Now that Livia is traveling with us, I decided to try and upgrade her weapons. The problem is that she mainly uses the bow. My first thought for an upgrade would be to give them a gun or compound bow with a sight. The problem is that making one of either would need some engineering work on my part and I don't have time for that. Unfortunately I'll have to give up on giving Livia a more technologically advanced weapons for the time being.
What I can do is enchant her bow. In-game there was an enchantment that made bow, a weapon type that was inherently high damage, but low accuracy have a better hit chance. I know the words to make it, but I'm really curious as to how that works in real life. Does it improve hand eye coordination or something?
"Wow Sam, you can enchant stuff too? What can't you do with magic?"
"Pretty much Summon rain, summon tornados, and make REALLY big and hot fire." All of those are dragon spells I don't have the affinity for after all.
"Really? Then can you solve the life long quest to summon gold?"
In response, I just look at her bag and smile.
"WAIT REALLY? THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT THAT!"
"SShhhh. Let's go test out that new enchantment on your bow. It'd be nice to have some venison for dinner." With that I started moving
"N-no way. Hey where are you going! WAIT FOR ME!"
After some exploration we soon found a deer like monster called the daar. It's not that special other than its speed. The speed stat in-game played a role in the order your party took turns in battle as well as factored into the hit equation. Basically in the math behind the scenes, a higher speed would help you dodge attacks. Running a dodge tank was actually a viable strategy because of how easy it was to raise speed, but that's getting a little off topic. The important part is that this deer monster will serve as a good target to test the improvements in Livia's aim.
After I cast some buffs, Livia gets into position with her bow. She draws in a deep breath to focus, then draws her bow. She locks on to her target, then exhales. Finally with a satisfying TWAP lets loose her arrow, which promptly misses the deer completely as the deer dodges the thing fast enough to leave a damn after image. Just as we were about to wallow in our disappointment, the arrow FUCKING CURVES 180 degrees plunging directly into the deer's skull, killing it instantly. Did I just make the truth rocket launcher? I did, didn't I?
"Wow Sam, I never would've been able to hit a daar before, even in my wildest dreams! Thank you very much!" Livia says as she pulls me into a hug.
"I'm happy you're excited about my enchantment, but can you hold on a little less tight? I'm gonna suffocate at this rate."
-----
While Livia and I were out hunting, we found a cabin. Looking inside, it seems to have been left unused for a long time. If we slept here it would save us the trouble of having to set up camp. After discussing it amongst ourselves about it, we decided to head back to Mi'ara, who was practicing her spear while we got food. With her input it was decided we would sllep in the cabin.
The cabin was big enough to each have separate rooms, so we each got one. Honestly I've gotten so used to sleeping in Mi'ara's embrace that it's difficult to sleep alone now. Instead of constantly shifting in my makeshift bed uselessly as I couldn't sleep, I decided to look around my room. Under a few loose floor boards, I found a hidden trap door. I was about to undo the lock and open the trap door, but for some reason I felt a little trepidation. Instead of pussying out, I settled my nerves and opened it up. . .
Peering inside, I found it to be pitch black. While I couldn't see anything I could definitely hear something. They were very faint whispers, but I could feel a headache coming on. I cast a little flame in my palm for vision, and soldiered on. Inside was a very tight pathway. I could fit easily because I was a child, but it still gave me a sense of claustrophobia. As I pressed on the whispers grew louder and louder, slowly becoming clearer and clearer. Soon I found myself in front of a metal door. At this point the whispers had become a cacophony of noise and my headache has gotten almost as bad as the headache I get when using an incapable dragon spell. Whatever is on the other side of this door is bad mojo and I NEED to get rid of it.
I slowly reach for the handle. Trying it, I find the door is unlocked. Inside I'm met with a gruesome sight. Many mangled, headless corpses hang from the ceiling of the room from rusty wires. The whispers have finally become understandable.
"Intruder"
"Anomaly"
"You do not belong in this world"
"You're not from here"
"Fate itself is in tatters"
"Leave"
"Begone
"Purge the sinner"
"Fix the error"
"Remove the intruder"
"Die"
"Perish"
The corpses attached to the wires M O V E. All of them are looking at me. I'm not safe here. I never should have come. I'm surrounded already. I try to say a spell but my mouth will not move. I try to run but my legs are already tangled in wires. I feel the cold metal move up my legs. I start to panic even more. My head is pounding. I'm gonna die. Shit. SHIT. They are drawing closer.
Right as I think I'm done for, I feel mana rise up in my body. Its a similar feeling like when I cast a big spell. I can't speak so how is this happening? My headache starts to recede and blue lightning surges forth from my whole body. It goes everywhere and easily conduct up the metal wire. In a flash of lightning so bright that I'm blinded, the whole room is decimated. As I wonder what the hell just happen, a new spell flashes through my mind.
[Crack The Sky]
Also the wire creatures in this chapter were inspired by a nightmare I had a few days ago. I don't remember a lot of details but there were a bunch of humans who were secretly those wire creatures and it was like some big revelation when I found out. They really stuck out enough to make me want to write it down so I could use the idea in my writing.
Honestly though I really like this angle. Sam ended up here by accident and in her other world knowledge awoke and pleased the dragon god who marked her as theirs. Now when the world seeks to correct her presence dragon god pretty much steps in and says Knock that the hell off. Not only is it a fun storyline but it’s one that makes sense. She is helping the dragons return and In return is a VIP to said god.
Oh? Who said that the wire creatures are from this world?
@Afewconcepts65 so they aren't some type of godly security system?
Ooh, chantless casting get!
Yes this is a case of chantless magic, but remember that even if it happens to you once, it doesn't mean they can do it on demand. They will get a huge power up though
@Afewconcepts65 So one instance of chantless casting doesn’t give you the ability to do so again. Does that mean that if it does happen again you get the power boost again?
@Tersin This is actually a topic thats brought up a lot later in the story, but yes you do get the power boost again. The king of Esu who drove away the invading country was able to do so because he casted chantless multiple times and got multiple power boosts
Sam just made a bow that goes “I missed? No I didn’t.” Heat seeking arrows too
Crack the Sky chant less magic huh? Will she be able to use it chantless again in the future?
Pretty gruesome horror elements showing up in this story
Chantless is a one time thing but they can use the spell whenever.
Unexpected destiny reference huh. Nice
I have far too many hours in both d1 and d2.
Thx for the chappie
we would sllep
Sleep.
(Which I should do. It's 4:30 am)
Peanut Distribution
There is constant mention of stats but no system. Is there a plate type analysis here or was the stats just a background game mechanic?
There is a system where people can get a magical plate that shows them their stats and level and job and such, but that's on mainland. There is no concept of stats on Esu and as such people on Esu don't have stats and can't level up. As a general rule of thumb, if a thing typically happens in a typical iseaki, its on mainland.
I mention stats when talking about monsters to make the game feel more "real". Like its a game that could actually exist. Its ment to add immersion.
I hope that clears things up
Indeed it does thanks!