Near the Glen, Ash froze beneath the autumnal canopy, and everyone produced their weapons, heads on a swivel, looking for danger. The arborist strode forward, mouth set in a grim line. He snapped a branch from a nearby tree and sniffed the pulpy wood, shoving it under Terran's nose right after.
"Do you smell that?" he asked with his hand on his chest in obvious distress.
"It smells... dry?" asked Terran.
"It's the rot," said Ash, gaze bouncing around, never settling in one place. "The rot has spread." He extended his arm towards a spot in the tree above them, where black fungus covered a limb. "See, the rot. I hope I'm not too late."
The earlier sluggishness disappeared beneath a breathless worry. With a knotted forehead, Ash addressed them.
"I thought you were exaggerating the problem. I promise as your arborist, I will throw myself into fixing this rot with all my heart and skill. I shall not rest!" He paused, hand still on his heart. "And I won't even think about what rewards you will have in store for me, though if you were to ask, I am particular to soft sleeping spaces. Fluffy down or spirit bear fur are my preferences, but…"
The arborist's stream of consciousness ended as Terran arched an eyebrow questioningly.
"Right," said Ash. "Action first, reward later."
Before Terran could respond, the arborist sped forward, rushing up the hill.
"Well, if he can't fix the problem, at least he'll be entertaining," said Zara.
"Let's hope he's as good as he says he is," said Terran. "His proclamation worries me."
"We are going to get a chance to rest, right?" asked Flynn, holding up his skull. "Skully is very tired."
Terran rolled his eyes. "I have things to do in the settlement, but stay at the ready."
As he climbed the hill, he couldn't help but notice other signs of rot. The Mother Tree appeared safe from the disease, but when he arrived at the tavern, the stench was palpable. He found Petram nearby, examining the structural roots.
"Is it bad?" asked Terran.
"The rot is accelerating." The shaman glanced around. "Did you find the arborist?"
"I did, and we met one of Grimchar's acolytes. He set a trap for us in Salt Luck. It was close but we survived. Got a trade deal with Mayor Arabast, too," said Terran.
Petram slapped his shoulder. "Terran the Tenacious. Nothing stops you."
"I fear this rot might," said Terran, rubbing his jaw. "I worry Grimchar has set another trap with this rot. He knows these lands, how the system works."
"But you have your friends," said Petram. "And the settlement. We're with you."
"Of course," said Terran. "I couldn't do it without you. But right now, I need to get some rest."
"You have a seed to plant," said Petram.
Terran checked off the time in his head. "I'll get to it in the morning. Our arborist needs a home, after all."
Back in his aerie treehouse abode, Terran let the backpack and bedroll slough off his shoulders, relief from not having to carry that load for a minute more leaving him floating. He massaged his shoulders while kicking off his boots, but surprisingly he didn't feel tired. Having a new level to assign always left him anxious with anticipation, especially since he'd unlocked the second Champion's Path.
"First thing, first," said Terran, bringing up his character sheet. The need for Intelligence to gain more mana wasn't quite there, which left the first part of his decision pretty easy. "Endurance and Charisma it is."
Character: Terran
Level: 15
Class: Earthen Mage
Crystal Bard
Subrace: Rock Leaf Elf
Champion of the Mother Tree
HP: 465
Mana: 380
Sta: 750
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 11
Endurance: 19
Cunning: 4
Agility: 4
Charisma: 12
The number of hit points he had was increasing nicely, he thought. The double scaling of his health, from both level and Endurance, made continued investment quite profitable. "Maybe I'll be able to tank soon."
"A tankard of ale?" asked a familiar voice from the spiral stairs. A rosy-cheeked Jondar appeared a moment later with a tome in his hands. "May I come in? I heard you were back from Salt Luck."
"Knocking the dust off my boots," said Terran. "Something pressing? I'm rather exhausted."
"Yes, of course, my apologies, Terran, but I was doing some reading in the books Newt left us." When Terran made a face, Jondar laughed. "Yes, I realize my reputation for studious habits is quite absent, and I nearly gave Zoras a heart attack when he found me with my nose in a book, but I found what I believe is spell-song in the margins of the text."
