SKILL CHOICE: 3 POINTS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION
FURRY ARMORED HIDE (LEVEL – 2) – 2 Points needed for upgrade
The skin of the Familiar gains even stronger, allowing it to shrug off even blows that would fell a normal animal. The hide becomes a toughness equal to that of Splint Mail Armor.
FURIOUS ROAR (LEVEL – 2) – 2 Points needed for upgrade
The Familiar roar is so loud, not only does it stun its target with fear, for a period of twenty seconds, in a radius of thirty-five feet around it, the roar gains a physical aspect. Anything within five feet, directly in front of the roar will be knocked down by the force.
Well, that sucks… I only had three points available, so I could only upgrade one stat. There was a movie that stuck with me for a long time. It was called Necessary Roughness, and there was a line that went, ‘The best defense is a good offense.’ That always stuck with me and was how I usually decided things. But, whether it was the death of the Chief, or just thinking about Freak being gone, I decided that, defense was the best defense. I put two points in the first option and moved on to my next pet.
NAME – Winston ‘Triumph’ Wrath
PET CLASS – War Stallion – Purple – Legendary
LEVEL – 3
EXPERIENCE – 517/2500
HIT POINTS – 30/30
WEAPONS – Hooves x 4, Bite x 1
SKILLS – Leathery Armored Hide (Level – 1), Double Tap (Level – 1)
ARMOR – Natural Hide
The Mount is the secondary animal companion to the Jack-of-all-Trades. By sharing a portion of his master’s experience, the Mount will level up and gain skills of its own. Leveling up will increase abilities and intelligence of Mount, allowing communication between him and his Master over longer distances and with greater clarity.
SKILL CHOICE: 3 POINTS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION
LEATHERY ARMORED HIDE (LEVEL – 2) – 2 Points needed for upgrade
The skin of the Mount gains natural toughness, allowing it to shrug off blows that would fell a normal animal. The armor strength is equivalent to a suit of Splint Mail armor.
DOUBLE TAP (LEVEL – 2) – 2 Points needed for upgrade
The hooves of the War Horse are even stronger weapons than before. As if coated in steel, the strength of the Mount’s blow is multiplied by a factor of five. Now, the strike may be made from a standstill, no longer needing momentum to use.
I selected defense this time as well and moved on to the next screen.
WAR SHAMAN
TRIBES – THE PEOPLE, THE JICARILLA
ELITE WARRIORS – Moon Flower, Chieftess Screaming Eagle, Thunder Foot, Ice Blossom, Lightning Fist, Night Star, Silent Mouse, Shadow Bear, Dancing Lion, Stone Fox,
SHAMAN – Cunning Wolf (Element-Earth/God-Wolf)
NORMAL MEMBERS – 32 WORKER/WARRIORS, 92(86/6) BUILDER/WARRIORS
BASES – The Springs, Fortress of Earth
RESOURCES COLLECTED – Wood-Abundant, Metals-Iron/Gold/Silver/Tin-Abundant, Food-Abundant, Animals-Horses x 18
The screen sat in front of me, opaque, barely there, and only I could see it, but it was heavy. It felt like the weight of the world was in that screen. Chief Running Hawk’s name was gone. The words were like a slap in the face. I don’t know how long I stared at it, but eventually my eyes roamed over the rest of the screen. Cunning Wolf was now on it and it listed him in his own category, with his god and magic type there. I also saw my builder/warrior pool had shrunk, a punch in the gut, but I moved on. Now, I had horses in the animal spot. I closed the screen and decided to get some sleep, thoughts of how the horses would be used, dancing in my brain.
It felt like I had just closed my eyes, when a persistent knocking woke me from my slumber.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m up, I’m up.” I said, to the closed stone door.
“Cunning Wolf sent me, it’s time to meet again War Shaman.” A feminine voice said.
“We will be right there.” I replied, glancing to my side and seeing my fiancé’s red rimmed eyes looking back at me.
Then I felt her hands begin to stroke me softly, instantly making me hard.
