Klaw and Anath recovered surprisingly well, even with all of the healing buffs. Anath woke up covered in tiny wood shards that her body had expunged. With her rot resistance, the micro-wounds wouldn’t become infected. So, all she had to do was wait and she would recover fully.
Klaw’s wounds were a bit more severe. But, Hunter did a fair job of bandaging what he could. The biggest issue now was blood loss. Nothing to do about that other than wait and eat.
“Rise and shine everyone!” Daggat called as he sauntered into the great hall. Everyone was already eating. “Hey! Why didn’t you tell me there was food?”
Elyndris and Daggat had ended up talking for a long while after their agreement to officially become a party. They talked of strategy, plans, and immediate goals.
Hunter smiled and poured him and Elyndris a bowl. It was some sort of thrown-together porridge using some leftover grain and butter. It smelled sweet.
“We didn’t know where you were,” Hunter said.
“We saved you some. We almost forgot the most important part of Chalice Day. The sweets!” Anath eagerly ate from her own bowl. Hunter then withdrew a clay jug and poured a thick, glossy syrup over their porridge.
Daggat looked at it dubiously. He tasted a spoonful. It was sweet and nutty, with a warm, comforting texture. Daggat sneered. Well, he was hungry enough to eat anything. No point in being picky.
While they ate, they each regaled each other with their experiences in the fight the day before. No one believed Daggat when he told them he kicked off the demon's arm with one blow.
A short time later, they marched to the balcony. It was late evening and the sun was casting an orange glow on the surrounding landscape. The statue was still there, embedded into the tree. Which could apparently talk. Daggat would have to have a chat with it latter.
The statue had a silvery glow around its head. As the crew approached, it stirred. It took the same form as before. Three eyes, horns, long hair, and a void behind a friendly smile.
“Congratulations, heroes. You have slain the demon and a star has been closed. You will be richly rewarded” The statue said. Daggat rubbed his hands together.
“Cut it with the hero talk. That’s just nonsense.” Daggat said. Then something she said caught his attention. “Wait, what do you mean… a star has been closed?”
“Each star is a demon,” Elyndris answered. “Did the goblins teach you nothing?”
“Indeed, when a demon comes to this world, a star is born. When the demon is banished, it closes.” The statue said. “Yours has plagued the sky for over forty years. Quite an accomplishment.” Daggat had noticed the sky changed now and then. But, every star represented a demon? That was a LOT of demons.
“Treasure time!” Daggat announced. “Hunter, you go first.” That foot wigged Daggat out. It must have been torture. Hunter stepped forward.
“Hunter. Well done. You have held back the darkness with your light. As promised, you will be healed.” She waved a hand in his direction. A golden light flowed from it and wrapped around Hunter's leg. “But, you deserve more. For your bravery, I grant you the Boot of Rashail.”
Hunter’s eyebrows raised in surprise. The smell of rain and storm drifted from him and there was the sound of metal being forged. His foot twitched and shuddered as dozens of tiny hammers struck invisible metal. He screamed in shock and fell onto his rear.
After a moment, the movement ceased. Hands trembling, Hunter slowly removed the boot, and then the bandages. Tears formed in his eyes as he beheld his new foot. It was not flesh and bone, but a black metal. As though formed out of a dark clockwork. The toes flexed and energy crackled between them.
“Thank you…” Hunter whispered. He sniffed snot and more tears fell. His smile was huge and genuine. “It doesn’t hurt. Thank you!” Anath clapped in excitement.
“Does it do anything?” Daggat asked.
“The Boot of Rashail grants you the ability to stomp with the power of lightning. This power may be used thrice before it must be recharged. It will regain its power during a storm.” The angel turned her gaze to Elyndris. “Elyndris. It was you who slew the demon. Do you wish to speak an oath and be granted a holy class?”
“Can I get a… nonholy class?” Elyndris asked.
“I can only offer to hear an oath. The granting of a class to a monster is merely a side effect.” The angel said. Daggat furrowed his brow. That seemed a bit arbitrary.
