"So what exactly gave you the bad vibe from the shrine area?"
Jax asked as we all approached the minecart to head down the mountain.
"It was after you hit the tree and it started to bleed, and the weird wiggle from the ground, or was it before and you wanted to test your theory?"
Liora said crossing her arms.
"It was after hitting the tree, but before the ground thing. my thought process was, the barrier is designed to keep things in, the tree started bleeding, the ash spirits were getting animals away, and burning any vegetation that couldn't leave, combined with the bleeding tree means that that tree is probably what is trying to be contained"
I said as we rounded the bend to the cart. We all put our stuff inside and found seats as the cart started down the track, but due to the extra weight I had to brake at the corners or we may go flying off, at least this time I had my glasses.
"That still doesn't explain why the ash spirits are so hostile to us."
Jax said as we approached a longer straight away.
I turned to Kaelen who seemed to be in thought as he said
"Well ash spirits are created from those who die in a fire with a lasting desire right? What if the ash spirits were people staying at the shrine who tried to burn the tree and got burned themselves."
"That could make sense, but the shrine itself looks untouched aside from age, if they had tried to burn the tree why wouldn't the shrine be burned too?"
Liora asked as we started to approach the end of the track.
"Maybe not, but we won't know for sure unless we figure out what kind of entity we are dealing with."
Jax said as the cart came to a slow halt. Everyone started to step out as we made our way past the water wheel to the wall of Hopestone. As we approached, I was happy to find that Qos wasn't on wall duty today, however neither was Larz, instead it was Engar, an older human woman who I knew but not on a super personal level. She however did put me off slightly because she was always extremely flirty with my grandfather, something my grandfather found charming, but always made me feel a bit weirded out. Especially when she would boast of their nighttime activities. As we approached the gate I saw there was a small line at the gate with a small group of travelers leaving a rolling caravan. The caravan itself was a monstrous thing, made of cylindrical cars, each with sets of wheels on them, and attached almost like a caterpillar with a set of twin powered cars in the front and back that each served to steer and drive the caravan. Grandpa always talked about how the carbincle engines in them took up almost the whole 20 ft long car, but I always found it hard to believe. We hopped in line at the end and waited for our turn. It took almost an hour, Kaelen didn't mind because he had time to pray, Liora ended up trying to recreate the magic circle up on the mountain with no success, I finally got to crack open and read a few chapters of my 7 stars book. Jax was stir crazy and literally ran from the north gate and back, an almost 8-mile journey. Lucky for him we were only behind 2 people when he returned.
Getting to the gate Engar turned and has a look of pleasant surprise as I walked up.
"Ah Aiden, long time no see, who are your friends here?"
Jax jumped in before me and answered.
"Were his soon to be adventuring group, I'm Jax, this is Kealen, and this is Liora."
I wanted to refute this, but a part of me hesitated, apparently too long as Engar asked.
"So, you all must be the adventuring group sent to see what's wrong with the mountain, there a patch of ash starting to appear on the side near the city, it's not super big, but apparently it's a whole big circle if you head out about a mile from the north gate."
"Thats the work of ash spirits, were trying to figure out what's going on and we need to do a bit of research and stock up on items in the city."
I said pulling out my information as the others did the same. Engar looked them over and as we all walked past, she put a hand on my shoulder.
"Have you seen your grandfather around, been meaning to hitch a ride on the dragon if you know what I mean?"
I pulled away, my face turning beat red as I stammered.
"N-No, but should you really be talking about stuff like that?"
I turned to the others Liora was just as red in the face as I was, Jax looked like he was trying and failing not to laugh, and Kaelen had the same neutral expression he always had.
"Why not, the man was a beast he would just get in there!"
Engar accentuated this by making various movements with her hands and pelvis as I quickly stormed off with her laughing behind me. As we walked Liora refused to meet my gaze and Jax would break down into a barely contained giggling fit every time he looked at me. This just made me even more embarrassed. Kaelen patted my shoulder, and I thought for a moment he would comfort me but instead he said.
"You must be blessed by freyungen to have the dragon run in your family."
Liora shook her head and went storming towards the library as Jax broke and devolved into a laughing fit on the ground.
"I… I… Shut up!"
