by Lars M.
He got to his feet, almost stumbled, and then thought better of it and sat back down. "One question at a time. Limits. Huh. The stories tell about bards who are able to walk battlefields all by themselves, subduing enemy armies by music alone. The stories are also mostly wishful thinking. 'Mostly,' because, regardless of your talent and skill, it only takes one stray arrow to take you down, and your powers do have a maximum range. My second teacher, Edgesinger, was government material, and about as powerful as they get. Riding in company, he was famed for being able to take enemies out of commission right before the charge of his company hit - every time."
"Wait. You mean..."
"Yes. Riding, in the middle of battle, he was able to continuously debilitate the enemy troops that were next in line to be trampled by his company."
"Wow." I tried to imagine the mental control it'd take to roll out a continuous avalanche of spells mid-battle, and failed. Or the stats you'd need to keep it up.
"Yes. As for permanence, this will not be an issue for you for the first couple of years, however. You need to become a Bard Master before you learn to cast permanent mental spells, not to mention the conditions and warnings that apply. But yes. Once you start affecting people long-term, their natural instincts and personalities will begin to fight against the magic."
"All right. Appreciate the answers. Huh. I almost forgot. You mind a single non-magic question?"
"By all means. Pfah." He spat. "You know, I remember this part. After half a skin, the taste is barely noticeable. Would you like some?"
"Hah. Thank you, but no. What I've been meaning to ask was this: during the class quest, you had a handful of kobolds helping you out. My guess is they were castoffs from Nerit, like my band of Anathema misfits. The Council's bound to pitch a fit, but still - why don't you ask them if they would like to join the village? We could probably use a group of hardened toughs like them and... well, it probably sucks, not having a home."
He muttered something inaudible. Then, with a look I could only interpret as sadness, he shook his head. "Kind of you to ask. It is, however, not my call to make. Their agreement is with my employer, not with me."
"Uh huh. The one I'm not allowed to know the name of?"
"Yet. Yes." His bloodshot eyes looked straight into mine.
"Fair enough. Keep your secrets, then."
He nodded. "I will ask him whether he would approve, however. I do believe some of them would enjoy the possibility of belonging somewhere again. He might agree."
"That's all I ask. You're a decent guy, Greck. I'll leave you and the wineskins alone to get acquainted while I go try out something for a while. I don't know how long I'll be."
He waved me off. "Take your time. I have enough Ache here for the day. For a decade, really, but I believe I am staying here for the night."
Heh – that left me with enough time for him to drink himself into a stupor. That was an uneasy time schedule, especially with how potent the nasty stuff was.
I walked briskly to my nearby training clearing of death. The place was exactly as schizophrenic as I remembered. Idyllic surroundings, flowers and wildlife everywhere - and heaps of animal bones under foot, remnants of Greck’s own experimenting and training.
Greck had meant his explanation as an overview, but honestly, his description of the basic emotions sounded more like a shopping list to me. Each of the emotions was a potential spell waiting to be abused. Some, I could imagine, used to affect people in general. I particularly liked the idea of amping up the joy of a crowd I was entertaining for better tips. The reverse was also a possibility - sowing seeds of distrust or even anger, if, say, Ms. Darkvine was giving a speech. My only issue was that I wanted to learn everything, and I doubted Greck's ability to keep awake, after all the Ache I'd given him. Good thing I'd been contemplating which spell to craft for a while now.
It was getting to the point where I was pretty well-rounded. My damage spells were actually decent, especially when I learned how to incorporate Greck's latest tricks. In time, I'd have to learn some additional ranged damage spells, but for now, I was good. With Charm, Sleep, Entrance Animals, Sonic Push, and Stun Blast, I was also well-equipped to handle the support side of things - especially if we came in with time to plan. No, what I really needed now was a panic button - a save-my-butt spell to grant me a few seconds' respite if I was taken by surprise or forced into a corner. Rubbing my hands in anticipation, I equipped my violin and got to work.
