“Would have helped a lot,” Sorry says.
“You shush,” says Days.
She swats his arm, tucks her chin under, and grins.
Something going on between those two. Makes me think of Silvia.
Doolittle has an even voice and a foreign accent, Spanish maybe. “We should have a plan. Varengan can heal himself again and again.”
“We did fine last time without a plan,” boasts Days, swimming over Doolittle and pulling one of his elf ears. Doolittle squints up at him and smacks his hand.
“Alright, if that’s your way. Not that I’ve ever lost a fight with Sorry in it.” He smiles at the Voodoo Lady. She’s wearing a black robe and a Medusa Headdress. I’ve never seen anyone wear one. Nobody ever knew where to get one.
“I say we go in and do what we do,” Sorry concludes.
“I’m game,” I say, never having been in a big battle with my Counts. I also don’t know half of my allies’ moves and can’t begin to formulate a plan.
We swim into the Caves of Eternity, past the birthing shells, and into its depths. I bring out the Counts of Hell, and the few times we are jumped by monsters, get any kind of unwanted aggro, the Counts take over until we can collect ourselves. That’s pretty cool.
We get to a dead end, much like the one in Nuudle Territory’s cave, and I ask, “Ready?”
“So, you just know this is the right wall?” Sorry says.
“Yeah, well, better be ready just in case.”
“Not bad thinking,” she says.
I put my hand with the mark of a long-necked, flowy bird on my palm on the wall of the cave.
The mark stays on the wall, growing, and my hand glows blue. I pull it away as everything goes dark.
Then, we are in.
Varengan is perched in a golden nest on the far end of the caved, wooded glade we find ourselves in. There is air here, and we’re all soaked—something else I’m still trying to get used to in Dark World. The enormous bird is full of hues of bright and baby blue, with long feathers, glowing all over. His eyes are bright, black sparks. He looks like an exotic bird of paradise. He sees us but stays in his nest.
“Well… what do we do?” asks Doolittle.
“Not sure,” I say. “Maybe we should go up to him.”
“I’ll go in front,” says Days.
Sid summons the Counts of Hell.
They had been unsummoned when we cut into the battle arena. “Wait,” I say. “Let me go first. The Counts will take any big hit.”
Days doesn’t like it, and says we approach together, side by side.
We do a whole hell of a lot of buffing, my own, too. It seems to take too long, even though there is no timer.
“Okay,” says Days. “Let’s go before they wear off.”
With monstrous Mylop Dark Knight Days to my left, and the Counts floating to my right, I feel tiny and vulnerable in my Nuudle body.
The other two follow behind.
Varengan raises his head as we get about twenty feet away from his nest. He calls out, and it sounds beautiful, like a woodwind musical instrument.
What a fabulously beautiful summon.
He acts perplexed, yet still he doesn’t attack.
“Are we even supposed to fight it?” asks Sorry.
“No clue,” I say.
Then, Varengan turns his head and sees the Counts. He hisses and flaps his wings, rising into the air—where none of us can reach him.
The Counts of Hell are on it. Apparently, they don’t like Varengan as much as he doesn’t like them. They swoop up after him and the two immediately smack at each other.
Sid commands Burn. Varengan gains the effects of Burn.
Days uses Invoke Inner Demon.
He’s trying to get the hate off the Counts, but Varengan is too high in the air. They’re taking a beating from Varengan’s golden beak.
Sorry casts Weaken Enemy. Varengan has Offense Down.
Varengan uses Feathers. Varengan gains Protection.
Now, the DoT effect of Burn seems to be less than 30HP per 3 seconds. Varengan’s health is at about 75%, the Feathers move seeming to heal him, too. The Counts are at 50%.
Doolittle casts Deep Heal on the Counts of Hell.
The Counts’ HP matches Varengan’s now.
Days yells, “I can’t do anything in here! He’s too high up! None of my moves will reach him.”
Varengan uses Gentle Flight.
Now he heals himself all the way up to full HP, and he has high protection that even slows DoT.
