Val felt the last flickers of potential flow into his Mana and Psion pools, feeling a certain grim satisfaction in how quickly his potency was growing. Or perhaps had always been. He hissed and groaned, forcing himself to wake up as he stumbled to self-awareness, even as part of him wanted to sink into the deepest of slumbers. But time was one thing Val knew they dare not waste, his soul screaming with the cries of desperate dwarves somehow aware of their own impending demise, even as he felt a steady clanging reverberating through his skull.
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Valor Hunter - Level 6
Strength 12
Vitality 13
Finesse 13
Quickness 17
Perception 18
Scholarship 13
Willpower 17
Charisma 11
Luck ?? +2
Health 10xVit+Str= 142
Survival (Health+(10xLevel)+Luck) = 202+?
Stamina 10xVit+Str= 142
Mana 161 (159 Accessible: 5.25 kg + 250.573 kg Elementium Stored)
Psion 161 (160 Accessible: 25.9 L Silbion Stored)
Insight 17
Base Appearance 10. +1 (12 charisma) +1 (athletic) = +2 (+3 when you let your potency show.)
Dark Points 1 (+1 to reaction rolls and influence when you let your intensity shine. -1 if you try to hide the darkness in your soul. +10% potency increase when you embrace your wrath!)
Skills of Significance
Shadowmind Rank 5 (Adept) / Psi-Sense (Shadowmind Dependent) Rank 2 / Psionic Perception Rank 2 / Arcane Perception Rank 3 / Arcane Artificer Rank 1 / Psion Artificer Rank 1 / Cypher Rank 2 / Meditation Rank 3 / Rift Mastery Rank 2 / Psionic Oathbinding Rank 1 / Stealth Rank 3 / Sword and Shield Rank 3 / Magesight Rank 1 / Mageward Rank 1 / Demolitions Rank 2 / Basic Literacy Achieved! (Limited to texts of Arcane or Psionic nature)
Greater Skills Learned
Greater Alchemy Rank 3 (Specialization: Elemental Infusions)
Meta-Magic Feat: Stabilization Rank 2 / Spellboost Rank 1 (150% for triple cost)
Personal Resonance Mastery Rank 4
Greater Oathbinding Rank 1
Jordian Magical Arts Learned
Creation - Rank 2
Manipulation - Rank 1
Transformation - Rank 1
Fire - Rank 2
Earth - Rank 2
Water - Rank 1
Herbam - Rank 1
Jordian Spells Learned
Firestream Level 20 C/F - Cost 5 Mana
Explosive Retribution Level 30 C/F Must save against Oblivion when casting. - Cost 40 mana.
Condensation Collection Level 5 M/W - Cost 0 mana.
Stoneflow Level 1 M/E - Cost 0 mana.
Dwarven Catalyzation Level 20 C+M+T/E - Cost 20 mana.
Plentiful Bounty (Greater Ritual) Level 40 C+M+T / E+H - Cost 150 mana. (20%+ Critical failure risk: This spell is far beyond your abilities!)
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7
The first thing Val noted as he stumbled upright was Arilius looking at him strangely, standing before a heap of exotic looking weaponry and armor. The powerfully built dwarf peered long and hard at Val before favoring him at last with a nod and smile. "Your true self is revealed in the crucible of combat. You are a natural warrior, unafraid of shedding blood for a cause you know to be just. Good. You have already done so much for my tribe, young Valor Hunter. It pleases me to know that my Ava has chosen a mate unafraid of doing whatever must be done to protect his people."
Val gulped and nodded, strangely humbled by the older dwarf's assessment.
The dwarf waved his hand at his equipment. "Twenty suits of armor, Elementium axes and masers."
Val blinked at the shimmering gold-bronze tinted suits of lorica segmentata, made of the same exotic alloy as the automatons they had fought had been, and Val knew all too well how strong that alloy was, Elise's shimmering blade had only been able to cleave partway through the resilient material. Arilius was already kitted up, helping Val to don the same, and he couldn't help but admire how well it fit him, padded by nameless material, differing from its ancient Roman counterpart only in the full mail sleeves also included, and once again he had to wonder how much of Earth's own history had been influenced by flashes of intuition that were really just glimpses into a neighboring world impossibly distant, yet perhaps only a heartbeat away.
