A few minutes later, I was back in the tavern.
But for myself, the common room was starkly empty, and with the Paragons gone, I expected it to be that way until I too left.
I wonder how their dungeon dive went, I mused. Despite the poor terms on which the Paragons and I had parted, I didn’t wish any of them ill. I snorted. Even Gavin.
...
2024-12-24 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostI sheathed my daggers and picked up my battlehammer. “How many, Night?”
She was silent for a moment. “Too many,” Night said. “They are surrounding the tent.”
Goddamn, I cursed. There was no use running. I had no illusions that I could fight my way out, not with all the surviving Crows coming to finish me off.
If I was going...
2024-12-23 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostCongratulations, you have fulfilled secondary objective 1 of the task: bring the thieves to justice. Complete the primary objective to claim your reward.
Silence filled the tent, only to be broken a moment later by delighted laughter from the Crow leader. “My, that was entertaining,” he said.
I turned slowly to face him. “You have no care for your men’...
2024-12-22 11:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostI spent the next few minutes walking a careful circuit around the camp while Night poked her invisible nose into every tent.
When we were done, I turned to my spirit guard. “Well Night, what do you say?”
“The south side of the camp will work best I think,” she said. “It’s the most populous end of the encampment, and the neighboring camps encroa...
2024-12-21 11:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post“Adi, status update please.”
I spent a few moments watching Hansen to make sure he complied with my order before turning to the scrolling System messages.
Your spirit expertise skill has increased to rank 4.
Your spirit link skill has increased to rank 6.
Your daggers skill has increased to rank 10. 2024-12-20 11:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
My prediction proved accurate and only a little while later, my foe expired in a wash of flames.
A level 227 stygian naga has died.
Not entirely unexpectedly, I did not advance in level. The level disparity between me and the nagas was growing—and my chosen target had been especially weak. Going forward, I knew my gains would slow even further.
Still, it was...
2024-12-20 07:23:34 +0000 UTC View PostYour Mind has increased to rank 186. Other modifiers: +12 from items. Available ability slots: 22.
Your sneaking has reached rank 24.
You have replenished 100% of your mana.
Elise and Ghost returned from their run just as I finished replenishing my mana. Opening my eyes, I beheld the pair stretched out on the ground and pantin...
2024-12-19 11:28:07 +0000 UTC View PostThree hours later, Night and I were still hunting. By this time, we had ambushed eight different sets of Crows, and killed over two dozen, and my black dragon companion had reached level five.
But finding and ambushing the thieves was no longer a simple matter. The Crows had figured out they were being hunted and had begun taking precautions. They now only travelled in large bands of six ...
2024-12-19 11:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostLeaving the alchemist shop, I made my way to the fields outside town. I kept the hood of my cloak up and hunched over, trying to hide my tall frame as much as possible.
My disguise was by no means perfect.
Any player whose interest I drew would still be able to identify me if he queried his administrator. My hope was that with my features hidden, I would appear to be just anot...
2024-12-18 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostTen minutes later, I was back in the river.
Ghost and the others remained in the gulley—the pyre wolf practicing her nether manipulation and the six nagians laboriously scrying the surroundings. While the nagian mages’ magical sight was no more acute than their physical ones, scrying allowed them to remotely—and safely—map the terrain.
“I’m drawing close to the shore...
2024-12-18 10:19:17 +0000 UTC View PostThe telepathic blow struck my mind with the force of a hammer, leaving me reeling for a moment. But only for a moment. It was the unexpectedness of the attack more than anything else that surprised me.
Well, that, and the appreciable dent it made in my remaining store of psi
Regaining my footing, I kept running.
An etheric lash has failed to injure you. 3% psi co...
2024-12-17 11:14:17 +0000 UTC View PostNow what? I wondered as I stood on the steps outside the tavern.
Even with the Paragons refusing to help, I was still determined to take on the thieves. How though?
“You are not alone, Dace,” Night said. “I will help you do this thing you seek. It is the right thing to do.”
“Thank you, Night,”&nbs...
2024-12-17 11:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostDay Five
I rose early the next morning, one hour earlier than my agreed upon meeting time with the Paragons. There were a few errands I needed to run first.
Sitting up in my bed, I reached out to the black dragon within me. “Night, you there?” I asked.
“I am,” she replied in a sleepy voice. “Do you need me?”
“No, I just wanted to let ...
2024-12-16 11:00:33 +0000 UTC View PostI spent a good five minutes staring at the System messages. While I understood the gist of what they meant, before I moved on there were a few things I needed Adi to explain.
“Adi,” I began, “do Classes have their own skills?”
“Not exactly, Dace,” she replied. “Each Class will unlock a specific set of skills that the parent Essence alone will not prov...
2024-12-15 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe stairway proved to be a portal as much as the dungeon’s cave entrance. After placing my foot on the first step, I found myself standing outside the same entrance we had used to enter the dungeon—and to my surprise, I discovered another System message waiting for my attention.
