gamer Eight day twenty eight -Part 1

Day 28

It was early, so early the sun had not risen yet. Bloodstone sat in a chair, the sephalid who was in Coreen’s old body hadn’t stirred since the day before. On another bed his second wife slept, after having been given a healing potion and a meal, she had retired, after giving her statement to the quickly assembled court. There was still activity in the courtyard, as well as around the town. An army sat out in the blight. There were similar armies around all the outposts. Demons and other monsters were out there just beyond arrow and catapult range. Something would have to be done, Bloodstone just wasn’t sure what. There was a knock on the door, and he got up and opened the door before they woke Coreen. Sarah and Isabel were there.

“It’s early, how did you know I was up?”

“Really you need to ask that?” Isabel said.

“What can I do for you two?”

“I wanted to let you know I am leaving, heading into the capital.” Sarah said.

“Why?”

“I want to see if I can talk to the group, see if they will see me.”

“What are you going to tell them?”

“What happened to me, see if I can help them figure out their skills, I came because I wanted to ask if I can take some of your skills.”

“Did you put her up to this?” He asked Isabel.

“No she came to me I told her you would decide.”

“Sure take whatever skills you want.”

“Really?” She said somewhat shocked.

“I know you can’t give them back, I also haven’t taken your class to get the same skills to remove skills.”

She reached out and touched him tentatively and then removed some skills.

[Skill Hiding in plain sight removed]

[Skill Perfect balance removed]

[skill Obfuscation of the truth removed]

[skill Detect deception removed]

[skill deal with the devil]

[skill detect poison removed]

[skill silent footsteps removed]

[skill vital anatomy removed]

[skill invisible presence removed]

[skill disguise removed]

[skill perfect skin removed]

[skill alluring touch removed]

[skill alluring kiss removed]

[skill seduction removed]

She removed her hand quickly, as he shook his head. “You had them already picked out, didn’t you?”

“Most of them, they will help me with the classes I have and be able to move around.”

“Just don’t get killed.”

“I think I can get close to talk with them. As long as I avoid running into the king I should be fine.”

“I guess you will be leaving now?”

“I’m going to go, I will try and have a runner deliver a message.”

“Be safe”

She turned and left closing the door behind her.

“I am surprised” Isabel said.

“Why are you surprised?”

“I never thought you would give up skills, how many did she take?”

“She took about a dozen or so, if she can put them to good use why would I say no?”

There was a soft moan from the sephalid. Isabel and Bloodstone turned, and walked over to the double of Coreen. The eyes opened, and a slurred voice said, “Poisoned, can’t move.”

Bloodstone removed several potions from his bag of holding. The first was a cure for poisons; he raised it to the corpse’s lips and poured in slowly.

There was little change and the sephalid said, “Need new body.”

Bloodstone nodded, “Isabel will you stay with the sephalid, I will be back shortly”

“I, yes of course.”

He left the room. A few guards came in with him a few minutes later. “You understand the instructions?”

“My lord, this body is to be placed with the other corpses, the Sephalid is to be put near other bodies, and not to be disturbed. Clothes are to be left inside, and whom ever comes out is to be given a room to rest.”

“Very well, and the discrepancy of bodies is to be fixed and noted. Whatever body this sephalid picks is not to be removed from the lists”

They carried the sepahlid out on a stretcher. Isabel closed the door as they left.

“You have more you want to talk to me about?”

“Yes, it’s about how you all arrived here.”

“Do you know how we were summoned here?”

“I know some of it, not all of it.”

“Tell me what you know if you are able.”

“There is a ritual, it requires souls to charge the object, I don’t know where it is kept, or what it looks like.”

“Souls from people?”

Isabel nodded.

“How many souls?”

“Hundreds, most of them were criminals, others were offered up to the king for favor. Others who were too old or had classes that were useless, were sacrificed. There are some who were hanged and the souls from the ropes were used. I want you to know that the king knew that you took the hangman’s ropes. It’s one of the ways he could collect souls, to use in the ritual. It’s not the only way, it’s not even the easiest way. You know each of you summoned here cost souls.”

“You knew what was going on?”

“I was a blind girl, what was I supposed to do? He’s the king, he could have had my family sacrificed if I didn’t help.”

“You saw a way out, a way that I could protect you?”

She nodded slowly, “I was afraid, I still am. Your different than the others, older, wiser.”

He sat on the now empty bed, “I’m not angry, I should be.” He sighed deeply. “Beth and Newton have been working on getting a concrete manufacturing going. They think they can make a couple of tons a day, once they get everything ready. No one here has ever made things of metal as big as we need. I have an army between us and where the concrete will need to go, and people depending on me to keep them safe. Getting mad at you seems counterproductive, and silly if you really look at it.”

“Silly?”

“Yes, Silly. You did what you had to do, to survive. To keep your parents safe, why would I be angry at you for doing that? It’s what you can’t tell me that has me concerned.”

She looked at the floor, and her hands fell to her sides. “I.. I want to tell you.”

“I think I know, you are still under someone’s control, or you can’t talk about certain things.”

She shook her head back and forth and then looked up “Why are you so nice?”

Bloodstone laughed, “Because it means I finish last.”

“I don’t understand.”

“That’s ok.”

They stood there in awkward silence, Bloodstone gave her a hug. “I have to go do something about that army, you want to come along? I can give you a class if you want.”

She looked up at him, “What would you suggest?”

Bloodstone smiled, “How about a Cleric”

“A cleric? But the gods are dead”

“And yet you do not know any of them, seems kind of weird, like they were trying to destroy them. It makes sense in a perverse sort of way.”

“The gods fought each other is what we were always told.”

“I’m sure, the best way to make them lose power is to forget about them. If they have no temples, or places of worship, then eventually they will be just powerful beings without worshippers. If the people of this world rose up and assaulted them directly.”

“You said a cleric, you seem to have something in mind”

“I do. The amulet I gave you represents the knave, or the trickster. I know his true name, though if I tell you, you can’t repeat it.”

“What would a cleric be able to do?”

“Heal. Or I could give you mine, it represents the healer, as well as dragons.”

“What about the others, perhaps one of them would be better?”

“I have Coreens here as well, this is a bee, it represents, Finder, seeker of lost souls. It’s also the same god I am borrowing the mirror and key from.”

“How do you know these gods?”

“How can I explain, on my world we play games, where we pretend to be other people and we make them go on adventures, these gods are those people we moved through adventures and they became legends and ascended”

“Oh, can you tell me a story of the finder, or the healer, or the others?”

“I can, if you are interested.”

“Tell me about why you picked that one?” She said pointing to the dragon symbols

“It’s not the first one or the last one, the healer is my favorite, because she’s spunky and doesn’t take shit from anyone. She is an elf.”

“A real elf?”

“A real elf and a princess, though not in direct line for the throne, she had been kidnapped, and the kidnappers crashed on the edge of the continent. The other party members she met rescued her and took her into their group. She was a spell caster, a sorceress and not a very good one compared to the rest of the party. She was first level and the rest of the party was at least eight or ninth level.”

“They had levels?”

“She does, it’s funny I know about here because in a way I guided her through her life, and she eventually was offered a position to be a deity. She declined, but was still given the power. She a kind, compassionate woman and was lonely until she met the Blacksmith.”

“What classes does she have?”

“Humm, Sorceress, archmage, cleric, sanctified one, and faith scion.”

