“Alright. Let's take roll call.” Daggat announced tiredly. It’s been an exhausting night. Somehow, they managed to all return to the great hall. Hunter had lit the hearth with his torch. “Klaw?”
“Here… barely,” Klaw whispered. Hunter and Zuss tended to him. They were trying to bandage his wounds.
“Wounds?” Daggat asked.
“Lots.” Replied Zuss. “The wrist is bad. So is the scalp. Several cuts throughout the body.” Daggat winced.
“He… uh… gonna be okay?”
“We don’t know. He has some sort of… blood control now. None of us are doctors.” Hunter said. “But, I think he will. With a lot of rest.”
“Good, good. Zuss?” Daggat called.
“I was just talking. Yes, I am here, moron.”
“Hey, we need to be thorough. Wounds?”
“Broken wrist and the mother of all scrapes. I’ll live.”
“Great. Hunter?”
“Here. Hand is all splintered, but it will heal.” He said. “Foot still itches.” He added under his breath.
“Anath?” Daggat called, he was reading down his party list.
“My everything hurts.” She mumbled. “There’s still a lot of splinters left.” Her voice wavered. That had to suck. Luckily, she was healing remarkably fast. Each splinter stopped bleeding almost as soon as it was pulled.
“Elyndris. You hurt?” Daggat asked.
“No. I’m fine. Just a bit rattled from SLAYING THE DEMON. Is all.” Elyndris said. She hadn’t stopped boasting since they got back.
“Annnnd Alfred.” Daggat looked up at the ghost boy.
“I can’t believe you all lived,” Alfred said.
“You sure we aren’t killing that one?” Mumbled Klaw. He had a slur to his voice.
“As I already said, no. This is Alfred. He helped us kill the demon,” Daggat said, “We… uh, don’t have a problem though, right?”
“I have no grudge against you. No.” Alfred was floating at the edge of the fire’s range. He could get closer, but he said it burned.
“Good, good. Even though we killed the butler.”
“No.”
“And the Lady, that was your mom, right? We still good?” Daggat asked. Alfred's eyebrow twitched.
“Nooo… she has been gone for a while. I don’t blame you.” Alfred said. Daggat relaxed. That was bugging him.
“Oh, and the lumber guy. Did you know him? I wonder if he could have been fr-”
“Daggat.” Alfred cut him off with a ghostly echo to his voice. “What’s done is done.”
Yeah, that was his sign to shut up. But, he needed to push Al a little bit. He didn’t know if he could trust the kid. Well, a fifty-year-old ghost in the body of a wooden kid, technically. Most of the party was too frazzled to argue his presence.
“You are right. So, we’re going to heal. What about you? What are you going to do now that you are free?” Daggat asked. Alfred lowered to the ground and placed his hands behind his back.
“For now, I am going to check on my home. Determine the state it is in.”
“Haven’t you been here for several decades?” Daggat asked. He had moved to his new favorite chair.
“Yes and no. When no one living was in the manor, we slept. We waited until called on. Every time I was awakened, I was tasked with controlling the manor from the library.”
“Alright then. We’ll talk later. Get this whole… me invading your home and claiming it for myself situation taken care of. We need to be on the same page.” Daggat grinned at Alfred. He received a deadpan look in return.
“Indeed. Now, if you’ll excuse me. Good luck on not dying from your wounds.” He floated from the room. Daggat waited for a while.
“What do you think, Elyndris? Keep him around?” He put his feet up on the table.
“He could be useful in the defense of the manor. And he is knowledgeable. I want to use him to learn magic before you decide anything brash.”
“Fair enough. I kind of like him, honestly. But, we’ll see what happens.” He yawned. “How’s Klaw?”
“You could help, you know,” Zuss muttered. “He’s lost a lot of blood. More than I thought he HAD. But he’s alive.”
“Manual… blood… moving… ” Klaw mumbled. “Food please.” Then he opened his mouth wide. Hunter dropped in a piece of warg meat. Klaw chewed on it slowly.
“He needs sleep. We all do.” Hunter said.
“I know I’m beat,” Daggat said. “And I am pretty sure we killed everything. We can turn in the quest in the morning. Statues not going anywhere.”
Once Klaw was bandaged as best he could be, he was allowed to finally drift back to sleep. He only bled a little, which was stopped by the bandages. He seemed stable.
