Vol. 3, Ch. 126: Coven of Collaboration
All five of them had gathered in Neska’s dorm later in the evening after drying off. There was a touch of chill in the night air now, and a few trees on the campus were slowly changing color, revealing brilliant yellow and orange tones.
Everyone had gotten at least two levels from the hive. Of them, Syra was the most anxious, considering she was level nineteen, close to her evolution.
Neska took a slow breath and let her Interface pop into display for her friends. She knew the range was extremely short, only a few feet, and it took a subtle gesture of will to allow them to see it.
“Damn, I am envious of your bravery,” Syra whispered as she examined Neska’s abilities. “But what is the purpose of this?”
“We’ve all been instructed to pick our builds as we see fit. We need to do better than just picking a power build: we focus on a core build that handles most situations, and the rest is dedicated to abilities that synergize well with teams.”
This was something she’d been thinking about for a while, from her and Juni’s synergy in abilities, along with Syra and Brent. Trevor’s abilities had less synergy with her own…but maybe that would change.
Trevor tapped his finger in the air where her abilities were listed, and let out a low whistle. “Divines, Cassia–I mean, uh, sorry, Neska. That’s gonna take some getting used to. These abilities are unreal!”
“Serkin was obsessed with knowing every ability. And some of these abilities are strange fusions of things that fit within my evolutions, my witch powers, and my archery, now.” She flicked her ‘Witchery’ title for him to see, but only that one.
"Witchery. Is the Interface pranking you? A portmanteau of witch and archery?" Trevor narrowed his eyes.
Hey, I don't pick the names, just like your aspect of the Interface fails to recommend for you to increase your Endurance.
His eyes bulged as he read it. “Boy, your Interface is sassy. More to the point, Neska, you have magical powers to fight a war. However, your endurance and vitality are practically glass cannon territory. You can stack witch hexes, alchemy, and a bow shot, all in one effort?”
“Fortunately, I haven’t been offered powers to devour the world. I think I’ll pass on those. Why is it that Ouroboros gets a bad reputation?” she lamented.
“Hey, he doesn’t devour the world. He keeps the balance of life, death, and rebirth in check. That’s a far more distinctive title,” Trevor corrected. “Anyway, what are you thinking?”
Neska pulled together all her powers, slowly organizing them line-by-line. “I don’t want to be presumptuous, but the way things are going, I’m going to need to pick my abilities to ensure enemies go down fast, and I can keep myself and others alive.”
She showed her roots. “My [Woven Root Hex] is a utility spell that does a lot. It can immobilize and deny areas. If I can get them hit with the blood root variant, I can exsanguinate a target.”
“Or, pry out a parasitic instance core from a giant wasp queen,” Juni said, shuddering. “For a single hex, it's really broken. Or you’ve just found really creative uses for it.”
“Speaking of which, Brienne is going to kill me. I used up all her seeds,” Neska sighed. “Moving on, I have several abilities for utility, mana bolts for offense, along with my venom powers. What I’m lacking is investigative and survival powers.”
“Your [Sudden Molt] is one really good survival tool,” Brent pointed out. “That damn cooldown could be deadly; you get one shot at evasion, then you become a monster’s chew toy.”
Neska smirked. “Nope. There’s an upgrade.”
Do you plan on investing an essence point to this?
It’s worth it.
Neska glanced at one of two evolutions with a prerequisite of her [Sudden Molt] that were Ability upgrades. With three points to spend, she needed the most bang for her coin.
Apparently she could take both of them for her evolution, though there was some redundancy if she did so. Two essence points might be too rich. She waved the options for the others to see.
Juni let out a squeak. “This is nuts. This ability is surely broken. Neska, how are you going to pick?”
“Same way I'm helping you guys. We're a team. We pick abilities that prioritize my survival and offensive output." Even Neska was stunned after she'd examined them.
Ability Upgrade: Toxic Molt (venom, rapid movement, evasion) - your molt gains an on-contact venom and afflicts any target that touches it with your currently active venom with a full dose, at 5 skill ranks above your current [Venomous Bite]. This venom will additionally reduce Venom resistance and inflict vulnerability with a high enough dose. Oh, and you keep all equipment on when you transport.
