We were in the Library standing before the entrance to the Revelations of Cel, the swirling Blue Portal creating tiny motes of sapphire colored lights that reminded me of blue fireflies. Octave had reequipped his bow and golden breastplate, while Curmlough held the Aulos of Marsyas in both his hairy hands.
“Kenric, how do you fight? Can you rain down fire and ice? Can you equip us with enchanted items? Can you summon powerful allies?”
“He summoned me!” Octave said.
“I said powerful allies.”
“I’m actually going to be trying out a different approach in this dungeon,” I quickly interjected before things could escalate. “I’ve mostly been fighting at range and relying on my barrier spell and the shield my staff conjures to protect me. Yet, now that I have added more protections to myself, a stronger attack spell and can hit pretty hard I’m going to try fighting from close range. That should give you and Octave room to back me up at range.”
“Isn’t that risky? Those robes don’t look like they’re made of steel to me?” Curmlough said.
“You’re right, but Octave would agree that the damage he and I were doing in the last Dungeon wasn’t enough. Trying things this way is the best course and I’m willing to take the risk.” I answered firmly. Curmlough nodded, but looked unconvinced.
“Not to worry, Curmlough the Worm Slow! We have the favor of Ord!” With that, Octave flew into the portal. Curmlough grumbled something under his breath I’m glad I couldn’t hear. He glanced up at me.
“I’ll make sure Gor gives us his protection too.” I smiled down at him.
“That would be appreciated,” I said.
“By ‘us’ I mean you and I. That Cherub can stuff it up his toga!” Sighing, I followed Curmlough into the Portal. There was a moment of disorientation and we were moved from the Library to…the Library?
“We’re still in the Library?” I said, looking around. Octave wore a frown as he looked around. I noticed he had his bow in hand with an arrow knocked.
“Look again,” Octave said.
I did as he asked and immediately saw what he meant. We were at the center of an octagonal hub. The floor was crystal tile that was lit up with mana. There were eight separate paths I could see, each of which lead down a row of book stacks that seemed to go on endlessly.
“I see what you mean,” I murmured.
“The Dungeon Core has clearly taken what it wanted from the Abbey’s Library and expanded upon it,” the Cherub remarked. Even Curmlough, I noticed, looked intimidated.
“Are you okay, Curmlough?” I asked gently. I was reminded that Satyrs are creatures of the outdoors and the woods, not stone and roofs.
“Aw, don’t worry I’ll protect you.” Octave smiled insincerely at Curmlough’s discomfort. The Satyr smiled back at Octave.
“I am one of the Cloven Quartet, a Chosen of Gor! I’m not afraid of a few books!” Curmlough put the mouthpiece of the Aulos in his mouth and began to play a strong, upbeat tune.
You are under the effect of Pride of the Bison!
Your Natural Armor increases by 100%!
Beneath my robes, I could feel my skin tighten and grow harder. It wasn’t uncomfortable and I marveled that when I looked closely at the skin on one hand, it looked and felt like the toughest leather!
“Curmlough, this is incredible! This will make it even harder for an enemy to harm me.”
The Satyr grinned in satisfaction up at Octave. “We have the favor of Gor!”
“Hmph!” Octave chose one of the eight paths leading down a row of books and after Curmlough and I both smiled at each other, we followed after.
The area was lit by the mana in the floor crystals. As such, the light illuminated the shelves only up to about my shoulders and from there the tops of the stacks disappeared into darkness. Curiosity getting the better of me, I slowed my pace to examine the titles of some of the books I could see. I read some of them aloud.
“The Feeding Habits of the Abyssal Wyrm, The Breaking of the Fellowship, The Unrest of Pope Lucavarious III…”
“You’re not going to stop and read every title, are you?” Octave whirled about to fix me with an annoyed look.
“Regrettably, no. However, some of the titles here are…”
You have been granted a New Quest!
Quest: Locate the Book of Prophecy, The Revelations of Cel and read from it. Discover the secret the founding Abbot of the Abbey of Twilight sought to hide from the world forever.
Reward: +500 Faction Cel, -100 Light Pantheon
“What was that? You were just given another quest, weren’t you?” Octave flew closer and Curmlough wore a curious look too. I was about to reply when I received another Quest notification, this one filling my heart with dread.
You have been granted a New Quest!
Quest: Locate the Book of Prophecy, The Revelations of Cel and destroy it! Some secrets were never meant for mortal eyes and in his wisdom, the founding Abbot of the Abbey of Twilight sought to protect future generations of Humankind.
Reward: +500 Faction Ord, -100 Shadow Pantheon
“What? Why are you looking at me like that? You aren’t going to vomit, are you?” Octave quirked an eyebrow.
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I leaned wearily against a bookshelf. Oh Gods…oh Gods why? WHY?”
“What do you want from me?” I whispered.
“Kenric, what’s wrong?” Curmlough asked, concern in his voice.
