PA-01. Den Of Thieves, page 10
part #1 of Pantheon Online Series
They dance, for god’s sake.
Within, Kohli cried out in protest, but a swift blow followed, and he fell silent. There was more clacking, and then, to Gunnar’s surprise, he heard a human male voice.
“Good work, my children,” the man said airily. “You’ve found another. Excellent. Now, let’s prepare the ceremony.”
Another?
Gunnar cursed under his breath and sunk back into the shadows. But no Fulcra came back for him. Which meant the man must have been referring to another prisoner, and the way the man called the skeletal creatures children did not make Gunnar feel any better about the ceremony he had in mind for them.
Soon, the flames began to fade, and then, the clacking was gone altogether.
Nothing but utter silence filled the corridor.
Gunnar waited for a full minute to be sure no Fulcra were waiting for him. Then, he crept forward, casting Dark Sight in the complete darkness.
He retrieved a femur from the Fulcra that Kohli had killed, then poked his head through the doorway. The group of Fulcra had left, along with Kohli. Only a single guard remained, standing outside yet another door at the end of the chamber, this one closed.
Gunnar held his breath as he crossed the room, stepping lightly in the dark. He activated Enhanced Blow and swung the femur as hard as he could into the creature’s face, and the Fulcra crumpled to the ground.
[You have defeated another common Fulcra! Here’s 20 XP plus a 10 XP bonus for a Perfect Kill Shot!]
No bonus for Stealth Attack this time. Must have been a first-time achievement bonus or something.
But he was quite pleased with the kill shot. His melee attacks were really getting effective, and his Glory meter was already at 70%. It was in no small part due to the Enhanced Blow skill, though he knew it was not going to be much use to him if he faced more than one mob at a time.
Almost to Level 4.
And Gunnar had a feeling he was definitely going to need it. He braced for the arrival of more Fulcra from the other side of the door, but none emerged.
Beyond, there was a dull thudding sound, like huge hammers pounding in the distance.
He looted another soul gem, then decided to let his Mana and Stamina replenish before facing whatever lay ahead. After lighting a torch, Gunnar took a look around.
He was pleased to discover that the chamber was filled with loot.
Kohli’s warhammer and gladius were propped against a nearby table. But that wasn’t all.
There were dozens of items scattered haphazardly around the space: shields, random pieces of low-grade armor, some stale-looking slices of flatbread, a heap of tunics and pants and boots, and three potions—a red Potion of Minor Stamina and two green Potions of Minor Healing.
The sight triggered a random memory.
When he was first arrested after the accident, he’d been stripped naked, giving up all his personal effects: key fob, smart watch, ID, and so on. He’d been given a gray jumper, and an officer took his things to a room filled with personal items in little containers.
This room seemed to be filled with the personal effects of adventurers past, but without the plastic containers of the precinct.
Gunnar shuddered to think of the number of people who must have been captured in this crypt, but they might be his and Kohli’s salvation now.
The potions both had a 30% increase effect. Those would definitely be useful. He found a small leather bag tossed on the floor and nearly shouted with excitement as the notification appeared.
Basic Bag of Holding
Item Class: Uncommon, Enchanted
Quality: Average
Weight: 3
Durability: 14
Capacity: As much as you both can bear
Description: A Bag of Holding is an Enchanted item that allows you to store items in your Inventory rather than on your person. It’s not a purse, it’s a satchel!
Gunnar threw the strap over his neck and shoulder with glee, and was even more pleased to discover that he did not actually have to wear it at all. As he equipped it, the bag glowed softly, and then, vanished.
[You have unlocked the HUD feature, Inventory. You may now store a limited number of items without equipping them.]
Hell yeah! Gunnar thought. Now, to fill it up!
Many of the weapons were relatively useless for Gunnar. There were several more gladius swords, which were not effective against the Fulcra, and more warhammers, which were still too heavy for him to wield. However, there was one melee weapon that interested him.
