Bab 6: Blackrock
Worn down from the trip, they made camp beneath the smoldering volcano, ash and fire filled their nostrils as they searched for adequate wood for a fire. Just as Vale had said, journeying to Blackrock ramped up in difficulty these last twelve hours. Vicious Monitor lizards patrolled Darkridge, halfway through the foothills they encountered a pair guarding a pass, when slaughtered, they secreted a stench attracting other lizards. From then on the orange black Monitors became relentless, not until slaying a dozen or so did the reptiles begin to grow wary of the group. No longer rushing headfirst they began utilizing sneak attacks, preferring to spring down from hidden alcoves. Tribulation proved profitable, lizard skin was a bronze crafting material that Vale said was in high demand by crafters in the city, they procured fifteen total skins. Lizard meat was delicious when cooked over open flame, Raeja was particular fond of the meal, restoring his health from the battles by feasting on hastily cooked monitors. Cas thought it tasted like chicken on a stick he used to get from Chinese restaurants. Besides the drops, each lizard provided 50 exp, Raeja had reached level 6, when he leveled up it gained 10 allocable attribute points, Cas choose to add nine to the lion's stamina and one to intelligence, raising the stats to 60 and 38 respectfully. Cas himself reached level four receiving eight additional attribute points, adding all eight to dexterity bringing the stat total to 20. Vale and Gruxe were both a third of the way to level 11.
Flames crisped the skin of a monitor lizard, Raeja stared, licking his lips in anticipation. Gruxe snacked on a bamboo shoot Vale provided, contempt for the dietary preference of the lion written all over his expression. "Lavis is long gone but his magic lingers on, there's no telling what we will encounter." Vale unrolled her sleeping bag, finding a place near Gruxe. "You guys take first watch, I'm beat." Her words trailing off she was out before she laid her head down.
Raeja lay sprawled near Cas, the young lion looked regal in the firelight "What do you think boy?" Ruffling the lions mane induced playful growls, the bond between them grew stronger with each passing dawn. Cas felt as if the lion almost looked at him as a friend, the women as well, Gruxe was a different sort of beast, his eyes only saw potential conflict. It was a warm feeling having friends, before Xternity he had been a loner, finding company in his work or the occasional friend brought home for the local bar, nothing of substance. It was a pleasant recourse in all that has happened. Peeling a hunk of lizard from a skewer, Cas kept a strip of the greasy meat and tossed the remainder to Raeja. Staring into the flame seemed to sooth his soul, within, it seemed as if a voice was calling his name.
Morning came without incident, the group breaking camp and setting off for the entrance to Lavis' lair. Beneath the volcano, a small hole hidden by brush led down to a mahogany door covered in runes. As the party stood before it, foreboding sounds seemed to rise from the ground. "How do we open it domina?" Tapping his gladius against the door to inspect for weakness. Inside his Mind Menu his quest tab flashed, the door reacted glowing with pale darkness, creaking open to expose a drafty corridor. Descending, using make shift torches, the tunnel smelled of ash and blood. Dribbles of spring water dripped from cracks in the foundation. When the droplets touched Gruxe they turned to ice, the display sparkling in the torchlight. Two hundred paces down the party stepped out into an expanding cavern. Erupting, braziers fired up, one by one, illuminating an ornate sanctum. Devilish shadows crept across jeweled walls, dark orange geckos with neon green spots scurried to find shadows. Many doors of varying sizes and material were placed sporadically. In the center a stair case made of obsidian led into the abyss. "Many treasures are sure to be hidden away, lets split up and see who finds the sealing crystal first." Vale led Gruxe through a white driftwood door in the far corner, leaving Raeja and Cas to determine their own path.
"Which way smells the least like decay?" eeriness exuded from all directions, it seemed clear the staircase led to the phoneix's resting place, an evil mage was bound to have traps though, chasing after the obvious could spell doom. Raeja sniffed the air, pacing the room until he sat in front of a plain oaken door. "Let's see what you've found." Pushing open the door revealed a bevy of strange fascinations, the mages laboratory, glass cases displayed various oddities. An orcish head with nub tusks floated in purple ooze, a skeletal hand gripping a dark gray orb in another. Long abandoned tools sat on a desk, beside it a cauldron which contents had long solidified into a black mass. Scanning the room, a black metal chest sat tight against the back wall, tucked between large bookshelves. Cas walked over and examined the chest.