Arilius Battleborn gave an approving nod as Val slipped on a variant of a barbute helmet that did not hinder his vision or hearing in the least, for all that it gave fantastic protection. He then grabbed a shield very much like Arilius's own, if slightly smaller. It was as if the dwarf knew what Val was used to, almost a mirror of the size and weight of the custom made round shield that Val had trained with back on Earth, never having dreamed that such archaic skills would be vital for his survival now.
Arilius bade Val to leave his earlier equipment behind, replacing even Elise's enchanted sword with one equally serviceable, though the blade was several inches longer. "Try that one, boy. Tell me if the hilt isn't a slightly better grip. Cast some blows with blade and shield in concert. How do you feel, boy?"
Val spent a quick moment centering himself before the sword lit brilliantly in his hand as he felt his Psion feed the blade, the barest flicker of his potential, the sword any Viking would be proud to own flowing smoothly through the series of high low cuts he warmed up with. He then took advantage of the hilt shape, arm lashing out with several cast blows, hand immediately locking in a pistol grip around the pommel designed for just such a maneuver, his grip sure and steady. Whether or not cast blows had been used as readily by the Vikings as was once thought, it was obvious that the technique worked just fine with these dwarven blades.
Arilius gave an approving nod. "I see you know how to use a sword as well as any young warrior. So long as you know when to cleave close, and when to snap out with your sword, all will be well."
Val nodded, feeling the same sense of urgency that he had upon first awakening, knowing that only minutes had passed, but still feeling like they were running out of time.
Arilius grimaced. "Now comes the hard part. We need to head straight to the matrix and feed it the Silbion needed to catalyze the emergency rejuvenation. Then we need to bring twenty of our strongest here as fast as we can to kit up so as to be able to take out any automatons before they can butcher my people, naked and vulnerable as they will be."
Val swallowed, nodding, gazing intently at the dwarf. "Arilius. Those axes..."
The older dwarf flashed a hard grin. "Yes, boy. Just like your damned games, I'm sure. But these poleaxes are able to cleave through automatons a damn sight easier than our swords." He frowned. "It pains me to admit, but it's one weapon I have not mastered. Against any human and their excuse for armor, our blades will cut right through, and our shields will deflect their blasters and blades alike. Further, I can use carbine or sword with a shield interchangeably."
Val nodded. "But against roving automatons made of Elementium infused bronze alloy..."
The older dwarf sighed. "A poleaxe would be a damn fine choice, and I know a few score dwarves who had delighted in mastering the archaic weapon. It's why I pulled them out of storage specifically."
Val nodded, gazing at the shimmering emerald green edges of the ancient weapons once favored by fully armed knights, a five foot long shaft mounted with an axe head and spike tip. Historically it had a hammer on the alternate side, but this one looked to be a well balanced double-bladed axe, no doubt to take advantage of the exotic magics channeling Psions to a keen vibrating edge that sliced so very well. Held in a quarterstaff grip, it could parry and cleave to deadly effect, and it was a weapon Val had only read about, sticking to swords with his own HEMA pursuits.
Val frowned, gazing at the older dwarf. "With your permission, I'd like to try something."
Arilius smiled and dipp
ed his head.
Closing his eyes, Val envisioned the square grid of his own little pocket dimension, imagining anchoring not just raw arcane materials but a magic artifact in the grid. He girded himself for a monumental burst of effort, pleasantly surprised to see the dwarven poleaxe immediately pop up in his inventory, though he noted it seemed to require both an arcane and psion point to 'lock' it into place. As both pools now had a base of 161, he thought it a small price to pay, opening his eyes, gazing at an awestruck dwarf.
"Truly, lad, you are just full of hidden talents."
