Garnak Bleakthorn, the Level 10 Boss of Bleakthorn Holler, looked decidedly different without any skin upon his upper body. When his head melted away curtesy of Imbolc’s Breath it sank down into his chest as the bones, tissue, and organs in direct contact with my projectile magma liquified Garnak into oblivion. What remained of his body slowly tipped backwards and collapsed to the ground with a wet, bubbling smack.
You have acquired the spell Blood Boil!
Blood Boil
Description: Target any single, living creature and cause the blood in their veins to increase in temperature to a damaging level. Inflicts a Damage over Time effect for 8 seconds.
I celebrated my new spell as I felt it suited my Class perfectly, but I willed away the notification and I took several steps back from the still cooking corpse. I was still breathing hard and shocked into silence by the level of horrid violence I had brought to another living being. A voice of reason inside my mind reminded me that everything within a Dungeon was wrought by mana and not real. That the mana was even now being recycled by the Dungeon to be used again the next time another delving party set foot within its borders.
If I ever return, will Garnak remember me? Will he cower in fear when he lays eyes on me, knowing what I can do to him?
“Davros.” A voice behind me called out weakly. I turned and saw Valka being supported by Anya and limping towards me. The soldier was still alive. That was good. Yet, all three of my companions were looking at me warily. Well, Igvild seemed more amused and excited than anything, but both Anya and Valka looked at me nervously.
“Davros, are you alright? I saw Garnak try to cut you in two?” Anya asked concerned. “How are you still alive?” I nodded slowly. They were concerned about Corruption, I reasoned. My debt to Igvild continued to grow. His ring had likely done a lot to keep me focused.
“It was the spell that dropped from that Slynt. Wrath Shield. It protected me and I’m fine. Garnak dropped a good spell for me.” I looked over at the pale faced Valka. “I’m glad you’re okay Lieutenant.” Valka grunted and forced himself to stand up straight.
Both Valka and Anya then shared a glance, not sure what to say.
“‘Wrath’ Shield? You gain a level of Corruption and use a Slynt dropped ability called Wrath Shield? Maybe I should look for an ability that lets me stab myself in the face the next time I tank a fight!”
“You had a strange smile on your face just now,” Anya interjected while shooting Valka a look. “We just want to make sure you are alright.” Valka nodded then grunted in pain as he held his side.
“Did I? I’m just glad we won,” I answered slowly. Valka laughed, but it cut off quickly when he winced in pain.
“Take it easy Valka. Captain Yentz will want a full report and I’m going to need a long rest when we get to Bruhle.” Anya said.
“I think we all will at that, girly. ‘Specially the lad! Ye saved our bacon, Davros.” I blinked. Igvild usually kept his own council, but the usually reserved dwarf was all smiles as he rubbed his hands and looked around at all the dead goblins.
“He’s right.” Valka whispered. “By the Eye, he’s right!” Valka limped forward until he stood face to face with Davros. Then, he lifted his hands and placed them both upon the Pyromancer’s shoulders. “I beg your forgiveness, Davros. You are no idiot. You are no weakling. You have the spirit of a Czak warrior and I name you a friend and a brother from this moment forward.”
Valka Stavrak can now be taken as a Follower!
You can currently have [1] Follower. Raise your Presence attribute to accept more.
A Follower can choose to share the benefits of a single attribute of theirs to bolster your own attribute. Likewise, they will share from any benefits as a result of any Traits and Buffs provided by your Class.
I froze in place, a part of my mind registering that Valka also froze where he stood as well. We were both reading the notification the Eye sent us. Both Anya and Igvild noticed our expressions and tensed.
“What is it? What’s happened?” Anya’s morning star was back in her hand and she looked around the island plateau for more enemies. Valka turned towards her, disbelief written across his face.
“I just received permission to be his bloody Follower,” Valka said in a nonchalant tone. Anya’s jaw dropped, but Igvild shattered the moment with a burst of loud laughter.