“Actually, just a few minutes.” I said loudly, then reached out pulling Moon Flower to me.
About ten minutes later, after much smacking, moaning, and yelling. Moon Flower had needed some angry sex, the type where you try to break the other person, you all know that kind, both of us entered the main hall. The voice had belonged to a pretty Jicarilla girl who had waited outside our door the whole time and had guided us to the hall. We entered, and I looked around, realizing we were the last to arrive. The place was full to bursting, just like it was when we first arrived. The main differences though, were this time, all my people were by the dais with the Chieftess and Cunning Wolf, and in the center were the prisoners and the spoils, along with our dead.
“Let’s fucking do this.” I said, under my breath.
TRACK 12 – SIMPLE SONG – THE SHINS
Moon Flower’s grip tightened on my arm as we arrived at the dais. I could tell she was close to killing every single one of the prisoners. She had said as much on our way here. We split up and she went to stand with her sisters and brothers-in-law, on the left side of the dais. I went to the Chieftess, who was sitting in her throne, with Cunning Wolf at her side.
The old man and I shared a nod, then I did a quick bow to the Chieftess. She returned it with a curt nod then stood up and walked to the end of the dais. She looked around at her people, then at the prisoners, then at the bodies. Her visage turned stone cold, then it softened. She closed her eyes and sighed, when she opened them, all sign of weakness was gone, iron hard resolve etched her beautiful but stern face.
“Yesterday, we won a fierce battle, over superior numbers and superior weapons. This was because of our toughness as Jicarilla and The People, our warriors are second to none. We destroyed these interlopers with teamwork, skill, the blessing of our gods, and because of this man.” She turned gesturing to me, then continued speaking. “Our War Shaman, beloved by my late fiancé, foretold of these men coming. He told us how to beat them. From now on his word is law on all things. The Fortress of Earth is now under War Shaman Wrath’s control. We are no longer Jicarilla and The People, we are all now of The People. We are at war. Death to all who oppose us.” She finished the last word in a shouting growl.
The room exploded in cheering, including myself. She had a gift for speaking like the late Chief did. I looked at the prisoners and all of them were terrified. All except, the Conquistadors, and Montezuma. The Chieftess stepped back and motioned for me to speak. I nodded and began walking over to the dead. Once I arrived, I knelt and looked them over. They had all been cleaned and prepared for the pyre. We would burn them ceremonially at nightfall, send them off properly. I stood up and walked over to the spoils of our first battle.
There were suits of armor, lances, swords, harquebus’s, falconets, gunpowder, and the cannon and musket balls to use them. All of them glowed with a light blue outline, I could tell they were identifiable. I would do it later, after this was done. I spent the night thinking and planning what I would do with all my new stuff. I walked over to the prisoners and slowly began to circle them as I spoke, causing the bound and kneeling men to shuffle awkwardly and turn their heads to keep me in view.
“Every single one of you can understand me. Each one of you thinks I’m speaking to you in your native tongue.” I paused letting that sink in.
The natives from Central America, the two Europeans, Montezuma, they all shared confused looks, then glanced to one another for confirmation.
“You see, my god, gave me the gift of tongues. I can speak to anyone in the world.” I continued. I knelt next to the bigger blonde Conquistador. “You understand what I’m saying perfectly don’t you?” I asked.
The man swallowed, then slowly turned his head, looking at me. There was no fear in his gaze, just acceptance, he nodded once.
“Good, there are a few othe
r things my god gave me.” I said, grinning and letting my hands burst into flame. “Magic is one of them. Freak is another.”
My tiger roared from behind the pair, and they almost jumped, kneeling and bound, it was quite a site. I had difficulty hiding my grin, but I did. I sent a mental command and Freak came over to my side, still growling softly, a low threatening rumble from deep in his massive throat.