Val shrugged. "I sort of have access to this pocket dimension..."
Arilius chuckled. "Indeed."
"I've only used it to store exotic minerals before. Like the Silbion. Now let's make sure the axe still works."
"That would be rather important."
Val took a deep breath, summoning the poleaxe which felt odd in his hands. He solemnly handed it to Arilius, not willing to wave around a weapon that could slice through him as easy as butter, should the magic within the blades still work, and he utterly untrained in its use.
Arilius held the weapon in as competent a quarterstaff grip as Val had ever seen, swinging the blade about effortlessly. If he thought himself unskilled with it, Val could only imagine how sad he would look in comparison. The edges of the axe heads shimmered a deep green, a high pitched keening heard from the weapon. It cut through the stone tile effortlessly.
Arilius favored Val with an approving nod. "How many can you carry?"
"At least the twenty you pulled out. And the armor, infused as I can tell it is with Elementium. But not the masers, I'm afraid. If it has an active Psion ability or arcane enchantment, or, like your dwarven melee weapons, uses a bit of both, I can pin it in place. The masers may be more magic friendly than human lasers, but they aren't magic per se, so I can't store them."
Arilius nodded. "A fine talent, boy. Store what you can and let's head out."
Val nodded, storing what he could of the pile Arilius had laid out before leaving the armory. The dwarf then solemnly placed Val's hand upon the door, pricking his finger while doing so. "So you can access it too," he said with an intense gaze, "whatever should come to pass."
Val grimaced, then nodded. "Same as before?"
The older dwarf flashed a hard grin. "Sure, boy. Blend in with the shadows and cut down from behind any construct so bold as to strike at this dwarf!"
Val took a slow breath, embracing the ruthless hunter within himself as he flowed into the shadows, becoming one with the darkness all around.
Slowly, they made their way forward. Had Val not been compelled by the direst of missions, he knew he would have been happy to spend countless hours admiring the marvelous dwarven architecture all around, the pair of them walking past massive edifices of gleaming golden bronze soaring high above, many capped by domes of brilliant electrum. So in awe Val was that he almost slipped free of Shadowmind when he caught sight of majestic buildings that mirrored perfectly the grand Colosseum, pantheons, and baths of ancient Rome. Val even thought he glimpsed what might have been the beginnings of a monorail winding through the heart of the ancient city.
It was then that they heard the clanking still some distance away, Arilius's grim features paling with sudden panic.
"Val." the older dwarf's eyes darted about. "We must pick up our pace! Our activity might have driven constructs lost in perpetual somnolence into new life. I fear what madness they now embrace!" Arilius's cautious stride quickly became a desperate sprint.
As the screeching and banging intensified, Val felt his heart lurch in his chest. It was everything he could do just to freeze his panic, to become one with the shadows once more.
Somehow, he knew even before his companion uttered his panicked curses that the mad frenzy of sound, metal tearing against metal and stone, was an attack on the Matrix itself.
Val girded himself for what was to come as Arilius turned the corner.
He froze in his tracks.
Before them was a grand boulevard that Val sensed had once been a place of beauty and refinement, fountains and gardens gracing the very heart of their city.
Now it was a place of devastation.
The ground was littered with mangled heads and limbs of Elementium and bronze, sparks still flying from more than one dismembered corpse, several twisting in death spirals still.
The one automaton still upright was a giant golem with red eyes that blazed eerily bright, and Val could taste the crystalline madness radiating from the vile monstrosity as it raised a massive hammer of a limb, pounding against the reinforced door of what could only be the central matrix, great dents forming in the slab of metal serving as the doorway, the giant automaton roaring a static cry like an enraged beast as it renewed its efforts.
Arilius froze. Val could sense his limbs trembling with fury. He paused only to speak a few guttural words. "I will lead the charge. You know what to do! Should I fall, boy, you will claim my pendant and declare yourself my grandson. All will taste the truth of your words, none shall dare dispute you. Do you understand?"
