Abyssal Road Trip

None of the locations they’d scried had shown any signs of humanoid activity. From a panoramic spot on the west coast, Julia started teleporting herself northwards in erratic line-of-sight jumps, searching the dry coastline for trouble.

Besides the minor things, such as spiders larger than horses, or snakes large enough to swallow buffalo. The largest monster Julia saw was a Roc with a wingspan nearly a full kilometre flying inland with a strange bull whale grasped in its talons. A white spiral horn growing from the whale’s head shed tendrils of water and ice as it thrashed, suspended in mid-air. The whale’s skin wasn’t the grey-blue she’d have expected, rather a very light, almost brilliant, green. Now well over land, the dying whale continued with increasing desperation to strike at the Roc. Yet all it achieved were showers of blood cascading from where the talons had pierced its sides.

The first sign of organised inhabitants were plumes of smoke rising into the wind, the arid smell of wood fires, and charred flesh carrying kilometres downwind. Closer in, the signs of a Gnarl war host became increasingly clear, and Julia blended with the landscape well before it came into sight. Scouting out their encampment showed they were laying siege to a roughly constructed Orc settlement squatting against the coastline. Its walls were a mixture of rough-cut trees and piled rocks surrounding an inlet. The outer wall protecting a more heavily fortified interior compound, housing the vulnerable females and young children of their community.

Just over three metres tall, the Orcs were muscular, dark-green skinned humanoids with broad features clad in roughly shaped leathers and iron plates. Uniformly yellow-eyed, with green cat-like irises and elongated pupils, their long limbs were masses of muscles and frequent scars. They were as brutish as Julia had expected from the stories, but they lacked the tusks often added in game artwork. In the air above the palisades, ghostly Orcs ranged around the perimeter, only visible in Julia’s Soul sight.

Waves of attackers squashed the fallen underfoot with no strategy but sheer numbers. Their claws hooked into wood and rough stone as they drew themselves up the palisades. When they hit the wall’s top, they sought to swarm like rats over their foes. Those unfortunate enough to gain those heights by themselves died before they could scream, as the Orcs endeavouring to hold them at bay fought with increasing rage. The Orcs preference for long weapons prevented them from fighting in tight ranks, but each warrior claimed swaths of Gnarl lives taking advantage of their reach.

As she watched, a flurry of Fireballs racing towards the wall came apart under the Spirits’ claws. A settlement of a thousand Orcs, against over twenty thousand Gnarls, it was likely only a matter of time and blood before the Gnarls won.

Curious about the Ghostly Orcs, Julia picked one out with Soul Sight and used Analysis.

[Entity Species: Ancestral Spirit

Level: 64

Health: 960

Mana: 512

Magic: 138

Defence: 78 (Incorporeal - Requires enchanted weapon to hit - maximum 50% of enchantment bonus damage)

Melee Attack Power: 112 (Bypass unenchanted physical defence)

Combat Skills: Mana Disruption [Ad] (13), Spirit Strike [Ad] (17), Dread Scream [M](2) - [Restriction: Night]

Details: Shaman Yøtál of the Seafang Tribe formed this Ancestral Spirit, having dragged the Soul of a fallen tribe member back from their rest. ]

While Soul Sight showed the blackness of the Gnarl Souls, with the same bloodlust and rage Julia had seen in the complex, to her perception, the Orcs weren’t the depraved beasts she’d expected. Glimpses of Souls showed their hard and often brutal natures, but even in their savagery, they took care of their own. Clairvoyance allowed Julia to peek over the walls.

The toll for the settlement already showing in the scores of lifeless warriors that lay covered between buildings. In the brief time the spell lasted, she saw a wounded warrior gulping down freshly drawn seawater. A Shaman with bones braided into his hair tended to the Warrior’s open wounds with others waiting nearby for healing. A tired Orc boy took the bucket from him and raced towards the inlet’s shoreline, as others delivered more water to recovering warriors. It was a scene far different to the war host outside where badly wounded Gnarls were being eaten alive even as the battle raged.

[Clairvoyance (1->2)]

They’re just throwing their numbers against the wall in waves. They’d have a ramp of dead already if they didn’t keep dragging them away to eat.

A fresh group of Gnarls rushed towards the wall, their limbs flailing as they sprinted away from the larger armoured Gnarls that drove them forward with whip and blade. Julia lay watching it all with her form blending into the terrain, when another Fireball streaked over their heads from out of bow range. Throwing caution to the wind, Spell Disruption allowed her to pump Destruction Mana into the crudely shaped spell, and white flames ripped the group below it apart. Only the radius of the spell limiting the unexpected destruction in the massed troops.

[Combat Summary:

Gnarl Warrior x 27

Gnarl Leader x 1

Total Experience gained: 4,804

Wizard: +4,804

Assassin Contracts completed (least): 27

Assassin Contract completed (minor): 1

Assassin: +3,200

Spell Disruption (8->9)]

Minor contract?

