When the auditorium became illuminated, people began to file out. Some were still applauding. Some were on their knees crying – both in terror and joy. And Clifford was still standing there gripping my now bruised forearm. The silhouette of his face showed a man mustering every ounce of restraint to suppress unwavering hatred.
I stood behind him silently for a few more minutes while he regained himself. He turned around and locked eyes with me. Hatred faded. It was replaced with determination and hope and something else that I hadn’t seen in him before.
Chapter 8
We walked in silence, a silence so tense you could cut it with a knife. Clifford was shaken to his core. I followed behind him as we walked through the inner city and into the outer rings, most likely on our way to his second task for the day. I analyzed him for the first time:
Name: Clifford Grey II
Title: Earl
Race: Trisian
Age: 31
Class: Warrior
Talent: Protection
Level: 17
Health: 235
Mana: 160
Stamina: 220
Alignment: Chaotic good (+11)
Profession: Scholar
Disposition: Trusted
Company: Wraithheart (Junior Member)
His Disposition towards me was different. Last time we spoke, it had changed to neutral. I pulled up my notifications.
Congratulations! Your skill in observation has increased to rank 3.
Know this!. You have witnessed a unique event of profound dark power in the heart of a city. Your race has been modified from ‘Forest Elf’ to ‘Dark Elf.' You are now less at home in the forest and more suited for cities. -10% damage and healing during the day. +10% damage and healing at night and in dark places.
Congratulations! Your skill in observation has increased to rank 4.
Congratulations! Your skill in observation has increased to rank 5.
Congratulations! Your skill in observation has increased to rank 6.
Congratulations! Your unwavering support of Clifford Grey II during an emotional crisis has improved your relationship. Your disposition with him has increased substantially from Neutral to Trusted.
I didn’t understand the observation skill. Increasing my rank did not improve anything. It was generic, like the Luck attribute. I was pleased with my relationship with Clifford. He is a good man and we share common convictions. As his disposition towards me increased, so did mine towards him.
“You look sickly. Are you alright?” Clifford had at last broken the silence when we crossed to the outer ring of the city, trudging through mud and slums to get to our mysterious destination.
“No, I’m not,” I said. It was the truth. Not only had I witnessed the murder of an innocent child. I had also been transformed into a different race. My skin lost its brown glow. It had become more translucent and pale. And my hair had lost its brown luster and was dull and plain.
“Whatever Leve-“
“Don’t say his name out loud.”
“Whatever he did… it changed me. I’m a dark elf now. I feel violated.”
“I’m sorry that I brought you. I should have known better than to bring an elf. Still. It isn’t permanent. You can always change back. Where we’re going should help.”
I asked Vindur what he meant.
“Elves change. Because you haven’t been a forest elf for that long, the change was easier. There’s nothing wrong with it. It makes you adaptable. If you spend enough time in one place, you will transform.”
------
We walked for two more hours along the inside perimeter of the barrier. Unlike when we arrived, the bubble was vibrating and buzzing. I could feel similar vibrations in my shoulder—the rune repelling itself from the dark shell surrounding Elatha. Walking down a ravine, we finally reached our destination: a cave entrance sporting a rough, wooden door.
Clifford reclaimed his inventory from me. Reaching into it, he pulled out a set of armor, a broadsword, and a shortsword. He also reclaimed a small dagger and a staff, sliding out of his inventory like Mary Poppins claimed her coat-rack. Inventories are funny. If you had the available space, you could fit anything into them. Want to carry forty plates? Sure. They stack.
“Take these.” He handed me my weapons. As I held them, I was tense. “Don’t worry. Guards never come this way. Few people do. No one wants to be this close to the barrier.”
I tied the sheath around my thigh and held the staff in my hand. I examined both:
Fine steel dagger with sheath. Quality: Good. Class: Uncommon. Damage: 10-15 DPS. Can be broken by stronger weapons.
