The Land: Forging (Chaos Seeds Book 2) (20 page)

As Richter was turning away, Sion asked him, “What are
you
going to be doing, my friend?”

Richter stopped his movement, and instead placed his hand on his Companion’s shoulder, “It’s time to get stronger.”

Richter handed his map to the sprites that would be sweeping the village, and the lands beyond. Futen had already summoned four Mist Workers that would accompany the sprites and retrieve the bodies. As he was walking down the hill, he asked Sion to join him in the Great Seal room once he had retrieved enough herbs to get started on making potions. Hisako,
Yoshi
and several other sprites followed him intending to go into the catacombs to rest. Alma flew in lazy circles above his head and Futen floated along behind. While they walked. Richter examined all of the combat prompts he had gained during the battle.

Congratulations! You have received racial bonus Level I vs bugbears. +3% attack and defense bonus when fighting bugbears. Kill total 100 bugbears to reach next level.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: War Leader. Your presence will now be seen as a rallying point in war. Those around you will fight harder. Base distance for bonus is radius of 10 yards from War Leader. Take a prominent role in larger battles to increase this skill. Being a War Leader automatically qualifies you as a Champion in battles.

Congratulations! You have reached skill level 2 in War Leader. +1% effective distance. +1% attack and defense for all allies.

Congratulations! You have reached skill level 8 in Archery. +2% bonus to aim. +2% bonus to damage.

Congratulations! You have reached subskill level 3 in Focus. +2% bonus to aim. +2% bonus to damage.

Congratulations! You have reached skill level 7 in Light Armor. +2% bonus to aim. +2% bonus to damage.

Congratulations! You have reached subskill level 3 in Grace in Combat. Dodge increased by 12%.

Congratulations! You have reached subskill level 4 in Grace in Combat. Dodge increased by 13%.

Congratulations! You have reached skill level 3 in Earth Magic. New spells now available.

Congratulations! You have reached skill level 3 in Life Magic. New spells now available.

Your familiar has performed her special attack: Brain Drain. She can latch onto the mind of an enemy, and drain its thoughts and experiences. The minds of other creatures are not meant to undergo this, and the affected creature will suffer an ongoing drop in health, mana and stamina while she continues her attack. Additionally, the mental attack will cause confusion and disorientation, in already weakened or
low-level
creatures it will create a stunned status. Brain Drain requires her whole
focus
however, and she will essentially be helpless while performing the attack. If the creature expires while the attack is in place, she will absorb 1% of the its total accumulated experience. Her master will also receive 1% of the target’s experience.

You have been award 521 (base 41,723 x 0.01 x 1.25) experience from Brain Drain against Level 8 Bugbear.

The first prompt raised mixed feelings in Richter. Having it reported in black and white that he had taken more than
twenty-five
lives was not something he was proud of. At the same
time
though, they weren’t the first deaths he had caused since coming to The Land. They most certainly wouldn’t be the last. It was the last combat prompt that truly fascinated him, though. It raised some very interesting possibilities. If Alma could target some high level enemies with Brain Drain, he could really power level!

The combat play by play wasn’t all that was awaiting his perusal. Apparently, the destruction the bugbears had caused made a measurable effect.

You have lost the 100% of the constructed shelter for your people. This occurred during an attack, and so your people will be understanding. If you do not build another shelter within one
week
however, the morale of your people will decrease by 5 per day to a maximum loss of 50.
Shelter
is a basic tenant of survival. You will not receive the bonus to morale that you initially did upon completing your shelter.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, Richter thought to himself. When they got back to the catacombs, Richter saw Hisako to his room to rest. Rather than leave, he stopped by the bedside. The other sprites also stayed because him, and Yoshi looked at him questioningly. Not wasting
anytime
, he spoke, “I am so thankful for everything you have done for us. I am equally sorry about the loss of life you have had to endure to do it. I have little to
offer, but I would like to offer this. I will try to awaken Air Magic in you,” he said to Hisako, “and any of your warriors.”

She looked at him surprised. Even after seeing him invest his magic into his people, it had not occurred to her that he would make the sprites the same offer. The ‘every man for himself’ philosophy seemed heavily entrenched in The Land.
Well,
that was something he would change. He preferred the motto of enlightened
self-interest
. Richter wasn’t a
push over
, but he did believe that by serving the interests of friends and allies, he would ultimately be furthering his own interests.

“This is not necessary, Lord Richter. We are allies. It is our honor to fight by your side!”

“I know, Lady Hisako,” he replied just as formally. There was a time for friendship, but right now he was operating as the leader of his people. He was extending a potential weapon to an ally. In truth, he should have done this before. “I offer this freely.”

“You do not know how precious the gift that you offer is, however. It is not to be done lightly.”

“It is not, Hearth Mother. Will you accept what I offer?”

She nodded her head in acquiescence. Richter walked forward and placed his hands upon the Hearth Mother. He soon felt the magic intertwine with her soul, and she opened her eyes an Air mage novice. He smiled and was about to extend the same offer to the other sprites, but she caught his hand in a surprisingly strong grip.

