by TJ Reynolds
I bent over to recover, gasping to catch my breath and feeling the dozen or so wounds the cabrón had left me with.
One pitched battle was underway on the far end of the arena. The orc holding the halberd was backing away from the skilled thrusts of a fighter with a long spear. I couldn’t see much about them other than that they were armored head to foot, only a thin visor slit in their helm.
To my left, a woman was landing a finishing blow with her mace, reshaping a man’s skull.
Another man to the right of me stumbled back from the twitching form he’d just dispatched. But he looked down at his body and gaped at the blood pumping out of a massive cut in his thigh. He fell to the ground, pressing his hands to the wound, and yelled out, “I yield.”
A pair of medics ran out and carried the man away.
Four left, then. The mace-toting woman looked up at me and nodded.
I walked toward her, mostly numb now from fatigue and pain. She looked like she could use a bath and a back, but she didn’t hesitate to match my stance and face me.
Almost feeling obliged to get things moving, I attacked first. Not wanting to waste time or energy, I used Sunder right away, and she responded by using Dodge. I thought of triggering Whirlwind after, but I didn’t want to open myself up for a counterattack.
Instead I rushed forward, feigning a charge. I felt rather than saw her use a Shield Bash, but I was already spinning out of the way. It missed me by mere inches. Then her weapon flashed out, clanging my axe out of my hand. Considering the strength of my grip, I suspected that she’d just used a Disarm skill.
Well, thank the gods for dual-wielding. I gripped my remaining axe, the Foreman’s Toothpick, in both hands and struck out again in a series of attacks. I was hoping she would try for a counterattack, and after a few more passes, my hopes were rewarded.
She opened her shield for an instant and aimed a punishing blow at my head. I parried the attack then sent my axe out toward her face. The blade was on course to end the woman when she did exactly what I was hoping. She used Dodge.
In the split second I had before she could respond, I used Sunder again and cut through the middle of her shield. She screamed and the shield fell to the ground, her stump of an arm spraying blood through the air.
I aimed my next attack low, cutting under her upheld mace and slicing through her knee. I cut off her final screams with a slash across the throat.
Looking around, I saw my other axe and ran to pick it up. When I had it back in hand, I heard the gurgle of another death behind me. I turned and faced my final competitor.
When I looked up, the haggard face of the orc met my gaze. We both laughed like chittering psychos, and I ran out to meet him.
The bout began normal enough, trading blows and trying to cut each other’s head off. But soon enough, I learned why the warrior wore a mismatched gauntlet on one hand, all shiny black but for a swirl of vibrant purple on the backhand. I was sidestepping another thrust from his halberd when he let the tip of the spear-like weapon fall. He darted forward and used an ability that I never could have anticipated.
As he reached for me with his black-gauntleted hand, a spark of violet light filled his palm and exploded outward. A wet mass of tentacles smelling like a rotten crotch shot out and found purchase in every crevice of my chest plate and vambraces. The orc no doubt expected me to pull away, or hack down at the tentacles. But instead I vomited. I’d had a lot to drink before the match and eaten my share of travel rations. The font of puke shot out and splashed over the orc’s greaves.
Then I lost it.
I grabbed the tentacles with one hand, letting the Foreman’s Toothpick tumble to the ground, and yanked him toward me. The man had a dagger in his hand that he plunged into my shoulder. The tip managed to worm its way in and wound me, but my headbutt and subsequent axe blow to the orc’s neck were more damaging.
He fell to the ground, a smile on his face of all things, and died at my feet.
The crowd applauded. I raised my fist in the air but couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the layer of goop coating me. When I tried to wipe sweat from my brow, more of the slime ran across my face and I threw up again.
Overall, it was a unique experience, hearing the leonine roar of an ecstatic crowd suddenly turn to laughter. At least I had been entertaining.
9: “Destruction cowers to mark what deeds are done.”
— George Gordon, the 6th Baron
MADI
“The look on your face, though,” the huge orc, whose name turned out to be Oliver Krakenfist, said before tipping back his mug of ale again and hailing the server for more. “Was almost worth it in the end. You looked like someone had poured ants down your chainmail trousers.”
With a grin on my face, accepting the good-natured teasing, I jabbed back, “Yeah, yeah. I think what matters is that I won.”
He laughed again, hard enough to rattle the cups on the wall. “Did you, though? Did you?”
I laughed with him, remembering the somewhat ridiculous end to the Battle Royale.
noticing more of the viscous slime that had all but drenched my beautiful armor. “It was a lot like being attacked by a squid after it was dunked in a bucket of snot.”
Oliver nodded, appreciating the yuck factor, at least. “I got one right in the face, too. The ogre shaman I took it from didn’t feel like letting it go. I even swallowed some.”
I slammed my own mug down on the counter and pulled out a few coins. “Serves you right. We’re cool now, but you even use that thing near me again and I’ll cut your cabrón butt down! Rodrick, can you make sure this beast remains well in his cups, and please send one of your lovely helpers to my room? I need my armor cleaned again.”
