Chapter 27 – Set Fire to the Hive

Hall, his eyes closed, pushed away the sounds of the approaching horde. Pushed away their screams and their stamping. He ignored the stench of mercury and sulfur and stopped feeling the trembling earth or the freezing air on his exposed skin.

He stood in a sea of black, an ocean of nothingness. His soul a flickering candle, a beacon in the night. Hall steadied the flame, fueled it with defiance and will, fed it his grim determination.

A roaring fire expanded in his chest and extended to his limbs. A calm smile appeared on his lips and, just for a fraction of a second, the world seemed to halt.

His eyes snapped open, an inferno burning deep within. He tightened the grip on his chains and their unsteady glow exploded into a stream of blue fire.

Lily shook off her daze and her widened eyes met Halls’. His booming voice drowned out the demons of hell. “Protect the scythe! Let them burn!”

The girl shook her head fiercely and smacked her palms against her cheeks. She raised her arms and a radiant chant left her lips. The seam of her white dress danced in the flakes of light that twirled around her.

Hall felt almost bad for destroying the image when he activated his skill to welcome the Nephesh-Ra’a. “Bad Moon Rising!” He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.

In an instant, a blood red veil covered the world around them. Even the ground, in a radius of ten meters, seemed to form puddles of blood.

The monsters kept coming. When they finally entered the range of his skill, they hardly showed any reaction. Their fearlessness and the strength of their soul made them resistant to the effects of ‘Bad Moon Rising’. But not immune.

In an explosive strike, Hall swung both chains at the closest revenant. They struck its skull, cracked it open and scattered grey matter on the ground. Its legs kept moving. One step and another, before its disfigured body dropped. Where it fell, another revenant stepped on its corpse. It was the first casualty of the battle. It wouldn’t be the last.

Hall’s ferocious roar, his skill ‘Blast Tyrant’, struck the waves of monsters and his chains followed. They clashed left and right, shattered bones and burnt away dark flesh. Fast and precise, they annihilated enemy after enemy.

But for every revenant he slaughtered, for every specter his soul energy extinguished, for every Nachtmahr that fell, a dozen took their place.

A revenant’s body hit Hall’s shoulder. He flinched at the numbing pain, but raised his arm again to let his weapon fly.

But the revenant rushed past him. They all did. Not one of the Nephesh-Ra’a even looked at him. Their eyes focused on the scythe, the blade in the tree.

Behind him, Lily finished her chant and drops of light descended from the sky. The ‘Tears of Heaven’ brightened the area around the obsidian tree. But their usually brilliance changed. In the crimson glow of Hall’s skill ‘Bad Moon Rising’, the dazzling light transformed into a red nightmare. The bloody rain melted the skin, flesh and bone of their enemies. Where Hall’s chains destroyed one body after the other, Lily’s magic annihilated every enemy in a small radius around the scythe.

Bloodcurdling screams of pain emerged from the dying monsters. They staggered, stumbled and fell, taking down their own with them. The stench of tainted blood filled the air and the corpses began to pile up.

But the earth never ceased to tremble. The enemy still ran at them. Hall couldn’t take them down so easy anymore and their mana pool slowly dwindled, as did his health.

Enemies crashed into him. Carelessly swung blades cut into his limbs and passing specters took large chunks of health points every time their incorporeal claws tore his flesh apart.

Hall panted and clenched his teeth. By now, he stood in a puddle of his own blood, his view hazy, his ears filled with screams. The chains’ blue light dimmed and couldn’t keep the darkness at bay.

“Watch out!” Moira’s panicked voice yelled in his head.

He never saw the rusty axe coming. The revenant’s weapon bit into his stomach and the taste of warm copper filled his mouth. “Damn.” His knees hit the ground.

In my Time of Dying has been activated

+100% Willpower

+30% to all stats

+30% speed

A dozen monsters passed him, but Lily’s crimson drops of light obliterated them before they reached the scythe.

Hall renewed the grip around his chains and stepped forward. But the black mass of bodies swept over him. Heavy steps crushed his limbs and his blinking health bar emptied.

He wanted to avert his gaze from the large message window, but the game didn’t allow it.

YOU ARE DEAD!

All color disappeared from the world and only shades of grey remained. Lily’s eyes widened and tears streamed down her face. She bit her lips and, while sobbing silently, she continued to chant her spell. Colorless drops of light still formed a barrier to protect the scythe. But her strength approached her limit. Her arms trembled and her tears left her eyes red.

Hall tried to call out to her and Moira. But no sound left his mouth. No sound reached his ears. Silence dominated the grey world. He stood next to his corpse, but had no hands to grasp, no voice to speak and no legs to run. Helplessly, he watched the endless flood of monsters run against the shivering Lily.

Do I activate ‘Garden of Thorns’ and hope it will stop them?

Hall threw away the thought. It wouldn’t be enough. But if he used ‘Ain’t no Grave can hold my Body down’ to rise again, he would just fall once more, with a hefty penalty.