{{Poor Gnarl caster we got all the experience. Suck it, bitch! }}

Looking towards another of the smaller sized Gnarl now being driven towards the wall, Julia focused with Analysis.

Analysis

[Species: Gnarl

Class: Warrior

Level: 2 / 2

Health: 42

Defence: 21

Melee Attack Power: 14

Combat Skills: Swarm [J] (13), Claws [J] (2), Bite [J] (10)

Details: Gnarl pup, seen one, seen them all.]

Analysis

[Swarm: For each member engaged in melee against a single foe, this skill increases the melee attack power of a single attack from the unit by 25%. Those using this skill instinctively apply this attack through whichever unit member is closest to a foe’s vulnerable spots. (Note: The effect compounds, and occurs every four seconds)]

Fucking hell, don’t let people get swarmed.

Not sure what Rika will say if I mention Orcs. While the Orc Souls are brutal, they’re not as disgusting as Gnarls. Those kids looked like they were fighting to keep hauling water, I’m not attacking an innocent’s home for what they might do.

Analysis

[Gnarl: Species: An aberrant species created by a Dwarven Artificer trying to breed controllable shock troops. His goal was to counteract the press of various humanoid species on his clan’s borders. Shortly after the first Gnarl group was born, the clan ceased to exist, consumed by his creations. The method of their creation died with the Artificer.

A Gnarl offspring is always male, and gestation takes between three to four months depending on the size of the host organism. Maturation to the initial adult stage is six months. When a Gnarl exceeds level sixty, he can subsist by absorbing ambient Mana and will continue to grow larger. The largest Gnarl ranked as Emperor stood seventy metres tall, the Wood Elves slew it twenty-eight thousands years before human arrived in these lands. The urges of the Gnarl towards feeding and reproduction mean they are frequently their own worst enemies: unless controlled under strong leadership they will turn on each other in lean times.]

What the fuck was that Dwarf thinking!

As more Fireballs streaked out, Julia mentally turned off notifications. When the leading one crossed the line of larger Gnarls, she disrupted it and white flames roared out. Even as the second blast of white flames left broken corpses in its wake, Julia centred a Shock Blast deep behind the Gnarls’ lines. The spell manifesting immediately at its focal point gave the casters no trail to follow, but still Julia moved.

{{Once you pop you can’t stop. }}

A few moments after a fallen tree gained another piece of bark, a line of screaming whiteness ran through the gathered Gnarls. By the time survivors looked toward the tree, Julia was long gone; and they had to spin towards yet another explosion, deeper in the mob. Julia smiled as teleport took her into a clearing and she reformed into her Elven winged form. As those close at hand sprang toward her tempting body, Magma formed into Circle of Flame, its walled inferno meant they’d leapt to their deaths. A Lightning Bolt ripped out blindly, formed to jump past the obstructing magma. Arrows and stones loosed towards her broke against the circle’s inferno. Even as Julia teleported again, leaving them to focus on a now-empty position.

Ancestral Spirits looked down unconcerned as her Destruction forged lightning ripped the closest fallen to ash. The Gnarls climbing over the dead to reach the lower wall, flayed apart by the energy she’d thrown. Roars sounded from palisade as scores among the attackers died; the white lightning carrying on for a hundred metres or more. As Julia disappeared the Orcs roared, mocking the dead Gnarls. Daylight seemed pale compared to the energy that erupted repeatedly among the besieging war host. Those still faced with foes killed them with renewed vigour inspired by the unleashed destruction. As the last of skirmishers died, the Orcs watched the destruction feeding in their enemies’ midst.

Gnarls in their lust could not focus beyond the siren call of a female presence, Julia’s very presence screaming at their driving instincts. Their desires rarely allowed them to flee for their lives, and even when they did, they found the siren in their path.

All’s fair in love and war.

Julia grimaced as a Gnarl grabbed for her arm and cast Blink, shifting herself upwards and leaving it empty-handed beneath her. Its snarling maw glowed a moment later as she dropped a Fire Ball into its mouth. While stone walls would block the flames expanding, the Gnarl’s flesh wasn’t stone. To Julia’s Demonic senses its crisped meat smelt disturbingly like pork crackling as its flesh and charred bone blasted out over its unit members.

Damn, and I’ve been missing barbeque ribs.

{{You could always eat one with hot sauce, I won’t tell. }}

The proposal from B wasn’t enough to distract her, instinct had her slide from a spear’s path even as the effect of her bracers stole its momentum. A glimpse of a massive Gnarl taller than an Orc had her teleporting again as it readied another spear. The Lightning Bolt Julia threw in return was far more effective, but its scream of rage didn’t turn into a death knell. Its swift charge would have once blurred, but Julia could easily follow its progress as she shifted location yet again. Fresh corpses crunched underfoot as she landed atop the fallen warriors, who hadn’t withstood the energy’s barrage.