“What do the Gods WANT FROM ME!?” I shouted, my voice echoing off the stacks.
“Shhh!” Octave said, waving his hands frantically. “Are you crazy? Has your feeble, mortal mind snapped? You’ll bring every mob in the dungeon down on our heads!”
My shout was still echoing when we heard it. A rumble that grew in strength from somewhere deeper into the stacks. Then, a blast of air nearly blew Curmlough and I from our feet. Octave screamed as he was blown head over heels backwards and I only just barely grabbed hold of him and pulled him to my chest. For a moment, none of us moved. Eyes wide, breathing hard, we slowly looked at each other.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You can let me go now,” Octave gasped and I quickly released him.
“Sorry,” I repeated.
“Listen!” Curmlough hissed. “Something is coming.”
Hands shaking, I started casting spells. Caretaker’s Guidance, Lesser Mantle of Intellect, Deathward and Minor Sanctified Ward. I held back on casting Bane Strike. I would cast it when I knew exactly what it was we were facing so I could enchant my staff with whatever type of mana would work best. I didn’t have to wait long. They emerged from the gloom, one behind the other.
Mournful Brother
Level: 16
Mournful Brother
Level: 15
Tormented Cantor Librus
Level: 18
I blanched when I saw the level of the Cantor Librus, a keeper of sacred tomes and scrolls, staring at me with eyes afire with eldritch mana. He was the same level Prior Sandoval had been! I grit my teeth. Which type of mana would harm it the most? Wik take it! If only Lore Sight was available to me, I would be able to see the Cantor’s weakness!
Octave acted first. He fired an arrow, a golden trail of light following the projectile’s path as it slammed into the Cantor. Curmlough acted next, blowing into the Aulos a sharp, discordant note. I couldn’t see what it did, but each of the spirits moaned and slowed their advance. Now, it was my turn.
May the Gods guide me. I cast Harvest Moon and both of the Mournful Brothers wailed as they split in two. Spawn of Xat screeched and lurched forward and I thrust my staff onto the ground, activating the shield.
Spawn of Xat have taken 23 points of damage!
Spawn of Xat have taken 18 points of damage!
Cast backward by the reverberation, the Spawn were off balance and I leapt forward swinging my staff horizontally aiming for the Spawn’s head. I struck an arm instead, but the effect was still devastating. The staff sliced through the Spawn’s arm like it was egg yolk and kept moving until I had bisected the Spawn entirely through its chest. The Spawn spat black blood and crumpled to the ground. I roared in triumph. The remaining Spawn’s movements were sluggish, courtesy of Curmlough’s debuff and as such Octave had time to line up a piercing shot through the Spawn’s brain. It too fell over, dead. Now there was just the Tormented Cantor Librus.
The mob appeared neither concerned nor particularly upset over the loss of its allies. Instead, it held forth both its ghostly arms palms upward and a book appeared floating just above its upturned hands.
“Careful, this one is a caster!” Octave said.
“Leave it to me!” Curmlough said and he blew a series of notes from the Aulos. This time the music was short, sharp and playful in its delivery. The area around the Cantor was suddenly filled with small, red, ghostly creatures. I squinted at them, looking closer.
“Chipmunks?” I gasped.
“Chipmunks!” Curmlough laughed. “They’re always getting into trouble around my Grove. Sometimes, they nibble upon important scrolls. It drives my sister crazy!”
The mana created Chipmunks were driving the Cantor crazy. It howled in anger as the rodents leapt upon its book, interrupting its spell. Others leapt upon the Cantor itself, the two different types of Mana-one Eldritch, the other Nature-battling for supremacy. The Cantor was taking damage, but not enough. I needed to attack as well and it was the perfect opportunity to test my new spell.
I cast Bane Strike and a new window opened before me. I didn’t take my eyes off the struggling Cantor, but I had only moments to gamble on my next decision. Without Lore Sight, I was tossing Sul’s Dice.
Domain of [Fate] Enchants next Attack: Choose {1} effect from each Pantheon.
Elemental Pantheon: Fire, Ice, Stone, Wind
Shadow Pantheon: Bane, Mana Burn, Charm, Entanglement
Light: Heal, Confusion, Blind, Gravity
What!? I didn’t expect this? Choose an enchantment from each of the Pantheons? My Fate Domain is amazing!
There was no time to choose. No time to consider the combination. Curmlough’s spell was fading and the Cantor was regaining control.
“Wind, Entanglement…er…Gravity!” I swung the Staff of the Stone Bishop as hard as I could and connected with the Cantor’s chest. I felt something, an invisible shield surrounding the Cantor, reflect some of the attack back upon me. It lifted me off my feet and sent me sailing backwards. I smashed into a bookshelf and heavy books fell from the shelf, some landing upon my head and body adding to my agony. My only consolation as I spat blood and spit was that the Cantor had gone sailing as well.
