Beastborne

by James T Callum

  He couldn’t help but think of his friends, of his home, coming under attack without him there.

  Pushing the dark thought from his mind, Hal unbuckled his [Shadow-Tempered Bracers] and rolled up his sleeve to reveal his mark. What he once thought was a Founder’s Mark, but in truth was something much older.

  His Kol’thil shone golden as it always had on the inside of his left forearm. The moonlit mark of the Manatree stood out at its center. But now there was another, smaller mark of copper hue at the edge nearest his wrist.

  Would you like to absorb the Copper Kol’thil?

  Nodding his answer, Hal felt a surge of white-hot pain streak up his forearm as the copper Kol’thil began to glow brighter and brighter.

  Warning: Your Gold Kol’thil is of insufficient rank to absorb the Copper Kol’thil with all of its Sigils intact. If you wish to continue, you will lose 13 Sigils.

  Clamping a hand over the burning Kol’thil, he stopped the process. Trying to understand what just happened, he tried to pry into each of the Kol’thils.

  Golden Kol’thil (Manatree Marked): Rank 0.

  Copper Kol’thil (Renthor): Rank 42.

  So his Kol’thil is a lot stronger than mine, that much is obvious. How do I even increase its rank?

  Hal waited a moment, hoping the System would illuminate it for him, but nothing happened. He sighed deeply, shook his head, and buckled his bracer once more.

  You are afflicted with Kol’thil Bleed.

  Through unnatural means, you have gained another Kol’thil, but you lack the strength to possess it wholly. A foreign Kol’thil acts as a leech upon the body, siphoning vital resources to keep itself operational.

  You can reject the Kol’thil, or continue its absorption with the loss of its Sigils. In either case, the Sigils and knowledge of its previous owner will be lost. Should you bear the affliction, both Sigil and knowledge will become available to you as your own Kol’thil grows in strength.

  And I do that, how?

  Once again, the System did not deign to answer him.

  Perhaps that was the ache he felt in his chest. He did feel a little weaker. But if Renthor’s Kol’thil was draining him of HP, it was so slight his natural regeneration made it a non-issue.

  It was just another thing to deal with.

  They left the strange silver hoops behind, but not before Beedle snagged one with his long horn. Hal helped him to place it atop his pile of treasures, unsure how he was going to carry Beedle and cross the water to the north.

  He combed through the rest of his notifications as they weaved through the trees, retracing their steps. Not an easy task with the forest actively regrowing so quickly that signs of their passage were all but invisible to Hal’s eyes.

  Though his Perception wasn’t poor, his Survival was. But thankfully, Beedle once again seemed to know the way. And if the little Rhino Beetle ever got lost, Hal pointed it in the general direction of the Settlement.

  He knew where the Manaseed was at all times, even from this distance. He could navigate there blindfolded, but he had no way of knowing if there would be a mountain or impassable stretch of water in his way. His other problem was getting there in time to help defend his home.

  Your Improvised Weaponry Skill has risen to Level 18.

  Your Improvised Weaponry Skill has risen to Level 19.

  +2% Improvised Weapon damage (+38%).

  +2% Improvised Weapon attack speed (+38%).

  Your Sword Skill has risen to Level 24.

  Your Sword Skill has risen to Level 25.

  +1% Sword damage (+25%).

  -0.25% Sword durability loss (-6.25%).

  +5% Armor penetration (+25%).

  Your Evasion Skill has risen to Level 18.

  …

  Your Evasion Skill has risen to Level 21.

  +1% Evasion speed (+21%).

  -1% Stamina cost (-21%).

  +2% Time decay (+10%).

  You have 1 Evasion Perk point awaiting assignment.

  Patient Offense 1/1

  Each successive evasion of an enemy’s attack increases the damage of your next attack by 10%. Resets if hit.

  Second Wind 0/1

  Prerequisite: Patient Offense

  Each stack of Patient Offense can be consumed, converting it into 1% HP.

