by Blaine Hicks
Wow, Radley thought, first noticing his second relationship. He was surprised by the mention of Noah. He hadn’t seen the snake all day and was couldn’t believe that their brief interaction was enough to add the animal to his domesticated animals tab. For now, he needed to figure out his situation with the grendel though, so he moved past the information about the mythic constrictor and focused on the answer he was seeking: 2 levels for every point of willpower. Radley did some quick math. He’d have to burn 23 attribute points of his 24 available to make this happen. Roughly 96% of his reward from four character levels. That felt like a lot. He thought about what attributes he needed most, and decided intelligence was on the top of the list. 23 points of intelligence would more than double his spell damage and make purchasing his new spells a bit cheaper. 23 extra points in strength, and agility would dramatically improve his fighting skills. 23 more points in constitution would probably double his HP. 23 extra points of charisma would make him much more likable and his ability to trade would be off the charts if he ever found anyone to trade with.
Without the familiar bond requirement, he probably would never increase his willpower so much. On the other hand, gaining the grendel as a familiar might be a one-time opportunity; a fluke of luck. If he lost this chance, he might never get another. It was a crazy move but also made crazy sense. His user interface was still open, and he navigated back to his attribute tab and read the summary for willpower:
Willpower: This attribute determines your mental fortitude and determination. Willpower gives an extra chance to overcome formidable obstacles or persevere during hardship. Willpower also determines your fortitude against magical attacks that impart mental status effects such as charm, mindblank, confusion, etc. This is a primary offensive attribute for psionic class characters.
Contrasting against the immediate benefits of other attributes, the benefits of willpower seemed pretty weak. It was like buying collision insurance for a car that didn’t run. Investing in his mental fortitude when he couldn’t receive or reciprocate damage seemed a bit backwards. He rolled all the information around in his mind as he walked. The pros and cons of each characteristic slowly began to blur into a single conclusion. 23 points spent as usual would make him stronger but a level 58 grendel would be a game changer in battles. Also, maybe he could ride it as a mount and stop all this ridiculous walking.
The questions and doubt swirled around his mind as he continued to hike westward through the darkening forest. Eventually his indecision began to lean towards taking the willpower. He wanted a familiar and decided to bet on the grendel. He opened his user interface and brought his willpower to 29 leaving him with just 1 point remaining to improve another attribute stat. He closed his eyes and hit “confirm” before he could talk himself out of it again.
As soon as Radley spent the points on willpower, the world, and his place in it, seemed to shift completely. Everything about his situation suddenly made more sense and the choices he needed to make became simple. His wandering thoughts focused and he knew what he wanted to accomplish. All the doubt and weakness and lingering tears that had consumed him since waking up in this new Earth drained away and left behind a more determined person. It was instantaneous like flipping a switch but as profound as a lifetime spent honing his mental control. The question of how to spend his attribute points now seemed so unimportant and small. If his plan for the grendel didn’t work out, he would just earn more points and spend them in other ways. He laughed out loud and stood a little taller. The exhaustion he felt seemed to fade into the background and his pace increased with just the hint of a hop between his steps.
A new prompt appeared in the air and asked if he wanted to form a familiar bond with the tamed forest grendel. He selected “Yes” without hesitation. Immediately, the faint scent that was nagging at the edge of his awareness solidified into a firm knowledge of his familiar’s location. The beast was straight west and moving away from him. He reached out with his mind, but the creature was too far away to hear his call. He shrugged. With the familiar bond formed, the grendel would be compelled to return.
Radley had reached the rocky outcrop where he planned to sleep so he dismissed the user interface and scanned the area ahead of him for danger. There were a myriad of old animal scents that confirmed he was not the first creature to camp at the base of the rocky cliff. The scents were stale, and none could have been recent. Also, none were grendel, which he took as a good sign.
The outcrop was a small formation of stone that broke out from a nearby hillside. It was only about twice Radley’s height but appeared to be a good option for a ready-made shelter. The stone was made of thin rock layers that seemed to be crumbling from weathering. The base of the cliff was worn away by wind into a natural cavity. If it rained during the night, he would stay dry, but it wasn’t deep enough to protect him from attack. He remembered the game had a camping mechanism and decided to build a campfire for extra security. He figured it would ward off traditional predators like wolves and hoped even monsters would think twice before approaching a well-lit camp. He scoured the forest for sticks, branches, and logs which he brought back to the outcrop. He broke the smaller of these over his knee into manageable pieces and stacked them. The effort took most of his remaining stamina and a few HP. He surrounded the fire pit with a ring of stones before resting on a large log he had brought back to burn.
The forest was now dark with the setting sun and if not for his augmented vision he would have been blind. Instead, he could see well. With the cooling air and the still-warm forest, the contrasting temperatures offered a clear picture of his surroundings. It was probably the best time of day to use the thermal vision. Besides the trees and ground he could see the animals that called the forest home. Insects that had rested during the day were now emerging from the warm ground. He could also see bright bodies of animals high up in the canopy. Some were flying and looked like large bats and others were more like monkeys and moved slowly. What had been a seemingly empty forest was coming alive in the thermal vision.