{{ Remember, sometimes the bull wins. }}

B’s snark just made Julia laugh in the moment’s darkness. As more Gnarls surged towards her, Julia dropped a Fireball at her feet. The flames sliding off her Demonic flesh and the clothing formed by her bracelet alike. The first wave of charging Gnarls died, their collapsing bodies tripped those following as she teleported skyward at an angle. A Shock Blast of Negative Mana showed her the horror of that energy as the flesh of the Gnarl Leaders rotted off their bodies. Her perceptions revealed their Souls fighting off energy’s infection, so she put them down with a Shock Blast of Celestial instead. The golden light of it echoed deep in her even as the black Souled Gnarls died screaming, but the soil and plants in the first blast’s radius stayed barren and lifeless. Dropping groundward, she watched the Commander’s charge and his troops followed him towards her; the smell of burnt metal filled the air as a Lightning Bolt met them.

Blinded by the brilliant white light, and with smoking flesh filling his lungs, the Commander staggered on through the spot she’d been standing. As his senses cleared again, a screaming whiteness burst into life, as a Fireball exploded going past him. Julia watched as those who’d been rushing to his side died around him, joining those who’d died to her Lightning Bolt.

Another Adept’s Fireball shaped and held ready in his hand, turned from orange to white; he’d barely had time to draw breath to yell when it consumed him and others readying their own spells. Lightning came in even as Julia saw the Gnarl caster step past a tree. The surge of electricity rippled and crackled over her wings and flesh, feathers knocked free and arcing upwards as she moved. Before the loosened feathers fell, she replied in kind, and searing flame cooked flesh as it struck point-blank into the Gnarl’s spine. The inferno held within the lightning’s form cooked undergrowth, as it carried on and washed over Gnarls in its path.

The brutal game of tag cost more their lives and the Commander injuries with every jump. Attempts to rally the troops or flee led to even more deaths. Bodies crushing underfoot announced another charge and plotting its motion Julia readied a spell and teleported at the last moment. The Commander’s momentum smashed him into a tree instead of her and as he climbed his way drunkenly to his feet the world around it shone with a golden light. The thump of his weight hitting the ground announced the Commander’s death. No longer forced to obey through fear of his wrath, some ran to feast instead of pursuing.

With some close enough that their hunger and lust were in clear conflict, Julia moved before she sent out another Fireball. Fire erupted at their feet as their indecision and life burnt away. Chaos ran rampant among the Gnarls as enraged screams and cries rang out across the battlefield announcing the Commander’s death. Those she attacked scurried in angered reaction, while others left increasingly leaderless fed and fought for spoils. Lightning Bolts targeting the leaders tore their units down with them as paths of death formed. The smell of carnage in the air driving those nearby into a feeding frenzy.

There was plenty of meat on hand: charred by lightning or flame, drowned or ripped apart by Spatial Mana; only flesh reduced to ash had no appeal to those feasting. Julia, pushing on with her cull, provided more fresh corpses for their banquet. Her continual barrage of spells had broken the Gnarl war host and, low on Mana at last, she teleported away without hesitation. The battlefield wasn’t empty, however as clouds of scavengers had arrived to compete with the remaining Gnarls. Shortly after Julia’s culling ended, the feasting Gnarls found their former prey in their midst and the Orcs didn’t give them time to recover from their mistake.

[Combat Summary:

Gnarl Warrior x 19,174

Gnarl Leader x 2,734

Gnarl Adepts x 40

Gnarl Band Leader x 27

Gnarl Chieftan x 6

Gnarl Commander x1

Total-experience Gained: 6,773,500

Wizard: +6,773,500

Wizard Level Up! x9

Tier 3 Prestige Classes now available for Assassin / Wizard, Monk / Wizard, Succubus / Wizard combinations.

Assassin Contracts completed (least): 19,174

Assassin Contract completed (minor): 2,734

Assassin Contract completed (standard): 24

Assassin Contract completed (greater): 6

Assassin: + 2,773,600

Bonus experience awarded for the number of contracts completed in a day: +100,000

Total-experience gained for Assassin: +2,873,600

Mana Finesse [M] (6->7)

Spell Disruption (9) -> [B](2)

Blink (1) -> Blink (10)

Circle of Flame [B] (3->5)

Lightning Bolt [Ad](49) -> [M] (7)

Shock Blast [Ad] (32) -> [M](1)

Stun Cloud (5) -> [B] (1)

Surge Emotion [Ap](5) -> [Ap](19)

Trip [J](29) -> [J](36)

Vacuum [B](17) -> [Ap](4)

Water Bolt [B](1) -> [B](20)]

[Achievement: Siege Breaker I

Condition: Break a besieging force outnumbering defenders 3:1 (Minimum 300 Foes - Inflict 60%+ damage solo)

Reward: Tactical Insight Unlocked!

