The Dungeon Map presented the Revelations of Cel Dungeon as being ovoid in shape or like an egg tipped upon its side. We had first entered the Dungeon, from what I was able to discern by carefully tracing my finger across the labeled sections, in the direct center of the Dungeon. Garfle had been squatting in an area close to where we were heading, the section on Magic. We were in the bottom half of the egg, near the edge of the dungeon border. It wasn’t lit nearly as well as other sections and on top of that, was eerily quiet.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” Octave asked for the dozenth time.
“I’m holding the Map, Octave. We just left Philosophy and are now in Poetry. Next, is Magic.”
“I’m only asking, because the Satyr looks nervous.” Octave said as he held his bow nocked and ready while continuously checked the path behind them.
“Nope. I’m fine,” Curmlough answered with a sly grin. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you if anything jumps out at us.”
“If anything jumps out at us it’s the one with the shortest legs and who can’t fly that will probably get snatched up first!” Octave retorted.
“Shh!” I hissed. “When we turn the next corner, the chest should be dead center of an open area with three other paths leading to other sections. Be ready.” Buffed up and ready to go, I peered around the corner. Despite not being surprised by what I saw, it was still disheartening.
I could not inspect them all, but counted no less than thirteen Mournful Brothers kneeling as if in prayer before an altar upon which floated a closed book. Surrounding the book was a storm of purple colored runes that wove patterns around the tome like a flock of hummingbirds.
Where is the chest? Wait, could that book be the Revelations of Cel!? It’s too far away, I can’t inspect it from here! What are those runes? Why aren’t the Monks moving?
I took a moment to calm down and consider my strategy. I would open with Harvest Moon. Then, if any of the Brothers resisted the spell, I would cast Lesser Turn Undead. This would lower the monk’s resistance to a point where, so far, I had been able to successfully oust stubborn Spawn from the Brothers. When the Spawn appeared, I would have Octave throw a Sunburst to blind them allowing Curmlough to then stop their movements with his spells. From there, I would wade into the fray with my staff to destroy as many of the Spawn as quickly as possible. I would rely upon Octave to pick off the rest. I relayed my wishes to the others and both nodded.
“I’m going to count down from 3.” I whispered. “Ready? 3…2…”
“Wait! Look at that!” Curmlough pointed towards the altar.
I stopped my casting just in time and looked where the wide-eyed Satyr was pointing. There, upon the altar and just beneath where the book floated, was a…tiny frog?
“What in the name of Gor’s Maw is that frog doing there?” I was flabbergasted. A frog is not what one expects to find in a Library or a Dungeon for that matter. Especially one that was glowing.
The frog appeared unconcerned about being surrounded by spirits or having a heavy book floating just above its small body. It stared blandly out into space, neither croaking nor making any sort of movement save pulsing with a white light every half minute.
“It’s a Planar Frog,” Curmlough whispered, excitement in his voice. I looked down at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m going to need you to explain to me what that is?” I glanced over at Octave for help, but the Cherub just shrugged. He didn’t know what it was either.
“It’s an extremely rare creature. My Sister told me! They do not exist in Aramyr, but spawn only in Dungeons! If you manage to hit one, they drop treasures!” My eyes widened in disbelief.
“That small, glowing frog is a rare dungeon spawn that drops a treasure if you kill it?” Is the Planar Frog what the chest marker on the Dungeon Map indicates? Curmlough chuckled and shook his head.
“No, you can’t kill a Planar Frog! They’re invincible! Yet, if you can manage to land a hit on it they will spit out enchanted equipment, spell books, gems, rare ingredients…”
“Oh come now! That tiny amphibian is going to cough up weapons or armor each time I smack it? Cel’s Miracles, that’s hard to believe! Is it even a Dungeon Beast?”
“Of course it’s a Dungeon Beast! I know it doesn’t look like much, but there is no telling what wonders it might spit up at us.” Curmlough rubbed his hands eagerly and even Octave seemed to be getting interested.
