The Arboretum was a large, cavernous structure made entirely of glass. The entire floor appeared given over entirely to the growth of topiaries, flower beds, tinkling fountains and serving as a home for exotic birds. I found it to be uncomfortably humid and I was assaulted by a variety of different scents. The most pungent of which, I suspected, came from the large monster that stood dead center of the room in front of a large fountain.
“A Blight Ogre!” Amara hissed.
Name: Blight Ogre
Level: 7
Either the Blight Ogre had exceptional hearing, or it had decided to turn around at just that moment, but either way it saw us and roared displaying a wide jaw with rows of sharp teeth. It was larger than the Blood Fiend, red skinned like other demons and topping over seven feet by my estimation. A set of black horns like that of a bull protruded and curled out of its forehead. It had deceptively small legs with a bulbous belly, but muscular arms with corded veins like the most powerful of warriors might sport. Finally, it had what looked like black, pus filled boils growing on its arms, shoulders, chest and neck. I involuntarily stepped back, intimidated by its glowing red eyes and the humidity in the room seemed to swell, causing sweat to drip down my face.
“Take heart!” Amara yelled, raising her sword and I was immediately enveloped in an aura that banished my fear and inspired me to stand firm.
You are under the effects of [Aura of Courage]!
All fear effects reduced and intimidation resistance increased by 50%!
Amara raised her shield and the Blight Ogre roared again and charged, the claws of its feet scraping upon the stone floor. I immediately moved behind Amara keeping ten yards between us. I reasoned this distance should enable me to cast any necessary healing spells, but also gave Amara plenty of space to maneuver without me getting in her way. I couldn’t see Amara’s face for the helm, but I knew she was completely focused upon the Blight Ogre and didn’t have time to worry over me.
The Blight Ogre moved to the right of Amara and slashed vertically with its left claw, scoring her shield. She countered by slashing horizontally at the perfect moment as the Ogre left itself exposed and red, leathery skin split spilling black blood. With a scream, the monster spun about and slashed with its right claw, but again Amara was ready with her shield.
I winced as I saw Amara stagger backward, rocked by the power of the blow. The Blight Ogre’s strength was formidable and I surmised there was the danger of bone breaks despite the protection of her armor. Amara handled her shield expertly, but she was as a rabbit fighting a bear and each time the Blight Ogre landed a solid blow, she staggered. I grimaced as she was forced back until finally I heard her cry out in pain after a particularly solid hit landed upon her shield. I cast Minor Heal as I saw her health take a dip.
You have healed [Amara Silverdrake] for 5 HP.
I cursed that my spells was only making the slightest difference in raising her health bar and I felt an arrow of doubt pierce my heart. I cast Lesser Shadow Leech next and directed the stolen health into Amara.
Minor Shadow Leech has drained 6 HP from [Blight Ogre].
Target [Amara Silverdrake] is healed for 3 HP.
“Ord take you!” I cursed. At this rate, with the heavy bludgeoning damage Amara was taking and my spells only just barely keeping her health above 90%, I was beginning to realize how desperate this fight was about to become. If Amara started taking serious damage, we would be in trouble. My spells were just not powerful enough to allow me to do anything else but heal. Managing my mana for this fight had to be my top priority. Case in point, my mana dipped to the lowest it had been yet to 45%. My first dungeon fight with my new companion and I was failing her spectacularly!
It was time to use Cel’s power once more. I cast Minor Mana Tap and winced as I watched points of health begin to disappear from my health bar, but it was quickly replaced by a steady stream of mana. I cast heal after heal and maintained the leech whenever it came close to ending. I realized it was really thanks to Amara’s armor, shield skills, quick dodging and the occasional parry that was allowing her to mitigate most of the incoming damage. Amara being the same level as the mob was a likely factor of her success as well. I stayed mobile, always keeping her between myself and the demon, occasionally feeding myself a Minor Heal to top up my own heath whenever Mana Tap brought me uncomfortably low. For me, that was at about 75% of my total health.
Then the Blight Ogre seemed to swell in size as it roared and bull rushed Amara. I gasped as the monster knocked her back against the fountain and 15% of her health disappeared instantly. I cast Minor Heal, Lesser Shadow Leech and then cast Innervation to increase her Stamina regeneration when I saw it had dropped below 50%. She steadily fought back and the Blight Ogre finally began to show signs of the beating it was taking from the fearless warrior.
Amara uses Shield Bash on Blight Ogre!
Amara uses Searing Strike on Blight Ogre!
Amara uses Stalwart Stance!
