RD: Chapter Thirteen - The Witching Hours

Dolli shined brightly, using her body like a floodlight while Greg hammered his new contraption into place. It was well into the early morning, and only moments before Dolli knew Keegan would respawn.

“This’ns done,” Greg said.

Dolli dropped back and moved out of the way of the trap. Greg pulled the chain and the spring-loaded spiked gate hinged forward from each side of the narrow alley. The clanged shut and locked in place. Greg tugged on the gate firmly, but it held.

The bars were close enough together that most heroes wouldn’t be able to slip through like Dolli easily could. She passed through the gate bars, her Spark body oozing around the rough edges of the newly formed metal.

“Do you think it’ll be tall enough?” Dolli asked, looking up to the curved hooks that disincentivized climbing over the top.

Greg shrugged. “Maybe the high Agility heroes’ll be able to get over, but the casters, the plate wearers, they’ll be trapped.”

“That’s what we’re going for. Good work, Greg.” Dolli patted his hand with puffy billows of Spark.

“Thanks… Overlord.”

Dolli cringed but kept her comments to herself. She didn’t like this “Overlord” nonsense—she was just Dolli—but Rufus said it was good for morale, and whenever we did summon Nubiri again, it would be good for her to know who the dungeonfolk followed.

After uncomfortable moment of silence, Greg cleared his throat. “So, what’s next?”

Dolli opened the Overlord menu and rewarded Greg’s completed “Alley Traps [8x].” Dolli’s body shone brightly, and a rush of energy coursed through her being. A notification appeared in the upper corner of her vision: Level 10.

[Level Up – 10]

Congratulations on making it to level 10! Your first Transformation is at hand. Your play style has been analyzed, and two Transformation paths have been selected for your choices.

You will unlock new spells when you select your Transformation. You have earned 2 Spell points and 10 Stat points.

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When Dolli closed the popup, another appeared with two information cards topped by rotating images of the Wispelle transformations.

The first option looked very much like a Wispelle with a bit more bipedal shape, but the body was a midnight blue that sparkled with glints of gold, red, and pink. It reminded her of the last sliver of a sunset.

[Celestelle – Wispelle Level 10 Transformation]

You’ve utilized spells that indicate your interest in the greater laws of the universe, and the powers from beyond the world of Hafheim.

Transformation Features:

- Increase Magic Affinity for Celestial Aligned Spells by 3 times your level

- Increase Resistance to Celestial Aligned Spells by 100%

- Increase Resistance to all other Spark Alignments by 25%

- Decrease Magic Affinity for Nature Aligned Spells by 100%

- Gain a free Stat Point in Magic Affinity or Mental Prowess with every level earned

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Dolli liked the sound of Celestelle, and the look—though she wouldn’t be a good light for working in the dark anymore. The added spell power and bonuses to casting were also attractive—though she would be weaker with Nature magics, like Mend Wound. Though she believed she was set on Celestelle, she wanted to review the other option before she made her choice.

[Ventrelle – Wispelle Level 10 Transformation]

You’ve been in close combat several times, indicating your desire to bring the fight to your enemy face to face.

Transformation Features:

- Ventrelle maintain a solidified form* and can enter vapor form for a cost.

- Increase base Agility, Constitution, Stamina, and Strength by 20%

- Increase Resistance to all Spark Alignments by 50%

- Decrease Resistance to physical attacks by 50%

- Decrease Magical Affinity with all Spark Alignments by 50%

- Gain a free Stat Point in Stamina or Agility with every level earned.

*Upon confirmation, you will select any shape for the Ventrelle that you will maintain.

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Dolli looked at the rotating blob of a creature. She could mold it to look like herself again—maybe a few years younger, though. Dolli thought of Rufus, the stag-man hybrid, and every other dungeonfolk who would never again look like themselves. How better to set herself apart from them and drive the wedge further?

Reclaiming her former shape was but a fleeting desire. Ventrelle was of no interest to her because of the decreased magical affinity, and she hadn’t selected the highest Spark creature just to go back on her plan for magical mastery at level 10. She selected Celestelle and the popup disappeared. The light in the alley faded to a warm orange, but was still illuminated quite well.

Dolli looked down to see the midnight of her chest swirled with pink and gold like a nebulous storm.

“Huh,” Greg said with a grunt.

“What?” Dolli asked with a scowl.

“You’re pretty.”