Val was as much shadow and darkness as the boy softly treading behind the dwarf so could say nothing, and the white-haired warrior gave no time for reply or rebuttal, charging the mad, howling automaton with his blazing sword raised high.
The golem shrieked and pivoted, lashing out with his massive bronze hammer, pulverizing pavement with his terrible swing, Arilius laughing his contempt as he darted away. "You're a pathetic excuse for a sentinel. No wonder you went mad!"
The creature's eyes turned bright red. A stream of crimson light tore through the air, but Airilius had already charged in, shield raised, his blade humming a brilliant emerald song as he lashed out for the bronze golem's right knee, leaving an ugly gash with the clash of blade against metal, even as the lasers bounced harmlessly from the dwarf's shield.
Val felt his gut clench. The automaton's movement was not impeded. The armor had been scored, but the gears underneath were unharmed.
A powerful blow with the offhand clipped the dwarf, for all that he danced and pivoted like a youth in his prime.
Arilius was sent spinning, crashing to the ground with a groan, the lip of his shield crumpled inward. But still he snarled and righted himself, darting away on shaky feet an instant before the massive machine stomped down, pulverizing the marble cobblestones under its feet.
Then it shrieked and lurched, shadows and darkness coalescing into a brilliant shimmering blade so like Arilius's own, cleaving deep into the cords of the golem's back.
-4 Psion spent! You've given your all to make your dwarven blade cut deep! Double cost for 25% more effectiveness! Meta-Psion feat: Psiboost Rank 1 learned!
Darting back into the shadows once more.
But the crimson glare of hot crystalline madness would not be so easily deceived after centuries of looking for something, anything, it could call trespasser, invader, following the code so deeply implanted in its half-sentient mind. Before realizing moments or centuries ago that the city itself was its master, and any organic sentience that dared trespass must be cleansed from the cool, quiet domain that was its home. The steady hum of a city slowly reviving itself, lights flashing new and complex patterns, arboriums suddenly online, had been too much for the golem. It knew that soon the dwarves would awaken, and it was determined to destroy the infestation once and for all.
Shadowmind pierced! Greater Golem has spotted you!
All this Val sensed in a chilling flash of alien intelligence, the golem sentient enough for Val to taste its mind, even as a massive alloyed fist crashed into Val's hastily raised shield.
He screamed as bone broke, and he crashed to the ground. -60 vitality! 1 rib broken. You are stunned!
The automaton's crimson eyes glowed brighter. It raised a single foot to stomp the life out of Val, once and for all.
Before screeching in whatever agony a machine could feel, Arilius's flashing blade cleaving deep into its back
, biting ever deeper into the crack Val had made.
The monster of Elementium and bronze lurched and turned around, swinging its massive hammer on suddenly jerky feet, and a dazed Val watched in amazement as the wily dwarf fought for his life against the ancient sentinel, dodging vicious, stone shattering sweeps with the skill of a consummate warrior, seeming to push his luck ever more, as if to buy Val time.
And so confused was the younger man, head swimming with fatigue and pain, that his companion's words meant nothing to him.
Then he too was sent crashing to the ground.
Arilius! Val whispered the word, suddenly jolted out of his agony induced befuddlement. His gut twisted to see the automaton howl its mad crackling cry of victory, massive metal foot raised for the kill. Having no sense of darkest shadow alive once more, compelled by long-forgotten pain known all too well.
Val knew his terrible peril, how fast this mad monstrosity could strike.
But Arilius was too precious to lose, and there was no way he would let such a brave, valiant soul so strikingly similar to his own grandfather die in vain while Val sat and cowered, doing nothing.
Val closed his eyes as he touched eerily warm metal, finding himself once more in an ancient temple, gazing for an instant upon features solemn and wise, a score of young disciples behind the master Val bowed before, and for just a moment, he thought he saw a shiver of horror flow over more than one lad's face as they glimpsed a specter of their future, or perhaps their world's ancient past.
Endless Online: Oblivion's Promise Page 10