Chapter 56: The Power of Information

After a moment of silence to end the funeral, people began filtering away from the graves, some lingering to say a few words by one or the other before going. Estara knelt by Sir Galmore’s grave and wept for a while. Sammy was sure to give her a long hug of the psyche.

Many had wept here and there. Bob did extensively, not for anyone in particular it seemed… just for their heroism and perhaps for some survivor’s guilt. He’d survived a whole other slaughter as well, after all… which he probably had not fully processed. Thankfully, his friend among Carlisle’s men was not one of the slain, so he was there as a shoulder to lean on.

Sammy was shocked — dumbstruck almost — by one who shed tears: Merril. She could not believe what she was seeing, and she thought Dax was in danger of fainting to see it. But he ignored everyone, just stared at the graves accusingly. She did catch him mutter, and flashed to the mirror he yet kept on his neck to hear the fierce whisper, “If I had a harp… they’d all fucking cry… to the man… to the man, damn them…”

A harp. Hmm.

“Are you still angry with me?” Sammy sent to Dax as she was exiting the scene.

There was a sigh. “I just need you to promise me you’ll do everything in your power to fix this. He’s not himself. And he was doing so well…”

“I promise you I will. I won’t rest until he is better. Better and stronger even than before.”

“Then we’re square. Just- can that ability be used twice on the same person?”

“Every other level from the point of use. So he’d have to gain 2 levels. Not that I would.”

“I want your word you’ll never use it on him again.”

“I won’t. You have my word as a goddess and a friend.”

“Good. So, did you level up?”

“I did! Level 2, Minor Deity! I have a slew of things. And once I get enough FE, an Avatar is a possibility.”

“That’s great, Samantha. Wow… meeting you in the flesh would be something. Actually, come to think, there was this dream-”

“Oop, sorry — gotta go for now! My attention is required elsewhere!”

Sammy disconnected, mostly pretending to be busy to avoid an awkward conversation. Hopefully they’d all just forget about it. Or not ever bring it up and pretend it never happened. Surely that was reasonable. It was the least they could do!

Not long after, she touched base with Carlisle and offered to Identify the other two magic items, which made him drop everything and agree, with poorly-restrained glee.

He loves this shit!

Carlisle still had one of the Masks of Masquerade, disguised as a little buckler on the chest as Dax had. The first item placed on a table for her analysis was a potion. An old-looking green-tinted bottle of utilitarian design.

From her throne, through the mirror, she targeted the item and cast the runespell, making signs in the air and speaking resonating, echoing incantations in a commanding tone… feeling this concentrate and focus an energy from her spirit outward, merging with reality and changing it. Briefly, she felt a connection between her and the item, and it flared with an aura.

Then it was done, and in a flash, the information materialized in her mind.

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Potion of Organizing With Speed and Efficiency

(Arcane — Physical Enhancement; Alchemical) This potion increases your performance at physical organization and cleanup tasks by 2 Effective Levels and an additional 25% speed increase. Effective Caster Level of effect: 6. Duration: 4 hours.

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Wow. Boring as unholy fuck.

Sammy related the information to Carlisle and asked for the next item.

Carlisle nodded and took up the potion to stow it away, though not before holding it in his hands with an expression of consideration. “Might use this for the house someday… maybe that old barn…”

Somehow I think this potion has gone through a loooot of owners without getting used.

The next item was a small, unassuming dagger that had been found laying on the cavern floor, possibly thrown with a miss.

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Exploding Dagger

(Arcane — Evocation, Physical Enhancement; Enchantment) Upon speaking the command word, “Snghnoffidoghreh,” by the current or last wielder, the blade of this dagger will explode into a small ball of fire 22 centimeters in diameter. Lethality Grade is 5 (Caster Level +1), and 3 out to double the diameter. Effective Caster Level of effect: 4.

This dagger has 1 level of Improved Penetration.

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Nice… Snghni-... Snghnofridg-... fuck, really gotta practice that command word to get it right.

Carlisle was quite intrigued by the dagger, raising his eyebrows and rubbing his chin in thought. “Someone else should wield it, and you work to get the command word right for the actual eventual wielder.”