Additional Condition: Using only Arcane means and non-physical Powers

Reward: Battle Wizard (Tier 1) Unlocked! ]

[Achievement: Siege Breaker II

Condition: Break a besieging force outnumbering defenders 10:1 ratio (Minimum 1,000 Foes - Inflict 70%+ damage solo)

Reward: Tactical Insight increased 1 rank

Current Status: Tactical Insight (1) -> Tactical Insight [B] (1)

Additional Condition: Using only Arcane means and non-physical Powers

Reward: Arcane Battalion Bane (Tier 2) Unlocked! ]

[Achievement: Siege Breaker III

Condition: Break a besieging force outnumbering defenders 20:1 ratio (Minimum 4,000 Foes - Inflict 80%+ damage solo)

Reward: Tactical Insight increased 1 rank

Current Status: Tactical Insight [B] (1) -> Tactical Insight [Ap] (1)

Additional Condition: Using only Arcane means and non-physical Powers

Reward: Arcane Horde Breaker (Tier 3) Unlocked! ]

[Tactical Insight [Ap] (1) absorbed into Zen State [M] (13)]

Julia reappeared near the safety of the staging post’s doors, the bracelet’s clothing wonderfully intact. Not far away Vragi glanced over from the practice field. As he continued their drill, she saw his muzzle wrinkle as if at something unpleasant. Julia cycled the Mana remaining through herself to speed recovery, as she took time to look over the Combat Summary and Achievements that accompanied it. She was still considering what she’d read when the platoon’s drill ended.

“Platoon, at ease,” Vragi ordered, and only when properly positioned did he dismiss them and move towards Julia. “You reek of death. What were you doing?”

“I found a small War Host out west past the Slavic Kingdom. I got a little spell practice in.”

“Small?” Vragi enquired, and Julia had to keep a straight face as she saw his concealed ears twitch.

“Just over twenty-two thousand Gnarls,” stated Julia, working to keep her tone casual.

[Acting [J] (18->19)]

“Medium-sized for Gnarls, unless they had a Lord with them then it would have been small,” Vragi corrected but looking concerned at the number.

“Highest rank was a Commander,” Julia said, and Vragi nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s a large War Host for a Gnarl of that growth rank to be controlling. They normally have ten or twelve thousand at most.”

“So the complexes I rescued the ladies from?” asked Julia, leaving the question hanging.

Vragi muzzle flexed in amusement and the human lips followed suit at Julia’s wording, but he answered without hesitation.

“At least a Lord. Though it will depend on how many outposts report to him.” Vragi informed her before resuming his questioning. “Did you destroy all the War Host?”

“No, but I broke them. They had foes nearby that hopefully will finish them,” Julia said.

“Slavic Calvary?” asked Vragi, clearly puzzled by Julia’s vague response.

“No, an Orc outpost; they’d besieged.”

“Orcs are just as bad,” grumbled Vragi, his expression made his distaste for them clear.

“Actually, they’re not,“ insisted Julia, aware it wasn’t likely to win her friends. “I can see their Souls, the Gnarls are aberrant and far, far worse. Yeah Orcs certainly have done nothing to win my concern, but they’re not as pure evil, Soul-wise.”

“An enemy of your enemy need not be your friend,” Vragi argued. “Leaving any enemy with a knife is inviting trouble.”

“That may be true, but their Souls weren’t putrid. Yes, they were rough and brutal, but not swimming in bloodlust and rage. I’m not just going to exterminate them like Gnarls,” Julia responded.

“Do what you must,” Vragi said. He almost stopped there but continued on. “Who would have your favour if an Orc attacked a Human?”

“Nothing is absolute,” Julia argued, not giving an inch. “What if they’d been attacking an innocent child?”

“Is someone who’d kill a child that way human or a rabid dog?”

Julia’s wintry smile was all the answer Vragi needed, and he didn’t persist.

After spending time among the ladies, Julia at last returned to Yngvarr’s house. While listening to the clatter of dinner, she considered the Prestige Classes she’d unlocked.

[Battle Wizard

Details: This Prestige Class is available at Tier 1. It combines Wizard and a Melee Class at Level 30. Any Base class with a Melee Attack Power of +1 or higher per level meets this requirement.

Other Requirements include:

Achievement: Siege Breaker I.

Have two or more Tier 1 Affinities.

Provides the following gains:

+1 Intelligence per Level.

+1 Secondary Class Attribute per Level.

+4 Free Attributes per 4 Levels.

+1 Melee Attack Power per Level. (or progression provided by Secondary Base class, if higher.)

+1 Defence per Level. (or progression provided by Secondary Base class, if higher)

+1 Knowledge Point per Level.

Increases chance of gaining insights for progress of Arcane Skills

Increases chance of gaining insights for progress of Secondary Class Primary Skills]

[Arcane Battalion Bane

Details: This Prestige Class is available at Tier 2. It combines Wizard and a Melee Class at Level 40. Any Base class with a Melee Attack Power of +1 or higher per level meets this requirement.

Other Requirements include:

Achievement: Siege Breaker II

Have two or more Affinities from Tier 1 and 2

Provides the following gains:

+5 Intelligence per 4 Levels.*

+5 Secondary Class Attribute per 4 Levels.*

+6 Free Attributes per 4 Levels.

+1 Melee Attack Power per Level. (or progression provided by Secondary base Class if higher.)