“Could it spit out a keg of Heavenly Ale?” The Cherub asked innocently. Curmlough nodded enthusiastically.
“Planar Frogs are very special. They might cough up anything! There is even an Achievement you get for hitting one. My Sister said they were tricky.” That caught my attention. Achievements meant more Node Rewards. I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. This fight just got a lot more interesting. Yet, if hitting them was difficult there would likely be collateral damage when the fight started and I didn’t want to damage the book upon the altar. The Planar Frog was in a bad position for me to even attempt an attack.
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“Let’s fall back. I need to rethink the plan.”
The others followed me back down the stacks a short ways. Thankfully, neither of them complained and seemed content to wait for me to make the battle plan. As much as Octave had been determined to have me follow his lead originally, he had never followed through on it and seemed content to let the “mortal” lead the way. Curmlough had proven to be a far braver individual than I had ever guessed he would be, if I was comparing him to his siblings. The Satyr carried his Aulos loosely in one hand and was ready to follow my commands. They were both more experienced than I, but I felt strongly that they both believed in me. I wanted to reward their belief with continued success.
I might need to swap out some spells. Let me think…
I opened up my Active Spell list, the seed of a plan forming.
Active Spells Slots (21 of 21)
Minor Sanctified Ward
Greater Heal (2)
Harvest Moon (2)
Minor Cube of Confusion
Minor Mana Tap
Lesser Barrier of Light
Lesser Shadow Leech
Caretaker’s Guidance
Mantle of Intellect (2)
Deathward (2)
Bane Strike (2)
Lesser Turn Undead (2)
Vow of Contagion (3)
I would swap out Vow of Contagion for now and replace it with Congruency Darts. If the frog was quick, then being able to touch it physically was likely out of the question. Also, if it was invincible as Curmlough said would a Damage-Over-Time spell even affect it? Next, I was going to roll Sul’s Dice by spending a few of my Green Nodes on a theory.
I opened up the Faction Web Terminal and navigated to Gor’s Web. I spent a single green Node point to unlock Minor Command Beast. I wasn’t kidding myself into thinking I could take control of the Planar Frog, but I had to try. If the Dungeon had placed this opportunity in front of me, I had to believe there was a reason. I had faith there was a reason.
The Gods want me to hit a frog? This might be stretching faith a bit, Kenric!
The next two Green Nodes were each an additional +6 to Charisma. I had already noticed the pattern that Tier I typically came with attribute bonuses to a single attribute. I just hadn’t expected Gor to grant his Priests Charisma. I shrugged and paid the points bringing my Node Bank down to 8 Green, 4 Blue and 1 Red. Gor’s Tier II revealed itself and I looked over his offerings, hoping for something that might help with the Planar Frog.
Soothe Savagery (2 Active)
Mana Cost: 25 Mana + Target WIS/Level
Description: Target any Beast Type creature and attempt to calm their negative emotions. Success % is based on CHA+WIS/Target Level.
Duration: CHA/Level
Beast Tongue (2 Active)
Mana Cost: 5 Mana/sec
Description: Target any Beast Type creature and attempt to form a bond of communication. Success is based on CHA+INT/Target Level
Duration: Until canceled or Target takes Damage.
Spoor Blast (2 Active)
Mana Cost: 40 Mana
Description: Target any Beast Type creature and direct an impulse directly into their minds to either Attract or Repel them.
Duration: 8 Seconds
It was clear that these spells were meant to work together, but taking them all was out of the question at the moment. I couldn’t afford to switch out certain spells from my Active List. Until I could grow the list further, I had to be strategic in how I approached each situation. This was life or death, after all.
One of Gor’s Tier II spells, however, stood out to me. Asking me to give up 2 Active Slots was a lot to ask right now, but I was willing to try it if it meant special loot. I spent the Blue Node and unlocked Spoor Blast. I didn’t bother looking at the next few Green Nodes that followed the path to Tier III as I wasn’t ready to commit so many points to Gor’s Web just yet. I had what I felt I needed for now. I hoped it would be enough. I would have Faith.
