(Vol 2) Chapter 58: Casting a Shadow

Oh man, it’s gonna be so cool, I’ll make jewelry and crystal swords and-and a statue! Hell yeah, I can make fucking statues! Well… it’s kind of an investment though, making it permanent… and it might be suspicious as a material…

She had to curb her enthusiasm a bit, but it was at least a nice idea. And more fun for that future of abundance she hoped to bring.

Next up, a few changes to Dazzling Spectrum:

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Lightly Empowered (Light Synergy): Possession of the Light Domain has improved this ability. Effective Levels are +1, stunning is 10 seconds, and blinding is 1 minute per deity level.

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Makes sense. This effect probably exists with the Light domain as well as Illusion, so I’ve ‘doubled up’ as it were.

Down the list were changes to Mirroring Duplicates and Reflect Force, respectively:

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Hard Light (Light Synergy): By expending 1 FE (Light) or 2 FE in addition (at the time of activation) you may make one duplicate made of 'hard light' which is capable of inflicting harm, at the same level that they defend.

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All Light Reflects Me (Light Synergy): You may use this ability for free, at will, without cooldown, against any [Light] based attack, and your attack may use your own levels to calculate, if higher.

Add +2 Levels for accuracy only, regardless, to any reflected pure energy or magic. This does not include anything utilizing a hard projectile.

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Ha! A clone for real. A little more worth it to run with normal Illusions going. And the Reflect Force one just sounds badass. Limited usefulness, ultimately. I guess. Accuracy is nice.

Finally, there was the enhancement on Alter Fate:

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Hoping For Daylight (Light Synergy): You have an additional daily use to improve a task's chances by 2, but it does not automatically succeed. This cannot recharge 'uses' at all.

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Ooh, nice. A last-ditch after the other two, or useful when you think you just need to get over the hump a little.

All-in-all, Light was quite a balance of destruction and creation. Like the rest of her domains, she could only speculate on what the higher levels would bring. An avenue for healing, maybe? She wasn’t sure.

She was just glad she’d given her clerics some firepower, though they still needed levels to make proper use of it. Inevitably she’d have to conspire more quests for them. Judging from the ‘recruit four’ quest Orswyth and Estara had gotten, she was plenty empowered to do so.

She checked over her clerical spell list… Light domain was extremely compatible with divine spellcraft, with some odds and ends she couldn’t otherwise do with her powers. There was of course offensive magic (which she wouldn’t need unless for some reason she needed ‘magic’ versions of her powers), but also defensive and utility spells.

Every level from 0-3 had ‘Turn the Dark’ — which could hold supernatural entities at bay that were aligned to [Darkness] or [Shadow], those that preyed on mortals and obtained the [Foul] tag, or were undead entities. It could cause them to cower, flee, or even take damage and be banished or destroyed depending on a level comparison with the spell level +1. Each level, the first use in a day was free, then cost a variable amount of FE for subsequent uses.

Nice! I bet other domains unlock this too, maybe slightly altered in targets. I feel like Healing would have too, at least against Foul and Undead.

At level one was also Heaven’s Sanctuary, which protected the caster by requiring a mental contest at +2 levels to attack them with anything single-targeting, but also would be dispelled if the caster attacked. This was perfect for Orswyth, who was technically still relatively high level in Knight despite the restriction on it for physical actions.

Armor of Light was an enhanced defensive buff, giving 2 physical wound negations, +1 Magical Armor, and +2 Magical Armor against supernatural entities — also giving +2 Armor if not already wearing any physical armor. Energy Protection at level 2 added some rare low-level magical protection, giving +2 Warding against any energy attack, including magic.

At level 3, Sammy noticed some indication of Light’s restorative capabilities in Revitalize, which removed fatigue and any temporary, deleterious physical [Drain], [Weakness], [Slow], or [Blind] effects. It didn’t affect diseases, poisons, or general curses. Also at level 3 was True Light, which forced a comparison at +2 or dispelled and blocked illusions and invisibility within a large cone.