Congratulations, Paragons + 1, your party is the first to have cleared dungeon 1050-B! For y...
2024-12-14 11:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostFrom a distance, I watched curiously as the Paragons began their summonings. It was my first time observing other players using spell scrolls, and despite the Paragons’ sudden dislike for me, I was fascinated by the process.
The spells were long ones, and for a time, the ante-chamber was filled with the sonorous voices of the elemental mages. Unconsciously, I leaned forward while I list...
2024-12-13 11:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostIt took over an hour, but eventually, after quaffing multiple mana potions and setting the behemoth alight with fire spell after fire spell, Beth brought the shambling mound to its knees.
Dungeon Notice 1050-B-02
Congratulations Paragons + 1, your party has completed the first stage of Dungeon 1050-B. Claim your rewards before proceeding to the second stage....
2024-12-12 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostNearly an hour later, I was charging forward again, my hammer whirling above my head in a two-handed grip.
The others were sitting with backs against the walls, cheering from the sidelines and providing advice that was less than useful. Still, the battle was nearly done.
With a powerful heave, I brought my battlehammer down and struck off the head of the last golem. It fell to the g...
2024-12-11 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostIn the end, I found six golems.
But for the mud creatures, nothing else occupied the room. Like the first two, the other golems failed to detect my presence, even when I snuck to within a few feet.
But most worrying of all, I failed to find any exits leading away from the room.
“Are you sure there are no exits?” Jorge asked me for what felt like the tenth time.
“I ...
2024-12-10 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostIt was a good thing we were ready.
The moment the doors opened, a carpet of green and brown streamed into the room. Urgh. Snakes.
I slammed my shield down in an attempt to block the reptiles’ passage. It slowed the influx into the room, but didn’t stop the slithering creatures altogether.
Behind me I heard the others’ shouts of alarm.
“They...
2024-12-09 11:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostDay Four
I awoke to a loud banging.
Groaning, I turned over. “Who the hell is that?” I growled. “And what time is it?”
“It’s 5:05 AM, Dace,” Adi said. “You are late for your meeting with the Paragons.”
My eyes snapped open. Damnit, Adi was right. I heaved myself upright, rubbing bleary eyes.
“Dace!” Beth yelled thr...
2024-12-08 11:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostWith my chores done for the day, I headed for the tavern. Barging through its doors, I made a beeline for the stairs, eager to begin the experiments I had in mind.
But as I crossed the tavern threshold, I drew to an abrupt halt.
The tavern was not empty as I expected.
“Well, look who it is,” Jorge said.
“All dressed up too,” Gavin snickered.
Jorge laughed. ...
2024-12-07 11:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostI hurried south along the cobbled road as fast as I could. I had tarried longer in Wolf Valley than I should have and now was in a rush to return to town to complete my many errands.
But despite my efforts, stars were already dotting the sky when I entered the town’s outskirts. The field was just as crowded with campfires as on every other night, but today my presence attracted no...
2024-12-06 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostThe moment the last breath left the scorpion, I was inundated with System messages.
You have killed a giant scorpion.
You have reached level 10!
+1 rank in strength, dexterity, constitution, life, channeling, and perception.
+3 Essence Points.
Congratulations, yo...
2024-12-05 11:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostI reached the cave in Wolf Valley without any further mishap. Taking the time only to ascertain it still remained empty, I lit one of my makeshift torches and set myself to mining the ore vein.
It was hard going, especially early on. But after I gained the mining skill and picked up a few skill ranks, things became easier. And it was only a little later that I had mined the vein dry.
<... 2024-12-04 11:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostDay Three.
I rose early the next morning, feeling well rested. It had felt good to sleep in an actual bed again.
I sated my hunger with my travel rations before leaving my room. After I locked the door behind me, the key flashed red in my hand and a System message opened before me.
You have employed your small room for the allowed one night. If you use your key to ente...
2024-12-03 11:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
With a wistful gaze, I watched the young dragon fly away. “Will she be alright, Adi?”
“It is likely, Dace. Very few creatures would dare to take on a black dragon—even one that is only a hatchling.”
I nodded and swung back into the cave. I had done what I could for the hatchling, and to honor her mother’s wishes. Now it was time to see to my own wellbei...
2024-12-02 11:24:28 +0000 UTC View PostAlone once more, but for Ghost resting in her Cloak, I removed an item from my backpack. It was a twelve hour journey to the stygian nest in the north, and I was not about to waste that much time simply walking.
There were better ways to reach my destination—as Safyre had just demonstrated.
Feeding mana into the portal scroll in my hand, I created a ley line to a spot about ...
2024-12-02 09:46:05 +0000 UTC View Post“So, you’re back.”
“You cannot accept the task, Dace.”
“Where did you go?” I asked, ignoring her statement.
Adi was silent for a moment before replying. “I had to log the incident with the Creche administrator and request further direction.”
I had no trouble parsing Adi’s statement, knowing from my conver...
2024-12-01 19:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post