That boss was a lot tougher than I thought. It really tore through us. Luckily Mariah was a Holy Fencer, so she was able to heal the party. Connor’s Iron Forged was an amazing skill. I’m thinking about becoming a Blacksmith myself. It’s an impressive class that deals with heat and metal. But I need to be thinking on how to balance the party. I might take the Champion class for its buffs, but its not particularly good at DPS…. I wish I could multiclass! This was a lot easier in my head.

Merrill leapt from rooftop to rooftop, her Class's agility letting her make the jumps with ease. The tightly packed buildings of the Capital Hearth only made it easier for her to navigate, allowing her to leap across the city in short amounts of time. The only exception were the Noble homes located around the towering Hearth. The Nobles liked their space, so each house was spaced much further apart.

Down on the streets below, four cloaked figures followed the Rogue. The streets were quiet and empty, for evening had already fallen, along with a light snowfall. Merrill looked down at her crew, making sure they were keeping up, before continuing onwards, stopping in a building overlooking the entrance of the Hearth.

It was lightly guarded, with a small patrol of Common soldiers circling its permimeter. Even the gates had only two guards, both as which were also Commons. Blessings were a Noble thing, and it was beneath a Noble to do a simple soldiers work. So Common were left with guard duty. After all, a well trained, well fed Common could hold off his fellow man with relative ease. What they could not fight, however, were Blessed. Such as Merrill.

Meeting eyes with Severus below, who stood in an alley peeking out at the passing guard control, she winked. Severus nodded turning to face his companions.

“We’re ready.” He whispered.

Merrill stood on the edge of the roof, taking in the sights, breathing in the biting cold air. She pulled her cloak up, covering her mouth, and searched the great metal gates that surrounded the Hearth. She spotted her target. About thirty feet away, right above the two guards in front of the entrance, a jutting metal beam, with just enough space for someone to balance atop.

Merrill reached within herself, feeling for the Skills that where like muscles, extensions to her own body.

Skill…She heard the voice in her head, a woman’s voice, chant. Flashstep.

In an instant the world seemed to zoom forward, the freezing air pelting her body as she flew. And she stood atop the beam, perfectly balanced, looking down at the guards below.

“Milli wishes she could do that.” Milli giggled, rattling the hanging ornaments at the end of her metal staff.

“Well, unfortunately, that’s a Rogue’s skill. You just weren’t born a Rogue.” Severus said, a soft smile on his face.

“Not fair.” Milli pouted.

“I’m up.” Thrace said, stepping out into the open.

His large menacing form was evident under the thick cloak he wore, a gigantic man walking towards the two Common guards.

“Halt! It’s past curfew!” A guard called out, readying his lance.

Thrace kept threading forward, his cloak bellowing in the breeze.

“You’re under arrest!” The first man stepped forward, weapon ready.

Merrill leapt down from the beam twin daggers ready.

Skill: Lethal Strike. In a flash, she cut the man down, driving two daggers into his arteries with perfect precesion.

“Wha..”

Thrace reached into himself. Skill: Charging Bull. With great speed, he shot forward, slamming into the man with a loud thud, catching him with his arm. Thrace slammed him into gate, sending out a loud clang as snow fell from it. The man fell into the snow, his spine broken.

“Traitor.” Thrace spat.

“Take care of this would you?’ Merrill said with a wink, tapping the gate’s entrance, before leaping up and over it with a flip, disappearing into the Hearth itself.

“Hey! Stop!” A patrol had appeared, pointing their weapons towards Thrace, who had his hands around the gate.

Skill: Magic Strike. Severus casted, four balls of light flying from his finger tips. They hit four guards, the magic orbs bursting with fiery green flames as they exploded against their armor. The men fell and did not get up.

The survivors turned and charged him, spear ready to run them through.

Skill: Slow

Milli gleefully waved her staff. The guards moved in slow motion, their muscles heavy and minds muddled.

Anton shot forward, striking each with hard blows of his fists and legs. They fell over, his blows breaking bones and cracking ribs, but he did not kill the men.

“Finish them off!” Thrace howled, but Anton ignored him.

Thrace shook his head, turning back towards the gate.

Skill: Giant’s Strength

Thrace felt the power, like fire burning within him, pour into his muscles. He gripping the massive gates, the metal twinging from his strength, and began to push.

“More guards!” Milli pointed, as several patrols converged on their location.

“Great.” Severus sighed, readying another magical barrage.

The gates bent like paper where he grabbed them, crumbling under the force of his hands. He pushed against them, the gates folding into themselves as they burst open, leaving an opening for Merrill’s escape.

Thrace smiled, satisfied of his feat. He turned around, readying his Giant’s Strength, and charged into the crowd.