“Ye just keep on with the surprises, don’t ye lad!” Valka could only shake his head.
“How?”
“He’s an Awakened, Valka. You know very well that when a Forged pledges themselves to an Awakened there is a chance for a bond to be created. It opens up options to form specialized Squads and eventually Companies.”
“No I didn’t!” Valka griped.
Davros reread the Eye’s message. He had questions.
“What does it mean that Valka can share an attribute with me?” Anya nodded in understanding.
“It means that whatever Valka’s strongest attribute is he can choose to share some of its benefits with you. In other words, without losing any of his own points and depending upon his Level, he can give a slight increase to the same Attribute of yours.” I nodded, catching on.
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“Likewise, Valka can benefit from my Born of Fire Trait?”
“You have a Trait?” Valka gasped. “You’re only Level 1!” I grinned and nodded.
“Yes, my Trait keeps me warm even if it’s freezing and it also helps me to resist fire damage.” Anya slowly nodded, awe in her eyes.
“That explains when that Slynt knocked you into the fire you didn’t take any damage,” she reasoned.
“So wait, you’re telling me I’m not going to feel like I’m about to lose my toes next time I’m trekking through snow and I’m not going to burn the next time a Slynt tries to light me on fire?” Valka asked, his grin growing larger by the moment. Anya shook her head.
“Not to the extent the Trait benefits Davros, but yes you should get some of his Fire Resistance and apparently not complain as often as you do whenever it starts snowing. Of course, all of this is dependent upon whether you agree to be his Follower or not,” she added.
Valka stared at me for a moment, stroking his mustache, but it took him only moment to decide.
“I’ll do it, Davros. I’ll become your Follower. I don’t know what Captain Yentz or General Torlack will say about it, but after Anya and I give our report I don’t believe either of them will object to it.”
“I agree,” Anya said with a wistful smile. I wondered at her expression. Did she want to become my Follower as well? I would need to find a way to raise my Presence attribute as soon as possible!
I wasn’t sure what Valka did, but he probably willed his intent to the Eye and suddenly I received more notifications.
Valka Stavrak has agreed to be your Follower! (1 of 1)
Name: Valka Stavrak
Level: 8 (9 Pending)
Class: Soldier Defender
Will: 2
Focus: 3
Speed: 3
Force: 5 (6)
Presence: 3
Fortune: 2
Active Skills (4 of 5)
Lunging Slash
War Cry of Czakovey
Shield Bash
Tactical Steps
Passive Talents (1 of 1)
Heavy Armor Expertise
Gear Bonuses
Gauntlets of the Ursine (+1 to Force)
“You gained a level too,” I remarked with a smile. Valka snorted.
“Yeah, I suppose you can see my Status now, can’t you? Well, just keep all that to yourself!”
“You should check your own Status again too, Davros.” Anya said with a grin. I nodded and did as she bid me.
Name: Davros
Class: Pyromancer
Level: 1(4 Pending)
Will-5>6
Focus-*1 (Curse of Ashgar)
Speed-2
Force-2(4)
Presence-1
Fortune-11
Active Spells (2 of 3)
Fire Bolt {Upgrade Available}
Wrath Shield
Inactive Spells
Hypnotic Flame
Blood Boil
Limited Effect
Imbolc’s Breath
Imbolc’s Trait
Born of Fire
General Trait
Dual-Casting
Gear Bonuses
Ring of Sedation (-2 to Corruption Levels)
Follower Bonuses
+2 Force (Valka Stavrak)
Not only had he gained another level, but his Force attribute had gone up by two whole points! What was it the Force attribute controlled again?
Force: Physical strength and endurance.
Well, he had never been strong, but certainly having more endurance couldn’t hurt. He was exhausted and wanted to lay down and sleep as soon as possible.
“So, a good time ta mention there’s a hidden hatch behind the Boss tent, ya?” Igvild said, rubbing his nose.