Fifteen minutes later, I wiped a few droplets of sweat from my brow and growled in frustration. Here I'd thought I had the perfect combination all figured out. Turns out, I didn't. The visualization part was effortless by now. I was going for a cone effect like the Sonic Wave. The effect of the spell was pretty easy, too. A spell on my old warlock in another game produced the exact effect I wanted. What troubled me was the accompanying music. Turns out that the tune of Fear of the Dark on a violin wasn't all that scary. I wracked my brain, searching for alternatives. Following a minute of kicking mushrooms in frustration, I finally yelled out 'Eureka'. Unless I was mistaken, I'd been limiting myself in yet another area. Sure, it made a lot of sense only putting the spells to music, but why make do with that when the perfect sound effect already existed?
Seconds later, I watched as a cone of semi-darkness erupted from me to the tones of the iconic stabbing scene in Psycho, and the vaunted pop-up appeared before me.
Congratulations. You have learned a new spell:
Audible Horror
You summon a wave of sonic energy from your hands, which bursts in an ever-widening cone in the direction you choose. Anybody struck by the wave is filled with unspeakable horror, acting according to their instincts. Every skill point to Audible Horror will increase the chance of success.
Properties:
Range: 10 meters
Effect width: 90 degrees
Duration: 5 seconds
Cast time: 1.0 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Save vs. Mental Spells negates
Mana cost: 30
Incredible. I couldn’t wait to try that out in practice. The cooldown was a bit of a party killer, but it would've been a bit overpowered otherwise. I finally had a last resort to save me from those pesky close combat aficionados. I waited impatiently for three minutes and tried again. The result was pleasing, and I grinned as I easily altered the form, reducing the cone to a thin line of darkness.
I trotted back to Greck, smiling to see that my Magic Lore skill had gone up by two. Definitely an educational outing. When I spotted my cold-blooded mentor, I realized that he was drunk. Plastered, even. He was attempting to play a jaw harp and sing at the same time – the key word being 'attempt.' The gargled sounds that escaped him would've pleased only a vorgon.
"Yo, Greck. I need advice." His blurry eyes squinted at me. At least he wasn't too far gone to help. "I've just learned a spell to scare away any enemies that come close - any tips on how best to use it?" Raising my violin, I showed off the spell and waited for his input. And waited.
His face was scrunched up in concentration, as if fighting against the haze of Ache. With very clear enunciation, he ventured, "There is one thing. If you really intend to scare them," he leaned towards me conspiratorially, "you should cast it naked." He exploded into roaring laughter and cast himself to the ground, where he rolled around in mirth.
"Helpful. Thanks." I sighed. "Anything useful?"
He held up a finger and opened his mouth, then hesitated and downed a healthy mouthful of Ache. Then he looked back at me. "What? Oh, help. Hmm. Please cast it again."
I waited for the cooldown to run down and immediately, the cone of horror incarnate shot into being, engulfing a nearby rabbit that had ventured too close. The timid animal keeled over as its tiny heart gave out.
Greck showed off his sharp teeth in appreciation. "Dinner. Thank you. You know, that is kind of you - thinking of your teacher. Or is it master? My master was a Master for certain, but still..." His mus
ing tapered off into muttering.
"Greck. What did you think of the spell?" I struggled to keep my annoyance in check.
"Huh. Right. The spell. I... think I need to lie down a bit."
Just like that, my informative teacher lay down on the job and promptly went to sleep. I considered prodding him with a foot to see if I could get him up to help again, but reconsidered. Judging from the flaccid wineskin clenched in his fist, he'd imbibed enough hard liquor to kill a rhino. That did it. Next time, I'd have somebody invent a non-alcoholic brew. I watched his sleeping form for a moment and against my better judgment, a smile grew on my face. "Huh. That was a surprise," I said to myself. "Every time we've met, I've learned a lot. This time, however, I've actually enjoyed your company. Nothing in our history prepared me for that." I took my spare cloak from my inventory and draped it over the old kobold. Yeah. I was coddling an imaginary person. So sue me. It felt like the thing to do.
Greck turned over in his sleep, mumbling. I could've imagined it, but the word he muttered under his breath might have been "Likewise."