  Leaf on the Wind 0/1

  While wearing Armor, +10% Evasion chance. While Unarmored, +20% Evasion chance.

  Light as a Feather 0/1

  Reduce falling damage by half.

  Light as a Feather actually seemed to have some use now that there were places he could conceivably fall from with a purpose. While breaking his shins to make it down a mountain or cliff faster wasn’t ideal, it might allow him to save a friend’s life.

  Then again, Leaf on the Wind and Second Wind both seemed quite useful.

  Leaf on the Wind would help him to rack up those stacks of Patient Offense, as well as keeping him on his feet. But Second Wind could literally heal him.

  Granted, 1% HP wasn’t much on its own. However, if he focused on dodging, he could get a few stacks pretty quickly. And instead of needing to hit his opponent to utilize Patient Offense, he could use Second Wind to heal himself without ever being near them.

  Confirming his selection, Hal picked Second Wind as his Evasion perk.

  139

  Hal wasn’t conceited enough to think that he alone could turn the tide of battle. But he had allowed himself to - at least partly - believe that he could return with his Dark Communion Quest completed.

  With greater power, he might have helped to repel their attackers. And with the gained EXP, he could use Dominate to devastating effect.

  Provided, of course, that these things weren’t protected as that Voidbolger was.

  Until that point, Hal had never seen a Sigil fail. Nor had he thought there was anybody but another Founder that had them.

  That they were something older and more powerful than even he had been led to believe was still doing a number on his head.

  It was all too much.

  Rather than dwell on something he could do nothing about, something he could learn no more about on his own out in the wilds, Hal turned his focus back to his perks.

  Your Beast Magic has risen to Level 30.

  +3% Beast Magic potency (+90%).

  -2% MP cost (-12%).

  You have 1 Beast Magic Perk point awaiting assignment.

  Your Convergence has risen to Tier II.

  Fine-grained control of stat allocation allowed.

  Azure Fate 1/1

  Embark upon the Azure Path, trading raw strength for greater control and efficiency.

  Azure Lore 0/1

  Reach into the very depths of Beast Magic, forming a sympathetic bond with your adversary. By touching a monster, you are able to understand your quarry that much better. Its weaknesses and fears, its strengths, and most importantly what it’ll do before it does it. Defeating multiple enemies from the same Monster Family confers unique bonuses against that family.

  Empty Vessel 1/1

  Each Beastborne is unique. Those that follow the Azure path accept the risk of Strain but are not without the tools to handle the dangerous influx of corrupting magic. Once per day, you can focus on the way your body was before becoming a Beastborne. Holding that image, you purge all Strain from yourself, becoming an empty vessel once more.

  Convergence 1/5

  Prerequisites: Lv.10 Beast Magic, Lv.10 Beastborne, Azure Fate, Deep Magic.

  As a Beastborne, you are able to alter the most fundamental aspects of yourself. By refining your Beastborne-given powers, you are able to influence your body through your mental prowess. While channeling essence, INT and CHR can be partially utilized as modifiers to your melee damage and bodily prowess. Higher tiers allow you to tap a greater portion of INT and CHR.

  Lv.1: 15% INT & CHR transferred to Physical Stats.

  Lv.2: 25% INT & CHR transferred to Physical Stats.

  Lv.3: 35% INT & CHR trans
ferred to Physical Stats.

  Lv.4: 45% INT & CHR transferred to Physical Stats.

  Lv.5: 60% INT & CHR transferred to Physical Stats.

  Predator’s Insight 0/3

  Prerequisites: Empty Vessel.

  Increased chance to learn Beast Magic from targets by 25%. If the chance is already 100%, adds a chance to learn additional spell(s). Influenced by INT.

  Sheep’s Clothing 0/1

  Prerequisites: Azure Lore.

