The Pinnacle Warrior

For the first time in quite a while, the Wanderers were off following a long path that had been mentally sketched out to them. Once they spoke with a Grove Warden, expressing interest in following Gabriel’s suggestion of where they might go, they’d received instructions on how to go to the Dungeon proper entrance he’d mentioned. What immediately stuck out to Astrid was that the path they were told to follow was definitely not a straight line. Instead, it looped around in a path that was at least twice as long as going in a straight line would have been.

“Why not go straight?” She asked.

If you stray from that path, you will be observed, and any privileges you have received will be revoked. You have been offered great trust. Do not betray it.

“Of course we’ll do exactly what you say,” Astrid assured them. Then, feeling a spike of courage that she knew wasn’t particularly wise, she asked again, “But why can’t we just go in a straight line? Of course, whatever it is that you want us to do, we’ll do, I just wanna know why.”

Because you have been told not to. More emotion than ever usually colored the voice of any of the Verdant Walkers emerged as they snapped back at her.

The second answer confirmed for Astrid that she wasn’t going to be getting the answer she wanted, and she nodded as she stopped prying. “Thank you for your help and letting us spend so much time here in this Dungeon branch. It’s been really helpful.”

And the Sanctuary is grateful to you for having covered for the internal effects of the surge, came the response.

“Since this was a regular surge,” Astrid asked, ignoring the look on Benedict‘s face as she continued to ask questions after possibly offending their hosts, “what did you do to prevent spawning on the surface?”

Some wyvern spawned on the surface. They were taken care of.

Again, no answers came her way, and Astrid nodded her head instead of continuing to pester, set her goodbyes, and led the party away from the entrance to the wyvern‘s nest Dungeon branch. They traveled for nearly a kilometer before Benedict stepped forward and shoved Astrid. At least, he tried to, but instead, he ended up just putting his hand on her shoulder and pushing himself away.

“Are you stupid?” He demanded. “They didn’t want to talk about it and you kept asking questions!”

“They’re a patient people,” Astrid rationalized, “I think they’re fine. They didn’t wanna answer, so they didn’t answer. I asked a different question, they still didn’t answer. Here we are.”

Benedict shook his head in disappointment, and when he wasn’t looking, Astrid allowed herself a little smile. After all, he’d gone from despondent to incredulous, and while that hadn’t at all been her intention, she didn’t mind pretending it had been. 

“Instead of a couple hours of easy journeying,” Felix said as they made their way onto the path they would follow, “this is going to be a pretty long journey. Half the day?”

“That sounds about right, though we’ll get faster the more familiar with the path we become,” Astrid nodded. As she said so, she looked at Benedict with raised eyebrows.

“Of course I’m going to use my Skill to hurry us along,” he scoffed. “But using your words is pretty nice too.”

“Please help us with Voice of Liberation,” Astrid said, turning and giving a big, cheesy smile.

“Yes, yes, I shall do so,” Benedict said, speaking with an airy tone and waving his hand like some fancy, foppish fool. He smiled and began to play a sweeping dance number, a song that Astrid had never heard, and she couldn’t understand how it was coming out of a flute. Regardless, every member of the party picked up the pace, going faster as they followed the mental directions they had all been given. Now Steel tier, and each with significantly higher Alacrity, the journey would go much quicker. In fact, Astrid took an opportunity to familiarize herself both with her own Status as well as that of each of her party members, along with their new pieces of equipment.

Status

Name: Astrid 

Class: Immortal Champion (Steel)

Total Level: 61 (1,139/450,000)

Attributes

Current

Per level growth

Power

760 (+270)

+22

Alacrity

469 (+130) [+281]

+12

Fortitude

739 (+326)

+20

Magical Potency

305 (+105)

+10

Self-Mastery

286 (+136) [+114]

+10

Acumen

201 (+54) [+80]

+5

Skill List

Boon of Potentiation

Boon of the Hero

Boon of Indomitability

Immortal Champion’s Physique (Steel)

Spectral Graviton (Steel)

Immortal Champion’s Equipment (Steel)

Unconquerable Aura (Steel)

Body Surge (Iron)

Mental Fortress (Steel)

None

Locked

Locked

Steel tier: Deep Manasteel platebody: enchanted for self-repair and mana channeling. Every enchantment is focused on hardiness. Provides: +75 to Power, +25 to Alacrity, +115 to Fortitude, +30 to Magical Potency, +35 to Self-Mastery +10 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Deep manasteel and Mithril alloy greaves: enchanted for self-repair. If mana is channeled through them, will grant a temporary 50% boost to Alacrity. Provides: +35 to Power, +45 to Alacrity, +30 to Fortitude.

