Chapter Two-Hundred Four

Chapter Two-Hundred Four

At sunrise, I see Rhonda and Freddie enter my main gate, followed by those three that I watched in the labyrinth the other day. The three dont seem very deterred, and the kids look pretty eager to test themselves against my tougher stuff. Even something strong like a Jakobs Ladder snake has to actually attack to potentially endanger them. The wyrms can be a threat just by getting too close. They seem to have taken precautions, at least.

Vieds eyes a vial that looks like it contains liquid fire, looking uncertain. Are you sure these are safe? Im pretty sure Ive thrown things like this at monsters before

Rhonda giggles while Lucas chitters an admonishment at the changeling. Im sure. Master Staiven himself brewed these to help us gather as many of the herbs in the labyrinth as possible. Hes had a lot of requests for strong fire resist potions, so he needs good ingredients.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

Im surprised he didnt want to join with us himself. The other crafters wanted to see the materials in person, rumbles Wold, the large bearkin looking up at Poe on his perch near the chimney.

Well, I am his apprentice. If he can trust anyone else to get the herbs, itd be me, points out Rhonda, and Vieds finally accepts the truth as he slips the vial into a belt pouch.

The group moves to the porch to peruse the hanging quests, which has Gerlfi in a good mood as he browses. Its still strange to me to see a dungeon handing out quests like this.

Its the aranea, not the dungeon, points out Freddie, which earns a chuckle from the older goblin.

Which is why its so strange. Usually, its fey offering deals like this. Im not sure if its a shame or a relief that theres no fey to be had here. He pauses as he peers at an herbalism quest in the labyrinth to gather some fools coal. Should we all get an herbalism quest?

Rhonda looks at the board hes looking at. That one should be easy enough, even if you dont have much herbalism experience. The hardest part of gathering fools coal is in finding it and I guess in keeping it away from too much heat while were there.

Freddie accepts a quest for a couple wyrm mandibles, while Wold takes one for a wyrm hide. How would he even get a hide from one of my wyrms? Gerlfi looks uncertain at the fools coal quest.

I think keeping them away from heat will be a problem, dont you?

Rhonda shrugs and accepts a quest for a more delicate fiery herb. It takes sustained heat to set them off. A couple attacks shouldnt make them pop, but setting them on fire will get them to explode eventually.

Gerlfi gingerly accepts the quest, looking like he thinks the little board will explode, too. If you say so. I dont have much herbalism experience. No crafting options have really captured my attention, he admits.

He prefers to gather fey, jokes Veids as he takes a fools coal quest, too.

How does that even work? asks Freddie as they move into the manor proper, where I greet them with a small rat swarm. His question is left hanging while they deal with my warm-up encounter. They work well together, though, with Freddie, Fiona and Wold holding off the swarm while Vieds and Rhonda send a few area attacks to deal with the foes. Gerlfi mostly is on overwatch, keeping an eye on the battle and calling out tactical advice. Before long, the swarm is dispersed, and they resume their delve.

You were asking about contracting with fey? he asks the young orc as they move through the house, checking cabinets and drawers for any goodies. When Freddie nods, he continues. The short version is that Im a summoner. We deal with magic differently than most others youve seen, I imagine. Im illusion affinity, which can be a bit awkward for a summoner. An illusion mage can simply create their illusions and work to trick their foes, but I need an outside anchor for my magic.

Gerlfi is all too happy to burst his friends bubble with a friendly jab. Maybe we should drink those potions. Vieds glares while the goblin grins, and the changeling is the first to look away.

...it might not be the worst idea. Were not too far from the labyrinth anyway. I nudge a couple rockslides to get in their path, and the delvers quickly toss back their fire resist potions before continuing on their way. Fiona points out my denizens as the group gets close, and Freddie takes a deep breath as he prepares.

Rockslides. Theyre not too dangerous, but theyre tough and hard to corral. Can you follow my lead please, Mr Wold?

The bearkin looks curious as he nods, taking a position beside Freddie. Shield Wall! declares the orc, and Fiona eagerly moves to support the ethereal shields. Wold looks surprised for a moment, before following suit. The rockslides rumble forward, but the shield wall holds, at least for the moment.

Vieds takes that moment, and a few more, to prepare his attack. I can feel a lot of mana moving, and Rhondas eyes follow the flows, drinking in what the changeling is trying to show her.

Fire is so much more than mere heat! Heatwave! he shouts and conjures a rolling wall of fire that pushes the rockslides back. Freddie moves to advance, but Wold places a hand on his shoulder and shakes his head. The reason why becomes apparent as Vieds nest attack lands.

Explosion! The piled up rockslides suddenly fly apart with a sharp crack and fiery woosh as their group cohesion is sundered from the force of the attack. My little denizens decide thats enough fun for today and scatter, leaving an awed Rhonda and a smug Vieds watching them go.

There, you see? Sure, heat is a big part of fire, but you have to appreciate a good explosion every so often, too.

Sure, you can appreciate them. Youve never lost your eyebrows to them, snarks Gerlfi, and Vieds snarks right back.

Missing eyebrows is better than what that lesser chimera would have done to you.

The banter is lost to Rhonda, who has her notebook out and is scribbling like mad. Wold lets his friends bleed off adrenaline with their usual ribbing, staying out of it as he gives Freddie a considering look.

I've never seen a skill like that before.

Freddie looks a bit bashful. Yeah its part of my class. I work really well with other melee fighters, like Larrez.

Its good. I usually dont get to enjoy melee teamwork. Coordinating is difficult.

Freddie smiles at that. Thats what a phalanx is all about. Each shield supports the next, and The Shield supports us all.

You should talk with Gerlfi, once hes done bickering and were ready to move on. If you work well with numbers, he can provide them. They both look over to the two, who look to be winding down their fun, before Wold speaks again. If were to reach the depths of the labyrinth, we may need all the help we can get.