by C. M. Carney
To even qualify to purchase Increase Size 1, Gryph would have to spend five points. One would go to Gaseous Form 1, which would be a great way for Raathiel to evade damage and ease into small spaces. Another would have to go to Empower Ally 1, which sounded like a temporary magical steroid shot. Three more points would bring Shift Form up to level three. The nifty little power allowed Raathiel to shape-shift into the form of an animal or humanoid. While not overly useful in battle, Shift Form could make Raathiel an able spy or scout.
Gryph snickered to himself at the thought of having his winged coatl take the form of an attractive woman and then sending her to flirt with Lex. Raathiel nipped his ear a bit harder than normal and voiced her displeasure. Lex and Yrriel are a thing, maybe. Leave them be.
With a chuckle, he returned to his task. After buying at least one power in the first rank of The Path of the Shifting Form, he’d have to spend another three Power Points on Increase Size 1, which would enable his small companion to become 200% larger and more physically powerful for a short time. Right there, eight of her twelve points would be spent.
Gryph turned his sights to a second path. He wanted to make Raathiel the Adventure Group’s new healer. Ever since Tifala had left, the group’s lack of a competent healer had been a constant stress. That made the Path of Golden Flames a perfect choice. Three of the remaining four points would top out Healing Flames.
Raathiel purred at the idea, drawing Gryph’s hand down to pat the tuft of feathers where her mane met the back of her head. She seems so small, so easily hurt. I need to give her a better defense. Logically he should keep to one of the Path’s he’d already favored, which drew his eye to Flame Shroud, which would not only reduce incoming damage, but inflict damage on any creature foolish enough to touch his girl. It could also help power up her already formidable Constriction attack.
But he had to consider Shining Armor from The Path of the Radiant Edge. While Flame Shroud reduced magical damage, a power available only with the rank two power Glorious Nimbus from The Path of Glorious Light, it was a temporary power. And Shining Armor would get him a smidge closer to his dream of Corona of Blades.
“Raathiel, if I chose Shining Armor and Shining Scales would they exponentially increase your defenses?”
Unfortunately, no. Apart from Flame Shroud none of the powers that reduce damage are stackable, except my own natural armor.
It was as he’d expected, otherwise she’d be immune to damage by the time she hit level 50, but a pulse of concern still pushed through their mental connection.
I was fighting fester demons long before you were born. I can take care of myself.
Gryph shivered as the image of a multi-armed, pustule covered demon filled his mind. “Fine, my apologies. You’re just so damn cute, it's hard to imagine you killing demons.” He knew he was in for it before the words even finished and he flinched as she moved to nip him once more. But this time she didn’t.
I’ll save that one for later, she sent with a bemused chuckle.
Gryph turned his attention back to Raathiel’s interface, dragged the last Power Point to its destination and looked up at her. “You sure this is what you want?” She wrapped herself a bit tighter around him and flicked her tongue at his face.
I told you, I trust you Menaaire.
Satisfied, he hit Yes and spent her Power Points. The change was instant. Golden flames exploded from her scales, causing Gryph to jump. They felt warm but did not burn him. Instead, a variety of aches and pains he’d been unaware he bore disappeared.
Raathiel chirped in glee and launched herself, soaring upwards, trailing flames like a comet’s tail. She spun in a wide arc and turned back towards him. She transformed into a hawk and then into a black cat which landed deftly on all six paws. The cat jumped towards Gryph, morphed into Lex and stumbled on ungainly legs. It took a second for Gryph to move past his surprise, but he reached out to catch this stumbling version of his NPC.
It proved unnecessary as faux Lex disappeared in a puff of white smoke that flowed over and around Gryph. The pleasant aroma of cedar came to his nose and then the smoke was past him. A rush of air caused him to turn and hovering before him on ten-foot wings was a double-sized Raathiel. Her multi-hued feathers remained, but they shimmered with an underlying layer of silver hued metal.
