You drag the soon to be corpses over to some controls and start piloting the thing homeward.
You also use Blood Boil, to hopefully prevent an overflow issue. -20 Health, +7 Mana
You will reach base by next turn in this slow leviathan.
The panicking bandits are withered slowly away. +15 Health
"Brother."
"Could you spare a cup of life mana?"
"Welcome Brother, There might be something for healing in this place, but I would have to go searching for it. What is with the, uh, company?"
"I don't know. Found a sand sphere, a deer corpse and a shit ton of vampire scorpions."
"This one's sick so I gave her some green shit and then consumed two powerups."
"Might explode later, but who knows."
"I need some carbon."
"Resident healer is out playing with high-risk weaponry, two mages on hand, that sounds bad, and there are some charcoal sticks and diamonds available. I can borrow either if you want."
You hear a small explosion
"Harkim, I told you not 2 seconds ago to NOT play with the Orange crystals!"
"But these ones are more of an amber color!"
"HARKIM!"
The demon runs back inside.
After another explosion and more yelling, the Demon returns, picking shards out of his arm, and holding a young human boy under one arm, Some kind of burning wheels attached to his shoes.
"So diamond or charcoal?" He is breathing heavily.
"Eh."
"I'll want to keep some for later if that's alright so charcoal sounds more convenient."
"After all healing is kind of our shtick."
He walks back inside, and after about a minute, returns with a small stick of charcoal, about the size of a thick paintbrush.
"Best of luck on cleansing whatever that is. Sorry our healer wasn't here. He mainly deals in some less savory magic, but I get the feeling that this would have been child's play with his equipment."
"I might have an ability or two myself that could help the situation if you like?"
The child, Harkim says "Yeah mister, Valerik is the most powerful nec-MHphmm" Galar'nt cuts him off.
"At any rate. we have a lot of variance in our temporary group, trying to recapture a city will do that. Valerik is a... Special kind of healer. Bit on the grim side."
"Why are you being cagey?"
"I can smell the corpses."
"Because I am not even sure if he Is a necromancer with all the weird magic he pulls. He is like a Chaotic stupid Generalist with a penchant for, you guessed it, corpses."
"Besides, He isn't too bad once you get to know him, and his motivations."
"Whatever."
"Which is to say 'none' to be specific."
"I'm a otterweasle mutant with darkness in my soul."
"I try not to judge."
"Except for the mimic lord."
"'Judged' the hell out of that mimic lord."
"Good comes from strange places then!" He heartily laughs, Harkim Escapes his grasp, running back inside.
"Harkim if you turn on that half baked machine, you are in a lot of Trouble!"
You hear something like a thousand kettles of tea being tortured, and back up a bit as steam Erupts from the cave.
"I am beginning to doubt your confidence in that person." The lamia says.
"More than you already doubted your own confidence in me?"
"I don't have confidence in you, I have my living partner, and a cause based in fact to tie it to."
"Fair point."
"But he's incredibly powerful and has access to the materials we need."
"Fair enough."
"I'm just gonna go in now."
"Try not to murder anyone."
You walk inside, covering your mouth as best you can.
You come to a giant wooden building of some kind, Outside are several pile of assorted things, some kind of Silvery machine made up of 7 orbs connected with pipes, and a Large claymore covered in pipes, that is stuck in the ground, steam hissing out of it and several magazines filled with what look like crystal bullets. There are also a ton of Undead aberrations walking around, A blue wolf with a scorpion's tail gives you a funny look, before laying down on the ground.
The demonic Paladin is standing next to the clay more with the boy, and appears to be berating him.
"You are exceedingly blessed that that insane thing didn't explode! Dublin did not teach you to draw water so you could use it for.. whatever this thing is!"
"Actually," an orc off to the side says, before being interrupted
"Dublin."
"Darn."
You tune out the banter, and look around once more.
the only other thing of any note is a Giant sword laying on the ground, a mote of light rests on the handle.
The first sword seems to be a complex runic system designed to draw water from the blades beveled tip, and another one that sucks in air and mana to create a powerful heat source to boil it,
The magically created steam seems to have some kind of effect on it to prevent harm to the wielder, and the entire weapon seems to have a basic Holy Aura.
The second blade is mundane. a simple iron or steel sword about 200 times bigger than you, with two blades that split like a tuning fork
The mote is a life form of some kind. With a highly dense life energy.
"I have a sudden sense of forboding."
"Nice steampunk by the way."
"Thank you! -Stop encouraging him!" You hear two voices yell to you.
"I said nice."
"Not safe."
"I am terrified by both those swords."
"Dang it!" The kid says.
The orc, Dublin, Walks over to you
"Sword isn't the problem. it is user you have to worry about."
"I got that."
"What's up with the kid?"
"Lots of power, lots of potential, but a child, Either an upside or a downside." He shrugs.
"Creative too. Sword uses three spells."
"Complex interaction."
"What's it do?"
"...I think it shoots bullets and works like a sword. Galar'nt won't let him touch the thing until Valerik gets back."
Off to the Side, a part of the claymore Swings open with blinding speed, revealing two prongs on either side of the tip.
"Probably a good idea."
"That sounds like it's dangerous, impractical and something the voice in my head would do."
He gives you an odd look and shrugs. "Lots of voices, two of em ends up in one head eventually."
"I suppose."
"I hear this Valerik fellow has his own."
"But that is neither here nor there."
"Valerik is a good person, but very, very crazy."
"My name is Gerold."
"Nice to meet a fellow mage."
"Ahh, you are a mage? It is good to see the magic in the world grow, even as work shrinks."
"Want to trade some tricks?"
"Hmm. I can teach you to draw water from where there is none, to create a mechanical object from fire as a projectile, and a bubble of water and condensed air that is usually shot. What would you trade for such a selection?
"I've been doing some research into magisenses. I have a few tricks I can show you. And water sounds good since I only have access to demon water right now."
"Ready access that is."
"Hmm. May I hear one or two of your tricks? I wish to make an informed decision."
"Well I've got some telekinisis, some advanced magisense going on, some metal manipulation, better channeling, pressurizing mana and a crafting tecnique that is pretty much useless to everyone but me."
"I've also got this spellbook I traded a monster soul for."
"I believe learning the magisense would be for the best. our group has access to most else."
"So I will teach you to Draw water, and in return, you will teach me to see magic in a new way."
You agree, and begin practicing, magically sparring in a sense, to learn each others technique.
15
HP: 15
MP: 31
EG 16
D͏͘͠E: 1
GE 0
BE 3
RE 4
YE 5
LE 2
PP: 4
Equipment:
R-hand Level 2 Magic Dagger (230/250)
L-hand
R-arm Small Ancient Metal Armlet
L-arm Small Ancient Metal Shield
Underarmor
Chest
Legs