Threadbare - Complete Trilogy, page 107
“Me. Bear Hug! Innocent Embrace!” And Missus Fluffbear SQUEEZED.
A red ‘320’ burst up from Anise, as she shrieked, her bones cracking and her flesh melting to ash. Missus Fluffbear had put up Heavensblade and Holy Smite earlier in the fight, and they added in here as well. The succubus fell to her knees, as Fluffbear leaped from the ashen, crumbling remnants of her arm, wrapping her arms around her neck. “One more time for Yorgum! Bear Hug! Innocent Embrace!”
Anise fell. Cecelia sheathed her sword, and turned her back on the crumbling ashes, slowly walking away from the daemon’s remains.
The Legion gasped, turned to run-
“Rammit!”
-and got promptly knocked to the ground as Garon put his horns into the back of his knee. Zuula and Bak’shaz and Madeline fell on him, while the others tackled the last hell hound. In a hot minute it was done, and the daemonic walls withered to dust the second their summoner was dead.
In the silence, in the gasping of the dying dwarves, Beryl and Fluffbear and Zuula moved around the fallen, distributing healing while the toys checked, looked to make sure they were all alive.
The doll haunters, the ex-cultists had fallen to a man (and woman for that matter,) and Threadbare and Graves moved among them, collecting soulstones from the bodies. Graves made more whenever they found a broken one, and the ghosts that had been waiting on the fringes, staying out of the way, rushed in to fill them.
And then, Threadbare’s vision filled with words.
You are now a level 17 Toy Golem!
+2 to all attributes!
You are now a level 15 Ruler!
CHA+3
LUCK+3
WIS+3
You have unlocked the Kingsguard skill!
Your Kingsguard skill is now level 1!
You have unlocked the Proclaim Treaty skill!
You are now a level 16 Ruler!
CHA+3
LUCK+3
WIS+3
You are now a level 12 Duelist!
AGI+3
DEX+3
STR+3
You are now a level 13 Duelist!
AGI+3
DEX+3
STR+3
You are now a level 14 Duelist!
AGI+3 DEX+3
STR+3
You are now a level 15 Animator!
DEX+3
INT+3
WILL+3
You have unlocked the Deanimate skill!
Your Deanimate skill is now level 1!
You have unlocked the Distant Animus skill!
Your Distant Animus skill is now level 1!
You are now a level 16 Animator!
DEX+3
INT+3
WILL+3
You are now a level 21 Golemist!
INT+5
WILL+5
You are now a level 22 Golemist!
INT+5
WILL+5
You are now a level 23 Golemist!
INT+5
WILL+5
You are now a level 24 Golemist!
INT+5
WILL+5
You are now a level 25 Golemist!
INT+5
WILL+5
You have Unlocked the Greater Golem Upgrade skill!
Your Greater Golem Upgrade skill is now level 1!
The levels tore through him, refilling his energy, and expanding his mind. Threadbare felt things snap into clarity, felt everything crystallize. “So much,” he whispered, then turned to Garon. “The raid skill you used. The experience gets split a little more evenly among the survivors, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. Even though Fluffbear got the killing blow, it spreads it out among all parties involved.” Garon said, shaking his head. “My gods. She was…”
“Significant events, too, don’t forget that,” Cecelia said. “We just saved everyone. We just… oh gods. Didn’t we?”
“Yes,” Threadbare said, his high-powered intelligence running through the ramifications. “Without the dungeons that make up the outer wall, this is just an ordinary dungeon, now. Under the control of a strong-willed ghost.” He stared at the dungeon master’s column, and the see-through form of Melos, who looked back.
And for a second, he worried.
“Father,” Cecelia said, moving up to the pillar. “Come out. Please,” she said, beckoning. “Let’s end this.”
Melos looked down. He put his hand over his face, rubbed it. Then he stepped out. And as reality flickered, he knelt, staring at his daughter. “I’m so very, very sorry.”
“I know.” Cecelia looked up at him, reached out a hand. He reached out to touch it, sighed as it went through. “You remember, how you came to take me away from all childish things?”
“I do,” said Melos, fading with the dungeon.
Cecelia looked around, and smiled. “Be really fumping glad my childish things came to get me back.”
The dead king laughed then, the first honest laugh he’d had in over a decade.
And with that, he and the dungeon were gone.
The toys and their living friends looked around at the darkened labs. Old, dusty, dirty, strewn with broken equipment…
…and lit by purple and green light, as a violet crystal appeared with a snap in midair, trembling. They held their breath, all of them did…
…before it shattered, into millions of shards, and fell to the floor, green numbers wisping away, and gone.
