B6 Chapter 655: Exodus (Patreon)

A/N: Small retcon notice: The name of Kaius’s animus and its Seed got updated in the ebook, see status at the end of chapter.

“Simmer down, you rabid dogs!” 

The Guildmaster’s voice swelled with magical potency, drowning out the roar of delvers shouting over each other. The effect was immediate, silence falling over the crowd as people sheepishly returned to their seats.

Watching on from his table at the edge of the room, Kaius could understand the over-enthusiasm. Hells, he was honestly surprised that he wasn’t hurling questions at Guilewind with the rest of them. After weeks of waiting, the impatience had been building within each and every one of them. Delvers weren’t exactly the sort to enjoy the quiet life, and most of the people in the meeting had only been in Baanswell for so long because they didn’t want to miss out on a gate’s discovery.

Kaius doubted that many of them knew where the gate had been found. The House of Flowers had its own informational network outside of the guild, one with far more resources than any individual delver could call upon. He wouldn’t have been surprised if he and his team had found out at roughly the same time Guilewind himself had.

The Guildmaster waited in patient silence, staring down every delver until all were seated.

“A gate has been found in the centre of the Temerian Swamp,” Guildwind said without preamble.

Loud groans spilled across the room. 

“Bloody hells,” someone hissed. “May as well tell us it’s halfway up an ogre’s arsehole.”

Guilewind shot daggers at the man. “I know it’s not ideal — but there have been some small graces. It’s in unclaimed territory, right between Quesro, Zerrakard, and Millios. A tense situation, to be sure — but far better than it being in Taksord’s amphitheatre."

Kaius didn’t recognise the name, but a barely audible whisper from Ianmus let him know it was the capital of Zerrakard.

“That doesn’t mean much!” someone shot back. “It’s still going to be crawling with the bastards.”

“I know. All three of those polities will be out in force. Despite how belligerent Zarrakad and Quesro will no doubt be, I expect everyone in here to play it smart. If you kick off a territorial dispute, we all lose.”

“So what, I just gotta wash my neck when some Quesrodian moron decides I'd look prettier with a knife sticking out of me just because they think I look funny?” a delver with hooked ears and a green tint to their skin asked.

Guilewind gave the man a flat look, his blood-red eyes boring into the delver as his displeasure was written plain in his weathered green skin. “Of course I don’t. In fact, I expect everyone to be keeping an eye on each other. Just don’t start anything. The place will be a powder keg, even with every power from Suthmar to the Dukedoms making an appearance — or perhaps because of it. Each and every single one of you is strong, but everyone else will be too. Expect delvers, lords of every stripe, and plenty of independents. Everyone wants a piece of this gold rush.”

The more Kaius heard about it, the more he thought that it was going to be a total mess. Felborn and human purists, thrown in with the general melting pot that was the rest of Vaastivar, all delving into unknown hostile territory? It sounded like a recipe for people going ‘missing’ on an expedition. The Guild, it seemed, agreed with him. 

“Three Grandmasters are being sent to help keep the peace, and there will be enough major powers present to keep things civil, if likely unpleasant, in the eventual basecamp,” Guilewind explained. “Unfortunately, there is little we can do to prevent conflict in the shardworld itself — which is why I expect all of you to be cautious and look out for one another, please.”

Kaius grit his teeth, flinty resolve filling him. His team would be a target. Four members, with only one human and no felborn, with larger than life reputations. 

“We need to be ready for trouble,” Kaius said through his communication ring. 

“When are we not?” Kenva replied.

“Agreed. If everyone who takes a swing at us ends up dead, the rest will learn soon enough. Within reason, of course. Nothing wrong with a good brawl,” Porkchop said.

A brutal sentiment, but one that Kaius found difficult to disagree with. He wasn’t in the habit of sparing those that came at him with intent to kill. Still, Guilewind had a point. There would be plenty of other teams that were far more vulnerable than them. They had their own goals and objectives, but he wouldn’t abandon someone to a violent death if it was happening right in front of him. Triply so for those he now counted as friends.

Looking across the room, he searched for Helena’s team. He found them near the middle. Helena was already looking at him. Meeting the mage’s dark eyes, he nodded slowly, a gesture she returned

….

The rest of the debrief went swiftly. When Guilewind was suitably satisfied that he had impressed upon them the need for caution, the guildmaster switched to informing them an entire basket of political rivalries, feuds, and cultural oddities. It might have been useful information to know that commenting on the shape of a felborn’s horns might get him punched in the mouth, but that didn’t stop Kaius’s impatience.

The second the briefing finished, they were out of there — as was every other delver in the room.

It was a mad exodus through the city, a pack of high-tier ferals that booked it down the middle of the road at breakneck pace, leaning only on superior physicality to weave through the carriages and pedestrians alike. Kaius couldn’t help but be caught up in the vibrant flare of it all — all of them did. 