Ability Upgrade: Witched Molt (sonic, rapid movement, evasion) - upgrades your molt to be mana driven and removes the cooldown, but the mana cost is increased. In addition, When the molt is destroyed or expires, it will unleash a [Witch Cackle] at 5 skill ranks above your current level to all foes in its area of effect. Again, clothes and items remain equipped and become bound to you during the movement.
Your friends may still think you're crazy with all this maddening laughter, though.
Everyone started snickering, and Neska narrowed her eyes. “Yes, my Interface aspect, Vivi, has quite the personality.”
“Oh my goodness! I love her!” Syra laughed, moisture forming at the corner of her eye while laughing. “Mine sounds like he's constantly under the influence of some relaxant medicine.”
Neska threw up her hands, letting a hissing sigh. “So we're all basket cases, then? I was hoping one of us was normal.”
“We are happy to disappoint,” Brent said with a grin.
“How are you going to pick? Those are both remarkable upgrades,” Juni said, finally able to speak with a straight face.
Trevor pointed at the [Witched Molt]. “You already have venom powers that would make any Awakened envious, and more damage output may seem redundant. That immunity reduction though…that's rare to get a damage or immunity bypass this early, at Tier 2, even!”
“So you're saying it's worth it.”
“Yes. But in the face of unlimited molts, and getting rid of a cooldown? [Witched Molt] combines crowd control with evasion, while increasing your survival. It's the clear winner at this point. Not to mention no longer losing your equipment. Neska, if I can make more gear for everyone, it only becomes more potent.”
“We still don't know what she's going to get at Tier 3,” Brent argued. “What if we lose these choices?”
Trevor furrowed his brow. “Alternates could become available if an ability is rendered moot by an evolution. Pick it now, while you can."
Mobility was a key part of her survival with stacking alchemical damage and venoms. It made the choice easy now that Trevor gave her his input.
[Witched Molt] Upgrade added.
Neska felt her scales itch, and then burst outward in tiny flakes. Accompanying the molt was a deafening cackle that boomed through the air. Juni shrieked, Trevor leaped into Syra, getting soaked, and Brent winced, rubbing his ears, currently crimped backward against his skull.
“I'm gonna go deaf if you keep doing that, snake girl,” he grumbled.
“It's as terrifying as Neska is when she's in a bad mood. Which is to say, very,” Juni affirmed. “What else?”
She drew up a longstanding ability she had been debating. The [Bad Luck Hex] was a perfect complement to her new style.
Bad Luck Hex (chaos, magical, curse) - Causes a target to suffer various bad luck, such as loss of balance, attack accuracy penalties, and increased damage vulnerability. This will not bypass damage immunity, however. Chaos and unfortunate probability outcomes increase with Soul. Duration of the hex and damage vulnerability increased by Intelligence.
It’s worse than a black cat running under a ladder and knocking over a mirror.
Neska picked it without hesitation, though there was not nearly as dramatic a response when she did so. That didn’t stop Juni from cringing in anticipation. “With my new hex arrows, I can take even mundane arrows and inflict stacking penalties. In a long fight against difficult foes, it becomes a war of attrition.”
“But it costs mana and arrows,” Brent pointed out. “I know you’re a good shot, Neska. But plenty of Varadur don’t go down to a handful of arrows. For some, you can’t even pierce their hide.”
“Not true.” Trevor stuck a finger in the air a second before Neska could get a word out. “There are many ways to get past the carapace of various insect species, aberrations, or the scales and hides of other foes. Enchanted munitions do the job quite well, or something to compromise their hide such as acids or caustics. Fire too, because, why not?”
“Don’t suggest fire with Neska. Because it always ends with something burning,” Juni groaned, tugging her ears. “You’re going to end up as a Salamander, you crazy snake!”
“A what, now?”
“Sort of like a lamia, but on fire. I don’t think the school can take that level of destruction from you,” she said flatly. “But, I digress. The bad luck hex is a solid choice. But what’s next? You have one offense, one defense power. What about taking a utility evolution or witch power?”
Neska frowned, rearranging the abilities she was considering. “Syrona is my eyes and ears in places we can’t reach. Juni, you can tunnel, but you can’t drill through certain minerals or rocks with densities beyond a certain threshold. Syra can go places none of us can go without immense difficulty, because breathing water is bad for us. Brent has probably the best eyesight of us. Trevor, you have high perception too, and you seem to know your monsters well.”