Anath was plucking splinter after splinter from herself. Eventually, she gave up with most of the smaller splinters. She, too, fell asleep.
Daggat drifted off himself, dreaming of the library and the secrets it held.
Nature woke him a few hours later. He yawned and stretched. Klaw was snoring loudly on the ground, they really needed to set up proper sleeping quarters. Everyone else was sleeping as well.
Hunter sat in front of the fire. Gazing into it.
“Oh, hey big guy,” Daggat said.
“Hm? Oh, hello, Daggat.”
The awkward feeling of needing to say something, but not knowing what exactly, overwhelmed his need to pee. He stood there for a long moment.
“So, uh, about earlier…” Daggat started. Hunter didn’t say anything. “Sorry, I guess. I didn’t know. I was just trying to, uh, well, I’m not sure.”
Hunter took a long, deep breath.
“Daggat, I get it. Thank you.”
“Oh good. Cause, you got really mad.”
“I did. I’ve been holding onto a lot. A whole lot. But, I got it all out. It helped.”
“So, what are you going to do now? Now that we killed the thing.”
“You know about the ogre curse, right?”
“I do.”
“I’m going to end it. I’ll find a way. I’ve got to keep growing stronger. I need to get a wish. I don’t want anyone to go through what I did.”
“And what if a wish won’t cut it? What then?” Daggat found he was smiling. He had that same pack instinct he got when Klaw and him cornered a gremlin. Not directed at the ogre. No, he was part of the pack. Pure purpose.
Hunter sighed.
“Then I will take it up with the angels. Personally.” Hunter had grim determination in his voice. Daggat’s smile deepened into a grin.
“Tell you what. Stick with us, we will make sure that happens. I plan to go to the top.”
Hunter gave him a sad smile.
“Are you going to ask me to hurt someone?”
“Probably.” There was no use in lying. “But only if it’s worse for us not to. People like the demon. Or my old chief.”
“I... know. I figured as much. No way to avoid it. As long as I don’t have to hurt any friends. Let me be naive there, at least.”
“That, I can promise.” Daggat realized how tired Hunter looked. Had he slept?
No, he hadn’t. He was tending the fire so everyone else would heal as quickly as possible.
“Get some rest soon. Your fire will last a while longer without you. We aren’t in a hurry.” Daggat patted him on the back. Hunter nodded. “I’m gonna go take a piss. Good talk.”
Daggat wandered off.
The crew ended up sleeping into late evening. Daggat’s rib felt much better after such a long sleep. They hadn’t been safe in a while. He guessed their bodies took the opportunity.
When Daggat came to, Elyndris was waiting in front of him.
“Daggat.” She said. He sputtered and nearly fell off his chair.
“What? Were you watching me sleep?” He asked.
“It’s time we had a chat.” She said. He stretched. The time had finally come. It was inevitable. He wasn’t worried about the conversation. It needed to happen.
“Then, let’s move somewhere more appropriate. Follow me.” He led her to the office Klaw had found. This conversation needed a more official setting.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Daggat sat at the desk, while Elyndris sat atop it.
“Now. You wanted to talk?” He placed his hands on the desk and gave her a winning smile.
“What is your long-term goal? Why do you wish to lead?” She said, bluntly. That was a bit more on the nose than he would have said, but at least it was on the table.
He gave her the courtesy of thinking through the answer.
“I’m going to be the strongest. Or, strong enough to control my own destiny.”
“Why?”
“Two reasons. One, so I can be free. Completely. Two,” He leaned in and gave Elyndris a cat-like grin. “Because I CAN. Do I need another reason?” Elyndris didn’t back down.
“No. You don’t. But, why lead? Those who travel alone travel faster.”
“I am not that old. But, I do catch on to things.” Daggat leaned back. “See, a person isn’t just themselves.”
“I… don’t follow.” She shifted her wings.
“You are how you act, how you look, and who you surround yourself with. See, to me, Klaw’s strength is mine. Zuss’s cunning is mine. Right now, Hunter’s heart is mine as well.” Daggat scratched where his right ear should be. Elyndris went tense. “Before you overreact, I don’t mean ownership or slavery or whatever you are thinking. They are a part of me, the same way a swordsman’s blade is an extension of their arm.”
“You have a unique idea of self-view.”
