The tattered and filthy workwoman's dress barely contained the girl's corded muscle and general physique. Her still hand rested easily on the hilt of the old and battered sword he had given her with the familiarity of a trained soldier. I got the impression that she could weild a kitchen knife with just as much skill. The girl's entire stance radiated not threat but promise. In comparison wronging Sydney often left you feeling like you need to be wary of what might have spiked your tea or of blades at your back. Her golden eyes were still and calm but prepared surveying me and the entire area anticipating danger from any direction. I knew that she believed she would have no problem destroying me if needed.
Offering a friendly smile half hidden in the shadow of my hood I said, “An old friend of the family sent me here to save everyone, and make sure all the intruders died in the process. I have no interest in harming you or your fake parents.”
She flinched, the corner of her mouth raising in a sneer, “What are you talking about, those are my parents. This is my home.”
Chuckling, I turned away again as I asked, “Ok, if I tell you that you are lying to me are you going to kill me?”
“How… how do you know?”
“I knew a lot of well off people... In my old job,” I flinched at that remembering some of the parties that Syd and I had attended.
A very painful memory rose of her saying, “Did you hear what he said to me Mal? We can’t let people talk to us like that!”
I had looked her in the eye and put my hands on her cheeks whispering, “We need this sponsorship baby.”
The pained look on her face as she asked, “If he had grabbed my ass would you still be bending over to defend him?,” haunted me to this day. Because… back then? I might have.
Trying to shake off the thought I finished by saying, “Affluent people carry themselves differently. They have a different way of talking. They have the resources to teach their kid to be a sword master before she is twenty. A vintner’s daughter would spend half her time keeping this place running and the other half wouldn’t be enough to learn sword forms like yours.”
A thought struck me and I tapped my temple, “You know, I ran into a young nobleman earlier. A bunch of thugs tricked him into the Necropolis. I suspect it was just to get him out of the way. This guy was super obsessed with finding this girl.”
She whispered through gritted teeth, “What happened to him?”
Spinning to face her I jumped back. She started and stepped two paces back as she glared at me. She raised her blade and leveled it at my face. Keeping my hands up, I flashed her my best smile despite most of my face still being hidden.
“I killed the men who were threatening him and then I let him go home,” I looked for a response from her as I said, “he did ask me to look for the love of his life,” she flushed at that and I said, “her name was… Valerie I think?”
She gasped and lost her composure, her blade dipping. I chuckled and shook my head, “So… yeah, you are her right?”
She stood up straighter and glared at me raising her sword and stepping between me and the still bound vintner and his wife. Chuckling, I gave a dismissive wave toward the two of them, “Cut them free will you? I am not going to attack you. I wasn’t lying about that kid Cardienne begging me to find you. You should probably go find him and keep him from wandering around outside. He is going to get himself killed.”
She cursed and kept an eye on me as she made her way over to the two bound people. I made my way over and started looting the bodies of the dead cultists asking, “I take it these idiots didn’t know you were a rich noble?”
She spoke in a guarded tone as she checked the old man’s minor wounds, “They did not.”
I grinned at Lydia’s description when I picked up a useful item off the pyromancer’s body:
“Blazing Boots
Type: Light
Slot: Feet
Armor Value: 10
Minimum Requirement: Level 10
Rarity: Uncommon
Tier: F
Agility +3, Reason +1
Click the heels of these boots together to move at double your normal speed for five seconds. While moving in this way you leave a trail of fire in your wake causing damage (10-20 fire) to anyone who passes through it."
Leaning against one of the kegs I crossed my arms as I considered her, “Why are you hiding here?”
She sighed as she watched the vintner and his wife check on the condition of their son while casting worried glares at me, “The cult is a powerful faction in L’Chasse and in recent years has come to rival what remains of our own forces. My mother is no friend of the zealots but her resistance has degraded as more and more of our nobles' houses and people have vanished or willingly chosen to join their cause. She suggested that I train and join the Order to cement a relationship with them and save our people in the process. After my training the noble houses and the Order could work together and wipe out the Remnants.”
Pulling back my hood to reveal my features I gave her my best smile, “Ah, good old fashioned leverage.”
She gave me a hard look and muttered, “Yes.”
After a moment she sighed and looked at me with a hard expression, “I came to the Auvaine’s to take refuge before setting out to find aid in facing the Immolated Order.”
Sensing a possible quest I asked, “What kind of aid?”