+1 Defence per Level. (or progression provided by Secondary Base Class if higher.)

+5 Knowledge Points per 4 Levels.*

Unlock Power: Delay Spell.

Increase Perception by one rank if lower than Master, otherwise 10 levels.

Increase Tactical Insight by one rank if lower than Master, otherwise 15 levels.

Increases chance of gaining insights for progress of Arcane Skills

Increases chance of gaining insights for progress of Secondary Class Primary Skills]

[Arcane Horde Breaker

Details: This Prestige Class is available at Tier 3. It combines Wizard and a Melee Class at Level 50. Any Base class with a Melee Attack Power of +1 or higher per level meets this requirement.

Other Requirements include:

Achievement: Siege Breaker III.

Have two or more Affinities from Tier 1, 2 and 3.

Provides the following gains:

+6 Intelligence per 4 Levels.*

+6 Secondary Class Attribute per 4 Levels.*

+4 Free Attributes per 2 Levels.

+1 Melee Attack Power per Level. (or progression provided by Secondary base class, if higher.)

+1 Defence per Level. (or progression provided by Secondary base class, if higher.)

+5 Knowledge Points per 4 Levels.*

Unlock Power: Delay Spell.

Unlock Power: Deflect Arcane.

Increase Tactical Insight by one rank if lower than Master, otherwise 25 levels.

Increases chance of gaining insights for progress of Arcane Skills.

Increases chance of gaining insights for progress of Secondary Class Primary Skills]

[Delay Spell: Upon casting a spell, the possessor can delay the release of the arcane energies. When held in this fashion they take effect on a preset target. They can hold spells up to 1 minute per caster level, and a maximum of 2 spells per rank in this Power at once. At Master rank and above, they can release delayed spells in a different order to their casting. This rank also doubles the maximum time delay, which doubles again per rank from here on. The spell consumes mana immediately at the time of casting.]

Analysis

[Deflect Arcane: Possessing this power allows directed arcane energies to be deflected away, up to a maximum of 25% of their maximum magic rating per rank. Introduction: 25%, Beginner: 50%, through to Grand Master: 200%. This power doesn’t provide protection against spell energies affecting an area. They can deflect energies from multiple casters at once.]

The list of Prestige classes was longer than she expected. Every Affinity seemed represented alone and in combination, though only three drew her attention. Not that they tempted her to take either, but they already seemed higher than what she’d seen from the Tier 5 Spellblade.

[Elemental Spirit Master

Details: This Prestige Class is available at Tier 3. It combines Monk and Wizard Level 50.

Other Requirements include:

All Tier 1, 2 and 3 Affinities

Master’s rank in an Unarmed Combat Style

Master’s rank in Mana Finesse

Have evolved your own Martial Arts Style

Master’s rank in 2+ Ki Powers

Possess True Sight or greater perception Power.

Have 3+ different Affinities attuned within Ki Infusion

Provides the following gains:

Unlock acquisition of Power: Ki Aura

Unlock acquisition of Power: Spirit Step

Unlock acquisition of Power: Slow Fall

+2 Intelligence per Level.

+3 Willpower per Level.

+6 Free Attributes per 2 Levels.

+4 Magic Rating per Level.

+2 Ki per Level

+1 Melee Attack Power per Level.

+2 Defence per Level.

+2 Skill point per Level

Harmony doubles Ki recovery rate.

Hold two additional spells within Ki Infusion - all may be released at once.

Increases chance of gaining insights in Unarmed Combat.

Increases chance of gaining insights in any Meditation and Mental skills.

Increases chance of gaining insights in any Arcane Skills.]

[Planar Mistress

Details: This Prestige Class is available at Tier 3. It combines Wizard and Succubus Level 50.

Other Requirements include:

All Affinities at Tier 1, 2 and 3.

Master’s rank in Mana Finesse.

Having travelled to multiple Planes outside the Abyss.

Having spent time on two worlds.

Having 6+ Pacts with uncorrupted Mortal at one time.

Having successfully manipulated additional energy through a Pact.

Having harvested over 100 Souls.

Provides the following gains:

+2 Intelligence per Level.

+2 Charisma per Level.

+6 Free Attributes per 2 Levels.

+6 Magic Rating per Level.

+1 Melee Attack Power per 2 Levels.

+1 Defence per 2 Levels.

+1 Skill point per Level

+5 Knowledge Points per 4 Levels.

Unlock acquisition of Power: Planar Shift (Self)

Unlock acquisition of Power: Planar Beacon

Unlock acquisition of Skill: Planar Sense

Increases Planar Lore by one rank.

Increases chance of gaining insights in any Lore Skill related to Outer and Element Planes.

Increases chance of gaining insights for Infiltration, Haggling and Social Skills.]

[Vortex Killer

Details: This Prestige Class is available at Tier 3. It combines Wizard and Assassin Level 50.

Other Requirements include:

All Affinities at Tier 1, 2 and 3

Master’s rank in Mana Finesse

Master’s rank in preferred Combat Skill

Having completed multiple contracts via a mass death event triggered via Arcane means.