“So here is the deal. I’m not into slavery. I know you all know what that is, you guys from the Aztecs, and other tribes, plus you to Europeans know the concept pretty damn well. I also don’t want to kill all of you, like most of my people seem to want to do, we can’t free you, obviously, so I’ve decided on a fourth, more beneficial option.” I paused letting them stew for a moment. It’s the little things in life that give you pleasure. “You will swear to serve me for a period of one year. If you do so, and you do so well and honestly. If you give me your all and contribute to my victory, you will be freed. You will have the choice to return to your homes, or if you desire to stay with us as full members of The People. I am extending this to the two of you as well.” I said to the two Conquistadors.
I stood up and let the fire die on my hands. The room was silent, and glares were coming at me from my friends and family. I hadn’t discussed this with anyone. It was a spur of the moment decision.
“We will conduct our mourning ceremonies, you will be given the night to think it over. Take them away.” I called out.
Guards snapped to and soon all the prisoners were out of the main hall. I turned and looked around the room.
“Some of you may not agree with me. You will in time. Chief Running Hawk knew the bigger picture. Our losses, their sacrifices were not in vain. We will use these.” I pointed to the falconets, weapons, and other assorted spoils. “These are just the beginning. We will be victorious. We will have our revenge for The Great Suffering. We will change the world.”
The room was silent, as I gazed around, looks of duty upon their faces. The hall gallery cleared out, and I gave orders to the guards, telling them what to do with the weapons and armor. I told them to bring the falconets up to the roof and place the rest in Stone Tableau area. Then I turned to my friends and family.
“Look… I know you’re all mad…” I began.
“Yes, we are mad, but not at you.” Chieftess Shining Eagle interrupted.
“She is right beloved.” Moon Flower took over. “We are mad at the loss. You are right in your judgement. You are thinking more clearly then we would have in our grief. Now, we have talked about that enough. It is time to bath, we all smell like moose dung.” She finished, finally cracking a smile since her father died, as pragmatic as ever.
The room burst out in awkward chuckling, that soon turned into real full-bodied laughter, as we all used the terrible joke as an impetus for releasing our emotions. When the room quieted again, Chieftess Shining Eagle stood up and cleared her throat.
“Come along everyone, Moon Flower is right. Let us retire the hot springs before tonight’s ceremony, Stone Fox lead the way.” She commanded.
“There are hot springs?” I asked, looking at Shadow Bear.
“Of course, how did you think we cleaned ourselves?” He responded, following quickly after the pretty warrior.
The chamber began to empty as everyone trailed out following Stone Fox. I looked at Freak, shrugged and took off as well. The way we took led us down a few floors, until we were deep below the Fortress of Earth, which I had learned, was the Jicarilla name for their home. Eventually, I began to hear the sound of running water and the scent of steaming mineral water was noticeable. I brought up the rear of the procession and was last coming into the bathing area, which was a large cavern. I stared in awe around me. The giant natural hot springs was beautiful, to say the least.
The room was lit with a few well-placed torches that shined light everywhere, due to the fact, that they were illuminating a cavern ceiling covered from end to end in precious jewels and veins of metal. The orange and red light shone off of blue sapphires, green emeralds, red rubies, swathes of silver and gold, interspersed with diamonds here and there. The room practically glistened, beyond that were the pools of steaming water, which bubbled up from the ground. The pools were each made of natural stone which had been hollowed out over time, each pool was large enough to fit ten people. The edges were rounded, a perfect place to rest your head and soak.
“My god… this is amazing, have you all seen…” I stopped and stared ahead of me, mouth agape.
Every single person was naked, every single one… and they were all climbing into the pools.
TRACK 13 – PLEASE DO NOT GO – VIOLENT FEMMES
“Et tu Freak e…” I muttered under my breath, as my giant battle tiger leapt into a pool, with a giant splash and with much laughter.
I stripped out of my filthy clothing and hurriedly joined my fiancé in her pool, of which we weren’t the only occupants. The Chieftess and Dancing Lion were there as well. I tried to avert my gaze, but it was difficult. Both the mother and daughter were gorgeous, and proportioned quite perfectly, yet the second my toe touched the water, I forgot about them and my embarrassment, completely.