“If we still had Mekias…”

“And with Merril like he is…”

“Dax?”

“Yes, that’s the most logical. She is excellent with thrown weapons, is quick on draws, and doesn’t wield a shield. She’s also quite familiar and experienced with magic and magic items in general. She can be trusted to use it at the right time and execute.”

“By the way, how does ‘Lethality Grade’ usually work?”

“You’re not familiar? That’s the level comparison aspect, together with equipment modifiers, then circumstantial modifiers, then conscious execution, that decides a wound. The purpose of fighting is generally dealing a lethal wound. Defense, especially with levels behind it, can stall a superior tumble of attacking modifiers, but they’ll degrade and run out eventually.”

“So the grade of this spell effect is similar to a level 5 fighter-dealt wound?”

“Not quite. Magic ignores a ton of typical extra modifiers, especially if you’re talking about armored Knights. You need magic to defend against magic. Or raw levels, sure, but it’s difficult avoiding some fleshly damage even then, especially from area of effects. If this blew up after it had penetrated… I believe that would be some sort of nasty force multiplier.”

“Easier said than done at making it happen, though.”

“Quite true, Your Majesty.”

“So with this done, you’re probably heading out soon?”

“We’re packing up as we speak. Best to get out of this jungle-like terrain. Had some leeches show up last night… a lot of the men are going to have nightmares for the rest of their days from some of the sensations and sights of the early morning.”

“Ugh! I definitely don’t want to hear anymore! Safe travels, Lord Carlisle.”

Something she hadn’t checked was her MP… how it regenerated…

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MP (Mana Points)

Used for casting non-Divine spells, this is a reflection of psyche focus and energy honed to a specific purpose: will over reality. Its expenditure is a kind of mental fatigue, but this does not have direct effects upon the body or resistive willpower.

Current MP regenerates at the rate of 5% of Maximum MP (rounded down, minimum 1) every 2 hours, under any conditions. Dedicated meditation or restful sleep obtains the same amount in 1 hour. Skilled meditation can increase this further, as can various other effects.

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Wow, Wizards can literally claim they need sleep for their work? Lucky! I personally need to learn more about meditation, though…

Sammy recalled her book of runes, flipping through it, considering just what she was going to go for. It seemed logical to snag an attack spell considering the nature of her available domains. While she could go with something generic like what Bast had (Forcebolt or something?), she wanted a little nod to her ‘watery’ persona aspect, while also having additional utility…

Icebolt! I’m themed all light blue and crystalline anyway.

1 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: not yet a Follower.

Follower conversion successful. 1 FE gained. 1 Daily FE gained (total: 24).

Orswyth, you old dog, ya got another!

Another soldier by the name of Neswyr. A quiet sort and a friend of Tashome.

When she checked in on her Hierophant, he was just hearing out a report from a scout and dismissing him, giving orders to move out on the double.

Orswyth mentally greeted her and sent, “Our scouts made contact with the deep layers of scouting parties around Fobent, Your Majesty. We’ve been more or less instructed to a certain location well outside the city for ‘discussion.’ I’m pretty sure Linnore is going to have conditions we won’t like for access. It’s going to be a negotiation.”

“I see… I suppose we can try something or other involving me… though I am particularly not inclined to ally with a potential enemy of Zadkiel right now due to recent events, shall we say.”

“Perhaps you should get me up to speed on that while everyone prepares to head out…”

Samantha did so, summarizing the altercation and ordeal down in the caverns underneath the thick forest of the Sachins. The deal with Zadkiel and the fake personas.

“Most unfortunate, Your Majesty, but the false personas will no doubt be of use, and if you can use this to weaken the Dominion, it’ll be to your benefit. I realize it is a terrible burden to think of yourself as an accomplice in war… but we know they are our enemy in wanting you destroyed. Zadkiel is questionable, but the more they expend themselves on one another, the better. The Dominion has the advantage in the long-term.”

“Maybe he knows something we don’t. Maybe he has them trumped.”

“More likely he just thinks he does, Your Majesty. But even if he does… that should be a win for you.”

