Chapter 12: Ambush

O, Bury me in the dirt

when my Time is done. Return me

to the soil, to the womb

of Creation.

Tuck my body into the grave

when my Eyes are gone. Sing

my Spirit back to Jita, to rejoin

the Cycle.

-verse 1; O, Bury Me

(Traditional Ebonblade Dirge)

Zed and Emi passed through the doors at the far end of the first floor and were met with an interminable darkness. He hesitated. How were they meant to continue on now? Neither Dark Vision nor Vision + seemed to have an effect on his surroundings, probably due to their low level.

He swore under his breath, but Emi strode confidently into the blackness. Within a few steps she vanished from view entirely and Zed could only hear the sound of her soft footfalls on the stone steps.

Dark Vision has increased to LVL. 2.

Yeah, thanks, but not helpful. At all.

“Everything all right?” Her voice sounded very far away.

“No? I mean, how is it that you can see and I can't? How am I supposed to navigate this darkness?”

“OH!”

Snap.

Torches flared to life on either side of the stairway. The stone stairway must have distorted the sound of her descent, because Emi stood not but a half dozen steps down from him. She wore an apologetic half smile and beckoned him to follow.

“My apologies, I'd completely forgotten. Now seems hardly the time, but I must remember to teach you Shadow Walk in the near future. Combined with Dark Vision, you'll be able to navigate even the darkest moonless nights with ease. It's an essential practice within the Order.”

“That's an enviable skill. Really wish I'd known about it before...”

“It couldn't be helped. After all, you've been training so hard you're practically snoring before your head hits the pillow!” Zed could hear the smile in her voice. “Midnight strolls haven't exactly been the first thing on your mind.”

Shadow Walk seems like a skill more suited to an assassin than a priestess...

Emi turned and resumed her descent, Zed trailing just behind her. The torches she activated appeared to be powered by a practical sort of magic or enchantment; only one torch remained lit on either side, leading the pair down to the second floor. When the next torch illuminated, the previous torch was snuffed out. It had a striking effect, and seemed like an efficient use of mana.

Down, down, and down.

It seemed like ages before they reached the bottom of the stairs. He couldn't tell how deep they had ventured below the ground, but the temperature was noticeably cooler at this level. The doors were even more ornate as well; both inset with muted monochromatic green stained glass. Sensing no activity from the other side, Zed tried the door handle but was unsuccessful.

“It couldn't be locked, right? You said they made it this far...,” He tapped at one of his horns in confusion.

Emi nodded and probed at the door.

“Not locked,” she determined. “Barricaded from the inside. How annoying.”

“What can we do? Break the glass?”

“That's a good way to attract unwanted attention. Allow me.”

Emi splayed her fingers wide and pressed her hands to the glass. After a moment, the glass panels glowed white, then black, and began melting away under her touch.

“Ohhhhh,” Zed breathed. “Wait, isn't that the fire element? I thought your affinities were wind and darkness?”

“Mm,” she assented. “This is actually a dark element spell. Darkness is sort of a hybrid element, if you hadn't noticed. It can take on aspects of other elements, but it can't replicate them exactly. The light element also has a similar function. This is a Lesser Obliteration spell.”

“Lesser Obliteration? Like reducing something to nothing? Can I try?”

She nodded and moved to one side, focusing her efforts on one panel. Zed placed his hands on the other.

“Now, with restraint,” she murmured. “Visualize...”

A low black flame, consuming all it--

“Woah!”

Skill Acquired: Lesser Obliteration LVL. 1.

Eyes closed, Zed staggered forward and felt himself suddenly seized from behind.

“Careful!” Emi's breath was hot in his ear. “Not bad, but the word 'overkill' comes to mind. Let's move.”

The two stepped tentatively through the new opening and over the few splintered wooden benches piled up on the other side of the doorway. Unfortunately, there wasn't much room on the other side of the benches: the entryway was more akin to a narrow balcony overlooking a large two story room.

Emi pressed a stern finger to her lips and motioned for Zed to follow her to the right. While he hadn't yet mastered the fine art of moving in silence, the benches did not shift under his weight and he dropped to a crouch beside her.

“Keep quiet,” she murmured. “I sense we are not alone here.”

“What is this room? Another place of worship?”

She shook her head.

“It's not for worship, exactly, but it is sacred to us. Come.”

They shuffled to the edge of the balcony and peered through the gaps in the wooden railing and saw...

Devastation.

