I took off at a run, needing to buy a few seconds to spin psi.
The harbinger adjusted his course the moment I did.
He wasn't slowing down either, and I could only guess he meant to run me through. The seed’s death seemed to have infuriated him beyond reason, and cold sphere or not, ...
2023-08-07 13:22:50 +0000 UTC View Post“Prime?” Ghost asked, her mindvoice quivering with anxiety that echoed my own.
I had become careless, I realized, despite my steadfast resolution not to be and had grown too sure of my own abilities. There was ample evidence that my stealth was equal to the challenge of deceivi...
2023-08-04 07:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostDay Twelve in Draven’s Reach
I couldn’t believe it.
I had been found out. My mind turning frantic circles, I tried to work out what was going on. I had been discovered.
But by what?
Where were the foes that had detected me? And more importantly, in which direction did ...
2023-08-02 03:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostDay Eight in Draven’s Reach
Ghost and I picked off the crawlers one at a time.
Using charm, I bespelled a single stygian and lured it away from the column for killing. It was slow and tedious work, but it sped my telepathy skill along nicely, and by the time the last crawler died, I...
2023-08-01 05:57:45 +0000 UTC View PostI waited a long ten minutes before risking mindspeech again. “Are they gone?”
“Castor is,” Ghost replied. “Some of the others are still poking around.”
“Alright, tell me if anything changes.” There was no reason to move. My hiding pl...
2023-07-30 11:21:54 +0000 UTC View PostIt was difficult to imagine how I would escape this time. In fact, I was almost certain I wouldn’t, and of its own accord, my mind wandered beyond my present circumstances to thoughts of the future.
When—if—I died here, how was I going to get back to the city? I hadn’t even establis...
2023-07-27 12:27:51 +0000 UTC View PostGhost’s words hit me hard, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, tasting defeat like ash in my mouth.
Stone has cast revealing light.
Light blossomed in the T-junction, but I was already far enough away that the few rays that managed to reach my position failed to dis...
2023-07-26 06:59:09 +0000 UTC View PostAs Gagan scurried away, Avery ordered half the mages to circle around me. Retreating the way I’d come was definitely no longer an option. My gaze flickered forward. It did mean, though, that there were fewer obstacles between me and the rest of the fifth floor.
I eyed Avery and the seven ...
2023-07-21 07:25:19 +0000 UTC View PostThe fourth floor was a maze of corridors and after only a few seconds navigating them, Ghost and I were in danger of getting lost. Sending her ahead to scout, I followed more slowly.
“You there, stop!”
The shout had come from behind. I halted. I hadn’t sensed my questioner’s a...
2023-07-19 06:06:12 +0000 UTC View PostElron and I spoke for hours.
I did not remove my disguise or share any of my own truths. There was no need to, and the possessed were already looking to the marshal for answers. I couldn’t risk my secrets falling into their hands. For his part, Elron did not pry, and I was certain he kept...
2023-07-18 05:56:37 +0000 UTC View PostThe marshal’s house was a small one-story building that overlooked the city walls.
After Ghost scouted the building and pronounced it safe, I slipped inside. Elron was not home. The dark elf had no servants and no family, and the place looked barely l...
2023-07-14 07:39:29 +0000 UTC View Post“How?” I gasped. “How is it that you can be what you claim?”
While waiting for his response, I went over everything I’d learned. Matters were no closer to making sense. If anything, they’d grown even more confusing.
Retired players? It sounded like an impossibilit...
2023-07-13 07:05:10 +0000 UTC View PostYou have passed a thieving skill check!
You have removed 4 trap-making crystals from your trapper’s wristband. Remaining trap-making crystals: 128 of 200.
Elron and I drew to a stop as we reached the doors to the council chamber. In my closed fist, ...
2023-07-10 04:52:43 +0000 UTC View PostMouth agape, I stared at the objects lined up on the table.
I’d analyzed each in turn, and the results had left me deeply shocked. “Do you know what you have here?” I whispered.
The old man shook his head, grinning toothily. “None at all. Not even our mages have been able to i...
2023-07-07 07:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post“Let’s go,” Elron said as soon as the city gates shut behind us.
I glanced around but failed to spot Avery. “Where’s the magister?”
“He had other things to attend to,” Elron replied, not looking at me as he strode away.
