The biggest problem with unleashing a tide of wild magic to consume your enemies was that it tended to consume their valuables as well. Robin let Jhess hunt down any surviving examples, content in the rogue’s determination to wring every last copper out of any situation. She’d deliver what she found for an even split.

Most of it, anyway.

Robin had ensconced himself in the building that had become Ruprecht’s core room, the same on that hosted the capped well that was also a gate to the deeper depths of Tarin-Tiran.

Ruprecht was silent. The dungeon was focused entirely on refining the energies he had absorbed from the hobgoblins and channeling them into the assimilation of the gate mechanism. Robin had no idea how long it would take, but it certainly didn’t seem to be the sort of thing that was over and done with quickly. So he had settled in, prepared to be patient.

Besides, it wasn’t as if he himself didn’t have plenty to think about. His share of experience from the plan had, in spite of paring his experience store nearly to the bare minimum, not only given him a level but set him right at the cusp of a second.

For a few minutes he had been tempted to leave things there, to get that next level in a few days when they encountered who knows what new challenges from below, but then the sensible side of his mind spoke up. Yes, it would be insanely gratifying to hit two levels in quick succession, but then he’d be in a position where his skills were beginning to fall behind, all that experience burned up in elevating his level alone.

And in Tarin-Tiran? He had a feeling he’d need to keep his skills up as much as possible. Who knew what challenges waited below?

Robin opened his character interface and began with the easy options. His Deception needed to be at maximum. His free Property rank went into Cunning. The Peculiarity that came with level up would be a harder decision so he shelved it for now.

He increased his proficiencies relating to stealth, observation, and all of his various performances and tricks. The math was incredibly annoying, not because it was complex, but because there wasn’t enough experience to just maximise everything. He still had to prioritise, and shifting various things around changed what he could and could not afford.

This was going to get even more interesting in four levels or so, when he’d be able to start increasing things like Strength and Fortitude directly with experience. Hopefully there would be enough beasts and quests and tricks to try to keep up with the point sink that was coming.

Robin was suddenly very glad he had an experience multiplier that he knew most of the particulars for. His need for experience wasn’t going to decrease any time soon. Not if he had enemies like Gis and possibly even Urkhan to face.

Improve me next! Improve me!

Rerebos’s voice echoed in Robin’s mind. The little dragon knew he was allocating his gains and he knew that one of the options for Robin’s next Peculiarity would enhance Rerebos’s own power: [Improved Familiar Bond].

Robin had taken it once already, to increase the range on their connection. Taking it again would give Rerebos an at-will invisibility effect, as well as limited shapeshifting and a breath weapon. It wasn’t anything terrible at this point, but it would make the little dragon happy.

And he could reveal Rerebos as his familiar. The trick would be convincing the little dragon to only appear in a more appropriate form. A miniature shadow dragon would draw all manner of attention, most of it in a form that Robin wasn’t in a mood to deal with.

Not to mention it would hint a bit more than he wanted at his own nature.

The alternative would give him a little more flexibility with his spells. Robin had his eye on several metamagic related peculiarities that would make his spells last longer.

Of course if he went that route he’d have to navigate the wrath of Rerebos, and that was nothing to sneeze at.

Was he likely to have that much use for longer spells? having [Visual Phantasm] and all his cantrips as at-will options certainly negated a lot of the need in terms of illusion trickery. Though it was still annoying to set up.

Only [Lesser Mindreading] and [Wizard’s Armour] would really benefit from increases to duration, an Robin wasn’t sure that was quite enough savings to make using up a peculiarity slot worth it. No, the metamagic specialisations he was eyeing could wait.

Not that that really eliminated all the other options. There were plenty of peculiarities that would grant him new spells or additional bardsong options that were tempting. Not to mention the various utility power enhancements that would increase his flexibility.

Robin pulled up [Effortless Illusion]. It would make him better able to maintain illusions while casting or maintaining other spells. It was quite tempting as well. If he didn’t take it now, eventually he would need to.

He needed more peculiarity slots! Ugh! Too many things he wanted—needed—for the build that was taking form in his mind.

Improve me!

Rerebos’s insistence wasn’t making it any easier to think. Robin sighed and went ahead and selected the improvement, sending a pulse of warning along his empathic bond with the familiar. They’d need to be careful until he could introduce Rerebos in a more acceptable familiar form to the party.

If Robin was going to have to tell the truth, he’d tell a version of the truth. Harmless tricks were still tricks. Got to keep in practice, and who knows when it might result in a dab of experience or a useful perk, right?

