Chapter Three Hundred And Seventy Four – 374
"Is that...what is that?" Loquis asked, staring into the east. The Half-Orc stood with Pava and Asaad atop the ridge, one of several squads that had been set as lookouts. Henaari scouts were prowling the sands somewhere nearby, but the top of the bluffs had the best sight lines. Loquis shaded his eyes against the rising sun, just barely peeking over the horizon.
"What's what?" Asaad demanded. The Dwarf squinted eastward for all of a moment before sneezing violently. "Damnable sun! I don't see anythin'!"
"Clouds. I see clouds," Pava said. Loquis could almost see the wisps of Mana flutter around her eyes, enhancing her normal Perception. "A lot of clouds."
Elemental Eye is level 27!
The clouds were lit by the golden light of the rising sun, but his Elemental Eye saw it as a dark storm front. Black threads roiled among the dunes, and an unnameable dread seized Loquis' soul.
"Those aren't just clouds," he whispered. "We must tell the Autarch."
"Oh aye? You gonna be the one to do that?" Asaad said.
"He's been sequestered for hours now," Pava added. "Geir spotted his Companion down the second passage."
"Hrm. Yes," Geir said. "None were allowed near."
The storm was coming closer. It appeared slow, but that was an illusion of the distance. Loquis had no clue how quickly it could be upon them.
"I'll go. He needs to know. Everyone needs to know."
Congratulations!
You Have Tempered Your Mind!
You Have Formed: the Fiendforged Mind
+50 PER
+50 INT
+100 WIL
+100 INE
+40 ALA
Felix woke to the final notes of a dwindling concerto in his head, pillowed upon the soft, warm cushion of Pit's belly. That sound resonated as his eyes cracked open, fading to tremors of exquisite, jeweled tones that vibrated his fingers and toes.
Huh. Fiendforged Mind? Felix licked his lips, but it was like rubbing two dry stones together. There was no moisture within his mouth at all. He sat up, Body protesting and Mind quaking just a touch. It was the world's worst hangover. "Water," he croaked.
Pit chirruped and nudged a sloshing skin toward Felix's hand. He grabbed it and slung back the entire thing in four big gulps, only surfacing when the skin had hollowed out. He didn't even care that the contents had been warmed by contact with Pit's haunches. He worked his tongue against the roof of his mouth until crude functionality returned to his throat. "Gah, that feels awful. Remind me never to get dehydrated in a desert again."
Pit tilted his head, then nudged another full water skin toward Felix. He laughed, taking it gladly. "Thanks, buddy." He sipped at this one slowly, grimacing at the warm taste. "How long have I been out?"
Six glasses, Pit sent. Sunrise is here.
Six hours was about the same amount he'd slept off his Spirit Temper, so that tracked, but Felix didn't like that he'd lost so much time. There was too much to do before they headed off to the City of Embers, not the least of which was fit in a bit more trainingfor himself and the others.
Focus. Status check first.
