by Aaron Oster
Armor: +8
Effect: -10% Damage from monster attacks
Name: Sash of the Monster Mage
Durability: 50/50
Rarity: Legendary
Quality: Enhanced
Armor: +6
Effect: +15% Chance of finding ‘Rare’ or better items from a defeated monster
Name: Boots of the Monster Mage
Durability: 130/130
Rarity: Legendary
Quality: Enhanced
Armor: +8
Effect: +2% Chance to ignore all damage when being attacked by a monster
Name: Armband of the Monster Mage
Durability: 60/60
Rarity: Legendary
Quality: Enhanced
Armor: +4
Effect: -50% To casting time when targeting a monster
You have found a full set of Monster Mage armor.
Set Bonus: +12 Constitution, Intelligence, and Wisdom
Requirements: Level 18 Mage (Sub-Class does not affect the ability to equip)
Name: Staff of the Weeper
Durability: 200/200
Rarity: Legendary
Quality: Enhanced
Damage: +22-38 (Ability), +13-18 (Blunt)
Effect: -25% to Mana cost when using Mage abilities
Requirements: Level 18 Mage (Sub-Class does not affect the ability to equip)
Name: Spell Scroll
Durability: 10/10
Rarity: Epic
Quality: Sturdy
Contents: Recover Spell
Effect: Heals caster based in invested MP
Requirements: Level 10 Mage
Name: Electrum Coins (X20)
Sam stared at the item descriptions for a full five minutes before it finally started to set in. Then, a massive grin spread across his face. This gear was awesome!
“You got anywhere I can change?” he called over his shoulder, not wanting to take his eyes off his precious gear for even an instant.
“Just change behind one of the shelves. No one will see,” Joe’s tired-sounding voice floated back from behind a stack of crates.
“Don’t need to tell me twice,” Sam muttered, snatching up the robes and making a dash for a nearby shelf.
He stripped down to his underwear in record time and soon had the Legendary gear equipped. The robes were dark blue in color, with whirls of orange and black throughout. There were several straps on the arms and legs to keep the robes tied for free movement and the bottom billowed out more like an anime trench coat than a proper robe.
The boots were a perfect fit, and the armband slid on without any difficulty. There was even a loop at the back in which to slide the staff, which he did immediately. He was left with a small pile containing all his old gear, but Sam wasn’t even looking at it. Instead, he quickly opened the scroll to teach himself his first healing spell.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have gained a new ability!
Recovery: Paranoid about doctors? No worries! Now you can do it yourself!
Level: Novice 1 (0%)
Effect: Heals 1 HP for every 5 invested MP
Range: Self
Cast Time: Instant
Cooldown: N/A
“Woohoo! No more dying because of my low HP!” he whooped.
A second after the words left his mouth, he realized that he actually felt a lot better. His mind felt more alert, and his body was practically thrumming with energy. He’d still had a bit of morning grogginess left when he’d entered the building, but he was now wide awake. He instantly realized that it was due to his new gear that he was feeling so awesome. Wanting to see the difference the new gear imparted, he opened his status.
CHARACTER STATUS
Name: Sam
Race: Human
Level: 18
XP: 2,443/51,000
AP: 1
Class: Over-Mage
HP: 320/320 (Regen 3.2 Per Second)
MP: 750/750 (Regen 6.7 Per Second)
STA: 130/130 (Regen 1.3 Per Second)
ATTRIBUTES
Strength: 6
Constitution: 20 (32)
Agility: 8
Endurance: 9 (13)
Intelligence: 60 (75)
Wisdom: 52 (67)
Charisma: 30
Luck: 12
ABILITIES
Mana Shot: Beginner LV - 19 (31%)
Mana Burn: Beginner LV - 17 (5%)
Mana Flare: Beginner LV - 15 (10%)
Mana Cloak: Novice LV - 10 (93%)
Mage Bolt: Novice LV - 5 (67%)
Speed Boost: Novice LV - 3 (28%)
Mage Shield: Novice LV - 1 (0%)
Over-Burn: Novice LV - 1 (0%)
Recovery: Novice LV - 1 (0%)
SKILLS
Sprint: Beginner LV - 16 (84%)
Stalker: Beginner LV - 15 (67%)
Inspect: Intermediate LV - 22 (96%)
Mind Over All: Advanced LV - 40 (41%)
Mental Manipulation: Beginner LV - 16 (57%)
Browbeat: Novice LV - 9 (12%)
Critical Strike: Beginner LV - 13 (81%)
Sucker Punch: Beginner LV - 12 (23%)
TITLES
Butcherer of Bunnies
Punching Bag
You Won’t Like Me When I’m Angry
EQUIPPED ITEMS
Clothing
Robes of the Monster Mage
Trousers of the Monster Mage
Sash of the Monster Mage
Boots of the Monster Mage
Armband of the Monster Mage
Total Armor Rating: 41
Set Bonus: +12 Constitution, Intelligence & Wisdom
Other Items
Name: Staff of the Weeper
Damage: +22-38 (Ability), +13-18 (Blunt)
Name: Pendant of the Novice Mage
Effect: +3 Intelligence & Wisdom
Name: Ring of Endurance
Effect: +4 Endurance
Name: Ring of Fortitude
Effect: +50% Resistance to Mental Manipulation
RULE OF THE DAY
Do not kick any dogs
That was a huge difference in power from the last time he’d checked. Sam was extremely happy with his new gear, though both his Strength and Endurance had dropped as a result. Reading through such a massive and ever-growing stat sheet was beginning to give him a headache. It was starting to get hard to keep track of all his skills, abilities, and the like, so he decided that he’d only be looking at the full sheet when something major happened.