  Utilizing the adaptive nature of Beast Magic, you are able to shroud yourself in the magical essence of a given monster. To most creatures, you appear as that type of monster and they will treat you as such.

  Ruby Stars 0/1

  Take your first step among the red-shifted stars of a dying universe, basking in the unfettered strength of the Elders.

  Considering how much of a game-changer Convergence was, and its recent increase to tier 2, he would have to be braindead not to further boost the perk.

  While the rest could all be useful, Convergence was a consistent tool in his arsenal that was too powerful not to take all the way to the maximum Level as soon as possible.

  Your Enfeebling Magic has risen to Level 21.

  +1% Enfeebling success (+21%).

  +2% Enfeebling duration (+42%).

  Your Manatree Skill has risen to Level 10.

  +3% Manatree Spell Potency (+30%).

  You have 1 Manatree Perk point awaiting assignment.

  Conservation 0/5

  Reduce the MP cost of Manatree spells by improving the accuracy of your mana manipulation and cutting out inefficient somatic elements.

  Lv.1: -5% Mana cost.

  Lv.2: -7% Mana cost.

  Lv.3: -10% Mana cost.

  Lv.4: -15% Mana cost.

  Lv.5: -25% Mana cost.

  Thaumaturgic Focus 0/5

  By focusing on the saturation of mana within the influence of a Manatree spell, you are capable of empowering your spells further with the aid of the saturated mana around you.

  Lv.1: +5% Spell damage | +5% Spell effect strength.

  Lv.2: +5% Spell damage | +10% Spell effect strength.

  Lv.3: +10% Spell damage | +10% Spell effect strength.

  Lv.4: +10% Spell damage | +20% Spell effect strength.

  Lv.5: +20% Spell damage | +20% Spell effect strength.

  Arcana Siphon 0/1

  The spheres of influence granted by Manatree spells change the very warp and weft of the mana caught within. By subtly altering the make-up of your Manatree spells, you can capture part of the MP expended within to replenish your stores.

  Stepping around a boulder tumble covered with mossy roots from nearby toppled trees, Hal mulled over his options.

  Each of the Manatree perks seemed powerful in their own right.

  Manatree spells were likely going to continue to cost more and more. He only had a single spell to compare against, but the perks provided hinted at the future.

  The power of their effects was such that they required a surfeit of mana to enact them. Slowing down a group of creatures within a 30-foot radius was no small task.

  Even if the slow-down was something minimal, like 5%, it was enough to steal an advantage from an enemy.

  That was the reason Hal was worried about getting back to the Settlement. With Manatorpor, his command of the Manatree’s abilities, and his use of Dominate, he could be a great aid to the Settlement’s defense.

  Instead, he was traipsing about in the Shiverglades, trying to find his way back before the attack started. Something that all logic told him he would never be able to do even if he traveled all night.

  That wouldn’t stop him from trying. Arriving late was better than not arriving at all.

  Without the final Dark Communion being able to take place, he would be weaker than he set out to be. Though he did have a large store of EXP to make use of his properly renamed Kol’thil Sigils, he was hoping for more.

  To that end, he needed to look to the rigors of extended warfare.

  The Guild Mission explicitly said to survive the night. Which meant a protracted battle. Every fight he had been in so far was measured in seconds or minutes, not hours.

  In service of that, he picked up Arcana Siphon. With liberal use of Manatorpor, Arcana Siphon would help to recoup some of the lost MP. It would surely be better than a one-off MP reduction.

  He held out some hope that the keinse were around, but he heard nothing as Beedle paused on the next sloping rise. The trees thinned enough to give Hal a good view of the land to the north.

  What Hal originally took for a small clearing was actually a cliff. The land fell away a few feet in front of where Beedle stood with his various knickknacks strewn about his carapace like the pack mule of a treasure hunter.

  They had gone too far west.

  Without the keinse to guide him, and with a pitiful Survival skill to boot, Hal had entrusted his guidance to Beedle. And while the creature kept them roughly in the direction they needed to go, it wasn’t precise enough.

