

  Persuade – 69%

  Barter – 44%

  Survival – 24%

  Tracking – 27%

  Identify Creature (Beasts) – 19%

  Skinning – 16%

  Field Dress – 15%

  Alchemy – 19%

  Herbalism – 31%

  Potion Craft – 27%

  Lore – 10%

  Identify Magical Item – 18%

  My progress was painstakingly slow, as I’d feared, but after looking over so many enchanted items, my Lore and Identify talents had finally ticked up a little. The one thing that did stand out, however, was that my Shadow Armor proficiency had increased beyond 20%. From what I knew, that should not have been possible—only a master could train someone above that limit, and I hadn’t received training from anyone at all, let alone a Sintári master. I mean, based on my Control, I might have qualified as
one, but—oh shit, was that it?

  It had to be; there was no other answer that made any sense. I was a Sintári master, and with the level of discipline I’d managed to achieve, I’d also gained the ability to train my Sintári talents above their normal limits. Just how far above those limits I could go remained to be seen, but considering how powerful my Shadow Armor was, I was determined to push it as high as I possibly could.

  “You found something important,” Saibra spoke to me discreetly when I closed the screen.

  She’d seen me gazing at my Deathless messages often enough to recognize what I’d been doing, and more importantly, knew how to read my expressions clearly, so there was no way to hide the fact that I had indeed discovered something quite significant.

  “My training was a bit more productive than I anticipated,” I didn’t bother to try and hide what I found from her. “I’m able to increase my proficiency beyond the normal limits, at least for my Sintári talents.”

  Talent, I should have said, as I only had the one, but the point was the same, regardless. Saibra only nodded in response, and as she did, I noticed the steely gray color had returned to her eyes. Sometime during the series of events that began when we were notified of the Deathless’ capture, her protective side had taken over and the warm blue had been banished as her storm clouds surged forward. I wondered for a moment if the blue color would return on its own after a while, or if I would have the pleasure of bringing it back myself. Either way, the thought still gave me something pleasant to look forward to.

  I walked back to the Palace slowly, taking the longer route past many of the farms and homesteads we might have otherwise missed. As we passed by, I stopped to talk with the people we came across, taking the time to learn how things were going for them in the valley. Without exception, everything they told me was of a positive nature; the crops grew beyond their expectations, and their livestock thrived, grazing on the rich grasses of the fertile land. This fertility did not seem to be limited to the herds or vegetation either, as I noticed a great number of round bellies among the women we met, telling me that we’d have many new citizens in just a few months’ time.

  Thinking about all those new lives brought a smile to my face, one that was still there when we finally reached the Palace just in time for dinner. Although I was looking forward to returning to my own rooms and having a quiet night with Bane after the long day and the trouble with the Deathless, I joined my friends and companions for our nightly meal. Regardless of our individual schedules, it was the one time each day when we all tried to be together, no matter what might otherwise have kept us apart.

  Despite all that had transpired that day, we were happy to be together again. The Deathless had caused a great deal of harm, but it also could have been far worse had he not been discovered so quickly. Evans let us know that he’d promoted the sharp-eyed soldier who’d spotted the links around the unnamed Deathless’ neck, and I thought it was a fitting reward for the keen observation. Once Khorim made sure to let me know that word was already being spread throughout the Realms about the links the enemy Deathless wore, we let the matter drop for the night.

  The wine and ale flowed rather freely for the rest of the evening, lightening our spirits even further. By all accounts, our efforts were proceeding well on every front, and there was much to be grateful for. Our dinner turned into a rather raucous affair as the night grew late, with retellings of our many adventures and bold claims about those yet to come. Our gathering finally broke up far later than any of us had intended, but that was not an uncommon occurrence.

  “Do you want me to come upstairs with you?” Líann pulled me aside as everyone began taking their leave.

  “I do, more than anything,” I replied as I gazed into her eyes. “But not tonight. When I take you there, it will be for good, Líann, and I’m not ready to do that just yet.”

  We’d talked about this several times, and I promised that I wouldn’t make her wait too long. Even though I was over the pain of Tási’s loss, I wasn’t quite ready to completely move on—I may have accepted that she was gone, but I simply couldn’t replace her yet.

  Líann knew how conflicted I was, and I’d been completely honest with her about how I felt. I loved Líann deeply; she was my Táriel, and I wanted nothing more than to share the rest of my life with her, but I didn’t want to begin our time together until my mind, and more importantly, my heart, was ready. And I just wasn’t there.

