From the Beginning
Page 3
Mariann smiled warmly at him and nodded to an empty chair across from her and Shay while saying quietly “Mornin’ sleepy head. We though’ ya mightn’t have woken forever but ya seemed to need the rest. With all them fancy moves of the night afore neither of us was too surprised.”
Chucking a bit Shay spoke up in a soft but happy voice “Them were some fancy moves. Nothin’ like anythin’ I’d seen before kiddo. Almost reminds meh of the ol’ legends of the Adventurers' bu’ we all know them be nothin’ but stories afta all. Been a few hundred years since we done seen any of them folk supposedly,” All the while moving about and bringing a cup of steaming dark liquid and some warm eggs and toast over for Dante.
Not sure what to say Dante nodded thanks and ate while thinking about what he’d just heard. As he ate Shay and Mariann informed him that he was welcome to stay as long as he liked while telling him about some of the small quests in the area around the town. They seemed to enjoy his company and didn’t take notice of the fact he wasn’t paying close attention to the conversation. Though as he was finishing up he decided to bring up his character information to check his progress.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 15.43
Attack Power: 30
Defense Power: 27
Health: 516/516
Mana: 234/234
Stamina: 226/226
Attack Speed +0
Casting Speed +0
Critical Hit +0
Movement Speed +0
Choking on the last mouthful of egg Dante spoke up “I gained almost four levels from those bandits?”
Nodding and chuckling a bit “Tha’ ya did kiddo. Gain’n levels faster than most I know. Must be a lucky one if ya ask’n me.”
Smiling excitedly Dante went through the available skills knowing he would not have enough skill points to take ever new skill unlocked. It didn’t take much to decide to toss out anything that did not have any added effects and were purely damage skills. One stood out though that he grabbed almost immediately which had an interesting picture of two blades with trails of magic twirling around each other with an interesting descriptor. Just to the right of that was a skill that looked much the same but had a golden outline and the information grayed out making Dante think it may gain further use once he hit higher levels. In all he ended up leveling up his first set of skills and adding only the higher damage one and another stun leaving him with a well-rounded skill set that would make leveling that much easier as he moved forward. Glancing over the list he was happy with what he saw.
Basic Attack
Instant Attack/ Cooldown
130%x3 total attack power
Double swipe of blades doing damage while building 13.2% Stamina and Mana.
Scatter Blades
Instant Attack, 20 sec Cooldown
357% total attack power
Throwing out the enspelled blades in a cascade of magic drawing the caster towards the enemy in a flash.
Chaotic Shield
Passive
20% Physical & Magical mitigation
A passive that mitigates 5% magic and physical damage stats. Increases by 5% every 3 levels for a maximum of 35% mitigation total once maxed
Hidden Power
Passive
12% Magical and physical damage output
Call upon the magic’s hidden within to increases the magical and physical damage output.
Shadows of Chaos
Instant cast
Movement speed increased by 12% for the duration of the spell activity. Active for 35 seconds, 35 seconds cooldown.
The caster melds with the shadows becoming invisible to anyone not partied with them. While in this state you gain a movement speed increase of 12% for the duration of the spell with night vision is added if activated in a dark area. Three levels of this spell are available with each level of this spell gaining 3% to movement speed and increasing the active and cooldown timer by 5 seconds per level.
Cascading Blades
3 second cast time, 40 second cooldown
225%x2 total attack power
While dealing damage this skill also knocks down enemies in a five-foot radius causing them to go into a prone state for five seconds. Appears as a small hail of black and purple blades raining down on the enemies in a chosen area.
Intertwined Fates
Instant Cast, 15 second cooldown
344% total attack power
Blades spinning faster and faster shoot forward doing a large amount of damage before returning to caster's hands.
The skills he had lined up were fairly simple but would most likely serve him fairly well as a newly created character of low level. Pleased with what he saw Dante quietly got up and took his dishes to the wash basin near the stove before announcing “I’ll be looking into some more quests in the area and will most likely be heading out this afternoon. Thank you for your hospitality.” Saying the last bit with a small bow to his hosts.
Shay stood up taking a hand out of his pocket and grasped Dante’s own hand with something hard-pressed between the two clasped hands while they shook “No reason ta thank us kiddo, just stay outta trouble and come visit when ya have the time is all we ca’ ask of ya.” Before leaning in and whispering into Dante’s ear “Take this an I don’ be want’n any arguments in front of the misses. You done earned it.” Then stepping back giving Dante a moment to stow the item and with a nod and a smile before sitting back down.
Dante chuckled “I’ll do my best to come back to you both whole. Make sure you two stay out of trouble while I am gone. I can’t always be around to rescue you.” Heading out the door making sure to close it as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the relaxed baby in its mother's arms.
About a block away from the small house he pulled out the item that Shay had given him and quickly went over the stats which surprised him.
Legendary Stone of the Caster
Item effect: +3 to Crit and +3 to Casting
Description: Only obtainable through legendary monster drops or secret quest rewards.
Can only be placed in Main Hand weapon.
Value: 11,000,000 gold
His eyes went wide as he quickly reread to make sure he was not mistaken. As soon as he was sure of what he read Dante pulled out his main sword and held the crystal up to it and watched as it was suddenly pulled into his weapon as if being absorbed. A slightly glowing purple crystal could now be seen in the middle of the blade with what looked like a slot for one more stone to be placed. Looking back towards the small house Dante only smiled and sent them a silent thank you for the boon that Shay had awarded him. He only hoped he could make sure to be worthy of such an item.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 15.43
Attack Power: 30
Defense Power: 27
Health: 516/516
Mana: 234/234
Stamina: 226/226
Attack Speed +0
Casting Speed +3
Critical Hit +3
Movement Speed +0
Gear:
Main Hand
+14 Blade of Chaos
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos +3 to Crit, +3 to Casting Speed
Helm
+14 Hidden Circlet of Chaos
Armor
+14 Leather Breastplate of Chaos
Gloves
+14 Leather Gloves of Chaos
Shoes
+14 Leather Shoes of Chaos
L Earring slot Empty
R Earring slot Empty
L Ring slot Empty
R Ring slot Empty
Necklace slot Empty
Belt slot Empty
Skills:
Basic Attack
Cascading Blades
Scatter Blades
Chaotic Shield
Hidden Power
Cycle of Fate
Chaos Hold
Shadows of Chaos
Intertwined Fates
Chapter Five
Normally as you wandered around an MMORPG anyone with a quest would have an exclamation mark or question mark over their head but as Dante walked around the town offering friendly greetings to each person he did not see anything that would indicate a quest. Not wanting to give up though he headed into the small pub near the edge of town and took a seat at the small bar waiting for the bartender to come over and take his order.
Cleaning a glass in the ever common way depicted in shows and movies the bartender walked over nodding at Dante “What can I get for ya boy’o? Not sure I seen yer face ‘round these parts afore.”
Smiling Dante responded “Well I am kinda lost to tell you the truth. Wouldn’t mind a bit of Serlonian Rum if you happen to have any on hand. Shay said there also might be some quests locally though I am not sure who to ask about that last bit.”
Giving an approving nod “Aye you must be tha’ lowbe Dante who helped save Shay and his family.” Grabbing a dusty bottle filled with a dark brown liquid and pouring a tall glass before handing it to Dante “For tha’ the drink is on the house. I’m Leo and if yer looking for a good place to start at yer level I would suggest checking with the guards at the west gate. I know they are always complaining about something or another stir’n up trouble for em.”
With a cheerful smile and a nod of thanks Dante downed the drink quickly and sputtered only slightly as it hit his throat causing Leo to chuckle before taking the empty glass. Giving a friendly wave at the bartender who shook his head while still chuckling at Dante he headed out the door and to the western side of town. The houses out here were a bit more plain and the cobbled road transitioned into a dirt one leading to a gate that looked like a mix of the old fort walls and newer stone ones build around the old parts that were somehow still standing.
Standing there in somewhat tarnished iron armor wielding pole arms the guards gave him a polite nod as he approached “What can we do for you stranger?” The first guard asked with a smooth even tone.
“I was told by Leo that I might find some quests here. Hope there is something I can do to help you.” Dante replied with a respectful nod to each guard.
Offering a hand the guard who was silent a moment before stepped forward “I’m Terrance, and if Leo sent you then you must be more capable than your level would hint at.” Chucking as Dante took his hand with a broad grin.
“Shay said something along those lines last night when I pulled his neck out of the fire.” Stepping back a bit he continued “I’d love to say I am just doing this for the good of it but I would also like to get a bit stronger and hopefully get some upgrades for my gear. If I can do some good while advancing my own skills and gear then all the better.”
Laughing heartily and thumbing at the woods behind him Terrance responded “There are some forest sprites that cause trouble from time to time out there. If you can bring back twenty sets of sprite wings we can give you a decent reward. Though be careful not to wander too deep into the forest or you may wander across the slumbering Sprite Queen and though I don’t doubt your skills it would take most of this town's militia to settle her down again.”
To his surprise there was a ding and a window appeared in front of Dante’s face:
Sprite Hunter
Go out and collect twenty sets of sprite wings from the Forest Sprites and bring them back to Terrance as proof.
Rewards: 375 exp, 200 gold, and new title Sprite Hunter
Not sure what to do Dante nodded acceptance of the quest and watched as the window disappeared after flashing the words ‘Quest Accepted’ before he turned towards the woods and headed out on his first real quest. Unsheathing his swords as he approached Dante moved forward slowly trying to reduce the amount of noise he made as he moved around trees and bushes determined not to just stumble his way into a group of sprites.
It was about five minutes in before he heard a strange tinkling sound up ahead. Crouching down and moving ever slower Dante peaked over a bush and saw two strange creatures. On instinct, he read over their information.
Sprite Trickster
Level: 18
Sprite Knight
Level: 20
With s small gown made of leaves the Sprite Trickster was hovering around seeming to talk to the Sprite Knight who wore armor made of what looked like shiny bark in a twinkly small voice Dante was unable to understand.
Taking a deep breath knowing that both of these creatures could easily prove too much Dante swiftly stood up activating his skill Cascading Blades knocking down the leaf covered sprite while the armored one seemed unaffected by the skill other than a small hit to its damage. Not wanting to lose momentum Dante followed this up with Scatter Blades aiming for the sprite that was still on the ground only to be intercepted by the armored one. Taking the Sprite Knight down to roughly twenty-five percent of its remaining health it then turned and smashed a small wooden shield into Dante’s shin stunning him briefly and taking away five percent of Dante’s life in the process.
Dizzied by the effect Dante was unable to strike and unaware of the incoming bolt of magic fired by the Sprite Trickster that took out a heft thirty-five percent of his remaining health. What felt like burning heat seared through Dante as he was quickly snapped out of his stupor allowing him to cast Shadows of Chaos and slip behind the Sprite Trickster landing a critical attack with his basic attack from the bonuses granted by attacking from the back as well as in stealth.
Spinning around, the Sprite Knight charged at Dante who responded by triggering Intertwined Fates finishing it off. Before resting Dante looted the monsters finding a little gold on each and Bark Boots on the Knight which didn’t seem to be an equitable item but instead a gatherable trash item. As he went from one to the other the Sprites faded leaving behind a pair of Sprite Wings each. Once everything else was looted from the corpses they vanished without a trace. Happily to be a few steps closer to completing the quest Dante sat in the small clearing a moment to catch his breath. On killing the Sprite Knight he had hit level sixteen and eleven hundredths which refilled his Health, Mana and Stamina bars, so he would not need to really rest, but he also did not want to rush through the quest.
For a good two hours Dante continued to sneak around taking out the sprites and hitting level eighteen before the quest requirements were complete. He’d gone pretty far into the forest and though he knew it was only afternoon the forest seemed to have gone dark with light blue sparkles of magic floating around fading in and out almost like the fireflies back home. Curious about the area and noticing some odd stones popping out of the grass and moss Dante continued forward to inspect it.
As he approached though there was a shrill roar and before he knew it the world had gone dark and messages were floating in front of his face:
Warning! You have died!
All exp for this level has been reset to 0% and the crystal Legendary Stone of the Caster has shattered losing any bonuses that may have been applied from it. Would you like to respawn at a nearby town or node?
Town/Node?
You have woken the Sprite Queen from her slumber!
A triggered world boss event will not go away until the beast is defeated. Beware the beast may roam now until defeated.
With a groan Dante dismissed the messages and selected town to as he felt a rush as his body seemed to be flung back to the nearby town of Fort before a flash of light enveloped him letting him know the transition was complete.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 18.00
Attack Power:30
Defense Power:27
Health:977/977
Mana:486/486
Stamina:342/342
Attack Speed +0
Casting Speed +0
Critical Hit +0
Movement Speed +0
Gear:
Main Hand
+14 Blade of Chaos
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos
Helm
+14 Hidden Circlet of Chao
s
Armor
+14 Leather Breastplate of Chaos
Gloves
+14 Leather Gloves of Chaos
Shoes
+14 Leather Shoes of Chaos
L Earring slot Empty
R Earring slot Empty
L Ring slot Empty
R Ring slot Empty
Necklace slot Empty
Belt slot Empty
Skills:
Basic Attack
Cascading Blades
Scatter Blades
Chaotic Shield
Hidden Power
Cycle of Fate
Chaos Hold
Shadows of Chaos
Intertwined Fates
Plight of Chaos
Chapter Six
Slowly regaining sight Dante found himself standing in the middle of town with many of the people pointing at him with wide eyes and mouths agape. Several were shouting something about “Adventurers have returned!” or “The Demon King has sent him to kill us all!” while more and more people gathered. Guards quickly gathered as well and while creating a ring around Dante holding back the people a few were aiming their weapons at him eyeing him suspiciously.