Until then, he’d keep using the abbreviated one he’d found before and check the daily rule separately. That done, he closed his status, thrilled at his massive increase in health and mana. His regen had shot up even more, and the best part was that all his spells would now cost 25 percent less, due to his new staff.
He had an ability to self-heal and an armor rating of 41, which meant that if anything inflicted less than 41 points of damage, he wouldn’t even feel it. On top of that, he would now be a monster-killing machine.
“Ooh, well, don’t you look fancy in your new duds?”
Sam turned, already spouting his pre-rehearsed line.
“Just call me…” he trailed off, the shock of what Emma was wearing making him pause.
“Like what you see?” she asked, posing for him.
She’d pulled her hair back into a long ponytail, wrapped with a shimmering gold cloth that he had to assume was part of the outfit. She wore billowy, black Japanese-style robes with gold trim around the seams. Wooden sandals in the same traditional style graced her feet and a new katana was belted at her waist.
Normally, something like that wouldn’t make anyone look twice. However, if his gear looked anime-esque, then hers was straight out of some animator’s wet dreams. The front was way too loose, and judging by the amount of cleavage she was showing, was designed to be that way. And the pants…
Who the hell thought something like that would be a good idea or even a little practical?!
&nbs
p; The front of the pants was entirely missing. There was a big cutout, plainly showing her underwear and was designed to give everyone an eyeful. But judging by the way Joe wasn’t even looking, this had to be a common occurrence in this world.
The Overlord must be a fan of trashy harem anime, Sam thought as he composed himself. That has got to be the only valid explanation.
“Well?” Emma asked, leaning forward a bit.
“At least it’s not a chainmail bikini,” he muttered under his breath. To answer her, he asked in an audible tone. “Is it better than your old gear, at least?”
“Oh, yes! Way better!”
“How about the weapon?”
“Amazing!”
“You gonna show it to me?”
“Only if you show me yours first.”
Sam pulled the staff from his back, brandishing it before him.
“Not the sword I meant,” Emma said with a pout. “But fine, I’ll just…”
A loud crash from upstairs interrupted her, and Joe looked up in alarm.
“Grab your things, and let’s go. Sounds like my men are back, and judging by the noise, they weren’t successful.”
4
Sam and Emma followed Joe up the stairs. They were trailed by Barry and Gordon, who were still not talking and giving everyone – mainly each other – the silent treatment. Though his Agility and Endurance hadn’t increased at all, Sam still felt better than ever and had no problems keeping up with Joe.
They reached the top of the stairs, just in time to see the last person stepping through a tear in space before collapsing onto the ground.
“How many did you send out?” Sam asked, eyeing the ragged and injured guildies.
“Over two-dozen,” Joe said grimly, eyeing the six remaining members. “Can anyone explain what happened?”
A white-furred fawn with small brown flecks on her coat and a gold chain around her neck rose wearily. Of all those gathered, she was the least injured, though judging by the large indentation in her armor and the blood leaking from underneath, that wasn’t saying much.
“They set a trap for us,” she said, breathing hard. “The guildhall in the capital is in shambles and everyone is dead. The enchantress somehow knew we were coming and met us there herself.”
“And the princess?”
She simply shook her head.
“Damn it all,” Joe cursed, sinking to the floor and rubbing at his eyes. “We cannot continue sustaining these losses. We have no choice but to call headquarters and ask that they send reinforcements to the capital.”
“I’m afraid that won’t work, sir,” the fawn said. “We barely made it back in one piece, and the enchantress has started closing off all portals in the area. At this rate, it could take us months to get reinforcements there.”
“Does she really have that much power?”
The fawn nodded tiredly.
“Not only that, but she has a force of powerful minions enslaved to her will. I fear the only way the kingdom will be free is by calling the full might of the guild down on them. But as I said, the portals are being shut down as we speak.”
Joe seemed to think about that for a moment before turning to the four of them.
“I know you’re not associated with the guild at all, but you’re all we’ve got. The portals may still function for a bit more, but we have no guarantee of that. Will you help us restore peace?”
QUEST UPDATE
Enchanted Kingdom: The enchantress Borgana has infiltrated the palace and enthralled the King. Furthermore, she has now captured Princess Willow and holds the entire kingdom in her thrall. The guild in the capital has already fallen, and the kingdom may be next.
