by A F Kay
Tremine had told Ruwen that he’d seen Haffa and Naktos Scouts as he’d traveled to New Eiru. What was a follower of the god Haffa doing so far from the sea in this underground cavern?
Bad news. The crew that passed me turned around. They’re shouting questions at me and alerted the guards at the cavern entrance. Love you, Sift. See you in New Eiru.
No! Sift shouted in Chat.
Lylan’s Health bar dropped in huge chunks and a Bleed debuff appeared under her portrait.
“No,” Sift whispered.
Lylan’s Health flashed yellow as it dropped under twenty percent, and Ruwen’s stomach twisted.
Lylan’s Health bar jumped upward past fifty percent, dropped again, and then went to full.
“Oh, no,” Hamma said.
“What’s happening?” Sift asked.
“They’re healing her,” Hamma said.
A moment later, the Vertigo debuff reappeared as the Bleed one dropped away. Three seconds after that, another debuff appeared: Unconscious.
Lylan hadn’t died and gone back to New Eiru. They had taken her prisoner.
Chapter 55
Sift turned to Ruwen.
“Buff up,” Ruwen said.
Sift nodded, his relief visible.
Lir, what Temple Guardian is closest to my location? Ruwen asked.
The underground Guardian searching the inner circle.
How soon can it be here?
With its current settings, approximately twenty-three minutes.
Send it and have it find some place to hide within a mile of this location.
As you wish, Architect Starfield.
Rami, can you please direct Whiskers in a circuit around those three guards Lylan marked near the entrance? I want to make sure they’re alone.
Sure.
Ruwen looked at his current five Banner buffs, chosen to aid them in their searching the past three days.
Awareness – Perception increased by 25%
Forced March – Movement speed increased by 35%
Muffle – Sound decreased by 35%
Notice – Detect Trap increased by 30%
Grit - Endurance increased by 35%
Ruwen dismissed them and immediately picked four new ones more appropriate for the oncoming danger.
Renew – Healing received 30% more effective
Havoc – Damage increased by 25%
Unrelenting – Regeneration rates increased by 30%
Indestructible – Armor Class increased by 25%
For the last Warlord Banner spot, Ruwen had nine excellent choices. He considered each of them.
Awareness – Perception increased by 25%
Vigor – Resilience increased by 50%
Blur – Haste increased by 25%
Blockade – Parry and Block increased by 25%
Advanced – Attributes increased by 20%
Cripple – Critical Strike increased by 20%
Bludgeon – Power Strike increased by 20%
Untouchable – Dodge increased by 25%
Tutor – Experience increased by 20%
All the Warlord Banner buffs were beneficial, but some, like the Haste, Critical Strike, and Power Strike really helped Sift and Ruwen. The experience buff was more appropriate for a leveling dungeon dive, not for saving a friend. Parry and Block worked better for weapon and shield users, and that didn’t really fit their group.
That left the Perception, Resilience, Attribute, and Dodge buffs. While Perception always had value, Lylan had already marked many of the enemy, and when the fighting started, it would be less helpful. Resilience might help against whatever gas was in that cavern, but the Scarf of Freshness would counter that. Only two remained, a twenty percent increase to all Attributes, or a twenty-five percent increase in Dodge.
Avoiding damage completely with Dodge would help Hamma manage her Mana usage. But Sift and Ruwen had trained to avoid damage or mitigate its effects, so this increase would only be marginal. Xavier didn’t even have a proper body, so physical damage might not even be a factor for him. Hamma of course, shouldn’t be anywhere near the fighting.
That left Advanced, which increased everyone’s Attributes by twenty percent. It was like gaining four or five levels worth of advancement. Not only that, Attribute increases affected everything, from Regen rates to Haste. This likely offered the most benefit for everyone, and he added it as his fifth Warlord Banner buff.
Ruwen cast his self buffs and channeled one Energy per second into the Collector spell Chaff. He didn’t cast the Fighter spell Petrify for an additional five percent armor as he didn’t want to spend the five Energy per second on a stat that had already been buffed so much.