I said trying and failing to come up with a comeback as I stormed over to Stoics Stocks to see Peridot and see if I had any firestarter flasks in stock. As I made my way to the door I could see there was someone in a cloak inside. I made my way inside, trying to see if Peridot was still asleep and the cloaked figure just standing there. She was snoring away, a small puddle of drool forming. The figure didn't seem hostile, just standing there as if waiting for Peridot to wake up.
"Sorry about my friend, she has a tendency to sleep soundly, welcome to Stoics Stocks, can I help you with anything?"
I said quickly making my way around the counter. The figure turned to me, and I could see what looked to be a younger guy with emerald, green eyes and brown hair down to around his shoulders. Their mouth seemed to be covered by a scarf as they seemed to look between me and the sleeping Peridot for a moment before in a very quiet voice asking something I couldn't hear.
"I'm sorry, but could you repeat a little louder for me?"
I asked leaning in a bit.
"Are you Stoic Hallowcreek?"
The figure asked in a whisper. I leaned back from where I had been leaning in, this happened occasionally, my grandfather was someone who always had a bunch of weird friends all over the place, so some would come by from time to time.
"No, my grandfather is traveling and didn't tell me when he will be back, I know some of his potion recipes if you need something of his made."
I offered turning back to where my grandfather's special mortar and pestle sat in case I needed to start working with the ingredients.
The figure looked at me for a moment before asking.
"Are you an alchemist?"
"Ever since I was 10, I'm pretty sure I'm one of Hopestones only practicing alchemists."
I said shrugging my shoulders, a bit of pride swelling up as I said it. The figure reached into their cloak and pulled out what looked to be a small notebook and after pulling it inside their cloak handed it to me with a page flipped too. It contained what looked to be a diary talking about how the caravan was uncomfortable and that the writer may just jump and go on foot.
"I'm sorry your ride was so uncomfortable?"
I was confused about what the person actually wanted. They seemed to quickly look down at the diary and grabbed it back, flipping the pages as they did, I got to see that their left arm seemed to be strange. Their right arm was human, looking normal, but their left arm was purple in color with almost ribbons of black and red running along surfaces. The back of the arm above below and on the elbow had sharp orange protrusions that looked like spikes you would see on some species of hyper aggressive monster. The man saw I could see the arm and quickly drew it back into their hood.
"Well, I need to see it if I'm going to treat it, but I'm not so sure what an alchemist can do for that, my friend Peridot here is a pharmacist, they may be able to help."
The figure shook their head and after a moment of pulling their diary back into their hood flipped to a page, checked that it was correct, and held it out for me. This page made more sense as it was covered in notes of a recipe. After looking for a moment I saw that there were 3 recipes. For a mana potion, Aura potion, and faith potion.
"Are you trying to sell these to me?"
I asked getting ready to pull out my coin pouch, I wasn't sure if an aura potion would work on Ki, but we didn't have any other solution for if we had to fight the ash spirits so I figured it would be money well spent. The figure shook their head, and after a moment took a deep breath and said, now slightly louder, but still not much higher than a whisper.
"I need an energy potion, but the only recipes I could find were mana, aura, and faith potions, and I was hoping you could potentially figure out the recipe from the other recipes."
I looked over the recipes and turned back to the figure.
"It would be mostly guesswork, take a look at the Aura potion compared to the faith potion, the aura potion uses one-part Abjurasia, and one-part Belramba, very different ingredients from the faith potion that uses two parts Jeffaray and one-part Coparnia. If there was a uniting herb there could be a chance, but with these recipes it would be a shot in the dark. Though there may be a way to get the recipe, may I know why you need energy potions?"
The figure took a moment before saying.
"I have AES, Aetheric Expulsion Syndrome, I heard that there is a treatment to alleviate the symptoms by drinking energy potions."
The way they said it was still quiet and reserved, but I could feel an almost slight desperation in his voice.
"I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is Aetheric Expulsion Syndrome, is it what made your arm like that or?"
I asked trying to rack my brain for what AES was. The figure quickly held both hands up and I could see their strange left arm as they quickly pulled it back into their cloak almost panicked.
"Oh no, don't apologize, it's a rare condition, I wouldn't expect you to know what it is I am the only person I have even meet who has ever had it and I have had to explain this oft-."
They were cut off as they winced, they had been talking quickly and after a moment they said.
"Sorry, I bith my tongue."
I chuckled a bit as I gave them a moment to calm down before they said.