“I don’t know what a sanctified one is or a faith scion? Can you tell me what they are?”

“A sanctified one is someone who follows their ideals, and they mesh with the deity they follow. A faith scion, uses a holy relic of their deity to further the goals and ideals of the deity they follow. They usually have a holy weapon dedicated to the deity they follow.”

“Oh, what deity should I follow?”

Bloodstone laughed, “You would have to decide that, I think I know a way to help you decide.”

“What way?”

“I have a skill that I can use, I do have to warn you that if I ask them for help they will either ignore you or want to talk to you. I am not even sure this will work.”

“Ok, use your skill”

He looked over where the real Coreen was still sleeping. “Let’s do this somewhere else I don’t want to wake her up”

“Where would you suggest?”

“There are a few places, follow me” He walked out of the room waiting for her and closing the door after she passed through. Two guards nodded to him, as he left. “Anything to report?”

“Nothing sir.” One of the guardsmen said.

He then left them as he walked down the hallways there were still spots of blood that hadn’t yet been cleaned from the carpets or the walls. He found the stairs that led to the battlements, two guards were covering the entry way behind a make shift barricade, “What is the password” One of them said as he raised a crossbow and pointed it at them.

“I broke my Eggs box” The guard relaxed, and pointed the crossbow away.

“That’s a strange password,” Isabel said.

“It’s a play on words, if you don’t know the password, they can shoot you if you try and pass that line. He pointed to a line pained on the floor. Until we get things under control it must be this way, my orders not the commanders.” He looked to the men, “Anything to report?”

“No sir, no one unauthorized tried to pass, and the rotation went cleanly.”

“Rotation?” Isabel asked.

“I am giving the men extra rest, if they are over tired they make mistakes, we can’t afford any mistakes.”

They passed through the checkpoint, and into the stairwell to the walls. They went up several flights of stairs, their footsteps reverberating as they went.

“Where are we going” Isabel asked.

“Up to the top, the sun should be up soon, it will give you a better perspective.”

They arrived on the same level as the walls, and he opened a door off to one side. There were more stairs,

“This is where we were walking before, I don’t know where these go.”

They took more stairs up and there was a door. He opened it and it opened out to the top of one of the observation towers. There was a slight smell of the salty air on the breeze, coming from the ocean.

Two guardsmen were looking out over the blight, several fires could be seen in the distance.

“My lord!” One of the men said startled.

“Anything to report?”

“No, my Lord. Is there something we can help you with?” The other guardsmen asked.

“I need this spot for about ten minutes; the sun should be up soon.”

“Very well, we will be on the floor below if you need anything.” The both filed out closing the door. The both gave envious looks to Bloodstone behind his back.

Isabel giggled, “They probably think you are trying to be romantic?”

The sky was starting to lighten; the sun was still below the horizon. “I am going to call a herald, I don’t think it will talk to you, I am not even sure if you will be able to see it. I am going to use the skill are you ready?”

She shrugged, “I guess I am not even sure what you are going to do”

He cleared his throat and in a loud voice, “I summon a Herald of the Nine”

In that moment, before the sun rose, a flash of white light appeared on the top of the tower , standing in the light was a winged woman in white flowing robes.

“I have heard your call, what do you ask of me?”

“Thank you for appearing, this woman wishes to know more about the nine.”

The being turned and looked at Isabel, “For one so young you wish to know of the nine?”

For a moment, Isabel was still spell bound by the beauty of the herald who floated in the light., “Yes.”

“For what purpose do you wish to know the nine?” The herald asked.

“I, I want to be able to help Bloodstone stop the army out there.” She nodded towards the lights in the blight.

The Herald looked over her and then spoke. “A noble calling for one so young, a wish to protect others and stop a force. I will carry your request to the nine.” The herald looked out to the army again, and then to Bloodstone, “If you are asking for them to intercede here, they will not.”

“I wouldn’t dream of asking them to take time from their own troubles on Eden.”

“Who are you that knows the troubles they have?”, The Herald said somewhat perplexed, “You are the only one who has ever called me to this godless world. Yet you seem familiar with them, and it is unusual for one of them to help any mortal who summons a herald.”

Bloodstone smiled, “Ask the Blacksmith if he knows of this world and if he would be able to relay the information he would know about it.”

The herald nodded, “I will relay your messages” At that moment the sun rose, and the Herald was lit by the sunlight behind. It was as if an explosion of light happened on the tower and for just a moment it was as if two suns were visible and then the herald and light with it vanished.

“She was so beautiful” Isabel said in awe.

“That was a herald of the nine.”

“What did you ask one of the nine for?”

“Something that no one should know about something I don’t know”

“What is it?”

“Let’s see if we get a response,” He said looking out over the blight and the distant army.

There was a burst of light and the herald reappeared translucent and glowing. She held a book, “Young woman, they have instructed me to give you the teachings of the nine.” She held out the book for Isabel.

“Thank you,” She said taking the book.

The Herald turned to Bloodstone, “I have been instructed to tell you, that anything he would know about this world would not be of any help.”

“Exceptions can be made under certain circumstances, I would like to know what ever knowledge from outside this realm exists”

The herald looked him over, “I do not know you other than you have summoned me twice to this world.”

Bloodstone sighed, “I am Vasilios Adair, tell the Blacksmith that it is very important, he should recognize the name.”

The herald looked skeptical and vanished again.

“Vasilios Adair? Is that your real name?” Isabel asked.

“No, it’s a persona”

“Persona? That doesn’t make any sense.”

There was a flash and a loud thud as a leather-bound book hit the stone. Bloodstone picked it up, the information was in small script and hand written.

“What is that?”

“Oh great, it’s not a language I recognize”

Isabel looked in the book, and then in hers, “Mine is common language, yours I have never seen writing like that before.”

“It looks familiar, I just have no idea what language it is. Seemed like a good idea, bad execution. Oh well, I will figure it out eventually. Tell me later after you go through that book if you want to be a cleric.”

“Ok, there is just one problem.”

“What’s that”

“I still can’t read very well.”

“Oh, maybe if you ask my daughter and give her this book she will help you.”

“You’re not going to read some of it to me?”

“Not today Isabel, I have other things I need to do, you are welcome to tag along.”

The sun continued to creep up over the horizon, lighting up the world. The two of them stood there for a long moment of silence as the reds and yellows became brighter and lit up the blight in its black and dull brown hues. The sky changed from black to a soft blue to the blue of the normal day. They stood at the tower watching the sun rise.

Beth and Newton were sitting across the table from Eve and Miguel they were having breakfast.

“Seriously, you don’t see how loco he is.” Miguel said.

“What should we do about it, I asked his wife, he was never on any medication.” Beth said.

“That makes it worse” Miguel replied.

“What makes you think he’s as crazy as you say?” Newton asked.

Miguel thought about it while chewing on a roll. “Tell him Eve”

“When we first came here, he was very secretive about his identity, you bought into it” She said looking at Newton.

“It makes a kind of sense, hiding our real names, maybe not from each other but from the rest of the world, our real names do have power, since magic is here. He seemed to grasp that before we did.”

“Well Arnie, you told me your real name already so what’s the harm now?” Beth teased.

“I like Newton better,” Eve confessed

Arnie rolled his eyes, “I know Bloodstones real name, he showed me his drivers license”

“What is it?” Eve asked.

Arnie looked around, “Do you believe keeping promises are important?”