As she watched me take every last item off of the corpse of an eviscerated cultist with a disgusted expression she said, “Why do you want to know? Why would that matter to a monster like you?”
Standing, I stretched and eyed the surly young woman as I said, “Like I said, I have a vested interest in finding the descent and making my way toward the center. If this cult is the main obstacle to that, then we could help each other.”
After a moment she narrowed her eyes, “Have I seen you before?”
“Hang out with a lot of Remnants?”
She shook her head and muttered, “There’s a statue at my family’s…,” the blood drained from her face and after a moment she said, “that’s… that’s Aubray’s Cardienne’s body, The Ghost of L’Chasse.”
Grimacing at her I sighed, “To be fair I didn’t pick this body just to rub it in anyone’s face. It’s just the process.”
She steadied herself and nodded without looking at me, “What is your name then?”
“I’m Florin,” I said, putting a hand to my chest and offering a small bow.
The two vintners and their son were hurrying away toward the exit with terrified glances back at me as she watched them go. She finally said, “My name is Valerie de Lafontaine, heir to House Lafontaine.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Walking up beside her I offered a toothy smile, “Charmed.”
She gave me a withering glance with her bright golden eyes and said, “I can no longer stay here. I suppose I’m forced to continue my journey. When our world fell into the Spiral there were two cities that survived the cataclysm. The second, well into the mountains to the east, closed its gates and has had little contact with Lothin or any outsiders since the calamity.”
Delving into my inventory I scanned everything I had gathered up to this point as I offered a comment, “I see where you are going with this, but what makes you think they will help you now?”
She studied the floor with a stony expression and said, “My family is one of the few remaining noble houses in the capital of Lothin that has a branch in Braithe. Even if it has been nearly five years I think,” she stuttered at that and grimaced, “I know that they will listen to reason. At the very least my Aunt will send aid…”
That announcement prompted Lydia to read a development in the quest:
“Quest Evolving
The Resistance!
XP Reward: 600
Join Lady de Lafontaine in her travels to the mountain city of Braithe. She claims her family will join a fight against the Immolated Order. Perhaps this will be the avenue you need to take to Descend the Spiral?”
To see what situation I was saddling myself with I Analyzed her and my AI provided a reductive description of the young noblewoman:
“Noble Sword Master Level 14
HP: 990
MP: Unknown
Special Ability
Dizzying Blade: When activated Dizzying Blade distracts a foe with a consistent debuff as they struggle to keep up with the speed of their attacker.”
Stroking my chin I seemed in deep thought as I said, “I see, well I was incredibly busy, but I GUESS I’ll help you.”
She gave me a flat look as she crossed her arms, “I didn’t ask you to. I don’t need help.”
Offering a faux look of surprise I asked, “Oh? Why haven’t you already traveled there then?”
The young woman’s face was stoney as she said, “What I meant is, that I don’t need your help.”
“Ah, I see,” I said as I nodded and started to pull my hood up, “I’m sure a group of cultists will come by in a day or two and offer to escort you to Braithe then. Sorry I offered.”
Making a show of departing, I was halfway to the exit when I heard her growl something behind me.
Pausing, I turned slightly as I asked with a note of sarcasm, “What was that, m’lady?”
Her eyes were pools of molten gold as she growled, “Fine… we leave in an hour.”
Giving an affirming nod and a roguish smile I offered a toothy grin, “See, nobles and Remnants are already bridging the divide between us! Who would have thunk it!?”
As she nodded and glared at me suspiciously, I added, “I have something to take care of nearby but I will meet you at the eastern edge of the vineyard before an hour has past.”
She gave a defeated sigh as she nodded numbly.
Smiling, I knelt down and summoned up choice items from my inventory. A suit of chainmail armor, a nicer one handed blade than the one I had handed her, and a dark cloak, “This all suit you?”
She surveyed it, coming out of her haze, and nodded, “I’ll use it well. Th…,” she eyed me with concern as she stuttered, “thank you.”
With that Lydia announced a quest complete notification and described the item I’d looted:
“Quest Completed
Find Lady Valerie de Lafontaine!
XP: 200
Reward: Ring F Tier - Blade Dancer’s Loop
You discovered the Lady de Lafontaine in hiding from her father at the Auvaine Vintners. After a discussion it appears she is willing to collude with you and your fellow Remnants to both destroy the cult of flame and find a way down the Spiral.
