Chapter 22: Into the Wilderness

Chapter 22: Into the Wilderness

The next morning wasnt particularly early, but it felt that way. The Heirs made their preparations with an air of finality. They had a leisurely breakfast and did some packing while going over some final details.

There was one specific topic theyd left to this morning - mental protection. If they were worried about being attacked by Giantsrest, they had to expect more mental attacks. So, they needed to have as much protection as possible from mind magic.

Khachi was confident in his own [Unwavering Zeal] to protect him from future mind-magic. It had let him repeatedly shrug off Taeols [Dominate], and Kia had told him about some more tricks since then. Divine magic was apparently well-suited to defense against that kind of threat, reacting automatically and violently to mental intrusion.

Sarah and Aarl both had skills that spent a class resource for that purpose, and theyd ranked up significantly in the last fight. Nathan wanted to hear about their full class Development, but that was going to have to wait until they were well out of Gemore. Stanel had provided the next set of Insights for their mental skills last night, and they were waiting for their next encounter with mind-magic to Develop the protection.

The person who had needed the most help was Stella. Shed had an expensive amulet that had protected her from mental spells during Taeols ambush. But it had been reduced to slag in the process. That kind of overloading was the weakness of such devices. Well, that and the fact that they could simply be removed. Before they left, Kullal handed Stella a half-dozen more of the pricy amulets. Shed promptly handed one to each of Sarah, Aarl and Khachi.

They wouldnt wear the amulets for most purposes since it would prevent the advancement of their anti-mental magic abilities, but they could be used in a pinch. Or if Stellas amulet was overwhelmed, theyd have a spare to put on her, by force if necessary.

Soon enough, it was time to go. They would come back to Gemore eventually. But it might be months. Or years. It all depended on how the current conflict with Giantsrest worked out.

It felt like they were bidding goodbye for some time though, and the goodbyes to their parents were solemn. It reminded Nathan of parents dropping off their kids at college. Though with a lot more danger of death.

The Heirs left Gemore without visiting the Adventuring guild. They werent escorted, and they didnt say anything special to the guards, just waved them goodbye as if this was a standard patrol. Nathan knew that the Guardians were watching from somewhere - ready in case there was an ambush just outside the gates of Gemore.

The Heirs made for the eastern transit road, quickly crossing the killing field and entering the space-distorting road. They were heading toward Giantsrest purely because that seemed like the least likely place for an ambush. There were no villages to the East. No jobs aside from those targeting Giantsrest, like what the Giantraiders did.

And so it wasnt a place where potential ambushers were likely to set up. And the Heirs expected to easily get lost in the hills to the southeast of Gemore. It was a territory rife with dungeons and monsters, but that just gave them more places to hide.

Ok, also more things that can kill us in our sleep, but there are always tradeoffs.

The overall plan was to loop down to the southern villages over the next week or so - the land down there was hilly and rough, with lots of crags and caves to hide out in, as well as a never-ending supply of problems for Adventurers to take out.

Theyd hopefully all hit level 81 before too long, and have a bit more power to work with. Nathan was just hoping his level 81 class choice could be made without impending doom forcing any particular decisions.

Though its one way to not get stuck in analysis paralysis. That hasnt happened to me in a while - I mostly had that issue quashed even before I came to Davrar. And all the combat training has helped a lot.

The transit road trip was uniquely tense and boring - Nathan was expecting mages or Stalkers or something, but nothing happened. He knew that the Eastern road was patrolled the least because the only people who used it were Adventurers, but they didnt get attacked.

As the Heirs left Old Gemore, they paralleled the massive and ruined walls for some time, heading south. After a little while they chose a valley at random and headed for it.

As soon as they left sight of Gemore, the Heirs relaxed a bit. They were in dangerous territory, as evinced by the occasional dungeon they passed, but it was anonymous dangerous territory. For anybody to find them here, theyd be able to find them anywhere. Hed asked a few questions about scrying last night, and to scry somebody you either needed intimate knowledge or something with a strong physical connection to them - like a lock of hair or a vial of blood.

Regardless, they were probably safe. Getting out of Old Gemore had been the dangerous part, and it had only been a few days since Taeols failed ambush.

Most of the dungeons this close to Gemore got cleared out a while back. They want to give themselves as large a bubble of safety as possible in case all the dungeons wake up during the Ending of History.

Now that he wasnt concentrating quite so hard on avoiding an ambush, Nathan looked over at Aarl. So. Developments? You teased us with it last night. Now I want the scoop.

Sarah shot Nathan a confused look. The scoop? Is this like out of left field in that its absolutely nonsensical?

Out of left field makes complete sense! You just need to understand the sport it comes from! But baseball is maybe not the easiest thing to explain. Id much rather hear about your class Developments.

Aarl cut in cheerfully. You heard the important decision, Nathan. I took [Master of Many Weapons], and Sarah took [Headshot Gunslinger]. The most notable skill was

Hey! Sarah cut him off. Its mine, so Ill tell of it. She held out an empty hand, then rolled it over like a magician performing a magic trick. She was now holding a pistol bullet. I can spend my class resource to create ammunition for firearms that Im familiar with. She bounced the bullet in one hand. Its a large drain, and it shifts my weight towards depending on these weapons more and more.