Dolli knew Greg didn’t mean anything by it. It was more the way one complimented a flower than a potential partner. She smiled. “Thanks. Now, let’s get back to preparations.”

She and Greg went back to the forge and worked on the next round of trap designs with a few apprentice Blacksmiths Greg had been able to conscript with his leveled-up role. Dolli sat off to the side while they worked the bellows and went over her new spell options.

There were four new spells for Celestelle: Solstorm, Blackout, Fold Reality, and Death Nova. She reviewed each in turn.

[Wispelle Ability: SOLSTORM]

Spell type: Active

Cost: 80 Spark

Cast time: Channeling

Cooldown: 30 seconds

Duration: 2 seconds per Chain Strike

Range: 5 feet

Target: Any

Spark Alignment: Celestial

Description: Connect the Sol to the natural world through your Spark. From your first target, the Sol will jump at [90]% potency to the next target within 5 feet. This chain will continue until there is no target in range, or the spell potency drops to 0%.

Effects:

- When the Sol connects to a Friendly target, they are healed for [10] + 1.2 x your Mental Prowess, modified by the Spell Chain Potency.

- When the Sol connects to a Hostile target, they are dealt [15] +1.5 x your Mental Prowess, modified by the Spell Chain Potency.

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[Wispelle Ability: BLACKOUT]

Spell type: Active

Cost: 50 Spark

Cast time: 3 seconds

Cooldown: 1 minute

Duration: 5 seconds

Range: 30 feet

Target: Single Hostile

Spark Alignment: Nether

Description:

Effects:

- Render your target unconscious for up to 5 seconds

- If the target remains unconscious for the duration of the spell, when they awaken they will be debuffed by Groggy, reducing Mental Prowess by 30%

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[Wispelle Ability: FOLD REALITY]

Spell type: Active

Cost: 100 Spark

Cast time: Instant

Cooldown: 10 minutes

Duration: 10 seconds

Range: 300 feet

Target: Any two points in space not occupied by a living being

Spark Alignment: Celestial

Description: Space is your domain, and you know how to bend the rules. Select any two points in space to be connected as if they were one.

Effects:

- Allow objects and Creatures to pass through each point in space as if they were the same point

- Neither point can be cast on top of a living being* in a way that would bisect, or otherwise trap them in the Fold

*Disclaimer: Very small and microscopic beings are an exception

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[Wispelle Ability: DEATH NOVA]

Spell type: Trigger

Cost: Death’s Touch Debuff

Cast time: N/A

Cooldown: 8 Hours

Duration: N/A

Range: 1,000 Feet

Target: Area of Effect

Spark Alignment: Divine

Description: You’ve made the ultimate sacrifice, now what? Upon death, you send out a burst of Divine Spark in a Nova Wave.

Effects:

- Any Friendly target hit by the Nova Wave will be buffed by Life Boon, healing them for [20] x .5 your Mental Prowess over 20 seconds.

- Any Enemy target hit by the Nova Wave will be debuffed by Spark Rot, draining their Spark Pool by [30] x .5 your Mental Prowess over 20 seconds

- You will be debuffed by Death’s Touch, decreasing your Constitution, Stamina, Strength, and experience gains by 50% for twenty-four hours.

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Dolli was stricken with indecision. All of the spells were awesome, so how would she choose?

What helped her dungeon most?

A good question for any leader. Fold Reality was a great trump card. She saw endless potential for it, but the cooldown was so long, she didn’t know if it justified a point, yet. Death Nova was a suicide move, which might be useful in the coming battle, but she didn’t really want to die, and she reallydidn’t want the Death’s Touch debuff. She’d keep it on the list, but it didn’t appear she’d have a choice in the matter if she put a point into that ability. It would always trigger when she died if the cooldown had expired.

Solstorm was a definite yes. It matched up perfectly with the corral and trap plan they’d laid out in the dungeon. She dropped one ability point there without a second thought. Blackout was another interesting spell she could see being useful, but the fact it didn’t differentiate between friend and foe could be devastating for her dungeonfolk.

Dolli went back to Fold Reality. It had some powerful applications. A thought bloomed in her mind as she looked over the details. There was no limit on how many objects or entities could travel through the opening in the ten seconds it was open.

The wheels of revenge twisted in her mind and Dolli thought of all the ways she could manipulate Keegan with this ability. The look on his face would be priceless. It was too bad Dolli wouldn’t see it.