I slapped Oliver on his back and turned to leave the common room of the Rooster’s Head. Before I made it halfway across the floor, a stolid figure stepped in my way. “One moment of your time, young champion,” Wardahl said, sarcasm dripping off every word.
“How may I help you, dwarf? Here for a signature?”
“Ha! As if you know how to hold a pen.” The armorer walked up to me. “No, I’m here to say well done today. Also, I have a couple more surprises for you in the shop. Stop by when you manage to wake up.”
We shook hands, and then the dwarf let me stagger away to my room. It wasn’t particularly late, but the rollercoaster of adrenaline had left me exhausted.
After forming a stinking pile of my armor and gear for whatever poor maid had to clean it, I soaked in the brass tub again, which I had asked Rodrick to fill. The water was still hot enough to make me gasp as I slid in, and I couldn’t have been happier.
Tejón started speaking to me as I entered my room, his feast finally at an end. Done making noise with your friends?
Making noise? What is that all about? We were just having some fun.
The bear’s gut roiled in a fit of digestion, and he responded sluggishly, You all sound like a flock of birds. Anyway, I gained a level with my affinity again, and can choose another skill.
I propped myself up in the bath and peered over the edge at him, ignoring the maid that scurried away with my armor. Really? That’s great news!
When I focused on my notifications, before I even had a chance to look at Tejón’s upgrade possibilities, I saw that I had one of my own.
Affinity Skill unlocked: Because your companion pet has achieved Level 2 in their chosen Affinity, you can now choose a skill that aligns with the corresponding element. Earth: Choose one of the following Active skills: Quake Stomp, Granite Wall, Stone Fist.
Quake Stomp: Combine your rage with the tectonic forces of the earth. Attack occurs instantly and causes 10% base attack damage to everyone in the affected area. 50% chance to knock down targets. 25% chance to cause Daze. Area of Effect is two yards wide and six yards long in the direction you are facing. Effect ignores allies. Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Granite Wall: Wrap your body in a thin but durable layer of stone to reduce incoming d
amage. All incoming damage reduced by 25%. All elemental attacks besides water reduced by 25%. Slows all movement by 5%. Duration: 5 minutes. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
Stone Fist: Envelop your fists with hard rock, making your hands into deadly weapons. Unarmed combat becomes equal to highest weapon damage. Also, no damage can be inflicted on your hands or arms while active. Duration: 2 minutes or until you recover your weapon. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
So cool. I could easily envision my arms swathed in stone and bashing some monster’s face in. What else could a berserker chica need in this world?
I told Tejón and followed up with the details of each skill.
The bear thought for a while, then answered, You have rarely been without your weapons, so that does not seem like a good choice. And protection is good, but you have me and that shiny red armor the small man gave you. It gives you enough protection, I think. Go with the one that will knock down enemies. Then we can kill them quicker.
I made the selection then. Quake Stomp would be a fun skill to try out, and the arena battles in the morning would be the perfect time to do so.
Now what about you, buddy? I asked. What are your next choices? I gave a mental command to access the bear’s information.
Path of Stone Skill Tree Options:
Mountain Clad (Active): The stone bear’s body becomes hardened with stone. Grants a 10% reduction in damage from all physical attacks. Also grants an additional 25% reduction in Piercing and Slashing Damage. Movement speed reducted by 5% while active. Stamina consumption of all attacks and skills increased by 5%. Duration: until deactivated.
Gravel Storm (Active): Unleash the endless rage of Volen and assault your enemies with a cloud of rock fragments. Damages enemies caught in the Area of Effect by 10 HP per second. The skill creates a sphere of influence around the companion’s position with a radius of fifteen feet in all directions. Duration: 20 seconds. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
I pondered the skills, then asked Tejón, What do you think, bro?
I would choose to sharpen my claw before thickening my hide. I want Gravel Storm.
I nodded, slipping down into the tub again, leaving only my ears and face above the water. Sounds good. Those suckers at the arena tomorrow have no idea what they are getting into.
The next morning, we rose early and went to see Wardahl. The arena fights began earlier than they had the day before as there were a lot of competitions to get through. On the way, I dropped in to see the woman from the trinket shop.
Already poised to fleece me, the merchant crooned, “Back again? I hear you have had some success in the arena.”
I nodded and gestured to Tejón’s bulky form sitting out in the street. “Yes, and my friend here is excited to win the Companion’s Cup with me today. I’m confident we’ll win.”
For once, the woman’s eyes showed genuine surprise. “Is it… is that a stone bear?” she whispered before her gaze darted back to me.
I nodded, satisfied that she thought Tejón as impressive as I did.
She drew herself up tall and cleared her throat. “I have a fondness for bears, and I would be remiss if I were to say that I wouldn’t enjoy the occasion to meet him.”
I blinked. “Is that your way of asking if you can come pet him?”
“Pet? Well, if it does not mind my company, yes.”
I led her out of the shop and introduced her. “Him. His name is Tejón and he loves attention. Come and say hello.”
The woman walked with her hands folded together, a picture of dignity but for the flash of joy in her eyes. She approached Tejón and lifted up a hand, asking him silently for permission. He chuffed out his reply and lowered his head.
I suggested, “Scratch near the bone plate. He loves that.”