“Well,” Threadbare said, in the silence, as he hunted around and found his backpack full of soulstones. “It’s over. Let’s go home.”
Pulsivar nudged him, purring, and Threadbare mounted up and led the way upstairs.
And with a mighty cheer, they all left the darkness and ruins of the past behind, and walked out into the sunlight.
THREADBARE’S CHARACTER SHEET
Name: Threadbare Age: 5
Jobs: Greater Toy Golem Level 17 Cave Bear Level 14 Ruler Level 16 Scout Level 8 Tailor Level 11 Model Level 11 Necromancer Level 11 Duelist Level 14 Animator Level 16 Enchanter Level 12 Golemist Level 25 Smith Level 11 Sculptor Level 13
Attributes: Strength: 162 Constitution: 175 Hit Points: 417(527) Armor: 62(76) Intelligence: 303 Wisdom: 242(249) Sanity: 545(722) Mental Fortitude: 52 Dexterity: 200(207) Agility: 161(168) Stamina: 371(495) Endurance: 72 Charisma: 139(168) Willpower: 289 Moxie: 428(567) Cool: 20(55) Perception: 136 Luck: 110(117) Fortune: 246(363) Fate: 20(27)
Generic Skills Brawling - Level 68 (+40) Climb - Level 14 Clubs and Maces - Level 21 Dagger - Level 9 Dodge - Level 18 Fishing - Level 1 Magic Items - Resist Fire 29 Ride - Level 12 Stealth - Level 18 Swim - Level 5
Greater Toy Golem Skills Adorable - Level 47 Bodyguard - Level 9 Gift of Sapience - Level NA Golem Body - Level 34 Innocent Embrace - Level 17 Magic Resistance -Level 17
Cave Bear Skills Animalistic Interface - NA Claw Swipes - 58 Darkspawn - NA Forage - 13 Growl - 2 Hibernate - 37 Scents and Sensibility - 23 Stubborn - 10 Toughness - 25
Ruler Skills Appoint Official - Level NA Emboldening Speech - Level 20 Identify Subject - Level 10 It’s Good to be King - NA King’s Quest - Level 15 Kingsguard - Level 1 Noblesse Oblige - Level 56 Organize Minions - Level NA Proclaim Treaty - Level NA Royal Audience - Level 22 Simple Decree - Level 15 Swear Fealty - Level NA
Scout Skills Alertness - Level 3 Best Route - Level 3 Camouflage - Level 17(24) Firestarter - Level 12 Keen Eye - Level 12 Sturdy Back - Level 13 Wind’s Whisper - Level 26
Tailor Skills Adjust Outfit - Level 5 Clean and Press - Level 20 Recycle Cloth - Level 2 Tailoring - Level 54(69)
Model Skills Adjust Weight - Level 14 Call Outfit - Level 6 Dietary Restriction - Level 55 (+110 to all pools) Fascination - Level 9 Flex - Level 22 Makeup - Level 12 Self-Esteem - Level 22 Sexy Pose - Level 2 Strong Pose - Level 17 Work it Baby - Level 55 (+55% to raw item bonuses)
Necromancer Skills Assess Corpse - Level 12 Command the Dead - Level 28 Deathsight - Level 9 Drain Life - Level 8 Invite Undead - Level 12 Mana Focus - Level NA (+11% to sanity) Skeletons - Level 19 Soulstone - Level 45 Speak With Dead - Level 24 Zombies - Level 3
Duelist Skills Challenge - Level 12 Dazzling Entrance - Level 17 Disarm - Level 2 Fancy Flourish - Level 13 (20) Guard Stance - Level 22 Parry - Level 27 Riposte - Level 1 Swashbuckler’s Spirit - NA (+20 to cool) Swinger - Level 2 Weapon Specialist - Level 50 (Brawling +25)
Animator Skills Animus - Level 41 Animus Blade - Level 15 Animus Shield - Level 4 Arm Creation - Level 7 Command Animus - Level 23 Creator’s Guardians - Level 70 Deanimate - Level 1 Distant Animus - Level 1 Dollseye - Level 18 Eye for Detail - Level 20 Magic Mouth - Level 18 Mend - Level 68
Enchanter Skills Appraise - Level 30 Boost+5 - Level 25 Boost +10 - Level 5 Disenchant - Level 24 Elemental Protection - Level 18 Glowgleam - Level 26 Harden - Level 36 Soften - Level 31 Spellstore I - Level 40 Spellstore V - Level 18 Spellstore X - Level 8 Wards - Level 3
Golemist Skills Armor Golem - Level 2 Bone Golem - Level 1 Call Golem - Level 4 Clay Golem - Level 3 Command Golem - Level 24 Flesh Golem - Level 1 Golem Animus - Level 66 Golem Guardians - NA Greater Golem Upgrade - Level 1 Invite Golem - Level 12 Mend Golem - Level 66 Program Golem - Level 43 Toy Golem - Level 83 Wood Golem - Level 19
Smith Skills Adjust Arms and Armor - Level 20 Refine Ore - Level 15 Smelt Down - Level 7 Smithing - Level 52
Sculptor Skills Detect Clay - Level 8 Mend Ceramic - Level 6 Refine Clay - Level 18 Sculpting - Level 61
Equipment Journeyman Tailor’s Apron of fire resistance (+6 Armor, +10 Tailoring, Resist Fire 9)(+3 Armor, +5 Tailoring, +5 Resist Fire from WIB) Okay Quality Bling Ringtail Master’s Coat of fire resistance (+5 CHA, +5 LUCK, +5 Armor, +5 Fate, +10 Resist Fire 10)(+2 CHA, LUCK, Armor, Fate, +5 Resist Fire from WIB) Rippen Tear Cloak (+10 to brawling, +5 Armor)(+5 Brawling, +2 Armor from WIB) Rod of Baronly Might (+5 CHA, +5 WIS, +10 Cool)(+2 CHA, WIS, +5 Cool from WIB) Sneakypants (+5 Camouflage)(+2 Camouflage from WIB) Yellow Belt of Bravado (+5 AGL, +5 DEX, +5 to the Fancy Flourish skill)(+2 AGL, DEX, Fancy Flourish from WIB) Toy Top Hat (CHA +10)(+5 CHA from WIB) Golden Laurels (Enables the REST skill, usable every two hours.)
Inventory A Folded-steel Dagger (Dagger Level 10) Tailor’s Tools 4 vials of Green Reagent. 1 Vial of Blue Reagent A pouch of assorted crystals, rank 1-4. Minorphone (Enhances voice and social skills focused through it twice per day)
Quests
Unlocked Jobs
Air Elementalist, Berserker, Cleric, Cook, Cultist, Grifter, Spirit Medium, Tamer, Wizard
Loose Ends 1
“I feel silly.”
“You look fine.”
“I know I look fine, I still feel silly.”
“You can still back out. Garon’s going to be right there. He can give you Scout back.”
“No… no, no, I said I’d go through with this.” Cecelia sighed, and tugged her clothes more firmly about her. A rich, grape-like purple, draped with emeralds, it covered her modestly, and directed attention upwards to her hair, which had been stuck in place with a box full of golden pins.
“I don’t think you’ll regret it. It IS a very good job, particularly for someone who’s going to be doing a lot of negotiating. And the buffs ARE nice.”
“It… I’m wearing clothes that I made myself. It just feels… no, it’s silly for me to be arguing about this. I know, I know, most of the kingdom gets by like this. It’s just that until now, clothes were things that came from other people. I feel like my work is going to be tested, and I know it’s a stupid thing to worry about but if I’m worrying about this I’m not worrying about the news, or how to sell our idea to the others.”
“It’s a good idea.” Threadbare said. He wore a matching purple suit, in lieu of his normal clothing. Though he’d kept the Toy Top Hat. The gribbit envoy would be very disappointed if he didn’t.
“Yes, it’s a good idea, but that doesn’t mean much when it comes to politics. Father taught me that.”
“I’m not entirely sure he was the best one to follow when it comes to political advice.”
“True, but I don’t really have many other role models to go by, here.”
“Well you’re going to be your own model soon, then you can roll however you please.”
“Threadbare! That’s not what I-” Cecelia stopped when she saw his smile, and laughed. “You’re right. I’m worrying about nothing.”
“Probably.” He looked up at the double doors they’d come to, and knocked gently with his scepter. After a minute, Emmet opened them.
Threadbare had made the armor golem’s suit himself, and with a silent sigh he took in the rips, tears, and scuffs the giant metal golem had inflicted upon it. And the stain in the crook of its arm, where a tiny, fluffy dog dozed guiltlessly.
“Welcome,” Emmet said, then turned and announced in his brassy voice; “Councilor Gearhart of Central Cylvania! Councilor Threadbare of Central Cylvania!”
“There y’are!” Called King Grundi. “Come on over! We were just talkin’ about Taylor’s Delve.”
“Oh? How’s the expedition going?” Threadbare and Cecelia found their seats at the large, round table. It took some time to clamber up the chairs provided for them.