Steel tier: Dungeon Gold and deep manasteel alloy gloves: enchanted for self-repair and Power mana channeling. Will strengthen the effects of Power channeled through them by 25%. Provides: +50 to Power, +25 to Fortitude, +40 to Magical Potency.

Iron tier: Dungeon Silver helm: enchanted for self-repair, enhanced vision, and Self-Mastery mana conversion. Any mana channeled through this helm will be converted to Self-Mastery protective mana. Provides: +11 to Fortitude, +11 to Self-Mastery, +4 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Dungeon Silver and Mithril alloy shield: can extend to cover more. Power +25, Alacrity +15, Fortitude +70, Magical Potency +15, Self-Mastery +45, Acumen +15

Steel tier: Echo stone hammer: Power +60, Alacrity +20, Fortitude +50, Magical Potency +20, Self-Mastery +30, Acumen +20.

Steel tier: Dragon Turtle Tendon Sling: enchanted to strengthen the ammunition it throws. Provides: +25 to Power, +25 to Alacrity.

Steel tier: Self-repair gambeson with replaced maned reindeer batting. Provides: Fortitude + 35, Self-Mastery +15.

Status

Name: Skandr

Class: Storm Archwizard (Steel)

Total Level: 61

Attributes

Current

Per level growth

Power

185 (+34)

+5

Alacrity

237 (+92)

+7

Fortitude

298 (+85)

+8

Magical Potency

797 (+230)

+26

Self-Mastery

506 (+110)

+17

Acumen

437 (+105)

+13

Skill List

Boon of Fortification

Storm Wizardry (Steel)

Enchantment (Steel)

Warlock’s Constitution (Steel)

Storm Companionship (Steel)

Mental Bastion (Steel)

None

None

Locked

Iron tier: Cloud fleece brigandine: to be worn under the robe. Fleece naturally absorbs blows, is enchanted for protection. Has segments of boiled iron boar leather as the engraved surface for the enchantments. Provides: +4 to Power, +2 to Alacrity, +10 to Fortitude, +10 to Magical Potency, +10 to Self-Mastery.

Steel tier: Lightning ostrich leather boots: enchanted for quickness and light steps. Provides: +30 to Alacrity, +15 to Fortitude, +30 to Magical Potency, +15 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Lightning pegasus robe: enchanted to strengthen wind, lightning, and storm spells. Strengthens the potency of spells cast by 75% (limited to low Mithril tier). Has two flaps hidden along the back with spines that gain rigidity when provided with mana. When rigid, can serve as additional protection when wrapped around the torso or gliding wings when spread. Provides: +20 to Power, +40 to Alacrity, +40 to Fortitude, +130 to Magical Potency, +60 to Self-Mastery, +50 to Acumen

Steel tier: Spell storage rings and bracelet: can store three spells up to Mithril(?) tier. 

Steel tier: Lightning-struck wooden staff: if provided with mana, will form a storm fitting the location without a spell. +10 Power, +20 Alacrity, +20 Fortitude. +60 Magical Potency, +50 Self-Mastery, +40 Acumen

Status

Name: Muti

Class: Lethal Shadow (Steel)

Total Level: 61

Attributes

Current

Per level growth

Power

689 (+191)

+20

Alacrity

638 (+230)

+20

Fortitude

358 (+160)

+10

Magical Potency

204 (+135)

+9

Self-Mastery

239 (+100)

+4

Acumen

386 (+140)

+10

Skill List

Boon of the Mana-Touched

Lethal Shadow’s Equipment (Steel)

Shadow Teachings (Steel)

Shadow Aura (Steel)

Shadow Strike (Steel)

Shadow Touched (Steel)

None

None

Locked

Steel tier: Shadow markhor wool gambeson and leggings: naturally absorbs bludgeoning strikes while darkening shadows around the wearer. Strengthens shadow magic. Paired equipment. As a pair, provides: +30 to Power, +45 to Alacrity, +25 to Fortitude, +15 to Magical Potency, +10 to Self-Mastery, +20 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Midnight Mithril and cave basilisk leather armor: Highly resistant to all effects except shadow. The metal armor pieces are enchanted with the leather to work in tandem, naturally hiding the wearer in all shadow. Provides: +55 to Power, +70 to Alacrity, +55 to Fortitude, +35 to Magical Potency, +35 to Self-Mastery, +40 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Shadow Panther boots: Produce and deepen shadow. Enhance recovery in shadow. Strengthen sneak attacks. Provides: Power +40, Alacrity +70, Fortitude +35, Magical Potency +30, Self-Mastery +20, Acumen +35.”

