30 Windwalker Stone

Others may have thought the stone was simply normal or that it was a piece of decorative art. I, on the other hand, knew exactly how useful this stone really was. I focused my eyes on the stone.

[???]

[Connecting to host for more information]

This is another function of ALIC. When an object cannot be identified using the knowledge pre-stored within ALIC it will search the hosts brain for information regarding the object and if the information can be found it will be displayed. If the information cannot be found within the host it will remain unidentified. This process doesn't affect the host at all and as far as we know has no negative side effects. After a few moments the information regarding the stone appeared.

Name: Windwalker Stone

STATS

Uses: 1

EFFECTS

Increases users speed by 50% for 3 minutes

It may not seem like much but a 50% boost in speed would easily allow me to defeat people even if they were multiple levels above me. Just considering how many stats it would take to boost my speed by half is enough to realize how much of an advantage it gives me. My dexterity was already at 12 which boosted by half would mean a plus 6 in dexterity. However, something like dexterity alone isn't enough to sufficiently represent a persons speed. Even if you have a high dexterity without strength you can't produce the power to move faster. Without constitution your body could be damaged by it's own force.

In my last life many studies had been performed to find what ratio was necessary to maintain between the stats to optimize a persons speed. At the end they found that while dexterity is the main stat, to perform at the highest speed your strength had to be at least half of your dexterity and your constitution had to be a third. Otherwise, the lack of strength and constitution would begin to limit your speed. Therefore a 50% boost in speed wasn't just like getting 6 dexterity, it was more like getting 6 dexterity, 3 strength, and 2 constitution. This means your essentially gaining around 6 levels. No matter how strong Sauer is in front of a level 15 human he would be nothing but minced meat.

As much as I wished the windwalker stone could permanently bestow these stats to me that isn't quite how it works. When a person breaks the windwalker stone it wraps them with a powerful wind type ability that augments their speed. Essentially the stone boosts their speed by making using the power of wind. The effect is immediate, however, it is short lived and doesn't actually augment the body directly.

In fact the windwalker stone is a lot light sun stones in the fact that they have absorbed the essence of wind like sun stones with light. However, a windwalker stone has been augmented using a special technique that gives it the ability to boost a person's speed. I know this because of the black lines that cover it's surface. A normal wind stone would simply look like a green stone that always had a light breeze around it.

Their are many different kind of stones that harness different kinds of essences throughout the world of Agartha and different races and tribes use different techniques to augment them in different ways. The windwalker stone is a type that is normally only found in a specific Fey kingdom to the southwest. That is why I was so surprised to find one here and why I couldn't help but find the old man who called himself Lucas even more mysterious. That's something I have to put to the back of mind right now though, my fight with Sauer isn't far off.

Needless to say this windwalker stone gives me a great advantage over Sauer. However, I will only use it as a last resort. I would rather use Snake King Aura than use the Windwalker Stone. Using, Snake King Aura will reveal that I have an ability and might alarm a few of the villagers. However, in the end I will always have it and other humans know they can't kill me to get it. The windwalker stone, on the other hand, is a one use item as indicated in its stats and finding another wouldn't be easy. More problematically other humans may think I have more or know where they are and that could stir up problems.

I made my way back to the arena and headed over to the native section. I have to make sure that the Cratagus problem has been dealt with. As I neared the section I could see Valerian just outside the entrance waiting and scanning the area. When he noticed me he quickly came over.

I pulled my cloak tight around me, "Have you got Cratagus out of the arena?"

"There was no need to, after about 30 minutes he met with someone and left the arena on his own," Valerian replied.

Intrigued I asked, "Who did he meet with?"

"I couldn't get close enough to listen to their conversation so I wasn't able to get a name. However, I got a good look at him. He had sharp features and a very pointed nose. He is very skinny, has black hair that seems to be matted to his head, pale skin, and beady eyes."

I took in a deep breath. "Ward! What is that sadistic jerk doing meeting with Cratagus?"

No doubt this means trouble. Ward is Sauer's right hand man and is also the liaison between Morrow and the Yellow Wolf Bandits. I couldn't help but get a foreboding feeling and feel slightly worried for the G'eth Village. If Cratagus wanted to take revenge he would need outside help and with Morrow's opinion regarding natives I'm sure he'd be all too happy to carry out an attack.

I definitely need to find a way to intervene if I can. However, my plans here are moving forward and I simply don't have the resources at the moment to fight a battle on two fronts. After thinking about the situation for a minute I came to a decision.

"Valerian you have to go back to the village and warn Corytheius that Cratagus may have the support of the Yellow Wolf Bandits and lead an attack on the town. Let him know that I will do what I can from here. After you've warned him come back here and wait for me at the Black Claw Inn."

After explaining everything he needed to know, Valerian left. I knew the trip would take at least two days and that I'd be on my own for now. I headed back over to the contenders section and began to prepare myself for the fight ahead.