Eve shrugged, “Only if they are important to keep,” she glanced and Miguel.

“What’s that mean?” Miguel asked.

“Just what I said.”

“It’s the reason I won’t tell you. I promised that I would keep it a secret. I also would like you to not call me by my real name” Arnie said.

“Sure, Arnie,” Miguel teased.

“Why do you have to be such an ass,” Eve asked.

“Why do you have to be such a slut?”

“Fuck you Miguel”

“Is that an offer?”

Eve stormed out of the room in a huff.

“Now I see why she broke up with you?” Beth said.

“She couldn’t handle a real man” Miguel said not really paying attention to Beth.

“She was looking for a real man”

“Meaning what?”

“If I have to explain it you will not understand.”

“Phhh, whatever.” Miguel got up and went after Eve.

“Wow, I thought you were kidding.” Newton said.

Beth gave him a look, “He’s the most egotistical self centered..” She started to say when Newton leaned in and kissed her.

“What was that?” Newton asked.

“Uh, I forget”

Except from the testimony of the Drake Hijala Greenscale.

A large courtroom there were drakes of various colors and ages. The drake judge sat on a raised dias. Everyone was still standing. “Bring in the prisoners”, The judge said.

Two humans and a drake were brought in. The male human had blond haired and was muscular, he looked irritated, with the situation. The woman with him had long auburn hair and a sneer on her face that sent chills through the guards. “When my mother hears about…”

The woman started to say and was slapped in the stomach with the drakes tail. “Silence prisoner”

The Drake woman with them had metallic green scales. “You would do well not to harm them.”

“Shut your yap, criminal” The drake guardsman said.

The man said, “Touch my sister again and see what happens.”

The judge sighed, and gestured for the assembled to sit. “We will continue this Mrs. Greenscale please continue where you left off.

“As I was saying I saw the commander and the Lord walk by, he stopped to talk with me”

The commander and Bloodstone were walking through the light rain and the dirt road was becoming a mud road. Violet, Kuya and Xach were following.

“You said you wanted me to see the injured. I thought they would be closer.” Bloodstone said.

“This is close, it’s the only place we could house this many injured.”

There were injured along the road, walking towards the destination, a makeshift hospital.”

There was a drake sitting in the rain, her right forearm was missing with bloody covered bandages across the stump. The drake looked at the ground and didn’t even look up when they approached.

He stepped over to the drake, and knelt to her level. “Are you all right?”

The drake looked up, her eyes looked glazed. “What chu want human” her words were slurred and reeked of alcohol.

“Are you all right?” He asked again.

“Dooo I loooook alllll rightttt, justttt leavvvve me be.” her words were slurred.

The commander looked over his shoulder, “She drugged up, normally we would search her,” he stood up and shrugged, “No doubt a smuggler or a criminal.” He turned and walked several steps.

“I know your in pain, please let me help you” He asked.

“I don’t need your help human,“ the drake said her eyes focusing on him for a moment.

He stood up and walked over to the commander. “There are more like her is my guess”

“Yea, sorry not much I can do about them at the moment.”

They turned left on path, and a large barn could be seen, several guardsmen where outside the door.

“How is the cleanup of the demons going?” Bloodstone asked as they approached the doors

“Poorly, and with the weather it is making communications difficult. I did get word that the capital was hit as well as other garrisons. we seem to have fared better than most. We are in better shape than the garrisons we have contacted. They hit the healing potions and other important caches first, someone leaked information. The thing is that your specific orders were what gave us a fighting chance here.”

The door in the side of the building was opened, the first thing he noticed was the smell, it was an iron like smell, and he wasn’t sure what it was until he went inside. The second thing he noticed was the sounds. That’s when he saw the people who were on cots, there was yellow and deep brown straw all over the area. Some people were moaning, others calling out to anyone who was close. The wounds on the men and some women were horrific. There were people with missing limbs. Then he noticed the most were the flies, they were on everything.

“These are just the ones we know we can save.” The commander said in a low voice.

“And the ones you can’t?”, Bloodstone asked.

“We are building a pyre to burn the dead.” He replied.

“How many are here?” Bloodstone asked.

“There are two floors above this for the less injured.”

“Healing potions?”

“We used up most of our supply, we have a reserve in case we are attacked again.”

“This is not what I expected, then again that’s why I asked to see the injured, is this just the soldiers.”

The commander nodded, “The citizens are elsewhere and the non-humans have declined our assistance as you have seen.”

“I don’t think even what we have would help here, unless…”

“Unless what,” The commander asked.

“Kuya, would you be able to channel mana without your mother’s mana buff?”

Kuya shrugged, “Maybe, I think I have a bigger mana pool than everyone but mom.”

“Zach, What about you?”

“Eh, I guess.”

“What are you thinking of doing?” the commander asked.

“You need healing potions, I know the formula they usually make them with. They don’t use mana thought to make them just the intrinsic nature of the ingredients.” Bloodstone rattled off.

“How does that help if we don’t have the ingredients?”

“I know more than one way to make potions.” Bloodstone said as he looked at the commander.

“Help me..” One of the soldiers said and started coughing up blood. The injuries he had sustained were extensive, he was missing his left hand and the stump was wrapped up in bloody cloth. Several other bandages were across his chest and stomach.

“First, Kuya can you get rid of the flies please, and air this place out. “

Kuya blinked and looked kind of sick, “Uh ok?” a slight breeze kicked up.

He went to the first person he saw, the man looked to be in bad shape, an arm was missing and his leg was soaked in blood. He leaned over and touched the man neck, “Still has a pulse. No healing potions?”

He seemed to be talking more to himself than to the soldier or the commander.

“No, we don’t unless you have any.” He asked.

Bloodstone looked around there were at least a hundred people he could see, he looked around and was thinking. He pulled out his cell phone, and began looking for something.

“Nope, nope, nope, nope, ugh, this is so slow….not helpful” He said still staring at his phone. “ok so outside the box, assets, requirements, time.”

He knelt down, and fished something out of his pocket.  He held it in his hand and walked over to ta table and dropped it. The two dice were a strange looking  with many facets, each had twenty facets. One was blue and the other was red. he dropped them on the table looked at the numbers and then picked them back up, and put them in his pocket.  He started counting and rattled off a string of numbers.

“Nineteen add the skill bonus, that should be enough just need something to put it on.” He turned to one of the soldiers, “can you get me a large tub of water, and every spell caster that’s able to come here and if you can find my wife even better.”

The soldier looked confused, and hesitantly agreed. “Next, Xach can you pull the heat from the barn, make it as cold as you can without freezing anything “, he said to his son.

“Ok, Now for the hard part”, he looked at Kuya. “Need a drawing, I can show you what it is, just need it on paper, four times.”

“What?” She asked.

He showed her his cell phone, and there was a black and white picture.

“Really? Why?”, She asked.

“Will you just do it?”, He asked a bit more forcefully.

“Fine, but,” She started to say.

“Yeah I know! I’m working on it, So impatient.” He said back to her.

She took a book out and started to draw in the book, four copies of the picture on the cell phone screen, she had been given.
“Whose is this?” She asked.

“Guess”, was his reply.

She mumbled, “Healer?”

“Yup, seemed the best for what we want to do.” He replied.

“I don’t get it?” She said

“You’ll see, I know them pretty well, At least I should, considering, if you want draw four of Shikori’s.”

She laughed, “No.”