Damn it! Too weak!

He looked down at his mangled corpse and cursed himself.

What do I do? What do I—

Only then did he notice the change around him. The Nephesh-Ra’a slowed down. Not only their steps, but all their movements. And not only the monsters, even Lily’s tears fell slower. Time stretched. Undetectable at first, the rampaging army soon slowed to a crawl.

“I’m sorry, Hall.”

Hall’s gaze turned toward the solemn voice. A young girl kneeled beside his corpse, her right hand placed on his own. Her black suit glowed in this purgatory and stood in stark contrast to her pale complexion.

“Hello, Grim.”

For some reason they could talk, but it didn’t surprise him.

She never raised her head and smiled at him where he lay. “I’m truly sorry.” The pain in her eyes drove a stake into Hall’s heart. He hadn’t seen her like this before.

“It’s not your fault. I was too weak.”

“No.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “All of this. This is my fault. I was…”

She trailed off and, despite the desperate situation, Hall didn’t dare to push her.

Lily’s magic finally collapsed and the Nephesh-Ra’a broke through. The first revenant rushed toward the scythe. In slow-motion its withered hand grabbed for the blade.

“You know, when we first met, I wasn’t completely honest with you,” Grim said.

Lily slowly stepped away from the blade and soared over the hordes of dark figures.

Hall remained silent.

“I told you that I never recruited another Harbinger because there was nobody worthy.” Her shoulders slumped. “The truth is… I wasn’t.”

The instant the first revenant touched the scythe, its fingers detonated and only left behind black ash. Every specter, every revenant that tried to pull it out, suffered an agonizing death, their darkness devoured, their bodies and souls shattered. The monsters threw themselves against the scythe. And though they all fell, with every death, with every sacrifice, the blade dislodged from the black wood—each time a little bit more.

Grim raised her head and glanced over the myriads of raging shadows, the black tree and the mutilated corpses in its branches. “This is where it began,” she bit her lower lip and shook her head, “no, that’s not right. I guess this is where it ended.”

“Your last Harbinger?”

“She was my friend,” she almost whispered, “but the darkness was too much. I was too much. Always asking the impossible and never hearing her pain.” Her head turned toward Hall’s corpse. “And now I’m doing the same again:”

Her trembling hand tightened around his own. Not a single Nephesh-Ra’a came close. They rushed around Grim and his body, like a mountain parting the sea.

“So it was her after all?”

“You’re not surprised?” She sounded a little hurt.

“Not just anybody could do it. And there were clues. It’s the whole affair with Benmal’ach I don’t quite get. Why did she try to destroy him?”

“Not destroy. Recruit. But she failed and barely escaped with her life.” Grim sighed. She seemed smaller than he remembered. “Back then I had lost her already.”

“You warned me of a shadow from the north. Is she part of it?” Urgency crept in Hall’s voice. More and more monsters threw themselves against the scythe and it already lost a lot of its grip on the tree.

“I don’t know. I meant it when I said I lost her.” She clenched her left hand to a fist. “But she is out there, that I’m sure of.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, but… why are you here?”

Grim hesitated and opened her mouth before closing it again.

“I… I wanted to make sure this wasn’t too much. I couldn’t… not again,” she rambled.

Despite their situation, Hall couldn’t help but chuckle. So even she can feel insecure, huh?

“I told you, I would fight.” He couldn’t grasp her hand, but he could put his conviction in his words. “Even if it’s all the darkness of the world. All the evil and wickedness. I won’t back down. I won’t leave.”

He glanced at the scythe that barely held on to the black tree. He looked at Lily who arrived at the left side of his corpse. She kneeled and grasped his hand. Her lips formed thin lines and tears trickled down her face, each one falling slowly. Then his eyes wandered to the timer.

Time left:

6:12

6:11

6:10

“But I have to say, it doesn’t look too good right now,” Hall said.

“I’m sure you will find a way.” A faint, but warm smile spread on Grim’s face.

“Yeah… I’m happy about your faith in me, but I’m afraid faith won’t be enough. Not today.”

For the first time she raised her head and looked at him, not at his corpse. The pain in her eyes, though not gone, was pushed behind a spark of mischievousness. She licked her lips and winked at him.

Once again, she rendered him speechless. What is she up to now?

Grim lowered her head until her own face hovered over his. Before he could say anything, she pressed her lips on his forehead. Warmth spread from her touch and even after she pulled away, his forehead tickled. A mark, a vertical line and a curve at its top, remained for a short time, but its red glow soon disappeared and left no trace.

You have been blessed!

You have gained a new skill!

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Divine Runes (incomplete)Beginner10%Written in the language of the gods, divine runes hold great power. They tell secrets forgotten by men and can bring life, as well as death, to those who have the ability to use them.

Effects:

Usage of divine runes unlocked

Your skill Divine Runes (incomplete) has been consumed by the grimoire!

“For now, this is all I can give you. Even this…”

“Is bending the rules?” Hall suggested.