“Me neither,” says Sorry. “My big DoT spells won’t reach, and neither will Reflection of Darkness. Can’t stop its moves.”
“Try Weaken Enemy more. It’s cumulative, right?”
Sorry casts Weaken Enemy. Varengan has Offense Down.
Sid commands Surround. The Counts of Hell use Surround.
I’ve never used Surround, but maybe it’ll do some damage I’m not expecting.
The Counts surround Varengan mid-air, and then swoosh in front of him and shove him into the back of the cave wall of the glade.
When Varengan slams into the rock, his HP drops to 50%. He slides down to the ground, the Counts right on his forked feet.
Days isn’t far behind.
Days uses Special Ability: Soul Gather.
Will it be this easy? That’s his three-second demolishing move.
Varengan uses Gentle Flight.
Varengan heals to half HP just before the three seconds wear off, and turns on Days.
Varengan uses Swift Flight.
All of us are now targeted. This is his big move, and as though he were an arrow, he makes a flying dive at each of us one after another in an instant, mowing us off our feet. His beak hits me right in the chest and I can’t breathe. I taste blood… but how can that be? No matter, gotta get back on my feet and see how the others are, try to regain some control. My HP is only at 15%.
I hit my head when Varengan used Swift Flight on us, and my vision is doubled.
Doolittle casts Cure All.
Suddenly, all my aches are gone and I feel rejuvinated, re-energized. He’s doing a group party cure, low hate spell, and God, it feels amazing. My HP is almost 75% full.
I can get back into it now.
Sid uses Siezure. Sid commands Hell on Earth.
They can’t reach the bird, and I don’t know if the lava will float, surround Varengan, or what will happen, but I’d glanced back before making my decision to try it and had seen Sorry crumpled, dead. She’d be in her graveyard now, and I got so mad that she had to feel that pain.
That pain I don’t know yet. I haven’t died in Dark World.
The Counts’ crooked, ancient staffs glow red and lava pours out the bottom, but what I hoped came true. The lava encases Varengan, draining his life so quickly I can’t count.
Varengan uses Gentle Flight.
Sid commands Burn.
The Counts of Hell use Burn. Varengan gains the effects of Burn.
As the lava and burn eat away at the summon as he desperately tries to heal and protect, my living companions run to my side, Doolittle healing the Counts all the while.
“Sorry’s gonna be pissed,” Days says.
“I can’t believe she died,” I say, watching the two battle it out until Varengan’s HP goes to zero.
As I fade to cutscene, I hear Days say, “Not that, that she missed seeing those two fight!”
I’m in the glade alone with Varengan. I admit I feel a little afraid. Don’t know why.
The glowing, blue bird flies in the air above me, and then cirles and lands before me.
“I am yours to summon. I will do your bidding. All I ask is that you do not pick my feathers.” Soft, male voice.
“Okay, sounds good,” I tell him.
He collapses into blue, swirling mist and rushes into my chest. Yep, there it is, that shock of energy, and my heart feeling full.
And then I’m back outside the arena in the Cave of Eternity.<
br />
“Turn on guild chat,” says Days.
I do, and hear Sorry. “Can’t stand it when I die in a big battle! Grrr. And Days, just rubbing in the awesome summon duel.”
“Yeah,” I hear and watch Doolittle say as he meets my eyes. “He is a true Mystic, took care of the situation.” I see admiration in his expression.
Was anything I did that great?
In party chat, Sorry says, “I’m almost there. Had my grave set at a graveyard near the capital.”
Days swims around in circles. “Pull ’im out!”
“No, I have to wait for Sorry.” Her body lies in a crumpled heap outside the arena’s exit.
“Nah, it’ll light her way. Come on!”
Just then, her body reanimates and she hollers at Days in a most flirtatious outraged manner about not waiting for her.
Sid summons Varengan.
Blue mist comes out of my chest and the great, blue bird’s shape forms in the water beside us. He’s huge, like the Counts.
“Wow!” says Sorry.
“Hell yeah.” Days grins, his face reflecting blue from Varengan’s shine.
