by Stone Thomas
Improve to Meld 2 to reduce AP cost. [9.6 AP / second to cast] [Requires: Strength 2, Vivacity 2] [750 XP to improve].
Intended Change: 0 –> 1
Cost Subtotal: 375
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TOTAL ITEMANCER SKILL XP COST: 750
Summary
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Available XP: 1,041
Cost of Intended Changes: 1,100
Precision Training Discount (7%): 77
Total Adjusted Cost: 1,023
Total Projected Remaining: 18
Confirm?: Yes / No
∇
“Congratulations,” I said. “You have a special class now.”
“May I?” Jessip asked, reaching a hand toward the black spear I had taken from Duul’s general. I handed the newly-minted itemancer my weapon.
“Sure,” I said. “Evaluate away.”
She closed her eyes and gripped the spear with one hand while the other palmed its shaft. Her long fingers traced the spearhead, formed from a thin sharp blade wound around itself into a serrated spiral that came to a fierce point. It gave the impression of being a knife’s blade contorted into a tightly compacted corkscrew. She touched every inch of that weapon slowly and carefully, never nicking her skin against its razor sharpness.
It took her the full 30 seconds, but she finally shared what she learned.
“I saw everything,” she said. “Its stats, its materials. This is a very strong weapon, Arden, with a +5 bonus to every attribute. Its name is Vile Lance.”
Nola gasped. “So Duul has done it,” she said. “He’s revived the dark mine that produces vile ore. The Great Mother sealed the entrance to that mine with her most powerful magic. Can you see what that weapon’s special property is, Jessip?”
“Yes,” she said. “A 25 times multiplier to damage dealt… against deific enemies.”
“No deity is safe from the effects of vile ore,” Nola said. “That blade was meant to strike me down. Duul must have thought he would succeed during last night’s assault or he wouldn’t have sent a general with such a powerful weapon. That spear is evil, we should destroy it.”
“But,” I said, “it could help us stop Duul.”
“It would kill him,” Nola said, “and in the wrong hands, it would kill me. We are not Duul or the misguided gods that follow him. We will not kill to win this war.”
I thought back to what the Great Mother said in my vision. The only way Nola lives is if Kāya dies. I didn’t want to disobey Nola, but if I had to kill Kāya to protect her… I tried to stuff those thoughts to the back of my mind where Nola wouldn’t notice them.
“Go on, you two,” I said to our new adventurers. “Make Halcyon proud.”
The girls set out on their first adventure, disappearing into the forest outside Halcyon’s gates.
I’m so glad that worked, Nola said. If I screwed her up like I did with Brion, I would have to retire.
I hope they’ll be okay, I said. They’re immune to Duul’s curse as long as he only targets the men, but Yurip’s not sure what that vault contains. It’s been sealed for ages. It better be worth the danger they’ll run up against. I’d offer to go with them, but we have to get to Denvillia and Mournglory before Duul does, and we still have to pay Valleyvale a visit.
That’s true, Nola said. She closed her eyes. Arden, change of plans.
What?
Valleyvale… is paying us a visit, she said.
Is it the Mayor?, I asked.
It’s a lot of people, she replied. That’s all it is, just people. I don’t think they’re a danger.
Then why are they coming?, I asked.
We didn’t know. We could only wait. Vix excused herself to help rebuild the chow house while Biddy and Yurip wandered off together. I paced back and forth before the altar.
Eventually, a group of a hundred people marched through our gates and toward the temple. They were covered in dirt and soot, led by a woman with pale skin and dark hair.
“Lana!” I said. I hadn’t seen her since my first visit to Valleyvale, when I unlocked her healing class.
“Valleyvale is under attack,” she said, “by bunnies.”
About Stone Thomas
Stone Thomas was never on Jeopardy, never got abducted by aliens, and never managed to beat Super Mario Bros. 3 in one life. But he did write a book! And the sequel is underway. So, all in all, things are pretty good with him. Take a peek into his imagination with the Halcyon Rising series. You won't be disappointed!
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Books by Stone Thomas
Halcyon Rising: Breaking Ground (Book 1)
Halcyon Rising: Bastion of Hope (Book 2)