The Tormented Cantor Librus flew back, carried by a strong gust of wind. Vines of Mana wrapped themselves around the Cantor tightly, even as he landed upon the ground with such a loud smack that cracks appeared on the floor beneath the Cantor, bits of crystal flying in every direction after the impact. The Cantor’s health fell off a cliff and only the tiniest sliver remained.
“Octave,” I called weakly. Don’t finish him yet.” The Cherub had been about to fire an arrow into the bound and prone Spirit to finish him off, but I had a job to do first. I pumped a Greater Heal into by body and hauled myself to my feet with a wince. I limped closer over to the Cantor. He had sailed a full fifty yards from my hit! By the time I reached him, I was back to full health. I stared down into glowing eyes that gazed back at me with malevolence. Calmly, I cast Harvest Moon again directly above the Cantor. No effect.
“Why won’t the Spawn release him?” I whispered, my frustration obvious to my two companions.
“He may be too far gone?” Curmlough offered.
“The spell may not be strong enough or it may be his level is high enough that he resists?” Octave shrugged. “He’s a whole seven levels stronger than you.”
“Mir aid me, I won’t doom a soul to oblivion if I can help it!” The two freed Mournful Brothers had already dissipated with the destruction of their Spawn, but if Harvest Moon wouldn’t work upon a higher level spirit, then there was still one last thing I could try. I held a hand above the Tormented Cantor, who struggled and howled as the Entanglement enchantment began to weaken.
“Wik’s Blade, sever this tormented soul’s bond with this world. Be released…I absolve you!”
You have cast Turn Undead!
A look of shock flashed across the Cantor’s face and it turned its eyes upward to the light of Harvest Moon that hovered above us. For a moment, I saw a look of peace replace the shock and then a fountain of black bile exploding from his mouth! I backpedaled, as a storm of evil spilled out onto the floor, which quickly expanded into the largest Spawn I had seen yet.
Elite Spawn of Xat
Level 20
“Gods protect us,” I gasped. This creature, unlike the regular Spawn, had a set of demonic horns growing from the sides of its head and single, glowing eye embedded in its forehead. It was the most terrifying creature I had faced yet and it filled my heart with dread. I took several involuntary steps backward, but I remembered the spirits of the monks, the imminent threat of the Shadowmurk and the promise I had made to the people of Goodlabor that never again would they need to fear the threat of Shadowmurk mutation. I would not let them down. A Priest healed. A Priest brought hope.
“You won’t win,” I growled. “Curmlough, cover your eyes! Octave…Sunburst!” The Cherub complied and my eyes were closed when I heard the Elite Spawn howl in pain as it was blinded by holy light. I raced forward, swinging my staff. I only stood as tall as its hip, so that was where I aimed. My staff smacked into its side and I felt something give, but then a clawed hand shot out and crashed against the Bell Shield. BONG!
You have returned 30 points of damage to an Elite Spawn of Xat!
The Spawn snarled and a tongue as long as my arm whipped from its mouth, dripping black saliva. The reflected damage appeared to have hardly hurt it!
I might be in trouble here!
Arrows thunked into the Spawn’s chest and arm. Octave, circling the Spawn, didn’t let up in his attack. The Spawn’s tongue snaked out again, nearlyclipping one of Octave’s wings!”
“Watch out!” I cried out a warning to the Cherub who only just barely dodged and flew away. The narrowness of the stacks made it hard for us to maneuver, but it was the same for the Spawn. Curmlough attacked next, blowing a sinuous, haunting melody. Incandescent snakes appeared around the Spawn’s legs, holding the creature in place. Good! We had it locked down for a moment and I could attack again. Summoning my mana, I cast my newest trump card: Bane Strike.
“Fire, Bane and Blind!” I was acting on instinct and intuition. Fire to harm, Bane to debuff the Spawn’s attacks and Blind to lower its hit chance. I slammed my staff into the Spawn’s back this time and it lurched in pain as my three separate enchantments took effect. The Spawn’s claw swiped at where it thought I was, but I was ready for it with Lesser Barrier of Light, the attack deflected away.
Octave’s arrows, my repeated Bane Strikes and Curmlough’s hindering the Elite Spawn’s movements allowed us to slowly whittle the creature down. Only once did the Spawn strike me when I didn’t dodge quickly enough, but this activated Minor Sanctified Ward and even more damage was accumulated by the Spawn. Finally, it collapsed into a spreading puddle of black filth.
You have defeated an Elite Spawn of Xat! Experience awarded!
That wasn’t all. I looked closer at the Spawn’s remains, still breathing hard while my mana recovered. Gingerly, I lifted the item the creature had dropped and smiled in delight.
Gloves of the Purgos Mystic
That was all I could see for now lacking Lore Sight, but I knew it was the second piece of a set that included my robe. It was a deep blue that matched the robe and despite not being able to see their stats, I equipped it nonetheless. I turned to Octave and Curmlough who looked at me expectantly.
“My friends, let’s continue.”