She dropped a point into Fold Reality, then opened a message to her dungeonfolk: Minor change of plans. I will be the only bait, and we’ll run the heroes through the streets like a maze from the first trap, point. Come to me in the Forge if you have qualms.

Dolli didn’t expect anyone to take issue with only her being the bait.

With the Overlord menu already open, Dolli saw there were several dungeon quests to complete. She went through and marked all of them off. With a flourish of green light, another notification appeared in the corner of her vision. Dolli used to hate the notifications, but now they nearly always meant something great was happening.

She opened the new notification.

[Congratulations – Your Dungeon has reached Level 4]

Unused Monster Slots: [44/80]

Undistributed Roles: [3/4]

Open Lifestream Slots: [5/6]

Unclaimed Overlord Ability Points: [2]

[1] levels remain until first dungeon modification: Warmonger; Defender.

[2] levels remain until dungeon renaming is locked.

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There was just one level to go and Dolli would be able to turn her band of dungeonfolk into a roving war-party to annihilate any and every hero in their path. No more waiting around for heroes to save them. No more waiting around for heroes to kill them. The people of Little Crossroads would revel in their sweet vengeance, and everyone would be happy again.

Everyone but the heroes.

With the dungeon leveling up, two new roles opened. Dolli had one role token to give out, and with the new options so slim—Guardian and Horticulturist—she knew what she had to do. It wasn’t going to be a calm return, so Dolli walked to the edge of the forest to summon Nubiri.

The wyvern spun round, looking for an enemy that had only been in her dreams.

“Where is he,” the serpent-like monster asked.

“You killed him,” Dolli said.

“Is he not back? Why have you summoned me otherwise?”

Dolli held out the metal badge with a shining shield. “I want you to be the dungeon’s guardian.”

The wyvern flapped a wing, batting the pin away. “You want to make me your slave!”

Dolli retrieved the pin from the ground. “You’re free to go any time. Everyone here is. But we offer you a safe place to raise your child, whether you want the job, or not.”

Dolli turned and walked toward the city center.

“Where are my eggs?” Nubiri growled.

Dolli looked back. “One is roosting safely at the seat of power. The other two, I don’t know. They weren’t on the hero you killed.”

“I want them all!” Nubiri roared in Dolli’s face, shaking the Spark in her.

“I’m sorry this happened. When Keegan returns, I’ll try to get them back. I promise.”

“The promise of a human is worthless.” Nubiri turned away. The wyvern trembled, her wings fluttering and fidgeting uncomfortably.

Dolli set the Guardian pin on top of a broken fence post. “I’m a monster now, just like you.” Then, she walked away. Nubiri would have to make the best decision for herself, no matter what that was.

“The hero, Keegan, he will return?” Nubiri called after her.

Dolli nodded. “Without a doubt.”

Nubiri snarled, her amber eyes shifting back and forth. “You will protect my egg while I fight?”

“With my life.” Dolli bowed and touched her forehead, then her heart-center; a solemn promise.

A notification appeared in Dolli’s vision alerting her to the advancing presence of heroes from the east—it must’ve been Keegan. Dolli opened the alert system: Places everyone. They’ve arrived.

Dolli closed the alert and looked up at the wyvern. “He’s here.”

Nubiri reached with her claw-tipped wing and grabbed the pin from the fence post. “I can never leave if I accept this?”

“You’ll be bound to the dungeon forever, like me.”

“Clip my wings and chain my neck,” Nubiri said.

“Never. Pull you into the Lifewell before you wreck the whole town, maybe…”

Nubiri growled deep in her throat, a sound like a low chuckle.

“I have to go.” Dolli said.

The wyvern looked between the old witch and the pin in her claw. She closed her grip around it, and a notification appeared in her vision.

[Nubiri Sky-Scar has accepted the role of Guardian!]

“I’ll see you on the battlefield.” Nubiri flapped her wings, lifting into the air. Dolli watched the wyvern climb into the clouds as she made her way to her position at the east entrance.

The town was quiet, everyone well-hidden. Dolli floated past the narrow alley with a hollow floor and a tall gate, then placed the first marker for Fold Reality. She continued on to the eastern gate where she saw Keegan on the other side.

“Upgrades. Nice.” Horns grew from his head and the same red wings protruded from his back. “Walls won’t stop me,” he said, then pulled a glowing stone from his pocket. “It won’t stop my friends, either.”