Chapter 14 – On A Schedule
I really wanted to spend a handful of hours practicing my Multicast skill. Maybe see whether I would be able to boost my spellcasting without the violin by singing – or humming? Also, I could really do with one of those emotion-altering spells Greck had mentioned. Well, that’s not entirely true. Above all, I wanted to return to the inn and spend the late afternoon and evening goofing off and enjoying myself. I could easily see myself getting drunk and rousing people to join me - maybe make some sort of drinking song contest. Still, I was running out of time before the caravan was due, and I had a couple of things I'd hate to leave undone. A quick detour, and Atlas was bounding along next to me, sending happy thoughts at the idea of a music-filled evening. Naevys was in, for once, and she sent me a happy wave as I walked carefully down the wooden stairs to her forest dwelling.
"Arcangelo!" The tiny elf bounded across the floor to fling herself at me in a hug. "I am so sorry."
I tried to extricate myself and failed. Those stick-thin arms were deceptively strong. "Sorry? What for?"
She looked up at me. "You don't know? Oh, that Benneth. He should have said. I do foresee that his home will experience an infestation of mice in the near future. That just makes this all the more sad. Here." She handed me an envelope.
Damn. I had a good idea what the content of the envelope was - and watching my real name stand out as the headline cleared the final doubt.
Dear Daniel.
I am no good with words. Not like you. Still, I am giving it a shot here. Benneth started my class quest before I expected.
I am going to miss you. More than I had imagined at first. Stay safe and come back to us once you have charmed every damn one of those harpies into becoming a vassal state or something. I will make sure to come back harder, better, faster, and stronger.
P.S. In case those harpies are the hot-as-hell type, tell them to back off. I do not mind slumming it with a bard, but I dislike sharing.
P.P.S. That sounded way more flippant in my head. I would start over, but ole Grumpy here is starting to become impatient. Serves him right.
P.P.P.S. If you really need help, get a message to me somehow. I will come.
Mila
I carefully tucked the letter into my inventory. All sorts of emotions were battling for dominance within my head. I was annoyed with Benneth. Felt warm inside from Mila's words - and was more than a little moved by her readiness to throw everything and come to the rescue. I definitely felt more than a little alarmed by how our relationship was progressing. The latter, I promptly shoved into the deepest recesses of my mind. I had no time for love or anything resembling that. I coughed; it felt like I had something in my throat. "Appreciate it, Naevys. Erm. There's no need for any revenge on Benneth on my account. He'd probably just guess I was to blame regardless."
"Are you sure? I have an armistice with a nearby termite colony, and I would not mind reaching out to them."
A snigger escaped at the thought of the brooding catfolk awakening to an antsy invasion. "Better not. I'm loving the thought, though." I grinned at her. "Vengeance aside, Atlas and I came to ask if you'd care to spend a little time with us?"
She held a finger to her lips, mock contemplating the proposal. "The Council will have to vote on this. That is a hefty decision for one person alone. What would you have in mind?"
I rummaged around in my inventory, producing my violin, the rest of the lunch box, and two bottles of water. "I bring tunes, drinks, and food. A veritable abundance of sustenance... if you were starving, perhaps." I bowed and continued wryly, "I swear I've given more thought to the activities than the food and drink."
She took a noble pose, one hand held out for me to kiss. "Alas, that my callers should come upon such hard times. I shall have to assist you, my unfortunate soul." Giggling like a mischievous child, she swayed toward a woven basket. "Behold, my subjects. The spoils of war." Her voice returned to normal. "Or, to be precise, the spoils of my latest walk. My time is yours."
We jumped right into it. Naevys showed me the progress she'd made on the violin since last time, and I listened first and then made some corrections. Mostly, however, I just tried to hide my awe. Atlas was munching with gusto on a handful of mushrooms, but the harmonious vibes through our bond told me that he loved every moment of it. She was a natural. I gave her a few tricks on posture and corrected her hand hold, as her wrist was slightly bent inward. As she finished the song we'd been working on last time, I gave her a standing applause.