<Mages Chest, Silver rank>
Gingerly, Cas opened the lid exposing the contents.
Equipment- Arcane Orb (Silver) Off hand +30 intelligence +20 mana "Channels the user's mana to cast an orb of affiliated energy that explodes dealing 150% of users mana as damage. Cooldown thirty seconds.
Equipment- Pauldrons of Blackrock (Silver) +25 defense "Made from mined obsidian and imbued with dark magic, three available slots for inlaying gemstones."
"I'll have to sell the orb unless Vale wants it but these pauldrons were tailor made for me." Hastily equipping the item Cas felt more durable. With no reason to linger and no desire to break open the jars, the pair ventured back to the main chamber, choosing a door in the opposite corner of where Vale had gone led them into a seemingly empty room filled with rocks. Raeja roared, the hair standing on the back of his neck. The rocks stirred, stacking onto themselves until three green eyed golem stared back at them. Cas could hear the sound of the door locking them in. "Guess we have to fight."
Character: Stone Golem
Lvl 5
HP 800/800
"Lavis gave life to these stone guardians, only their master's command or their destruction will calm their bloodlust."
Equipping the bone scutum and drawing his gladius he charged forth, slashing the nearest golem to little avail. A paltry minus ten damage flashed over the golem, Raeja pounced on a golem, grimacing as the impact of claw on stone proved futile as well. The lion's attack had been slightly more effective dealing twenty five damage yet the golem tossed Raeja off with ease. Channeling earth magic the golems fired jagged boulders at the pair. Dodging, the rocks exploded against the wall, stone shrapnel rained down. "We might be in trouble this time." As Cas raised his shield to block another projectile one of the golem rushed over, swinging a mighty arm and knocking Cas halfway across the room.
-45hp
Blood filled his mouth, he spat it on the ground and regained his feet. Raeja darted beside his tamer and took a defensive stance. Suddenly the door evaporated into a rain of splinters as Gruxe barreled in. Quickly closing the distance, the mighty ape rained down ice infused blows on the closest golem. Each punch dealing no less then 40 damage, ice built up on the golem and when the apes attack stopped the rock beast was encased. Vale appeared in the remains of the doorway, "Quick, use Fracture Fist Gruxe!" Shouting, she held a staff with shining white glyphs embedded in it. When the apes attack struck the ice tombed golem it shattered, an indicator bestowed 200 exp on the party members. With no wasted motion the mighty Gruxe used Winter's Wrath against the next golem, dealing 244 damage and causing a weaken frostbite on the golem. Vale channeled energy and sent a wave of water careening towards the damaged golem, as the wave passed Gruxe it transformed into an ice spear, striking the golem in its chest, the spear carried the beast back, pinning it against the wall and dealing over 300 damage. It succumbed to the frostbite shortly after, crumbling into dust. Facing the last golem, Gruxe froze it in place using Avalanche, seizing the moment Cas rushed over swinging his blade madly. His blows proved more effective with the golem in a frozen state but it was Gruxes mighty strikes that brought an end to the battle. With the additional exp from the two fallen foes, Cas reached level 5 receiving ten stat points, quickly adding five to strength, two to defense and three to luck.
All that remained was a small pile of loot.
Equipment- Stone Armor (Bronze) Equipable to Beasts only, +25 defense +15 Strength "Made from the remains of stone golems, infuses the wearer with the defense of mother earth"
Material- Yellow Gemstone (Silver) - Inlay into equipment to improve defense. "The eyes of stone golems"
"We do all the work and can't even use the drops, how is that fair?" Vale asked with a playful tone
"Perhaps you can use this instead." Handing over the Arcane Orb caused Vales eyes to widen with joy.
"This is... Wow and here I thought this staff was going to be the best drop acquired today, I'll gladly accept your trade." When Vale touched the Arcane Orb Cas could feel her power increase, her giddiness was infectious. Cas equipped Raeja with the Stone armor, a thin sheet of rock encased the lion's midsection, form fitting to the muscled figure. He also inserted the yellow gemstone into one of the pauldrons slots, gaining 15 more defense, this also triggered a system message.
Minor Class "Artificer" unlocked, Grant's additional benefits when inlaying equipment with gemstones, capable of repurposing beast materials to create gemstones. Upgrading this class expands capabilities. Search for Manuel's to learn new techniques and gain class exp.
With their improved status the party returned to the main chamber intent on descending the obsidian stairs.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone