Ruthless ~ 46!

~ 46 ~

“Now that ya mention it, Joe, I am getting ah vibe that somethin’ mighta gone wrong.” Bard mumbled as the flame finally finished transforming. A person now stood on the altar, and he danced around on it without leaving the confines of the stone. Hearing Bard’s words, the being turned and stared down at them with a cold expression.

But, seeing who had spoken, the man did a backflip off the altar and landed in front of them; somehow facing them directly. “You! Oh, such an unfortunate name, but such a virtuous person! You’ve freed me from the forced seclusion and terrible offerings of the Bardic College! Quest compete in the most spectacular of fashions! Here, have a class change!”

Bard’s eyes rolled up into his head and he slumped to the floor before Joe could catch him. Joe looked at the deity that was now considering him, and gulped. “You’re the owner of this building, huh? Let’s see… pantheon… Oh? Occultatum is The Master of this pantheon? Bet he loves that, the old windbag. Oh! Tom’s here! Hi Tom!”

“Tommulus.” Came the grumpy reply from the red flame on Tommulus’s altar.

“Millenia, and you still have that stick up your butt.” The brown-flame deity was smiling kindly while he said this. There was no reply. “Hmm, hmm, haa. Ritualist, Rituarchitect, oh, a Scholar? Interesting, not unexpected. Moving into blacksmithing and alchemy? You mean professions that rely heavily on earth, wind, and fire? Oh, that’s gonna be hard with your affinities so heavily skewed toward infer… that is, darkness and water. Well, you deserve a reward too, perhaps I can help with that?”

“I’m sorry, so sorry to interrupt, who are you?” Joe managed to get out after his Neutrality Aura moistened his mouth enough for him to speak again.

“What? I’m Hans! The deity Hansel? Lord of Bards?” Hansel shook his head and muttered about education standards slipping. “Oh, wait! This is good! The College kept me so hidden that there isn’t a good record of my abilities! I can rebrand myself! Thanks, little spellweaver!”

A new Deity has joined your pantheon: Hansel, Greater Deity of Bards, Teachers, and Political Assassins. There is a great synergy between Hansel and Tommulus, resulting in a 20% bonus to a student’s skill gain when being taught by a teacher in the area of effect of Pathfinder’s Hall (Temple). 

You have gained +2,222 reputation with Hansel! New reputation rank: Friendly.

“Alright, here is a little reward for you, Joe! Sorry about the pain, but it’ll be worth it. Opening affinity channels is always worth it when you survive the process!”

“Wait, I-” Joe couldn't get any other words out before brown fire surrounded him and started burrowing into him. His clothes seemed to scream, and Hansel winced.

“Oh, sorry about that. You’ll need new clothes, but it's still worth it!” Then, either Hans vanished of Joe passed out, because Joe was suddenly looking up at the ceiling and blinking.

Class restrictions on fire usage removed! No longer will you have -50% to skill gain and usage when using fire-based skills!

Perfect Fire Affinity gained! You now have a bonus 100% skill gain and usage when using fire-based skills!

Durability limit reached! Set equipment Wise Man's Wardrobe has been totally destroyed!

Durability limit reached! Mystic Theurge Staff destroyed!

Joe sat up and realized that he was naked except for his Spatial Codpiece. That wouldn't do. Sending his thoughts into his storage, he pulled out the only clothing he had; wrapping himself in the Cloak of Liquid Darkness. “Been a while since I wore you, hasn’t it? Well… better to look wet than to be walking around like gladiator Tarzan.”

“Bardbarian?” Bard sat bolt upright. “I’m a Bardbarian! I finally unlocked a specialization! Joe! I have a clear path to my second specialization as well! I’ll eventually be able to be a Lore Keeper!”

“That’s-”

“Even better than I had hoped!” Bard was on his feet now, and he slapped a hand on Hansel’s altar. “You’re a good man, Hansel! Abyss right, I’ll be taking that path to the next tier with you. No worries, I’ll make sure to spread around the story we came up with!”

A brown flame, more like a spark, appeared and became stable above the altar. It was similar to Tommulus’s altar in appearance now, though the coloration was different. Joe also realized that soft music was playing in the Temple area, turning the still and silent nearly-forested area into a relaxing and peaceful area for seclusion and self-reflection. A good upgrade overall, even without all the other bonuses they had gained.