Terran took the book, opening to the marked page. "A bent corner? Really?"
Jondar blushed. "Please don't tell Zoras, or Newt. It's a bad habit, I know."
Terran chuckled. "My lips are sealed." He found the notes in the margin. After a quick read through a pop-up appeared in his vision.
[You have learned the Auditory Assault spell]
Auditory Assault - Crystal Bard spell
Mana - 50 + 10 mana per second
Range - 75 feet
Requires a Sonic Staff.
The spell deals area-of-effect damage based on quality of staff, Battle Song skill, and pitch. Higher Battle Song skill will allow more enemies within range to take damage.
"Whoa," said Terran. "This is nice. Actually, more than nice. It's an AoE spell."
Jondar wrinkled his forehead while tilting his head. "This is some of that Offworlder speech that I've heard about, isn't it?"
"Yes, ahem," said Terran. "AoE means area of effect. It'll do damage to any enemies in the range of the spell-song. This will be super useful. Thank you, Jondar. You were right to bring it to me, even in my exhaustion."
"Thank you," said Jondar, blushing. "I'll leave you to your rest."
After Jondar left, taking the tome with him, Terran returned to his character sheet to examine the details of the second Champion's Path. He'd reviewed them on the journey, but hadn't wanted to make a decision yet.
Arbor-Hearted (Champion's Path) [unpicked]
Stoneleaf Strength - Be both flexible and strong
Vinecaller - Summon vines that can control your foes
The descriptions were intriguing, especially the vinecaller tree, which would give him a way to crowd control their enemies. It would be useful, though he wasn't sure how useful. Both Zara and Flynn tended to create chaos during battles. So far his best tactics had been to embrace the chaos, which wouldn't make vinecaller as useful. The stoneleaf strength sounded more melee, but maybe it would help him become a tank, if that was the direction he wanted to take.
After contemplating between the two, he decided not to pick, in case he learned new information, or found the third path, Way of the Leaf.
"Better to wait and make the right decision, than to rush and make the wrong one."
With those decisions out of the way, and a potentially busy following day, Terran climbed into his hammock, falling asleep immediately.
#
The next morning, Terran met Petram and Ash at the site of the arborist lab. The settlement's shaman had a bemused expression on his lips as he watched Ash strut around the location like a peacock, wearing a long crimson robe over his bright purple tunic, explaining how he would furnish his abode.
"I will grow a vine hammock in the far cover, right beneath a hole that catches the eastern sunlight, which as everyone knows is the best light. On the far side, a hanging basket—"he wagged his eyebrows—"and then over here I will set up my equipment loam analyzer, seed habitat, and the like. Petram, I'm sure you have everything I need, and if you don't, I'll get you a list."
Terran cleared his throat. "I'm glad you're making preparations for your home."
"Yes, of course," said Ash, fluttering his eyelashes. "If you're wanting me to analyze the rot, I need to get to work right
away. I can only do so much with the naked eye."
"Well, then, will you step to the side so I can plant the seed and grow your lab?" asked Terran, trying not to smile.
Ash made a little exclamation and then tucked his crimson cloak behind him and stepped out of the way so Terran could kneel in the grass, carefully digging a hole with his bare hands. He set the seed into the hole, added fresh loam, and then covered it with the leftover dirt.
The song came easily to his lips, as he'd grown used to the responsibilities of the settlement. The sprout burst from the soil eagerly, thickening as it reached higher. It wasn't until the base began to break the soil around the spot that Terran noticed Ash was singing counterpoint to his melody. The arborist had a countertenor that matched well with Terran's tenor, and even though they'd never sung together before, he found himself knowing how Ash would complement his part of the song, improvising new notes.
The quickening tree grew at a frantic pace. Terran stood across from Ash, the tree expanding between them. Normally, the process drained his strength, but having a partner who knew the song and the trees so well made Terran feel like he was standing before an audience of thousands, receiving their adulation.