She shrugged and tucked the bullet into the dimensional storage. I also got that skill that lets me see through fog and darkness while aiming a weapon. Some of my other class skills Developed as well, becoming specific to guns but further improving their range and power based on the Insights you taught me about shooting at range. I have great expectations for these new weapons.

Then she smiled a cheshire grin. And the last class skill rewards me with Focus for headshots, or strikes against similar weak points.

So to sum up, a gunslinger with nearly infinite ammunition, a resource that lets her do bullet time and who is rewarded for shooting people in the head. I kind of wish I could let Sarah loose on the Call of Duty servers or something. Sounds hilarious.

Khachi whistled. Class skills that return class resources are a powerful boon indeed. That seems a potent combination.

Aarl wore a theatrically mournful expression, but was clearly quite pleased for his sister. Meanwhile, I am merely a [Master of Many Weapons]. He pulled out the force saber in one hand, one of the pistols in the other. My new skills allow me to proficiently wield a weapon in each hand, controlling each without distraction from the other. Another enhances my toughness to match my armor, when that armor is flexible. And the last gives me proficiency with any weapon I lay my hands on.

His mouth twisted slightly. I am following the path of my father, and with weapons equal to many in his arsenal. The weapon-proficiency skill is one that can further Develop, to incredible heights. But I find myself thinking of what could be. All of a sudden the shotgun was in his hands, and he caressed the weapon. This strikes as hard as any fancy trick with an enchanted chain or the dozen other weapons my father keeps.

Nathan reassured him, Im sure there will be some problems that can only be solved by blades. Especially enchanted ones.

Aarl nodded, and the gun returned to his dimensional storage in another flicker of motion. I have a good deal of ammunition, but I may rely on Sarah for replenishment if we are truly gone from Gemore for months.

Khachi stroked the wispy hair on his chin. But we have yet to ask the most important question.

That looks like the same stone as from the ruined dungeon above. Im not sure Im pleased that the cave connects to it. Theres nothing obviously dangerous - but its the unobvious stuff that gets you.

Nathan paid extra close attention on the walk back, noticing a few small cracks in the rock as he exited the vicinity of the ruined dungeon. He certainly couldnt fit through them, but he couldnt say that nothing could.

The Heirs were starting to roast some nindine over the fire as he returned. With a grim look on his face, Nathan relayed what hed found, ending by saying ... the rubble looked Edrani to me, we could get attacked by animated armor or golems. Im not sure we should remain here.

Khachi looked thoughtful, but Stella scoffed. She walked thirty paces farther back into the cave, then started molding a foot-thick wall to block the cave. See? Nemesis slain.

Nathan eyed the wall without feeling especially reassured. Arent Edrani golems supposed to be incredibly strong? Like able to bust through stone walls strong?

Stella turned away from the new back of the cave, dusting her hands. If they come through the wall well certainly hear them coming, and be able to get out if we need to. I was thinking about blocking the front of the cave, but its probably a better idea not to in case we need to leave in a hurry.

And with that, they settled down to a cozy evening in their new campsite, arguing over old subjects and asking Nathan for more stories of Earth. Hed started dredging up other stories to tell the Heirs, and it felt appropriate to pull out some things he remembered from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

He hadnt been a fan of those stories when he was young. An active imagination and a fear of the unknown had left a young Nathan scared stiff of the things that might exist in the dark places away from streetlights. Hed wanted magic to be real so badly - but the flipside was that hed been terrified of it being real, but unfriendly.

Of course, now I know magic is real, and have the tools to fight back. Rather literally, as far as magic itself is concerned.

The stories themselves didnt make much of an impact on the Heirs - they kept searching for a how to the stories, instead of losing themselves imagining the many scary possibilities that could exist if you took the stories at face value. But Nathan supposed that wasnt surprising - the Heirs had been training for years to understand a problem so that you could defeat it. And a lot of the scary stories just sounded like weird magic or strange monsters to them.

Which was fair! There was some stuff on Davrar that was honestly scarier than these stories. The Soul Eaters alone were just nightmare fuel.

And the Stalkers! Magically stealthy pony-sized lizard-things just waiting to jump out of the shadows and rip your legs off! And the bigger ones could shoot magical projectiles from their third eyes!

Nathan found himself grumbling about how hard it was to tell the Heirs a scary story because their world was already rather scary. Then he stopped himself, and they started talking about more productive things.

Like what to do over the next few days.

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Magic Absorption 8

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 2

Talent 3: High-tier Slow Fall 5

Class: Spellbreaker Juggernaut level 72

Stamina: 733/820

Juggernaut's Wrath

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Juggernaut's Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 1

High-tier Earnestness 7

Mid-tier Sprinting 8

High-tier Spellsense 5

Mid-tier Notice 10

Mid-tier Identify 8

Mid-tier Dodging Footwork 6

High-tier Enhanced Memory 5

Mid-tier Lecturing 6

Mid-tier Tumbling 3