Joe was thrilled with the bonus that adding Hansel to the pantheon had provided. With a twenty percent boost to teacher-student skill gains, Towney McTownface would eventually become the center of learning for every craft, trade, and profession in the entire Zone. 

The Rituarchitect was shaken from his internal dialogue as Bard slapped a binder into his hands. “Here ya go, Joe! Present from Hans as recompense for ‘leaving you more naked than the day you came into this world’. Apparently, he really overstepped his bounds in his excitement? Is that why you’re dressed differently? What, ah… did I miss while unconscious? Know what…? Never mind. He says to wait on using it for another twenty-seven fourteen? He didn’t tell me what that meant.”

“I don't know either - wait.” Joe pulled open his character sheet and looked at the information, his eyes going wide. “That’s the exact amount of experience I need to get my class to level eight. Let me inspect this…”

Item gained: Golden Path Advancement. Increase either character or class level by two levels.

“Celestial snapdragons.” Joe sputtered as he realized what this meant. “What is he even talking about, saving it only till my next class level? He’s outta his mind. I’m saving this until I’m level forty-eight! It says two levels, it says nothing about restrictions! Wait, there’s more to the description…”

All experience gained for the selection will need to be repaid, and will be absorbed as it is gained.

“Ah.” Joe shrugged at that. “Okay, I’ll need to repay the experience, so what?”

Bard spoke up as they were walking out of the Temple together. “Well, isn’t it harder to gain experience at higher levels? You’ll be getting less experience for doing anything, unless you are doing things that are challenging for higher level stuff. Sounds like that actually has quite the drawback.”

“Well, I’m gonna…” Joe tossed his hands in the air in frustration. “Whatever! We’ll see what happens. What’s wrong with your voice?”

“I am uncertain what you mean, Joe.” Bard replied clearly.

“That! You still have your accent, but you’re perfectly understandable now!” Joe had nothing else to get angry about right now, Bard was shooting down his plans too easily. 

A wide grin spread across Bard’s face. “Why, I am certain that I have no idea what you mean! Unless you are talking about the silver tongue ability I gained as a Bardbarian that makes my words smooth? I mean, I only got a bonus of ten charisma and dexterity!”

“Does dexterity help with speaking?” Joe rolled his eyes as the obvious question popped out of his mouth. “Never mind, I have no interest in hearing about how nimble your tongue is now.”

Bard’s grin smoothly transitioned to smug, and Joe snorted at the fact that he had caught on to what Bard was about to say. “Okay, I still have a lot of work to do, Bard. I need to get going, you should go find out when Alexis will come back.”

“Sounds good. I haveta figure out what my new responsibilities are as the Champion of Hansel, anyway!” Bard waved and jogged off while chanting a movement speed enhancing spell.

“Interesting.” Joe watched Bard run off. “Two Champions in a party… that’ll be a tasty target for anyone needing to grind Divine Energy. Makes me wonder if-”

“Joe! There you are!” Aten himself was jogging over this time, he hadn't sent Mike as he usually did. “The Bardic College has launched an attack against us, and-”

“It’s already taken care of, Aten.” Joe waved at the massive building behind him. “We killed off like twenty assassins and such. They should be all cleared out.”

“No, Joe.” Aten shook his head gravely. “Whatever else you had to deal with, this is different. The Bardic College has openly stated its support for the assault against us, and is even now ordering all their members to start singing against us in all taverns and public areas. Now that a major power has publicly announced their support, half a dozen other powers have joined in as well. A huge mob is turning into a huge, well-funded, well-trained army.”

“What does this mean? Why is this happening?” Joe was stunned by this turn of events. He never expected that the Bardic College would act so swiftly; they wouldn't be so petty as to go to war over this, right? Surely there had to be more to it than Bard getting away with an idol of Hansel?

“Something about one of their greatest treasures and secrets being stolen.” Aten lifted his hands in confusion, and Joe maintained a flat expression. Welp. Guess the College could be that petty. “At the rate people are joining up, and given their lack of resources - especially food - the next time we are attacked is going to be tomorrow, the day after at the latest. Is there any way that you might be able to help us get ready for this?”

Joe thought about the path advancement and closed his eyes. Hansel had known that this would happen; there was no way he had been given that item just because his clothes got destroyed. Ugh… gods and their games… Joe locked eyes with Aten, and nodded sharply. 

“Maybe.”