by J P Carver
Heals 40% of party’s max health over 3 seconds.
Uses 100 stamina per cast
Requires Body 10
Percentage raises every 2 point put into body to a max of 80%
Stitch
The weight of the world is better shared than carried on one's own shoulders. Even then, one must keep in mind the limits of relationships.
Link the health of all party members together for 3 minutes. No member will fall as long as there is health in the pool.
Cooldown 15 minutes
Thread
Anything can be fixed if given enough time and dedication. Sadly, both are in short supply for most.
Can bring 1 person back from death.
Causes mental status: Stared into Void (-20)
Charges: 1
“Yeah, he’s with us now,” Geo said and closed the window. “At least we have a way into that world now and can grind.”
“And you can give me your sword.”
Geo sighed. “Yeah, that too.”
He glanced at his own sheet and saw that the blood burn status had disappeared. That was some stress off his mind, but it had been replaced with the knowledge that he would have to give up the sword. It created the first pain in him he felt since picking it up. Still, he couldn’t deny the effects it had on him and the longer he kept it the more chance it had of causing damage that he couldn’t repair.
As much as he hated to admit it, Peyton was right.
He slid from the desk and wobbled a little before Peyton pressed herself against his side.
“Thought I scared you.”
“That sword does,” she said with a sharp edge. “Right now you’re the Geo I know.”
“The loser and man child?” He cracked a smile, but she didn’t return it.
“The kind man that is learning to believe again.”
He canted his head at her. “Believe in what?”
“Himself.”
The Grind
They spent the next few days using Mason’s skill to grind in the otherworld and found that it went deeper than they could have ever expected. It was like another floor and matched the city almost exactly.
Creatures of nightmare were among the decaying building, and they were made all the worse as Geo had handed over his Sanguine Rage to Peyton and so was back to using his Frost Blade Indigo, which had some trouble keeping up with the higher enemies. Especially the common creatures in the financial district of the city. The fish looking things with gaping mouths were tougher than they looked and caused soul damage if they got their giant mouths on any of the party.
Geo sighed as he sat down on a bench, rust crackled free and made little piles on the ground. They were making their way back to the tear they had used to enter the otherworld and were running into creatures that had taken over areas they had already cleared. No matter how many they killed it seemed as if this world had creatures to spare.
“That’s another level for us, Cotora is gonna be sick of us at this rate,” Klara said as she kicked over the monsters they had just finished killing. These had ambushed them, hiding beneath rusted out cars and sewer grates. Before they knew it, the monsters had surrounded them. These creatures had once been troublesome for the group, but with higher levels the fight lasted only moments.
“She already is,” Peyton said with a smile and then glanced in Geo’s direction. He dropped his gaze to the ground “They drop anything good?”
Klara kicked over another body. “Junk so far—”
“Hey, new orange tier armor,” Mason said as he lifted a chest piece. He was on the other side of the street. “Not for me though, can you wear it Geo?”
Geo got to his feet and walked across the street. Mason handed it over. “Let’s see.”
Rusted Armor (Orange)
Defense 170
This armor has protected many a warrior from the horrors of life. It may not look it, but like the best people, it hides itself until one worthy of coming alive for is found.
Level Requirement 12
Geo put it on, replacing his studded armor. It lived up to its name, the rust flaked off at the lightest of touches. He frowned down at it, it was not cool looking and if it wasn’t so much better than his older armor, he might have made an excuse not to wear it.
“It looks bad,” Mason said with a grin.
“Thanks,” Geo said and laughed a little. “Better than that coat of rags you wear.”
Mason’s armor differed from any of the others. He wore what looked like an old Victorian suit that had been patched so many times that little was left of the original cloth. The stitches that held his body together were much thicker in the otherworld and he looked almost like a rag doll with his long limbs and thin torso.
“Hey, just because I’m better dressed is no reason to attack me,” Mason said.
“You look like a butler,” Peyton called.
“Better that than a fox with matted fur,” Mason shot back.
“Well, that was a bad thing to insult,” Klara said as Peyton glared and started across the road.
“Whoa, hold on, I was kidding,” Mason cried as he hid behind Geo.
Geo jumped away from him. “No way, dude, you’re on your own.”
“Come on, man! I found your new armor,” Mason said as he grabbed hold of the same armor. “I’m sorry! It was a joke!”
Geo sighed and moved to block Peyton who bared her teeth at him, the sharp canines glinting in the faint orange light. “You kill him and we’ll have trouble finding our way out of here.”
“I kill him and I’ll feel a lot better.”
“Come on, you know it isn’t true. Your tail is like silk,” Geo said as he reached around and combed his fingers through her tail which made her freeze for a second before she shoved him back with a surprised gasp.
“What is wrong with you?” she shouted, but Geo grinned even wider. She pouted and brought her tail up to her stomach and smoothed his finger marks. “You can’t do that without dinner and a movie.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Geo said and patted her head, gaining another glare.
“Jerk, and if we ever do that you better wear something better than the rust bucket.”
“Hey, that’s not a bad name for it,” Klara said as she reached over and tapped her knuckle against his armor, knocking rust chips off. Geo swatted her hand away. “It fits you though.”
“How so?”
“You look as worn as it is,” she said and walked off. “We should get moving, shouldn’t we? Aya gets out of the hospital today.”
“Right and we have that lead to follow up on,” Peyton said as she glanced at Mason. “Why don’t you go, Geo. She’s your sister after all.”
“She’s not.”
“You know what I mean,” she said at patted his shoulder. “Mason and I will check out Flagg’s classroom.”
“I still don’t understand why she hasn't struck again, my master had plans for three others that he wanted to kill,” Mason said as they continued to walk to the tear. It was flickering at the end of the road in front of the door to a building.
“And they’re all still alive?” Peyton asked and got a nod in answer. “Maybe she knows we’re on to her?”
“That wouldn’t stop her,” Geo said. “We couldn’t stop her if she wanted to kill them. Something else is going on.”
“We’re going to need to figure that out soon,” Klara said as she stopped before the portal. “Otherwise we should get use to being here.”
“We’re not stopping here,” Geo said and ducked into the portal. On the other side the world shifted to the station again. The chairs were made of metal and drab cushions. The walls were metal marked with warnings and other text and Cotora’s glass eye was above the door.
Again?
“Another level,” he said with a smile and opened his stat sheet and added one more to strength. For the first time since coming to this floor he could choose another skill. Two options appeared.
> Stalwart Stance
Finding a strong footing from which to weather all storms is a more sound strategy than flailing against the winds.
Allows the user to take on any attacks on their shield as long as they stay completely still. Any voluntary movement will cause the user to leave stance.
Blocks 98% of all damage in a three shield radius for the duration of stance.
Users 150 stamina per use.
Cooldown: 1 minute
Lyssa's Lament
The hatred of others is a weight that few can bear, but if the hatred is garnered in the search for truth, it may be beneficial. It may also bring about one's downfall.
Causes all enemies within ten meters to fall into a rage and attack the user for thirty seconds, ignoring all others. Enemies gain a +10 to their attack while in this state.
Causes mental status: Shun (-5)
The girls and Mason came in while Geo sat in a chair and mulled over his choices. Both would be useful, but the more he thought about it the more he considered Stalwart just an upgrade for his shield wall. He had something that mitigated damage. Lyssa’s Lament would take care of an issue he had from time to time. He couldn’t protect everyone in his group as he moved slow, but bringing the enemy to him would make things easier.. The +10 was concerning, it meant his Shield Wall wouldn’t last as long… but with everyone else growing stronger, maybe a few seconds would be all he needed?
“That’s a look,” Peyton said as she joined him, her own stat window open. “Guessing we can finally choose a new skill.”
He turned his window to her. “They both would be useful. I’m leaning toward Lyssa’s.”
She studied the window and then shrugged. “It would put you in more danger. If we’re slow or the creature is strong ,we won’t be able to draw it off you.”
Geo sat back in the chair and crossed his arms. “But I have the tools to tank the damage. I can survive a lot.”
“It’s your choice, but I think general protection is better than pissing off everything.”
“But I’m so good at it,” he said and smiled at her glare. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Stalwart it is,” he said and selected the top skill, but unlike every other time, the second skill stayed white. “Huh.”
Peyton leaned over. “What?”
He pointed to the window. “It’s still white.” He tapped on Lyssa’s Lament and it turned grey. He switched to his stat sheet.
Name: Geo Wilson
Level: 13
Health 1600/1600
Mental Status: Anguish(-2), Determination(+4) Despair (-10)
Body: 8
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 7
Stamina: 520/520
Psyche: 92/100
Affinity: 10
Experience: 0
Skills
Follow Through
The only way to a new life is to follow through on your commitments. Doing things by half-measures will never allow you reach what you want.
This skill drives the user’s current item through their target, doing massive damage (x3 normal damage of item).
Scales with Strength.
Cool-down: 5 minutes.
Stalwart Stance
Finding a strong footing from which to weather all storms is a more sound strategy sometimes than flailing against the winds.
Allows the user to take on any attacks on their shield as long as they stay completely still. Any voluntary movement of limbs will cause the user to leave stance.
Blocks 98% of all damage from the front in a three shield radius for the duration of stance.
Users 150 stamina per use.
Cooldown: 3 minute
Lyssa's Lament
The hatred of others is a weight that few can bear, but if the hatred is garnered in the search for truth, it may be beneficial. It may also bring about one’s downfall.
Causes all enemies within ten meters to fall into a rage and attack the user for thirty seconds, ignoring all others. Enemies gaze a +10 to their attack while in this state.
Causes mental status: Shun (-5)
Shield Wall
Those who have faced pain build the strongest of defenses for others as they understand the hurt and wish to protect others from it.
Creates a shield wall ten feet on either side of the user, absorbing 700 damage. Scales with Body to a max of 2500 damage absorption. Projectiles from party members will still go through. Only protects in front of the user.
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Charges: 3
Spells
Deaden Limbs
The weight of guilt and sorrow can crush even the most stout of heart. Deaden Limbs takes into account the Affinity of the targeted creature. If targeted creature’s affinity is less than the user's, then movement is slowed by 20% for 20 seconds.
If Affinity is less than half of the user’s there is a 10% chance of target’s limbs being crushed causing critical damage. Can be taken at lower Affinity but receives fewer charges and penalty to the Affinity calculation.
Affinity req: 9
Charges: 4
Summon Courage
Courage is waning in most, but in a state of darkness, courage is a light source that is only as big as a firefly. But it’s still there, blinking against the black. If you can find it, it could light your way.
Applies a buff to strength and negates damage for ten seconds or until the shield takes 400 damage. Shield scales with Affinity by 50 points per level to a cap of 1000.
Affinity req: 8
“Wait, you got both?” Peyton said and turned to her own sheet. “I can only choose one. That’s unfair. But, I guess it was about time you had some good luck.” She gave him a half smile and turned her window to him.
Name: Peyton Ania
Level: 13
Health: 1010/1010
Mental Status: AI Complex (0)
Body: 7
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 12
Stamina: 280/280
Psyche: 100/100
Affinity: 9
Experience: 0
Skills
A Thousand Needles
The battle is lost not in the big blows, but in the many tiny hits one takes every day. A catastrophe provides direction. A heavy rain storm blurs together and the damage is only found after.
Attacks target with 100 hits that do a maximum of 3 damage a hit. Scales with Dexterity and level to a max of a 1000 hits and 5 damage per hit.
Lightning Spear
The charge that comes from being with someone you care about can spark a fire that is forever burning. Guard it because a spark is a fragile thing that takes time to catch.
Charge up attack, the longer it is held the more damage that will be done. Full charge takes ten seconds. At full charge damage is weapon damage plus 1.2 times in lightning damage.
Piercing Strike
To get to the heart of a problem it does not always help to use sugarcoating words. Speak plainly and one may be heard above all the din.
Ignores 50% of armor and does durability damage with each attack for ten seconds. Can destroy armor.
Requires Dexterity 10
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Spells
Comfort
To turn away the touch of comfort is to turn away the touch of hope.
Restores 35% of health over six seconds. Scales with Affinity to 65% of health.
Affinity req: 6
Charges: 3
Geo looked up to her. “Figured you already had
She puffed out a cheek and shook her head. “You’re still not over that. Well, I had Piercing before, but when I down leveled, I lost all my stuff too.”
“What level were you before you dropped down?”
“Sixty, I think, that was max level when I was in charge of the game.” She stood and held her hand out to him. “You better get going if you’re going to be there when Aya gets out.”
“Right. You let me know if you find anything the moment you do.”
“Yeah, yeah, we won’t kill the bitch without you there, okay?”
Oh, are you leaving so soon? Please, don’t come back. Cotora droned as they approached the door.
“I’ll be back soon enough, Cotora, don’t worry.”
Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe the universe has another idea.
“Meaning?” he asked, but she ignored him. He shrugged and left through the door.
He came out in the school and took a bus to reach the hospital.
The hospital was bathed in golden light as the sun started to set. Geo paused before the building and took a deep breath. Without the sword he was feeling things that he had been buried deep and the thought of seeing Aya caused old pain to crop up. She wasn’t his sister, and yet he wished she was as it would ease some of that same pain.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and entered through the sliding doors. The floor was bustling with doctors, nurses, and patients. He weaved between them to the reception desk and learned from the on-duty nurse that his parents in this world were already in with Aya. At least he wouldn’t be meeting her alone. He made his way through the maze of hallways and stopped before the door to the room and felt a chill run along his spine.
Something was wrong.
Luda's Deception
He felt it in his bones as he stood before the door. The air felt wrong. It was much like when he stood before Aya’s door. The same feeling washed over him and caused an unpleasant heat to build in his chest. With a glance down both ends of the hallway he reached out and touched the door handle.
