Chapter 44: Preparations. (Patreon)

All eyes turned to Eoman. The plan was clearly to be his. “If we are to save the poor quarter,” he began, “we must do two things: kill the players, and make sure they don’t escape.”

For a moment, his words confused me. Weren’t both things he mentioned one and the same? Then I realized what he was driving at. “You mean we can’t let them escape after death, don’t you?”

He nodded approvingly. “You’ve figured it out. In short, we can’t let any of the players resurrect in the sector’s safe zone.”

Soren scratched his head. “I don’t follow,” he admitted.

Eoman turned to him. “Once the players are in the safe zone, they are beyond our reach. None of us none-players can get to them there, and for obvious reasons, Elana shouldn’t go there either.”

Soren nodded. “I’m with you so far.”

Eoman leaned forward across the table. “Think about what happens next then, after we kill the players. The first time, most will probably return to try again. But the second?”

“They won’t return,” Soren muttered. “Not immediately and not alone, anyway.”

“Exactly,” Eoman agreed. “When they come back it will be with reinforcements, players who we have no chance of defeating, and perhaps even with Arinna herself.”

“It is not Alistair’s groups that concern us most,” Maragret added. “As far as we can tell, they are a small, isolated group.”

“It’s Arinna’s spies that worry you,” I guessed, thinking of the lizardwoman.

“Correct,” Odenna said. “Sooner or later, they will wise up, and as much as it pains them to reveal the dungeon, they’ll report to a Sworn or another superior.”

“Needless to say that cannot happen,” Eoman concluded.

This was the part that confused me. “But how do you stop them running to Arinna after they die?”

“Two ways,” Tommin said. “One: we kill them in another sector, thus making sure they don’t resurrect in Mesina’s safe zone—which sits inside Arinna’s palace by the way, not a place any of us ever wants to be.” He pulled something out from under the table and set it down. “Or two: we use this.”

I eyed the metal object Tommin had placed on the table. It looked like a simple urn. “What’s that?”

“An urn of shackling,” he replied. “Go ahead. Inspect it.”

Doing just that, I reached out and analyzed the innocuous-looking object.

The target is the Urn of Shackling, a rank 5 artifact forged by Prime Samada. It contains an enchantment that allows it to temporarily detain free-floating spirits.

After the urn is activated, it will draw in every unbound spirit in a 200-yard radius. The spirits can be held within the artifact for a maximum period of 5 days after which they will be released.

Note, the urn will not affect players of tier 6 and above, or those with high death magic resistance.

I read aloud the item’s description for Soren’s benefit, assuming everyone else in the room was already familiar with it.

The moment I was done, Adalinda spoke up. “‘…draw in every unbound spirit?’” she repeated uneasily. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

I didn’t either. “Free-floating spirit? Unbound spirit?” I asked. “What do these terms mean?”

“Exactly what you fear,” Odenna replied promptly. “The urn does not discriminate. It will trap any unsheltered spirit—that includes your own and Adalinda’s.”

My eyes narrowed.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Tommin adds hastily. “As long as you and the celestial don’t die, you will be fine.”

I snorted, not at all comforted by his words.

“Any non-player who dies in the vicinity will be equally at risk,” Maragret said. “But remember the spirits in the urn are only shackled for five days.”

“And what happens then?” Soren asked.

Tommin shrugged. “They are released as if nothing ever happened.”

I rubbed my chin, spotting another problem. “How will the urn affect Adalinda’s manifestations? When she takes form, there is a brief period when her spirit is… unsheltered.”

“Is it right?” Odenna murmured. Frowning, she pondered the question. “Then, to be safe,” she said finally, “Adalinda shouldn’t manifest or unmanifest while within the urn’s area of effect.”

“Huh,” I grunted, not at all pleased by the limitation. “Are you okay with that?” I asked my companion.

“I can live with it, I suppose,” she replied. “But what about your summons?”

I sighed. “From the sounds of it, the urn will affect them too.”

“So, no summons?”

“No summons inside the urn’s field,” I agreed. Turning my attention outwards, I found Eoman staring at me.

“Any more questions about the urn, Elana?” he asked.

I nodded. “Just one. Where will we use it?”

Eoman smiled. “In the very place we know both groups of players want to go: the Black Sewers.”

I groaned. “Right, so its back there again.”

Eoman chuckled. “Don’t sound so despondent. The Black Sewers is actually an ideal location. There is only entrance, which we can easily control now that the Devils are in disarray. The underground tunnels’ tight confines will also allow us to employ the urn to best effect.”

I nodded, reluctantly conceding he made valid points.

Eoman looked around the table. “Any other questions?”

I shook my head as did the others.

“Perfect,” the Raccoon leader pronounced. “Then, are we in agreement: we use the urn in the Black Sewers?”

Everyone replied in the affirmative.

“Excellent! Let’s get down to it, then. The first thing we must do is…”

✵ ✵ ✵

It took another few hours to finalize the plan.

The basic concept was straightforward and after the first hour Maragret and Eoman left to set the wheels in motion. They returned only a little later, at which point the real work began: ironing out the details.

There were a lot of moving parts to Eoman’s plan, but I had little doubt it could work. Whether it would work, on the other hand, would depend very much on how well each of us played our parts.

When everything was finally settled, the others filed out—leaving me alone with Odenna.

I hadn’t wanted to humor the old elf, expecting another scolding, but she’d been insistent, and at Soren’s urging, I’d finally agreed to hear her out.

“Well?” I said, staring at her across the table.

Not answering, Odenna rose from her chair and reseated herself next to me. “We should talk,” she said.

“I’m not sure we have anything to discuss,” I muttered.

Odenna closed her eyes for a second. “I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I’ve made a real muddle of things. Nothing I said was untrue but… I could have handled things better. Will you accept my apology?”

For just a split-second, I considered rebuffing her, but that would have been churlish. And truthfully, I owed Odenna a lot. Notwithstanding her disparaging remarks earlier, she’d given me her help unstintingly and I knew I would never have found Soren without her.

“I will,” I said, exhaling heavily and, surprisingly, feeling lighter for it. I didn’t want to fight with Odenna, I realized. I’d known her for too long, cared for her still, and she was one of few remaining links with my parents.

“Thank you,” the old elf replied, a warm smile spreading across her face.

I squeezed her arm.

“Can I see her, please?” she asked, her voice fraught with emotion.

I didn’t have to ask who she meant. “Ada, do you want to…?” I asked, projecting my voice inwards.

“I owe her as much as you do,” the celestial replied. “If not more. She kept me safe for decades, and we wouldn’t have met without her.”

“I agree.”

A moment later, the celestial flowed out of me, gathering in a hazy cloud above the desk.

“Ah,” Odenna exclaimed, her eyes shining.

Adalinda has cast manifest, taking the form of a level 27 battle komodo.

“I’ve waited so long for this moment,” Odenna whispered. “It almost makes all the sacrifices, all the death, worth it.” Her expression turned forlorn. “Almost.”

She stretched out her hand. It was trembling, I noted. “Can I?”

“Go ahead,” I said. “Adalinda doesn’t mind.”

The elf ran a light hand down the komodo, and the celestial leaned into the caress.

Odenna lifted her gaze to me. “There is much I want to tell you and more I want to ask. But something else needs to be said first.” She paused. “Despite what she wanted for you, I think Penelope would’ve been proud of who you’ve become.”

I nodded mutely, too choked with emotion to reply.

“And she would have wanted me to give you these,” Odenna. So saying, she laid down two books on the table.

“What are they?”

“Spellbooks. They were part of the treasures in my keeping. I’m not sure why your father didn’t take them with the other items, but in any case, they are yours.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Before I could go on, she laid three more books down on the table. “And these are from me.”

I looked at her questioningly.

“They’re skillbooks I purchased from Tommin for you.”

My brows crinkled. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m not sure they’ll be appropriate. I still only have the one Class and it’s quite restrictive.”

“I, uh-uhm, questioned Soren and Tommin on your current skillset and Class,” she replied. “I think you’ll find what I’ve shortlisted relevant.”

I raised one eyebrow. “Still trying to manage me, Odenna?”

She flushed.

I laid a hand on her arm. “It’s alright, I was only joking.” Half-joking. “Let me take a look.”

Focusing on the books, I inspected them one by one.

This is a basic skillbook: earth magic. Governing attribute: Magic. Tier: basic.

This is a basic skillbook: wands. Governing attribute: Magic or Faith. Tier: basic.

This is a basic skillbook: daggers. Governing attribute: Dexterity. Tier: basic.

You have acquired the light’s favored spellbook. Governing attribute: Faith. Tier: basic. Requirement: light magic.

Light’s favored is a literal interpretation of one the Force’s central tenets: betterment of the many. The spell is a simple and straightforward buff that will strengthen all of the caster’s nearby allies.

You can learn this ability, but Adalinda cannot.

You have acquired the flame whip spellbook. Governing attribute: Magic. Tier: basic. Requirement: fire magic.

Fire magic is one of the most popular magical disciplines in the Game and is prized not only for the destructive power of its spells, but also their simplicity. Fire whip is an outlier in this respect. More complicated than your typical fire spell, it is nevertheless devastating in the hands of a skilled user.

Where most direct-attack fire spells can be classified as either ranged or melee, the fire whip spell falls in both categories. A touch-based attack, it still manages to reach targets many dozen yards away.

Both you and Adalinda can learn this ability.

I whistled softly. I was no expert on the Game, by any means, but both spells seemed well suited to me and Adalinda. The skillbooks, I was less sure about.

“You like them then?” Odenna asked.

“I do. Flame whip, in particular, seems fascinating. And interestingly enough, Adalinda can use it too.”

The elf sat up. “She can?”

Nodding, I glanced at the celestial. “Do you want it?”

Adalinda took her time responding. “No…” she decided finally. “Controlling a whip from afar seems like too much trouble. Its more suited to you, I think.”