The soldier returned with a two people who looked both confused and a little annoyed. They both were wearing mages robes.

“You said water, would a trough work”, he said pointing to two other soldiers moving an empty trough.

“Oh yeah waters heavy. ”He mumbled to himself, ” Um, yeah just bring it here we can fill it “, Bloodstone said pointing to in front of the barn.

“Xack you can have water freeze here, “He said pointing to the wooden trough. Lady Amethyst walked over to the group standing around the trough.

He looked at his wife, “the best mana buff, you can on every mage here”

Lady Amethyst rolled her eyes, “Really?”

He shrugged, “You know you’ll get all the attention after this.”

She giggled, “I guess I am a crack dealer now”

It took a half hour before anyone else showed up, several apprentices, and the head mage of the wall, and those who reported to her.

“Lord Bloodstone, we have important work to get done, I was ordered to report here.” The head mage said a bit annoyed.

“I need you to pour mana into the water, not to boil it but to put magic into the water, like a mana potion but different. If you don’t understand what I am asking raise your hand.”

Everyone around him raised their hand, including Xach ,and Kuya.

The temperature began to drop and the slight breeze made the smell of the area less oppressive, water began to appear in the trough as shards of ice.

“First off, the potion makers explained to me that mana is in everything and what I need is a large mana pool. He pointed to the ice in the trough, and mana likes to be in water. Your bodies are about seventy percent water, so we can put mana in potions, or in a pool of water.”

It was at that point a sparkle effect went off as Lady Amethyst cast a spell on him and everyone around. “Whoa! Is that! Whoa!” He smiled.

He cast a spell and a small flame began to melt the water. Kuya continued to write in her book.

One of the mages, said, “How is mana going to help?”

“Through use of something more powerful than the sum of its parts.” He said grinning.

“Ok here, now what”, Kuya said showing him the finished drawing.

He carefully cut the page out of the book, with a dagger and ignored the glare he was getting from Kuya.

He then cut each round symbol out of the page leaving four empty circles on the page. He handed one to Kuya, one to Xach and one to his wife. He then positioned everyone on each side of the trough, with him facing into the barn.

“Please start channeling mana into the water, you should find that you have more than usual,” Grinning at his wife.

He took a breath, and knelt down on the ground, with both knees, “The gods are not all dead, at least the ones I know, I summon a herald of the nine. I reach out to those I know to hear me in this new land, there are those who are suffering without divine guidance, who lack hope in miracles. I now speak to the deities I know, to lend me strength and power to heal these men and women in dire need. Work through me, to heal them, I beseech thee, “ There was a name he spoke, it did not register as a blinding light erupted from around him, it lasted but a moment, but the warmth and goodwill infused everyone around him. The symbol in his hand dropped to the ground as the purest silver. The other three had burst into ash. There was water in the trough, it looked deep and the bottom was not visible.

The casters continued to pour mana into the water in trough, it began to glow with its own inner soft blue light. “Ok that’s enough, thank you”

The casters stopped and were talking amongst themselves, about how much mana they felt they had, they also stayed to see what he was going to do next. He knelt and picked up the small silver amulet. “Help me bring the injured to the trough, we will have to put each of them into the water one at a time. It is going to take time, so the sooner we get started the sooner we are done.” He then entered the barn and came out with a soldier, who had been one of the worst cases.

“Where are we going my lord?” The man asked.

“I am going to have your wounds healed,” he said to the man how was bloody from all the wounds he had taken. The fact that he survived was testament to his skill and tenacity.

“Use it on the others first.” The soldier said.

“No, you’re going to help me with the others once you are healed.”

The soldier was one of the few who by all accounts had no life even if they could heal his wound’s, they had mutilated him, hacked off both legs above the knees, and one arm at the shoulder. He had multiple stab wounds and the other arm hung useless at his side.

“My lord I don’t see how any healing potion will help me.”

Bloodstone picked the man up and carried him to the trough.

He placed him gently in the water, being careful not to get wet himself. Even then the water splashed and everywhere it touched the black grass. It was as if the grass had been covered in oil and turned a bright green.

The man sighed, and the water began to glow blue and white, and he sunk below the water into the trough that could barely hold him when it was empty.

The mages stared, and waited. The commander stood off to one side arms crossed, took a single step forward, when the soldier climbed out of the trough with both hands and stood on bare legs.

“Dead gods!” he said starting at the mans hands and legs.

There were gasps from the crowd, the man turned and looked at Bloodstone, dropped to one knee, “My lord.”

“Help me with the others, we have till the sun sets”

There was a pause as the mages and soldiers rushed into the barn. Others came out either under their own power or being assisted by a soldier or a mage. They formed a line, and began to have them enter the trough from one end. One mage hand brought a small step stool and placed it on one end. The commander seeing the line and heard Bloodstone turned and hurried off, “I will let the townsfolk know what is happening here”

The soldier stood staring at him and then turned and followed the commander.

Word of the trough began to get around within an hour, others had joined the queue to use the waters of the trough. Children were given first access to the line. The commander came to where Bloodstone sat and watched. “Who are you really?”

Bloodstone looked up, “What do you mean?”

“There are no spells that I know of that could do what you have done here.”

“It’s not magic, it’s faith. I brought it and hope back to this world. If that’s the only things I can do it’s enough.”

“Can you do it again” The commander asked.

“If I need to, I don’t think I will.”

“How can you say that”

“The line is getting shorter.”

The commander looked up and the line was shorter, all of those in line were not soldiers but common folk.

The soldier from earlier came back, wielding a long sword, and walked up to Bloodstone.

“My lord, I have only my sword arm and my skills to offer you, as payment for the gift you have given me and others here today.”

There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd.

Bloodstone raised his voice, “It was not to exact a payment from you or others that this was done. I had the ability and knowledge to do this, it was the right thing to do, I ask only that you pay this forward, help someone if you are able to as I have done here.”

Several non-humans began to queue into the line. A drake that was missing his part of his tail and his right claw ended in a bloody nasty looking stump. The drake stepped into the line.

The drakes scales were dull gray in color, appeared to be flaking off in patches. He was an older drake. The loss of his tail made his gait abnormal and the cane he used to walk was fastened to with a cord to his left hand.

A centaur who had bandages over most of his body.

The green scaled female drake in line was missing her right forearm, it ended in a bloody stump covering in dirty bandages. Her body was covered in the same dirty bandages, covering the light green scales that covered her body. It was the same drake from earlier.

A beast kin with cat features limped into the line. His fur was matted in places, from the wounds he had taken were still bloody.

There were other beast kin and drakes that got into the line.

Bloodstone walked over to the line and as the drake moved to the front of the line. “A word before you step into the water”, he said to the two drakes at the front of the line.

“You would deny us the use of your healing water?”

“Not at all I want you to understand something first.”

“You have something against drakes?” The female drake asked

“The one who made this water, has an affinity for your kind, be aware that you may be something more than you were when you exit.”

The male drake growled and pushed past him and stepped into the water. His stumbled forward and disappeared under the water.

The pool of the water went still and the drake could not be seen under the water itself. There was a spray of water as the drake surfaced and grabbed the sides with both hands and lifted himself out, Water dripped from his body, and deep red scales in visible strips could be seen across his back. Water also dripped from two large wings with the same red colored scales. The drake stopped and looked himself over, and his hand that was missing was back, where his tail had been missing wasn’t missing.