“I don’t think I do. It’s just, no one really notices it. Everyone forms cliques. Everyone has allies or enemies. Tribes, villages, kingdoms, and families. It’s all the same. A part of your soul.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I lead the party because I am a party leader. It’s as simple as that.”
“And when you said earlier that you will be the strongest, you mean…”
“I mean, all of me. Every bit. Including my party members.”
Elyndris stared at him for a long while. Reading him. Finally, she nodded.
“You have high aspirations.”
“Your turn.”
“What?”
“What do you want? You know more than you should. There’s a fire in you that should have taken years, not months, to kindle. So, what’s the deal?”
“I don’t know how I know what I do. I have certain instincts and opinions I cannot place. Some of these have changed. I want to find out why, and avenge my past self.”
“As a wise worm once said, ‘Why?’”
“Well, that’s more of a hobby. Death for death, that sort of thing. What I really want, what I will get, is the title of Dragon.”
“Is that all? There must be more.”
“There is. Was. There is an urge within me. To see the world kneel before me. Watch the cities burn and its kings lament.”
“That’s… intense.”
“And it’s not me. Not really. That’s my old self. I’ll be a dragon, but I want to do it my way. Not my old self's way.”
“And what is that way, exactly?”
“I don’t know. I’m only a few months old. That fire is still kindling.”
Daggat chuckled. A goblin and a worm discussing why they want the world to kneel before them. Ridiculous. But, important. Of all the people here, Daggat and Elyndris had the strongest egos. It was important to send them after the same goal so they don’t devour each other.
“So, what about now? I’ll offer you a permanent position in the party. I would accept a dragon in my crew.”
“If it goes wrong, I will leave. But, yes. I am going to stay. You seemed to have already convinced Hunter. Anath will follow us.”
“Then it’s settled. We’re a proper party.”
“What’s the next step?”
“Turn in the quest. Then wait out winter.”
“And in spring?”
“I have a few ideas. Of all of them, there is a tribe of goblins that need killed.”
“Sounds like a challenge. We need to be even stronger. That demon nearly killed us and it was just a dead tree.”
“Eh, we’ll figure it out. For now, let’s wake the others. I want to get my loot.”
Daggat
True Name: Daggat
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: goblin [ +2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Scavanger; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 20
Will: 10
Charm: 12
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Fledgling Alchemist
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Act: Usurper
Act: Touch of Death
Skills(0/3):
Alchemy: 1 [Source: Fledgling Alchemist]
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Mind Codex: 1 [Synergy: Mental notes + Copy Tome]
Party Leader: 1 [Source: Usurper]
Notable Natural Skills:
Literacy: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Small [Source: Goblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Hypnotic Gaze [Mutations: Dominating Gaze, Mesmerizing Gaze]
Temperature Resistant Skin [Synergy: Fire Resistant Skin + Cold Resistant Skin]
Scavenger [Source: goblin]
Death Sight [Source: Touch of Death]
Increased Pain Tolerance
Hypervocal chords
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 charm
Extreme Temperature Resistant Scales [Synergy: Fireproof scales + Temperature resistant Skin]
Fire breath
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Dark vision [Night Vision Enhanced]
Deepen Shadow
Other:
Variant: +10 Intelligence
Notable Gear:
Strange pure-white sword
Alfred
True Name: Alfred Varnsach [Family name, Skill Alchemy]
Soul: Mortal
Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
[Class] Level: 3
Awakened Corpse Wood Level: 5
Attributes (0/8):
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 16
Will: 10
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Knowledge: Fledgling Mage
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Skills (0/6):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Alchemy: 1 [Source: Varnsach family name]
Attribute Boost: Intelligence (+2)
Spell Craft: 2 (Refined Control)
Construct Capacity: 2 (6 slots)
Copy Construct: 1
Pause Construct: 1
Curses (0/5):
Haunt: Titanfall Manor [Poltergeist, Mana Corruption]; YOU MUST REMAIN
Unliving [Unnatural flesh (wood), Unrooted]; YOU CANNOT LIVE
Graveless; YOU MAY NOT REST
Notable Natural Skills:
Research: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/0):
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction]
Known Magical Components:
Engines: Force, Control, Sense, Connect, Energy
Drives: Efficiency, Focus
Klaw
True Name: Klaw
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: Bugbear [ +3 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Rough Fur; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 19
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 8