[You have increased the skill Bardic Endurance.]
Skill: Bardic Endurance 9 (CHA) 9
If you ever hold your breath until you get your way...watch out!
When at last the song ended and the arborist lab was complete, vigorous applause followed. Terran spun around to find that a group of Rock Leaf Elves had gathered near Petram. Ash hurried to Terran's side, took his hand, and bowed as if they were at the end of a theater production.
Everyone returned to their previous duties, leaving Terran to remark, "That was wonderful. The growing process has never gone so well."
Ash winked. "I couldn't let you make all the decisions about my future home."
"Of course," said Terran, realizing that the arborist had created space in the music for him to follow. "I guess it's safe to say now, welcome to your new home."
"I'll get right to work on the rot," said Ash, bowing deeply. "I'm afraid what I've seen so far is quite concerning."
"Yes, I am aware," said Terran, and he returned to Petram's tree for further discussions.
"How will our new arborist fit in?" asked Petram, wrinkling his forehead. "I heard about what happened in Salt Luck."
Terran sighed, knowing the source of the tale had been Flynn. "Ash will be great. It was Gloricia behind everything. He might be amorous, but he's not a skeeze."
Petram collected his teapot. "Always these words that I lack the background to understand." The shaman poured two cups. "Anything else that we need to discuss?"
"Mayor Arabast agreed to a trade deal. He gave us a trading post, and everything," said Terran. "We'll need to send someone to work out the details."
"It would also be helpful to grow our own trading post," said Petram. "It will help with the speed of our traders, give better prices."
Terran sighed. "Yes, yes. That will be the next seed for sure."
Petram cleared his throat. "Though we are having trouble keeping up with food. Another orchard would be beneficial as well."
"The trading route would give us food, especially if Ash can help us make whisperweave, and we need other materials, but I get your point. I'll... I'll decide when the seed comes," said Terran.
"We're also topping out in growth, without any more essences. Do you have any ideas where some are?" asked Petram.
"No," said Terran. "Which worries me, given Grimchar's fingerprints all over everything these days. I should be able to sense them, and I gather that they wouldn't have gone far. The Spirit Bear, Peryton, and Lord Ostric were all in the region. Of course, I haven't gone much further south than Wunderlust Keep, so it's hard to say for sure."
"Speaking of the Keep, Terran the Tenacious, Lady Aeresteel came to the Glen while you were in Salt Luck. The rebuilding has hit a snag. They're running out of good stone to continue the rebuild. She asked for you to visit the Keep when you get a chance to discuss how to reestablish the old quarry."
"I'll do that," said Terran. "But it might not be for a while. I need to attend to this Grimchar problem first." He sipped at the tea, which helped loosen his tight shoulders. "There's always so much to do when leading a settlement. I feel like my job is never done."
"Not if you're going to do it well," said Petram, eyes rounding with sympathy. The shaman cleared his throat and pulled out a parchment with a long list. "I'm very sorry. I have many more topics to discuss, but we can do it another time if you're still tired from your journey."
"No," said Terran with a smile. "It can be exhausting, but in a good way. The work of building the settlement is hard, but satisfying. Especially when I see how it improves the lives of its members. Good work is worth doing well."
The two talked for another couple of hours about a wide range of topics, little things that had come up while he was gone. Numerous times during the discussion Terran mentally noted how glad he was to have Petram's help in leading the settlement, and that he'd have to find a way to recognize him at a later date.
When Terran thought they might be wrapping up, Ash Cockwillow came bursting into the tree looking like he'd just found a pack of spiders beneath his pillow. Terran was expecting a trifling complaint, like the sunlight port was in slightly the wrong place and had to be moved two inches, but when Ash said, "You need to see this," in a grave tone, Terran's stomach tightened.
They followed the arborist to the Mother Tree. Ash looked on the verge of tears, his mouth pulled to a sharp point. He crouched, being careful not to dirty his crimson cloak, and scratched at the whitish-brown bark at the base of the wide trunk. A flake of dust broke away when his fingernail hit it.