No one was quite comfy here. At the other end, Jarl Greta Sumvonesdottir sat on a pillow the size of a King-sized bed, her blue knees well above the table’s edge. King Grundi and Bazdra Coaler stood to one side of her, with Jericho the ranger next to Grundi. Hidon Fingers and Beryl Wirebeard took the flank on the other side of her, with Garon sitting next to Beryl. Next to the little wooden minotaur Longcroak the Gribbit Envoy nodded, his own top hat flopping as he spoke. “Well, goes well. Many carts, much traffic through Outsmouth. Much trade. Golems very happy. We are very happy.”
“There’s no trouble with the eggs, right?” Cecelia said. The first time they’d encountered the frog monsters weighed on her mind. No matter how reasonable gribbits were at the council table, they couldn’t shake the age-old instincts that drove them to aggression whenever predators neared their eggs.
“Trouble? No trouble. Don’t have spawning grounds in Outsmouth or near Outsmouth where landsfolks can reach. Outsmouth is just… com-mute. For wu-rk,” Longcroak belched the last word. The gribbits were still adjusting to the new ideas.
“And there’s enough fish for you and everyone else?” Threadbare asked.
“Oh yes. Big lake. Take only what we need. Golems don’t eat. Plenty of fish to sell across land.”
“Which is seriously helping with the expedition,” Garon said. “We’re clearing the area in record time, between the folks you loaned us,” he nodded to Jericho, “and those of us who are golems. We don’t have to sleep, and the living folks have plenty to eat… so long as they like dried fish, anyway. We… do have a request, though.”
“Oh?” Threadbare asked.
“The Oblivion’s gone, and the Thundering Pass is reachable from the Delve again. That’s the only way in or out. We’d like a garrison…” Garon took a breath. “And we’d like Mastoya to lead it.”
“Out a the question,” King Grundi said, folding his frail arms.
“Mastoya? De vun who beat us?” Greta rubbed her chin. “Vhy is she out of der question?”
“Putting her in charge of anything military is risking a coup,” Hidon scowled, tugging on his beard. The covert ops dwarf stared over at Cecelia. “We’re already hearing rumors of unrest in the Central region, folks wanting the ‘good old days’ back.”
“That’s very much a minority,” Cecelia said. “Mostly older folks who never fought in the wars, and minor nobles who profited from them. More talk than anything else.”
“Putting up a stone statue of Melos in the middle of the town square is a bit more than talk,” Jericho said. Then his eyes crinkled. “Even if it did vanish overnight. Leaving tracks that looked like it walked off its own plinth and just kept going.”
“I’m sure I don’t know anything about that,” Cecelia shrugged.
Threadbare knew plenty about that, and was wise enough to keep that to himself.
Cecelia continued. “In any case they didn’t ask my permission before putting it up, and it was in violation of public land usage regulations. Baroness Rhoda found the fine lighter than the public humiliation of being served papers at the unveiling ceremony she planned. That turned out to be an empty plinth, anyway.”
“That’s good and well. But there’s always going to be a sentiment, a segment of grumblers,” Bazdra said, toying with the silver hourglass hanging from her neck. “It’s the cycle. Time and again it’ll happen.”
“Right. The grumbling will be there regardless,” Garon said. “Which is why putting Mastoya in charge of the vital garrison for the pass is a good move, because she’ll do the job regardless of politics or attempts to coerce her.”
Grundi scowled. “There’s nothing you can say to convince me that letting General Mastoya anywhere near a group of impressionable troops is a good idea!“
“Who said anything about General Mastoya?” Garon and Beryl shared a grin.
“What are you playing at, then?” Grundi scowled harder.
“I think SERGEANT Mastoya would do a fine job down there.”
A pause.
Then Grundi laughed. “Oh, she’ll hate that!”
“Yep. It’ll be a training facility for the volunteer army. She’ll be responsible for troops in a way she’s never been before. And she’ll answer to the best officers that you can provide.” Garon moved his gaze from Grundi to Jericho.
Grundi nodded, grudgingly. “She’d be good for that. Decent with troops, just… too big on following orders to be a General. So long as she’s never an officer again we’ll allow it.”
The ranger filled a pipe, and nodded as he lit it. “Firestarter. We can give that a try. We’ll be watching her, of course.”
“Of course. Speaking of watching…”
“I suppose it’s my turn,” Jericho said, and stood, pulling out a map, giant-sized for the Jarl’s benefit. He unfolded it, and the toys hopped up on the table to get a better look.
The map showed all of Cylvania, and a few days travel beyond. “There’s nothing,” Jericho said simply. “Old roads, foundations where homes and villages used to be, empty ruins for the most part. Monster tribes in a few cases, none of the peaceful ones, either. Nothing we couldn’t handle, but…”
