A quick look downward updated Garath on how the Party had fared while he was watching the show. Not bad at all. The four gnolls at ground level were dead or dying. The tower opposite the one Garath was standing on had been utterly demolished, clearly the work of a Blast!-happy Elementalist. The battle to take the towers was won.
Auto was bleeding from a few nasty wounds, but the tank’s Health was still well over half. Sharon was putting her Potion of Endless Mana back into her Items panel with only a third of her blue Mana bar remaining. The healer’s Mana regeneration rate would be greatly increased for the next 60 seconds, but healing through another tough fight right away, especially a fight with this magic-using gnoll and its gigantic bodyguard, would be a hard ask for any healer. Daisy was low on Mana as well and followed Sharon’s example, downing her own blue potion before stuffing it back through the hand-sized rip in spacetime.
The behemoth gnoll and its summoner, standing together on the other side of the towers, did not allow the Party the courtesy of recovering their Health and Mana in peace. With tandem howls, they advanced. Auto met the black gnoll with a clash of claws and fur between the campfire and towers. Garath issued a command for Bill and the Dreadreaver to pester the magic user. It was never a good idea to ignore a magic-user, and this way they'd be away from the melee, giving Auto and Atlas a little more leg room. Garath leaped down from the tower and moved forward with Handsome, Daisy, and Sharon. He triggered Inspect on each of the monsters as they came into range.
Gnoll Necro-Shaman
Humanoid
Health: 2,100/2,100
Level: 27
Station: Mage
Mana: 1,540/1,540
Description: Gnoll Necro-Shaman use ancient, dark magics often involving the willing sacrifice of other gnolls. They can enhance the power of allies or summon new ones to fight for them.
Gnoll Abomination
Humanoid
Health: 2,850/2,850
Level: 30
Station: Summoned Creature
Mana: 0/0
Description: Summoned by a gnoll Necro-Shaman, a Gnoll Abomination is a creature of pure malice.
Garath tried not to be jealous of the caster's Class, but Necro-Shaman sounded bad-freaking-ass. Followed by Handsome flying a few feet over the ground, the white cat scampered past the three-way battle between Auto, Atlas, and the Abomination to join Bill and the Golem in taking out the Necro-Shaman. As he passed the melee, a panicked yip from the Necro-Shaman called the Abomination to attention. The huge black gnoll broke away from its fight with Auto and Atlas, running to the aid of its summoner. Unfortunately for the gnolls, the Abomination found it difficult to run with a several hundred pound Unibear digging dagger-like claws into its back. It continued its struggle toward its creator, seemingly unconcerned about its own life, as Auto and Atlas bit, cut, and stabbed at its sides and back.
The gnoll Necro-Shaman died like it was in a hurry, falling to Garath and his minions in mere seconds. The Necrologist whirled around to see the Abomination fading away to nothing at the death of its summoner. A brief silence followed as the Party caught their breath.
"That wasn't so bad," Atlas said, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Now what?" The Mage Smith pulled the poem out of his pocket and squinted to make out the words in the darkness.
“The Shaman should have a key,” Sharon pointed out, leaning over to inspect the corpse. She backed away immediately, pinching her nose and wrinkling her face. “These things smell terrible.”
Garath walked past Sharon to look as well. Hanging around its neck was a silver chain, tucked into its dark leather chest armor. With one fluffy little paw, Garath swiped at the necklace a few times until he managed to pull it out from under the tight-fitting leather. Sure enough, a large skeleton key was attached.
*The key is here, but let’s take the gear off his body first. Not it?* Garath said, moving around the corpse to see what else the Necro-Shaman may have that would be worth taking.
Atlas didn’t seem to have a problem playing around with the carcass and volunteered to do just that. While he did, Auto, Sharon, and Garath moved back to the massacre they’d enacted between the towers to collect the Mana Crystals hovering above the bodies they’d left there and anything else they thought might be useful. The crossbows may come in handy, but there was nothing left of the ones that had been in the tower that Daisy destroyed - so Auto shifted into his natural form and made his way up the other tower, pocketed the three crossbows and three daggers, and then met up with the rest of the Party standing near the corpse of the Necro-Shaman.
On the ground, between Atlas and the body of the gnoll magic-user, four pieces of equipment were laid out for everyone to take a look at. Garath walked from one to the next, inspecting each as he went.
