Name: Davros

  Class: Pyromancer

  Level: 5

  Health:130

  Mana:320

  Will-6(7)

  Focus-*1 (Curse of Ashgur)

  Speed-2

  Force-2(4)

  Presence-1(2)

  Fortune-11

  Active Spells (2 of 3)

  Fire Bolt >Advancement Available

  Wrath Shield

  Inactive

  Blood Boil

  Hypnotic Flame

  Limited

  Imbolc’s Breath

  Imbolc’s Traits

  Born of Fire

  General Traits

  Dual Casting

  Gear Bonuses

  Ring of Sedation (-2 to Corruption Levels)

  Robe of Inner Fire (+1 Will, +1 Presence, 5% Flame Spell Reduction)

  Follower Bonuses

  +2 Force (Valka Stavrak)

  Advancing my level was as simple as willing it to do so. Nothing was different, save that I had gained a small amount of Health and a decent amount of Mana and my baseline Will increased by 1. I would have to ask Anya how it worked with Health and Mana increases, or rather how the Eye decided how much I received for both.

  I was still at a standstill when it came to my spell advancement with Fire Bolt, unfortunately. They required Upgrade Gems and those were typically dropped along with Skills by a Dungeon Boss. I wondered if Garnak had dropped one, but Valka had not said anything about it. I rationalized it was best to let it go. I didn’t want Valka upset with me and didn’t want to risk questioning him on loot. At the very least, I could continue to level Fire Bolt as it was. Still, I wanted to get as strong as possible and it was frustrating to have my progress micromanaged for want of gold.

  I made a satisfied noise and crawled underneath my blanket. Having a real mattress was such a luxury that I felt sleep pulling at my consciousness. As I drifted off, I wondered if perhaps the others might want to run the dungeon again? That way, I could gather what I needed to upgrade my spell. Perhaps more items would drop too? That would please everyone.

  Sleep came quickly, but so did a familiar, dark landscape of fire and ruin. It is confusing to know you are dreaming, but able to smell, touch and even feel the objects in the dream. The smokey air, the taste of char in my mouth and the feel of the ash beneath my bare feet. I was once again standing before the rune covered obelisk. Only this time, more runes -three in total- vied with the others for my attention as they pulsed with energy. Each offered an upgrade for my flames, but I instinctively knew only one could be chosen. I inspected each rune carefully.

  Phoenix

  Salamander

  Chimera

  None of the words meant anything to me at first. Fortunately, the windows provided the information I needed.

  Phoenix

  The Flames lead you to rebirth and renewal. Flames will now increase the healing, purification and regeneration of Fire-based healing of your allies while continuing to devastate your enemies. [Receive the Phoenix brand to toggle on/off a {Healing Flame} option for your Fire spells]

  Salamander

  The Flames lead you to control and manipulation. Flames will now increase by 50% the abilities of Fire-based control and root spells while continuing to debilitate your enemies. [Receive the Salamander brand]

  Chimera

  The Flames lead you to the primordial chaos and unpredictability that is Fire. Melee based fire spells will see an increase in damage, Ranged fire spells will see an increase in Critical Hit and Damage and Flame based Enhancement spells will see a 50% increase in Focus, Speed and Force bonuses.

  I read over each description twice and I realized just how incredible and terrifying these choices were at the same time. Each of these choices would see my power over Fire grow exponentially. A flame that could heal? I could take on the role of a Healer in the Dungeon and let Anya focus more on fighting. Would that make the fights easier? Faster? Likewise, I had only just learned a control spell, Hypnotic Flame, by accident. I could see that rune glowing just off to the side of my Flame path and connected via a glowing line. If I could discover or acquire more such spells, could I use them upon enemies and control them as I had unwittingly done to Anya? I shuddered. I still felt guilty about that.

  My eyes kept going back to the final rune, Chimera. The only damaging spell I had was Fire Bolt, but I knew that would one day change. I would acquire further means to burn my enemies to ash and I wanted to be as effective as I could be for the sake of my friends. Melee, Ranged and Enhancement spells would also benefit. It wasn’t lost on me that I was too slow. Could I find the means to increase my Speed via Fire spells? The idea had never occurred to me, but this Rune seemed to suggest it was possible? Should I make my choice based on my hopes for the future or focus more on the here and now?

  I need to support the others. Remember what Anya said, ‘do as much damage as possible as quickly as possible’ or something to that effect.

  I willed my desire to the Chimera rune and watched as a new, golden line burned its way from my Flame rune to connect to the Chimera rune. For a moment, I saw the outline of an enormous creature with the head of a lion, the legs of a goat and the tail of a snake take form within an ash cloud above the obelisk before a breeze blew it away. Knowing I had made the best choice for myself, I smiled and the hellscape vanished.