Minor Mana Tap had its limits, so whenever my mana ran low, I found that backing away from the combat for a few seconds made my mana generation speed up, if only a little. All the tools at my disposal, including a decent Wisdom attribute, allowed me to keep myself from bottoming out. I had heard Brother Ancis once say to the Novices losing all one’s mana could lead to bad headaches or even unconsciousness.
The Blight Ogre snarled as it looked at a deep wound Amara had inflicted upon its right arm, splitting open one of its boils and causing a black sludge to leak out, but Amara had yet to land a mortal blow. My mana was again dropping dangerously low at 20%, but I was loathe to back off as I realized I had overlooked an impending issue. Amara had been conservative in her attacks and relied mostly upon her defense to slowly wear the Ogre down, but the creature seemed tireless. I could hear Amara’s grunts of pain becoming louder and her gasps for air becoming more frequent. Amara’s stamina was running low.
Innervation had been granted to me by Eui, the Elemental of Earth. The spell increased Amara’s stamina regeneration by 5% for one minute, but it had a cool down of 5 minutes. I observed Amara carefully for when she began to flag or took longer to raise her shield. I was learning how crucial the timing of my castings were for when Amara needed the stamina boost or heal the most. Overhealing or boosting her stamina when she was using her own stamina boosting abilities would have rendered my contributions less effective, but would have also been a waste of mana I couldn’t afford. However, I noticed as the fight wore on, she needed those stamina boosts more often than I could provide them.
“We need to end this!” I shouted. Amara responded by slashing low at the Ogre’s legs and managed a deep cut along its leathery thigh. It howled in anger and brought both its fists down in a crushing strike, which Amara barely blocked with her shield. The demon was growing frustrated as well and was growing angrier, which it used to pour its strength into ever greater blows upon poor Amara. Her legs buckled under the force and weight of the larger creature and I winced. I would attack the monster myself if I thought it would do any good!
I cast another heal upon Amara and ran to the right, trying to circle around the Blight Ogre. Perhaps I could distract it? I’ll draw its attention, give Amara a chance to…I wasn’t able to finish the thought. The Blight Ogre, far from simple minded as I had assumed it to be, had been waiting for just such an opportunity. There was a calculating brain inside its overlarge skull. A vast difference from the idiocy I had read Ogre’s were known for. It watched me move and feigned a slash at Amara who raised her shield in response, but then darted straight towards me!
I gasped as the Blight Ogre loomed above me, larger and more terrifying than anything else I had ever encountered in my life before. I froze in terror for only a moment and that was all the time the monster needed. It slashed downward, its black claws ripping into my robe and tearing a gash along my sternum. Mir’s Tears, the cut wasn’t deep. I had fallen onto my backside at just the right moment, but I immediately felt a burning sensation then a terrible pain ripping through me.
“Brother Kenric!” Amara cried. She shield bashed the Blight Ogre on its leg wound. The Blight Ogre snarled and turned towards her once more, apparently deciding I was no longer an issue and with the pain wracking my body, it was right. My mouth opened in a soundless scream, and I curled into a fetal position. “Its touch is poison!”
You have been infected with [Blight Rot]!
4 damage taken per second!
I was in too much pain to respond to Amara’s desperate cry. I screwed up, I thought. I had left the protective zone established by my ‘tank’ as the Dungeon books labeled Amara’s role. Support classes such as mine were expected to hang back and stay out of harms way focusing upon our own role of casting spells of healing and providing buffs. We didn’t draw attention to ourselves or try to be heroes. Now I was forced to watch my health deteriorate and without my heals, Amara would soon be in the same situation if her stamina did not run out first.
I’ve been poisoned. What do I do? Have to try to heal through it! Mir, it hurts!
I placed a shaking hand upon my chest and tried to calm myself enough to focus my mana. I had to hope that Minor Heal would be enough to outlast the Blight Ogre’s poison.
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You cast Minor Heal.
You have healed for 4 points of damage.
My body was again suffused with a warm, golden glow and the pain quickly receded for a moment only to begin again.
Blight Rot has infected you for 4 points of damage.
You cast Minor Heal.
You have healed for 2 points of damage.
Blight Rot has infected you for 4 points of damage.
This isn’t working!
My mana was down to 15% and as the Blight Ogre’s poison continued to drop me dangerously low, so too was Amara’s health slowly dipping down as well. The demon was hurling itself into her shield, trying to rip it from her grasp so it could better tear into her armor. If only we had another helping hand, someone who could have done greater damage to wear down the Blight Ogre, we might have had a chance. Then the moment I feared was coming happened.
[Amara Silverdrake] is infected with Blight Rot!
The Blight Ogre’s roar sounded like a declaration of victory to my ears and I heard Amara swear as the Ogre finally managed to tear a gash along her exposed side where the armor had been previously damaged. I poured another Minor Heal into my body and renewed Lesser Shadow Leech upon the Ogre and kept it transferring to Amara. I was now at 10% Mana. Amara fell to one knee, her shield held protectively above her. We were going to lose.