“But, it was not I who slayed the demon alone. In truth, it was Klaw who made the attack.” Elyndris declared with confidence. She mentioned before how she did not want to swear to an angel.
“That… can be accepted. Klaw, will you speak the oath in her stead?”
“What, so… I just say an oath and you give me a class? I can get more skill points? Like, for sword skills and stuff?” Klaw scratched a bandage.
“Yes, Klaw.” The angel replied. Daggat almost stopped him. Almost. Oaths can be broken. They meant nothing.
“Well, shit. Yeah, I’ll do it. Why not?” Klaw grinned at Daggat. “Guess I got it first, huh?” Daggat stuck a tongue at him, then flashed him a smile. “So, what do I do?”
“As you are, you have three choices. Inquisitor, one who tracks and exposes demons and their ilk. Cleric, the speaker of holy words and divine will. And Paladin, the warrior of light and honor.”
“Ooh, the warrior one.” Klaw licked his lips and rubbed his fingers together. Daggat wasn't sure Klaw knew what he was doing. Either way, it would be a learning moment.
“I will give you the oath. Swear it and it will be done. It is a fine choice, Klaw. I am very proud.” The statue gave him a wide smile. Klaw’s eyes glazed over as he went into his status void. Then he started to read monotonously.
“By the power of my word, I swear. I will stand unyielding. My blade shall carve the darkness and my will will shroud the stars. My soul will be the sword of the divine. I walk with honor, unbowed to men or monsters, yet never shall I turn my back on the helpless. For, I am the shield of the innocent and the blade of the righteous.”
Klaw’s eyes rolled to the back of his eyes and he dropped.
“What the… KLAW!” Daggat turned on the angel. “What did you do?”
“Be calm, Daggat. His new soul is being installed. There is nothing to worry about.”
“Hunter did this when he got the monster's soul,” Anath said.
“Oh, good to know. You know he’s going to break that vow, right? Almost immediately.” Daggat said.
“Should that happen, his class and abilities will be stripped from him.” The angel said simply.
Daggat stared at her. Then he began to laugh. That idiot.
“THIS is why you can’t trust angels,” Elyndris said. “Now he’s stuck as a paladin. KLAW of all people. I bet five gold he loses his class before the week is out.”
Klaw woke up a short time later. When Daggat explained that breaking the oath would lead to him losing his class, he spent the next few minutes cursing.
“Now, the divine gifts. How do those work?” Daggat asked.
“When a hero falls in the endless war, their tools are redistributed to the mortal realm. These are randomly given in the form of divine gifts. The higher tier quest, the more plentiful and powerful the items. Mixed with the gear of the fallen are specialty rewards crafted by minor angels.”
“So… random stuff?” Daggat asked.
“… Yes.” The angel said hesitantly.
“Fun. Let’s get the party started. Give ‘em.” Daggat held his hands out. Anath scowled at him.
The angel chuckled and waved a hand. Four golden boxes materialized in front of them. One in front of Daggat, Anath, Elyndris, and Zuss.
Daggat nearly dived on it.
“Wait!” Anath cried. “We should do this around the fire. It’s cold out.”
“Doesn’t take long to open a box,” Zuss said.
“But I want to see what everyone gets…” Anath said with a slight whine to her voice. Daggat rolled his eyes.
“Fine.”
While they walked back to the hall, Daggat rubbed his gift. It was a smooth, almost golden box. At the top, it had a bronze bow. He could pull it to open the box.
They sat around the fire after Hunter added another log.
“Can we open them NOW?” Daggat asked.
“One at a time. That’s how people open presents. Right Hunter?” Anath said.
“My family always opened them altogether. But there were a lot of us. It was chaotic… and fun. But this sounds fun too.”
“Then me first!” Daggat said. Zuss tsked.
He pulled the bow. It slid smoothly away and dropped to the floor. Then the box began to glow. There was a flash, and three smaller silver boxes laid before him. Even MORE gifts!