Oaken Club
Item Class: Common, Melee
Quality: Average
Base Damage: 15
Weight: 8
Durability: 10
Description: A length of wood fashioned for bludgeoning. What more do you need to know?
It was more durable than the fracture-prone femurs, so Gunnar added the club to his new Inventory and began examining the random assortment of armor. Basic iron plate provided a nice Resistance to Damage, but reduced his already slow speed. The heavy wooden shields offered a similar downside.
Though he hadn’t selected a class yet, if his affinities lent themselves toward a Rogue, he figured he ought to play to his strengths. So, he chose what pieces of leathern armor were available.
Leather Vambraces
Item Class: Common, Armor
Quality: Average
Weight: 2
Durability: 11
Effect: Increases your Resistance to Damage by 10%
Description: Protects your forearms from enemy attacks.
Leather Greaves
Item Class: Common, Armor
Quality: Average
Weight: 2
Durability: 11
Effect: Increases your Resistance to Damage by 10%
Description: Protects your shins from enemy attacks. Now, you just need elbow pads, and you’re ready to roller derby!
Gunnar stowed a couple pieces of iron armor in his Inventory, thinking he might be able to sell them later.
There was a small chest with thirty-one coins in the corner of the room, and beside it, another prize—a set of four steel throwing knives. A leather sheath fixed to his shoulder, and would allow him to draw quickly and let them fly. He also took two more basic iron daggers and fixed those to his belt.
He fetched Kohli’s pants and tunic and an extra cloak for their mysterious second prisoner and stowed them in his Inventory. He guessed that the Fulcra had not given them any gray jumpers to wear.
But with those final items, a warning message flashed.
[You have reached the Carrying Capacity limit for your Bag of Holding!]
Gunnar cursed and examined his HUD. Even with a magical item, the developers continued to strive for a grating sense of realism. The bag only allowed a weight of 20 kg for non-equipped items.
After some deliberation, he decided to ditch his trusty orc femur and all the extra iron armor. Though he did take a gladius, since he figured it might be useful outside this damn crypt.
Beyond the door, the drumming had increased in intensity, and he knew he needed to hurry.
Gunnar pushed back his nerves. He extinguished the torch, activated Dark Sight, and opened the door to the chamber beyond.
16
THE CEREMONY
A long corridor extended toward a broad archway. The thunderous booming was much louder beyond the holding cell and grew more and more cacophonous as Gunnar crept down the passage. A raucous chant—a groaning sort of cry from the Fulcra—accompanied the pounding: Ah ah uh ah, ah uh ah ah!
As he moved closer, Gunnar could make out another cry timed to a drumbeat. The Fulcra were shouting something unintelligible, along with their guttural chant.
Dun dah!
Ah ah uh ah, ah uh ah ah!
Dun dah!
Ah ah uh ah, ah uh ah ah!
Gunnar reached the end of the corridor and gazed out at one of the most bizarre things he’d ever seen. The vast chamber beyond the archway was filled with dozens of Fulcra, all facing a raised platform.
No, it was more like a stage, and Gunnar was looking out from the backstage area.
A pair of enormous tribal-looking drums were set on either side of the stone platform, played by two very large skeletons, likely orcs, or maybe something larger. With each drumbeat, a pair of cauldrons erupted with a plume of flames. The flashing light forced Gunnar to turn off his Dark Sight.
The Fulcra were gathered around the front of the stage, and as they shouted, they pumped their bony fists. Gunnar was pretty sure they were shouting the word thunder with some sort of undead speech impediment.
Dun dah!
Ah ah uh ah, ah uh ah ah!
Dun dah!
Ah ah uh ah, ah uh ah ah!
There was a final drumbeat, a pause, and then…
A human man appeared from behind a tall stage curtain to Gunnar’s left. The Fulcra roared with clacks and groans. The man was pale and scrawny, and he wore a ridiculous attempt at a schoolboy outfit, with cut-off black pants, an untucked white shirt, a black jacket, and a loose-hanging black tie.