Valka was the first to start hobbling over before Anya stopped him with an outstretched palm.
“Wait, tell us what dropped first?”
“Oh, right.” Valka let out a breath and his eyes went unfocused before he groaned and clutched his wounded shoulder. “Well, that settles that then. The Eye is definitely looking at us. Or rather, it’s looking at you, Davros.”
I cocked my head and Valka was suddenly holding a bulky piece of dark red clothing in both his hands. He held it out towards me.
“Take it. I don’t think General Torlack or the Graf would argue.” Anya raised an eyebrow at that, but didn’t object when I took the item into my hands. It was a red robe. The material was thick and there were strange symbols stitched in gold threads that seemed to shift and move as I looked upon them. I slipped it on over my head and at first I thought it would be far too big for me, but as it settled over my body I had the strangest sensation that it was resizing itself to fit me perfectly. There was even a hood I lifted up and settled over my head and I discovered there was extra fabric hanging about my neck like a scarf I could lift to cover my nose and mouth if I so desired. Yet, what was most impressive was the notification about it I received.
Robe of Inner Fire {Pyre Lord Set 1 of 3}
[Class Restriction:Pyromancer]
Will: +1
Presence: +1
Fire Spell Cost Reduction: 5%
Skill: Double Down
This robe, a piece of the Epic Pyre Lord set also adds the skill Double Down, which gives any spell cast by the Pyromancer a 25% chance of double casting ignoring Mana cost.
“This is incredible, thank you!” I breathed.
“Yeah, well. It gives you a way to cover up that ugly mug of yours at the very least,” Valka mumbled.
“Valka!” Anya scolded him, but I laughed. I knew what I looked like, but with the Follower bond I now sensed that there was nothing malicious behind his words. In fact, the Czak was pleased to have given me the robe. He knew I had earned it. Now my Will would be a 7 and my Presence would bump up to a 2. Every little bit helped.
“You do look impressive in it. Like a true Mage.” Anya said. “I’m not sure I want to know what the rest of the loot is now or I’ll just get jealous!”
“Probably for the best. Much of it was coin anyway.” Valka said.
Anya sighed and turned away while Igvild rubbed his nose and hid a smile. I saw Igvild do that a lot. Did he really not care that he hadn’t received anything? It made me feel a bit guilty.
“Could we give Igvild that dagger that dropped earlier?” I asked Valka. Igvild’s eyes widened and both he and Valka looked at me in shock. “I mean, that would be fair, wouldn’t it? He’s Awakened too and wouldn’t General Torlack approve? After all, none of us could have succeeded had we not all worked together.”
“You’re not wrong about that, per se.” Valka began.
“Yet, we cannot,” Anya said, coming to his rescue. “As the robe is Class specific, which by the way is astounding in itself, it would be useless to anyone but you. However, the General may want to sell the dagger. We will need every coin once we get to Bruhle.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Bloody Mercs,” Valka said, spitting then holding his shoulder as he bit back a jolt of pain. “We’ll need to buy the services of a number of companies to stand a chance of taking Bludgard in the Spring. Not one of them will be worth the amount of coin they ask for, however!”
“He’s not wrong. Still,” Anya turned to Igvild. “The amount of coin we’ve gained on this run is incredible and the General may decide to gift you the dagger or some other reward after he hears our report.”
“Ah, well I thanky fer that girl, right I do, but a Dwarf’ll get ‘is due all in good time. Yer General has made some promises I’ve no doubt he’ll deliver on.”
“Oh?” Valka raised an eyebrow at Igvild’s statement, but the dwarf only grinned.
“Wasn’t there a secret hatch we were going to examine?” Anya asked before Valka could inquire further what the dwarf was referring to. Without another word, the four of them walked towards the back of the tent, but on the way Davros paused beside Garnak’s still smoking corpse and gave it a spiteful kick.
Be seeing you.