“It’s just study work,” he shrugged. “It’s another thing to face them directly. So, what are you planning?”
“We need to find the assassin.” She left out the part where Trevor could become a target if his father or brother failed to cooperate with the rogue operative. “We can’t keep going into the field or going to class knowing students are going to get attacked. He’s doing this to get to me.”
“Why?”
“Personal grudge. We think he’s the first Awakened raised by Risha, at least; that’s our working theory. He believes humanity is too twisted and demented to survive, and that the Awakened will replace them or force them to bend the knee after the Varadur are gone.”
“Crazy. But not exactly unprecedented,” Trevor snorted. “So what are we picking from?”
Neska laid out her first option. This first one is...interesting," she summarized.
Tracking Venom (magical, venom, psionic) - Your venom is modified to allow you to psionically track a target with a general sense of direction and distance. This tracking bypasses invisibility, sanctuary effects, and can defeat anti-scrying effects depending on your [Venomous Bite] rank. The range and fidelity of effective tracking and ability to sense through materials increase with Intelligence. Venom duration increases with Endurance.
Trevor whistled. “Okay, that’s a really good ability. But uh, that means you need to bite him.”
“Or hit him with one of my mana bolts or arrows. I can also infuse my venom effects into other things,” she proposed. “I haven’t done that much though.”
“Like what?” Juni pressed.
“I could…you know, infuse my venom into liquids.”
Juni’s fur bristled. “That sounds kinda evil. What’re you going to do, envenomate food supplies, then track people to find him?”
“It’s a plan,” Neska proposed. Her halfway proposal did not put the mouse at ease. “I also have the option to use my [Venom Bolt] or infuse it into my spit. Or just into my arrows, though that has other problems. Like putting a giant arrow into the person I need to keep alive.”
“Next option,” Syra sighed.
She put the second option for all to see. Everyone leaned in, with Brent nodding enthusiastically. “Okay, now this one is interesting.”
Why, thank you, Brent.
Everyone stared at Brent, then Neska. “Are you sure your Interface is…normal?” Brent asked, voice notched an octave higher.
“What do you think?” Neska said flatly. “So you agree this one is good? It somewhat overlaps with my hat but…I think it’s worth taking.”
Spectral Sense (magical, divination, vision) - When using your thermal sense, it can add an overlay of observable mana signatures. This will allow you to differentiate between different types of mana, and the mana flux, as applicable. Rarer mana types can be identified with increased Perception. Range is increased by Intelligence.
Syra canted her head. “So, magical vision? Okay. Not gonna lie, it’s a solid option. It scales, which is really good, too.”
“This is absurdly good when working complicated runes and rune programming,” Trevor breathed. “Neska, pick this one. I think the benefits of this one are better long-term. Your tracker venom has limitations to tracking biological targets, but this can get answers we couldn’t otherwise get, especially if we have to go back into more instances. They won’t all be hives. Some function like giant dungeons filled with man-made corridors, expanses, even pocket terrains. Knowing how they work is important, and that’s just one use for it.”
After that, she put her free Attribute points into Agility, Intelligence, and Soul. “Okay, that was a lot of work, thank you, guys. Who’s next?”
“I’ll go. I got two levels out of that chaotic mess,” Trevor said. “What should I pick? I was going to pick more abilities to try and push my class evolution to some kind of artificer, given my training and preferences.”
After the group looked at his build, Neska was inclined to agree. Wizards were a broad class with a variety of abilities, and could cast scrolls made from runes traced onto paper. They weren’t as powerful as casting the ability themselves, but it gave some flexibility. Neska proposed he pick an ability related to his craft, allowing him to add his Perception to his emergency barrier ward for overall shield strength.
For his other ability, he gained [Artificer’s Intuition], which allowed him to know what components of a varadur body could be used for crafting or magical enchantment. A version for ore existed, but Neska had a feeling that mines were not places they would be travelling into very often. He blinked several times rapidly and rubbed at his temples. “Whoa. Okay. That was weird.”
He went stark-faced when he looked around the room. “I think this ability needs a filter. Because it’s saying you all could be components for, well, magical equipment.”
“Did we really not think that one through?” Syra said sourly. “I’ll donate a cup of water since I’m feeling generous. Neska, can you shed scales?”
“I can, but I’m not sure when. Evolution throws a wrench into normal growth patterns of species. I know I shed three times in the year I was at Risha’s retreat. I am pretty sure that you can turn that ability off, though.”