Blade Dancer’s Loop
Worn by those taught by L’Chasse blade masters upon graduation from training.
Type: Ring
Slot: Ring
Requirement: Level 10
Rarity: Rare
Tier: F
Agility +2, Charm +1, All Blades Skills +1”
Leaving her there I rushed back across the eternal moonlight dappled fields toward the old mausoleum.
Finding the mausoleum much the way I had left it I hurried down the stairs and into the musty chamber. My eyes shifted to the idle skull on top of one of the coffins and it blazed to life with a rich cerulean light as Anaya’s sultry voice filled the chamber, “Good work. I suppose it's high time you started your training.”
The center of the skull’s forehead started to glow intensely and an orb of brilliant blue light coalesced to hover in front of its glowing blue eyes. Steeling myself I reached out and lightly touched a finger to the glowing blue orb and was met by a streaming screen of text accompanied by Lydia’s description:
“Entering Class Selection!
Blood Dancer
Rarity: Rare
Tier: F
Requirements: Spawn of Theodora, Trained in Light Blades, Trained in Acrobatics (Dodge)
Modifications: In addition to benefits of previous class +2 Agility, +2 Charm
Abilities
Abstract Feeder: You are not a careful eater and it shows. You no longer have to use your fangs to activate Life Parasite to feed. You can absorb life force through your skin. You gain an imprecise sense of Essence within 30 meters.
Crimson Dance: (Stance) Activating Crimson Dance increases your Dodge skill by two. All Light Blade attacks inflict Slice, cost 75% less Essence, and cause 50% more damage to Off Guard targets.”
Glancing at Anaya with a raised eyebrow I asked, “Quick question, If I took this Blood Dancer class would it be more effective if I was naked?”
She seemed nonplussed as she answered, “It always was for me.”
Eyeing the strange fiery skull for a moment I tried to imagine what she had looked like before her death. Shaking away the thought I moved to the next option.
Lydia continued the descriptions:
“Heart Feeder
Rarity: Rare
Tier: F
Requirements: Spawn of Theodora, Trained in Light Blades, Trained in Stealth
Modifications: In addition to benefits of previous class +2 Agility, +2 Reason
Abilities
Heart Spike: Straight to the source of the problem. When you strike an off guard target from Stealth you immediately gain the effect of the Blooded buff (if that target is vulnerable to your Life Parasite ability). In addition this attack causes 150% damage to off-guard targets.
Shadow Teleport: Darkness is a door. You may teleport from a shadow you currently occupy to another equal to your Reason in meters away.”
I curled my lip at Reason being a major component of the class. Mine was criminally low. Reason and Spirit seemed to be the casting stats of this game. This probably meant that if I chose this class and spent a long time leveling it there would be further casting type abilities down the road. However, this was probably as sneaky and stabby as the classes would get.
Lydia continued:
“Rose Guard
Rarity: Rare
Tier: F
Requirements: Spawn of Theodora, Trained in Light Blades, Trained in Light Armor
Modifications: In addition to benefits of previous class +2 Agility, +2 Vitality
Abilities
Thorn Weaver (Stance): Your attacks cause an additional +20% damage to off-guard targets. Any target struck this way is taunted to attack you for ten seconds.
Rage Armor: Get angry, make poor decisions. Targets that strike you while under the effect of Thorn Weaver cause 30% less damage as long as you are wearing light armor."
I spoke out loud as I considered the options and stroked my chin, “So what we have here is a sustained damage dealer, a heavy damage dealer with mobility, and a tank. The problem I’m having is that the Blood Dancer class becomes near useless in fights with creatures who don’t have Essence.
After reading and rereading the classes several times I sighed. Choosing the Rose Guard class would mean that I was built to protect others. How eager I was to find myself in groups after my last experience? When I took the tester position I was looking for something to walk a lone wolf’s path.
What lie ahead for me?
I had all but locked in a path where I would be running into open battle with the denizens of the region and these crazy cultists. In my mind that only really left one more option.. With that I rubbed the back of my neck and cycled to the Blood Dancer class before locking it in.
The class name locked in and then began to flash red in my interface. It was quickly followed by a notification from Lydia that reminded me of my discussion with Speers.
“Imprint Initializing…
Preparing for Blood Dancer Tutorial…”
A progress bar shot across the bottom of my HUD and my eyes were suddenly consumed in darkness and the only sound I could hear was rushing water.