Difficulty: Extreme
Objective: Kill Borgana the Frayed
Rewards: 80,000 XP, 2 Legendary Items, 1 Master Spell Scroll, 1 1LB Bar of Orichalcum
Though the rewards had increased significantly, Sam noticed that the objective had changed. Originally, all they’d had to do was get her out of the palace. Now, according to the new quest, they would have to kill her. Judging by the injuries accrued by the guildies and all those who’d already died, this wouldn’t be easy. However, the rewards were pretty damn good, so against his better judgment, he accepted.
“Very well, we’ll keep going,” he said as the screen vanished.
“Good, good,” Joe replied, pulling a shining green key from his pocket and thrusting it into the air.
With a single twist, a portal sprang open, a black void yawning before them.
“This portal will take you to the city of Shtetel. It’s about twenty miles from the capital and as close as I can get you.”
“What about supplies? We haven’t had a chance to buy bags either,” he said, gesturing to the bundle of clothes clutched in his arms.
His electrum coins were safe in the spatial wallet, but he wasn’t about to go off on a quest while being forced to carry all his crap.
“Here,” the fawn said, tossing him a bag. “It’s got a week’s worth of rations and some basic survival gear. It’s nothing special, but it should last you.”
“But isn’t this yours?” Sam asked.
“The guild will reimburse her,” Joe snapped impatiently. “Now go! We’re running out of time! The portal could be forced closed at any second!”
“Alright already, geez!” Sam said, stepping forward and through the portal.
He was sure the others would be right on his tail, but seeing as he’d never portal traveled before, he didn’t exactly know what to expect. A void of chaos spread around him, multicolored lights flashing in his vision. His body was frozen, locked in place by an inexorable force. Yet he somehow felt as though he were still moving, traveling at great speeds through space.
Then, out of the darkness loomed a woman’s face. It was truly nightmarish with sunken sockets, sallow green skin, and blazing orange orbs in place of eyes. Her hair waved wildly in all directions, as though having a mind of its own. Then, she opened her mouth and screamed. The wail was deafening, blanking out all his other surroundings.
Sam was unable to move, forced to stand still. Though he was utterly terrified, and the face was moving closer, looming ever larger in his vision, he could do nothing. Then, when the face loomed so large that he feared he might be swallowed whole, he felt a jarring, tearing sensation and suddenly, he was thrown forward.
Sam hit the ground hard, bouncing and rolling several times before his movement was arrested by a friendly tree. Damage notifications flashed in his vision, followed by a stream of debuffs.
-12 Damage (Falling).
-14 Damage (Sonic Wail).
You are Stunned! Duration: S 28
You are Concussed! Duration: M 1: S 15
You are Deafened! Duration: M 2: S 28
Sam groaned, though he found that he was unable to hear anything past the ringing in his ears. His head spun and he felt like he was about to throw up at any second. Something slammed into him, pushing his back into the tree even farther and causing him more damage.
-6 Damage (Blunt).
He tried to curl in on himself, attempting to shield himself from attack. Another something slammed into him, though it felt muted somehow and this time, caused no damage. A fourth thump reverberated through something, though with his head spinning, he couldn’t even see straight.
Finally, the world started coming back into view, and he found himself staring at a mound of fur. It took a few moments for him to realize that the thing that had slammed into him was Gordon. Groaning, Sam forced himself to his feet, clutching at his still ringing ears. As soon as he touched his ears, he felt that they were wet, and when he looked at as his fingers, he saw that they were slick with his own blood.
What the hell?
Emma was lying against Gordon, blood streaming from her ears as well, and Baron Von Tweet lay against her. It seemed that they’d exited the portal, but it hadn’t been a pleasant trip. Also, judging by their surroundings, their course must have been thr
own off. Ears still ringing, Sam bent to check on Emma, who was only now stirring.
“Are you okay?” he asked, not even able to really hear his own words.
She looked at him in confusion, her vision unfocused and groggy. It seemed like she’d been hit with some debuffs but would likely recover soon enough. Rising back to his feet, Sam could finally feel the ringing in his ears abating somewhat, but now that the pain was gone, he became aware of something else that had managed to escape his notice thus far.
“Holy shit, it reeks!” Sam cried, clamping a hand over his nose as the vile stench threatened to make him hurl.
It smelled like a mixture of cow dung and rotting cheese that got dumped in a container with soiled diapers, onions, and sewage. The stench was so putrid that he could almost taste it, and Sam gagged as he began to examine their surroundings.
As far as he could tell, they had come out of the portal in the middle of a swamp, though the ground underfoot was solid enough. Small leafless trees dotted the area, and he could see mounds of rotting vegetation dotting the landscape. A thin mist hung over them, obscuring his vision and making anything too far away seem indistinct and blurry.
“What the hell kind of place is this, and how did we end up here?” he demanded, his voice sounding funny because of his pinched nose.
“We need…Blech…To get out of here!”
Sam turned to see Gordon was on his feet, and from the way he was swiping at his nose and retching, it was clear he was not having a good time.
“What the hell is that?!” Emma cried out a moment later as she rose to her feet. “It reeks like week-old sewage left out to bake in the sun!”