Stacia giggled slightly, “Ya seem to be makin’ waves everywhere, master.”
“It isn’t set in stone yet,” Alburet replied. “I might not take the quest line up. We shall see when it comes time for the quest.”
Bob frowned but nodded, “You’re afraid of how the others will treat you if you change.”
Tiny growled slightly, “I will not let them…”
Alburet cut him off, “Ease up, Tiny. I’m not really worried about how people will view me. I’m more concerned how it will affect those I care about.”
“It be ya choice, master. Nay matter what ya chose I will be happy as long as ya be with me,” Stacia told him before she hugged him from either side.
“We’ll support you too,” Bob added, “but I’m not hugging you.”
Tiny just rumbled wordlessly and clashed his weapon into his shield, “I will be your bulwark.”
“Thanks guys, Stacia. However, this is delaying us from doing what we are here to do, which is hunt. Stacia has a new ability to make an enemy our ally for a time. So first we’ll kill a single gnoll before heading to one of the camps. Once we get there Stacia will sway the casters into being our friends while we kill the melee. Any questions?”
There were none, so they started down the path. Bob was frowning fiercely. Alburet was pretty sure he knew why, “Bob, you get an upgrade next level. Also, I’m slating my next ability to get you a new ability, so stop sulking.”
Bob did a double take before he nodded, “Okay. It is just so hard to do anything right now. I was really hoping you would get me the ability to cast area damage.”
“At your current level could you cast that more than a few times? Before tapping out of mana?”
“No,” Bob reluctantly admitted.
“Now you see why?”
“Yes,” Bob sighed. “I just feel a little like dead weight right now.”
“Who was it that saved me twice shortly after being my first minion? Who taunted me into learning how to fight better on my first day on this world?”
Bob chuckled, “I did.”
“That’s right, so you above all don’t get to pout about being underpowered. Besides, your ability to free us during the Gnoll Shaman was really helpful.”
Bob seemed to puff back up, “Okay, okay. I get it, no need to slobber all over me.”
“Iffin ya say so,” Stacia put in with a wink at Alburet.
“No, no, not you, Stacia! You can slobber on me,” Bob quickly replied, looking over at one of Stacia’s bodies with hopeful eyes.
“Nope,” Alburet laughed, “she only gets to slobber on me.”
Sighing deeply Bob lamented, “Story of my life.”
“Patrol,” Tiny rumbled.
They killed the single gnoll without any real trouble, it just took longer than normal due to less damage going in. After looting, they made their way to the first camp. “Okay, remember the plan,” Alburet told them before he and Bob cast Fire Blasts on the tents, causing the gnolls to come rushing out of them.
Stacia began to sing a heartwarming song in a language Alburet didn’t know. As he followed Tiny towards the two melee gnolls, he glanced back to watch as the two gnoll casters swayed in time to Stacia’s singing. Tiny roared and slammed one gnoll with his shield while slashing at the other one. Knowing he had to wait a moment, Alburet glanced back at the casters. Fifteen seconds after Stacia started to sing both caster’s eyes were glazed over and they began to cast spells. Alburet was unsure what was going to happen. The gnolls they were fighting were suddenly tangled in vegetation and small boils appeared on one, then the other.
“I have them,” Stacia said as she came over to join them on the two melee gnolls. “It takes a good chunk of me mana, master. Also, it has a long cooldown time. With these both having DoTs on them, dazin’ them will nay work well.” She pulled her daggers, “So may I join in?”
“Feel free,” Alburet said, making room for her as Bob had already been casting his Fire Blasts. Stacia started to attack while Alburet waited a few more seconds to make sure aggro was firmly established before he joined in with his axe. It still had durability left, so he didn’t want to stop using it until it broke. Alburet made sure to apply Demonic Vitality on Tiny before he joined into the scrum. After the first one died, Alburet had to recast Demonic Vitality on Tiny as he had taken a beating from the two melee. Both gnolls that had been turned by Stacia were throwing bolts of black energy at the melee that was left until it died.
Once it went down Alburet had Stacia get the two gnolls to sit down. “Can you daze them when they’re like this?” Alburet asked.
Stacia shook her head, “Nay, any more than I could daze Gerald, when he be in our party.”
“Hmm, okay. So until the spell wears off they are under control, I wonder what they’ll recall when they come out from under the influence. Tiny, get ready to grab the Spiritualist first. Stacia, try to daze the other one when the timer runs out. We’ll focus down the one Tiny is on before we engage the other one. Hopefully it can be dazed, otherwise this might get painful.” Alburet got nods from the others and they gathered around the two gnolls as the time ticked away.
As soon as the ability wore off both gnolls let out mournful sounds. Alburet blasted the back of the Spiritualist, burning the plant life off it before Tiny grabbed it, pinning its arms. Meanwhile Stacia began her wordless song and the second gnoll fell silent as the daze took effect. “Got him, master,” Stacia told him as the others all began to bash the first target.
They made quick work of the two casters with the strategy they used. They had just finished when vines suddenly sprang up from the ground and locked them in place. Stacia began to sing again, stopping the Gnoll Wanderer from getting another spell off. Once they were free of the vines they cut the wanderer down quickly as well, then headed off towards the next camp.
“So now we know how the ability works. Sucks you can’t cancel it ahead of time,” Alburet fussed before he shrugged. “Oh well, those are the breaks I guess.”
They settled into a routine until the sun began to set. As the sun dipped below the horizon Alburet called a halt after they killed off another encampment. “Okay, we are done for the day. Tiny and Bob, so you know, I will be gone all day tomorrow so no hunting. The following day we might or might not go hunting. That will depend on what happens with the guild.”
“As you command master,” Tiny gave a salute before he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Bob looked up at Alburet, “Do you think I could get a hug from Stacia? I mean, I was useful and didn’t cause issue today so…”
Stacia grabbed him and squished him into her chest before her double tag teamed him. A joyful muffled squeal could be heard from the imp. A second later he vanished in a puff of smoke, followed quickly Stacia’s double vanishing.
“Have fun did you?” Alburet asked with a raised brow.
“He just wants affection, master. He does nay grab or nip at anythin’ and it makes him happy. Do ya wish me to stop?” Stacia asked.
“Actually, it doesn’t bother me. Reminds me of a happy little dog that just wants to be petted,” Alburet chuckled. “Just don’t spoil him with it or he will only want more.”
“As ya say, master,” Stacia replied, shifting back to her human form. “Are we goin’ home for the night?”
“To the city, at least. I want to check in with Kim and Erin, then I was thinking we could go eat at the pasta place again. After all that we could sell off this junk, then head home.” Alburet pulled out his Homestone and waited for Stacia to do the same.
Stacia paused, “Can I sell the junk tomorrow instead?” She looked into his eyes as she asked, obviously wanting to spend more time with him before he had to go.
“Yes, Kitten, I’ll leave it for you to take care of. In fact, we can eat at the house as well, but we do need to check in with the guild.”