  Hal could clearly see the brackish water, its wind-ruffled surface glinting in the late morning sun.

  Luckily, the fire he had set was still burning. Unfortunate for the forest, but lucky for him as he now had a good point of reference.

  Once he was across the water, it would be easy enough to see the pillar of black smoke even through the thicker canopies.

  The only problem was getting there.

  The ice floes that littered the black waters of the southern Shiverglades were blinding in their brilliance, but he could just make them out if he shaded his eyes against the glare.

  Still, at more than a hundred feet below, and with no easy way to get down the sheer cliff face, it would be a while until he could even think about crossing them.

  Worse, he wouldn’t get such a good vantage point once he was on the same level as the water.

  Hal burned the image before him into his mind. The position of the larger ice floes and the distant shoreline closest to the pillar of smoke, most importantly.

  He took a few long strides back away from the edge, making sure he was Splicing aberration essence. “At least nobody’s here this time to see this,” he said as he started to form a parachute from his aberration essence.

  As his intention became clear to Beedle, thin gossamer wings unfurled from somewhere beneath the beetle’s stacks of loot. They began to beat the air furiously in a harsh buzz.

  Before Hal could say anything, Beedle was already airborne and coasting easily over the ledge.

  The only thought that was in Hal’s mind as he sprinted and leaped out over the hundred-plus foot empty air was not a comforting one, How high up do I need to be to survive a parachute fall?

  140

  Three days ago.

  Noth rubbed her temples as one of the dwarves stomped away in a huff. He wasn’t happy with the way Noth had handled his issue.

  That she had given him a black eye for shaking his fist at her might have been a touch overkill. But she was on edge. Boco was still hurt, though at least the karak was going to make a full recovery.

  They never found the morbolger nest that they went looking for and to top it all off Hal had given her control of the Settlement until he returned from his Class Quest.

  She wanted to make him proud. It was obvious how much of a strain managing a Guild, and a Settlement had on the man. If she could let him have this time to focus on himself, she would put up with a dozen more surly dwarves.

  It pained her that she couldn’t go to him. That she couldn’t help him.

  “Trust in him,” Ashera said, bringing two steaming mugs of mulled wine over. “Do not look at me like that. I can see the way you worry about him. He trusted you to get all this done, did he not?”

  Noth took the offered cup and curled her fingers around the clay mug. Its heat warmed her chilled fingers. She took a moment to inhale the warm, spiced aroma. When she opened her eyes, she said, “He did.”

  “Then trust in
him as he trusted you.” Ashera pulled up a seat alongside her and turned to look out the window of the Recreation Building. She watched the blonde-haired dwarf walk down the hill and out of sight, headed not to the south toward the growing wall, but to the north.

  Ashera raised her brow at that, turning her gaze to Noth.

  “We need stone,” she said with a helpless shrug. “The construction of the Earthen Walls and Palisades are continuing apace. Hal wanted to have a Quarry built if there were enough workers to finish the walls in time.”

  “Did he say why?”

  Noth shook her head, her black curls bounced along her shoulders and draped over the back of her armor. “Not really. Communicating through the keinse is not an easy feat. All he said was that he was, ‘looking toward the future’ for all that means.”

  “Does he think there will be another attack?”

  “I don’t think he knows,” Noth answered truthfully. “But I think he believes it would be best to prepare for the eventuality. Why else would he want to have production buildings made when we could have all hands working on the wall?

  “The dwarves take the defense of the Settlement very seriously you know. Not a single one of them is taking the request to help with the Quarry or the Lumberjack’s Hut very well. They think I’m trying to strip away their pride or something.”

  Ashera took a sip of her mulled wine, her soft green eyes reminded Noth of the southern seas on Herstadt. A ruthless Worldshard whose few landmasses rose and fell with the massive tides that ruled the world.