Staff of Force Push. Quality: Professional. Class: Rare. Damage: 17-23 DPS. Can be broken by stronger weapons. Stats: +30 MP, chance to send shockwaves at a target to push it back. This is more effective against smaller enemies. It can also aid in deflecting weapon strikes. Can disrupt spellcasting. Charges: 97/100.
I was going to say that the gifts were two much. I mean a rare quality item! Then I remembered that Clifford was an aristocrat. While I was appreciating my new staff, he had secured his armor and weapon and was ready to go. The man had transformed in front of my eyes, wearing armor as gray as slate. He wore a chainmail shirt and pants, a breastplate, greaves, pauldrons, and gauntlets. He looked like the adventurers I was used to seeing. Pulling up his information, I saw a remarkable improvement.
Name: Clifford Grey II
Title: Earl
Race: Trisian
Age: 31
Class: Warrior
Talent: Protection
Level: 17
Health: 674 (235)
Mana: 245 (160)
Stamina: 543 (220)
Alignment: Chaotic good (+11)
Profession: Scholar
Disposition: Trusted
Company: Wraithheart (Junior Member)
“Michael! Accept the party invite!” Being startled back to reality, I realized I was ignoring my notifications.
Clifford Grey II has invited you to join a party. Doing so will result in your sharing all money and experience earned in combat. Do you accept? Y/N”
I accepted without thinking. His still-open character screen exploded with more information:
Name: Clifford Grey II
Title: Earl
Race: Trisian
Age: 31
Class: Warrior
Talent: Protection
Level: 17
Health: 674 (235)
Mana: 245 (160)
Stamina: 543 (220)
Fatigue: 5%
Armor: 1123 (13.2% damage reduction) – 21% damage reduction with skills.
Magical resistance: 10%
Alignment: Chaotic good (+11)
Profession: Scholar
Disposition: Friendly
Company: Wraithheart (Junior Member)
Active weapon(s):
Broadsword of Fire strike. Quality: Exquisite. Class: Epic. Damage: 107-123 DPS. Can be broken by stronger weapons. Stats: 10% chance to set a target on fire. 10HP fire damage every second for 5 seconds. Charges: 91/100.
Restrictions: Warrior, level 17
Shortsword of Magical repulsion. Quality: Exquisite. Class: Rare. Damage: 52-61 DPS. Can be broken by stronger weapons. Status: 10% resistance to magic damage (passive).
Restrictions: Level 16
I held my excitement in when seeing the first epic weapon since my rebirth. It put my original rusty iron dagger to shame. I closed Clifford’s interface and was now privy to the party view. I saw my health, mana, and stamina. Below that, I saw Clifford’s health, mana and stamina and his current target—Vindur.
“What the hell is that?” Clifford yelled, arms at the ready.
I flew backward, almost crashing into the barrier. Clifford grabbed my hand and pulled me forward again.
“That is… he is… what I mean to say is…” I coughed to clear my throat and regain my balance. “He is Vindur, my ally and guide.”
&
nbsp; “Ally and guide? What do you mean? He can talk? He has been here the whole time? Why am I now just noticing him? He can talk!?”
“Clifford… I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. One day I will. I promise. But you must learn to trust me more before then.”
You have received a quest! “Furry Lemur and friends!”
Tell Clifford Grey II the story of your rebirth in Fjorgyn, and details about Vindur This quest is non-optional. You promised. Words have meaning.
Criteria: He must become your ally.
Failure criteria: Clifford Grey II disposition reduction from Hated or Enemy or one year passes.
Reward: Experience gain, reputation gain
You have given a quest to Clifford Grey II! “Friend’s furry lemur.”
Reach disposition of companion with Michael Dian-Cecht. Michael Promised you the reward, making this quest non-optional.
Criteria: You become Michael’s companion
Failure conditions: Michael’s disposition towards you reduces to hated or enemy or one year expires.
Reward: Experience gain. Information on Michael’s backstory and on his mysterious flying lemur.