“That counted! Zuss?” Anath said. Daggat snarled, but he let her have her way. It didn’t serve anyone to piss off the party berserker.
Zuss’s gift also turned into three smaller ones, as did Anath and Elyndris’s. Was that normal or was it just a small chance for a big gift? Eh. Daggat didn’t care. It was his turn to open a present.
Anath looked at Hunter with a sad expression. He was happily watching everyone open their gifts.
“Here,” Anath said and slid one of her silver boxes to him.
“You don’t have-”
“No… we all should open presents.” She looked down at her two remaining gifts and then towards Klaw. She had a conflicting look on her face. “Right ZUSS?”
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Zuss gave her a deadpan look, then sighed. She tossed a silver box to Klaw, who caught it.
“YES!” Klaw said. Anath and Hunter laughed.
“Okay, okay, I’m opening it!” Daggat said.
He slid open the silver bow. Like the previous box, it began to glow. He was expecting it to turn into even more gifts. Instead, a tall pole materialized in its spot. Then it fell over. He caught it.
It wasn’t a pole. It was a spear. Six feet long with a simple, but sharp-looking head. The bronze-colored metal of the head seemed to flow down the spear like smoke, blending into the white wooden handle.
Everyone ooed. Daggat marveled at it. This was a REAL weapon. A bit tall for him.
He stood up and wielded it. He would get used to the size. He gave it a few jabs.
“That’s pretty cool, Dag,” Hunter said. “Hope I get a spear!”
Then Daggat noticed something else. While he held the weapon, there was a new sensation in his mind. Similar to the sensation of opening his status void. He could mentally press a button. He did so.
The spear stopped in mid-air. Daggat couldn’t move it. It was as though some powerful hand had held it in space. A second later, it was released.
“It’s got magic!” Daggat declared. A minute later, he sensed he could activate it again.
Daggat jumped, activated the spear, and then hung from it in mid-air. Everyone reacted in joy, surprise, or jealousy. He fell a second later.
“My turn!” Zuss said. She pushed Birdy to the side who was lazily napping in her lap, then opened one of her boxes. It materialized into a knife.
Not a dagger, this one was shaped differently. It was thicker at the bladed end and had a glowing ruby set into its pommel. Zuss held it in one hand and gave it a few test swipes.
“That’s a throwing knife.” Said Elyndris. “See how it’s weighted at the front.”
“Interesting, I wonder if it does any-” Zuss tossed the knife at the wall. It spun once, then stuck. In a puff of smoke, Zuss disappeared. She reappeared across the room holding the blade. “Thing cool… oh.”
“What! That’s amazing!” Daggat called out. “Do it again!” She did, but this time she didn’t teleport to the knife. The ruby had dimmed.
“I think it's once a day or something,” Zuss said.
“Still really cool. Imagine the thieving you could get done.” Elyndris said.
“My turn.” Anath sing-songed. She opened her first gift.
A bag materialized in front of her. She looked at it with a thoughtful expression. It was a simple white bag. He rummaged around inside and withdrew a gold coin the size of her palm. Her eyes glittered.
“Gold?” She asked. Then it popped like a bubble and was gone. “Oh! It says I got a token. What’s that?”
“They are used for party stuff. Really handy!” Daggat explained. Turned out, she had five tokens in total.
“So, I just pull this?” Klaw asked when it was his turn. He pulled the ribbon.
A bottle appeared in front of Klaw. It had a silver, glowing liquid inside. Elyndris gasped.
“That’s a skill potion. Very rare. You can only drink five of them. Each one gives you a skill point.”
“Hell yeah!” Klaw said as he unstoppered it.
“WAIT!” Daggat cried. He needed to get that potion. “Wait until we are all done. There might be something one of us gets you would want. You already have a class.”
“Oh, Dag, what’s wrong? Do you want the potion?” Klaw chuckled at him. Daggat bared his teeth.