Name: Felix Nevarre
Level: 57
Race: Primordial of the Unseen Tide (Greater)*
Omen: Magician
Born Trait: Keen Mind
______
Health: 10180/10180
Stamina: 11400/11400
Mana: 8195/8195
______
STR: 2420
PER: 1862
VIT: 2016
END: 2070
INT: 2516
WIL: 3066
AGL: 1182
DEX: 1492
______
BODY
Resistances: The Song of Absolution (L), Level 83
Combat Skills: Dodge (C), Level 63; Heavy Armor Mastery (C), Level 1; Blind Fighting (R), Level 44; Corrosive Strike (R), Level 65; Wild Threnody (E), Level 70
Physical Enhancements: Armored Skin (R), Level 76; Relentless Resolution (L), Level 71
MIND
Mental Enhancements: Negotiation (C), Level 26; Deception (U), Level 29; Meditation (U), Level 63; Bastion of Will (E), Level 85; Deep Mind (E), Level 74; Manifestation of the Coronach (E), Level 68; Chthonic Tribute (L), Level 84
Information Skills: Alchemy (C), Level 49; Tracking (C), Level 30; Exploration (U), Level 63; Voracious Eye (E), Level 79; Aria of the Green Wilds (L), Level 85
SPIRIT
Spiritual Enhancements: Dual Casting (U), Level 56; Manasight (U), Level 63; Manaship Pilot (R), Level 1; Oathbinding (R), Level 35; Etheric Concordance (L), Level 76; Sovereign of Flesh (T), Level 74; Unite the Lost (T), Level 49; Fiendforge (Un), Level 1
Spells: Abyssal Skein (R), Level 49; Cloudstep (R), Level 48; Green Shaping (R), Level 26; Invocation (R), Level 59; Rime Shaping (R), Level 27; Shadow Whip (R), Level 46; Stone Shaping (R), Level 77; Sunken Ward (R), Level 1; Mantle of the Infinite Revolution (E), Level 50; Arrow of Perdition (L), Level 42; Cardinal Flame (L), Level 81; Rain of Cataclysm (L), Level 51; Theurgist of the Rise (L), Level 80; Adamant Discord (T), Level 80
______
Unused Stat Points: 15
Harmonic Stats
RES: 1020
INE: 3500
AFI: 2153
REI: 1906
EVA: 560
MIG: 788
ALA: 2175
FEL: 1034
He had no active Status Conditions, thankfully, and his Health, Stamina, and Mana were all topped off. However, Felix swallowed audibly at his stats.
Over three thousand Willpower and Intent? Jesus.What does that mean, in practical terms? he wondered. My Willpower is tied to things I can do with my Mind and Spirit, so that's my magic and just sheer stubbornness. Intent is tied to making the Grand Harmony move as I want it to...but there's a limit to that, isn't there?
More than once, Felix had encountered obstacles his Willpower and Intent couldn't get past, and likely would again if he continued to face off against Primordials and gods. If nothing else, however, his risen Intent meant that it would be that much easier to activate his Skills in the Chanter fashion. Affinity to make his Skills sing, Willpower to seize and force it through his channels, and Intent to shape the pattern of his Skills as he desired.
That's worth it, at least. And fifteen more points to invest. He thought only a moment before dumping all fifteen into Agility. It was the lowest of his Primary Stats, and while he was certainly very fast, he doubted he would be able to keep up with the true threats. That's what Endurance and Vitality are for, I suppose. Felix knew he could take a hit.
That done, Felix felt at his Mind. Despite the quivers of weakness when he'd first roused, it felt no different than before his Tempering. At least, until he flared his Cardinal Flame. Since it had evolved from his Fire Within, his first visualization and internal Mana Skill, it retained its sensitivity to his Aspects and core space. More than retained, in fact, as he could clearly sense the heft and density of his newly acquired Mind. Like his Spirit, it felt as solid as the earth itself. The strain that had hounded him since fighting the cursed Shaman had vanished from all except his Body, and even then it was a manageable ache.
Fiendforged Mind. What determines these names? Felix had a Skill called Fiendforge, so maybe it had to do with that. That Skill had catalyzed from his efforts to build his own Path, and could be used to help his allies in some fashion, so that was encouraging as far as labels were concerned. He wasn't sure how it could help his friends, exactlythere had been not a single opportunity to experiment with the Skill. He planned to change that soon, now that he had a mess load of Essence Draughts on hand. If he could get the Legionnaires to Tier up and then imbibe a Draught, he could see what his Fiendforge could doperhaps that might lead them to developing a more powerful Temper? He wasn't sure, but the idea of it excited him. Ideas and possibilities formed and were discarded in a blink, half of them silly fantasies while the rest were potentially useful. So long as the Skill worked as Felix hoped.
Felix?
He brought up the Skill again, checking on its details.
Fiendforge (Unique), Level 1!
You've proven yourself capable of Forging Paths from the threads of Harmony and Dissonance both. This Skill lets you do the same for others, but the learning curve is great. Dare you tempt fate again? Risk of failure decreases per level, risk of permanent damage to core decreases per level, speed of Forging increases per level.