At one time the room had been a grandiose courtroom. Now, the room lay in shambles. It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place here recently. In the dim, flickering light below they could see what looked like more long benches and tables strewn about, casting heavy shadows. A few pieces had been set ablaze some time before. Small fires and dying embers glowed malevolently in the gloom. All the furnishings were gouged, charred, and splintered to bits.

Large areas of the stone floor suffered from heavy impact damage. The burned out wreckage of a once-opulent chandelier smoldered away in the center of the disasterpiece. And just beyond that...

"Look, there's someone down there," he whispered.

"Where?"

"Just-- yes, there," he said, pointing. "On the ground. See?"

She leaned forward, squinting.

"Yes. One of ours, it seems." She paused. Her next words were barely a whisper. "He's dead."

Zed flinched.

He couldn't pretend he imagined seeing it. Yes, there was a body just on the other side of the chandelier, casting an abnormally long shadow. A sharp metallic tang stained the atmosphere, and Zed wrinkled his nose in disgust.

That's not a shadow. It's blood.

He felt Emi tense beside him for a moment before withdrawing, melting once more into shadow. Zed remained at his post, torn.

Should I wait here? Or should I follow?

She flew down the stairs toward the fallen monk, darting from shadow to shadow, nearly unseen.

Would I make a better lookout from above? Or should I cover her from behind?

Below, the high priestess re-emerged from the shadows and leapt silently over rows of overturned benches.

I should wait here. Give her some space. Allow the man some dignity in death. Something like that.

Emi stood beside the dead man for what felt like an impossibly long time until, finally, she fell to her knees. Whether in grief or prayer, he wasn't sure. All was silent. All was still.

What's the matter, you piece of shit? Scared of seeing a dead body?

His calves were burning. Splinters bit into his palms. No, he wasn't exactly scared. But he did not relish the thought of seeing a dead body. The goblin hadn't been a problem. Then again, the goblin wasn't human either, was it? Still, he hesitated. Something wasn't quite right.

All was not, in fact, still. Someone, something, was moving in the shadows below. Slithering. Skulking.

And Emi's back was exposed.

Fucking move!

Zed darted to the top of the staircase just in time to see the creature emerge from the hidden wreckage below the balcony. He swore it might have been human until he saw a flash of green-black scales and a long, muscular tail. It readied a crude machete-like blade in its clawed hand and lunged.

He launched himself down the stairs toward the ambush, readying his Flaming Garrote on the fly. His eyes darted from the assailant, to Emi, to the wreckage, and back again.

What a shit show. I can't get a clear shot!

The sheer density of obstacles was incredible. No openings. No clear shot. Nothing. He skidded to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and let the spell fizzle. He didn't dare unleash that kind of destructive power so close to her.

So get her out of there! Come on, these threads have to be more than just a weapon!

One thread was invisible, lethal. Two threads became fine razor wire. Three might thread a needle. Panicking, Zed visualized more and more threads. Countless fine threads materialized, coalescing and weaving together at his wrists, producing what looked like black silken armwraps. He couldn't reach her, but these would.

Emi turned toward the commotion too little, too late. He flung a desperate hand out for her. The cloth ends sprang forth, bridging the gap between the pair and wrapping tightly around her leg, bandagelike. Zed immediately understood what he needed to do. He clenched his teeth and pulled for all he was worth. The assailant had closed the gap and slashed viciously at the priestess. He heard a visceral, sickening crunch followed by a heavy clank. Emi screamed.

Skill Acquired: Shadow Silk LVL. 1.

NOTICE: SOUL MARIONETTE CLASS LEVEL UP

Soul Marionette class has increased to LVL. 4.

Primary class attributes have been increased by +1. Please check your Status for more information.

“Nevermind that,” he hissed distractedly. “Emi?!”

The silken bandages withdrew. Emi lay at Zed's feet, clutching her leg and panting heavily. Her foot jutted out at an improbable angle, dark blood dripping lazily down her ankle.

Shit, is this my fault?

“Not... your fault,” she gasped, as if reading his thoughts. “Caught on debris. Broken. Zed, you--”

“I know. I'm on my own right now.”

The mystery creature seemed equally taken aback by this turn of events, staring unblinkingly at the blade wedged in a crack in the floor. Devoid of its original target, the blade had sliced through the ruined chandelier, severing one of its arms. For the first time Zed was able to take a good look at what he was up against, and he didn't like it one bit.

Though humanoid in shape, the assailant was clearly some type of reptilian race. It was tall and muscular with green-black scaly skin, webbed claw feet, and forked tongue. Its red pupils narrowed to slits as rage settled in. Zed had stolen its kill. It threw its head back and let out a deep, raspy bellow.