"Naevys - that was amazing. The kind of progress you've made..." I gesticulated wildly, then let my hands fall, as words failed me. "I know people tend to disbelieve bards because... well, we're good liars. But believe me here: you are on the right path. Atlas approves, too."
"Atlas is a creature of great wit and taste," she said, blowing him a kiss.
"Listen, Naevys. I'll be honest with you. Odds are good that I'll have to leave the village again soon. I'll probably be gone at least a week, too. Maybe more. I might have time to come see you once more for a bit of violin practice, but even that part's doubtful. I'm not going to be chronicled as being the best teacher ever, that's for certain. Still, I'd prefer it if I left you well off in terms of how to proceed from here. So, here's what I have for you..."
The next two hours flew by. Most of that time, we spent selecting songs. She played a number of local songs for me on the flute - songs she knew by heart already. That way, she'd be able to switch back and forth between instruments to check her pitch, and she'd be aware of exactly how the song should go. The last bit of time, we spent bickering. All friendly-like, but bickering nonetheless.
"I am still not certain that I see the attraction of it." The dainty elf considered me with a creased forehead. She had slung herself to the ground amid a heap of pillars and was munching on an apple.
"It's all up to you, of course," I repeated for the third time. "but if there is one thing that kills a budding talent, it's lack of practice. You have the talent, no doubt about it. I'm afraid, however, that if I hare off and leave you alone, you'll get bored with practicing alone. Next thing you know, you haven't touched the violin for a week, and the next time you pick it up, you're just that tiny bit out of practice... and suddenly, you just don't see the point."
She frowned. "That sounds-"
"Like I'm speaking from personal experience, yes. I almost stopped playing after that. That's not relevant, though. This is: if you make a point of going to play at the tavern every other day or so, it'll be a win for everybody. People will be entertained, and you'll have an excuse to keep up the practice. Also, since we've practiced with local songs, they'll know them as well and be able to tell you if you're making any large errors." I winked. "Not to mention the fact that Gillem won't bug me as much for leaving him without entertainment if he knows you'll stop by every now and then."
She stared at me accusingly. "You kee
p stating that it's my own choice to make. Why does it feel like I am the doe being herded by clappers?"
I weighed my words carefully. She was a bright one. "Because I am trying to push you. Just a little." I held out my hands in supplication. "It's with good intentions, though. I know how easy it is to get bored and flake on something and go back to your regular rhythms."
"All right. Point well made. I am more deeply rooted than most, and remain a creature of habits. Perhaps it would do me good to change this one. Speaking of changing habits - how goes the communication between our unlikely duo?"
"Oh, we're doing great. As you know, Darya doesn't talk a lot about herself, but we're still getting along pretty well. She does this thing with her face..." Naevys was becoming increasingly stone faced and I laughed out loud. "Sorry. I'm pretty sure Chertog has ruined my sense of humor. Atlas and I... well, we're doing good, I think. We don't spend as much time together as I'd like. Life in the village kinda makes that difficult, you know? Still, we do hang out every day, play music, explore a bit, talk... as much as we can, of course."
"How is that proceeding? Is our beautiful lizard as clever as he is sneaky?" She faced him with a warm smile.
The sensations I felt blossoming from Atlas echoed the sentiment. "That, and more. He surprises me each day with what he can and cannot do." I related the incident from the day earlier, where he'd shown me that he was capable of understanding his error, feeling remorse, and showing me what he'd done wrong.
She clasped her hands together in excitement. "Oh, the wonders of two kindred spirits coming together. You still have to tell me about your communication efforts. How do you fare?"
I grimaced. "Good... I guess. We rarely misunderstand each other and I can explain most concepts to him, given enough time." I sent Atlas a mental image of him moving over to Naevys to place his head in front of her for scratches. As he eagerly complied, I said, "I asked him to do that. If he didn't feel like it, I'd have a hard time convincing him." Naevys put a hand on his head with a smile. "He loves being scratched behind that second bony ridge. No - yes, right there." I grinned as sensations of bliss started beaming at me. "In some aspects, he's really just a giant house cat. I - sometimes doubt how we're progressing with the language, though. It feels like we've hit a snag, and I'm not sure exactly how to proceed."