Power Nap - Out of Combat Health Regeneration 50%
Leeching Blow - Heal for 25% damage inflicted
Hustle – Increase Haste 10%
Sick Day – Increase Resistances 10%
Chaff – Increase Haste 25%
Then Ruwen finished with the rest of his group buffs:
Relentless - Energy Regeneration increased by 25%
Quartermaster’s Yell - 20% reduced spell cost, potions 20% more effective
Emissary’s Shout - Perception 10%, Speed 10%
Warlord’s Roar - 50% damage, 50% Armor Class
Finally, he needed to decide who to place the Bodyguard spell on. Sift should rarely take damage but would die permanently, while Hamma would take more damage but would revive at the temple.
Ruwen channeled ten Energy per second into Bodyguard and placed it on Hamma, reasoning she could keep Sift alive with heals if she stayed alive. Now Ruwen would take twenty percent of the damage Hamma received.
Hamma handed Ruwen a small piece of bread and then a cup, which he took a sip from. The bread tasted dry and flat while the liquid tasted like watered down wine. Ruwen read the notifications as two new buffs appeared.
Tring!
Hamma has gifted you…
Name: Blessed Communion Wafer (Level 3)
Quality: Uncommon
Quantity: 1
Weight: 0.1 lbs.
Effect (Passive): +6 Stamina, +3 Strength.
Duration: 60 minutes
Description: This blessed wafer is purified, and its natural benefits enhanced.
Tring!
Hamma has gifted you…
Name: Blessed Communion Wine (Level 3)
Quality: Uncommon
Quantity: 1
Weight: 0.1 lbs.
Effect (Passive): +6 Wisdom, +3 Intelligence
Duration: 60 minutes
Description: This blessed wine is purified, and its natural benefits enhanced.
Did Whiskers see anyone else? Ruwen asked.
No, Rami replied.
Do you think this is a mistake?
Maybe, but some things are necessary, despite the danger.
Ruwen faced Sift. “You and Hamma will take the south target. Xavier and I the north. We’ll coordinate via Chat. Then collapse on the guard at the entrance and head down.”
Sift nodded and Ruwen looked at Hamma. “You okay with that?”
Hamma nodded.
Xavier still stared at the sun and Ruwen decided he didn’t care if the Mage stayed here.
“Let’s go,” Ruwen said.
As they moved toward the targets two miles away, Ruwen glanced over his most important stats. Leveling to twenty-three, Fortifying his body to Gold, the new Overseer armor, and the power of his Warlord build and all its buffs, made him feel like a one-man army.
Pools
Health: 1,434/1,434
Mana: 639/639
Energy: 1,956/1,956
Attributes
Strength: 71
Stamina: 106
Dexterity: 65
Intelligence: 58
Wisdom: 55
Charisma: 33
Ratings
Armor Class: 3,280
Critical Chance: 92%
Haste: 132%
Dodge: 172%
P
erception: 147%
Regeneration
Health Regeneration per second: 3.95
Mana Regeneration per second: 4.96
Energy Regeneration per second: 88.81
Ruwen’s fists were equivalent to hammers, and his Worker ability Brawl added twenty percent to his unarmed damage, while his ninety-five levels of Unarmed Combat skill added another forty-seven and a half percent. The Fighter ability Honed added ten percent damage, Havoc increased it by twenty-five percent, and the five levels in Warlord’s Warcry provided another fifty percent damage bonus.
Ruwen’s eighty-four levels of Viper Step training coupled with his other buffs increased his Critical Strike chance to ninety-two percent, adding fifty percent more damage if successful. Even without Scrub his punches would critical for around fifty damage and stunned targets would take one hundred damage per blow.
The Heavy Walking Stick wouldn’t benefit from all the unarmed bonuses but would still leave a mark due to its base damage of around twenty-eight. With Ruwen’s damage buffs it would hit for around sixty damage, crit for ninety, and strike stunned targets for an incredible one hundred eighty damage.
Though in practice, Ruwen could hit things far faster than he could swing the stick. His damage per second options heavily favored his fists.