He nodded. “Ah, okay. There’s a way to filter it out.”
Next up was Syra. She had some reservations, but Neska convinced her to take a rather unusual ability. [Alchemical Buffer] allowed her to store certain compounds within her hydro body with no harm or benefit to herself.
“To what end?” Syra asked.
“Uh, you can inject yourself with my venom, and anyone who lands a hit on you gets a nasty venom surprise,” Neska replied. “Or my [Love Bites]. You can be my mobile healing dispenser!”
“Does anyone find this just a teeny, tiny bit gross? We’re going to take Neska’s venom, put it into Syra’s hydrogel, and then…injest both?” Trevor edged away from the elementa. “I think I’ll pass on that one unless I’m on the verge of death, thanks.”
At the end, Syra selected a rather unusual power: she could flash-freeze any standing water, which could also include blood. Neska had plenty of options for that, including chilling certain alchemical compounds in the field without a minimal lab setup. Plus, freezing foes with their own blood sounded rather devious.
Juni and Brent went next, with Juni taking one that would allow her to absorb metal ores into her body to reinforce her spines. She questioned it, but Neska pointed out that it would allow her to bypass certain defenses. For her other ability, she took a [Metal Scent] that allowed Juni to sniff out metal-bearing ores, indicating which ores were embedded within a small radius.
Brent took a rather unusual one called [He Protec, He Attac], and Neska stared at it. “Is your Interface broken?” she questioned.
“Nah. This one allows me to teleport a person I designate as a pack leader. I can change it once every 24 hours. The best part is, it works over a significant distance, and I don’t need line of sight. I figure you might be the best person to start with.”
Neska felt her scales on her cheeks puff out. “I…don’t know how to feel about that. I’d be your pack leader?”
“In the figurative sense. I also gain a massive bonus to damage if I'm close to you against nearby foes for about fifteen seconds after I teleport. Alternatively, I can designate myself, and I can jump to anyone in my pack, but with less personal benefit."
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Syra cooed. Brent started stammering in response, and Neska peered at him, wondering if he had some angle he was playing.
You know, maybe he likes you. In a ‘snugs with benefits’ kind of way. The ability does work on trust, you know?
Neska wanted to scream into her hat as Juni shot her a knowing smile. “He’s a good boy, isn’t he?” the mouse said slyly.
“Huh? Yes, he is an excellent scout and tracker.” She sidestepped answering what she thought Juni was asking.
You’re evil, Vivi. The demon on my tail! Neska flicked her tongue out in annoyance. “What else did you have for an idea, Brent?”
“Uh, [Wolf Call]. It’s kinda like my [He Protec, He Attac] ability, but I can boost the agility of every member I designate as my pack. It’s really just an area of effect for allied targets.” Brent shied away when Neska peered at him with renewed scrutiny.
Surely this was all an effort to empower his teammates and provide overlapping defenses, right?
“Shouldn’t you put more into scouting and investigatory powers?” Trevor asked.
“Yes, but we won’t always have the element of stealth. The Varadur in the hive were well coordinated, and we could use some synergy, seeing as three of us use agility as either a primary or secondary Attribute,” Brent responded. “At higher levels, I suspect it will also add a frenzy or speed boost to everyone’s baseline movement.”
Trevor grunted. “Okay, point taken. But you know that all five of us won’t be on the same team at all times.”
“We fight stronger together. Anything we can take to plan around other students' abilities will give us the tactical advantage against the Varadur. Now, Here’s my plan. Syra, Brent, Juni, remember the tunnels in the cliffs?”
Brent looked distinctly uneasy after she mentioned that. “Dealing with one murderous bird was bad enough. You want to go back there? Why?”
“As a contingency. Let’s assume our assassin knows every secret spot on the campus. He’s likely lying low in places inaccessible or dangerous for most others. Those tunnels down below are his most likely base of operations. But, just in case…” she winced and rubbed the bridge between her eyes, “We may have to have a discussion with a little birdy.”
“At least I hate that annoying bird slightly less now, considering he watched your back,” Brent grumbled. “When are we starting?”
A loud banging noise emanated from the doorway, and Syrona startled, coiling herself tightly around Neska’s neck, hissing in agitation. “Well, judging by my alarm snake? Right about now,” she answered.