White lines could be seen in Clifford’s eyes as he read through the quest. He seemed smug and displeased with the shocking sight of the lemur. When we both dismissed the prompts, Vindur disappeared from Clifford’s sight.
“Sorry, Michael. I’ll double check my settings. I forgot to include party and raid members. Won’t happen again.”
“It better not,” I said to him, frustration trembling in my throat. “Next time you scare someone like that, they might run me through.”
After the excitement died down, Clifford led me into the dungeon. When we stepped through the shoddy doorway, the outside world vanished and the door slammed shut. Only the cavern wall remained.
Congratulations! You have found ‘Nott’s Sanctum'. Dungeon rank: Easy. Creature Class: Low intelligence. Level range: 5-13. +35xp
“Clifford, this is too high a level for me.”
“No, it’s not. I run my cousins through here all the time. They love it. I can get to the end on my own. I just want you to stay behind me and heal me when I take damage.”
I felt apprehensive but trusted my new friend. He hasn’t given me a reason not to. Well. Aside from owning me. Remembering my last battle, I willed my notifications into combat-mode. They wouldn’t distract me again.
And so we pressed forward, crouching down as we moved. The cavern was narrow at first. After a few minutes it began to widen. Every ten to twenty feet a torch hung on the wall, illuminating the path in front of us. The deeper we went, the colder it became. We were walking for five minutes when Clifford motioned for me to stop. Scurries, rattles and sqeaks echoed down the tunnel towards us.
“Rats. Joy. Why is it always rats?” I mumbled. I barely finished my complaining when the hairy creatures shuffled into view. I counted eight of them, all ranging between level 5 and 9 and having between 43 and 57 health.
They were aggravated by our presence and were targeting both of us. Clifford clanked his swords into the walls to grab their attention and they all rushed him at once. The rats lunged at him, finding their mark on various pieces of armor. One successfully scurried up his gauntlet and bit into his arm, teeth sharp enough to pierce his chainmail. He didn’t seem to mind or notice, only losing a few health.
For a warrior in heavy armor, he proved himself particularly agile. In one movement he pinned the rat on his arm against the wall and crushed it, inflicting damage and dropping it to the floor. He jumped back while jabbing both swords into two separate rats simultaneously. This movement confused me. It was one I’ve only seen rogues perform. Dislodging his sword, his arms flew in a sweeping motion, points scraping the floor to create sparks. His broadsword enchantment triggered and a rat set on fire. It ran away in fear.
There was a pause in the battle as the bleeding rats reconstituted themselves. Three were dead, one had fled, but should die from the fire enchantment. I took this opportunity to cast Healing Seed on him. The spell took hold. A green tendril breached his wound before fading into his body. His health was returned to full and the wound had closed leaving only a bloodstain on his chainmail.
My healing spell didn’t go unnoticed. One giant rat, still unharmed, scurried under Clifford’s feet and tried to intercept me. Without hesitation, I punched the end of my staff into the creature and the enchantment triggered. The furry monster took the full force of the shockwave. It was propelled backwards ten feet, landing on its back in a daze.
I stepped forward to finish it off, but Clifford, having dispatched his targets, stepped forward and poked the beast with the tip of his shortsword, ending its short life.
He looked back at me with a smile. “That was quick thinking. You sure you never faught with a staff before?”
In this life, I never had. When I first played the game, the staff was my favorite weapon, although I never leveled the skill substantially. When I saved enough gold, I bought spells. They did all the work for me. As I advanced in level, I spent my time healing parties and raids, gathering supplies, crafting and running my company. I knew enough for rudimentary attacks and blocks, protecting myself long enough for someone else to draw a creature’s attention away from me.