“Something like that. I wish I could do more.”

He nodded and breathed in deeply. His gaze swept over the waves of darkness. The dark abominations trampled each other in the attempt to sacrifice themselves.

“Thank you. This is enough.” With a last look at both girls by his side, he raised his voice. “Ain’t no grave, can hold my body down!”

Blinding light filled the world and when he opened his eyes, he saw an army of vicious beasts surrounding him. Screams and the smell of burnt flesh assaulted his senses. Time returned to its normal flow.

Lily gasped, and though her features relaxed, her tears didn’t stop. Hall wanted to comfort her, but time ran out. He couldn’t see Grim anymore, but felt her hand on his own. For Death, she was surprisingly warm.

Hall pushed himself to his knees. The cold ground still trembled, but he felt the power of the runes beneath him. He pulled out the blades of the soul weaver, the sword in his right, the dagger in his left. Lily refused to let go of his hand and he still felt Grim’s touch. Both followed his movements.

The labyrinth had taken its toll on the dark blades he held and their durability reached its limit. Thin cracks and notches in the metal showed their condition. Hall grit his teeth, but he was out of options. “Moira, I’m gonna need your help on this one.”

“Yes.” She cleared her throat, but still wavered. “You don’t necessarily have to target a specific spot in the rune array, but for a somewhat better result… the circle shaped one slightly to your right and….” Desperation entered her voice. “The one that looks like a cross in a star. Left of the first one. Hurry!”

The runes below him had gained a luster that made them stand out from the obsidian ground. Within moments, Hall found the runes Moira pointed out.

Lily rubbed her red eyes and calmed down. Her voice, weak at first, rose above the screeches of the dying and lifted a weight off Hall’s shoulder. ‘I will follow you into the Dark’ added to the effect of ‘In my Time of Dying’ and the blue energy he poured into his blades grew ever brighter.

The scythe, as if unwilling to let go, still clung to the tree and consumed its darkness. After a last glance, Hall raised his arms. He closed his eyes and filled his lungs with cold air. ‘Blast Tyrant’, a powerful roar, swept over the fields of enemies and, with terrifying force, he rammed his blades downward.

New cracks formed on the weapons when they penetrated the ground. Like water, the energy flowed along the engraved lines of the divine runes.

An explosion of light erupted beneath Hall. It coiled around him and Lily, swallowed them, and rose to the heavens. And it spread. The glowing runes detonated and beams of light emerged from the ground.

The Sorian runes in the labyrinth had stunned the Nephesh-Ra’a. But the divine runes’ light tore the flesh off their bones, ripped apart their innards and incinerated the shreds of remaining skin. Revenants and Nachtmahre wailed in utter terror before their bodies turned to dust. The specters screamed in panic, but they couldn’t hide from the blazing rays that burnt away their essence.

Hall’s strength seeped through the blades and into the ground. His vision became blurry, sweat formed on his forehead. A cold numbness spread in his limbs, but he grit his teeth and poured even more energy into the runes.

The overwhelming brightness turned the crater into a deathtrap for the dark beings, but no matter how many perished, more rushed over the crater’s edge.

Time left:

4:28

4:27

4:26

A dull haze entered Hall’s eyes and the light around him flickered. A handful of specters charged through the weakened seal, but Hall shook his head fiercely to clear the daze that surged inside of him. The seal stabilized and burned away whatever entered its range.

“Focus, Harbinger.” Moira yelled. “I wish I could do something, help somehow. But please, don’t give up.”

Hall’s upper body swayed slightly, but he clung to the blades in his hands. And he wasn’t alone in this fight. “Don’t worry.” Sweat poured from his pale face and he showed his clenched teeth in an attempt to smile. “This is nothing.”

Time left:

3:34

3:33

3:32

The handles in his grip still trembled together with the earth. More and more cracks appeared on the few inches of metal that stuck out of the ground. And then, with a sound clear as a bell, both weapons shattered. Hall’s energy proved too much for the battered blades and they exploded into hundreds of shards.

The sharp fragments pierced his hands, arms and body. Blood flowed from a dozen wounds, but Hall never felt it. The light retreated from the edge of the crater and allowed the dark flood to reconquer their lost ground.

“Damn it, what now?” Hall shouted. He tried to stand up, bus his tired legs gave in. Numbness paralyzed his limbs and only with great effort could he move his arms.

“Hall, your blood!” Moira urged him.

Hall only nodded and forced his palms on top of the shards of metal that still stuck in the earth.

The first specters almost reached them, but Hall showed no signs of panic. He groaned and pressed his hands down. The blade shards pierced his palms and burning pain overwhelmed the cold paralysis in his arms.

The blades’ black flames had disappeared with their destruction and Hall’s blood warm gushed out of his hands. It filled the small cracks in the metal, flowed around the fragments and entered the ground.

He forced his soul energy through his blood and into the runes. Another explosion of light annihilated the Nephesh-Ra’a who almost reached the scythe.

A wave of nausea hit him, but he compelled himself to look at his blood and poured more and more energy into it.

Time left:

2:23

2:22

2:21

Hall’s health bar slowly emptied and he tasted metal on his dry tongue. The earth still trembled under the enemy charge.

“Only a little more,” Moira pleaded.

Hall nodded and spit out a mouthful of blood. “No problem.”

Pain and fatigue clouded his mind. The screams of the dying monsters faded and Lily’s voice, her song, took their place in his consciousness.

His breathing grew shallow, his vision misty. His beating heart droned in his ears and cold sweat covered his skin. He lost track of time and seconds turned to eons.

Hall barely reacted when a hand gently shook his shoulder. “You can stop now.” He needed a moment to process Lily’s words.

He raised his head and saw no more dark figures at the edge of the crater. The earth stood still and dead silence ruled the frozen cave.

Time left:

0:37

0:36

0:35

“You did it,” Moira whispered. “You really did it.” She laughed softly, but sobs of relieve found their way into her voice.

“Yeah, we did.” Hall closed his eyes and pulled his mangled hands from the shards. The remnants of the once powerful blades had taken on a red shade and the faint cracks glowed crimson.

He tried to move his numb legs, but they refused to obey. His upper body swayed before it fell on its side and his shoulder hit the ground. Lily slowly turned him on his back and rested her hands on his arm.

Her eyes wandered along his body. His armor was torn to pieces, his weapons were shattered. She stroked his battered skin, careful not to touch the wounds. Lily bit her lower lip, but couldn’t stop her tears from falling.

She lowered her head when a hand reached for her cheek. Hall smiled at his familiar. He could guess his state from her red eyes and disheveled hair, and it took most of his strength to raise his arm.

“Silly girl.” His thumb brushed her tears away. “You know these wounds will heal. And even if we voyagers die, it’s not for long.”

Lily sobbed and pressed her hands against his chest. “Do you know what it feels like to see the one…” she pressed her face into his palm, “you… foolish, stupid…”

“Why?” Moira asked. “You’re a voyager, aren’t you? All this pain. All this suffering. Why?”

Hall didn’t answer right away. He stared at the sky where the ceiling disappeared in the cave’s dim light. “There are worse things than pain.”

His health bar slowly recovered and his wounds disappeared one by one. And then the timer finally ran out.

Time left:

0:02

0:01

0:00

The event ‘Cleansing’ ended successfully.

+50 Fame

+5 attribute points

You have leveled up!

Too bad those kills didn’t give any experience. That would solve a lot of problems.

With Lily’s help, he got up and stumbled toward the black tree. It had lost its threatening aura and the once oppressive air around it tasted of ash. The disfigured corpses in its crown had fallen victim to the runes’ light and only torched branches remained.

Hall placed his left palm on the trunk. The wood crumbled under his touch and stained his fingers. He took a deep breath, grabbed the scythe with his right and pulled. The weapon had barely held onto the tree and came out easily. “Too close.” Hall shook his head. “Way too close.”

“Master.” A sharp voice resounded in the crater and a jolt ran through Hall’s arm.

“What the?” He stared at the scythe in his hands.

“Master.”

“It grew a lot,” Moira explained. “It was destined to gain a consciousness sooner or later. But don’t expect too much, it will take a lot more before it develops a real personality.”

Hall took a closer look.

Harvester of SorrowDamage:0-100Durability:-Level:21 (11%)Quality:UniqueA truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within.

It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it.

Effects:

-60% damage against enemies without grave sins

-60% damage against enemies without a soul

+60% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul

+60% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul

Ignores 55% of the enemies armor

If lodged into a soul it causes 41 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 55%

Damage increases with the weight of the sins

Damage reduced by the enemy’s willpower

Cuts through divine protection (15%)

Requirements:

Class Harbinger of Death

Willpower: 150

“Not bad.” He patted the weapon and felt a pleasant tingling.

“It will probably need a name at some point,” Moira said with a soft voice.

“Alright, I’ll think of something.”

He swung the heavy scythe and, like an axe, it bit into the trunk. The dead tree offered no resistance and Hall cut through it in single swipe. The black abomination trembled and slowly toppled over. Even before it hit the ground, its branches turned to ash and gusts of wind carried it away.

Soon, only an obsidian pole stood in its place. “What’s that?” Hall inspected the arm long rod.

-?-Quality:UnknownAn old curse corrupted this item, altered its purpose and allowed centuries of darkness to accumulate in it.

“This is a powerful item,” Moira said, surprised. “To distort it like this, requires a equally powerful curse. You’re not strong enough to purify it alone.”

“We’ll see.” Hall smirked and drew on his soul energy. He activated the purifying properties of his skill ‘Down with the Sickness’ and drowned the black glow of the metal pole in his blue light.

Purification failed!

“Oh.”

“Told you.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll put it away for now and we’ll try later.” He didn’t mind the eerie glow or its nauseating aura too much and both disappeared when the item entered his inventory.

Hall turned and tightened the grip around his scythe. “And what can I do for you?”

Hundreds of illusionary figures—men, women, and children—filled the crater behind them. Most carried weak smiles and some held hands. An old man stepped forward and bowed. The others followed his example. An army of ghosts bowed their heads before Hall and his companions.

“We will never be able to thank you enough, not in this world.” The old man’s body flickered. “May your soul be blessed.”

A faint glow emerged from the purified spirits and their figures slowly dissolved into particles of light.

“Harbinger, take me out.” An excited undertone entered Moira’s voice.

Hall raised an eyebrow, but did as she asked. He put the scythe into his inventory and held the heavy tome in both hands.

Event Quest: Whispers in the DarkQuest complete

You cleansed all specters and returned peace to their tortured souls.

Rewards:

Special Skill for your Grimoire

You have gained a level!

Thousands of little lights ascended into the sky. They twisted and merged until a single stream of glowing energy flowed toward Hall. “It’s alright,” Moira said.

Hall hesitated, but relaxed when he heard his grimoire’s words.

The stream of light entered the book, flowed through it and emerged from its backside. The energy of hundreds of souls surged through the old pages and Hall trembled at the feeling of the accumulated strength.

That’s the pure power of souls? Quite frightening really.

After a minute, the light finally vanished and Hall put the grimoire back. “Let’s see what skill you got from this, it looked impressive enough.”

“Oh it is. It really is.” Moira beamed with excitement.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Angels at my Gate (passive)--100%Every cleansed soul that leaves its body after death, will leave a part of its knowledge and experience with you.

Effects:

Knowledge from souls (only when cleansed)

“This is amazing, we can get your strength back up a lot faster,” Hall said. “Let me have a quick look at your progress.”

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Death’s Grimoire (passive)Beginner287%Knowledge is power! Currently weak, this tome can be filled with information and wisdom, granting great power to its partner.

Effects:

Damage of skills related to Death (class skills) increased by 2%

Range and effect of skills related to Death increased by 2%

Defense against skills related to Death increased by 2%

“I’m really grateful for this, thank you, Hall.”

He waved her off. “What’s there to thank for. We don’t have too many people in this world we can rely on. So we rely on each other.” Hall turned to Lily. She took his hand and nodded. His gaze wandered to the spot where he had lain, the spot where he died. “Really only a few. But we’ll do what it takes.”

He walked toward the countless shards that once formed his blades of the soul weaver and his face twisted when he picked up the fragments. “Great, no swords, no armor. Good thing we’re done here.”

Hall stretched his limbs and cracked his neck. His health and stamina slowly refilled and, even though blood and ash still covered his body, he felt a lot better after a few bites and some water. “Let’s get going. Those Nephesh-Tova guys owe us a big reward.”

Now that the battle was over, the cold air assaulted his exposed skin and he wrapped his torn cloak tighter around his body. Unfortunately he still couldn’t wear the only clothes he possessed. Even if he put them on again, they would only serve decorative purposes and give him neither stats nor warmth.

Hall stepped over the edge of the crater and almost missed the twitching mass on the ground.

“Oh I forgot about you guys.” A grin spread on his face. “But you can’t really blame me now, can you?”

A Nachtmahr, or what was left of him, dragged himself away from Hall. The monster’s legs were charred and a trail of his grey blood lead away from the crater.

The creature of nightmares screeched at the sight of Hall. It clawed into the frozen ground and pulled his mutilated body away, desperate, frantic.

“Are you scared?” Hall stood in front of the Nachtmahr, cutting off his escape route. He placed his boot on the monster’s head and glared into the large cave. “Do you see this?” Hall yelled. “If you’re watching, this is what will happen with the rest of your army.” He put pressure on his boot. The Nachtmahr’s weak bones gave in and the skull exploded like a ripe melon. “I’m coming for you.”

Event Quest: KadaversternQuest complete

You destroyed a horde of Nachtmahre, denying them the possibility to spread. Be careful, when one camp of those creatures exist, there might be more.

Rewards:

An unknown foe has noticed you

Report your achievement to the Nephesh-Tova and expect compensation

You have gained a level!

The corner of Hall’s lips twitched, but he stayed quiet. Instead, he picked up the pace and ran through the wide cave, past frozen vines and large rocks. He jumped over streams of mercury and evaded fields of rock grass to spare his boots the same fate that his armor suffered.

Before, he spent days fighting through the cave and through countless corridors. Now, he rushed through it all, only stopping to rest when his stamina ran low. Nobody stopped him when he ran through dark hallways and past rune covered walls, until he finally stood in front of another cave that looked tiny compared to the one he fought in.

He still left the status points he got from his last three level ups undistributed, so he could make a better decision when he received the quest rewards.

“Lily, how is your progress with the journal?” Hall asked his familiar who still read the ledger to increase Moira’s knowledge.

“I think I’m about halfway through. Maybe we should only return it once I’m done with it.”

“As if we’d give it back.” Hall chuckled and shook his head. “We saved their white behinds. If anything, they should increase our access to their library.”

The familiar blue glow greeted them and the frail figures of the Nephesh-Tova worked on various tables.

“You have returned.”

-------------------------------------------------------------

Author’s Note:

Hey guys,

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter,

Took me long enough, I’ll make sure the next one will be out a bit faster :grin:

As always, I’m grateful for every comment, for ideas and for pointing out mistakes (posts, PMs, chat), and thanks to those who did it and do it :D

Special thanks to Ricky, Trent, Max and Sophie for sponsoring this chapter, you are awesome and I’ll get the next one done faster ;)

:bye:

Status Window Hall:

Spoiler :

Status WindowName:HallAlignment:DeathLevel:59Class: Harbinger of DeathRace:HumanGender:MaleTitle:Somewhere I BelongFame:1134Infamy:0-Health:3755 / 2520Health Regen:4.8/ SecMana:0 / 2585Mana Regen:5.1 / SecStamina:1030 / 1030Stamina Regen:6.6 / Sec-Strength:177+35Agility:140+25Vitality:90+10Endurance:89+10Intelligence:112+10Wisdom:118+10Willpower:163+10Luck:40+10-Attack:37Defense:25+45Magical ResistanceFire:10%+10%Water:11%+10%Wind:11%+10%Earth:11%+10%Lightning:10%+10%Illusion:40%+5%Light:10%+5%Darkness:40%+5%+ 30 added to all stats

+ Willpower stat raised by 80 points

+ Magical Resistances raised by 10%

+ Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30%

+ Enables you to equip certain items or equipment specialized for this class

+ Increases attack power for attacks with soul energy

+ Unable to learn most crafting professions

+ Skills that use soul energy will be 10% more effective and will gain experience 50% faster

+ Strayed from the path of humanity. Your appearance causes fear or hatred in NPCs.

+ Unknown

Skill Overview Hall:

Spoiler :

List of skills Bad Moon RisingBeginner LVL3 (12%)The Sound of SilenceBeginner LVL1 (12%)In my Time of DyingpassiveAin't no Grave, can hold my Body downpassiveKeep me in your Heart for a WhilepassiveJudgementpassiveI'm Still StandingpassiveWatching over mepassive/activeDeath’s GrimoireBeginner LVL2 (57%)Turn the PageBeginner LVL1 (0%)Soul PerceptionBeginner LVL7 (78%)Soul PressureBeginner LVL3 (49%)Soul ChainsBeginner LVL9 (4%)Mana DrainBeginner LVL4 (21%)Soul DistortionBeginner LVL3 (14%)Hells BellsBeginner LVL3 (11%)AmbidexterityBeginner LVL5 (23%)IdentificationBeginner LVL5 (75%)Down with the SicknessBeginner LVL4 (57%)Blast TyrantBeginner LVL4 (12%)Chain MasteryBeginner LVL7 (91%)Sword MasteryBeginner LVL4 (31%)Dagger MasteryBeginner LVL4 (2%)

Equipment Hall:

Spoiler : Weapons:

Main-hand:

Blade of the Soul Weaver (destroyed)Damage:44-57Durability:0/90Quality:UniqueAn incomplete sword covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy.

Remnants of soul essence mark this sword as property of Hall, the Harbinger of Death.

Effects:

Ignores 30% of the enemies armor

Ignores 30% of the enemies endurance

Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy

Wounds caused by this sword won’t bleed

If cut by this sword the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 50%

+10% Darkness Resistance

+20 Strength

Area of Effect damage around the sword (5% of hit damage, Range: 10cm)

If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%)

Requirements:

Willpower: 130

Strength: 100

Agility: 80

Off-hand:

Short Blade of the Soul Weaver (destroyed)Damage:32-44Durability:0/75Quality:UniqueAn incomplete dagger covered by shadows. Can only be wielded by those that have control over soul energy.

Effects:

Ignores 50% of the enemy’s armor if the dagger is used to stab

Ignores 50% of the enemy’s endurance if the dagger is used to stab

Slight chance to confuse or stun the enemy

Wounds caused by this dagger won’t bleed

If cut by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 20%

If stabbed by this dagger the effect of all healing spells are reduced by 40%

+10% Darkness Resistance

+20 Agility

If imbued with soul energy, damage can be increased (max. +50%)

Requirements:

Willpower: 130

Strength: 80

Agility: 100

Not equipped:

Harvester of SorrowDamage:0-100Durability:-Level:21 (11%)Durability:-Quality:UniqueA truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within.

It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it.

Effects:

-60% damage against enemies without grave sins

-60% damage against enemies without a soul

+60% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul

+60% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul

Ignores 55% of the enemies armor

If lodged into a soul it causes 41 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 55%

Damage increases with the weight of the sins

Damage reduced by the enemy’s willpower

Cuts through divine protection (15%)

Requirements:

Class Harbinger of Death

Willpower: 150

Armor

Chest:

Hardened Leather Chest (destroyed)Defense:30Durability:0/60Quality:MagicLeather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features.