I look at my summons list to see Varengan’s abilities.
Description: A magical bird with feathers that protect against curses and spells. In ancient times, he was hunted for his feathers, and does not like them to be touched. He will heal and protect all who respect him, and he can fly as swift as an arrow.
Abilities:
Feathers—Adds Protection from damage to target. Heals.
Gentle Flight—Heals target to full HP.
Confusion—Confuses target for 20 seconds, where they are unable to fight.
Seizure Ability: Swift Flight—Flies at high speed at target, doing high damage.
I tell them about Confusion. “Isn’t that cool?”
They agree that all of it is cool and ask me to read them the list. I do.
“Thanks for your help. For real. I would never have been able to do all this…”
“Hey,” Sorry says, putting a hand on my shoulder. “We all know something happened to you to get you here and with that Ananta marking on your forehead. People get what they deserve in Dark World. If you ever want to talk about it, and I think it has something to do with why you were late today, I’m here.”
“We all are,” Days added.
“Thanks. I’ll tell you about it some other time. My air’s getting low.” It’s not, but I don’t want to talk about Seeker and his madness.
“Is there anything we can do?” Sorry asks.
“No.” I pause, thinking. “Actually, can any of you find a spell list for Psychics? Are there any Psychics in the guild?”
They laugh. I don’t get it. “There are, maybe, three Psychics in Dark World,” says Doolittle. “Ask the guild, though. Someone might be able to get a list.”
I do, and nobody says anything. After a pause, Shell says, “I might be able to get in touch with one. I’ll get back to you.” She has a raspy voice, like she went to a show the night before and screamed along with every lyric.
I get congratulated for our win against Varengan from the rest of the guild.
I get out of there fast. Have to get back to the graveyard in the Forest of the Undead and find Calla. I have to get my next spell and my next summon fast. There’s a feeling of time running short… a paranoia Seeker instilled in me earlier that day.
~
Calla appears when I summon Varengan.
“I’m so delighted you have completed yet another quest! I will even give you a reward for this one. Check your bag. Also, I do believe you are ready for your next summon quest. Check your quest log and map. Hold out your left hand and I’ll mark it. Good friends you must have made, and that makes a Mystic worthy of quests and gifts.”
I hold out my hand, and a shadowy figure of what looks like a genie appears there.
“Calla, before you disappear, why did you pick me to be Mystic?”
She shakes her head. “Silly Nuudle. I didn’t pick it, you did!” She fades away.
I’m soaked from the eternal rain in this forsaken cemetery, but I take the time to look for Anella. I don’t see her, but that doesn’t mean she’s not here.
I look at my quest log. Djinn is the name of the summon, and he’s marked in Dragonbane Territory in one of the many massive caverns. Why are all these fights in caves?
This is my opportunity to get Meditation and a summon in one hop over to the other continent. Once I’ve activated the Kila Crystals there, traveling won’t be a big deal. Have to get to one, activate it, before you can use it for teleporting to another Kila Crystal.
At least, if Shell’s memory of how she got Meditation is right, I should be on the correct path.
I look in my bags. Calla gave me a scroll and a satchel. I read the scroll first.
Scroll-Maker Apprentice
With this scroll, you can now create your own first spell in the Temple of Nuudlel. You will need to word your scrolls wisely, and choose your materials to activate it carefully. Only the best, high-quality quills and ink are needed. Good luck, young Mystic!
How cool! I’ll definitely hit up the temple with this, but I have other things I need to do first. I look in the satchel and find lots of feather pens and ink.
I must get better gear. Who knows what a Djinn will have in store for me? I hope Days, Sorry… anyone else will help. I never needed this much help in Elora, but it seems like everything I do in Dark World requires help.
Sid summons the Counts of Hell.
I’ll farm these undead mobs and giant bugs, AH stuff I can’t use for clothcraft, make some new gear. I’ll need to buy some fluorite from the AH after stuff sells. When Doolittle heard I had been clothcrafting, he sent me a recipe for a + CON, + INT robe that is craft and Mystic-class specific right around my crafting stat level, which is currently 22.