“You are beautiful,” Gryph said, his mouth agape and his eyes wide. “And you will strike fear into the hearts of our enemies.”
She screeched in glee and then curled her tail under her and landed. A moment later she shrunk back to her normal size, yet somehow the grandeur she’d displayed in her transformation remained. A wave of greed flowed through Gryph. Seeing the smallest bit of what she could become, he wanted more. That was when he remembered the Empyrean Essence Seed given him by Sillendriel. He sent an image of the wondrous item to Raathiel.
“Will this help you?”
The coatl’s eyes widened, and she launched into the air and flew to Gryph, landing on his shoulders and curling around him. Gryph laughed and pulled the seed from his satchel, holding the warm nugget in his palm.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
His words brought her back from the edge and she calmed herself, apologizing for her childish excitement. She gazed into his eyes and some of that excitement dimmed. I cannot accept this. It was a gift, a reward meant for you. You should be the one to receive its gifts.
“You and I are one Raath. What strengthens you strengthens me. I want you to have it.”
My eternal gratitude, but I will not consume it here and now.
“Why not?” Gryph asked, her refusal curious and unexpected.
You need to pay more attention Menaaire. Did Sillendriel not tell you to consume it under the light of the full moons?
“She did,” he said, a half grin half scowl crossing his face.
Then we should do as the lady suggests, Menaaire. Get yourself together, we have work to do. She launched herself into the air and zipped past him, sending the mental command that opened the door to his chambers. She flew through and disappeared from his sight.
Hurry Menaaire. You know you should never keep a lady waiting.
With a bemused grunt, Gryph followed. This will become a thing now, won’t it? he said to himself.
24
Gryph sent Grimliir a message through the City Interface telling him to meet them at the Aerie. As Gryph and Raathiel exited the wide double doors onto the small valley atop the mountains, he realized the space had earned its grandiose name. The night air was crisp, but not too cold considering the elevation. The blue light of Korynn’s two moons fell over them, creating a calm serenity.
Raathiel took to the air, singing a beautiful tune as she soared and spun higher. Gryph feared she would lose control in the high winds, but she was a born flyer and though the chill air ruffled her feathers, they did not sully her mood. In fact, Gryph had never seen her so free.
The rock atop the mountain's peak had been carved flat millennia ago by Grimliir’s ancestors. They had built it when dragons still plied the skies of Korynn. It was larger than two side-by-side football fields. The ancient Thalmiir had built the Aerie as a meeting place to serve the alliance they’d had with a group of dragons
Three walls carved into the peak rose several hundred feet and protected the Aerie. The fourth side, left open to the air had served as a landing zone for the extinct reptiles. A deep sadness filled Gryph knowing that he would never see one of the majestic creatures.
Gryph eased himself close to the edge and peered down. Below him, several thousand vertigo inducing feet, lay the Deep Water. Sylvan Aenor lay across the glistening blue water and beyond that the green plains to the east of their hidden valley. With his heightened eyesight, Gryph could just see the edge of the Myrric Mountains at the far end of the plains. Somewhere among their peaks the Barrow lay hidden.
“Ye be a braver man than I,” Grimliir said, stopping several paces back from the edge, clenching and unclenching his hands
. Gryph stepped from the edge, easing his Steward’s mood.
“Well, it's a good thing we’re building The Pattern of Enlightenment over there,” Gryph said with a grin and pointed to the furthest and rightmost corner.
“I dinnae know why ye want tae build it in this godforsaken place, anyway. This much space and air be unnatural.”
I love it here, Raathiel sent.
“Tae each her own, I suppose.” Grimliir shrugged and waved his hand towards the open double doors. A large group of warborn strode through and waited. Gryph walked towards them and thanked each one by one. Though the warborn lacked the ability to cast magic, they still possessed mana pools. On hearing of his need, they had volunteered to lend their mana to activate and power the Path of Enlightenment. He just had to build it first.
I am here with you Menaaire.