I couldn’t disagree. “Ah, she’s not interested,” I said for Odenna’s benefits. Picking up the ability tome, I opened it and absorbed the knowledge contained within.

You have gained the basic ability: flame whip. This is a channeled spell that extends a single tongue of flame from one of the caster’s hands. Physically, the flame behaviors in the same manner an ordinary whip would but instead inflicts fire damage. At this tier, the flame whip’s maximum length is 3 yards.

This spell has no somatic or verbal components. Its activation time is very fast, it consumes mana and can be upgraded. You have 15 of 19 Magic ability slots remaining.

I picked up the second ability tome. This one Adalinda couldn’t use, so without further delay, I flipped through the book.

You have gained the basic ability: light’s favored. This spell creates a persistent circle of light 20 yards in diameter that lasts 10 minutes. You and any of your allies who are touched by the light will have the attribute of your choice increased by +2.

Note, you may use any creature or fixed point within your line of sight to anchor the spell, but only those of your allies who remain within the circle will retain the buff’s benefits.

This spell has a verbal component. Its activation time is fast, it consumes mana, and can be upgraded. You have 7 of 10 Faith ability slots remaining.

“Hmm, interesting,” I murmured, after reading through the spell’s description and double-checking the previous one.

“What is?” Odenna asked curiously.

I shook my head, not realizing I’d spoken aloud. “Oh its nothing much really, only a pattern I’ve noticed between what spells Adalinda can and cannot learn.”

Odenna waited attentively for me to go on, and I could see even Adalinda’s interest had been piqued.

“Somatic and verbal components,” I explained. “Adalinda can’t learn any spell with either of those components.”

“That is interesting,” Odenna said, “but stands to reason—” she gestured at the celestial—“given her form.”

I nodded. It was disappointing, nevertheless.

Odenna prodded the skillbooks in my direction. “What about these? Will you take on any of them?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Earth magic sounds useful, and a dagger skill will come in handy too, but…”

“You only have one slot left and don’t want to waste it on the wrong skill?” Odenna guessed.

I nodded.

“Do you want my advice?” she asked.

A smile flickered across my face. “Why ask this time? You’ve never been shy about giving it before.”

Odenna winced. “That may be part of why I messed up so badly.” She sighed. “I grew too used to my advice being heeded that I began to see it less as advice and more as…”

“Instruction?” I suggested helpfully.

For a moment, Odenna looked startled before laughing ruefully. “I think you’ve nailed it on the head.”

This was a side of the old elf I’d not seen before but was one I thought I could come to like. “I’d welcome your advice,” I said seriously.

“In that case, I recommend acquiring the wands skill.”

“Wands?” I asked in surprise. “Why wands?”

“Because you’re a spellcaster,” she replied promptly. “Oh, I know you’re fast and no slouch with a blade, but those are your non-Game talents. Don’t confuse them with your player skills.”

“Hmm. Then why not take earth magic?”

Odenna waved her hand dismissively. “Three magic disciplines are more than enough for any player, especially for their first Class. How much help would a fourth really be?”

I couldn’t argue with her reasoning there.

“But what will—”

“Imagine if you could cast your spells faster.”

My eyes narrowed. “Are you saying a wand will speed up my casting time?”

“Yes,” Odenna replied. “Most grant other benefits too, but any wand will let you weave magic faster.”

“That would come in handy,” I admitted.

“Definitely,” Adalinda agreed.

I picked up the wands skillbook, pondering Odenna’s advice a little longer. It makes sense, I thought and even better, I already had a wand on hand to use.

My decision made, I flipped open the book and began to read.

You have gained the basic skill: wands.

Every mage needs a wand as much as any warrior needs a weapon. Just like a weapon, a wand improves and directs its wielder’s attacks—only in the case of a wand, the attacks are spells, and the improvements are more arcane in nature.

A mage’s wand can reduce the spellcasting time, negate the need for some vocal or somatic components, and even store spells for later use.

You have 0 of 6 empyrean Class skill slots remaining. Congratulations, Elana! You have fully configured your first Class.

I smiled. The skill was everything Odenna made it out to be and more, and I was not at all perturbed by the last Game message. I didn’t need any further skills to do what I foresaw coming.

“And?” Odenna asked impatiently. “What do you think?”

“One moment,” I murmured. Reaching into my bag of holding, I withdrew a slim object.

“Is that a wand?” Odenna asked, spotting it.

I nodded. “I looted it from one of the players in Cantos’ house.”

You have equipped the wand, firebreather, gaining the fireball spell and increasing the fire damage you deal by +20%. Warning this item’s store of mana is depleted: fireball spell not available.

Note, all wands reduce your casting time by 5% for each rank you achieve in the wands skill. Current modifiers: 0% reduction in casting time.

I laughed. “It’s perfect, Odenna. Absolutely perfect.”

She smiled. “I’m glad you—”

The door slammed open, cutting her off as Soren rushed in. “Odenna, Elana, come quick!”

I surged to my feet. “What’s wrong?”

“Arinna’s followers have entered the quarter. We have to move. Now!”