Having gained accumulated contract bonuses greater than 120,000 experience.

Provides the following gains:

+2 Intelligence per Level

+3 Quickness per Level

+5 Free Attributes per 2 Levels

+4 Magic Rating per Level

+1 Melee Attack Power per 2 Levels

+1 Defence per Level

+2 Skill point per Level

+7 Knowledge Points per 4 Levels

Unlock acquisition of Power: Suppress Target

Unlock acquisition of Power: Mana Critical

Unlock acquisition of Power: Vortex Residue

Increases chance of gaining insights in any Lore Skill related to Outer and Element Planes.

Increased chance of gaining insights in Infiltration and Stealth skills]

How powerful do rare Prestige Classes get? Time to see what some of these do

[Ki Aura: This power creates a reactive aura that causes attackers to receive Mana damage for any physical blow directed to the possessor. This requires no expenditure of Ki to occur, it reduces Mana Expenditure by 10% for each rank above beginner.]

[Spirit Step: Allows the possessor to step through solid objects if they’re not enchanted or warded. Higher ranks allow the user to transverse a greater distance of material. Using this Power only allows the possessor to travel in straight lines while within an object. ]

[Slow Fall: Allows the possessor to slow their fall to land safely by drawing up the Ki energy within the flesh. Higher ranks allow for greater distance to be descended unharmed even when no surface is at hand to slow one’s fall. After Master rank, the angle of descent and descent speed can be altered.]

[Planar Shift (Self): Allows the possessor to shift themselves, and up to 20 kilograms of equipment per rank across to a target Plane. Rank limits the degree of Planar separation that can occur in a single step. The arrival location is random for the Plane or World unless a previously set Planar Beacon or Pact link is being used. ]

[Planar Beacon: This allows the possessor to set a resonance point at their current Planar location. This allows them to return to the location with Planar Shift (Self) or Powers evolved from it. It also allows navigation with Planar Sense or other similar skills to an unnamed location previously visited.]

[Suppress Target: Allows the possessor to suppress known Powers and Skills possessed by a single target. Initial strike allows the possessor to suppress one selection per rank in this skill below Adept levels, Adept level and it increases to 2 selections, Grand Master Ranks allows for 3 selections per rank. If contact maintained every four seconds additional selections can be added to the suppression effect. At Master rank and higher, the target's normal movement capabilities are within the capacity of this power.]

So that’s how they locked me down!

[Mana Critical: Allows the possessor to deliver critical strikes with spells in the same way as Death Strike allows for an increased chance of critical damage from Physical Attacks.]

[Vortex Residue: The possessor can sustain damaging area effect spells with this power, but has the drawback of leaving the caster tied to the spell while it's being sustained. Spell disruption, other similar powers and spells can make use of this link to attempt channelling energy into the caster if their Magic rating is higher.]

[Analysis [Ad] (30->31)]

Julia glanced between the Elven script glowing on the plate and Yngvarr who was carefully looking over the display. They’d been experimenting a while already, but Yngvarr’s silver engraved plate had shown no issue so far.

“I take it that’s Andúnë Elven?” asked Julia, twitching her chin in the direction of the script, as she kept her hands in place.

“There was no point in presenting information in High Elven.”

“I’ve got a bunch of Knowledge Points at present. Why not speak to me in the various Elven dialects and I’ll unlock them all,” Julia suggested, and got a smirk in reply.

“That’s such an imposition. Adjust your Profile control to show the attributes all as one and go again.”

“Spoil sport,” pouted Julia, even as she followed his instructions. After an attempt to decipher one word with their formation only subtlely different to High Elven, Julia checked her language options again. With a mischievous smile, she unlocked the Andúnë dialect, while Yngvarr gave her a suspicious look at her smile, he didn’t ask for confirmation.

The glowing script was mostly the same, only the attributes adjusted.

“What are those words above the attributes?” Julia asked, playing innocent, already satisfied with seeing her classes listed.

“Your classes or paths.”

“Can I try something?” asked Julia, eyes going wide with glee. “You’ve been having all the fun.”

“Are you going to tell me first?” asked Yngvarr, giving her a suspicious look.

“Nope,” Julia said. Lifting her hands, Julia adjusted her intended Profile turning off displaying all her classes. When she put her hands back down, the plate displayed nothing. A smile of triumph accompanied Julia, resetting one class presentation to Fighter as her hands moved again.

[Profile Control [J] (14->15)]

At this rate that skill will get into advanced rank as well, it’s gained eight, no nine levels already this evening.

“First nothing, and now it says you’re a Fighter,” reported Yngvarr, looking at her curiously.

“Excellent! Exactly right,” said Julia, still playing ignorant.

At her words, Yngvarr ticked off an item from his test list, before voicing his question.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Nothing yet I just love having options,” Julia replied.

“Now you can help me test it for every class I know,” Yngvarr stated, his satisfaction clear.

“You’re saying class too!” Julia said, her excited tone causing Yngvarr to shake his head.