  The next thing I knew someone was knocking on my door and I slowly pushed myself up to my feet. Sunlight was streaming in through the window and I rubbed at my sore jaw. I had drooled in my sleep. I hadn’t done that in a long time. I quickly used the blanket to wipe my mouth and opened the door. Valka stood there impatiently.

  “Anya and I need to go see the Burgomeister and I don’t know where Igvild is. The Innkeeper will have breakfast for you downstairs. I’d advise you to not wander far from the Inn. Bruhle can be a hard city to navigate if you don’t know the neighborhoods.”

  “Okay. Say, if you don’t mind me asking, are Upgrade Gems sold in shops? Perhaps I could save up for one?”

  “Oh, right. That reminds me. Here.” Valka pulled a bag out of thin air and handed it to me. I was growing accustomed to this amazing Spatial Bag he carried. I wondered if they were expensive to buy? They seemed so convenient. “Here is an Upgrade Gem for you. Garnak dropped two of them and those Hexblighters also each dropped one. Again, likely because of your ridiculous attribute.” He grinned. “Think of it as your bonus reward for all the hard work.” With that, Valka turned and walked down the hall towards the stairs leading back down. Looking at the bag in my hand, I shut the door.

  “I guess that answers that.” I said with a grin. I quickly upended the bag and out dropped a marble sized red sphere. I picked it up and held it to the light streaming in through my window. There was a tiny spark of light dead center of it. “Wow, how beautiful even though you came out of something so hideous.” I read over the notification I had received the moment Valka handed it to me.

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  You have received [1] Upgrade Gem. Use to upgrade current spells and abilities.

  I wonder if the others have any skills to Upgrade? I almost feel guilty about using it if the Graf needs the gold so bad. Bah! Who am I kidding? They are all far ahead of me in levels and…hmm. Wait a minute…

  I had forgotten about that. I had been a Level 1 running a dungeon with three others who were much higher in level than me. Anya and Valka had both been Level 8, now Level 9. Igvild was Level 7, I think? Despite that, I felt that I had more than carried my weight. Did that mean when I eventually caught up to them, my power would far outstrip theirs? Exactly how strong could a Pyromancer become?

  My stomach grumbled. I was getting used to having regular meals and I no longer looked as emaciated as I had been at the Orphanage. I would eat, but I also didn’t want to carry around a bag with so valuable an item. Igvild had warned me to be mindful of thieves, despite the fact I owned nothing of value save my new robe. In the Orphanage, even half eaten hunks of bread had been fair game. I would upgrade my spell, then eat. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long.

  I opened my Status and focused upon Fire Bolt.

  Do you wish to spend [1] Upgrade Gem to advance [Fire Bolt]? Yes/No?

  *Note: Upgrading this ability will reset its Level to 1.

  Hmm, this is the first time the Eye has ever asked me a direct question. A shame I have to start over with leveling the spell, but if it is a stronger version of the spell I can accept that.

  “Yes. Please?”

  [1] Upgrade Gem accepted. Please select {1} of {2} possible Upgrades.

  Combustion Bolt: {Adjusted for Born of Fire Trait} Weave a moderate amount of Mana into a bullet of Fire to launch at an enemy. Bolt explodes on impact causing secondary [Burning] damage to any creature within [10 yards] Cost: 7% of Mana per cast. (Cost Adjusted for Robe of Inner Fire-New Cost: 6.5%)

  Fire Arrow: Adjusted for Born of Fire Trait} Weave a moderate amount of Mana into an Arrow of Fire to launch at an enemy. Arrows do additional Piercing Damage. Cost: 7% of Mana per cast. (Cost Adjusted for Robe of Inner Fire-New Cost: 6.5%)

  I was being presented with an interesting, if unexpected choice. It really came down to whether I wanted to have an attack that could potentially damage multiple enemies or an attack that would do even more damage to a single enemy.

  Do I want to kill Garnak or his groups of Goblins faster? Or at least, that was how I was interpreting it. I wasn’t as smart as Anya, as clever as Igvild or as strong as Valka. Still, I’d like to think I was learning about who Davros the Pyromancer was and who he wanted to be. Either decision would certainly benefit from the Chimera rune I had added to my Path. I wanted to be part of the team with everyone else and, as Anya had once said, do as much damage as possible. Fire Arrow was certainly more damage, but Combustion Bolt would be devastating against groups of enemies.

  It was only days ago that we had been attacked by that mob of Slynt outside Fanghoof Pass. I remembered Valka stating that if there had been more Slynt in that party, we could have been killed. I needed to be better prepared for dangers inside and outside Dungeons. I needed to be able to handle multiple enemies at the same time as fast as possible. Nothing threw off monsters more than being burned alive, as I had already witnessed. I chose Combustion Bolt.

