“It’s high time we move you to a higher tier,” said Amelia.

After a week and a half of relentless wilderness clearing, they’d climbed through the levels, and reached their second milestone. Rowan had been surprised to find a new skill in the meantime. Amelia had congratulated on him managing to get “the good one last”.

Rowan Smith Rivers

Health: 274/274

Mind: 242/242

Endurance: 426/426

Aether: 191/191

Effective level: 31

Level 31 Shieldbearer

Experience: 197/31000

Strength: 20

Dexterity: 15

Agility: 14

Constitution: 17

Stamina: 24

Wisdom: 14

Focus: 16

Presence: 16

Fortitude: 18

Intelligence: 16

Milestones: Shieldbearer II

Skills: Deflect (rank 0); Block (rank 1); Slam (rank 0); Protect (rank 0); Turtle (rank 1)

“Now, two of your team, Ada and Silas, they’ve reached 25 in their main potential. Meaning they do qualify for a tier 2 profession. However… there’s a reason we don’t get you there right now. So… today, we’ll have you run a new lair. And, this time, I’m not going to be watching you.”

“We can handle anything now,” countered Dick.

“No, you can’t. Don’t get too cocky. Being unprepared and under-levelled will kill you,” she replied.

The usual horseless carriage, driven by Amelia herself this time, brought them into a slightly hilly part of the zone. Rowan and the team looked all over. So far, Grailburg had been mostly rolling plains and forest clumps. This part was a bit different-looking.

“This is a different type of lair. It’s not common, but it’s outdoor. Now, how do you recognize a lair? Anyone?”

Rowan and his teammates looked at each other, shrugging.

“No one? Come on.”

Luther raised his hand.

“The critters?”

“Well, what about the critters?”

“They’re stronger, you said.”

“You can find clumps of strong critters outdoor.”

Rowan had a flash of inspiration.

“They’re named after the lair.”

“Good Rivers. You’re sure you’re not the one with high Intelligence?”

Amelia composed herself.

“There are two things specific to a lair. Creatures that are specific to the lair, whose name you’ll spot. And chests. Normal creatures simply have some stuff leftover once you kill them, but lair creatures are the only ones that guard lair chests. You see a chest and a critter that has a different name, you’re in a lair. Even outdoors.”

She added, “And that’s what the Artefact Hunting Company does. We go into lairs, open every chest, bring back what’s inside, sort it, sell it, recycle it. Now, the lower tiers have very little of interest. Most of the stuff we get ends up recycled. We melt the weapons and armour, we strip the leather… Labyrinth leathers are nearly impossible to rip or tear with normal use. But there’s stuff that’s useful for Professionals, even if we don’t use it, and there’s Artefact-level stuff that’s useful for non-Professionals, which is why the Earl of Carnavon is interested in the venture.”

“How so?”

Amelia made a deprecating gesture.

“There’s a widespread belief that Artefacts that are easy enough to be worn by non-Professionals can help your future heirs to have high potential. Personally, I think it’s a load of bollocks, but if they want to spend a fortune on those, who am I to refuse them?”

She continued, “But using +WIS or +INT or even +FOC items does improve a bit your potential, and about every lawyer and scholar and their ilk are clamouring for more. Lords in the House are trying to get more +PRE for their speeches. There’s little market for physical items, but everyone wants +CON or +STA jewellery and trinkets to make sure their little ones grow to adulthood.”

“So we’re going to hunt those?”

“You probably won’t find them for your contract duration. If you ever do, Zacharias will probably give you a nice little bonus – it’s in your contract. But you’ll still get good stuff that sells in bulk. Which covers our expenses. Then, if you’re good, we’ll offer re-enlistment, and that’s when you really make us money.”

Ada looked pensive, before saying.

“So we’re not employees? We’re… what?”

“You’re employees. You’re just junior, and we’ll see how you shape up before moving you to important jobs. Don’t worry, you’ll earn out your 72 pounds before the year’s over. We got accountants that made sure you’d be worth the investment.”

She turned back toward the valley.

“Now to work!”

“Last words before you go in. I’ll be here waiting for you. Since it’s open terrain, you’ll have to spot where the lair specific enemies are, defeat enough, and find the big one. Hint – it’s at the end of the valley.”

“This is also one of the few locations in Grailburg where you have magical enemies. They use Aether-based attacks a lot more than purely physical ones. Rivers, your job will be much easier and more complicated.”

“Uh?” replied Rowan.

“Some of your enemies won’t move around. So it’s easier to get in their way. But they will also attack the rest of your team, even if you’re the most convenient target. So don’t overuse your pure defence, and keep your endurance for the attacks that irritate them. Fullmore? Invite me to your team.”

“Uh?”

“I’ll have to monitor you from a distance. If you start dying, that’s bad, and I’ll rush in. Thankfully, Lightswinger means I can come fast and hopefully save you. And yes, you’ll lose some XP because I’m going to soak it. But I’d rather have you in my… ‘sight’ than not know how you’re doing and have to come in and find out where your dead bodies lie.”

“So you’re still helping.”

“No. I’m coming if one of you die. Then the rest of you is going to wish they did too. This lair is not high level enough that you should have problems, but you’re still apprentice Professionals.”

They turned toward the valley that was still filled with a light mist and started to move. Rowan turned and saw Amelia pulling out some wrapped item, and munch something.

The first thing Silas spotted was a crow. There were a few tiny tree saplings, barely the height of man, and the crow was perched over it. The name gave quickly a hint about what kind of Aether shenanigans they were likely to face.

Lightning Crow Nestling

Level 18 veteran

Health: 322

Mind: 245

Stamina: 54

Aether: 399

“If the name is any indication, that’s going to be different,” said Dick.

“Does it spit lightning? Has lightning coming from wings?” mused Ada.

“We’ll see. I presume the rest of the critters in the valley will be similar, so that’s the right place to learn about it.”

Lightning Crow Nestling: 522XP/6 contributors = 48XP.

“That’s a shit experience for a veteran.”

“Amelia’s dragging us as she said.”

“So, it throws lightning from the eyes, after all,” said Ada.

“And good thinking with the shield.”

“Block does nothing, but Deflect worked out,” said Rowan.

“Isn’t Block…?” asked Silas.

“Ranked, yes. Knowing Amelia… I wouldn’t bet she didn’t pick that lair just for that.”

They found two chests overall. Despite the light fog, just enough to cut visibility while leaving the sky nearly clear, they were clearly visible. Shining metal borders, as if polished. Luther remarked that it was more suggestive of magpies than crows. But Silas did counter by saying that maybe the Crows of the Labyrinth had magpie blood.

Who knew.

Rowan hefted his brand new shield, fresh from the second chest.

Black Targe

Off-hand

Quality equipment

Requires: level 16

Provide: Defence rating +43, +1 Protect rank, +29 Health

The difference with his basic targe was big. Not only did it afford a lot more defence, but that defence would be even more increased by the skills when he used them. And the additional rank to skill was huge news as well. But he suspected that like the potential increases you got didn’t count for a new Profession, the extra rank would not allow him to carry over a Protect skill if he changed Professions to a different one.

Still… it was his shield. One he – and his team – had gotten. He could see how this could be satisfying. To earn by oneself real value, instead of doing a day job. No wonder Professionals didn’t want to do anything else.

But for now… there was a big bad. The valley was ending not too far, and it was obviously the last crow of the lair. And the type of creature that Amelia had wanted them to meet in the last lair.

Valley Storm Crow

Level 13 elder

Health: 825

Mind: 573

Stamina: 126

Aether: 979

“So. He’s almost three times stronger than a veteran. He’s going to hurt.”

Luther did some quick estimations.

“That’s going to be tight for Dick.”

“You heal nobody unless they go below half. Silas, I hope you can find lots of vulnerabilities. I’m counting on you to figure out if he has extra attacks.”

“On it, Rowan.”

“Then let’s do this.”

They immediately learned how wrong they were when the crow cawed. They had expected some effect or similar. Instead, the sky darkened, and lightning played on the gathering clouds. “Storm” was seemingly more than a simple denominator. Then the first lightning struck.

Storm Lightning hits for 50 damage/mind. 5 people in radius.

“Spread out! If his attacks hit all of us every time, we’re never going to make it.”

They immediately ran away, leaving Rowan to rush toward the huge crow. Thankfully, this one didn’t go flying around. Instead, it also came toward the foolhardy person who was trying to bother it.

“Lightning on his claws,” yelled Silas.

Lightning attack neutralized, damage halved. 19 damage (62 Defence), -12 mind.

“Good. But its attacks do affect the mind. We can’t counter that. We need to do it fast.”

The crow simply clawed a few times, and Dick started to heal as Rowan’s health dipped. Rather than trying to Block the normal attacks, Rowan paced himself. One of the lightning claw went through without being spotted, but the next let him Slam.

Slam fully counters the attack. Mind and damage effects avoided.

“Keep watching him, Silas. If you spot his big atta…”

Lightning struck from the sky. Unfortunately, Ada was stabbing the crow from behind and got caught by the hit in addition to Rowan.

“Mind nearly at half,” she yelled.

“I can see that. If you get hit again, get out. I’d rather have you not doing damage than go mad at me.”

Not that Rowan’s own mind levels were much better. The crow’s claws did do a number on that, despite the higher maximum.

The crow was nearly at half health at that point. If they kept doing it… it would be a near thing, but it would work. The big threat was the mind attack, and notably if…

“Storm bolt again.”

Slam stunned the crow for a second. It was in these moments that Rowan understood why someone like Silas, who wasn’t even doing damage at the moment, was crucial for a group. Without the capacity to regenerate mind fast, they needed a way to counter those attacks.

The crow’s health reached 80… nearly done. But the beast did not want to get down, and cawed… very loudly. Lightning poured out of its beak.

Incapacitating Lightning. 12 damage, -50 mind, all skills locked for 13 seconds.

“Balls! This one blocked all my skills! I can’t protect…”

The claws struck, and Rowan’s mind went blank.

Rowan blinked. He was on… his back. He raised his head and looked. Ada was sitting, visibly shaken. Everyone was surrounding her and… Amelia was watching him.

He looked at the Interface.

Valley Storm Crow: 1372/6 contributors = 124XP.

You have completed Grailburg Valley of Storms Lair.

“What… happened?” asked Rowan.

“Now, you know what happens if your mind goes to zero,” replied Amelia.

“Well, rather, your team does. You probably don’t even remember anything.”

“Did I attack…”

“Ada? Yes. She was the closest. She wasn’t mind knocked, but she couldn’t avoid your attacks. I’m afraid it was more of a shock rather than real damage.”

“But I wouldn’t…”

“You did. And I ran in once you reached zero, and knocked you out. Or your team would have had to deal with a berserk Shieldbearer until you got enough mind back.”

“How does everyone…”

“You develop strategies. That’s what makes a good team.”

She laughed.

“Or you get good gear to prevent that kind of thing if that’s what you worry about. But the crow was dead by the time I arrived, so you’d have made it through. It’s when you have to deal with a mind-addled member and an enemy that things go wrong.”

Rowan stood up and walked to Ada. She looked at him, blinking.

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

She had a weak smile.

“It’s the Labyrinth.”