Necro-Shaman Shaft
Attack Damage: 26-32
Attack Speed: 2.625
DPS (damage per second): 11.048
Durability: 9/30
Item Score: 56
Two-handed weapon
Type: Staff
Quality: Above Average
Rarity: Uncommon
Spell Targeting Assistance: Basic
+30 Wisdom
+30 Vitality
Gains attack damage +1 for each victim sacrificed to power the user’s spells
***Found in the place where the forgotten stay.
Item Requirements:
Level: 1
Class: Necro-Shaman
Dark Leather Leggings
Raiment Slot: Legs
Armor: +19
Magic Resistance: 0%
Durability: 3/10
Item Score: 44
Defense Rating: 19
Type: Leather Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
***Found in the place where the forgotten stay.
Item Requirements:
Level:1
Dark Leather Chest Guard
Raiment Slot: Chest
Armor: +29
Magic Resistance: 0%
Durability: 2/12
Item Score: 51
Defense Rating: 29
Type: Leather Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
***Found in the place where the forgotten stay.
Item Requirements:
Level:1
Gnoll Plumage
Raiment Slot: Head
Armor: +4
Magic Resistance: +10%
Durability: 19/20
Item Score: 68
Defense Rating: 40
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+10 Wisdom
+10 Vitality
+5 Regeneration
-13% visual range
Item Requirements:
Level: 15
Class: Necro-Shaman
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot they’d be able to do with the loot from the Necro-Shaman. But Garath placed it in his Items panel, with a little help from Atlas. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever find a use for the Class-specific gear, but maybe he’d be able to disenchant them or something down the road.
With the looting complete, discussion moved to the key still hanging loosely on a chain around the Necro-Shaman’s neck. The poem had been unclear on exactly what would happen with the key, or who would need to go through the door, or what door it had even been talking about. With nothing else to go on, Atlas pulled on the chain and it broke free from the gnoll’s neck. In response, they all received a notification.
The first Necro-Shaman Key has been accepted.
One of you must use it to pass through the door in the next 30 seconds.
For each Key that reaches its expiration here, one member of your Party will be chosen at random to stay in Chuchusullay permanently.
When all five Keys have either been used to open a door or allowed to expire, some, if not all, are allowed to retire.
Whe
n Garath dismissed the prompt obscuring his vision, he saw that a door had appeared in the time it took him to read the system message. It was standing free of any building and made of cracked, worn wood. As everyone finished reading, they all looked at each other.
“I’m going first, aren’t I?” Atlas asked. “The consequence for letting a key expire is too severe to even consider. One of us is going to have to go, and I think I’m the best option. Sadly.”
*I think you’re right,* Garath told him gravely. *Sorry, man. Once you’re inside, try to use the Party communication channel to keep in touch with us. Like the poem said though, be quiet and stay low.*
“Alright,” Atlas replied, looking resigned as he pulled the key off the chain and approached the doorway. “Shit… here goes nothing.”
The Mage Smith slid the key into the lock, turned it, and twisted the handle. With a nervous glance back at the Party, he pushed it open. Garath craned his neck to see if he could get a look at what was beyond, but all he saw was blackness. A heavy fog rolled out in limb-like tendrils at ground level. Atlas took a deep breath and walked through the open door. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind him and the lock clicked back into place. Another notification appeared in Garath’s mind’s eye.
1 of 5 Keys have unlocked a door, a boost you receive will help you through the next four.
When he dismissed the prompt, Garath noticed a new buff icon next to his Healthbar, like a tiny version of a gnoll’s head with bones forming an X behind it. He willed more information to appear and read the information provided.
The Forgotten’s Blessing (1): +20% to all damage dealt, -20% to all damage received. The Forgotten’s Blessing will remain active for the remainder of your time in Chuchusullay.
*Slick buff,* Auto commented on the Party channel.
*No doubt,* Garath agreed.
“What do we do now?” Sharon asked.
Garath ignored her for the moment. *Atlas? Can you hear me?*
There was no response, so he turned to Sharon. *It’s safe to assume we’ll have to kill another four Necro-Shaman. And each time we do, one of us will have to go through one of those doors. Once we’re all in there, who knows?*
“I don’t want to go in there,” Daisy said, looking at the free-standing door a few feet away.
*I don’t think any of us do, Daisy. But there’s no way we’re going to let the dungeon take one of us to stay here forever,* Garath told the girl. *Whatever’s going on in there though, Atlas is facing it by himself. Let’s not make him wait any longer than he has to.*
With that, the Party set off to continue their dungeon run. Garath stopped briefly to poke his head into the Necro-Shaman’s tent, and was sure glad he did. He came out a moment later, holding a black gem in his cute little cat mouth.
Darkened Quartz
Reagent
Item Score: 85
Rarity: Epic
***Note: this Quartz Crystal was darkened by blood from willing sacrificial victims.
Nobody had any idea what they’d do with the diamond-shaped, pure black crystal, but, in the case that anyone back at HQ needed one for crafting or something, Garath figured it’d be better to have it than to put it back where he’d found it. With the first gnoll encampment properly raided for valuables, the Party set off, following the same path that brought them there.
“Who’s going through the next door?” Sharon asked as they headed south along the east side of the little island.
*Auto is,* Garath told her.
*I am?* Auto asked, turning to look over one beefy shoulder at Garath. *You going to do the tanking then, fuzzy pants?*
*Nah,* Garath said. *I’ll have my demons do that. Sharon, you’ll have to go through the third door. Daisy after that, and I’ll take the last one.*
“You don’t want to go in there either,” Daisy said with a side-eye glance at the Necrologist.