  The upgrade took barely a moment. The Gem disintegrated into a red mist that flowed to my head then up through my nose. It surprised me, but the sensation wasn’t unpleasant and I didn’t panic. Knowledge of my new spell overwrote the old as Combustion Bolt replaced Fire Bolt in my Active Spell list.

  I let out a breath and tossed the empty bag onto my bed. I was even hungrier than I had been a moment before. As it appeared I was to be on my own for a while, I would take my time with my breakfast and keep a low profile. I did, however, still wear my Robe of Inner Fire. It was the crowds of strangers, to be honest, more than the stat bonuses. I didn’t want to be stared at and keeping my hood up and the scarf over the lower half of my face was more for them than me. Or that’s what I told myself, anyway.

  The common room of the tavern was busy. Bruhle was my first real exposure to the diversity of the Withered Lands. Elves, Beastkin, Gnomes, Humans and plenty of Half-Bloods and other races I couldn’t identify. There was a moment of fear when I thought I spotted a Slynt in the crowd, but it was just a man with antlers growing from his head. So much to learn, I reminded myself.

  “You the Mage with those two Czaks?” A barmaid asked after I had seated myself at a table against a far wall and near a window where I could look outside at all the hub bub.

  “I am,” I answered shyly. She wasn’t as pretty as Lieutenant Anya, but I had never seen a woman display so much of herself. She leaned over the table slightly, her cleavage nearly brushing the top of my shoulder.

  “Can I have some food?” I managed to stammer out.

  “Aye. Coffee?”

  “What’s coffee?” I asked. The barmaid chortled.

  “You havin’ me on? You don’t know what coffee is?”

  “Er…sorry. I’ll have some.” How could I tell her that breakfast to me had always been a bowl of oats and a cup of water? The barmaid nodded, winked and sauntered off to get my order. I sat and waited, looking around the room. Each table, despite it being morning, was still lit with a candle or two, I noticed.

  If I were to close my eyes I know I could point to every candle in the room. It’s as if each were a static life burning only as long as each wick lasts. I could reach out and make each one burn faster, burn hotter! Burn…

  I leaned back in my booth and closed my eyes. Each candle in the common room, including the ones in the chandeliers and on the wall candelabras, lit up in my mind and opened themselves to me. I was impressed with myself over how many I could sense. I intentionally ignored the flames in the fireplace set against the far wall. Those flames felt noisy and harder to link with compared to the candles. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, only that it felt right.

  There was a table with several fighting men across the room. Dressed in armor and armed with a variety of weapons they seemed in good spirits, eating and chatting with each other. Clearly, they were comrades and perhaps reminiscing about their adventures. One of them leaned forward near the table’s candle and spoke. To my surprise, I could hear him!

  {There be some gold coming this way, mark me. That rebel Graf is leading his army through Fanghoof right now and all we gotta do is wait here for his envoys to show up. He’ll want the Starsteel Fangs marching with him.}

  {Aye, Graul, but I’ll not throw us into a losing fight neither! I’ll want to know how many swords he plans on bringing first and how many Forged he can field too! Gold is useless if you ain’t alive to spend it.}

  {Oh? I just heard a rumor that…}

  Your connection to the Flame rune deepens. Experience gained!

  Davros sighed as the magic cut off after about 15 seconds. Maintaining his focus was a challenge and he wondered if it had something to do with the debuff he had, this strange Curse of Ashgur. It was then that his own food and coffee arrived.

  “Thank you?” He said to the barmaid who smiled and walked off. He hadn’t expected so much! Davros looked down hungrily at the eggs, sausages, toasted bread with a black colored jam and a cup of the most interesting looking liquid he had ever seen. It was black, but there was a smaller cup of milk the barmaid had set next to the cup. Was he supposed to pour it into this black stuff?

  He took a sip of the coffee and sputtered. Bitter! Yet, not unpleasant. He poured half the milk into the coffee and gave it a stir. He took another sip.

  Ah, I could get used to this. A creamy, thick aftertaste both bitter and sweet. Coffee, the barmaid had called it. He would remember it.

  Davros ate and sipped his coffee contentedly. Yes, so far Bruhle was nice. His anxiety about so many people was starting to fade as well, however he still kept his head turned down when he pulled his scarf away to eat. He wasn’t looking for attention.

  Shortly after Davros finished his breakfast and he was about to ask the barmaid for a second cup of the coffee drink there was a commotion that drew his attention. The dining room was divided into two sections by a long bar where pretty barmaids filled tankards of beer, poured Vodka and heated tins of coffee. On one side of the bar was the eating area with tables and booths where he currently sat and on the other side were stools where several people sat and drank, apparently even during breakfast time.

  “A Dwarf! Who the hell let you through the Gate?” A loud voice demanded. Davros saw a large man dressed in what looked like animal skins and furs and carried an enormous ax slung over his back shouting down at a figure seated upon the stool next to him. Davros’ eyes widened. It was Igvild.

