Chapter 26: The Planting of a Staff

Sammy immediately connected to Orswyth’s mind via the prayer vector, projecting an image of her simply being there with him, as best she could. Just so her presence was felt. “Orswyth! Can you move? Are you breathing?!”

Through that profound weakness and the distraction of those around him who were yelling and dealing with horses, he managed, “The breastplate… too heavy… my own flesh, so heavy…”

“Just hold on — I-I’ll figure something out! A buff!”

“I need… to tell him… not to blame you…”

Sammy cast it out of her mind. “Sys! Can I give him some sort of strength buff that’s long-term?”

No. The curse is a class-grade debuff, and the opposite bonus is a powerful, combat-relevant buff. The maximum duration is 5 minutes.

“Fuck! I’ll do it anyway.” Then as soon as she looked, she realized he was under a buff already. “Fuck! Sys, can I just cancel it and do a new one?”

No. You must wait until your cooldown clears before buffing this Follower again.

Sammy slapped her hands on the throne arm in frustration. “But I have to do something, damn it!”

Pulling up her sheet, she glanced through it for some solution.

____________________________________________________________

Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors
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Goddess Level 1; Fledgling Deity

Domains (1/2): Mirrors
Faith Energy: 272/1000
FE (Illusion): 7
Followers: 6 (Daily FE Gain: 8)

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0
Wizard: 0 [6/10]
Bard: 0

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading

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

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Mirror Sense (at will), Mirror Communication (at will)

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (1/30), New Deity Grace Period (1/7), Minor Divine Enhancement (Weapon; 1 use)

____________________________________________________________

Tarot Reading, she had to ignore — even if she wanted to use it, which she did not, he would have to gain levels first. ‘Every other level’ it said. It wasn’t something to spam. Possibly once in a lifetime for most. She scrolled down…

“Divine Enhancement? Can I use that on a Follower’s weapon? Is it permanent?”

Correct; correct. A divine enhancement blesses and enchants a normal item, turning it into a magical (divine) item instantly. The item must be in line of sight and of the appropriate type, but you are not restricted without an avatar in this case.

“Can it give strength to the wielder?”

Yes.

The enchantment flashed into her mind:

____________________________________________________________

Strength Enhancement

The item provides +1 Effective Class Levels to the user’s highest strength-based physical force class, while in contact with the user, for the purposes of muscular force application only (this includes combat).

____________________________________________________________

Lifting, carrying, and other such strength feats are figured as if enhanced by +1 [Brute] levels from the user’s highest class as though it (virtually) were [Brute] (for example, Rogue 3 would be enhanced as though from Brute 3 to Brute 4).

Sammy didn’t exactly understand the ‘strength feats’ aspect yet, but she knew enough to know she wanted to put the enhancement on his staff immediately, for lack of anything else she could do.

“Orswyth,” she sent, “Please tell someone to get the mirror and point it at you. I need to see your staff. And clear out any needless witnesses. Just you three.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he said, asking nothing more.

Momentarily, Galynth found the mirror in the grass and hurriedly snatched it up to bring over to his lord, who was laying on the grass, ghost white and sweating, looking somehow drained of life and older, though his mustache and hair had not changed color. His breathing was ragged and seemed to strain him, as if his lungs took an effort to push. He was like someone sick, in pain, and bedridden.

They’d gotten him out of the breastplate and removed any needless gear, leaving him only in his clothes and clutching the staff. His head was propped up by some soft bundle.

Immediately, Sammy unleashed the enhancement, the enchantment geared for Strength, and her hand shot up as though electricity ran through it, pointing at the portal and through. A beam of magnificent light shone through it from the palm of her hand, enveloping the staff and transforming it into light.

When the light receded to the stunned amazement of the few present, the chopped wooden spear had become a magnificent ivory staff carved into a multitude of little masks with different faces, all with tiny blue crystalline eyes. Runes further teased down the length of it, changing subtly as one's eyes passed over. At the top, a massive crystal like an enlarged copy of her crown jewel sat, and from within it, distorted reflections were cast.

Immediately, Sammy realized that inside of the crystal were many facets of mirrors going 360 degrees. The entire thing was some sort of magic mirror.

Lord Orswyth breathed a deep, free, clear breath as he clutched the staff, as he hugged it to himself and was revitalized. Then he began to sob uncontrollably.

“Goddess, how?” he cried out loud, looking up at the sky in wonder instead of at any mirror. “How can you have such love to save a fool like me twice? How can I be worthy of such a precious gift as this?”

Sammy was legitimately as stunned as everyone else. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting from the creation of a magic item. And then the emotions…

This poor man. What else could I do but help? I caused this. It’s my mess. I just hope this is enough.

Wiping her eyes in annoyance at herself, she sent to Orswyth, “This is literally nothing compared to your life, my lord. I’d toss a hundred little magic things into hell if it saved someone in need. You… you and other decent people are what’s precious. Maybe even the not-so-decent. We have to know that, we have to believe that.”

Orswyth squeezed his teary eyes shut, nodding. “So they will, Your Majesty…” He thunked the butt end of the staff on the ground, which made a stronger impact and sound than it should have. It slammed down like Man’s will over the earth, like victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. The planting of a symbol and flag to a pivotal new beginning.

Then he pulled himself up by the staff, first to sitting, then to standing, and not without effort. His curse and the power of the blessed weapon seemed to struggle against each other, and in the balance, Orswyth could move — with effort.

He’d never be a fighter again, not physically, but the staff made him something more than bedridden or needing to be carried and helped every step. He could stand and walk on his own, he could breathe easy. He had relief.

“M-my lord,” Galynth finally managed to get out, and hoarsely. “What… what-”

“How is this possible?” Hagrin asked, his voice strange in its pitch and shakiness. “Who or what did this? Who or what did the other thing?”

Sammy switched her view to the staff’s mirror and pulled up each facet, finding that its magic gave her a large and clear view from each. She made a 360-degree picture around her, one she could turn her head around to or even spin directly to see almost as if she were there in the flesh.

Orswyth was there with his two closest allies, and in the background there was a band of maybe fifty dismounted men next to their horses, all of them looking up the slight hill the three were on as if they’d witnessed something incredible, whether they understood the details or not.

“It is as the words that came, Hagrin,” Orswyth declared. “I gave myself to fate, by the means of one who can change it, and only by her do I stand before you at all. She rescued me from doom, from a slew of enemies with a champion at their head that would have ended me… but I had to pay a price. As any man should have to, to cheat fate. But then she rescued me again, from the full weight of that price.”

He glanced up at the crystalline mirror at the top of his staff and smiled briefly.

Galynth was staring at the staff mirror. He’d been staring at the other mirror, too. “Who is she? I would know her — know the one that saved my lord, who has such power.”

Orswyth’s head swiveled over to the young knight, and he regarded him soberly for a long moment.

Figuring her Follower needed a little push that didn’t involve his own feelings, Sammy sent, “He has looked into my mirrors and sensed more. His eyes are drawn to mine, Orswyth.”

Walking over slowly, Orswyth put a hand on Galynth’s shoulder and nodded. “So you will, lad. After witnessing this, after being party to it, I glean that it is your destiny. So does she. But know these are secret truths you ask to be revealed and initiated into, ones you must hold dear in your heart and clandestine. You ask to speak sacred oaths, my boy. Do you understand?”

Everything his mentor said only made Galynth’s interest grow, orange eyes gleaming in fascination. “I do, my lord. I do and I accept it with ardor!”

Guess I’m not the only Moth around.

“I follow you, whoever or whatever you serve,” Hagrin broke in, voice stoic. He didn’t seem as interested as Galynth. “But I have no inclination to change what fate deals the first time. I have an inkling what’s going on here now, and it’s damn sure dangerous in Dominion territory.”

Orswyth turned to Hagrin and nodded. “I understand, old friend. Go to the others. Tell them what befell Lowbarrow — generically — and that they should turn back. Tell them what the official story will be. Inevitably, they’ll be sworn to a new lord. As they should. Send them on their way under a chosen superior.”

Hagrin frowned but nodded and headed off toward the waiting soldiers.

Well, can’t blame him for being dubious. The whole matter is beyond risky for people and just won’t appeal to everyone. He’s kinda stuck with me indirectly, though…

Orswyth took Galynth down the other side of the hill and out of sight or hearing of others, then stopped there and said, “I believe it is time you met the Goddess of Mirrors and Illusion. The Virgin Goddess Samantha, who holds the keys of great vision, inward and outward.”

Did he have to throw the one thing in?! Argh-

Sammy nonetheless took the cue to appear in the staff head, making sure — through illusion — to do it with a flash of light and otherwise be rather spectacular. She found that she could utilize the array of mirrors to appear like a 3-dimensional hologram in the center of the crystal. Galynth backed up slightly from it, such was his shock and awe.

“Supplicant!” Samantha exclaimed, reaching a hand out to him. “You have a valorous heart and your mentor is one of my esteemed devotees. You clearly desire to seek me, and I desire to know you in turn — desire to reveal the power within you and inspire it to more. Will you swear to me as my follower and believer? Will you pray to and praise the goddess you see before you?”

Galynth dropped to a knee and crossed a fist over his chest, staring up with amazed, worshipful eyes at her. Lost eyes that saw a new purpose, a hoped-for order amidst chaos and confusion. “I will, Goddess! I am yours!”

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

“Then speak the words, Sir Galynth.”

Sammy touched his psyche and then he recited the dedication, his trembling hand touching the crystal that Orswyth craned down for him to access. And so the seventh Follower was gained.

Follower conversion successful. 1 FE gained. 1 Daily FE gained (total: 9).

The quest “Fledgling Deity: The Holy Seven” is complete. 220 FE gained. Priestly Ordination unlocked. 1 free Ordination granted.

New Quest unlocked: “Fledgling Deity: Ten is Divine” — Reach 10 total Followers.
● Rewards: +300 FE. Holy Relic Investiture unlocked. 2 free Ordinations granted.

One step closer to the goal, and now Sammy could finally invest in a priest. She supposed it was rather obvious who the first one would be.

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