by Stone Thomas
“It has been some time since I had a body as long as yours,” Hipna said, “but I still remember every position I’ve ever tried. We could make new memories on this altar…”
“Um,” I said, “that’s a very generous offer, your graciousness, but I’m not really in a position to…” My mind was already fogging over. I felt the velvet cushion’s welcoming embrace as I sank further into it.
Hipna rolled onto her stomach and propped her head up with both hands. “Not all humans fancy the idea of courting a goddess. A girl can dream though, can’t she?”
“Mmhmm,” I said. As my eyes closed, I reflected back on the dream I hadn’t finished. My mind, slowed by sleep, formed one quiet thought. Next time I ‘court’ a goddess, I plan to be awake for it.
+44
The next thing I knew, I was a child again, maybe five years old. I hid in the stairwell in Laranj’s temple while the goddess floated above her altar.
She looked the same then as she did the day she died. Her young, pretty face held a half-smile at rest. Her soft pink skin was feminine, her warm glow calming. In later years, I would marvel at her beauty, my eyes drawn to her body like magnets.
As a young boy though, I looked at her the way a child views an adult. With awe and reverence and curiosity. I had forgotten that feeling.
The front doors to the temple opened and a woman walked in, wearing a hooded cloak like Zid’s. My eyes darted that way, away from Laranj. I was powerless to turn back. This wasn’t a vision I could wander around it, it was a memory. I could only observe and feel now what I had experienced so long ago.
Father Cahn, in his rich silk robe, walked toward the temple’s front. He held up a hand to stop the woman from walking any further.
“Please,” she said. She held out a small package wrapped in parchment. “I want him to know.”
“He lives,” Cahn said. “That needs to suffice.”
“I came a long way,” she said. “It’s just a small box. Hold onto it until it’s time.”
“Mrs. Hochbright,” he said. I wanted to gasp. That name — Hochbright — was meaningless at the time, but it wasn’t now. I wanted to run, push Cahn down, take the woman’s hands and ask her who she was, who I was, why we were both there in Laranj’s temple at that one moment in time.
But this was just a memory, and I couldn’t change its course. I was young Arden now, and in this memory, I didn’t gasp. I didn’t run and push and question. I just listened.
“Syra,” she said. “Please. Just Syra.”
“Mrs. Hochbright, I will not deliver this. I will harbor no imperial trinkets or hand-drawn notes. If the Great Mother even thinks to look here for him, her roving teams of imperial enforcers will do what you refused to. The boy is as good as dead.”
“But he needs to know,” she said. “Or he’ll end up that way anyway.”
Cahn reached his hand out, pressing against the package and pushing that woman, my mother, through the temple’s front door. She was young then, with straight black hair that framed her face. The bridge of her nose had a slight bump in the middle, just like mine. Her eyes were brown though. I must have my father’s eyes.
She bent down and placed the package on the ground as Cahn closed the temple’s doors, shutting the package from view.
She had left it there though. Something important. For me. Years after my parents abandoned me in Meadowdale, she returned. What was in that box? Where was it now? It may lay buried under the temple’s crumbled remains. Or...
Cahn turned back from the doors and walked toward the altar.
“Who was that?” Laranj asked. I wanted to scream out, to tell her that Cahn was double-crossing her. That she wouldn’t know better as a young goddess, but she should know who that was. She should read his thoughts, not trust that his answers would be full and true.
I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t save her from the fraud that ran her temple. He passed her on his way to the door at the temple’s rear, leading to his private vestry. “Just a mailrunner,” he said. “She had the wrong temple.”
Laranj seemed content with that answer. Cahn must think so little of her.
Before he closed the door behind him, he glanced around the temple and frowned when he caught sight of me. He twitched his nose the way a person does when they catch a whiff of a bad odor. The hideous knob of skin that grew from one nostril was just as hideous then, but now I wondered if he liked it. It served a purpose. It distracted people from looking him in the eye and seeing the deception there.
I stared him in the eye nonetheless. I always did.
“Arden, you should be in the catacombs. I saw a cockroach this morning and I don’t want to see it again. Be a good boy and do your work so we can graduate you to bat duty. Chop chop.”
There was no protesting. Little Arden would hang his shoulders low and spend the next few hours in the temple’s underground burial chamber, hunting down pests. I wouldn’t follow him there though.
Suddenly, my vision swirled in a dizzying spectrum, a prism of light that blinded me. Laranj’s temple was gone in an instant, and I stood instead in a long hallway with marble columns, all polished to a sparkle.
“Arden,” came a woman’s voice. “You’ve traveled far.”
I turned back. An altar sat at the other end of this hallway, but it was empty. Then a sword, oversized and made of pulsing light, fell through the ceiling without a crash or a scratch. It stuck in the floor in front of the altar, a foot wide and with a gilded hilt. Then another sword landed, and another, building a circle of overlapping weapons that quickly formed a cylindrical barrier around the altar.
When they stopped, there were forty or more swords, casting so much magical light that my eyes squinted shut. The swords slowly sank through the floor and vanished. Behind them stood a woman in white platemail armor. The Great Mother.