I go into farming mode with the Counts, once in a while buffing with Varengan—or just healing myself for the good, good feeling of it—and hours pass this way until my newly acquired bags are full. Time to head to Kleeple, sell, sleep, get money from AH sales in the morning. At least now I know to save for a bedroll. Then, I’ll head to the temple after to check out scroll-making.
As the Counts and I find the narrow path leading to the Pass, I step off into the brush, for my Counts’ sake. They get so fidgety when they feel too exposed, and I’ve been going night/day/night. They hate the sunrise most of all, so the least I can do is get away from any sign of sentient beings in their midst.
Seeker casts Crystal Ball on Sid. Sid’s next move is blocked.
My heart also stops.
The Counts are on him. He’s between two moss-covered trees, and he looks wicked in a deep blue, silver-trimmed Seer’s Robe.
Do something!
Sid cannot command the Counts of Hell to take that action.
Dammit!
The Counts get beatings on Seeker, hitting him from all sides with their staffs. His HP drops 10%.
Seeker casts Mind Control. The Counts of Hell are under Seeker’s control for 20 seconds.
Sid casts Contemplation. Sid gains Protection.
I run at him with my staff held out like a sword. He turns the Counts on me. He’s going to burn me! I whack a tree.
Sid casts Contemplation. Sid gains Protection.
Motherfucker. This is going to hurt.
Seeker casts Cure. Seeker gains health.
His HP is at 100%, but then again, so is mine.
I freeze, waiting for it.
“I’m not going to attack you or hurt you. I wanted an even playing field for when we met again.”
I have to pay attention. “What do you want?”
“It’s been three days. I came to hear what you think of my plans, what thoughts you’ve had.” He smiles.
I don’t smile back. “In what world do you live in where you put someone in a position of potential horrible pain, then ask something like that and expect a conversation?” My st
aff is still at the ready.
“Go ahead, I only control their commands, not you. Dismiss them.”
Sid dismisses the Counts of Hell.
“Is that better?” he asks, as though he knows I’m dying to be a part of his take-over-the-world scheme and we’re old pals in on a private joke.
Maybe I should keep ahold of my temper right now. I want to smash him in his chiseled, White Elf face, but that Mind Control spell, well, damn. He could use it on me. If I resummon the Counts of Hell or bring out Varengan, he could say I’m the aggressor.
“Yes,” I say, but my voice still sounds pissed. Gotta work on that. I clear my throat. “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome. Last time we spoke, you expressed some disturbing anger at me. So, of course, I had to take precautions.” He walks toward me. “Have a seat in the leaves with me.” He sits down, crosses his legs.
I reluctantly join him.
“Have you been to Dragonbane Territory yet?” he asks.
“No, I haven’t made it to the other continent.” I mentally slow my breathing by thinking of my grandma’s sugar cookies. So good.
As though he really is psychic and read my foodie mind, he says, “I brought two beers from Cashmere. Siren Ale. Would you like to indulge with me while we discuss?”
Do I have a choice? I have to play it cool, right? “Sure. Thanks. I haven’t had it before. Heard it’s good.”
“It’s the best.”
I have to ask him. “How did you get all this money so fast? Look at what you’re wearing.”
He pulls two bottles of pink beer out of his bag and hands me one. It’s huge. “Mind Control. I used it on players, made them give me the stuff I wanted. I know, you’ll think the worst. I didn’t want to kill them, and I hate that anyone in Dark World feels pain. Have you died? It’s awful. You know what I mean.”
I don’t tell him I haven’t died yet. Instead, I uncork my pink brew and sip. My fingers and toes instantly tingle warmly. “This stuff’s strong.”
He opens his beer and takes a swig. “I could have killed them with Mind Control, used their own spells and moves against them. I can’t do that.”
“That spell seems really high-stat. It can’t be your big move. The one-a-week.”
Total Immersion: Dark World: A LitRPG Adventure Page 8
