Giant scorpion.
"Why did you say that?" Fergus asked. "You jinxed us."
"Sorry." She sucked in a deep, steadying breath and presented her sword. "I hate bug monsters the most."
Black crystals glinted in the dim torchlight. At first Fergus thought the crystals were eyes, but they were faceted gems. So the scorpions were controlled by Lord Kathro. He wondered if the Dark Lord could see him and Tiana via the scorpions or the crystals.
"Do you think they are magical constructs, or natural to this world?"
Tiana did a double-take. "What? Who cares?"
"I was just thinking, if they grow that big naturally in this world, then this isn't the last time we'll be facing them."
"Shut up. I have enough problems right now to worry about the future. Stop freaking me out."
The elven ranger dropped to one knee and placed his sword on the floor before him as the scorpions started moving towards them. Their advance was more a three steps forward, one back, over and over and then skittered from side-to-side. He was more than a little freaked out by them as well.
Fergus summoned his bow, notched an arrow, and took careful aim. His shot was true, and the arrow ricocheted off of the scorpion's crystal. Both scorpions charged forward, giving him time for only one more shot. That arrow bounced off the arachnid's hard shell.
"Uh-oh," Tiana whispered. "We're in trouble."
Chapter 44
"Son of a bitch!" Killum screamed, and sat straight up.
He looked around wild-eyed, body shaking like a leaf. The battle-mage was back in Gyevikxus's lair, on the dragon's "bed" in the middle of his treasure hoard. Fergus, Asha, Rand, and Tiana had all designated respawn sites in those caverns, but all in hidden corners.
Nausea overwhelmed him, and then he rolled onto all fours to empty his guts.
"How long was I in there?"
It felt like he'd spent a lifetime in Purgatory, but for some reason one hour popped into his head. Just one hour? His soul disagreed.
"Note to self, don't let Lord Kathro kill me with his lightning bolts again."
Oddly, he was back in his spawn tunic. His Bound objects all lay at his feet: the Dragon's Lair Helm and Wolfsheart Spear. He quirked a brow at the spear, since he wasn't carrying it when he died. It was good to know all of his Bound objects would come back to his respawn site, even if he had them stashed elsewhere.
He pulled up his stats.
Current status
:
Name:
Killum
Race:
Human (European)
Class:
Battle-mage (Novice)
Leveclass="underline"
17 (82% to next level)
Alignment:
-4 Dark
Health:
100/100
Strength:
100/100
Endurance:
50/50
Agility:
50
Mana:
675
Skills:
(Click to View/Hide)
Sociaclass="underline"
Bartering (Lvl 2).
Fighting:
Swordsmanship (Lvl 7).
Spearman (Lvl 2).
Hand-to-Hand (Lvl 3).
Survivor Skills:
Foraging (Lvl 3).
Spellcasting
:
Simple fire.
Fireballs.
Spell of Disorientation.
Spell of Temporary blindness.
Healing.
A Gift Spell.
Cost is 1 to a 100 Mana, depending on the severity of the healing. Spell is able to replace a severed limb, but it will leave the mage weak for over an hour. It can be Gifted to another spellcaster without losing it yourself.
Farsee.
Allows mage to zoom in on anything in line of sight. Costs 1 mana per use.
Gatecrasher.
Smash a door down. Smash a gate to smithereens. Gain access to a castle or a treasure room.
Costs 50+ mana per use
Spell of Magical Sight
Beastmaster:
Equestrian (Lvl 1).
Dragon rider (Lvl 3).
Possessions:
(Click to View/Hide)
Weapons:
N/A
Armor:
N/A
Magicaclass="underline"
Dragon's Lair Helm.
A Bound Object. Control the dragon Gyevikxus. The Dragon Gyevikxus is yours to command. He will serve you loyally and obediently. This helm is also Gyevikxus' lair, and he will enter or leave whenever you speak his name.
Wolfsheart Spear.
A Bound Object.
Always strikes the heart!
Money/Shekels:
0 gold, 0 silver, 0 copper shekels
Wardrobe:
Spawn tunic (Cotton)
Warrior's Leathers (Black).
Soft leather shirt (long sleeved), trousers, lace up boots.
Player Kills:
5
Deaths:
2 (83/90 days)
"Wow. Everything restored back to a hundred percent. And that new mana default number is sweet."
He willed his Warrior's Leathers up, and he was instantly dressed for battle. Losing his Power Sword, Ring of Lightning, and armor was more than a little irritating. Now he had to get back to Warlord's Castle as quick as possible without his most powerful weapons.
He scowled at his Possessions. Everything left behind after his death was off the list. Hopefully, he could get them all back.
Killum placed the Dragon's Lair Helm on his head. "Gyevikxus."
The dragon appeared before him and looked around. He slanted an amused look at Killum. "Got yourself killed, didn't you?"
"It's not funny."
"Humor is in the eye of the beholder."
Killum glowered at him. "You're a real comedian. Laugh at this."
Gye dropped to his belly, looking very suspicious. The battle-mage liked the dragon, but smiled with wicked glee nonetheless.
"My untimely death has caused many problems. First, my friends were left behind to fight Lord Kathro and his horde alone. Secondly, it stripped me of all armor and weapons." He made a show of looking around. "Your treasure is splendid, but do you also collect enchanted weapons and armor?"
Gyevikxus recoiled and hissed at him, a little flame escaping. "This treasure is mine! I granted you and your thieving friends a small portion." He looked at Killum's waist, where his bulging purse should be. "If you lost it then that is your problem, not mine."
"All of my problems are your problems, Gye." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I ask again. Do you collect and hoard magical weapons and armor? I need them to defeat Lord Kathro and save my friends. You like Asha, Tiana, Rand, and Fergus, too."
"Well, I like Tiana." Gye looked away and growled. His growl made the ground tremble. Then after a quick glance at Killum, the dragon extended a wing and brushed coins and jewelry off some gleaming blue armor. "That is the dragon-scale armor of a Dragon Knight. It protects against fire, and to an extent bolts of energy like Lord Kathro throws. But he can still kill you with them, so be wary."