by C. M. Carney
The ancient empyrean coatl cooed, rubbed her head against his hand and flipped the tip of her tail back and forth. She looked as joyous as a puppy, but Gryph wisely kept that image to himself. He suspected she would not take kindly to the comparison.
Before the Round Table could fully relax, there was one more thing Gryph needed to do. “If I may have your attention?” Gryph asked in a loud, clear voice. Conversation stopped, and all eyes looked his way. “In thanks for your trust, and to keep the vow I have just made, there is something that you deserve to know.”
The tension in the room increased, like a knotted rope pulled tight by invisible hands.
“As you are aware, I am still new to these Realms, and to this body and that as an El’Edryn, I do not sleep as the dwarves and the humans do, nor as I once did back on Earth. What you may not know is how much I have struggled to find the peace of the Soul Reverie.”
The elves in the room all touched the first two fingers of their left hand to their forehead, a gesture of sympathy and well wishes for a successful Reverie. The other races, whose past lives remained a mystery, and could therefore only understand the Reverie as a concept, just listened.
“With the kind and able assistance of Steward Gartheniel, I have increased my abilities in the Reverie and discovered much about the previous lives my soul has lived.” Gartheniel bowed in acknowledgement.
“But there is one past life that has resisted me, one I have been unable to view, to understand. It was a life of great impact. One whose ripples through time continue to have force even today. I fear the actions, the secrets and the sins of that life may lead to our destruction or hold the key to our very survival.”
“What past life do you speak of?” Barrendiel said.
“I believe in this past life I was one of the Old Gods, most likely Ossyrion.”
Gryph had expected shocked gasps or perhaps even laughter, but the stunned silence that greeted his proclamation was far more unnerving. As happened often, it was the no nonsense Master Artificer that broke the silence.
“It be all well and good that ye were once some big mucky muck, but what dae that have tae dae with us in the here and now?” Grimliir asked.
Gryph hung his head. “I am ashamed to say I do not know. Gaining access to that life has been difficult. I see flashes, including three other gods, as well as some mention of one they named a brother who abandoned them in their fight against Morrigan. They named him the forsaken god.”
Gryph told them what he had seen and all around the Round Table eyes widened in worry and fear.
“Who was this forsaken god?” Barrendiel asked, his voice shaken.
“I do not know. The Reverie has resisted my attempts to gain more information. All I know is that when the forsaken god failed to show, the other Old Gods resigned themselves to death. That tells me that the forsaken god possessed some power or some knowledge that could have ensured their victory and prevented their demise. I need to learn who this missing god was and what part he was supposed to play in the battle against Morrigan. It could very well be the deciding factor in our survival.
“I think I may know what it was,” Lex said in a tone that suggested he wished he did not. He went silent, awaiting objections. When none were forthcoming, he cleared his throat and spoke. “I think this forsaken chap learned how to remove a Godhead. He was supposed to meet up with the other Old Gods and take Morrigan’s from him. But he was a big ol’ woosbag coward and when he failed to show, the other Old Gods all died banishing Morrigan to Earth.”
Gasps flowed about the room and Gryph leaned forward. “Removing a Godhead is impossible Lex.”
“He is right,” Eadweanna said. “They bind themselves to the soul of the bearer for all eternity.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t pass the logic test,” Lex retorted. “We know at least one person, one soul who has possessed a Godhead and then lost it only to possess one again.” He nodded his head sideways at Gryph.
“How do we know Gryph wasn’t in possession of this Godhead for all of his soul’s lives?” Belgaarm, the Master Smith asked. “Ossyrion had one and if Gryph is that soul reborn, as the evidence suggests, then it makes perfect sense that he has one now.”
“Duh. For a smart guy you sure like to ignore facts,” Lex said throwing his arms high. “We know of at least one of Gryph’s lives where he did not, repeat, did not have a Godhead.”
“The last Stone King,” Barrendiel said in realization.
“Exactly. Did that dude have a Godhead?”
All eyes turned to Grimliir, who shook his head no.
“No,” Lex said full of smug confidence. “So that means Gryph has borne two Godheads, or he had one, it was removed and then he got it back. Either way, the impossible act of removing a Godhead doesn’t seem all that impossible.”
The truth of Lex’s theory was clear to everyone seated at the Round Table. It hung heavy, like a weight handed to a drowning man. Nobody spoke, and Gryph's heart thundered.
How did I not make that connection? Gryph thought. Mouths hung open around the table. After several long heartbeats, Gryph spoke. “In my Reverie I heard Ossyrion say they had to defeat Morrigan or the Dread God would learn what the forsaken god had discovered, and no soul would be safe. Ossyrion made no mention of what this knowledge was, but if Lex is right and the forsaken god knew how to remove a Godhead, then we need to find him and force him to show us how.”
Another silence hung heavy in the Nexus.
“Oh man, I hate it when I’m right,” Lex said.
“No, you don’t. You’re arrogant and prideful,” Vonn countered. “You love being right, cuz it happens so rarely.”