“It’s smartest. Just… hold off. Wait till I open the rest.” Daggat pleaded. He needed to upgrade the assistant. That would more than double his research speed.
“Fine. But you better get something good.” Klaw said, putting the cork back on the bottle.
“Your turn, Hunter,” Anath said. She was practically bouncing in excitement. She really enjoyed… whatever this was.
Hunter nodded and opened his gift. A silver metal band appeared in front of him. The front pointed upward like a leaf and a clear gemstone was set in the middle.
“Is it… a bracelet?” Hunter asked, holding it between his fingers. Anath began to laugh.
“It’s a tiara!” She laughed harder. Daggat, Klaw, and Zuss all cackled along.
“That suits you, princess!” Cried Klaw, between laughter. Hunter’s cheeks went red.
“I think that is a mana crystal,” Elyndris noted. “But, it would suit your pretty face.” Everyone laughed heavily.
Hunter looked annoyed, and then he smiled. He put the tiara on his head and held out his hands in a dainty pose. Daggat fell over laughing. His rib still hurt, but he ignored it with his pain tolerance.
After several more minutes, everyone calmed down.
Elyndris struggled with her gift for a brief moment but eventually pulled the ribbon with her teeth.
A scroll appeared. It seemed to be made of a golden fabric.
“Another inkbeast scroll?” Zuss asked.
“No… I know this. This is a hero scroll.” Elyndris said. “It summons a dead champion from the eternal war. They can help you fight, answer questions, or whatever. Gold ones last an hour. Daggat, what's it say?”
Daggat took the scroll and opened it slightly.
“Chloe Ulfdóttir, the Beast Slayer. Who’s that?"
“Don’t know. That’s our second summoning scroll. Hero scrolls are generally safe to use, as long as you don’t piss off the champion.”
Once Elyndris was done, it should have wrapped back to Daggat. But, everyone took a short break. Hunter wanted to brew some tea he found in the loot they had gotten from Calion.
Daggat admired his new spear. It would take him some time to get used to it. Already, he had plenty of ideas on how to use its unique trait.
Now he desperately wanted to know what was in the rest of his gifts.
Daggat
True Name: Daggat
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: goblin [ +2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Scavanger; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 20
Will: 10
Charm: 12
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Fledgling Alchemist
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Act: Usurper
Act: Touch of Death
Skills(0/3):
Alchemy: 1 [Source: Fledgling Alchemist]
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Mind Codex: 1 [Synergy: Mental notes + Copy Tome]
Party Leader: 1 [Source: Usurper]
Notable Natural Skills:
Literacy: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Small [Source: Goblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Hypnotic Gaze [Mutations: Dominating Gaze, Mesmerizing Gaze]
Temperature Resistant Skin [Synergy: Fire Resistant Skin + Cold Resistant Skin]
Scavenger [Source: goblin]
Death Sight [Source: Touch of Death]
Increased Pain Tolerance
Hypervocal chords
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 charm
Extreme Temperature Resistant Scales [Synergy: Fireproof scales + Temperature resistant Skin]
Fire breath
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Dark vision [Night Vision Enhanced]
Deepen Shadow
Other:
Variant: +10 Intelligence
Notable Gear:
Strange pure-white sword shard
Spear of Bracing
Klaw
True Name: Klaw
Soul: Mortal/Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: Bugbear [ +3 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Rough Fur; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8 [+2 Str, +2 Con, +2 Wil; Smite, Righteous Aura]
Paladin Level: 1
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 8
Will: 11
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Strength
Act: Arsonist
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1
Burst of Strength: 1
Attribute Boost: Strength (+2)
Flame Affinity: 1 [Source: Arsonist]
Smite: 1
Notable Natural Skills:
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Standard [Source: Gremlin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Claws [Mutations: Forged, Retractable]
Dense Muscle Fibers
Rough Fur [Mutations: Insulating Fur; Source: Bugbear]
Dense Bone
Cardiovascular Control
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 constitution
Fire-proof Scales