Her entry flourish was precise, calculated. It was too perfect to be beautiful.
“I’m building our army,” I said. “To stop Duul.”
“Leave Duul to me,” she said. “Duul is not your present concern, Kāya is. I’ve told you before, so long as she lives Nola will not.”
“And how do you know that?” I asked. “Nola has the power of premonition, not you. Did Sajia tell you this?”
“Kāya is rebuilding an army that was laid to rest ages ago,” she said. “They have waited in the bowels of hell all this time for their battle song to reprise. I cannot allow it.
“Do you think I have been oblivious to your efforts?” she continued. “You would protect Valona, a goddess that flouts the imperial will. Only repentance will save her, but she is too proud and too stubborn for it.”
“You sent a creature from the wilds to kill her,” I said.
“Yes,” she said, “a glorious, magnificent beast of nature. Pure and innocent. I must be so corrupt and vile.” She took a deep breath. “Reverence for those mindless animals is misplaced. People fear those animals. They dress their fear up as respect, but fear is beneath the gods.
“The rex fulmin is a snake like any other. No more, no less. It’s time I had my familiars drive that creature harder. They’ve toyed with our prey long enough. Mind you, if you interfere with the plans I have in motion, you risk making an enemy of the empire. Of me. Are you prepared for that?”
“Are you?” I asked. “You can’t defeat Duul on your own. You need us.”
“I need Nola,” she replied. “I have no need of you. I never did.”
“You have a funny way of showing that,” I said. “You sent imperial daggers after us, but no actual support. Duul killed Sajia, and there was no sympathy from you. Her mother died and all she got was this lousy premonition!”
“That gift should have been mine!” the Great Mother yelled. “Sajia knew Duul would come for her, as did I. That power should have found a home inside my divine soul, but it fell to Nola instead. I need that power at my disposal. I need Nola alive and in the Imperial City.”
“Then you need me to
o,” I said. “If you let me die, she’ll never forgive you.”
“Gods can live an eternity,” she said. “Mortals have short, meaningless lives. Any attachment to you will fade with time.
“Kill Kāya,” she continued. “That is an order. And Arden, do something about that disgusting shadow inhabiting your psyche. Nola’s psychic sight is still weak, but I can see that filthy creature for what it is. Swarthlings are parasites born through the death of their host. Sever the connection before it’s too late. You have work to do.”
“But—” The conversation was over. The hallway around me dulled to blackness.
I sat up and stretched. It was almost dark out, so my boon-induced nap had lasted a while, even if the memory I walked away with didn’t. The rest of that time was wasted with the Great Mother.
Cindra had already woken up. She was crying.
“You saw something,” I said. “Cindra, what do you remember?”
“You,” she said. “Arden, my memory was of you.”
My heart sank. Of course, Cindra had memories. Recent memories, easy memories. Whatever was stored in her past was more difficult to dredge up.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I really hoped you’d go further back.”
“But I did,” she said. “Deep in my past, I was with you. We were strong, and armed, and… together. We had a team with us. Were we adventurers?”
“It couldn’t be,” I said. “Cindra, I’d remember that. I’d remember you. You’re not a woman a man could just forget.”
“It was foggy,” she said. “It wasn’t just forgotten, it was buried, like Hipna said it would be. But I know what I saw. Whoever I was, and whatever my past involved, you were there.”
I wasn’t sure how to process that. It was impossible, but denying it wouldn’t help anyone, least of all Cindra. She was still struggling to piece together her past, and now she had something to cling to. I wouldn’t take it away.
“Where’s Hipna?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” Cindra said. “But I suspect our boons were parting gifts. Mercifer is waiting for us outside the temple, catching up with Zid.”
I hopped off Hipna’s altar and picked up my spear. Cindra followed to the exit gate where Mercifer and Zid waited for us.
“Mercifer,” I said. “If we go to Halcyon, will you be able to help Cindra? Do you need any supplies?”
“The world is my supply cache,” he said. “The ether is all around us, and I make slime from that. I’m not sure I’m strong enough for this task though.”
“I’ll skill you first,” I said. “I can improve your ability to create slime forms and to fill them with life. Do what you can to help Cindra, but then I’d also like you to start forming slime pets. As many as you can.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because I had a boon of cleverness a few days ago,” I said, “and it’s long gone now, but I do remember needing slime. Lots and lots of slime.”
“Fine,” he said. “I haven’t seen a skillmeister since I crafted Cindra’s body, so there should be a lot of XP to work with. While you’re in there, see if there’s enough to improve my work with bones. That’s the next one I’m keen on.”
“Fine,” I said. “How does your class work though? I need to know what I’m doing.”
“The higher skill I have at shaping the conduit material, the longer it will stay enlivened once I enliven it. Then I pick a set of instincts to instill, like pet or mount, and the better skilled I am at that, the more HP they’ll have. That’s the step that costs action points, the actual enlivening.
“Of course, if a sentient soul invades my handiwork, it will override whatever health points my skills triggered.”