She did so, hesitant at first, but after he groaned with pleasure, she felt more comfortable. After a time, she sighed. “I’ve adored these animals for years, especially the stone variety. I do not know how you convinced one to follow you, but you must be a woman of pure heart. You are here for the abyss bag, then?”
The shift in topic was so quick that it took me a moment to realize what she was talking about. “Yes, I am.”
She continued efficiently, “I told you if you had a win, I might consider a deal. Your offer was offensively low. If you knew your business, you’d have offered twelve thousand and we’d have agreed on somewhere around sixteen. But because of the bear, and what you’ve just given me, I will sell it to you for fifteen. Take it or have a good day.”
I smiled and held out my hand.
The woman looked at my hand as if it were covered in fleas. “Only men and savages need to shake hands to seal a deal. You have my word. When you have the gold, come by and I will sell you the bag.”
“I have it now,” I responded, enjoying the flicker of surprise that crossed her face.
A few minutes later, I came walking out of the shop, one OP item richer.
I walked to the armorer’s shop next. Wardahl was inside, and if I didn’t know the dwarf any better, waiting for me. “Did you bring the bear?” he asked. When I nodded toward the street, he grinned. “Look.”
I followed his finger and saw a matching set of wyvern scale armor, this one somehow glazed black. The red still reflected through somewhat, but at a glance, it looked almost like obsidian.
I ran a hand over the armor. “Gods above. Tejón is gonna flip,”
The armorer had crafted something completely unique, taking into account the bone plating of the stone bears. A helm of small, trimmed scales formed a guard for the top of the bear’s snout and ran up, forming a network of scales that would cover his vulnerable hide between the plate at the top of his head and the two on his cheeks. The rest was a drapery of scales that protected his shoulders, back, and the space around his rib plates.
Wardahl gestured to the masterwork armor and explained, “I didn’t want him to think his own armor wouldn’t do. Only problem is that he will outgrow this set. Each has straps that can be let out, so he can wear it until he approaches his full size. If you feel he still needs any armor by then, come back, and we will figure something out, though I’m out of scales. Who knows, though? By then, I’m sure you’ll find a few ingots of adamantium or dragon glass.”
I still had no way to truly thank the dwarf, but when we carried Tejón’s plate armor out, I retrieved the huge cobalt hammer and the elk antlers from our trip to Bridgerun. “I want you to have these. Not as payment, but perhaps you could use them somehow.”
Wardahl examined the antlers first, nodding, and then looked at the hammer. “Cobalt steel is not as light as mithril, but it is actually stronger. I can make plenty with this. Thank you, Madi. Oh, and tell Alysand he owes me a favor. Very little in this world is worth more than the favor of a bullet bard.”
Tejón shifted about nervously as we attached the armor to his bulky frame. It was no easy task. Yet after almost fifteen minutes of shoving and tugging things into place, and poor Wardahl getting his boot stepped on by the huge bear, we had finished.
I took a few steps back and admired his form—strong and powerful, and now gleaming like black marble.
How do I look? the bear asked.
I grinned at him wickedly. My friend, you look scary as hell. This armor will make you close to invulnerable.
Coal of Anwar Scale Armor Peytral
Quality: Legendary: Armor 250
Durability 800/800
+10 Vitality, +10 Strength, +25% Fire Resistance, +10% Blunt Weapon Damage Resistance
Coal of Anwar Scale Armor Chanfron
Quality: Legendary: Armor 125
Durability 400/400
+15 Strength, +15 Stamina, +25% Fire Resistance, +10% Piercing Weapon Damage Resistance
Coal of Anwar Scale Armor Crupper
Quality: Legendary: Armor 400
Durability 1200/1200
+15 Strength, +15 Stamina, +15 Dexterity
Coal of Anwar Scale Armor Crinet
Quality: Legendary:
Armor 150
Durability 400/400
+5 to all attributes, +50% Earth Resistance
Coal of Anwar Matching set bonus: Equipping all pieces of the armor grants an additional 5% Fire Damage and 5% Earth Damage to all physical attacks.
Special Ability: Lava Burst.
Lava Burst (Active): By combining the Flame affinity of the Anwar scales and the Earth affinity of the stone bear, a sphere of lava explodes on any nearby enemies. All incoming attacks prevented for 10 seconds. After the sphere bursts, all enemies within 3 feet of explosion receive the Burned debuff, reducing their HP by 20 points every second for 12 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.
Next, the dwarf handed me a large sack next. “And this is for the Ranger and her pet enfield. You’ll have to ask Wardeen to make adjustments if needed.” I peeked inside. Hana would flip out when she saw it, and though I wanted to ask Wardahl to explain the armor he’d made for Pachi, I decided to wait to explore the prize with Hana when I gave it to her.
We made our goodbyes and Wardahl promised to meet us again at the Rooster’s Head that night.
When I sat down to watch the first rounds of fights, I was disappointed to see that Teegan wasn’t there. Then again, the solo competition was first, so I assumed he was getting prepared.
The first bout was between two massive combatants. One was lizard folk, and the other must have been either an ogre or giant mix.