Effects:

+5 Strength

+10 Agility

Requirements:

Level 35

Strength: 50

Agility: 80

Legs:

Hardened Leather Pants (destroyed) Defense:30Durability:0/60Quality:MagicLeather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features.

Effects:

+5 Strength

+10 Agility

Requirements:

Level 35

Strength: 50

Agility: 80

Gloves:

Hardened Leather Gloves (destroyed)Defense:15Durability:0/45Quality:MagicLeather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features.

Effects:

+5 Strength

+5 Agility

Requirements:

Level 35

Strength: 50

Agility: 80

Boots:

Hardened Leather Boots Defense:15Durability:7/60Quality:MagicLeather armor of good quality made by a skilled craftsman without any special features.

Effects:

+5 Strength

+5 Agility

Steps are muffled slightly

Requirements:

Level 35

Strength: 50

Agility: 80

Cloak:

Armored Cloak of Ella’s Heritage Defense:30Durability:12/90Quality:UniqueAn armored cloak made from rare dragon spider silk. It is harder than steel and at the same time almost as light as linen. An incredible piece of work improved by generations of craftsmen, imbued with powerful magic.

Effects:

+5% Resistance to elemental magic (Fire, Earth, Water,Wind,Lightning)

Cloak will apply a low level form of stealth, diverting the attention of others

+5% Chance to evade, deflect or divert an enemy attack

Strong feelings of affection and gratefulness blessed this item:

+5% damage against beings you deem evil

If your health drops below 50% the material of the cloak hardens, doubling its defense for 10 min

Requirements:

Extremely high intimacy with Ella, blacksmith apprentice of Gelt

Strength: 100

Agility: 100

Wisdom: 80

Rings:

Ring of Ogre StrengthType:Accessory[/td2s][td2]Quality:MagicA ring made for the chiefs of ogre clans as a bribe.

Effects:

+15 Strength

+1.0% melee damage

Requirements:

Level 40

Strength 150

Gold Ring of a Blade Dancer NoviceType:AccessoryQuality:MagicA ring given to those that chose to become blade dancers and pass the initial test of the dancers guild.

Effects:

+5 Strength

+10 Agility

+1.5% Chance to Dodge

Requirements:

Level 40

Strength 60

Agility 110

/td100]

Necklace:

[td100]Pendant of the Soul Weaver (incomplete)Type:AccessoryQuality:UniqueAn incomplete pendant covered by shadows. Can only be worn by those that have control over soul energy.

Effects:

+10 to all stats

+5% to all resistances

+unknown

Requirements:

Willpower 140

Active Quests:

Spoiler :

Quest: Carry on my Wayward Son – Part 2After lifting the curse, Lily’s soul is still not complete. Dravan, who made the curse, still holds part of it after draining her soul energy for so long. Rip it from him.

Difficulty: C

Quest requirements:

lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust from you and Lilith

Rewards: Unknown

Failure: abandon Lily

Quest: No Sympathy for the DevilThe great mage William Henley asked you to hunt down his disciple, Dravan, the last one of the Sorian people.

Dravan rules over a land of darkness unbeknownst to mankind where he controls an army of evil.

Difficulty: C+

Quest requirements: Be cursed by Dravan, survive the curse and find the scroll of his master

Rewards:

Restore what was broken, find what was lost and return what was stolen

Additional rewards depending on your actions

Failure: exceed the time limit of one year

Quest: Man in the BoxYou are trapped in a maze together with the Nephesh-Tobh. They are the keeper of Sorian heritage and stand at the brink of extinction.

Find and defeat the darkness that threatens to overwhelm them.

Difficulty: D+

Quest requirements: None

Rewards:

Skill Soul Weaving

Failure: the last Nephesh-Tobh dies

Completed Quests:

Spoiler :

Quest: Rest for the WickedQuest complete

The quest that was given to you under false pretense and that was part of the ploy to betray you and leave you to die was deemed impossible to solve. Against all odds you did it.

The Banshee’s soul found peace at your side because you set her free and gave her the ability to trust again.

Quest: Carry on my Wayward SonQuest complete

You and Lilith managed to lift the Grand Curse of Shattered Trust and to leave the area after destroying the tower.

Quest Part 2 Unlocked

Quest: Peace of MindQuest failed.

Because you refused to bow to the will of the gods of light you will be punished.

Your relationship with the churches of light deteriorates.

Quest: Follow the ReaperQuest complete

You exceeded Death’s expectation and decided to join her as a companion.

Quest: Master of PuppetsQuest complete

Not only did you destroy the goblins inhabiting the abandoned mine, hindering them from creating more undead animal servants, but you also destroyed the cause of the dark magic.

You also released the souls of those imprisoned by darkness and gave peace to the souls of the dead villagers.