“One can hope.” She worried about that, though. Especially if she was successfully lying to him the entire time. Whether she could even pull that off…

“I think I also felt… and feel you to have grown in power?”

“Yes, I leveled up.”

“Excellent, Your Majesty! Fantastic — congratulations! Perhaps you can explain your abilities more, now? Your capabilities could be key, especially in regards to illusion.”

Once more, Sammy summarized for him, explaining the things she could do, and potentially through the staff if necessary.

“Noted,” Orswyth mused thoughtfully. “Permanent illusion capabilities on an object is certainly interesting… I’m curious what level 1 will look like for me. I only need some time for dedicated prayer for the last experience point.” After a pause, he said, “Actually, I think I can get us through this matter without anything unsavory. Just based on the information your powers have already gleaned. If you trust me on this.”

“Of course, Orswyth. It’s vital we move on from here, and soon.”

The group proceeded over the course of an hour or so to the old ruins of a stone tower, where they did not so much as break camp before a small company of mounted warriors appeared. Both sides held up a white flag, showing their intentions of non-hostility. The warriors rode up, calling greetings. Sammy observed it all from the staff strapped to Orswyth’s back.

At their head could be none other than General Linnore, a fierce and formidable-looking woman perhaps just a little past her prime in age. She wore breastplate and mail with a helm of a tall feathered crest, blue and white. All of the men with her were in motley assorted colors, mostly drab. They had the feel of peasants or mercenaries more than knights, yet rode expertly.

Linnore rode up to Orswyth, who was also still mounted. She removed her helmet and nodded to him. She had dark, close-cut hair. “Baron Orswyth, a good day to you.”

Orswyth nodded to her in turn. “General Linnore. I hope you are well. It is just Lord Orswyth, now, though.”

Shrewd eyes deduced this with interest. “I see. Well. Shall we ride a ways?”

“Certainly.”

They directed their horses away from the little camp of men that seemed to break into chatter and banter with each other almost instantly. Drinks were offered and shared.

“So, not being one for small talk,” Linnore stated after a while of viewing the nearby countryside, “You must know that you waltzed into a big, fat warzone. If you’re coming here, it’s only because you want a ship out. Understandable. Sadly, ships are massively valuable right now from everything prior fled or burned. I have only two, more or less seized from unlucky merchants. I can only allow passage at a sore cost.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “Not silver and not gold, either. What I really need is men, because the siege was a bastard of an affair on casualties. If you want me to let one of these poor saps go and you with them for passage out of this nightmare, I’ll need you to lend me a portion of your men for the rest of the summer, and Canmore to lead them. That’s worth a king to me right now. It’s for a good cause, eh?”

The last was with a bit of a grin, and Orswyth chuckled. But he took a deep breath and leaned toward her, like a man that knew where a treasure was buried and was confiding it. “I’ve got a better offer for you. Potential for even more men, General, and a prize no one else can give. Intelligence. News from the siege of Merrington. Results. To pass on this for the sake of a few of my men… well, that would be quite a gamble with the future, wouldn’t you say?”

Linnore looked at Orswyth like he’d sprouted a new head, mouth fallen slightly open. But oh… oh, the burning interest and curiosity.

“Ha! Got her, Orswyth!”

The smile of a deal maker. “You know it, Your Majesty.”

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« Chapter 55 | Table of Contents | Chapter 57: Horsing Around »

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Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors & Illusion
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Goddess Level 2; Minor Deity

Domains (2/3): Mirrors, Illusion
Faith Energy: 1004/2000
FE (Illusion): 9
Followers: 18 (Daily FE Gain: 24 [26])

Devout: 3
Priests: 3

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0
Wizard: 1 [8/20]
Bard: 0 [2/10]

MP: 15/25

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Priestly Ordination, Holy Relic Investiture, Read Runes, Spell Construction, Detect Magic

Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith

Spells: Identify (5 MP)

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Grant Prayer (Illusion), Mirror Sense, Mirror Communication, Create Illusion, Grant Invisibility, Dazzling Spectrum, False Auras, Mirroring Duplicates, Reflect Force, Mirror Maze

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (5/30), New Deity Grace Period (5/7), Free Minor Divine Enchantment (Accessory; 1-use)