  “I understand,” Líann whispered. “But I’ll keep asking.”

  That was part of the deal we’d made—well, the deal she’d made, and I’d ‘agreed’ to. Líann knew me well enough to know that she’d have to push a little to get me where she wanted me to be. For her part, she’d keep prodding, knowing that I’d most likely say no… until I didn’t. We both knew that it would only take one night for me to not want to give her up again, and this was the game we played to get us there. To be sure, I wouldn’t give in until I truly was ready, but Líann also knew that I might also put her off for a while even beyond that point without her helpful reminders.

  I left to return to my own chambers for the first time in weeks, looking forward to spending time with Bane, who I’d missed while he’d mostly been off scouting for us during that time. I also wanted to see what his newly finished room looked like, as I’d been banned from my own suite during the renovations and redecorating. I entered the antechamber to my rooms, eagerly anticipating getting my first look at my home, but I’d have to wait a little while longer. Ella and Nomi were waiting for me there, Ella with her new mail already beneath her Khelduin plates, and Nomi with the wicked Bloodletter axe strapped to her belt.

  “Anything special to report, Commander?” I teased Ella, knowing full well why the two of them were there.

  Ella only smiled in return while Nomi stepped forward and spoke first.

  “I just wanted to thank you, Empress,” the dwarven lieutenant hesitated slightly. “This… this is far more than anything I’d ever expected.”

  Nomi patted the head of the axe when she looked at me, as if she was still trying to decide if it was real or not. The weapon was incredibly powerful, strong enough to be wielded by one of the Deathless, so it was no wonder that my gift had made an impression on her.

  “You protect my life, Nomi,” I replied, loud enough for the rest of my guards to hear since my words were meant for them as well. “So, it’s only right for me to see that you have the best I can provide.”

  “But that’s not the only reason why I gave you this weapon,” I took a step closer to Nomi as I spoke. “You’re not only my guardians but my friends as well. You shield me with your lives, and I will do the same for you in return.”

  That earned me a hard glare from both Ella and Saibra, and I knew I was in for a lecture from both of them, but I’d only said the truth. I knew our roles, but I’d come to care deeply for my protectors, and given the chance, I’d save them if I could. We’d already fought side-by-side on several occasions, and I’d do so again anytime it was necessary.

  Still, I wanted her to truly understand just how much she and the rest of my guardians meant to me, and I was moved to take an even greater action as I summoned a small orb of light in my hand. It was fashioned from my love and admiration, not only for Nomi, but for all my guardians, and I drew it forth and held it in front of the startled lieutenant for only a second before I sent it to her.

  Ella and Saibra recognized the orb for what it was, having seen me use them on many occasions, most often to playfully chastise one of my Tári, but in other circumstances as well. But the rest of my guards were not quite as familiar with my powers and stared in shock as the tiny orb of light vanished beneath Nomi’s skin. It only took a moment for the orb to run its course, and when its power was drained, Nomi looked at me with a mixture of awe and confusion.

  “Do you really care for us so?”

  “You already know the answer to that question, Nomi,” I smiled back at her.

&nb
sp; “I do,” she whispered to herself, although her words carried to my ears as well.

  “Lieutenant,” Ella broke Nomi from her thoughts. “Take the others and wait for me outside—the Captain and I need to speak with the Empress in private.”

  Alright, here it comes, I thought to myself. The two of them were about to give me a lecture on just who was responsible for protecting who.

  “I want to start by thanking you for my new armor, Dreya,” Ella said once the door had shut the rest of the guards outside. “And this ring,” she motioned with her hand so I could see it on her finger. “I was at a distinct disadvantage in the dark without it.”

  “You’re welcome, Ella,” I smirked at her, knowing that she was only waiting to pounce on me. “I trust you don’t need a reminder of how special you are to me?”

  I conjured a small orb as I spoke and waved my hand at her as I held it in my palm.

  “No. No, I don’t,” she backed away a step. “Just put that away so we can talk.”

  “You must know your place, Empress,” Saibra began, unperturbed by Ella’s predicament. “We are the ones who protect you—your role is not to shield us from harm. It would defeat our entire purpose if we were to survive while you fell.”

  Knowing my ‘place’ was not a strong suit for me, but Saibra’s words had their intended effect; she was right, after all. If I died saving the lives of my guards, they would never forgive me, even if I came back afterwards—which I remembered was no longer a guarantee. My Sintári status may very well have voided that Deathless benefit, and there was no way to find out, other than to test it by dying; which even I understood was far from a good idea.