Iron tier: Ambusher’s helm: made of manasteel. Enchanted to allow sound to pass through the helm to maintain awareness. Provides: +2 to Power, +10 to Fortitude, +5 to Magical Potency, +5 to Self-Mastery, +5 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Midnight Mithril shortsword and high Steel tier Manasteel Seax: first amplifies Skills, second is made to rip and tear until the job’s done. With both: +65 to Power, +45 to Alacrity, +35 to Fortitude, +50 to Magical Potency, +30 to Self-Mastery, and +40 to Acumen.

Status

Name: Felix

Class: Steadfast Guardian (Steel)

Total Level: 61

Attributes

Current

Per level growth

Power

595 (+165) [+170]

+17

Alacrity

427 (+65)

+9

Fortitude

760 (+320) [+216]

+22

Magical Potency

171 (+105)

+5

Self-Mastery

399 (+145) [+108]

+13

Acumen

162 (+60)

+7

Skill List

Boon of the Protector

Guardian’s Amplification (Steel)

Guardian’s Equipment (Steel)

Defender’s Mandate (Steel)

Impenetrable Fortress (Iron)

Raging Guardian (Steel)

Defender’s Avatar (Iron)

None

Locked

Steel tier: Multiple layers hurricane adder and maned reindeer underlayment: naturally absorbs bludgeoning strikes and resists extreme environments. Has been further enchanted to strengthen that. Paired equipment. As a pair, provides: Power +10, Alacrity +15, Fortitude +40, Magical Potency +10, Self-Mastery +15, Acumen +10.

Steel tier: Adamantium laced deep manasteel platebody. Deep manasteel with traces of adamantium through it to reinforce the armor to be nearly impenetrable. Provides: Provides: +30 to Power, +20 to Alacrity, +95 to Fortitude, +20 to Magical Potency, +30 to Self Mastery, +10 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Frost dragon Boss armored gauntlets. Made from segments of a frost dragon Boss’s most flexible scales on the shoulders where the wings meet the body. Is heavily warded against all elements. Provides: +20 to Power, +5 to Alacrity, +25 to Fortitude, +5 to Magical Potency, +25 to Self-Mastery, +5 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Manasteel root boots and greaves: Infused with rare living petrified wood. Can be infused with mana to fuse with the ground underfoot. Provides: +40 to Power, +15 to Alacrity, +50 to Fortitude, +20 to Magical Potency, +20 to Self-Mastery, +10 to Acumen.

Iron tier: Dusksteel helm. Provides no bonuses as taken away from set.

Steel tier: Glimmersteel axe: can project a hook if provided with mana to pull targets towards self. +30 Power, +10 Alacrity, +25 Fortitude, +10 Magical Potency, +15 Self-Mastery, +10 Acumen.

Steel tier: Living Wood shield: self-repairing and pulls attacks towards it. Provides: +35 to Power, +85 to Fortitude, +30 to Magical Potency, +40 to Self-Mastery, +15 to Acumen.

Status

Name: Benedict

Class: Acidic Bard (Steel)

Total Level: 61

Attributes

Current

Per level growth

Power

202 (+77)

+6

Alacrity

379 (+175)

+12

Fortitude

389 (+122)

+13

Magical Potency

688 (+175)

+20

Self-Mastery

479 (+130)

+13

Acumen

387 (+106)

+10

Skill List

Boon of a Gentle Touch

Overwhelming Speech (Steel)

Song of Victory (Steel)

Voice of Liberation (Steel)

Restful Reverberations (Steel)

Overwhelming Presence (Steel)

None

None

Locked

Iron tier: Studded iron boar leather shirt: a stronger, firmer material that serves as a general protective layer. Studded with slightly enchanted manasteel. Provides: +2 to Power, +5 to Alacrity, +7 to Fortitude, +5 to Self-Mastery, +1 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Midnight Mithril and Dungeon gold breastplate: a breastplate enchanted to protect the wearer’s internals and strengthen their magic. If provided with mana, will create a bubble of protection around the wearer. Provides: +20 to Power, +30 to Alacrity, +50 to Fortitude, +35 to Magical Potency, Self-Mastery +35, Acumen +25.

Steel tier: Pocket ermine boots: minor spatial distortion possible when provided with mana. +10 Power, +40 Alacrity, +10 Fortitude, +20 Magical Potency, +15 Self-Mastery, +15 Acumen.

Steel tier: Dragon leather duster: enchanted for general protective measures as well as to strengthen the user’s magical capability. Provides: +25 to Power, +25 to Alacrity, +40 to Fortitude, +40 to Magical Potency, +25 to Self-Mastery, +25 to Acumen.

Steel tier: Large performer’s hat: 50% bonus to the range of all sound-based Skills and a 40% increase to their potency. enchanted to protect the wearer’s head. Provides: +20 to all attributes. 

Steel tier: Bard’s flute: heavily enchanted to suit the needs of a combat-oriented bard. Also strengthens any skills cast through the flute. Provides a 50% boost to all Skills cast through the flute up to Mithril tier. Provides: +35 to Alacrity, +70 to Magical Potency, +30 to Self-Mastery, +30 to Acumen. 

“It’s almost insulting to see how much higher your attribute bonuses are than the rest of ours,” Benedict said.

“And what kind of percent bonuses to my Skills or spells am I getting?” Astrid shot back. “Sure, I have more attributes than you, but you have huge bonuses to your Skill potencies and ranges. Skandr can store spells and summon storms without learning the spell formations. Muti can enter and form her own shadows more easily, and though Felix’s item descriptions seem like his equipment and mine are on the same level, we’ve seen the difference between them and they don’t compare.”

Felix turned towards her and grinned, flexing his intimidating draconic gauntlets. Once, in an unlucky fight against a pair of wyverns, he lost his axe for a handful of seconds and basically caught a wyvern’s breath in his left hand while dealing with its mate with his shield. The damage he’d sustained? Negligible.

“But it’s hard to quantify that difference,” Benedict insisted.

“No it’s not. Your Skills are twice as strong when you use your equipment, to say nothing of the addition to your attributes. That’s pretty easy to quantify.”

Benedict waved her off, blowing a raspberry into his flute as he continued to play with Voice of Liberation.

“Tell me honestly,” Skandr asked, distracting from other conversations, “who’s peeked at their new equipment?”

“I haven’t looked at all,” Astrid said, wondering what her new helmet would look like and do. Once, Muti had tried to confide in Astrid to what it might look like, and she’d shut her friend down immediately.

“I have tested it,” Muti said. “It is good, exceptional even. I will begin using it permanently at level 67.”

“It’s that mana intensive?” Astrid asked, amazed.

“It has an additional effect that compounds very well with my boon,” she said by way of explanation. The Lethal Shadow didn’t give any more information than that, and Astrid shook her head as she looked at Skandr.

“I’m in a different position than the rest of you,” he said with a shrug. “I specifically requested that it be two pieces of equipment instead of one, so I know everything about the brigandine already.”

“Yes, you wanted the experimental spellbook whatever thing.”

“A self-sorting enchantment archival grimoire,” Skandr corrected. “I think having it would be very useful in order to actually apply these different enchantments I’ve ideated but haven’t been able to do anything with in the middle of a battle. Now that we’re going into the Dungeon proper, there will be plenty that we won’t know what’s coming, and having me be more flexible will only be a positive going forward. And I haven’t done much with it, though it seems to be applying mostly how I intended. It’ll be a greater test on it the more enchantments I lodge within it.”

“It’s not me criticizing,” Astrid comforted him. “It’s exciting.” Then, she looked at the others. “Felix, Benedict?”

“I have investigated the helmet,” he nodded. “I will begin using it in the next level or two.”

“And my new piece of equipment is the least exciting one for me,“ Benedict said. “I’ve already gotten all of my cool pieces of equipment. I’ll be using it by the time I hit level 64.”

Astrid nodded and looked around. The journey forward was an exciting one, and she couldn’t wait to enter the Dungeon proper. The kilometers disappeared underfoot as they ran onward, and it was less than they all expected before they approached a cavernous valley between two precipitous cliffsides. It was just what the visions had shown them, and they all walked forward with bated breath.