The water was hot, so hot, it felt like my skin might melt off, and I loved it, every single second. There is nothing like scalding hot water to help ease the aches, pains, and hell, just the stress that accumulates on the daily. By the time I was neck deep and resting my head against the side of the hot spring, all was right with the world. The hot mineral water was soothing the battering my body had taken. Of course, all good things must come to an end.
Just then Cunning Wolf joined us, and my eyes were drawn to his naked form.
“Move over boy.” He said in a gravelly voice, his old wrinkly balls at eye level, flapping to and fro, like a hairy old metronome.
“Yeah… yeah!” I squawked, practically flying back out of the way, bumping into Moon Flower in my haste.
“You must excuse my fiancé. Where he comes from, they are very prude.” She said, giving me an admonishing look, then turning and winking at the rest, showing she was teasing.
She was feeling better, even if I was the butt of the joke, at least she was joking around, and that meant something.
“Ah…” Cunning Wolf sighed. “There is nothing like a nice hot soak to ease these tired old bones.”
The pool was quiet as everyone enjoyed the soaking and became lost in their own thoughts. I closed my eyes, turning my music off with a thought, and listening to the ambient sounds going on around me, as I relaxed. The atmosphere was good. Judging by the conversations, and the sounds of Freak splashing around from pool to pool, caused me to grin. With everything that had been going on, it was nice to take a moment to enjoy ourselves, especially in light of, certain recent developments.
I couldn’t believe that the Chief was gone. Even though, we hadn’t known each other long, he really had an impact on me. I was beginning to think I might have another father, and then just like that, he was gone. The way I was feeling was nothing though, compared to Moon Flower and her siblings.
Squinting, I glanced at my fiancé from the corner of my eye and saw here expression of sadness and loss. I recognized the look, because I had the same one on my face when my father went six-feet under. A few more minutes went by, with all of us wrapped up in our own thoughts. Then the Chieftess cleared her throat, causing all of us to give her our attention, which was a bit difficult, considering she was completely naked, and had an amazing figure. It took a feat of my willpower to keep my eyes on hers, and not on her… other assets.
“Now that this current crisis is over, and with the loss of Chief Running Hawk…” She paused for a moment, then continued. “I think it is time for you to share your plans with us, no matter what you say, I’ve decided to take up whatever role Running Hawk was to have. I will not let his death be in vain, it will have meaning.”
Before I could answer, I noticed Moon Flower from the corner of my eye. My fia
ncé gave the Chieftess a hard look, then nodded once, as if coming to a decision. She stood up fully, water glistening from her perfect body, and steam wafting up from the hot spring, giving her the semblance of a goddess. Chieftess Shining Eagle stood as well, then the two women clasped arms. I stared entranced, at the two visions of every prepubescent boys wet dream.
“Thank you, Chieftess Shining Eagle, even though my father and you did not get the chance to become husband and wife fully, I respect his wishes and yours. You are a formidable woman, I am proud to fight alongside you, you will always be my mother-in-law.” Moon Flower said.
“Thank you, I will always consider you as my daughter as well.” Chieftess Shining Eagle replied, tears forming in her eyes.
“Well, I can’t let this happen and have nothing to say about it.” Dancing Lion chimed in, rising and standing along with the other two women. “Did you think I would have no feelings about his?”
Moon Flower turned her head and gazed at the Jicarilla scion, while the Chieftess merely raised an eyebrow as she looked at her daughter. My eyes went even wider, as Dancing Lion joined the other two women. Now, I was looking at three of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen, and my brain was having difficulty processing the sight. It was like I was getting a no-compute error set on repeat. To much sexiness in one situation, brain broken…
“You are an outstanding warrior. You are tough, strong, and honorable. I could ask for no better woman to fight by side, and I can wish for no better woman to be my sister.” Dancing Lion said, a grin on her face. The three women stood together, something passing between them, that I was not privy too. Then, Cunning Wolf stood up and stretched languidly, catching my attention with his over stated movement.
“Come on boy. We have work to do before the ceremony tonight. It’s time for you to learn Earth Magic.” He said, turning and exiting the pool, almost oblivious to the nakedness around him.
I Am Gamer II Page 6