Quest: Mama liked RosesQuest complete

You gave Ella a little peace of mind and a chance to bury her beloved mother.

Furthermore you destroyed the cause of her grief.

Quest: The Witch’s PromiseQuest complete:

You chose to destroy the witch, releasing her prisoner, hindering her from summoning a great blood demon that would have terrorized the kingdom.

Quest: Alice in ChainsQuest complete:

Facing gruesome trials, overcoming your inner turmoil and defeating unimaginable darkness, you entered into a contract with Moira, Death’s Grimoire.

Quest: The Running ManQuest complete

You found several documents implicating Bredon’s royalty with The Cattle Hunt.

Quest: They can't keep us downQuest complete

At great personal risk you stirred up the emotions of Roselake’s nobility and shattered their trust in the king to protect them. You proved to the resistance, that you are worthy of joining their cause.

[td]

Quest: The Running Man – Part 2[td]

Quest complete

You decided to give the evidence connecting the royal family and the cattle hunt to the merchant Jorn and the resistance.

Event Quest: Whispers in the DarkQuest complete

You cleansed all specters and returned peace to their tortured souls.

Event Quest: KadaversternQuest complete

You destroyed a horde of Nachtmahre, denying them the possibility to spread. Be careful, when one camp of those creatures exist, there might exist more.

Available Titles:

Spoiler :

Title : ParanoidThe betrayal of your friends scarred you for life but you learned a lesson to choose careful who to trust and are now a little bit tougher than before.

Effects when equipped:

People think you’re insane because you are frowning all the time

Title : Solitary ManFor breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world

Effects:

When in a party you deal 15% less damage for every party member

Familiars and Pets are not included

Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped

Title : I Stand AloneFor breaking a curse of betrayal you will be marked by dark powers to keep you alone in this world

Effects:

When in a party you receive 15% more damage for every party member

Familiars and Pets are not included

Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped

Title : Damaged beyond RepairYou damaged your own soul irreparably and because you forcefully destroyed the connection between cursed chains and it’s source the remaining dark magic will taint your soul.

Effects:

Relationships with the churches of light suffer and can’t advance beyond friendly

Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped

Title : Losing my ReligionThe gods punish you for refusing them.

The seven churches of light of the continent Akreton declare you a Persona non Grata, an unwelcomed person.

Effects:

Your reputation with the churches can’t advance further than unfriendly.

You are not allowed to enter the churches premises.

Healing fees are tripled.

If a member of one of the seven churches of light kills you, he will not gain infamy

Effects are applied even if the title is not equipped

Title: The bigger they are…For defeating a unique, named quest boss more than 40 levels above you, you are granted with knowledge of how to deal with experienced and dangerous foes, bigger and stronger than you

Effects when equipped

+5% damage against named monsters

+5% damage against monsters bigger than you

Title : Somewhere I belongYou stood up to gods and devils, to angels and demons, and with your soul at stake you formed a contract, binding your being to another. By forsaking your humanity you gained a powerful ally that you saved from vanishing into nothingness.

After giving part of your very soul to your familiar, you now shared it a second time, bringing light to the hopeless and forgotten.

Effects when equipped:

Your trusted companions, those inseparably bound to you will benefit from the home, the purpose, you give them (includes familiars, contractors and pets)

+5% range of skills

+5% effectivity of support magic

+5% resistance against all magic

Heightened resistance against crowd control effects

+5% experience gain

Stat Window Lily:

Spoiler :

Status WindowName:LilithAlignment:DeathLevel:60Class: Familiar of the Harbinger of DeathRace:Human (Spirit)Gender:FemaleTitle:--Health:0 / 1190Health Regen:3.6/ SecMana:11640 / 9055Mana Regen:48.9 / SecStamina:-Stamina Regen:--Strenght:32Agility:40Vitality:55Luck:35Intelligence:402Wisdom:411-Attack:4Defense:-Magical ResistanceFire:10%Water:10%Wind:10%Earth:10%Lightning:10%Illusion:40%Light:10%Darkness:40%+ 15 added to all stats

+ Intelligence and Wisdom stat raised by 20 points

+ Magical Resistances raised by 10%

+ Resistance to Illusion and Darkness Magic raised by an additional 30%

+ Unaffected by physical attacks if not in corporeal form

+ Increases magical damage if the target is affected by the magic of the Harbinger of Death

+ Soul bound to Hall, the Harbinger of Death

+ Unknown

Skill Overview Lily:

Spoiler :

List of skills Soul Meets BodyBeginner LVL5 (89%)Angels don’t KillBeginner LVL6 (21%)Spiritual HealingBeginner LVL4 (65%)Voice of the SoulBeginner LVL8 (38%)I will follow you into the DarkBeginner LVL5 (87%)Prayer for the DyingBeginner LVL2 (11%)The Sound of PerseveranceBeginner LVL3 (21%)Tears of HeavenBeginner LVL3 (79%)Velvet ThornsBeginner LVL3 (29%)Garden of Thornspassive