“Great Ord, help us! I may not be worthy of your favor,” I sat up, gritting my teeth and stared hard at the Blight Ogre as it raised its fist to prepare to slam it once more into Amara’s battered shield. “But help me save this woman. Let me prove to you that hope isn’t lost!”
A force slammed into my body making my back arch and light poured from my eyes and open mouth. I heard the Blight Ogre scream and Amara yell a battlecry. I acknowledged none of it. A symbol had appeared in my mind and without knowing why, I drew the symbol in the air before me with a glowing finger.
You have been granted the spell Weak Cleanse.
You have cast the spell Weak Cleanse.
I felt a pulse emanate out from my body. My ears popped from the force of it and it hit both Amara and the Blight Ogre to different effects.
You have been cleansed of Blight Rot!
[Amara Silverdrake] is cleansed of Blight Rot!
Blight Ogre is hit for 10 Holy Damage!
The demon stumbled away with a howl of pain, its claws raised to cover its eyes. I stared at it as I regained my feet. It was afraid!
“Your spell hurt it! It could not bear to look upon the light!” Amara shouted.
“Grace of Mir.” A smile slowly spread across my face as I looked at the Blight Ogre who was shaking its head still trying to regain its composure. “Those boils on that body of yours are riddled with poisonous rot, are they not?” I regained my feet and raised my hand, palm outward towards the beast. “Allow me to remove them for you!”
You cast Cleanse upon Blight Ogre.
Blight Ogre is hit for 10 Holy Damage!
Blight Ogre is dazed!
Pustules upon the Ogre’s body popped and rivulets of slime ran down its chest and arms. The creature screamed in agony. Not missing her chance as the Blight Ogre reeled back drunkenly from being hit with holy magic, Amara stabbed her blade into the Blight Ogre’s chest with a cry. The Blight Ogre howled as it took critical damage and sank to its knees. Amara finished it off with one final stab into its throat.
You have successfully defeated a Blight Ogre!
Calculating rewards…
You have received 500 XP!
Ding!
You have discovered Hidden Lore! [2 of 3]
You are the first to uncover the hidden spell: Weak Cleanse!
To never give up on Hope, is to live in the Light!
You have gained +50 Faction with Cel!
You have gained +50 Faction with Hul!
You have gained +50 Faction with Sul!
You have gained +50 Faction with Eui!
I nodded in satisfaction at the notifications, but willed it away to quickly heal the damage upon my torso then rushed over to Amara, who was still breathing hard as she stared down at the Blight Ogre’s corpse. I was dangerously low on mana and would have to wait a few minutes before I could bring Amara back up to full. I looked at her with a smile and let out a long breath.
“Are you alright?” She nodded and lifted her visor, showing a face drenched in sweat.
“I will be well after we rest a bit. That was a difficult enemy, but I am grateful to you for its defeat.” I shook my head angrily.
“I was more of a hindrance than anything else, Amara. I was almost killed due to my own stupidity!”
“No, not stupidity. Inexperience, perhaps. Your strategy moving forward must be one of self preservation. It is through your connection to the Gods that you and you alone have the power to make or break a successful encounter with a more powerful enemy. You must live, Brother Kenric.”
“I understand,” I said. I still felt guilty and Amara could likely see it written on my face.
Amara nodded solemnly and put a mailed hand on my shoulder. “Remember, some may look to warriors or knights for leadership, but it is to those who carry the wisdom of the Gods in their hearts that we look to for hope. This is the wisdom of Ara, from whom all hope flows.” Then she grinned. “That last spell in particular was most impressive.”
We both looked over at the pile of loot that was left behind beside the Blight Ogre’s corpse. Amara looked over and gestured with her sword.
“You may find something of use there, Brother. You should be the one to loot it.”
“You want me to loot it? You were the one who defeated it, surely you should take whatever items it dropped?” I looked over at the corpse of the Blight Ogre and the pool of black blood it lay in. Hmm, I really didn’t want to touch the thing!
“I’m sure, Brother. I have all that I need already and would see you empowered further if at all possible. My thought is that it will be your power that makes all the difference when we face the Hellblade, not mine.” I nodded slowly and turned to walk over to the Blight Ogre, which already smelled as if it had been rotting for weeks rather than a few minutes. Circling around to its other side, I located a pile of coins and two items just outside of the circle of gore.
“Please take it for yourself, Brother.” Eagerly, I nodded and examined what the Blight Ogre had dropped. I scooped up a total of one Silver and twenty-six Copper coins and then looked at the two glowing items.