The female drake seeing the result dove into the trough with a splash. There was a moment where she was not fully visible under the water. When she climbed her way out and stood next to the other drake and was admiring her scales. The bandages she had were gone. She stood dripping next to the other drake, there were drakes in line pushing to get to the trough. She looked down where her clawed hand had been, it had been healed, regenerated, the scales on her right hand shimmered a metallic green. Her wings unfurled, she walked slowly over to Bloodstone. She knelt, tears in her eyes, “Lord Bloodstone, the gift you have bestowed upon me is beyond priceless. You ask nothing from us?” She said looking over her hand as if seeing it for the first time.

The centaur entered the trough and was out of the water his bandages were gone as well and he stood off to one side marveling at the flawless skin and hide he had.

This repeated until no one was left to enter the trough of water. Drakes, humans , beast kin as well as several other non-humans, were softly talking amongst themselves.

The green female drake followed the commander and Bloodstone.

“Many of us have decided, we will follow you there is something about you that we all feel is worth protecting.”

“That is not necessary, you should return to your lives.”

“My friends here are all dead killed by those demons. I was lucky, and blessed.” She unfurled her wings. “Among my kind wings are a sign of greatness of the old blood, of being closer to the dragons we are kin to, I think you knew that already. I am Hijala Greenscale a swordsman of the twenty eighth level, I pledge myself to you.”

“Hijala, that is not…”

“You who have given me back the my claw to fight and now the ability to fly. I will stand with you and protect you and yours. Do not take my words lightly human, we drakes are a prideful people to refuse is a great dishonor.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Bloodstone asked her.

“We saw the dragon, we know you and your wife’s power. I would name you blood kin.” She said.

“As would I” said another drake who had followed several humans.”

“Brothers and sisters in arms and those of you who have decided to follow me. Thank you. I hope I can live up to your expectations.”

There was a loud cheer and many soldiers, of various races crowded around him.

——–

The drakes stood off to one side, speaking in hushed whispers. “Is he a dragon or human?” a drake with purple scales asked.

“Human as far as I can tell” Hijala said.

“What did the human say to you before you entered that water?”

“That we would be something more when we left the pool.” The red stripped drake said.

“I have spoken with others who say this human is a lord, and named by the king himself. He has taken the daughter and wealth of the merchant Sutter. His two children are strange, and his first wife and daughter have strange classes. I hear he has with him with a half gazer.”

“Are you sure it’s not Gazi the gazer?” one smaller drake asked.

“No idea, I haven’t seen her myself.”

“Well if it is that would mean that Bloodstone is working for the king of destruction” The small drake said softly

“Who knows what his class is?”

No one seems to know or want to voice that they didn’t.

“I don’t think he is working for the king of destruction” The green scaled drake said.

“What makes you say that,” another drake asked.

“I spoke with him after the group broke up, as did several others.”

“And?”, The beast kin asked.

“He was nice, he asked my family name, and he used that strange glass device. I also am no longer craving Belleka root, and my pain is gone.”

—–

Bloodstone yawned as he stood in front of the door to his private study; he still had a lot of work to do before tomorrow. The guards outside nodded to him as he opened the door. He took two steps inside and saw a man sitting in his chair. The door closed behind him.

“Lord Bloodstone, I and my associate would like a word with you.” The man said, he was dressed in black and looked very neat. He had one visible dagger on his belt and not much else. His black hair was short but not balding. The eyes were what drew you to him. They were intense gray.

“You have me at a disadvantage; I wasn’t expecting to entertain guests.”

“I will get right to the point, a very power man has contracted to kill you and anyone associated with you. “

“Sutter?”

“Ah so you are aware of the contract, good this will make negotiations much simpler.”

“What if I decide to turn my sights on your organization?”

“I am sure there would be losses on both sides, at what cost to people and coin. Someone of your power could do considerable damage. That is why I am here to negotiate.”

“Are you here to kill me then?”

Then man paused as if entertaining the idea. “I’m not confident in my ability to take you down face to face, even with my associate”

Bloodstone turned and looked to see whom had closed the door. There was a short woman who appeared to be a half elf, she too had intense blue eyes. She was pretty, but not remarkably so, she was dressed in a black and white maid outfit. The two daggers in her hands were pointed at Bloodstone.

“I don’t see you as much of a threat.” The woman said softly.

“At least it’s a fair fight, two on two.” Bloodstone said.

The two of them looked puzzled for just a moment. “To whom are you referring to?” The man asked.

“You two should know that my research room is always guarded, my guess is since you didn’t touch anything you are at least still alive.” A black cat purred and rubbed up against Bloodstones feet. “The two of you have two choices the first is leave and don’t bother me or mine.”

“Before we get too far into posturing, we did not come here to fight.” The man said.

“Did you come here to die?” Bloodstone asked.

“You seem very sure of yourself. What if I told you we have your kids and if we don’t leave here shortly they will be killed?”

“If you are making threats you have already lost, or have a weaker hand than you are letting on.”

The woman took two steps towards Bloodstone, a hardened look in her eyes. “We know you can steal levels from someone, and terrifyingly enough skills as well. I am not sure what kind of monster you are, anyone who can drop a grey walker, is dangerous.” He held up both hands palms facing Bloodstone. “We want to talk. Parissa, stand down.”

There was a hesitation, and the half elf woman put the blades away, “As you command”

“I apologize, she’s very good at what she does.” The man said. “I have no doubt that you could take one or both of us, I would like to have a discussion if possible.” the man said.

“What is it you want.”

“It comes down to the fact that you are now a very powerful person on Rhir, through taking over Sutters holdings, marring his daughter, and the power you have acquired from the kings’ generosity. We represent a balancing factor on Rhir, to keep the Lords and Ladys in line. You and your family are not aware of this balancing factor, I am here to inform you.”

“Meaning what” Bloodstone asked.

“Meaning that you are a disruptive force, the king wanted you out of the way, and in moving you to here you have become much more of a disruptive force. I am here to decide if you’re a threat to the kingdom itself, and remove you if that becomes apparent.”

Bloodstone laughed, “You want to know if I have ambitions to take the kings job. I wouldn’t take the job by force or plot if that’s the question, if he even offered I wouldn’t want the job.”

“What if he is not a good king?” The man asked.

“That’s not for me to decide, while I like the man, I don’t agree with all his policies, I do understand them.” Bloodstone said softly.

The man was silent, watching him, he then nodded. “I don’t think you are lying, I also have some information you will find invaluable. The third wall was breached by the demons. They are on the way here to try and take this garrison. Since it is very possible, that no one in that wall garrison survived.”

“How did you come by this information?”

“We came through the third wall, and on our way here, we heard about the breach from the commander to your south. The Svental garrison was the one that was breached. Coincidentally it is the same one you and your friends came through to get here before you headed west.”

“I see and you were worried I might have caused some of the issue. You two can let yourselves out, I have to talk to the commander.”

The half elf moved out of his way as he turned toward the door.

“I look forward to talking with you after” The man said.

——

“The Svental garrison, actually now that you mention it, we haven’t heard anything from them in a since the attack, hold on.” He commander said as he stepped out into the hallway and yelled, “Someone, send messages to the other wall lords see if anyone has heard from the Svental Garrison.”   He turned back to Bloodstone. “It will take a bit to get the messages through; if you are right then we need to mobilize all our troops to defend this garrison.”

“Commander, I am going to take a group and stop any invasion force that comes your way, if nothing else we can soften them up before they get here.”

The commander frowned, “I don’t have the men to do that, even with the stunt this morning we are still very undermanned here. If I pull the entire town we might be able to field enough people on the walls. We never designed the garrisons to defend from behind, at least not from a major attack.”

A page entered into the room and handed the commander a sheet of paper. The page waited. The commander looked it over, and then handed it to Bloodstone. “I hate it when you are right, no one has heard from them since the attacks, there are no messages that are getting through.”

“You are in charge here of the defense, what do you recommend?” Bloodstone asked.

“Maybe ask for volunteers, setup just south of town, with your abilities, and your wives maybe you could hold them off. I can ask for some reinforcements from the east wall lord. They won’t be able to send more than a couple hundred troops at best, and they will take at least a day or two to get here.” He turned to the page, “Inform the wall lords we are in contact with the situation is hostile forces outside the walls at least three thousand, and an unknown number coming from the Svental garrison, we will stay in contact and update them once an hour of the situation.”The page nodded and left the room in a hurry.

—–

Bloodstone stood in the courtyard, many town folk, guardsmen as well as the remaining adventurers were present. There were torches lit as the sun had set over an hour ago. There was a noise of conversation, as everyone was asking the same questions, “what’s going on” seemed to be the main topic.

The commander stepped forward from the steps and climbed onto a carriage to get height and be seen. Bloodstone and others were standing on off to the sides or the carriage. “Soldiers and citizens of Deepway we have word that the garrison of Svental has fallen, from the recent attacks by the demons. We also have word that a large force is heading here to breach our defenses and allow the larger army outside out walls to enter. Lord Bloodstone would like to speak with you before we begin sealing ourselves inside the wall itself.” He nodded and Bloodstone looked nervous, he climbed up onto the carriage, the commander hopped down back leaving all eyes on him.

“Good evening, I know many of you do not know me. I want to stop them from coming and destroying your homes and lives. There has been enough death here, I am asking for volunteers to help me stop them.”

Someone in the back shouted, “Why don’t you go back to the capital, we don’t need you here.”

“Your right you don’t need me here, I was asked to come here, to this place to take charge. There is a garrison north of here that needs us to win, or they will all die, we also have word they are under siege. To help them we need to stop the advance from behind the walls. I need your help to stop them.”

A winged drake shouted, “I will follow you”, another voice shouted, “As will I” . Other voices rang out pledging support.

—–

A group of a hundred and ninety volunteers headed out south along the roads. With them were Lord Bloodstone, Lady Amethyst, Xach, Miguel, Eve, Marcus, Violet, Xyrdianes and Ranathil. The drake who had been the first one into the pool earlier in the day was also with them talking strategy. Several mages lights lit the way. Most of them were common folk who had some combat experience; a couple of levels at most of fighter archer or other combat classes. There were the veterans like the drakes, and others who were skilled and boasted levels in the twenties.

The drake with the red strips and red scaled wings, grinned at bloodstone. “I may not be the Tidebreaker of Issrysil, I will be of some help with these demons. I was a Seargent, in the tide breakers army.” He said flexing his claws.

Hijala Greenscale walked on the other side. “I am not sure what you are asking.” She replied to Bloodstone.

“I wanted to know if you have any other classed beside the twenty eight classes of [Soldier].” He said looking her over.

“I have a few levels in [sailor] as well as well as a [navigator]. I also have two levels in [singer] from when I took a ship here to Rhir.”

“When you say a few how many levels, do you have any other classes?” Bloodstone asked.

“I don’t see why that’s important.” Hijala said trying to change the subject.

“What did you want to be before you came to Rhir?” Rana asked, two of her eyes were gazing at her specifically.

“I, wanted to be a hero, and gain some levels here in Rhir, that was over three years ago. I’m not much of a hero, I lost my claw in the first major fight I was in.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, I heard what you did.” The red scaled drake said.

The green scaled drake sighed, “I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Bloodstone looked back at Rana as they walked, “How many levels does she have?”

“I can’t see levels, just classes”, Rana replied, “Though she has a few more that are a bit unusual even for a drake”

“Oh?” He said looking over at the green drake.

Hijala sighed “The levels are from when I was a hatchling, I didn’t really know any better, I grew up in a walled city I was one of the unwanted.”

“I am not familiar with drake cities, what does that mean?”

“I never knew who my parents where I was left to fend for myself. When drakes hatch we can take care of ourselves, we know our language and not much else. I grew up on the streets, where the next meal was more important than learning. It wasn’t until I was old enough that I leaned about the armies; I joined because I was young and foolish and wanted to be fed. After I saw what fighting was about I wanted to see the world, and I needed to get off the continent.”

“Murderer is still a very unusual class for a drake.” Rana said softly.

Hijala stiffened up as she turned to Rana, a seething anger burning in her eyes. “It’s not like that.”

“I’m not judging you” Rana said.

Xyrdiane stopped, “This is a good spot to make a stand the ground drops lower as we travel further south.”

Everyone stopped. They had stopped in the middle of the road, to the left and right of the road were low walls that marked farmers’ fields just beyond the walls were shrouded in darkness. “There are trees on both sides not too far, and the ground here is solid. “

Bloodstone scanned the area with his skills, and nodded in agreement, “She is correct, Thank you I wasn’t paying attention.”

Xyrdiane smiled and nodded, “may I ask what you were thinking about that has you so distracted?”

Bloodstone shrugged, “Just lost in thought.”

“That’s a half truth and we both know it, your going to use them.” She asked.

“Them?” He asked trying to evade the question.

“I have been watching you as has rana, you have been up to something since we came here. The strange packages that arrive by runners, mages that are sending long strings of numbers. Rana said you had some strange cases brought up and then they disappeared. ”

“I have no idea what you mean, I was asking this lovely drake woman what other classes she had” He said smirking.

Rana stepped closer to Bloodstone, “Your really going to keep us in the dark?”

Hijala flexed her claws, and made a single step towards Rana. A light touch on her shoulder made her turn to look at Bloodstone. He said softly, “I can give you a second chance at redemption here, now in this place. I know a class that would make you something better, you just have to ask.”

“Why would you help me human?” She asked.

“I heard how you lost your arm. I asked around after you had left. You took on three fearless to protect others. Even after your arm had been lost, you fought on if they hadn’t bound your arm you would have died. Someone who can take on fearless, and beat them isn’t a bad person. You’re a survivor, let me help you.”

Hijala looked away, “I’m a murderer, I have the class I don’t see how you can help me with that.”

“Perhaps talking about it will help?” Bloodstone suggested.

Hijala glared at him, “I don’t want to talk about it. It is something I did, and I can’t change it.”

“How about after we get camp setup here, I want to prove you wrong?” He asked.

“I will listen, to what you have to say, there is work to be done now.” She walked off to help setting up the camp. She too was lost in thought.

—–

A drake sat across from HIjala, “You stand accused of killing fellow soldiers.”

Hijala slumped, “It doesn’t matter what I say they are dead.”
“I will give you choice, hanging or you will leave the continent there are groups in Rhir that would take you.”

“I will leave.”

The older drake nodded, and left. They dragged the shackled Hijala away, and eventually to the hold of a ship.