Radley rested on the log for a while watching the nightlife with wonder and let his stamina slowly fill. It recovered more quickly when he made an effort to control his breathing and meditate. The exertion of hiking all day left him feeling a bit euphoric but now that he was sitting, the exhaustion began to claim him again. His new willpower gave him resilience against regret and doubt but did little to improve his physical endurance except by sheer force of will alone. The icon he’d seen before, with three Z’s, appeared again at the edge of his HUD. I'm definitely ready to sleep, he thought as he rested. He still needed to light the fire but had no matches and didn’t know how to rub sticks together like primitive people might.
With a short incantation, his fire palm came to life. He leaned forward and placed his hand against the wood pile. The spell triggered and lit the wood in a pyrotechnic display worthy of a New Year’s Eve celebration. Sparks, flames, and splintered wood exploded from the firepit and littered the area around the rocky outcrop. It definitely worked but made a mess and taught Radley a new lesson: offensive battle magic was not meant to light campfires.
Radley wandered around the area snuffing out the burning shrapnel with the heavy end of his walking stick. The fire’s heat warmed him physically and the light soothed him emotionally, giving him the extra energy, he needed to complete his preparations. He swept the dirt clean with a bundle of long sticks that acted like a stiff broom. It cleared away all the pebbles, twigs and small bones that littered the dusty ground. Once the area was clean, he collected a thick moss from the nearby trees.
The moss was slightly damp but soft, and Radley was sure it would dry quickly beside the warm fire. He arranged it into a small nest and surrounded it with more large stones. By the time his bed was made, he only wanted to sleep but there was more work to be done. He retrieved the slabs of grendel meat from his walking stick and placed them on the hot rocks by the fire.
The fire burned down, cooking the thick meat slowly
. Radley watched them and savored the sight and smell of cooking meat. It was the first familiar experience he’d had since waking up and reminded him of a distant memory when he was very young. His high willpower probably helped promote a positive outlook and somehow the nostalgia didn’t make him sad. He felt happy to have found a path forward. He felt happy to be alive. He would survive. He would find a better life out here. He would find other people. He would figure out what had happened to the world. He took a quiet moment to open his user interface to spend his remaining points. He had one more attribute point to spend and nine spell points. He navigated first to the spell tab. He had the option to buy elemental spells or unlock a new branch of magic. Accessing a new branch of magic would cost more points than he had, so he was limited to buying new elemental magic or upgrading a spell he already had. He was happy to find that his Circle 2 spells were now available since he was level 6. This unlocked six new spells plus he could now upgrade Fire Palm and Stone Fist to Rank 2. His two remaining Level 1 spells were also cheaper now. Getting them for a single spell point each was tempting, but he was more interested in unlocking something powerful. He selected each of the new options to view the spell descriptions:
Weak Sonic Shield - Rank 1 (Spell Circle 2): This spell creates a complete sphere of compressed air that encircles the caster. The barrier will deflect or repel directional attacks for a short period of time. This barrier is most effective against small projectiles such as arrows, crossbow bolts and magical vectors. At higher levels the spell can resist heavier attacks.
Spell Cooldown: 6 minutes
Purchase Price: 4 Spell Points
Stone Fissure - Rank 1 (Spell Circle 2): This AOE spell creates a permanent fissure in the earth radiating away from the caster’s location. The depth and extent of the fissure depends on geological conditions where the spell is cast and the casters intelligence. At higher levels the spell can create specific shapes and structures.
Spell Cooldown: 6 minutes
Purchase Price: 5 Spell Points
Flame Strike - Rank 1 (Spell Circle 2): This AOE spell creates a fountain of flame that erupts from the casters hand. The flame costs no mana to cast but instead uses mana over time. The duration of the spell depends on the total mana available. This spell can be canceled at any time by the caster. At higher levels the fountain of fire extends farther, and the flame burns hotter.
Spell Cooldown: 6 minutes
Purchase Price: 5 Spell Points
Command Air - Rank 1 (Spell Circle 1): Gusts of wind become responsive to your will for a short period of time. The amount of influence over the air and the duration of the spell are both dependent on the intelligence of the caster and the level of the spell. At level 1, this is not a combat spell (unless your enemy is teetering on the edge of a cliff).
Spell Cooldown: 6 minutes
Purchase Price: 4 Spell Points
Ice Spear - Rank 1 (Spell Circle 2): This spell conjures a long shard of magical ice that is fired toward a target with great velocity. The quality of the ice and the speed of the spear depends on the level of the spell and the caster’s attributes. At higher levels the ice is nearly unbreakable.
Spell Cooldown: 6 minutes
Purchase: 4 Spell Points
Earth Darts - Rank 1 (Spell Circle 2): This spell forms and fires shards of stone from the palm. The quantity of darts and the speed of the attack are determined by the level of the spell. At level 1, this spell creates 6 darts.
Spell Cooldown: 6 minutes
Purchase: 4 Spell Points
Fire Palm - Rank 2 (Spell Circle 1): Same spell effect as Rank 1 but ignites both hands with fire.
Spell Cooldown: 4 minutes
Purchase Price: 4 Spell Points
Stone Fist - Rank 2 (Spell Circle 1): Same spell effect as Rank 1 but effect is timed and can last for multiple attacks. Increased chance to blind target when shattered (20% chance to blind).
Spell Cooldown: 4 minutes
Purchase Price: 4 Spell Points
If he had still been playing AFR as a game, Radley might have taken more time to plan a strategy. He would have certainly checked online wikis for optimal builds and ran battle simulations before choosing his next spells. He might have chosen spells that offered advantages to group fighting, or pursue some other situational goals. This time, he did none of that. He had no group, and no goals besides surviving through the forest, and since he could respawn, he was willing to gamble with death. He had been saved more than once by his ability to inflict appreciable damage. He hoped future battles would unfold in a similar way. He chose Ice Spear and Earth Darts. They both delt bigger damage than his current spells and gave him the ranged attack options he desperately needed. These choices left him with only a solitary spell point remaining which he decided to save for now. He confirmed his selection and arcane knowledge poured into his mind until the new spells became a part of him.
He shuffled through the menu back to his last remaining unspent attribute point. After only a brief pause, he put this into constitution. After the recent battle, he’d decided a little more stamina and health might help him run away from things more effectively. Then he dismissed the interface and watched the steaks sizzle and pop as the hot juices dripped down the rocks into the fire. He meant to remove the meat when they finished cooking, but sleep snuck up on him and he slumped back into his bed of moss as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
CH. 24 A New and Glorious Morn
When Radley awoke the next day, he was being watched. It was late morning. Despite the uncomfortable bed, deadly forest predators, and the rising sun, he had slept deeply with the wild abandon of pure exhaustion. Waking took a conscious effort. He grunted as he forced his eyelids open. As his sight adjusted to the light, a putrid odor met his nose.
Finally! a gruff voice snapped.
It actually wasn’t a voice. The word formed in Radley’s mind as they had when he talked to Noah. It was obviously a psionic link, but he knew it wasn’t the snake talking to him. The force of the words shook him like a thunderclap, and he sat up in surprise. In his haste, he hit his head hard on the rocky overhang of the outcrop and fell back down on the bed of moss. The world around him dimmed momentarily from the impact. When it returned, he looked around to see what was speaking to him.
The monstrous grendel was sitting on its haunches on the far side of the fire pit idly scratching its armpit with a sharp claw. The beast was the obvious source of both the pungent aroma and the mental communication.
I ate your food, the grendel said, speaking again into his mind. I don't know why you ruined it with fire. Next time, I want my meat fresh.
Radley checked his head with the tip of a finger and found it wasn’t bleeding; probably a benefit of being covered in scales instead of skin. He looked back at the grendel, unsure how to approach the mealtime request. He had assumed the creature could feed itself and didn’t like the monster’s tone. In fact, through their mental bond, he got the impression that it was deliberately trying to irritate him. Responding in kind might not be beneficial and more importantly, how could it suddenly talk?
Mental communication with Noah was possible because of his innate serpent tongue skill. The grendel was definitely no snake and couldn’t even pass for a reptile. He decided to ask. Maybe the grendel could help answer some of his frequent questions. “Have you always been able to talk?”
Have I always been able to talk? The grendel repeated indignantly. Are you joking?
The grendel left this response hanging in the air like the answer to the question was obvious but Radley was completely clueless. He was still tired and now had a headache from his impact with the outcrop. The answer didn’t really matter so he let the topic pass.
He stood up slowly, careful this time to avoid the lip of the overhang. He needed information, specifically what had happened to the earth. Before he could form a question, he realized that the meat the grendel ate was from the other grendel.
“That was
grendel meat you ate.” Radley said, suddenly appalled.
The grendel was unphased by this revelation and continued to idly scratch its armpit. It simply said I have eaten many grendel and have added their power to my own.
“Great” Radley mumbled to himself, “my familiar is a cannibal!”
I eat little snake-men too, the grendel added casually.
Radley was certain now that the grendel was trying to provoke him and he didn’t like it. He needed a familiar that he could trust not a sulking child. He decided to be straight forward and see if he could resolve this quickly. “I get it, you don't like me, but you're no peach either. You're obnoxious and ugly and you stink.”
The grendel stopped scratching its armpit and smiled maliciously. It projected its response with an overly compassionate feeling along their mental connection, If we are both displeased by the arrangement then we should end it.
Radley studied the grendel for a moment. In truth, he was regretting making this thing a familiar, but he wouldn’t be manipulated by a brainless monster. He changed the subject, “You need a bath.”
The grendel didn’t like its request being dismissed but it liked the new direction of the conversation even less. It spat back I only bathe in the blood of my enemies and I doubt you are volunteering for that.
There was something about the grendel that got under Radley’s skin. He knew that it was being intentionally unpleasant, but he had to show it who was the boss. He stepped forward and did his best to endure the rancid hot breath being directed at him. “Your hygiene doesn’t surprise me. You smell like a skunk married some roadkill and vomited stink babies...and no, I’m not offering my blood for your sick ritual.”
The grendel snorted and looked away. It was actually offended by the insult. I don't want your weak baby blood anyway. I would lose my great strength and be left crying for my mommy.