Ring of Light’s Promise
Grade: D
Class: Priest
Level: 5
Slot: Finger
Quality: Uncommon
Primaries: +3 Wisdom
Secondaries: +5% Increase to all Enhancement Spells
Boots of Blight Warding
Grade: D
Class: Any
Level: 4
Slot: Feet
Quality: Uncommon
Primaries: +2 Constitution
Secondaries: +5% Disease Resistance
I winced when I looked at the ring. I wanted to equip it, but couldn’t! I still had no official class and the item, when I picked it up, immediately gave me the feeling that putting it on my finger would result in nothing. Just a pretty piece of metal with no additional benefits. I placed it into my satchel for now then examined the boots. Luckily, as the boots were usable by anyone, that included the classless. I equipped them and sighed. My old shoes were completely ruined so I cast them aside without a thought. The Boots of Blight Warding were comfortable and the increase to my health along with a small bit of disease resistance was welcome.
With looting done, there was something else that I eagerly wanted to look into. I opened my Status and looked at the Spells Tab.
Active Spells
Minor Heal
Minor Cube of Confusion
Lesser Barrier of Light
Vow of Denial
Caretaker’s Guidance
Minor Shadow Leech
Minor Dominate Beast
Minor Mana Tap
Innervation
Weak Cleanse
I focused upon my new Weak Cleanse spell and eagerly read the description.
Weak Cleanse
Cost: 30 mana
Description: Focus Holy mana into a powerful force which removes all lesser disease, poison and necrotic ailments in a 15 foot radius around the caster. Will damage creatures of Infernal/Undead status and may cause Paralyzation at a probability of 15%.
There it was, but that wasn’t the question I wanted answered. I opened up the Faction tab next.
Faction:
Mir: 0
Wik: 50
Eui: 50
Qas: 50
Sul: 150
Tek: 50
Hul: 50
Gor: 0
Cel: 50
I frowned. Where was Ord? Had he not been the one to grant me the Weak Cleanse spell? There wasn’t an entry for Him, nor was there any indication of which God had actually granted me the spell. If not Ord, then who? Mir perhaps? The Goddess of Healing may have interceded on my behalf with something to cure disease. Yet, why would the Goddess keep it a secret?
Amara sat with her back to the fountain to rest after taking a drink of the crystalline water and I meandered over to help myself to a drink as well.
Another mystery to solve later. The list just keeps growing. I dipped a hand into the pool and brought the water to my lips. I sighed in relief as the cool spring water trickled down my throat. It was as fresh and clean as any water I had ever tasted.
You have drunk from a Pool of Felicity!
Your Luck attribute is permanently increased by 10.
I blinked in surprise and smiled. A welcome boon to have my Luck stat increased, but it was frustrating that Luck was one of the three ‘hidden’ attributes that one could not see upon their Status. I was never able to discover why this was and my tutor Eustace just gave his ‘it is Ord’s will’ excuse as he always did whenever he didn’t know the answer to a question. Luck, Endurance and Psychic were mysteries. An increase of ten in any attribute was incredible and whether I could see it or not I knew this boon was a much needed find. And it was permanent! I settled myself down next to Amara and smiled.
“I believe I will be able to help more when we fight the Hellblade,” I said.
“Oh? You sound confident.” Amara looked at me and smiled. “Young you may be, but you carry yourself with experience and calm.”
“I suppose now is as good a time as any to grow up. What with facing death and all,” I answered with a smile. Amara’s laughter was light and her smile was dazzling. I blushed.
“We should move on.” Amara said, adjusting her sword in her scabbard and looking away and pretending not to notice my embarrassment.
“I am ready when you are, Lady Amara,” I said, not losing my smile.
“Good, now if you will grant me a moment, I wish to take off this helmet and rebind my hair.” I nodded and turned away from the warrior to examine more of the Arboretum. I marveled at the plethora of plants and fauna I saw. Flowers of so many different colors, sizes and smells I had been given no chance to examine and enjoy while fighting for my life. I could better sense the ambient Life mana in the air, and I strode forward to take in one particular plant that seemed to glow with an inner light. Above me, I heard the call of a large bird somewhere amongst the treetops.
“What a marvelous garden this is,” I said aloud. “Did Ara have some connection to Eui, I wonder?” It stood to reason that with such an abundance of plant life, no doubt spurred or helped along by Earth magic, that there was.
“You must be new to the Gods’ service, Brother Kenric, if you did not know that Eui is the daughter of Ara and Mir!” I turned around and beheld Amara standing by the fountain, golden blond hair dripping with water that she was fastening behind her neck into a bun. Her statement was not what made my mouth drop open in shock, however.
“Y…you’re an Elf!”