For equipment, Ruwen wore his dried-blood colored Overseer armor, and his Bracer of Freedom that reduced impairment effects by fifty percent. His Hooded Pacifist's Cloak of Wandering covered his back and shoulders. Around his neck hung the Amulet of Leeches that applied a small Bleed debuff with every attack, along with a disturbing translucent leech.
For rings, he still wore the five Coiled Lightning Rings he’d gotten from Bliz for Big D’s camping trip. Each of those gave him five additional Energy per second. His Ring of Exploding Regeneration provided plus one to his Mana, Health, and Energy Regeneration and the Rock Serpent Ring of Health gave him an extra twenty-five Health. They had come from his original trip to Blapy what felt like a lifetime ago.
The last three rings had come from the Plague Siren’s lair. The Paranoia Loop doubled his chance at detecting traps or danger, the Watcher’s Ring of Travel gave him Whiskers, and the Revolving Ring of Elemental Immunity cycled through fifteen seconds of immunity for each of the four elements.
Ruwen squeezed Hamma’s hand as the party split. He and Xavier moved to circle behind the northern target Lylan had marked. Knowing the location of their target would help in getting close enough to attack. While Xavier moved silently, and Ruwen had improved, he still didn’t have the training or abilities of a Ranger or Scout.
Sift had a better chance of surprise, but not with Hamma there. They decided to act unaware of the enemy Scouts and then attack them when they got close. They didn’t have time to try anything clever, as the guards were probably already on alert.
Ruwen coordinated with Sift and Hamma as he neared his target. Xavier hadn’t said a word and floated silently behind Ruwen. The Overseer’s Cowl of Revelation completely covered his face, and he reached under the hood to pull the Scarf of Freshness over his mouth and nose. Sift and Hamma had done the same. Xavier didn’t have a mouth or lungs and seemed immune to any type of gas attack.
Ruwen’s Perception overcame the enemy Scout’s camouflage, and he forced himself not to look directly at the blur standing beside a gnarled pine ten feet away.
A blue light pulsed behind Ruwen, making his shadow stretch twenty feet. A loud crack echoed in the air as the dry dead pine next to the Scout erupted in flames.
The enemy Scout flipped up and off the ground, some sort of shield shimmering around him. He wore leather armor with vials and throwing knives down the middle of his chest. Two long knives hung from his hips and a small crossbow rested on his back. Ruwen’s enhanced Perception provided more details.
Name: Silent Spotter
Deity: Naktos
Class Type: Scout
Level: 30
Health: 598
Mana: 213
Energy: 1,171
Spirit: 0
Armor Class: 422
In a fluid motion, the Silent Spotter threw a knife at Xavier’s face, hidden behind the hood of his robe. Normally killing the Mage would be the smartest move, but the Scout had misjudged the most dangerous target.
Ruwen leaped at the enemy Scout and triggered the Fighter ability Rush to stun the target for one second. But the Scout jumped, catching a branch fifteen feet above, and quickly climbed into the tree. Like some sort of giant squirrel, the Scout vaulted to the next tree, and then another, before dropping back to the ground fifteen feet away.
The Scout threw a bottle at Ruwen’s chest, and he opened his Void Band as he sprinted toward the enemy. The vial disappeared into his Void Band, and he closed it with a thought. The Scout turned to flee, and with fifty Mana Ruwen cast Retrieve on the Scout's foot, tripping him.
The Scout turned and pulled two long knives from the sheaths at his waist. Ruwen could tell by his stance the Silent Spotter had trained a fair amount with them.
The Health bar under Sift’s portrait on the right side of Ruwen’s vision dropped, but immediately filled again as Hamma’s Mana bar dropped. They had engaged their target as well.
The Silent Spotter lunged at Ruwen, and he side stepped the attack. Rotating his hips, he kicked the Scout's exposed ribcage, doing forty-eight damage. The Scout staggered back, hunched over, and favoring his side. A translucent leech hung from the Scout’s side, as Ruwen’s Amulet of Leeches triggered, causing additional Bleed damage.
Ruwen stepped forward, faking an attack at the injury, which caused the Scout to overcommit to protect his wound. The Scout, seeing his mistake, lifted his wrist, and a bolt launched at Ruwen’s head. He could have dodged the bolt, but he’d have to sacrifice the strike and he wanted to end this quickly, so he continued forward.
The Scout must have triggered some abilities, as the bolt entered the slit of Ruwen’s hood and struck him in the eye. Against a normal opponent, a critical strike like that might turn the fight in the Silent Spotter’s favor. But Ruwen hadn’t been normal since his Ascension Day.
The bolt bounced off Ruwen’s eye, doing no damage, but the force of the impact made his eye itch terribly and caused it to water. He blinked the protective tears away, as if clearing a speck of dust, and struck the Scout in the right shoulder, aiming for a bundle of nerves that should paralyze the arm.
Ruwen turned to strike the Scout’s neck, when a loud crack sounded, and blue lightning covered the Silent Spotter. The Scout shook violently, and the light arced to Ruwen, causing his entire body to tingle. His Health dropped by ninety as the Scout’s shaking became more violent.
And then, in another loud blast, the Silent Spotter exploded in a red mist. The light faded and Ruwen looked down at himself. Blood and chunks of the Scout covered him. He slowly turned to face Xavier.
Xavier hadn’t moved, but the Mage’s hood faced Ruwen and he assumed the Celestial Remnant looked at him.
“We were trying to do this quietly,” Ruwen said.
“Really? I assumed you were purposefully making all that noise as you walked.”
Like the first Shade’s rule Ruwen had ever heard, he knew he only had himself to blame. He hadn’t actually told Xavier to be quiet because the Celestial Remnant moved silently all the time.
Interestingly, the armor had absorbed the blood, but the chunks remained, and Ruwen channeled Energy into Scrub, cleaning himself off. His skin itched from Xavier’s spell. “Your spell jumps targets.”
“I know.”
That meant Xavier had done it knowing Ruwen would take damage. “You could have killed me.”
“A leader so weak deserves death.”
Before Ruwen could respond, Sift spoke in Chat.
Are you trying to bring the entire army here? Sift asked.
Just a miscommunication, Ruwen responded.
A loud one, Sift said.
Is Whiskers still watching the entrance? Hamma asked
.
Ruwen focused on Whiskers and looked out the cat’s eyes. The single guard now had nine others with him. Their attack had not gone unnoticed.
Head for the rally point, Ruwen said. The plan hasn’t changed.
Chapter 56
The four of them stood in a tight circle a thousand feet from the cave entrance, but spoke using Chat so no one could hear them.
If there are ten guards now, the plan needs to change, Hamma said.
Ruwen shook his head. One or ten, the concept is the same. I look like a follower of Izac in this armor and it will allow me to get close. When I attack, they’ll blow all their crowd control as they try to kill me.
Hamma frowned. That’s why ten makes a difference. How can you survive that?
Ruwen kept his mental voice calm. I’ll survive because my Armor Class is double that of someone in full plate with a tower shield, and my Resistances are all eighty percent or higher. We can’t take the chance of even a couple of them focusing on any of you.
Sift stood up straight. I could help.
I know, Ruwen said. But we haven’t been in a proper fight since you lost half your Sifting ability. The Air Meridian you gained came at a cost.
What about the Bone Sculptor? Sift said.
You fought the minions. These guys are smarter. You can’t just shrug off spells like you used to. I certainly don’t want to experiment now when the risk to me is so low.
Hamma and Sift both looked unhappy. Xavier stared at the sun, totally oblivious. The Celestial Remnant’s behavior angered Ruwen, but he pushed it away. Xavier didn’t want to be here, and he didn’t know or care for Ruwen, and his actions expressed that.
Hamma pointed at the Mage as if reading Ruwen’s thoughts. What about Xavier?
Ruwen tried his best to answer carefully. Xavier is new, and all I know is he doesn’t like water and his spells sometimes chain. I don’t want the worry or distraction.