  The dwarf was smiling up at the barbarian. He looked bleary-eyed and nonchalant. He had a bottle of clear liquid in one hand, which he tipped back and drained with an appreciative sigh.

  “I came for the Vodka, but stayed for your pretty face.” The dwarf belched and wiped his mouth with a corner of the barbarian’s cloak he snatched up. The barbarian’s face grew red.

  “What? Why you…!” The barbarian reached out with a massive hand to grab the dwarf, but suddenly Igvild was no longer there. He was just…gone. Disappeared into thin air. A trick Davros had seen Igvild do before.

  “Where’d he go?” The barbarian looked around, wide eyed. Those who had been sitting next to the dwarf and witnessed his disappearance also looked around in confusion. Dwarves did not just vanish, but then Davros saw something strange occur.

  The candle flame upon his table and the one that burned upon the table the mercenaries had been sitting at flickered and seemed to be leaning, as if stirred by a breeze, towards the same spot. An area directly behind the barbarian.

  Acting on instinct, Davros reached out to the rest of the candles in the room as had done previously, but with just the slightest touch of Mana. It took only a few seconds and he was lightly connected to all 87 lit candles in the common room.

  Ugh. The Flame rune is amazing, but each candle connection cost me about 1% of my Mana. I felt that!

  It was like I had formed a net of barely perceptible flame mana over the entire room. Using so much mana at once made me slump back in my seat, dizzy from the cost. Yet, what I witnessed made it more than worth it.

  I could see Igvild. He was still invisible, but I could see his blurred form sneaking behind the barbarian and doing something to the man’s ax hanging upon his back as the large man argued with his companions.

  “Was he a ghost? A beardless ghost dwarf?” The barbarian’s companions laughed at the head scratching barbarian and slapped his well-muscled arms condescendingly. Whatever Igvild had done to the man’s ax he finished doing and Davros saw him creep away and head towards Davros’ table. The candle flames followed the dwarf’s progress.

  Your knowledge of Rune: Chimera: Snake has deepened.

  Another welcome surprise! I wonder what it means that my knowledge of only part of the Rune grew?

  He had discovered that being Awakened gave him access to abilities beyond just casting spells. Before he lost control of it, he had felt on the cusp of a revelation until his total Mana dipped down to 5% and it slipped away. Igvild’s form disappeared from his sight once more. The experience left him with a slight headache, but he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. He was getting stronger.

  Before he lost control of it, the Chimera: Snake rune allowed him to track down a hidden individual through their body heat by using the combined power of nearby flames to cast an invisible net over an area. The net then allowed him to locate and reveal someone or something using stealth abilities. He had chosen well when he had selected the Chimera rune path and he couldn’t wait to explore it further.

  The Inn provided small carafes of water on each dining table and Davros liberally helped himself to it as he eagerly drank as much as he could hold to replenish his Mana. He also wasn’t at all surprised when Igvild appeared next to him in his booth.

  “Mernin, lad.” The dwarf grinned up at him, his bottle of Vodka still in his hand.

  “What did you do to his ax?” Davros said, smiling at his friend. Igvild’s eyes sharpened and it was as if his earlier display of drunkenness had been all an act. Davros drew back a bit in surprise at so sudden a change.

  “How did you know?” Igvild said softly, staring into Davros’ eyes.

  “I…I learned a new ability. I could see you by your body’s heat.” Igvild’s face first twisted into a look of disbelief, then into an emotion I had never seen him show before. Fear. It lasted only a moment, then it was gone. Igvild sat quietly examining his nearly empty vodka bottle and I tried to think of what to say. I had clearly upset him for some reason and I felt guilty. I didn’t want him to no longer be my friend. In the Orphanage, it had only ever taken one mistake with someone for them to never trust you again.

  I removed the Soothe ring from my finger and gently placed it on the table before him.

  “Thank you for lending it to me. It was a big help, but I think the Corruption isn’t a problem anymore. At least for now.” Fortunately, another solution for Corruption, I deduced, was taking time to rest and recover. Good food, a soft bed and being amongst trusted friends did wonders to lower one’s Corruption. I no longer felt like I needed to hang onto Igvild’s ring and he had said it was only a loan to begin with.

  Igvild picked up the ring and made it disappear into one of his many hidden pockets. For another minute, neither of us said a word. Then, after finishing off the dregs from his bottle, Igvild stood and fixed me with a look that said it was time to pay attention.

  “Lad, let’s take a walk. We need to talk private-like.”

  Igvild stood and weaved his way through the crowd towards the exit and I followed behind. Several people noticed the mysterious dwarf had reappeared, but they gave him a wide berth. Dwarf or no, it was clear he was more than he seemed. However, just before Davros exited the Inn he heard an angry voice cry out behind him.

  “By the Eye, there is snot all over my bloody ax!”

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