Her Hard Light effects also made for a couple of spells: Hand of Force and Weapon of Force. The former was essentially just a helpful limited telekinetic-like effect for utility, while the latter was basically just a floating weapon that had to be controlled directly.

Righteous. I can dig it. The toolbox is filling out, baby. More shit than I’ll use anytime soon, probably, but that’s how a toolbox works, I guess. Not having something is no big deal until you reach for it and it ain’t there… like with that See Invisible bit. What a lifesaver!

She was not the only one reviewing spell capabilities with all the new access opened up from the domain for her clerics — she could vaguely feel the interest, and they all spent a little more time of prayer in exultation, congratulations, and thanks. It was an exciting domain, after all.

Many of her people in Geirkos were busy going through the process of membership in the Traveler’s Club — meetings, approvals, discussion of rules and benefits, and so on. Orswyth also reported multiple interested parties in Wraevaus’s armor, which meant it would come down to bid… and they would make a small fortune of it. But the process would take 2-3 days most likely.

Samantha made sure the armor was watched around the clock to avoid any thievery. From the sound of things, it had likely become their ticket to investing in Brackenhome.

In Caneboro, Merril had found quick inspiration to learn Disguise Self by utilizing the Mask of Masquerade (while Dax slept) as partial material — its daily use was per person rather than total, so he used it while looking in a mirror, then Estara demonstrated a new form with her use, and then Bob too. After he composed a song about ‘getting lost in the endless faces and masks of the Order’ he acquired the spell.

When it’s about me or my organization in some fashion, it counts as prayer and worship, I notice.

Merril requested to become Devout to channel into his music more effectively — this was legitimately his primary motive, as the higher connection improved his ability to translate his goddess into it, improving his composition and performance. This wasn’t directly statistical, but related to his own creative interpretation.

So the catman knelt on one knee in front of a mirror and spoke into it with Samantha looking on. “You have been the instrument by which the violent winds and the refreshing breezes of change swept me into a new life — an actual life now, from the precipice of death. I am reborn and I embrace it… Therefore, I embrace you as well. Consider me your instrument in the world, though the melody is my own. Regardless, our… stars… are obviously aligned.”

His chin rose up with a regal pride. “I would rise as one of your Devout, and take a role in between others as an intermediary. You have sparrows, ravens, falcons, and owls, but not a crow. The power of life and death beneath an unassuming veneer. That is what I wish to be. Who I wish to be. Will you name me?”

‘One name is the same as every other, words blurring together into the same meaning.’

Samantha deliberately ignored the Fortuneteller as she smiled through the mirror. “So I name you, Crow! Take flight, singing the song of the night! Rise and embrace your new path in the world. I will watch over and keep you as one of my Chosen.”

Crow arose and bowed his head solemnly to her.

Follower has obtained quality grade [Devout] and provides 1 additional FE per day.

Estara, Bob, and Dart clapped and cheered. Dart suddenly was a man with a crow’s head and went over to clap the Artist Formerly Known As Merril on the shoulder. “Caw! Welcome to the fold, I always knew we were birds of a feather. We’re thick as thieving magpies. You’d need a crow-bar to pry us loose. Though we must proceed with caw-tion, I look forward to our cawncerted effort. Caw!”

The catman’s teeth had bared from the first words, and by the end, his hair bristled and he scowled at Dart. “Continue your disgusting puns and I’ll make you my first target practice for disintegration!”

“Well, two crows do start a murder!”

The deepening glower in response was fortunately tamed by the approach of Estara, who went for a hug and thus banished any other thoughts but her from Crow’s mind. “Congratulations, Sir Crow!” she exclaimed from around his shoulder. “I’m really happy and proud you did this! Maybe you’ll even take up the priesthood sometime, too.”

She pulled back and beamed up at him — he was just a few inches taller, now. Crow was slow to respond, lost in her gaze, but finally his eyes broke away with a hint of bashfulness. “Ah, well… maybe. I wouldn’t be able to level it for a while with these other quests to deal with, but I — we” — and he nodded over to Samantha in the mirror — “can consider it.”