"That's not good," said Petram.
Ash shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. "I thought because the rot hadn't spread too much that it wasn't so bad, but when I came by to properly greet the Mother Tree, I found this. If the rot has reached her, then the disease is much worse than I thought. Normally, it would attack the tertiary trees first, then move to the secondary, weakening her defenses before finally moving on to her, but this proves that it went straight for her heart."
Terran placed his hand against the trunk, closing his eyes. The taste of rot hit the back of his throat as he sent his thoughts towards the Mother Tree, and he snapped his eyes open, pulling away.
"I felt it through our link," said Terran, screwing up his face. "I could taste the rot. What can we do to stop it?"
Ash fanned himself with his hand as he paced. Terran waited for the pronouncement while biting his lower lip. The arborist dropped to his knees before the trunk, ignoring the dirt staining his purple tunic, and dug beneath a root until he produced a tiny grub. To Terran's surprise, the arborist popped the grub in his mouth, which quickly soured, and he spit it out right after.
"This is not a normal rot," said Ash.
"I thought we knew that," said Terran. "That it was magical or something."
"No," said Ash, shaking his head while still kneeling in the dirt. "While certainly it's a magical disease, it is more than that. It has been designed to attack the Mother Tree. It's like a heart-seeking arrow, and I'm afraid there's no way to stop it."
"What?" asked Terran. "No way? There's got to be some way. We can't just give up."
Ash lowered his eyes, his shoulders collapsing. "I should have been clearer. There's no way I can stop it. It's beyond my ability. I'm sorry, I'm no good to you. You freed me from Salt Luck for nothing."
"There has to be something," said Petram, placing his hand on Ash's shoulder.
The arborist looked at them with tears in his eyes. "It's not a disease as I was expecting. It's an enchantment, and it's being sustained by something powerful." Ash shook his head. "It's like it knows exactly how to attack the Mother Tree."
In the pit of Terran's stomach, he had a good idea of what that might be. "Her essences, I bet. G
rimchar was using the one in Lord Ostric to do something when I fought him in Wunderlust Keep."
Ash's eyes rounded with thought. "That would do it."
"How do I stop it?" asked Terran.
"You would have to find the essence, break the enchantment," said Ash. "There might be more, but without knowing how this Grimchar designed it, it's hard to say."
You have been offered a quest: Destroy the source of the rot
Reward: Unknown.
"How long do we have?" asked Terran.
"I will need more time to divine that, but not long," said Ash. "A few days, a few weeks. Once the rot gets into her core, the end will go quick."
It was Terran's turn to pace. "I'll gather my friends, we'll set off at once for the Silent Plain. That's the source of the rot—we just have to find it."
Petram nodded. "I have something for you. I'll get to work right away."
Only Flynn seemed annoyed by having to return to the road so soon, perking up only when he learned they were headed to the Silent Plains, which Terran interpreted as hope that they might find their way north to the Dead Forest.
Before they left the settlement, they gathered beneath the Mother Tree. Ash and Petram were waiting for them. The shaman gave them each four vials of an elixir that would help them travel the Silent Plains, while the arborist handed Terran a thick, gnarled staff that caused a spark when he touched it.
"This is a Heart Staff, taken from the Mother Tree," said Ash. "It will be useful to know how much time you have left and may come in handy if you find the essence."
The staff felt comfortable in Terran's grip. "Thank you, Ash. Thank you, Petram."
The party set off right away, heading straight east, where they would cross the Green River and then find their way to the Silent Plain. Luna took point, with Zara jogging on her heels. Even with all his baggage, Newt kept up, while Flynn spoke softly to Skully. Terran was the last to leave Gneiss Glen, looking up at the wide canopy of the Mother Tree. His success so far in Kingmakers was tied to the settlement, and knowing that it wasn't a simple game as they'd been led to believe left Terran with the sinking feeling that if they couldn't stop Grimchar from destroying the Mother Tree then their time in this world would be short.
The Ghost Tower: A LitRPG Adventure Page 18