“Sorry!” Porkchop said to a shrieking coachman as he leaped directly over their carriage. 

Kaius laughed — the poor sod had stopped dead in the middle of the road, and Porkchop was much too large to slip around it. Half of their number had forgone the street entirely — running straight to the gates along the overgrown rooftops. He could see Gars a block ahead, leaping across an entire street as he let loose shrill whistles, guiding his team below through the less-travelled alleys. 

The closer they got to the gates, the more the pack of delvers dispersed. Some broke ahead in twos and threes, all but flying out of the city at a dead sprint. Other teams broke off towards the numerous stables that dotted the gate-district, fetching mounts and other prepared supplies. Still more just carried on at a steady run, the crowds in front of their path thinning thanks to their frontrunners’ haste.

By the time they made it to the gate, it was already clear. The line to enter the city had shuffled to the side, leaving only a winding road that snaked through the surrounding fields towards the distant treeline. He could see a few groups closing in on that wall of green fast, sprinting for all they were worth. Most of the people ahead of them had slowed, however — settling into a steady jog that they could maintain for hours with their stamina. 

Racing through the gate and into the shadow on the Wyrdwall, Kaius nodded his head to a patch of grass just off the road. They slowed to a brisk walk, as did many others. It seemed that much of the rush had just been the relief to finally get out of the damned city. 

Checking behind him, Kaius raised a hand in greeting when he spotted Weavebane, the mage who had challenged Ianmus in the pit. He nodded back.

“By the Matriarchs, that was fun! I feel like I haven't properly stretched my legs in a year!”

“I know!” Kenva agreed. “Those training halls are fantastic, but they don’t really have quite enough room to really let loose.”

“Almost a shame we’ll be boarding the Pegleg, isn’t it?” Ianmus said.

“We can wait a bit — nothing wrong with an afternoon walk,” Kaius replied.

Soon enough, the delvers who had split off to fetch mounts started to catch up. All manner of creatures streamed by — including a bright red flightless bird that towered taller than even Porkchop. Most gave his brother a wide berth, but all were too well trained to spook just due to his simple presence.

It wasn’t long before Helena’s team pulled up next to them atop massive, white stags with crystalline red antlers. The beasts were Peak Steel, and were draped in thick leather-backed chain barding.

“I’m surprised the four of you are walking after how much you grumbled about being stuck in the city!” Helena teased.

“Maybe they have to,” Gars whispered conspiratorially. “Perhaps all that talk about a landyacht was just bluster.”

“They’re just Silver,” Persellia sniffed, physically turning up her nose at them. “How could they possibly afford such a thing.”

Kaius cocked his brow at the blatant provocation. More than a few of the groups behind them had perked up at the Gold team’s words, watching them closely.

“Now we have to show it off,” Porkchop said.

“You might be right,” Kaius replied, resting a hand on the metal sphere chained around his waist while Helena and her team grinned at them expectantly.

With a flicker of Will, the Pegleg snapped into existence, its spider-like legs flexing slightly as it hunkered down. A section of its shining hull swung smoothly open to allow them in. Someone let out a low whistle behind them.

“Nice,” Gars said, roaming over the vessel. Quickly, the Gold team spurred their mounts into motion.

“See you at the swamp!” Helena called over her shoulder.

Kaius shook his head as he stepped on board, catching more than a few of their fellow delvers staring at the Pegleg. Once they were all in the cabin, the landyacht rose high onto its stilt-like legs, and took off down the side of the road at a steady clip. It rocked a little more than normal, and it wasn’t quite as fast as it had once been — but considering it had been hit by a dragon only a little over a month ago, Kaius couldn’t complain. Especially when the problem would clear up over the course of their journey.

“Drinks on the deck?” Kaius suggested. It was a damned nice day for winter, and Kaius sincerely doubted the weather would get any better in a swamp of all places, so it would be good to make the most of it while they could.

“Gods, yes please,” Kenva replied

Heading up top, Kenva pulled out a set of chairs from their Vault — one of many petty luxuries they could afford with their new wealth of storage space. 

Kaius stared out over the expanse, a wide smile on his face as he sipped at a tankard of ale. It was damned good to be back on the road again, especially when that road led to the Shardworld. Who knew what challenges they would find there, and what prizes? Let alone the Proving itself.

Their levelling had slowed for too damn long. This would be exactly the push they needed to make their way through Gold, and to push their Refinement right to the very end. Hells, if they were lucky, they might even find some excitement on the way there. It was a long journey, and there were plenty of risky routes that the average traveller steered well clear of. 

Up ahead, he saw the shining mounts of Helena’s team. Despite their brisk canter, the Pegleg was gaining on them. Bit by bit, they pulled up beside the Golds.

Unable to help himself, Kaius leaned back into his chair with an exaggerated groan — before he ‘jumped’ as he looked down at the laughing golds.

He raised his tankard in a toast. “I didn’t see you there! Quite the day for a ride, isn’t it?”