“Well, yeah, normally I do. But this … this shit is like … the worst.”
“We do not know the Lexicon is correct,” Eadweanna said. “Yes, the theory fits, but as a scholar I am trained to operate from a factual basis. We need proof.”
“We need to find this forsaken god,” Gryph said, feeling the weight of the impossible task.
“Assuming the dude is still alive, how are we gonna do that?“ Lex raged, his false temper failing to hide the fear building inside him. “Walk around the Realms holding a sign? Have you seen the forsaken god? We don’t even know who the dude is.” His breathing became ragged and harsh and Vonn put a calming hand on his shoulder.
“No, but I will find out,” Gryph said, straightening his back and standing tall. “What we need lays buried in my Reverie.”
“There are great and terrible truths in the Reverie, but it is no library you can command to answer inquiries,” Gartheniel said. “What you bring into the Reverie with you becomes magnified tenfold. Fear, joy, anger, hate, even need, these emotions must be tamed. You must enter with an open mind, a clear mind for without clarity, you risk madness.”
I will help you find your clarity Menaaire, Raathiel’s voice rang in the heads of all gathered. All eyes gazed upon the shimmering serpent who had curled herself around Gryph’s shoulders. But first we must walk the Path of Enlightenment.
21
The Round Table’s vote was unanimous. They would make all efforts to help Gryph penetrate the vagaries of his Reverie and find the hidden knowledge therein. While he appreciated his people's solidarity after the recent tensions, Gryph still felt alone.
But you are not alone Menaaire, Raathiel sent to him as the two soul companions entered Gryph’s quarters. Now that I am reborn, I can enter the Reverie at your side. Assuming you wish me to.
“I do Raath,” Gryph said, surprised that he’d unwittingly personalized her name. A rush of warmth filled him, and he realized the bond he now shared with the coatl was deeper than any other. If he were to take proper advantage of it to enter the Reverie, then he needed to know her. He tapped open a series of prompts his subconscious had minimized during the battle against Sziilloth.
Why did you wait until now? Raathiel asked, and a vision of his recent imprisonment filled his mind. Why did you not let these prompts bri
ng you comfort?
Instead of speaking, or sending, he opened his feelings and let her feel for herself. A swirl of conflicting emotions poured from him and flowed about her. The hours he’d spent locked away from everyone had given Gryph the chance to think on their bond, to know what he had gained, and what he could now lose. Examining the prompts would have shown him the true depths of their connection, and he was too afraid to experience its full power, only to lose it again if the Round Table’s judgement had gone against him. Did that make him a coward?
You are no coward, Menaaire, simply a stubborn fool. She sent the last comment with equal parts lecture and pride. You wished to protect me, and yourself, but neither is necessary, or possible. Our melding is at the level of the soul, and there is no stronger bond in all the Realms.
To prove her point, she opened the first prompt.
Your Soul Meld with the Coatl Raathiel is now complete. Meld Rank: 1
You have successfully eliminated Raathiel’s XP deficit. You can now enjoy all the benefits of your Soul Meld. Where Soul Bind dominates another soul, Soul Meld is a willing partnership. From this moment to the end of existence, your soul is connected to the soul of Raathiel. You will ride the tides of the Aether together from now to the end of all things.
Because of your Soul Meld with an empyrean being, you have now gained the following traits.
Attribute Bonus: Your melding has granted you a permanent +1 per Meld Rank to all Attributes.
Adventure Group Bonus: Your Soul Meld has brought the coatl into a permanent Adventure Party with you. All Adventure Party perks and bonuses are applied at one Tier higher than your current tier. (Limited to Gryph and Raathiel) The coatl does not count against your Adventure Party total.
Empyrean Aura: Because you have melded with an empyrean creature you gain the ability to generate an aura of ‘holy light.’ This aura grants all members of your Adventure Party a 25% bonus to hit and damage to any creature whose primary Affinity derives from one of the Lower Realms (Chaos, Chthonic, Death, Aether), while also inflicting a 25% to hit and damage penalty to those same beings. The Aura lasts for 5 minutes + 1 minute for each of Raathiel’s levels. 1 use/day per Soul Meld Rank.
Spell Focus: Because you have melded with an empyrean your focus during spell casting has increased. You will now ignore the first occurrence of Mana Feedback during any battle or encounter.
Mental Fortress: Coatl are immune to any form of mental persuasion, and are resistant to all modes of psionic attack, mentally generated illusions and other techniques that seek to trick the mind. Your Meld with Raathiel increases your resistances to these types of attacks by 50%.
Gryph rejoiced as the information in the prompt rushed through him. He was stronger, faster, smarter, more vital and even more cognizant of the world around him. This was the Attribute Bonus making itself known.
A quick check of his Adventure Group interface showed Raathiel’s name hovering above the five empty slots. The bonus was like getting a free boost to his Leadership perk. Not only did it up the total number of people in the group, but he and Raathiel got a 75% boost to their experience bonus, instead of the 50% he shared with the rest of his group.