“It’s because you’re a bad influence,” grumbled Yngvarr.

“I know.”

Julia murmured with mock glumness, only to be answered with a flat look.

“Let’s start with just Assassin alone at first level,” stated Yngvarr, “While it was showing before I want to ensure it works in isolation.”

“Look at you, properly validating test results,” Julia said, mischief lighting her gaze as she found herself on the receiving end of an eye-roll.

When she put her hands back, Yngvarr nodded and signalled for her to increase the level.

“After we’re done with this, would you spend some time to write all the Prestige Classes details it has offered you? There is much conjecture about Prestige Classes and their requirements. Though there are likely few Wizards at your level with enough Mana to duplicate your feat.”

“Greater Teleport and Protean let me get into position to cut the snake’s head’s off; once the Commander was dead it was a slaughter. If I left dead nearby to eat they didn’t even try to run away,” Julia said. The vileness of the Souls she faced made her feel as if she’s spent a day squashing diseased cockroaches. While she didn’t need another bath this evening, thinking of the Gnarls among even Orc women left her skin crawling.

Yngvarr just shivered slightly but got back to making his own notes.

On the west coast after night had fallen, Shaman Yøtál poured blood into the ocean’s waves. With the jug emptied, she moved back up the beach, their camping spot for the wait already set up. Fatigue ate at her focus after days spent tending to the wounded while the battle’s toll had steadily worsened. Though she needed rest, her tribe needed to know if so strong a threat was still dagger close. An escort of Fighters and Hunters sat arrayed beyond the offerings; their attention directed out seeking threats that lurked in the night.

Nearly a bell went by with no response and only harnessing the rage she felt at the Gnarl’s attack against her tribe kept her awake. The moon had progressed a hand’s width across the night sky when the sound of splashing drew her attention. A lean figure, nearly a metre shorter than the Shaman’s bulky three, shrouded in tangled seaweed rose from the surf and came walking towards the shore. The waves meaningless to her progress, merely breaking around her and leaving her untouched. Seaweed green hair and deep blue skin reflected the moonlight with the water that was beading on her form. She had blood-red orbs for eyes and carried as much viciousness as the rest of the Hag’s hideous jagged features. Each step caused the Hag’s pot belly, loose folds of skin and sagging breasts to sway, but despite those decrepitude aspects she was far from weak.

“You have my price?” She asked in snarling Abyssal, and the Shaman gestured towards the bundle just above the tidal reach.

It was always clear the Hag knew even before she spoke. Still, every time the exchanges with the Deepwater Bay coven followed this exact routine.

Crouching near the bundle, she drew back the blood-soaked cloth to look over the thirteen freshly harvest hearts that lay within. She wiggled long fingers for a moment as she contemplated them, and then the Hag picked up the smallest first, devouring it with snapping bites. Blood clots dripped from her jagged teeth and across her pointed chin with every bite; she consumed the other hearts just as eagerly. Soon the blood soaking the bundle’s interior was the only sign of their offering. As it traced a long finger through the clotted blood within, its red gaze stared ominously at the Shaman.

“Ask!”

“She appeared like an Elf but with golden skin, and large raven wings sprouting from her back. Black feathered wings shrouded in flames of glorious black and screaming white she routed a war host attacking us. I would trade for knowledge on her. She scattered the host and then simply left. My spirits sensed a glowing Sigil left in her wake, and I recognised it for Abyssal.”

Yøtál drew the Sigil’s sharp lines crudely in the sand and the Hag poked it with a long finger a moment later.

“Wait.”

The shaman could feel the Mana gathering the moment the Hag snapped her order. Heat from unnatural fire licked the air, and the Shaman ignored her bound spirit’s scream of fear. The Hag held herself still as an unmoving cold obsidian rock, her jagged features twisted in its reposed state. A double handful of waves, then a triple, and more ran onto the shore and the silence loomed around them.

“Lady Epochē has spoken to me. The one who rescued you is Herald to her.” the Hag’s crackling voice shattered the heavy silence that had grown.

“Does your Lady Epochē think to trick us into worshipping her? It is easy to claim what another has done,” Yøtál growled suspiciously.

“Lady Epochē wishes nothing from you. If you seek a Power to pray to beyond the spirits of your Slain or your scattered Gods, then pray to Lady Viper. The vengeful liberator, destroyer of chains, Reaper of Souls.”

“I will always follow the ways of my ancestors. But what is her symbol in case one of the tribe asks for more?”

“You have twelve corpses with you, I will take them all in trade.”

The Hag paused, it considered the wrapped items salvaged from the Gnarls and pointed at a still closed bundle before she spoke again. “Also the two wands with the bone shard ends in that bundle.”

“For the information and the symbol?” Yøtál pressed, ensuring the terms of trade before giving agreement.

“Agreed,” The Hag’s reply was far too happy for Yøtál’s satisfaction, but she pulled the wands from the bundle.

“Agreed,” said Yøtál, holding out the wands, the energy of them tingling across her skin as the Hag took them from her.