“Alright, here’s what we will do…
***
We were back to observing the kneeling Mournful Brothers and the ambivalent looking Planar Frog. Nothing had moved or changed. The unknown book still floated above the altar, surrounding by orbiting purple runes. Each of us knew our roles for the encounter, but we would be taking a big chance with our revised plan. I had decided that no matter what book it was, the quest item or not, I wasn’t destroying any books. I would need to be careful not to damage it while trying to engage with the frog.
“Alright, remember if anything goes wrong and we get separated to make your way to the Theology section. That way we can link up near the Dungeon Boss.” I was repeating what we all already knew, but I was saying it more for me than my companions. I was nervous and needed to calm down. I said a quick prayer.
Gor, Lord of Beasts and Cel, Giver of Mana make me the conduit of your power. Please let this work!
I pointed a finger from behind the corner directly at the Planar Frog and cast Minor Command Beast. In an instant, the frog blinked and before I could make another move the creature vanished! Curmlough didn’t hesitate and started playing a joyful, upbeat tune and a bevy of blue, mana created Chipmunks popped into existence to scatter across ground and upon the altar, surrounding the Mournful Brothers, who began rising from their reveries.
“It’s over there!” Octave called and he fired an arrow into a corner of the room where the Planar Frog had reappeared.
“Don’t let it escape! Try to keep it in this area!” I called out and cast Harvest Moon after pushing away the notification I had received a moment before.
Minor Command Beast has failed to capture a Planar Frog! Level too low!
It wasn’t unexpected, but I still cursed my ill-luck. I would move on to the next contingency plan, however I spared a moment to note that not even half of the Brothers were divesting themselves of their Spawn.
“Wik take it!” I swore. I made a split second decision the moment I saw Octave’s arrow miss the frog when it again vanished a moment before it was about to be skewered. It reappeared again upon the altar landing on top of one of Curmlough’s Chipmunks! There was a splat sound as the Chipmunk underneath the frog exploded and the frog gave an irritated Croak! My jaw dropped when I saw what looked like a bejeweled goblet vomit forth from the Planar Frog’s mouth!
“Gor’s Teeth! More Chipmunks, Curmlough! More!” I cast Spoor Blast and targeted the Planar Frog.
You have successfully cast Spoor Blast: Attract upon Planar Frog!
The Planar Frog seemed confused for a moment as new scents filled the air. It was a heady mixture of moisture and mud. It was the smell of a swamp filled with tasty bugs and extra large lily pads. Instead of vanishing on the spot, the frog took a hop in my direction. I grinned. The little guy wouldn’t try to leave our immediate vicinity just yet. I turned my attention back to the Spawn just in time.
Curmlough piped and even capered a bit, tapping his hooves in time with his music and more Chipmunks appeared even as Octave fired arrows into the Spawn to keep them off my back. The Spawn of Xat were like animated bags of jelly filled with ink. The Cherub’s arrows caused enough leaking wounds that some Spawn deflated like punctured wineskins. Non-Elite Spawn were no great thing for us anymore and we handled them calmly. I smashed one with my staff when it came too close, then gave myself some space to cast Lesser Turn Undead, lowering the resistance of the Mournful Brothers who had resisted Harvest Moon. The rest of the Brothers almost immediately began to separate from their Spawn, save one.
This final Monk reeled when the effects of Lesser Turn Undead fell over him and with the power of Harvest Moon bathing him in its holy light, I saw an old, wizened looking face twist in equal parts anger and agony. Holy magic warred with the Void and I darted forward, thinking that if I tried a Bane Strike, it might weaken the Spawn’s hold upon the Monk further. Or, if this monk continued to resist my spells, I doubted I would be able to save his soul and I would be forced to destroy him. Lore Sight was still on cool down for another ten hours and so I was only able to see the most basic of information about this monk, but for me, it was enough to firm my resolve in saving this soul.
Abbot Caspendeau
Level: ?
“Father Abbot!” I cried.
“Kenric, behind you!” I heard Octave’s warning shout. I whirled around and faced death.