Samantha smiled and nodded. “Indeed we can revisit the matter in the future. Were you planning on heading out soon, then, Sir Crow?”

“I was. Imminently. The Disguise spell precludes the need for nightfall. I might as well get going… figured I’d head to the Borderlands further south for the experience and inspiration. Seems appropriate, and I know many of these lands already. Perhaps I’ll pick one I haven’t been to eventually. Also… forget the ‘Sir’ bit. Merril is dead.”

“As you say,” Samantha replied with a sigh. “Perhaps you’ll correct it one day. You did earn it.”

He shrugged. “The day we have no fear of the Dominion is a day I’ll take a bloody Lordship while we’re at it.”

“Lord Crow does have a certain ring to it…”

Estara sighed a bit too. “I hope you find all you’re looking for swiftly, Crow. You’re definitely wanted here.”

Crow nodded seriously to her. “I will not wander forever. Here…” He pulled off one of his necklaces, a silver chain with a dark stone arrowhead on the end. It was feathered with gorgeous lines of color through the black, a dark rainbow with prominent purple.

Samantha and Estara (and Bob) both gasped as Crow handed it out to the priestess and said, “Rainbow obsidian. Very rare. I made it myself when I was still young in body. I never let anyone take it from me. Never, not even if I had to take a beating — I gripped it in my hand and swore no one would have it even if I died. So rest assured I’ll come back for it, and keep it safe for me.”

Estara took it in both her hands like a relic and nodded. Finally, she swallowed and looked at him, closing her hands around it. “I will. Count on it.”

Feeling somewhat mischievous, Sammy grinned impishly and sent mentally to Estara, “Give him a kiss on the cheek for good luck.”

Estara immediately gained a bit of a blush in her cheeks, but surprisingly she piped up with, “M- Crow, I- may I give you a kiss for good luck?” She tapped her cheek to show what she meant, smiling through her nervousness.

The catman blinked a few times, then his face grew into a dumb grin as he nodded his assent — with equal dumbness.

Quickly and a bit awkwardly the priestess leaned upward and pecked him on the cheek, then blushed furiously and hurried away to flee the scene of her temporary courage.

Crow’s hand almost went up to touch the spot, but he shook himself, cleared his throat, and went about gathering his things to leave, though he — likely unwittingly — retained a dumb little grin on his face. Estara meanwhile seemed to be feeling pretty proud of herself despite the blushing.

So cute! They both have big-time crushes. I was pretty sure Estara kinda did before but I think the new look is very… appreciated on her end, ehehehe…

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« (Vol 2) Chapter 57 | Table of Contents | (Vol 2) Chapter 59: Rewards and Incentives »

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Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors & Illusion
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Goddess Level 3 [13/30]; Minor Deity

Domains (4/4): Mirrors, Illusion, Fate, Light
Faith Energy: 396/3000
FE (Mirrors): 5 ; FE (Illusion): 11 ; FE (Fate): 5 ; FE (Light): 27
Followers: 48 (Daily FE Gain: 68 [74])

Devout: 13
Priests: 6+1

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0 [2/10]
Wizard: 2 [10/30]
Bard: 1 [9/20]

MP: 37/40

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Meditation, Comprehension, Priestly Ordination, Holy Relic Investiture, Create Servitor, Read Runes, Spell Construction, Detect Magic, Ritual Cast, Draw Mana (1/1), Inspire Ally (2/2), Musical Talent

Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith, Detection Ward, Split Prediction, Perfect Vision, Light Absorption, Avatar (Samantha; Core, Mental Res 1, Magic Res 1, PFE: 44/70)

Spells: Identify (5 MP), Icebolt (3 MP)

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Grant Prayer (Illusion, Fate, Light), Mirror: (Sense, Communication, Maze, Walk, Other), Intuition, Alter Fate, Create Illusion, Grant Invisibility, Dazzling Spectrum, False Auras, Mirroring Duplicates, Reflect Force, Light Manipulation, The Dawn Will Rise

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (11/30)