The shadows shifted as two more reptilian figures emerged from unseen corners of the room, bows drawn.

“Even an ugly asshole like you has friends. Well, that's just fantastic,” he muttered under his breath. He rolled his head on his shoulders, wincing slightly as his neck cracked. Change Class.

Their reptilian adversaries froze in place as time wobbled uncertainly. The class selection screen materialized, now featuring several nonsecular classes he'd picked up at the monastery. While Dark Priest looked tempting, Mr. Big and Ugly was clearly a fighter. Melee defense would take utmost priority here.

Numbers aren't on our side, but if I can cover Emi and get this asshole up close and personal, the archers won't dare fire on us. I need to put up a defense while I look for an opening to take them out. This may be sloppy, but--

Class Chosen: Crystal Blade

Zed quickly dismissed the usual warnings as time shifted back into place. Now he just needed a good weapon. Unfortunately, he didn't have much experience with swords outside of practice combat.

Can I recreate something I've used before? Wielding an oversized fantasy sword wouldn't be practical here. The training katana was serviceable, but if I can keep a free hand so I can control the threads, too...

Forge Blade.

A sleek, unadorned katana materialized in Zed's hands. The curved blade was unbelievably light, perfectly suited for a one-handed fighting style. He flexed his fingers around the grip, testing the weight. Well balanced.

Skill Acquired: Forge Katana LVL. 1.

Across the room, the reptilian fighter swung around wildly for his missing quarry, chopping nearby benches into kindling. Did he think she had ducked behind them? Was he really that dumb? Zed sidestepped in front of Emi, considering.

“Two ranged support in the back, plus the big dumbass front and center. If I can engage him, can you get to cover?”

Emi nodded once, gritting her teeth.

Shadow Puppet.

Zed summoned a copy of himself, katana and all, and willed it on a stealth mission to the opposite side of the room. His clone disappeared into the gloom and, secrecy be damned, Zed charged in full tilt to meet the great scaly brute.

The closest archer spotted him first, alerting Mr. Big and Ugly with a strangled-sounding hiss and pointed claw. No matter. An archer can't shoot a bow one-handed, and he was closing in fast.

[WARNING: String of Fate has been activated.

Beware! You are under attack!]

Thwip!

Zed was propelled suddenly forward by a phantom gust of wind. While the momentum was just enough to push him from the path of the second archer's arrow, he was thrown dangerously off-balance toward the business end of a nasty looking machete. He flailed his arms wildly in a desperate attempt to right himself. Too close. Belatedly, he registered the horrific stench of rotting meat on the reptilian's breath.

WHAM.

His fist connected painfully with the reptilian's ridged snout as he fell. The force of the impact sent both of them sprawling. The katana clattered harmlessly away and Zed scrambled after it, breathless. He must have inflicted some damage; he could hear Mr. Big and Ugly roaring in pain on the floor behind him, just on the other side of the chandelier.

Ha! Got it!

No sooner had he re-armed himself, his other hand slid out from under him. He looked down in confusion only to see a smeared handprint on the stone floor. Apparently his opening blow had also opened up the skin of the knuckles on his right hand.

Shit.

The second archer nocked another arrow, lining up his shot.

Double shit.

Zed rolled away, seeking cover behind a nearby upended desk.

Thwock.

Success! The arrow embedded itself into the exposed underbelly of the desk. He heard roars of consternation from both archers.

“Fuck you, I'm not that easy! At least buy me some dinner first!”

Swagger has increased to LVL. 6.

Change Class.

Class Chosen: Soul Marionette

I'll teach you to fuck with me.

Zed regained his footing and whirled around to confront the sniper archer.

Flaming Garrote.

Flaming threads shot out from his bleeding hand, hurtling across the room. The archer dropped his weapon and raised his forearms in an X to protect his face and neck. Unfortunately for him, his efforts were all in vain. The white hot threads wrapped around the reptilian's arms several times, searing his scales. He cried out in agony. A sickening odor of roasting meat and raw sewage filled the air.

Relentless, Zed sent out more and more casts of Flaming Garrote, further ensnaring the reptilian's arms, neck, torso, and snout. Putrid green fumes rose from his burning scales. No longer able to scream, he thrashed madly against his bindings, eyes bulging. The thrashing only served to exacerbate his suffering; the flaming threads cut deeply into his flesh as sections of charred, blackened scales fell away.

Enough.

Zed jerked his fingers sharply inward. Thick black blood splattered the walls and the archer fell.

Flaming Garrote has increased to LVL. 2.

Thread Control has increased to LVL. 2.