Forging Paths. So does that mean others won't need an Omen Key? Or would they still require one for me to use this on them? Felix drummed his fingers on the sand, but made a face at the way it just sprayed sand over his legs. Ugh. Where's a good hard surface when you need one. Where was I? Right. Omen Keys.
Felix.
How would I go about getting them for my people? They're System rewarded. I can't just...make the System give me some. But does that mean there's no way around it? Damn. What if I
FELIX!
Felix blinked, and tore his eyes up from the sand, only to find Pit's large, golden gaze inches from his own. "What?"
A flutter of worry crossed their bond. You're wrong.
"What?" Felix frowned, looking himself over. His Health was fine, and there was still no Status Condition. "What're you talking about?"
I called you many times. Frustration, now. Pit let out a growling chirp. You did not respond.
Oh. Felix blinked, thinking back...only to find that his memories of his surroundings was almost totally blank for the last...five minutes? Instead, he felt a manic sort of energy fizz across his Mind."Oh. Holy shit. My Mind's going too fast to keep up with everything. Is it a stat discrepancy?"
He stood up, feeling the world lurch slightly, like it was lagging just a touch behind. Felix held a hand to his head as if to steady his inner ear. "Whoa. That's not great. Definitely a problem with something."
His Intelligence increased the speed at which he thought, while Perception increased his sensitivity and breadth of what he could perceive. Together they worked to keep him ahead of others in most situations, even slowing things down at times as Felix reacted faster than events could occur. But...the Thresholds he'd been through meant that his stats were working together in concert, making them more effective than on their own. His Agility and Dexterity and Perception might be lagging behind all of the rest of his Primary Stats, but why would that be a problem now and not before?
Felix, Pit sent. A warning.
Felix shook himself. "I did it again, huh? That'll be annoying." He pressed a hand to the bone walls, steadying himself. His legs felt weird under him, or maybe it was the ground itself. Like if he walked too fast he'd fly off the surface, somehow. "Shit. That's it, isn't it."
It wasn't his stats. It was his Body. Felix could feel the strain accumulate as he moved, slight as it was, just from his Journeyman Body keeping up with his Adept Mind and Spirit.
"Karys?"
His sword ignited. This close to exterior of the Warren, the sword still had a solid connection to his chancellor. "Yes, my Lord?"
He quickly explained what was going on. Karys made a few clucking noises before sighing.
"You have grown too quickly. And conversely, not quickly enough," Karys said. "As you suspect, it is clear that your Body cannot fully keep up with your Mind and Spirit. I mentioned before that the gulf between Journeyman and Adept is quite remarkable. If Beginner to Apprentice is a thimble to a spoonful, and Apprentice to Journeyman is a spoonful to a teacup, then the leap to Adept is akin to a lake. Crossing that expanse is difficult, and must be done swiftly, or else you risk drowning in your own power."
"Easier said than done," Felix groaned. "My Body Skills are close, but not enough."
"Then you must focus on them. Press them as much as you can and glean what understanding you must, because if the imbalance continues you will see greater issues to come."
"Cool." Felix leaned against the cold bone and sighed. "I'll get right on that."
A timid knock interrupted his thoughts only minutes later. "Sir?"
Felix pulled himself into a standing position, bracing against the slight blur in his perceptions. He could still sense things around himself, but acting on it was hard. If he could keep his actions limited though, then it was almost normal. "Come in."
The thin cloth at the entry to his small chamber was twitched aside, and a Half-Orc Legionnaire stepped in. He wore battered battlerobes and bore the forked lightning of the Arclight society. Loquis, as his Eye determined, pressed a fist to his chest and kneeled. "My Lord Autarch."
Oh, jeez. "Don't do that. Stand up." The kid stood up, blushing awkwardly. "What's going on, Loquis?"
"Ah, um, I was, I decided to come down here to see you because, ah," the Half-Orc swallowed twice, his blush darkening his green face even further.
"Calm down," Felix said. "I'm not gonna bite, dude. Why did you come to see me?"
"The desert, sir. It's the desert." Loquis straightened up to his full height. "It's dawn, sir. And a storm is coming."
Monsters? Felix tried not to enjoy the thrill that shot through him, but it was hard. "Show me."
Felix emerged from the Warren to find the sands about the massive skeleton whipped into a frenzy. Pit squawked indignantly and refused to follow, eyes lidded against the wind. The sky had darkened, but not because of a lack of sun. It was due to huge, vaporous threads of blackened-green and dusty brown Mana that filled the horizon, all woven into the shape of an advancing storm cloud.
"Alright, stay here for now. I'll be back in a bit."
Relentless Resolution!
Flaring his Skill in the hopes of steadying his Body, Felix leaped straight up the side of the Levianthan's corpse. His feet hit once or twice, each time propelling himself up higher and further, until he landed atop the sandy bluff the creature had embedded itself within. From there, he could truly see.
A roaring storm of sand and lightning surged across the horizon. It was a force of nature, so primal and impressive that Felix forgot to breathe for a few seconds. When he remembered, he still couldn't quite shake his awe. It was like if a twister and a hurricane had a baby, and then dried it out. It was sweeping across the dunes like a rainstorm...yet Felix saw no water Mana within its structureonly earth, air, and a huge dollop of necromantic power.
It was terrifying.
"That is not a natural storm."
Felix started. Zara was beside him, staring at the storm as well. His imbalanced Aspects and distraction had conspired to sense her approach at all. That was concerning. "That seems obvious. Can't recall the last storm I've seen that was mostly necromantic."
"Indeed. It is also..." she tilted her head, listening. "Filled with an inert Intent. Interesting. I assume these are the Cursewinds."
"Yeah, seems likely." Felix licked his lips. He was thirsty again. Damn dry desert air. "Will this place hold against it?"
"The shaman seems to believe so. They were unconcerned when the storm was revealed to us."
The sound of hard boots against harder stone clattered behind them, and this time Felix easily sensed Evie and Vess' arrival.
"What's goin' on? Holy" Evie looked at Zara, cutting her words short. "What're you two just out here standin' around for? That thing gonna hit us?"
"No," Vess said. To Felix's eyes, air Mana coiled around her upraised hand, feeding down into her eyes where it swirled in brilliant flashes of multi-colored light. "The prevailing winds has it headed south. It should miss us by a close margin."
"That's a relief. The idea of bein' buried alive in sand isn't much appealin' to me, personally."
"It would likely scour the flesh from your bones first, if that's any consolation," Zara supplied helpfully.
Evie sucked at her teeth. "Can't say it is, no."
They watched as the sandstorm rolled ever closer, though it appeared Vess had been right. It was going to bypass them on its way south. Toward the Stormeater Peaks, he didn't doubt, where it'd hopefully dash itself apart. Unless it hit the Caleph Pass directly. Could that happen? What if
Without warning, there was a flare of piercing Dissonance, and all four of them reeled backward. Felix heard someone scream, even felt blood drip down his nose, but couldn't pay them much attention. All of his Mind was fully engrossed in the undeniable certainty that the storm was looking at him.
"It's...sensing you," Zara said from behind.
"Impressive, Felix," Evie snarked breathlessly. She had fallen to her knees after that Dissonance had hit. "I can be a thorn, but I've never made the wind mad."
"It's not the wind," Zara said. Her voice was heavy and thick with apprehension. "Feel its Intent, child. You too, Felix."
He did.
The inert Intent Zara had sensed was rough and grey, like a beast that had been slumbering for years. Or a corpse buried for decades. But there was a rousing acidity to it, an electric charge that suffused its core. It smelled of violence, tasted of Dissonance and thin, dusty blood. He recognized it, having tasted its Essence twice now.
"Primordial," he growled. "Or Primordial generated, at least."
"It knows you," Zara said.
"Because of the spider monster? Because I cleansed it?"
"Perhaps. The capabilities of Primordials are unknown. The greatest were calamities, but even the lesser ones were forces of nature." The Naiad swallowed and helped Vess back to her feet. "If this is a mere branching of its Will and Intent, then it is one of the former. It is stronger than the Ravager King by an order of magnitude."
A scream shredded the air and shook the rocks they stood upon, as the winds shifted and the entire storm followed suit. Right toward them.
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