Empyrean Aura could turn the tide of any battle against Lower Realms creatures. With the looming threat posed by the Princes of Chaos, Gryph suspected the ability would be a literal life saver. More of his people would survive because of the aura.
On seeing Spell Focus, his mind lashed back to the battle against the Barrow King and the first time he’d experienced the ravages of mana feedback. Any sorcerer who lost control of a spell during battle could very well lose their life due to the backlash. The comfort of knowing he had the ability to ignore the first occurrence would make him a much deadlier battle mage.
But it was Mental Fortress that brought a real smile to Gryph’s face. The increase in mental toughness it provided might be the key to his unravelling the mysteries hidden in his Soul Reverie. “This is what you wanted me to see.”
Yes. Mental Fortress will help you walk the Path of Enlightenment, and then together we will tackle the dangers of your Reverie. But first, there are other choices we must make, ones that will empower us both for the battles to come.
Another prompt filled into Gryph’s awareness.
Raathiel has Reached Level(s) 1 - 12
Raathiel has reached levels 1- 12.
Raathiel has earned 12 new Power Points.
“You leveled that quickly?” It took only a moment for him to understand. In the time since Raathiel’s rebirth Gryph had earned 284,723 XP, all of which she shared because of the meld. It felt like cheating, or at least double dipping, but it was just another perk of their entwined souls. All that he was she was. They would advance together and fall together. Somehow this, more than anything, expressed the completeness of their new bond.
Empyrean beings do not have the same free will as mortals and therefore the paths we can follow are more limited. Where mortals can learn any skill, provided they have the affinity, empyreans, and all other Higher and Lower Realm natives, have a much narrower progression path. What we are and what we may become are determined by our inherent nature. For example, I will never be able to wield the powers of Chthonic Magic.
“I can’t say that’s a bad thing,” Gryph said, his mind drifting to thoughts of Wick. Raathiel let him dwell there for a few moments before gently nudging him from his melancholy. “And what are Power Points?”
It is only your meld with me that allows us any leeway to choose how I will progress. Power Points are the currency of my progression.
Gryph opened her interface.
Name: Raathiel
Race: Coatl
Level: 12 - Tier: 3
Experience
Next Level
Needed
284,723
315,000
30,273
Length: 5 feet
Wingspan: 6 feet
Weight: 25 lbs.
Attributes
Primary Stats
Strength: 50
Health: 328
Constitution: 60
Stamina: 309
Dexterity: 85
Mana: N/A
Intelligence: 90
Spirit: N/A
Wisdom: 90
Gryph was ecstatic to see that she would soon reach Level 13 but did not understand the Tier 3 designation. She explained that her powers would increase in ability depending upon her tier, and her tier was determined by her level. She would reach Tier 4 when she hit Level 20, and then her powers would increase.
He scowled for the briefest of moments on realizing she was both smarter, wiser and more agile than he was, but let the moment of jealousy fade. Her high Dexterity made sense, but he told himself to be wary of getting in a debate with her. Winning any logic battle with his scaly companion would be tough.
This is not a competition, Menaaire. We are a team.
“Do me a favor, don’t tell Lex.” He sent the mental equivalent of a jestful wink through their link, so she knew that he was joking, mostly.
I will keep your secret, provided you follow my wise counsel. If not, then ‘all bets are off’ as the Earth saying goes. She gave him a playful nip to the arm to show she was joking, or perhaps to reinforce her comment, he wasn’t sure which.
Attack Powers - Tier 3
Normal Bite: Damage: 30
Constriction: Success and duration determined by relative Strength.
• Damage: 10 damage/sec.
• Immobilize: 1 sec/difference in relative Strength.
Venomous Bite: Effect chosen at the time of attack.
• Daze: Intelligence based tasks are 50% more difficult.
• Slow: Dexterity based tasks are 50% more difficult.
• Weakness: Strength based tasks are 50% more difficult.
Even though she was small, she carried quite the punch. If she could immobilize a foe with Constriction, whose success was determined by the relative differe
nce in strength between her and her opponent, then the damage, combined with her normal bite and the deleterious effects of her venom, would make her a force to be feared.
Defensive Powers - Tier 3
Armored Scales: Reduces physical damage by 10%.
Elemental Magic Resistance: Reduces elemental damage by 10%.
Lower Magic Resistance: Reduces lower magic damage by 10%.
Higher Magic Immunity: Immune to higher magic damage.
As he stroked her warm scales, he wondered if he worried too much. Yes, he wished her defensive powers were stronger, but perhaps the crafters could help? Some kind of barding or magical rings or a collar. Despite his current worries, Gryph knew that her capability for exponential growth would someday make her a tank.
I will rain fire from the heavens, she sent and pulled an image of an Apache attack helicopter from Gryph’s memories.
“That is something I’d love to see,” he said with a laugh. The next prompt detailed powers that were always available to Raathiel.