"It's a condition where my energy reserves are difficult to contain, every time I breath out bits of energy go with it, so if you had it you would breathe out bits of mana. This can make it so when I use skills the energy in the air can react and cause my other skills to activate without my intention, like if you accidentally spill strong alcohol near a fire."
I pulled out my notebook and took notes on what they said as a question came to mind.
"Then wouldn't it make more sense to drink a potion related to your energy type? I know Mana, Aura, Faith, and Spirit are the core 4 energys, general energy potions are less effective because the body has to filter the aether into the corresponding energy, so whats your energy type?"
The figure looked around as if looking for a way to escape the situation before finally in an almost defeated way said.
"System"
Selene "Morphclaw" Drakemire
Age: 18
Race: Human
Class: Mutant - LV. 5
XP: 7,200 / 10,000
HP: 35/35
Mutation: 32/65
Stats:
Strength: 28
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 20
Intelligence: 2
Wisdom: 18
Charisma: 4
Soul Skill:
Chimeric Surge (C)
50 Mutation
Your mutated arm can channel an overwhelming surge of energy, amplifying your strength and granting additional functionality temporarily. When activated, your arm grows larger, sprouting bio-organic enhancements like tendrils or plating, allowing you to perform feats of extraordinary strength for 10 seconds. Afterward, you feel drained and tired.
Skills:
Evolved Form (E)
Passive
Your body has adapted and twisted in ways that make shape-changing effects difficult. You have advantage on saves against shape-changing effects and any that affect your physical form. Effects that do succeed last half as long on you. This skill provides passive resistance to external attempts to alter your body.
Mutate (E)
10 Mutation
You can push a part of your body to act beyond its normal capabilities, granting enhancements like elongated limbs, strengthened muscles, or hardened skin. Once mutated, the effect is permanent until replaced with a different mutation. Mutations provide specific stat boosts or unique abilities based on the mutation's nature.
Hidden Monstrosity (E)
25 Mutation
Your mutations can be concealed at will, allowing you to appear normal until you activate specific abilities. Passive mutations remain hidden, but active ones will temporarily reveal your monstrous traits. This skill allows mutants to blend in with society while still wielding their powers.
Claws of the Beast (E)
15 Mutation
Grow razor-sharp claws on your hands, dealing 2d6 slashing damage on unarmed strikes. This skill provides an offensive mutation, turning your hands into natural weapons.
Flaw:
Aetheric Expulsion Syndrome (AES)(B)
passive
Your body constantly releases small amounts of raw magical energy, making it difficult to suppress your abilities or skills.
Involuntary Activation: Whenever you cast a spell or use an ability requiring energy, there is a chance the effect triggers an uncontrolled surge. This surge causes a random part of your body to mutate, using actions in combat and mutation against your will.
Energy Loss: At the start of each short or long rest, you cannot regain more than half of your max energy.
Suppressed Control: When attempting to suppress or resist magical effects targeting your energy or skills, you find it harder than most due to the instability of your aether.
As I looked over the window and saw Selene's class, soul skill, and what AES was in its entirety I found myself asking a few questions.
1. I have never heard of the mutant class, and these skills seem rather monstrous.
2. Her arm is her soul skill, it seems powerful for a fight but It seems unwieldy otherwise, I wonder how they have had to adjust.
3. This whole time they were a girl!?
However, before I could ask any of these questions out loud, I was interrupted by the door swinging inward as Jax, Kaelen, and Liora came in. Selene stepped back, a bit surprised, and she seemed nervous looking between me and the group as if trying to figure out if she should let them go ahead of me. I figured the best way to get back to Selene who seemed rather timid was to just deal with what the others had to ask, so I turned to them and asked. I held up a finger for Selene giving her a warm smile as I said.
"I'm so sorry, give me a quick moment. Did you all figure anything out about the bleeding tree?"
Kaelen and Liora wouldn't meet my gaze as Jax stepped forward looking moppy.
"No, but we did figure out something much worse."
I felt a shiver as I thought back to the feeling of danger from the tree. I turned back to Jax clearly worried.
"What did you find out?"
Jax turned to me with a pleading look and said
"As it turns out the three of us are flat broke...but we knew you owned a shop so we figured we could come to you."
I felt whatever worry I had been feeling vanish as I realized why Liora and Kaelen refused to meet my eyes. Jax however seemed to lack shame as he looked at me expectantly. As my frustration built, I felt my eye twitch.