The Just read the paper from the first trial. “You killed a dozen soldiers. You admitted to a court, you were not to return from Rhir, yet here you stand. However since you have changed, physically and have a strage tale we will listen and judge for ourselves. Continue your testimony”

Hijala nodded and continued, “He wanted to talk with me, I still don’t understand why.”

Bloodstone caught up with her,“I don’t care about your past. I do care about your future, as well as your wellbeing. I am going to do something to prove to you that you are important. Will you accept a gift and let me help you?”

“I do not need anything from you human.” She said bitterly.

Bloodstone looked at Rana, “I want to help, you told me not to do what I did to you to anyone else.”

Rana nodded, ’Hijala, there is no shame in asking for help. I know that drakes are a proud race and asking a human to help is repugnant. This human is different, he can be rash at times, stubborn and direct. I have known him a short time, and he has never been cruel.”

Hijala looked from Rana back to Bloodstone, “I do not see how he can help.”

“Even with the wonders you have seen him do, I have seen more, I am standing here because of him, my best friend in the world married him, in his eyes I do not see anger or disgust when he looks at me. I see wonder, awe and curiosity. I see the same when he looks at drakes, and other races, I see even affection.”

HIjala was silent as the group finished the camp and looked around the area with lit torches and mage lights.

A lieutenant and several soldiers began to unpack tents from a wagon. They began to setup the tents just off the road. The tents were brought as it was still the rainy season and so that they could rest under the cover the tents made. It was still early evening when a large command tent was completed. The tent was sparse, nine cots, and a portable table had been setup. Later in the evening Hijala entered the tent. Bloodstone waited as eight other winged drakes entered. The tent was small and the ten of them made it seem crowded in the confined space.

“Lord Bloodstone you asked to speak with us.” One of the drakes, asked.

“Yes, I wanted to give you all a choice, fight tomorrow as you are or as something more. I know there are some rumors circulating about my classes.” He said sitting down on one of the cots.

“We heard a rumor that you serve the king of destruction. That the half-gazer you have with you is really gazi.” A blue scaled drake accused.

“I serve the king of Rhir. Rana is her own woman. The reason I wanted to talk with you all is that I have come to understand that most of you are not really soldiers. With the exceptions of HIjala and Tempra the rest of you have no real combat experience other that the attack from the demons.”

A muddy brown drake nodded slowly, “I am a clerk , I have [secretary] and [scribe] classes.”

Bloodstone looked her over, “Why did you come out here, if you have no combat skills?”

She stared at him, “I…I have wings, every drake child dreams of having wings of being special.” There were tears in her eyes. “You a human have done something no one else has ever done. You gave injured and dying drakes a reason to live. If you can do that, you’re a hero to me, I would follow you anywhere.”

“What is your name?” Bloodstone asked.

“Enevia Rustscale” she said looking down at her feet.

“Enevia, I am going to ask you a question, and please answer honestly.” Bloodstone said standing. “Would you serve me as a [dragon soldier]?”

She looked up startled, “What is a [dragon soldier]? I have never heard of a class like that.”

“No one outside this tent has either; it’s a special class, something both regal and terrifying. As a first level [dragon soldier], they can combine magic and their other classes and skills into something both unique, and powerful. I am offering you to become my first [dragon soldier].” Bloodstone said ignoring the looks of the other drakes.

“I want to be the first!” Tempra the red stripped drake said growling.

There was a loud commotion as each of them shouted their desire to be the first.

“Calm down!” Bloodstone said raising his voice. The nine drakes went silent. “Very well, I will give each of you the class, if you really want it. However, I want you all to understand, that taking this class will change what you are forever. You will not be just a drake any more, you will be something else, something new, other drakes will want to know how they can become a dragon soldier as well. Each of you will have the gift of passing on levels of the class to another once you are second level. Raising your level as a dragon soldier is not easy, and you can never remove all your levels of that class, unless you die. There is one other thing, you will gain skills for every level you have in other classes. If you are ready?“

There was a murmured acknowledgement, as each of them looked at each other and then at Bloodstone. “Who are you really?” The third female drake asked.

“I am Lord Bloodstone, other than that I am not sure how to answer that” he replied.

“Are you human or a dragon?” A drake with white scales said.

“Human, is that a problem?” Bloodstone asked.

“Why are you offering us this class?” another drake with snow white scales and red eyes said.

Bloodstone looked at each of them one at a time, silently apprising them, “In all honesty, I have not seen many drakes, and I would like to make a strong positive connection between humans and drakes. I have heard stories about the strife our races have with each other, I want to change that.”

“You already have done that human,” The muddy brown scaled drake said moving a step closer to him. She unfurled her wings in the confined spaces. “We would know how you were able to achieve this gift of wings.”

“I was not the one who changed you all, I was just the facilitator. The entity who changed you has a deep love of drakes and dragons, as she is one herself.” He said.

“A dragon or a drake?” The muddy brown scaled drake asked, her wings fanned and folded behind her back.

“A dragon, and not a dragon. It’s complicated, and this is about all of you, not her.”

“Is she your patreon?” The drake asked.

“No, she is not. Tomorrow if you we have some time I can tell you more about her if you are really interested.”

The drake nodded, “What does the class do?”

“It will amplify your existing classes, if you don’t want it I won’t give it to you.”

The muddy brown drake stepped closer, “I will accept your strange class.”

Bloodstone nodded touched her on the forehead, “I make you a [dragon soldier].”

[sub class assassin 32]

[sub class ninja 14]

[sub class thief 20]

[sub class Dragon Soldier 12 acquired]

[subclass dragon soldier 10]

[Class Dragon soldier 1]

[skill bloodless wound, skill crossing the line, skill improved dodge, skill shadow step, skill shadow walk, skill delayed wounds Combined]

[Superior Skill Line of Death]

[skill skin of steel, skill superior heat resistance, skill improved cold resistance Combined]

[Condition dragon skin]

[skill Improved disease resistance, skill regenerative blood, skill immunity to poison Combined]

[condition Dragons blood]

[skill Shadow presence, skill shadow clone, skill improved speed Combined]

[Superior skill speed of the dragon]

[skill anchor to event , skill anchor to time ,skill return to event ,skill find the path ,skill rewind the hour ,skill rewind the day,skill return to anchor Combined]

[Superior skill Pierce the Veil of Time]

[Skill Superior Endurance , skill improved jumping Combined]

[Condition Dragons endurance]

[Skill unquenchable flame, skill flame shell, skill pyrokinesis Combined]

[Superior skill dragons fire]

[Condition – devils eyes, Skill sense magic, Skill improved appraise person, skill appraise plant, skill detect metal, skill sense residence, skill Expert Item appraisal, skill Improved art appraisal, skill eye for detail Combined]

[Condition – Eyes of the dragon]

[skill deception, skill fearless, skill detect emotion, skill read thoughts, skill psycic link Combined]

[Condition mind of the dragon]

[skill impersonate, skill elegance of design, skill chameleon, skill improved  disguise, Combined]

[Superior Skill Power of the Dragon Soldier]

[sub class dragon soldier 9]

Bloodstone staggered as the class rewrote his skills and set conditions on him. His skin rippled. As the class transferred the ripple took effect on the drake as well. Her scales went from a dull muddy brown to a more metallic sheen of copper. She stopped and stared at him.

“By the Old blood.” She looked at her hands and the ripple effect seemed to flow over all her scales, the effect was visible and the other drakes watched. It was then that the drakes looked at Bloodstone. There was a collective gasp, the ripple effect could be seen on him as well. His skin shimmered as if tiny scales of metal flowed over him, the effect faded as the ripple moved across his skin.