*Yeah, why do you get to go last?* Auto asked.
*I was thinking Daisy could, but that would mean she’d have to fight her way through the last portion of the dungeon alone,* Garath explained. *Of any of us, I have the best chance of making it through the final leg because I’ve got reinforcements.*
“Suuuuure,” Daisy said, folding her arms and looking unconvinced.
Auto came to an abrupt halt as the fires of another gnoll camp came into view perhaps fifty yards ahead through an opening in the dense forest. As they continued forward cautiously, more of the second gnoll encampment became visible through the thick fog. This one, thankfully, did not have any towers packed with ranged fighters. Instead, the Party appeared to be approaching an ongoing ritual. Two Necro-Shaman were clearly visible, standing opposite one another on raised platforms with infantry gnolls forming a circle around them.
*This should be interesting,* Garath mused. *Auto, how do you want to do this?*
*I count ten gnolls and two Necro-Shaman,* Auto said. *I don’t see any way that we’d be able to pull any of them without pulling all of them, so this might get a little chaotic. I’d say let’s just walk in there like we own the damn place.*
“Well I say we come up with a better plan,” Sharon said, arms folded.
*Auto’s right, Sharon. We’re going to have to fight them all at once,* Garath told her. *I’ll wait for Auto to get their attention, then sneak behind the melee fighters and try to take down those magic-users before they do anything terrible. Auto, see if you can pull them back here a ways to get yourself out of range of the casters. Sharon, root any gnoll that breaks away from Auto. Daisy, as usual your job is to wreck them all, but focus on any gnoll that Sharon roots. Got it?*
Auto trotted down the path toward the gnolls with the Party following behind. Garath dismissed his demons but made sure to let Bill and Handsome in on the plan through their mental connection. He kept his Dreadreaver active with orders to assist Auto.
When the gnolls spotted the charging Unibear, a roar of excited barks filled the foggy air. The gnolls formed up in two lines of five between the approaching party and the enemy casters. In tandem, the two Necro-Shaman began a chant of growls and barks. After a few seconds, with Auto nearing melee range, the effect of the spell they were casting became apparent. Several totems, little more than blackened dog skulls on sticks, popped out of the ground before them. In response, each of the ten melee gnolls swelled in size as they received a group buff, and then they charged as one. Garath spared a second to Inspect one of the totems.
Spirit Totem
Totem
Health: 1/1
Level: 1
Station: none
Mana: 0/0
Empowers gnolls within 30 meters, increasing their Strength and Dexterity by 10%, and their size by 20%.
Green light suffused Auto’s Unibear form from Sharon’s Nature’s Touch as Garath slipped past unnoticed. Garath’s Dreadreaver stood with Auto and, together, they met the charge. The two Necro-Shaman continued their chant as the fluffy white Necrologist approached.
When he was close enough to begin his attack, Garath summoned Bill and Handsome. Already knowing what was expected of them, the two demons sprang into action. Bill leaped onto the closer of the two platforms and wrapped his mouth around the leg of the Necro-Shaman atop it, tearing into the skin and scraping the bones beneath with his sharp teeth. Handsome took aim at the Necro-Shaman, now yelping in pain and whacking Bill in the head with its staff. He fired a steady stream of Death Bolts as Garath got into position between the two platforms.
As one, the two Necro-Shaman made a series of throaty sounds and wove their hands through the air in intricate patterns. When the casting was complete, both Bill and Handsome were rendered useless by the cages of black iron that popped into existence around them. A debuff icon appeared next to each of their Healthbars and Garath glanced at the information provided.
Dark Cage - creatures locked in Dark Cage will be unable to move or cast spells for 30 seconds.
Garath released a Blight that took
hold on both of the gnoll Necro-Shaman. A bonus effect of the dark purple magic that moved out of his tiny form in a circle was that it also landed a damage-over-time debuff on the totems empowering the gnolls engaged with the rest of the Party. The Necro-Shaman duo continued their chant with Garath’s demons out of the way for the next several seconds, and new totems popped up out of the ground to replace the ones Garath had just destroyed. He briefly considered activating Plague, but if there were other enemies within 100 meters of this battle they would immediately come running to join it. Considering the Party was already drastically outnumbered, that wouldn’t end well. But then, there had been quite a walk from one camp to the next thus far in the dungeon, so Garath decided to chance it.
He paid the 235 Mana to activate the AoE DoT. Ten Mana continued to trickle away from his pool each second, but every gnoll in the vicinity was taking constant damage. A bonus effect was that each time one of the Necro-Shaman tried to summon another totem, it crumbed to nothing within a second. Garath sent Felfire Bolts at both of the Necro-Shaman, alternating between them to keep the damage-over-time effect active on both.
The enemy casters stopped their barking chant, and both turned to face the little white cat, anger twisting their already frightening features.
The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Peril's Prodigy Book 2) Page 28