I hurried to catch up. “That’s a pity. ...
2023-07-06 04:21:36 +0000 UTC View PostI’d killed two stygian seeds but gained no player levels. That did not mean the Game did not reward me for the day’s efforts, though.
Your nether absorption has reached rank 8.
Your deception has reached rank 14.
Your sneaking has re...
2023-07-05 12:46:42 +0000 UTC View PostI emerged from the fog bank to find Elron and his men on the move. I frowned. Just as I’d expected, the marshal’s company had retreated to shelter beneath the city’s walls, but now they were swinging further west and toward the second seed.
“What is he up to?” I muttered. Jogging ...
2023-07-04 12:54:45 +0000 UTC View Post“Do you trust them?”
Elron and I were back at the city walls. The marshal was readying his men inside the south gate while Ghost and I stood silent witness. The spirit wolf’s question was an apt one, and I took my time reviewing what I’d learned from the council meeting bef...
2023-06-30 07:55:02 +0000 UTC View PostDay Six in Draven’s Reach
An hour later, I found myself in one of the fortresses at the heart of the city. New Haven did not have anything like a main keep, but that did not mean its center was undefended. Four separate strongholds occupied the middle, each almost a fortified city on its ...
2023-06-28 09:33:52 +0000 UTC View PostAs I ambled through the city gates, a squad of waiting soldiers surged forward to form a solid block around me.
Multiple unknown entities have failed to pierce your disguise.
Multiple unknown entities have failed to pierce your disguise.
It took Ghost and I just under an hour to reach the gorge’s edge.
Two things became immediately apparent. One, the walled city at its center was huge, nearly the size of the plague quarter in Nexus.
And two: it was under siege.
The gorge nestled right up against the dungeon’...
2023-06-22 04:47:42 +0000 UTC View PostDay Four in Draven’s Reach
You have slept 8 hours. Stamina, mana, and psi reserves have been fully restored.
I awoke early the next day. The night had passed undisturbed, and I was rested and refreshed. Yawning, I made my way to the entrance of my hidey-hole.
...
2023-06-21 04:48:26 +0000 UTC View PostThe rock under my hands trembled, only slightly at first, then more violently. A boulder fell from above, passing scant inches from my face.
“Prime!” Ghost screamed.
“Keep going!” I shouted and reached upward with my right hand.
A jagged scar ripped acr...
2023-06-20 06:47:12 +0000 UTC View PostYou have teleported into Sunfury’s shadow.
I stepped out of the aether and directly onto the phoenix. Sunfury was afire, and immediately, heat and flames assailed me.
You have failed a magical resistance check! You are burning
You have successfully stored the cold sphere spell in the ring, mage’s surprise. You have fully restored your health, mana, and psi.
Hours later, Ghost and I were still traveling north across the plateau. I took the most direct route feas...
2023-06-13 05:36:29 +0000 UTC View PostIt did not take long for the harbinger to recover from its dive. Less than a dozen seconds after I blinked away, the creature winged aloft and immediately began cutting a wide arc through the air.
“It’s heading back this way,” Ghost warned.
Looking over my shoulder and ...
2023-06-12 07:35:59 +0000 UTC View PostAt the spirit wolf’s cry my head jerked upwards. The fog bank had all but dissipated, laying bare the purple sky above.
And the shape hurtling down.
Closing my fingers fast around the seed in my left hand, I threw myself out of the way.
You have evaded the attack of an...
2023-06-08 05:52:09 +0000 UTC View PostI'm posting this because some of you requested it. I maintain Michael's character sheet throughout the story, updating it in the background after each encounter. I don't normally post it because of how long it is, but if you want to see it more often, lemme know :)
The windslide carried me ten yards, far enough for the mists to shield me from the gazes of the furious weavers.
Four hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.
I smiled wanly. Ironically, the very nether that was responsible for my current peril was ...
2023-06-07 08:59:28 +0000 UTC View PostOnly a few moments later, I was ready to commence.
Ghost had been briefed as to the plan and waited a few dozen yards behind in case I needed to make a quick getaway. I was once again outside the fog bank, a touch under fifty yards from my targets.
Drawing psi, I flung a net of bewitc...
2023-06-06 06:58:48 +0000 UTC View Post