“Yes, and to thank you, I have a gift.” Gryph pulled the Empyrean Essence Seed from his satchel and held the acorn-like seed high. Raathiel hooted again and dove spinning and twisting as she flew by the golden light pouring off the seed. She spun and twined upwards and hovered in perfect silhouette with the larger moon.
Gryph laughed and called her down. She curled herself around his arm and eased her head down, mere inches from the iridescent acorn. Her tongue flicked out, tasting the air around the seed. Are you sure you want to give this to me? she asked. Her tone sounded pleading, almost desperate, like a child on Christmas morning trying to remain selfless when confronted by the largest pile of presents she’d ever seen.
“I am sure,” Gryph said.
“He is missy, especially since he hopes tae keep all his fingers,” Grimliir said with a chuckle. Raathiel lashed out with her tail, slapping the Steward lightly on the arm as if to say, ‘behave or you might find yourself one finger lighter.’
“Take it,” Gryph said with a laugh and watched as Raathiel swallowed the seed whole. Her expression turned to utter joy and a blaze of golden light burst forth from her scales. The light flowed over Gryph and Grimliir and both men sighed as a sense of utter contentment passed through them. A prompt filled his vision.
Raathiel has consumed an Empyrean Essence Seed.
The energies contained within the Seed have bonded with her giving her the following benefits and improvements.
• +2 to all Attributes.
• +25 to all Stats.
• +5 Power Points.
Raathiel launched herself skyward and to Gryph’s eyes she seemed faster, stronger and freer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Menaaire!
Gryph laughed, and the worries and stress he’d hidden the last few days eased, if only slightly. “How would you like to spend your new Power Points Raath?” he yelled.
However you wish Menaaire. I trust you.
Gryph had expected such a response and already knew the next slew of powers he wanted to upgrade. He spent two of the points on Shining Armor 2, another on Flame Breath 1 and the final three on Increase Size 2.
Raathiel spun again and returned to her perch on his shoulders. She nuzzled his neck in thanks and then gave him crap. We gonna sit here all day, or we gonna get to work?
A small jolt of alarm pushed through Gryph at how like Lex she had sounded. She trilled a joyous sound that Gryph now realized was her laughter and he smiled. “No time like the present.” He opened his interface and purchased the Apprentice tier perks Mana Siphoning 2 and Ritual Drawing 2. The perks allowed him to draw power from up to 20 volunteers and draw Apprentice level rune-forms. He reached into his satchel and removed the Occulorum.
“Sausages,” Gryph muttered under his breath, feeling foolish.
“Now yer makin’ me hungry, lad,” Grimliir said with a chuckle.
The artifact powered up and leapt from his palm. It flew to the spot he’d designated for the path and beams of light burst from its underside, scrawling the intricate rune-form into the stone. Gryph, Grimliir, Raathiel and the warborn all watched in silent awe as the small machine did the work of a hundred artisans in less than twenty minutes.
Now comes the hard part, Gryph thought. He nodded to the warborn. All twenty took their places at mana feed points all along the circumference of the circular rune form. He stood at the starting point of the Path of Enlightenment, activated Ritual Magic and began to siphon their mana.
Gryph had used mana almost daily since entering the Realms but siphoning this much mana was a barely comparable experience. Instead of taking a sip from a glass of cool water, this was akin to opening one’s mouth wide and unleashing a firehose. The spiritual equivalent of choking nearly overwhelmed Gryph as the torrents of magical energy surged into him.
Slowly, control the flow, Raathiel said in his mind. Gryph did so, and the staggering rush reduced to a fast-flowing river. He sent a mental nod in thanks but could spare no more attention. He knew from his research that even the slightest distraction during siphoning could burn out a ritual mage’s mana pathways, and that would be the end to his siphoning career.
It took the better part of nine hours for Gryph and the warborn to activate the rune-form, and they were grueling hours. When the total stored mana inside the Path of Enlightenment reached 30,000, a burst of multi-hued light exploded from its center, zipped around the complicated whorls and curves of the etching and then came together at Gryph’s feet with a resonant hum.