Besides, Rerebos had proven himself an incredibly useful scout. Added invisibility would only help that, and help keep the little dragon safe. Sure, Robin could resummon him if the shell the spirit of the dragon wore in the world were damaged beyond repair and it wouldn’t have any ill effects at all, but Robin just couldn’t stomach the thought of Rerebos getting hurt.

Exultation spilled along their bond. Robin could feel the little dragon popping in and out of visibility, and shifting forms. That resulted in more than a few pangs of outrage.

A cat? A bat? Such limiting forms! So inferior to my innate scaled glory! This is hardly acceptable.

We’ll find you a suitably impressive form that you can use, Robin reassured his familiar mentally. And your shapeshifting abilities will grow, as we ascend the ranks of power.

More shinies! More spells! More power! Tell that dungeon to get off his lazy core and open those gates!

Robin sent agreement along the bond and left his familiar to experiment with his new abilities. He had a new spell to choose.

Thankfully he’d already compiled a short list of the obvious options he could access via his interface or from his research at the library of Noviel. He’d hoped to find a few more options here in Tarin-Tiran and just learn them, but that hadn’t happened yet.

There were a few illusion spells that seemed standard for this tier, but none of them really sang to him as inspiring options. Most of the meaty illusions would come into play at Tier 3.

There were a couple spells that interfered with divinations that he had his eye on, though they were neither of them very powerful. They could mask his nature to a degree, redirecting the spell to follow another creature he designated. But without a lot more magic he couldn’t make either of them last long enough to be really useful on a regular basis. Not yet.

There was also a triggered audible illusion, which could come in handy, [Phantasmal Mouth]. In spite of the name it could handle all manner of sounds, not merely speech. And it was essentially permanent, with a programmable trigger. Or rather, it could be mad permanent with the expenditure of a lot of magical energy.

It was still somewhat situational, though, and he could get a lot of the same mileage out of [Lesser Phantasm]. The trigger and permanency might be useful, but they had no idea what theyd be facing down there.

Robin wanted something more flexible.

So in the end he went with [Sorcerous Mark]. It offered various small buffs, and he could have three of the magical tattoos on his person at any one time to start with. They had a long innate duration, and if he had enough magical energies, he could even apply them to the other party members, if they were willing.

Robin was looking over his character sheet in satisfaction when Ruprecht suddenly spoke.

Finally! There was relief and triumph in equal measure in the dungeon’s tone.

The sound of massive tumblers turning rumbled through the floor beneath their feet and the gate beneath them irised open, revealing a well of shadows.

The depths of Tarin-Tiran waited!

Here endeth the tale of The Gates of Tarin-Tiran

ROBIN PARKER Heritage: Shadeling, Paragon Profession: Bard Tier: 2 (Effective Level: 8) Spell Points: 21 Bardsong: 8 uses Experience: 75 Properties

Free Ranks Available: 1 Physical Mental Social Strength: 11 Intelligence: 17 Charisma: 15 Dexterity: 14 Cunning: 24 Manipulation: 13 Fortitude: 11 Resilience: 14 Poise: 16 Proficiencies

Free Ranks Available: 1 Physical (9/9) Mental (9/9) Social (9/9) Athletics: 6 Arcane Lore: 9 Animism: 5 Brawl: 6 Bureaucracy: 6 Deception: 11 Dodge: 9 Concentration: 11 Empathy: 9 Melee Combat: 5 Crafting: 9 Expression: 11 Pilot: 4 Healing: 8 Gossip: 8 Ranged Combat: 11 Insight: 10 Intimidation: 8 Sleight of Hand: 9 Learning: 9 Persuasion: 10 Stealth: 11 Natural Wisdom: 5 Socialise: 9 Survival: 8 Perception: 11 Streetwise: 7 Peculiarities Blessing of Rhyth Tongue of the Fallen Tower Mark of the Trickster Chronicle of Infinite Visions Mask of Myriad Faces Initiate of the Craft Illusion Focus Metamagic Initiate Improved Familiar Bond x2 Perks

Wayfaring Stranger Shard of the Shattered Manymind Mark of Fairy's Favour Touch of Wild Magic Spells

Cantrips* (*no SP cost)

Tier 1 (1SP each)

Tier 2 (3SP each) Lesser Phantasm* Visual Phantasm* Assume Quality (Special) Cutting Words* Healing Note Lesser Mindreading Legerdemain* Whispers from Beyond Sorcerous Mark Lesser Nightmare Curse* Invisible Servant Lesser Witchbolt* Familiar Bond Minor Repair* Wizard’s Armour Lesser Charm*