What the hell? Gunnar thought.
As he fixed his vision on the man, a notification appeared.
Angus the Necromancer/Bard
Level: 12
HP: 110/110
MP: 230/230
Description: This bad dude may seem kooky. Maybe even a little insane. Kinda like all the best rock stars. And that disconnection from reality is what makes him truly dangerous.
Good god! This dude was recreating some sort of old-school rock concert fantasy. Except there was no music, really. Just those drums and the hellish chant of the Fulcra.
The drumbeat shifted to something steadier.
Dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun dun.
Dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun dun.
And the Fulcra started shouting and pumping their fists again.
Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy!
Angus dashed around the stage madly for a while, then approached the edge, where the Fulcra were gathered.
And the necromancer/bard began to sing—screech was more like it. Gunnar was pretty sure he’d heard this song somewhere, but it sure as hell wasn’t like this.
The Fulcra grunted, Oy! Oy! Oy!
And that was it, over and over and over for a full minute.
The drums grew more and more cacophonous, to the point that the beat was nearly lost.
Angus dropped into the splits, raised a finger to the sky, and screamed atonally.
There was a massive eruption of flame from the stage as the song ended, and a pair of figures were lowered down from the ceiling with ropes.
Kohli and a young woman with fiery red hair.
Their hands were bound, they were naked but for the rudimentary attempts at underwear in this world, and their bodies were covered with splotchy-looking writing in red paint.
The stage was painted too, Gunnar realized. A crude pentagram etched in white. A few of the Fulcra began to haul up some long wooden crates from the sides of the stage. The skeletal creatures pried open the tops of the crates to reveal five new skeletons.
Shit, I think this is how he makes these Fulcra creatures.
Gunnar’s grandma had once told him that when she and his grandpa were kids, some wackos believed that rock and roll was secretly connected to Satanic rituals or something.
Wonder what they’d make of this!
The drumbeat grew soft but steady as the five coffins were set at each point of the pentagram. Angus moved to the center, where Kohli and the redhead dangled about three feet above the ground.
Angus reached into his cloak and produced several glowing blue soul gems. He smiled and raised his hands into the air.
The Fulcra quieted.
“Children, we’ve come to welcome five new members to our little family. But all creation requires sacrifice, and you have brought just what we require.”
A stream of crimson dripped from the redhead’s arm, and the necromancer let it run through his fingers.
That is definitely not paint…
Gunnar felt sick to his stomach. This felt way too real.
One of the smaller Fulcra came forward with a scythe and handed it to Angus.
The redhead glared with icy fury. “When I am strong enough, I am going to come back and burn this crypt to the ground!”
The necromancer smiled. “Ah, you see, that is the beauty of a leveled crypt. Noobs come in to gain experience. By the time they’re strong enough to pose any real threat, they’ve leveled too far, and must move on to grind somewhere else. Most take the easy exit through the burial hall, but there’s always a few that wander too deep. Just enough to keep this operation running. It’s nothing personal. But I’m afraid I will have to slit your throats.”
The drumbeat picked up, and the Fulcra began chanting, “Oy! Oy! Oy!”
Gunnar had slipped into the shadows of the staging area, but the drums were accompanied by more flames from the stage.
In the flashing light, he spotted two Level 5 Fulcra coming his direction. Gunnar leaned back against the stone wall, but there was another eruption of flames from the stage, and the Fulcra shot forward, warhammers raised.
Gunnar leapt to the side just as the first Fulcra brought its hammer down with a thundering crash. He was really close to leveling up, and this was probably his only chance.
He activated Enhanced Blow and swung the oaken club as hard as he could, sending the first Fulcra’s skull flying like a softball.
[You have dealt +30 Damage to a common Fulcra!]
The remainder of the skeleton crumpled to the ground.
[You have defeated another common Fulcra! Here’s 10 XP with a 5 XP bonus for a Perfect Kill Shot!]