Even Nemtep cracked a smile.

“I do believe we might be a little late!” Kaius called down to them, leaning over the arm of his chair. “Good day!”

He urged the Pegleg to move just a little faster — the extra jostle well worth pulling ahead of the mounted team. He fell back into his seat, laughing with his friends. 

As they sat, drank, and enjoyed the sun, Kaius pulled up his Status — curious about how much it would change in the months to come.

Status:

Name: Kaius 

Dynasty: Unterstern

Age: 20

Race: Human (Dynastic [Greater], Greater Beastblooded) - +1 Con, Str, Wil; +3 free stats per level

Layer Reached: 29

Class: Runeblade Hellion - +6 Int; +4 Con, Str, Wil; +2 Vit, Dex per level

Level: 277

Resources:

Health - 21,920/21,920 (144.3/min)

Stamina - 21,730/21,730 (158.9/min)

Mana - 27,370/27,370 (202/min)

Free Mana - 3,250/3,250

Reserved Mana - 24,120

Stats:

Constitution - 2192 (1025 + 160 + 85%)

Vitality - 1443 (620 + 160 + 85%) 

Strength - 2173 (1015 + 160 + 85%) 

Dexterity - 1589 (699 + 160 + 85%) 

Intelligence - 2737 (1172 + 190 + 101%)

Willpower: -  2020 (815 + 190 + 101%)

Stat Points: 0

Aspects:

Pillar Corporus: The Struggler’s Madness

Reinforcement: Titan’s Marrow

Seed: Forged in Endless Strife

Pillar Mentis: The Veteran’s Edge 

Reinforcement: Glass Mind

Seed: Campaigner’s Reason

Pillar Animus: The Warrior’s Pride

Reinforcement: Purity of Self

Seed: Unyielding Flame

Refinement:

Purified Foundation

Class Skills (10/10):

Infused Glyph of Drakthar (Heroic) - 315

Hellblade Investiture (Heroic) - 277

Infused Glyph of Felmenia (Heroic) - 263

Dissolution Edge (Heroic) - 228

Latent Glyph of Vyrthane (Heroic) - 200

Sigil of Vesryn’s Pact (Unique) - 200

Latent Glyph of Eirnith (Heroic) - 200

Mercurial Reversal (Unique) - 200

Runeblade Hymnfocus (Heroic) - 194

Latent Glyph of Muthryn, Throat of VOS (Heroic) - 195

General Skills (10/10):

Rapid Adaptation (Heroic) - 308

Liturgical Bladeform: Primus Ordo (Heroic) - 333

Sergeant’s Insight (Unique) - 305

Tempered by Dissonance (Heroic) - 302

Truesight (Unique) - 315

Tonal Weaving (Unique) - 304

Spellblade’s Harmonic Control (Heroic) - 301

Greater Regeneration (Heroic) - 331

Moment of Flow (Heroic) - 299

Brotherhood of Ichor and Animus (Heroic) - 310

Hymnbook:

Glyph of Drakthar -

Stormlash (Tier I - 120 mana)

Hateful Nail (Tier I - 100 mana)

Starfall (Tier II - 2000 mana)

Spear of Nectus (Tier II - 1000 mana)

Glyph of Felmenia -

Yellia’s Slip Step (Tier I - 80 mana)

Trusant’s Expedient Shunt (Tier I - 100 mana)

Fractured Warp (Tier II - 1500 mana)

Glyph of Vyrthane - 

Warhaven (Tier I - 1000 mana)

Bound Maelstrom (Tier I - 200)

Glyph of Eirnith -

Zone of Discombobulation (Tier I - 300 mana)

Compel Obsession (Tier I - 350)

Glyph of Muthryn - 

Redoubt of the Speaker (Tier I - Variable)

Formationbook:

Sigil of Vesryn’s Pact - 

Unbroken Through Suffering (Tier I)

Honours:

Born for Slaughter (Bonus)

Sublime Prodigy - Glyph Binding (Bonus)

Birds of a Blood Soaked Feather (Bonus)

Persistent Survivor (Minor) (Bonus)

Kingslayer (Major) (Bonus)

Ruthless Underdog (Bonus)

Ruthless Underdog II 

Trailblazer II (Bonus)

Hordebreaker

Ruthless Underdog III (Bonus)

Persistent Survivor IV (Minor) (Bonus)

Paragon (Major) (Bonus)

Daring Challenger (Minor)

Triarch (Bonus)

The Wheel Turns

The Paver Of Ways (Bonus)

Hordebreaker II

Massacre II

When Killers Meet

The Mighty Stand Alone

Spellchain II (Bonus)

Trailblazer III (Bonus)

Tyrannomachia (Bonus)

Bane of the Dragon-Blooded (Major)

Bound Artefacts:

A Father’s Gift - Growth Longsword (Epic, T2)

Continue Tempering to Advance!