“I offer this freely as well,” she said her hands extended. Understanding what she offered, Richter bowed his head and bent down. “By the Right of My Power, I Awaken Your Power,” she breathed, and Richter felt for the first time, what he had made others feel. Much of it was indescribable, but it felt like his soul was a house with many rooms. Some were darkened, but in
one
a light had now been kindled. Forever on from this day, he would be…
more.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Light Magic. Increasing your skill will allow you to cast more advanced spells.

He thanked her profusely, and then they taught each other the spells that they could.

Congratulations! You have learned the spell: Simple Light! Creates a ball of white light that will hover above
your
head, moving with you. This is a spell of Light Magic. Cost: 2 mana. Duration: 10 minutes. Range: Self. Cast Time: 1 second. Cool Down: N/A.

Congratulations! You have learned the spell: Far Light! Creates a ball of white light that can be fixed to a distant surface. This is a spell of Light Magic. Cost: 5 mana. Duration: 10 minutes. Range: 100 yards. Cast Time: 1 second. Cool Down: N/A.

Congratulations! You have learned the spell: Mirror! Creates a 6x3 foot reflective surface. This is a spell of Light Magic. Cost: 15 mana. Duration: 1 minute. Range: 10 feet. Cast Time: 1 second. Cool Down: N/A.

Once they were done, Richter tried to teach Air magic to the other sprite warriors. Only three were able to learn, but Hisako was
surprised
even at that. She told him that seeing
thirty-one
of his people being able to become Air novices was shocking. Apparently magical affinity was nowhere near that common. Also various races were known for a predisposition to certain magical schools. According to Hisako, meeting a dwarf Air caster, when Air was the natural opposite to their racial predisposition of Earth magic, was strange to say the least! The only explanation she could come up with was that it was due to everyone’s exposure to the birth of the Quickening.

When they were done, Richter finally left Hisako to rest, and then walked back into the Great Seal room. “Futen.”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“I need help with identification.” Richter pulled out the items from the Dark mage. The
grey orb flared with an inner white light, and then Richter reexamined the items.

You have found
:
Ring of Health. Durability 12/12. Item class: Uncommon. Quality: Above Average. Weight 0.1 kg. +20 to Health.

You have found
:
Ring of Minor Mana. Durability 11/11. Item class: Uncommon. Quality: Above Average. Weight 0.1 kg. +10 to Mana.

You have found
:
Ring of Flowing Thought. Durability 25/25. Item class: Rare. Quality: Superb. Weight 0.1 kg. +20% mana regeneration.

You have found: Apprentice Dark Robes. Defense + 8 (additional +12 vs magical attack). Durability 18/20. Item class: Common. Quality: Average. Weight 2.8 kg. +10% Dark magic resistance.

You have found: Amulet of Minor Mana. Durability 20/20. Item class: Uncommon. Quality: Above Average. Weight 0.3 kg. Mana +10.

You have found: Wand of Dark Bolts. Attack 4-6. Durability 17/17. Item class: Uncommon. Quality: Superb. Weight 0.2 kg. Casts spell Dark Bolts. Charge 0/50.

Hmmm. Most of the items were no better than what he already had. He was already wearing eight rings. In the
game
that was the max that could be worn. Might as well test that theory now. Keeping an eye on his mana, he slipped the Ring of Minor Mana onto a finger. There was no change. He then took off his Dungeon
Ring
and tried again. His mana increased by 10 points. Well, that answered that. He rearranged his ring configuration and ended up wearing his four old Rings of Health, increasing his Health by +120. He also put on the slightly inferior Ring of Health the Dark mage had been wearing, increasing his Health another +20. He kept on his Ring of Hidden
Dangers
because he no likey’d da traps. The Minor Ring of Healing also stayed put. Even though it only healed 30 health, the effect was immediate rather than spread out over several seconds like his spells or potions. That made it invaluable. He also held onto his old Ring of Mana, which increased his mana reserves by +20. Last, he equipped the Ring of Flowing Thought. An increase
to
mana regeneration was just something he couldn’t pass up. The amulet would be a definite step down from his Necklace of Scry Defense, so he just put all of the other items into his Bag.

Next, he quickly allocated the points and percentages from his previous level increases. His fingers almost tingled at the thought of being able to drop 24 points into his stats! The running and the fight had given him +1 to Agility. Strength had been a neglected attribute for
him so far, as most of his kills had been at a distance. This first larger battle showed that things did not always go as planned. He invested +6 into Strength. With the +8 from the sprite breastplate, he could put some real power into his melee attacks now. The same logic of investing in close combat went for Stamina, it would be of greater importance in close quarters combat. He invested +3 in Endurance. His Dexterity was high enough for now, and he was also benefiting from the sprite armor bonus.
Constitution, however,
would always be important. Higher level enemies meant higher level damage. He allocated +8 to Constitution. Last, something inexplicable drove him to do it, but he put +1 into Luck. The other 6 characteristic points he decided to hold off on. Seeing as how he was going to be tackling a dungeon soon, it might be nice to have an ace in the hole. He did a quick check of his status.