Raathiel wanted Gryph to wait, to rest, but he was as energized as a quarterback before the Super Bowl. “We’re not waiting. We’re walking this today, now.” Raathiel slapped him with her tail to show her disapproval, but then tightened her coils in solidarity.
If you burn out your mind, I won’t be the one to change your nappy. I’ll make Lex do it.
“Is it bad that I almost want it to happen, just to punish Lex?”
“Aye, that be a most horrific image. Thank ye for that Yer Lordship,” Grimliir, said, the words 'Yer Lordship' were dripping with snark. “Now, can we hurry and get this over with, all the fresh air is starting tae give me a headache.”
With a fresh cadre of warborn set to power the path, Gryph was as ready as he would ever be. He nodded to Grimliir, who backed away. Gryph closed his eyes. He felt Raathiel’s presence in his mind and he began to siphon again.
While activating the rune-form, Gryph had drawn as much mana as he could as quickly as he could. Powering and walking the path was different, for he needed to direct the right amount of mana at the appropriate time. It was almost mathematical in its precision. Gryph took a deep breath, stepped onto the path and began to walk.
His foot hit the pattern and a shroud of static electricity enveloped his body. The path pushed back gently on him, as if annoyed by his very presence. With each step, the sensation grew and by the time Gryph was halfway through the twinning maze-like path, the steady pressure was like a strong wind.
At two-thirds of the way, those winds had grown to hurricane force and his speed dropped to a slug’s pace. At ninety percent, it felt like a dozen invisible hands were punching into him with each step. It only got worse from there.
After an eternity, Gryph turned the last curve. All that remained was a ten-foot-long walk down an ever-thinner path. He took a step and a gust of sand scoured at his face and hands. He took another, and the scouring grew fiercer.
Be careful not to stray from the path, Raathiel sent. If you touch those lines, they will flood your body with mana.
She was right. For the lines of the rune-form were to mana as copper wiring was to electricity. If he touched them, he not only risked interrupting the circuit which would mean he’d need to walk the path all over again but would also pummel him with the mother of all mana feedbacks.
“No pressure,” he mumbled to nobody in particular and took another step. The scouring sand became shards of flying ice. The next step brought a wind of fire. He knew the pain was a phantom, that it was all in his mind, but his body didn’t.
With each trembling push forward his body threatened to betray him by stepping outside the lin
es. His foot shambled forward and an overpowering pressure, like the gravity of a star, slammed down upon him, crushing his puny, mortal form. But he would not could not stop.
“I will not stop,” he roared and then, just like that, the pressure ceased.
You can stop now Menaaire. You have done it.
“Okay. Good,” Gryph said as he collapsed to the floor. “I think I’ll just take a nap here then.” His eyes closed, and he lost consciousness.
Sometime later he woke, back in his chambers in his bed. Raathiel lay curled up next to him and he reached a shaking hand out to stroke behind her mane. Her eyes fluttered open, and she cooed in a manner that was both overjoyed he was okay, and angry at him for being the fool.
“Did it work?” He asked with a smug smile. She flicked him with her tail, much harder than normal. “Ow. Fine I’ll check myself.” In the corner of his vision a small icon blinked. He tapped it and the icon expanded into a prompt.
You have walked the Path of Enlightenment.
Walking the pattern of this rune-form has granted you increased understanding of the world around you. You have gained +5 points to Wisdom. Your mind is now clearer, and you have an increased capacity to make connections between disparate things. You are more intuitive and have greater control over your emotions, memories and you will even understand your dreams to a greater degree.
All of your current skills, perks, spells and other abilities are now 10% more effective.
This effect is permanent. Benefits of walking the pattern are awarded once. Further walks do not add further bonuses, unless the rune-form reaches a higher tier, at which point you may walk the pattern again to receive the upgrade.
Gryph smiled and twirled his fingers through Raathiel’s mane “You ready to delve into the secrets of my past?” Gryph asked.