Claws [Mutation added: Burning]
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
+2 constitution
Dark Vision
Notable Gear:
Mountain Heart Armor
Elyndris
True Name: Elyndris
Soul: Monster
Genseed: Larva [ 1 Str, 1 Dex, 1 Con, 1 Int, 1 Wil, 1 Cha; miniscule Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/12):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 15
Will: 7
Charm: 7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Blasphemy
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Vile Concoction
Skills (0/3):
Burst of Strength: 1
Pounce: 1
Construct Capacity: 1
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Miniscule
Jaws
Thaumic Sense [Synergy: Tremor Sense + Magic Sense; Mutations: Refined Sense]
Complex organs
Limbs [Mutation: Lesser Wings]
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction]
Force Distributing Flesh
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
+2 constitution
Jaws [Mutation: Powerful Jaws]
Other:
Curse: Ungenesis
Zuss
True Name: Zuss
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: hobgoblin [ +1 Str, +3 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Nimble Fingers; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 8
Will: 10
Charm: 9
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Alacrity
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Deep Shadows: 1
Path Finding [Type: Climbing]
Notable Natural Skills:
Stealth: Apprentice
Climb: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Small [Source: Hobgoblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Mutations: Dark Vision; Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Improved Body Control [Synergy: Improved Balance + Improved Nerve Conduction + Improved flexibility; Mutations: Autonomous Reflex]
Nimble Hands and Feet [Synergy: Nimble hands + Prehensile Feet; Mutations: Mighty Grip]
Cold Resistant Skin
Enhanced Visual Acuity
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Smoke Aura
Lesser Wings
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Enhanced Scent
Deepen Shadow+, Widen Shadows
Notable Gear:
Blade of a Thousand Screams
Knife of the Traveler
Pet:
Name: Birdy
Genseed: Cat
Attributes:
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 4
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 2
Will: 2
Charm: 3
Biotraits:
Lesser Wings
Hunter
True Name: Hunter
Soul: Mortal/Monster
Genseed: Ogre [ 8 Str, 2 Dex, 6 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Ogre's curse; Large Size]
Hearth Tender Level: 8 [+1 Str, +1 Con, +4 Wil; Invoke Torch, Hearth Fire]
Monster Level: 1 [Source: Ichor of the Beast]
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 9
Will: 15
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Slayer
Ability: Unshakable Will
Skills (0/9):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Invoke Torch: 2 [Perks: Mighty Torch]
Hearth Fire: 2 [Perks: Healing Warmth]
Sacred Flame: 2 [Perks: Debilitating Warmth]
Encompassing Warmth: 1
Brilliant Bash: 2 [Perks: Hearth Flame]
Bounty Hunter: 1 [Source: Slayer]
Seek: 1
Fearless: 1
Peaceful Presence: 1
Condense Aura: 1
Biotraits (0/1):
Base Size: Large
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Other:
Curse: Ogre Curse
Anath
True Name: Anathema
Soul: Monster/Mortal
Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
Monster Level: 5
Berserker Level: 5 [+3 Str, Dex Con, -1 Int, Wil, Cha; Berserker's rage, Great Vitality]
Attributes [0/7]:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 10
Will: 8
Charm: 7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Skills(0/8):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Skill Boosts: Survival (1)
Savage Legs: 1
Berserker's Spirit: 1 [Synergy: Warrior's Spirit (Burst of Strength + Burst of Alacrity + Burst of Vitality) + Berserker's Rage]
Purge Poison: 1
Great Vitality: 1
Blood Rhythm: 1
Notable Natural Skills:
Survival: Apprentice
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits [1/5]:
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Extra Limb (Arachnid), x4 [Source: Variant]
Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant]
Multi-eye [Mutations: Magnified, Night Vision; Source: Variant]
Hardened Chitin
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Claws
Dark Vision
Other:
Variant: Arachnid Traits
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What? Klaw is a paladin? Read below if that bothers you.
Don't worry, this story isn't going to go that route. He is very much going to stay as a little bastard.