Gunnar’s Stamina dropped close to 60% at the exertion. The second Fulcra swung its hammer at his head. He ducked, rolled, and activated the skill again. His club connected with the back of the creature’s spine.
[You have dealt +30 Damage to a common Fulcra!]
The Fulcra exploded in shards of bone, and Gunnar leaned over, panting as the notifications came in.
[You have defeated another common Fulcra! Here’s 10 XP with a 5 XP bonus for a Perfect Kill Shot!]
[Congratulations! You actually used some strategy and brute force in the same attack. You have reached Level 7 in the skill Enhanced Blow. Kapow!]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 4! You have earned Glory for your goddess Nymoria.]
The bizarre rock concert paused, the drumbeat quieted, and the world lit up, and not from the flames. Nymoria reached out her hand to him, and Gunnar glowed as he leveled up.
“Well done, faithful servant. You have taken another step on the path to greatness. You now have two attribute points, which can be distributed at any time. But remember that every choice you make will echo into eternity. Choose wisely.”
With everything paused, Gunnar knew he had to act quick. His kill had drawn the attention of two more Fulcra, and the necromancer had his scythe raised at the redhead’s throat. The ropes were rigged in the rafters of the stage, but he didn’t have time to get there. And the necromancer had said the true exit was back in that massive burial hall, which meant they had a lot of ground to cover to get out of this damn place.
But he had an idea of how to do it.
He applied one point to Constitution, increasing his Stamina and Health by another five points, with an additional five each from leveling up. He added the three accompanying skill points to Endurance, which added a 20 point Stamina buff.
Next, he raised his Dexterity to Level 10 and dumped all five skill points into his Throwing Blade skill. He could only hope his Level 14 attack would be enough for what he had in mind.
The world unfroze, and everything happened in an adrenaline-induced blur.
As Angus swung the scythe at the redhead’s porcelain neck, Gunnar let one of his throwing blades fly. Gunnar shouted in triumph as the blade severed the rope, and the young woman dropped to the ground, missing the necromancer’s attack by mere inches. The redhead landed in a crouch, whipping the remains of the rope around. Her hands were still bound, but the rope was thick, and when it struck Angus in the face, he staggered back.
But Gunnar didn’t see the rest.
The two attacking Fulcra reached him, and he leapt into action.
17
THUNDERSTRUCK
Gunnar dodged a warhammer attack, leaping to his left. He swung the oaken club at the creature’s face, but the Level 6 Fulcra raised its arm in defense, and the club lopped it off at the elbow.
[You have dealt +10 Damage to a common Fulcra!]
The second creature—a Level 5—bore a gladius, and Gunnar narrowly raised his club in time. The blade lodged in the wood and was wrenched from the creature’s grasp as Gunnar swept his club away. The Fulcra grimaced, and Gunnar activated Enhanced Blow and drove the club into the creature’s skull.
[You have dealt +30 Damage to a common Fulcra!]
The Fulcra’s skull shattered.
[You have defeated another common Fulcra! Here’s 5 XP with a 5 XP bonus for a Perfect Kill Shot!]
Gunnar cursed. Though he was pleased that Enhanced Blow had cost him less this time, he was getting less experience for killing these Fulcra now that he’d reached Level 4.
With only one arm, the other Fulcra could no longer lift its heavy weapon, so it attacked with one of its own ribs, but Gunnar made quick work of the creature, earning another 5 XP. He wrenched the gladius out of his club, leaving a large gash in the wood, and tossed it aside.
“A little bloody help here!” Kohli shrieked.
With enchanted drummers pounding, the majority of the Fulcra were still facing the stage from the floor below, pumping their fists, and shouting, “Oy! Oy! Oy!”
Their master was rolling on the ground, trying to break free from the redhead, who had managed to wrap her length of rope around the man’s neck.
Meanwhile, a pair of Fulcra clawed at Kohli, who still dangled from the stage rafters. He had impressively managed to pull himself higher up the rope, just out of their skeletal reach. One swung a warhammer, and Kohli barely managed to swing himself out of the way.