“Don’t be sour, I even have a warning from Lady Epochē. Viper is a merciless Power, and she pursues needs with all her strength,” The Hag said in an admiring tone.

“Her strength in destruction was considerable, perhaps the young will follow in her ways.” stated Yøtál.

“Better than trying to follow those which the returning Elves slew or scattered. Know this: she is an Elf at heart and won’t take kindly to followers acting against the frail flowers,” chortled the Hag.

”Even at the price of avoiding the Elves, there are many foes to prove our strength against,” Yøtál replied, her nose crinkling in distaste at the hag’s taunting words.

The Hag picked up a rock on the shoreline, its hands glowing with sullen flames. When the rock cracked and fell apart, she dropped a symbol to cool in the sand. The Shaman plucked it up with a hand wrapped in the protective energy of a fire mephit at her command. The symbol’s core was too civilised for her taste, but overall it had an appeal. Its black candle seemed smoothly human-looking, but around it was remnants of shattered chains, apparently broken by brute force. With the way they lay scattered among bones and the skull that formed the candle’s base, their wreckage conveyed meanings that others might find agreeable.

“Lady Viper,” Yøtál muttered, the Abyssal name slipping across her tongue with a pleasing, vicious edge.

Mana surged again from the hag, and all the corpses rose, shambling to their feet. Yøtál kept careful watch as the intact Gnarls walked into the waves, following the hag away.

The notification caught Julia by surprise as she was practicing clairvoyance, the contents of it nearly causing her to rupture the still unfamiliar spell form. Each casting had been watching the ladies drill from various distances and directions. She barely let it disperse harmlessly as she read the notification again.

[Lady Viper, Herald of Lady Epochē, a new cult has formed to you.

Head Priest: Vårtál - Fifth son of Shaman Yøtál, of the Seafang Tribe

Title: Lady of the Burning Tempest, Reaper of Souls.

All options set for initial cult apply to new religion.

Primary Attribute: Willpower

Wizard Class available for faithful [Positive Affinity]

Because of the growth of your Primary Cult and the addition of this secondary cult, two Blessing paths are currently available for selection.]

Oh shit.

{{Don’t worry, he’s a fun fellow I’m sure I’ll get on fine with him. }}

{{That sounds fun. Select Smiting Ways. }}

[Optional Path selection confirmed.

Current Optional Path List:

Curse Lore

Exorcism

Smiting Ways]

What? B!

Julia quickly considered the Optional paths she remembered and choose one she’d previously considered.

Select Spell Defence.

[Optional Path selection confirmed.

Current Optional Path List:

Curse Lore

Exorcism

Smiting Ways

Spell Defence]

{{Damn you, I was still deciding what else I wanted. Unholy Arms looked cool too! }}

How did you do that B?

{{I picked the name Viper, so I get a say. }}

{{Thank Usd’ghi and give her something for me, will you? Unless you’d prefer I do that myself. }}

B’s gloating tone made Julia want to scream, but she didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.

With a steadying mental image, she used Harmony to wrap her thoughts tighter and made some mental adjustments. Within the Mind Palace, B frowned as the chair disappeared from Julia’s side and the crystal pieces vanished from the board. To Julia, instead of sitting in the disc’s shade, she found herself in summer’s warmth. Overhead the Sun that had ignited filled the sky, its fire pure gold. The black disc on this side had the same abbreviated column with its strange game board, and boxes of figurines she had never seen before floated around its top.

Close to falling off the board’s edge, a figure of a small Orc boy lay forlorn on his side, appearing isolated and alone. A water bucket clutched in one hand and his features set in determination. Julia didn’t even consider letting the figurine fall but simply moved it among other waiting pieces. The Sun’s light glimmered through the crystal as her hand drew away.

“You took all your pieces off the board. Running off to cry?”

Her mocking words echoed strangely in Julia’s mind and ears as she glanced over boxes of crystal pieces. She could still see crystal pieces arrayed on the board, an armoured warrior leapt from a box and landed on a spot towards the board’s edge. Julia couldn’t see B’s board but the sound of obsidian breaking from the disc’s other side was clear.

“BUT I JUST MOVED THAT ONE!” B screamed. “Oh, playing stealth mode? Fine, game on!” Julia was glad her fury was the disc’s thickness away.

Whatever piece B moved next, Julia couldn’t see it in play as she released the Mind Palace.

Scavenging among the corpses, Shâgórim set his bag down, the pieces of metal rattling within it unnoticed as an unburnt feather caught his attention. Longer than his hand, the gold vein within feather’s core caught his eye, its pure blackness otherwise unmarked by dirt or ash. Crouching, he brushed his fingertips lightly along it, looking at the gold veins in the stem and felt the power resonating in it. Slipping out the necklace they had given him this morning from his shirt, he tied the feather to the cord near the amulet. The red flame on the amulet warping blue unnoticed as he slipped it away. Putting more scrap into the bag, he hurried onto the next corpse. He needed to collect as much as possible while there was daylight.