Clifford and I continued down the corridor, culling seven more hordes of rats. I became more comfortable with the staff as a weapon. I found the enchant to be useful. He showed me how to control it so it only triggered on command—I had to twist it slightly when I connected with my target, simulating a shock-wave that would trigger the magic. This allowed me to use the staff without exhausting the charges. He began to let more rats through his defenses. It was never more than two of the lowest level at a time. I took a few bites and scratches, but never for more than 10% of my total health. I was able to heal the damage to both of us with ease.
After an hour of fighting, our fatigue level had become high. We decided to break so I could scroll through my notifications.
Congratulations! You have discovered a new skill! Stave fighting. You can use staff weapons to both defend and attack your enemies. Increase in rank to increase damage and block amount! Current rank: 1 (1% increase damage, 1% increased chance of block).
You have killed a level 5 Cave Rat * 17. Penalty for high level support. 3 xp each. +51xp
You have killed a level 6 Cave Rat * 14. Penalty for high level support. 4 xp each. +56xp
You have killed a level 7 Cave Rat * 15. Penalty for high level support. 5 xp each. +75xp
You have killed a level 8 Cave Rat * 9. Penalty for high level support. 6 xp each. +54xp
You have killed a level 9 Cave Rat * 5. Penalty for high level support. Bonus for high-level kill. 10 xp each. +50xp
Congratulations! You have reached level 4! You have 2 attribute points to assign. 301xp to next level.
Congratulations! Your skill with staves has increased to rank 2. .1% additional damage when attacking. .2% additional chance to block.
Congratulations! You have gained rank 2 in Healing Seed I. .25% additional healing.
Congratulations! Your skill with light armor has increased to rank 2. 0.1% increase in damage mitigation and movement speed.
Congratulations! Your skill with stalking has increased to rank 2. .1% increase to stealth.
...
Congratulations! Your skill with staves has increased to rank 5. .1% additional damage when attacking. .2% additional chance to block.
Congratulations! Your skill with light armor has increased to rank 4. 0.1% increase in damage mitigation and movement speed.
Congratulations! Your skill with stalking has increased to rank 6. .1% increase to stealth
Congratulations! You have gained rank 5 in Healing Seed I. Spell evolved into Healing Seed II. Now restores 2hp per second for 10 seconds and another 10hp upon expiration.
Congratulations! You have gained rank 7 in Healing Seed II.
I didn’t even have to consider w
here to put my new attribute points. We needed to get beyond the barrier. I placed them in Constitution. I wish that it mattered more. Each point in a base attribute beyond 10 only earns you a 1% increase. Without my Mark of the Slave debuff, I would have a 4% increase instead of 1%. The system was odd like that. The real power in this realm isn’t in attributes. It is in skill and gear and magic. The creators made it this way for a reason. A level 1 player with good gear will always be able to beat a level 20 player with no skills, armor, or weapons. And leveling skills required challenge—more challenge than Clifford was currently offering me by killing rats in a cave.
Secret name: Slanaitheoir (savior)
Character name: Michael Dian-Cecht
Race: Dark Elf
Age: 27
Class: Undefined
Talent: Undefined
Level 4 (301xp to next level)
Health: 152 (132)
Mana: 150 (130)
Stamina: 132
Fatigue: 93%
Armor: 37 (.5% damage mitigation) - 1.3% damage mitigation with skills.
Strength: 9 (12-3)
Intelligence: 10 (13-3)
Wisdom: 10 (13-3)
Constitution: 11 (14-3)
Agility: 10 (12-3)
Luck: 2 (5-3)
Alignment: Chaotic Good (+1)
Racial Traits: +5% to herbalism, +5% to nature-based healing and damage spells, +5% to mana regeneration
Profession: Undefined
Company: Undefined
Modifiers: Mark of the Slave (-3 to all attributes), +10% movement speed, Dark Elf (-10% damage/healing during the day, +10% damage/healing at night or in dark places)
Skills:
Novice Blades 1 (.25% increase damage): The ability to deal damage with knives and blades. Drains stamina. Increase in rank reduces stamina drain and increases additional damage.
Fjorgyn: A Rebel Rises Page 8