I took a quick look to make sure I understood all of that.
“It wouldn’t cost much to unlock Plant Conduit,” I said. “You already have the attributes for it.”
“I don’t need a plant pet that lasts for twenty minutes,” he said. “I will master slime, then turn my full attention to bone. That’s what I permit you to do.”
Δ
Skillmeister View of:
Mercifer Soff
Base Attrib. / XP to Next / Intended Change / Cost
-
16 Constitution / 400 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
38 Vivacity / 950 XP to Next / 38 –> 50 / Total XP Cost: 13,050
-
9 Strength / 225 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
9 Hardiness / 225 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
23 Focus / 575 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
21 Resolve / 525 XP to Next / 21 –> 40 / Total XP Cost: 14,250
-
TOTAL BASE ATTRIBUTE XP COST: 27,300
Stats Affected by Change
-
[Constitution] Health Points (HP): 1528/1600
-
[Vivacity] Action Points (AP): 592/760 –> 832/1000
-
[Strength] Phys. Damage Inflict Range: 90-110
-
[Hardiness] Phys. Damage Block Range: 49-68
-
[Focus] Mag. Damage Inflict Range: 230-281
-
[Resolve] Mag. Damage Block Range: 113-160 –> 216-304
Skills For Weapon Class: None [expand]
Skills for Special Class: Enlivener
-
Ecto Pooler 1. MASTERED. Condense ethereal energy into a primordial slime conduit perfect for enlivened energy. [2 AP / second to cast] [Requires: Hardiness 2, Strength 2]. Mastered skills cannot be improved.
Slime Conduit 17. Slime you prepare for enlivening retains a maximum vitality duration of 5 years (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 17, Vivacity 34].
Improve to Slime Conduit 18 to increase vitality duration to 10 years (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 18, Vivacity 36] [6,750 XP to improve].
Improve to Slime Conduit 19 to increase vitality duration to 20 years (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 19, Vivacity 38] [7,125 XP to improve].
Improve to Slime Conduit 20 to master skill and remove vitality duration limitation (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 40, Vivacity 50] [7,500 XP to improve].
Intended Change: 17 –> 20
Cost Subtotal: 21,375
-
Locked. Plant Conduit 1. Plant matter you prepare for enlivening retains a maximum vitality duration of 20 minutes (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 1, Hardiness 2] [375 XP to unlock].
Improve to Plant Conduit 2 to increase vitality duration to 1 hour (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 2, Hardiness 4] [750 XP to improve].
Intended Change: None
Cost Subtotal: 0
-
Bone Conduit 4. Bone structures you prepare for enlivening retain a maximum vitality duration of 4 hours (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 4, Focus 8].
Improve to Bone Conduit 5 to increase vitality duration to 8 hours (environmental conditions permitting). [Passive] [Requires: Resolve 5, Focus 10] [1,875 XP to improve].
Intended Change: 4 –> 5
Cost Subtotal: 1,875
-
Critterati 7. Enliven a pet, with instincts suited to napping, exploring, and performing simple tricks. Maximum pet HP: 240. [80 AP to cast] [Requires: Constitution 16, Focus 22].
Improve to Critterati 8 to increase maximum pet HP to 300. [100 AP to cast] [Requires: Constitution 17, Focus 24] [3,000 XP to improve].
Intended Change: None
Cost Subtotal: 0
-
Trek Support 6. Enliven a mount, with instincts suited to running and stopping on command, as well as self-defense. Maximum mount HP: 180. [60 AP to cast] [Requires: Constitution 15, Resolve 20].
Improve to Trek Support 7 to increase ma
ximum mount HP to 240. [80 AP to cast] [Requires: Constitution 16, Resolve 22] [2,625 XP to improve].
Intended Change: None
Cost Subtotal: 0
-
Locked. Hauler Back 1. Enliven a hauler, with instincts suited to carrying and transporting cargo. Maximum hauler HP: 6. [2 AP to cast] [Requires: Constitution 10, Strength 10] [375 XP to unlock].
Improve to Hauler Back 2 to increase maximum hauler HP to 12. [4 AP to cast] [Requires: Constitution 11, Strength 12] [750 XP to improve].
Intended Change: None
Cost Subtotal: 0
-
TOTAL ENLIVENER SKILL XP COST: 23,250
Summary
-
Available XP: 48,514
Cost of Intended Changes: 50,550
Precision Training Discount (8%): 4,044
Total Adjusted Cost: 46,506
Total Projected Remaining: 2,008
Confirm?: Yes / No
∇
“Alright,” I said. “You’ve mastered Slime Conduit. Your slime creations no longer have set expiration times. I did increase your Bone Conduit skill, even though I think plants would make less creepy pets and mounts.”
“You’re entitled to your wrong opinion,” he said.
“Now,” Cindra said, “let’s get out of here, Big Daddy.”
Zid rolled her eyes at me. “Oh, stop blushing.”
+45
“I never thought I’d come back to this hill,” Mercifer said as the portal arch cooled. “Come, our work will take time.”