Will: 9
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Strength
Act: Arsonist
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1
Burst of Strength: 1
Attribute Boost: Strength (+2)
Flame Affinity: 1 [Source: Arsonist]
Notable Natural Skills:
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Standard [Source: Gremlin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Claws [Mutations: Forged, Retractable]
Dense Muscle Fibers
Rough Fur [Mutations: Insulating Fur; Source: Bugbear]
Dense Bone
Cardiovascular Control
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 constitution
Fire-proof Scales
Claws [Mutation added: Burning]
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
+2 constitution
Dark Vision
Notable Gear:
Mountain Heart Armor
Elyndris
True Name: Elyndris
Soul: Monster
Genseed: Larva [ 1 Str, 1 Dex, 1 Con, 1 Int, 1 Wil, 1 Cha; miniscule Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/12):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 15
Will: 7
Charm: 7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Blasphemy
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Vile Concoction
Skills (0/3):
Burst of Strength: 1
Pounce: 1
Construct Capacity: 1
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Miniscule
Jaws
Thaumic Sense [Synergy: Tremor Sense + Magic Sense; Mutations: Refined Sense]
Complex organs
Limbs [Mutation: Lesser Wings]
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction]
Force Distributing Flesh
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
+2 constitution
Jaws [Mutation: Powerful Jaws]
Other:
Curse: Ungenesis
Zuss
True Name: Zuss
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: hobgoblin [ +1 Str, +3 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Nimble Fingers; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 8
Will: 10
Charm: 9
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Alacrity
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Deep Shadows: 1
Path Finding [Type: Climbing]
Notable Natural Skills:
Stealth: Apprentice
Climb: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Small [Source: Hobgoblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Mutations: Dark Vision; Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Improved Body Control [Synergy: Improved Balance + Improved Nerve Conduction + Improved flexibility; Mutations: Autonomous Reflex]
Nimble Hands and Feet [Synergy: Nimble hands + Prehensile Feet; Mutations: Mighty Grip]
Cold Resistant Skin
Enhanced Visual Acuity
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Smoke Aura
Lesser Wings
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Enhanced Scent
Deepen Shadow+, Widen Shadows
Notable Gear:
Blade of a Thousand Screams
Pet:
Name: Birdy
Genseed: Cat
Attributes:
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 4
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 2
Will: 2
Charm: 3
Biotraits:
Lesser Wings
Hunter
True Name: Hunter
Soul: Mortal/Monster
Genseed: Ogre [ 8 Str, 2 Dex, 6 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Ogre's curse; Large Size]
Hearth Tender Level: 8 [+1 Str, +1 Con, +4 Wil; Invoke Torch, Hearth Fire]
Monster Level: 1 [Source: Ichor of the Beast]
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 9
Will: 15
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Slayer
Ability: Unshakable Will
Skills (0/9):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Invoke Torch: 2 [Perks: Mighty Torch]
Hearth Fire: 2 [Perks: Healing Warmth]
Sacred Flame: 2 [Perks: Debilitating Warmth]
Encompassing Warmth: 1
Brilliant Bash: 2 [Perks: Hearth Flame]
Bounty Hunter: 1 [Source: Slayer]
Seek: 1
Fearless: 1
Peaceful Presence: 1
Condense Aura: 1
Biotraits (0/1):
Base Size: Large
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Other:
Curse: Ogre Curse
Anath
True Name: Anathema
Soul: Monster/Mortal
Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
Monster Level: 5
Berserker Level: 5 [+3 Str, Dex Con, -1 Int, Wil, Cha; Berserker's rage, Great Vitality]
Attributes [0/7]:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 10
Will: 8
Charm: 7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Skills(0/8):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Skill Boosts: Survival (1)
Savage Legs: 1
Berserker's Spirit: 1 [Synergy: Warrior's Spirit (Burst of Strength + Burst of Alacrity + Burst of Vitality) + Berserker's Rage]
Purge Poison: 1
Great Vitality: 1
Blood Rhythm: 1
Notable Natural Skills:
Survival: Apprentice
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits [1/5]:
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Extra Limb (Arachnid), x4 [Source: Variant]
Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant]
Multi-eye [Mutations: Magnified, Night Vision; Source: Variant]
Hardened Chitin
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Claws
Dark Vision
Other:
Variant: Arachnid Traits
Dag needs a proper fighting style. Tell me what you think would suit him best!