The drakes clamored for the class, pushing each other to be next. “Stop” Bloodstone’s voice rang out. The drakes froze. “I will grant you all the class. One level each.” He then moved to each one and removed a class the ripple effect made their scales more metallic. Hijala was the last one he approached.

“I do not deserve this honor.” She said.

Bloodstone dropped his hand, “I will not force you to become something you do not want. I offer this power freely, to you I have one more level I can give away.

—–

Many years later, Hijala stood before a magistrate in her home city in an open court. “You have returned from Rhir, not the same drake you were when you left. Your physical appearance and wings, we would like to know how you achieved this feat.”

Hijala nodded, “It was a gift from a human” There were gasps and angry mumblings in the courtroom. “Silence, or you will be removed. A human, where is this human now?”

“I do not know, I only know he went into the blight, to find something important.” Hijala said somberly.

“Your past crimes, are still not absolved, is there any other reason you have returned to this city.”

“There is, I am the only [Dragon Soldier] on the continent. I have come here to tell the records about this class, that was given to drakes, by a human. This human took nothing from me, he gave me my right arm back, the wings I have now, a class to rival any class on the field of battle. This human also gave me kindness. When we heard of the fall of the Tide breaker, he consoled us, asked us about him. The humans you have imprisoned are his family. To do what you have done, will bring his wife’s fury upon you. There is no army that can stand against her. The necromancer for all his power could not hold a candle to his first wives power.”

“Where are his wife’s now?” The judge asked.

“Lady Amethyst, the untouchable Enchantess, has gone to Liscor and then north to speak with the humans in charge”

“We would hear your testimony on this Untouchable enchantress. How powerful is he? What are her goals?”

Hijala stared at the Judged, “If she finds out you have unjustly imprisoned her children she will free them.”

There was laughter, as she said this. “What can one human woman do to a walled city of thousands”

“I will tell you what happened on Rhir, that morning. You decide if it is worth having her as an enemy.”


Bloodstone exited the tent, he staggered as he stepped into the night, even in the darkness he could see perfectly fine. Two arms wrapped around him. “Are you all right?” Violet asked.

“No, I think I made a mistake. I made myself a dragon soldier as well. It was the only way to give them the class.” He said leaning on her as she ducked under his left arm and held his arm close.

“It’s all right,”Violet said. “I got you. you just need to lie down and rest.”

“Is he, all right?” Hijala said, from behind.

“Can you help me, he hasn’t slept since the attack” Violet said.

“Of course,” She let her strength to helping violet support Bloodstone and noticed he was sound asleep.,

“Did you put him to sleep?” Hijala asked.

“I did, I took his wakefulness, he’s exhausted, I’m violet, his fifth wife.”

“Fifth? How many does he have.”

Violet giggled,”He has six, we all love him, for different reasons.”

“Six?” She said shocked.

Violet nodded, “There’s Lady Amethyst, Lady Coreen, Lady Isabel, Lady Hellen, me and Lady Xyrdiane.”

“Are you a Lady as well?” She asked.

“No, I am just Violet. I am an [Empathic Catalyst].”

“I have never heard of that class, what classes are his other wives.” Hijala asked curiously.

“Lady Amethyst is a [Raid Enchanter], Lady Coreen is a [Merchant], I think Isabel is a [Seer], I don’t know what Lady Hellen is we don’t talk much and Lady Xyrdiane..”

“Is not really any of your concern, “ Rana said loudly. “What are you doing with Lord Bloodstone.”

“Taking him to rest, Lady Rana.” Violet said.

“I do not have that title Violet. Who are you to ask about his wives,” she said addressing Hijala. She opened the flap of a small tent and held it while Violet entered. There were two empty cots and three full ones. There was the sound of snoring from one of them. A small lantern softly illuminated the inside of the tent.

“I meant no disrespect, I was curious, is it really safe to leave him here?” Hijala asked.

Rana looked her over, “You are the drake from earlier? The one who was a murderer, I see he changed your class.”

Hijala looked shocked, “How are you able to tell? What classes do you think I have?”

“I am a half gazer, I have always been able to see the classes of others, I don’t know what that class is it hurts to even look, at the other classes you are.”

“I didn’t ask for them, I think he gave them to me.” Violet and her placed Bloodstone gently down on the cot. Violet put a blanket over him. And took off the boots he was wearing.

“We can talk outside.” Rana said gesturing.

The two of them left Violet to tend to Bloodstone. “He gave me two classes and took the murder class from me.”

“Did he ask you what you wanted to be?” Rana asked.

She shook her head, “He made me an[assassin] and a [dragon soldier] my levels are twice what they were before. I also have several skills that I never had before.”

Rana smiled and nodded, ”He’s like that, making people better than they were.”

“You like him?” Hijala asked.

“I…” She shook her head, “It’s more than that.” She looked at the drake, “Let me ask you what is he to you?”

Hijala looked down, then spoke softly, “I was useless, without my right claw, I was disfigured, worthless,” She lifted her head and stared at Rana. “I have no money, no future, no one who would trust me. When I heard there was a healing pool, I figured I could at least get healed. This miracle that gave me every drakes desire, and my arm and claw back. I still fear I will wake up from this and be bleeding in a ditch.”

“I have been witness to a miracle that few know about.” Rana said smiling.

“What was yours?”

“I was dead.”

“Are you a revenant or undead?” She said taking a step back.

Rana laughed softly, “No I was brought back to life. I took a crossbow bolt through the heart. I was being impulsive to leave where me and my best friend in the world were confined. I thought I could distract the bowman, it worked, though I was not fast enough.”

“How?” She said perplexed.

“Xyrdiane told me he used an artifact, I can’t say more.”

The drake swallowed, “Is Lord Bloodstone a dragon?”

Rana paused, and turned and looked back toward the tent. “I don’t think so, he is human as far as I can tell, unless he has an illusion so powerful…” She looked up at her, “You could be right, it would explain a lot of things. His wife is not a dragon, nor are his kids.” She shrugged, “I have no idea, and does it matter?”

“I suppose it does not. I have been running all my life, from something or to something. When you don’t need to run anymore, it’s a strange feeling.” Hijala said listening to the camp.

Rana held out her hand and the drake shook it, “I know what you mean.”

They stood in the soft glow of the lanterns strung around the camp. Violet stepped out into the night with them, “I can feel them, fear and terror, coming from far away and a bloodlust.”

“How far away?”, Rana asked.

Violet pointed, towards the south, “Very faint a flicker and it is gone, it’s getting closer or I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“How far can you sense others Violet?” Rana asked.

Violet shrugged, “I sense those beyond the wall as much closer. Just a hatred, I can block it, it’s just hard to sleep with it the fear flickering in and out.”

“How many?” Rana asked.

Violet shrugged, “I don’t know. I could feel the fear around us in the homes, this is something else,” She said looking up at Rana.

“What?” Rana asked.

“Murderous intent. They are coming.”

“Who?” Rana asked.

“More demons, and they are stalking people.” Violet said, as several tears came to her face. “They are terrified.”

“We must tell the Seargent” The drake said.

Within a few minutes the camp was rushing about, preparing.

Rana and Hijala stood guard over a tent, the snoring from inside was louder. Violet sat just by them sobbing silently.

More demons were coming.