Icarus Awakens

Night returned to the world, though the two traveling paid it no mind. The ringcat was nocturnal. It had missed most of its daily rest, but the dimming of its surroundings sang the song of a fresh hunt to its voracious soul. More to the point, it could go days without rest if need be. To Daniel, it was the steady progress they made on his map that drove him. He’d found a road right where the map suggested one was. It was a little out of the way, but even ground made for faster walking versus the inconsistent hills.

More importantly, Daniel didn’t have shoes. It hadn’t occurred to him before with everything else going on but made itself known at the start of the trek. The thought of the hidden things in the underbrush he might step on made his skin crawl. At least the dirt of the road was soft and uniform.

During the journey, he’d taken a chance to examine the last option of the settings app on the road. The fear of a predator finding them made him hesitate to take his eyes off his surroundings until he remembered the one at his side and said to hell with it. The last tab in his Settings app was a character sheet, only missing the attributes on the previous screen. It was primarily a list of powers, which he could expand or minimize the descriptions of to save space. Given he had no idea what was going on, and, hey, magic powers, Daniel felt more information was better.

Artificer – Level: 1

You are an artificer, a Class that embodies the Ideals of innovation and creation. Your primary Attributes are Endurance and Intelligence. Upon taking this class your current Dexterity is halved. Your artificer Focus will take the form of a magical tool.

Artificer Features:

Arcane Creator (Feature, Intelligence, Domain: Enchantment, Level: 1): You possess the Power to form magical constructs from suitable physical material. Known Formulae: Enchanting of your level can be effortlessly reproduced given appropriate time and resources. Experimentation outside of known formulae may produce variants of them or entirely new formulae. This is a passive power that does not require Mana outside the requirements of formulae.

Identify Creature (Feature, Wisdom, Domain: Knowledge, Level: 1): You possess the Power to identify detected Creatures and their temperament towards you. When targeted by this feature, the creature’s location, level, and name will become known to you if it is possible to possess this information. Hostile creatures will appear red, friendly creatures green, and neutral creatures gray. Sentient creatures of a higher level than you are inherently resistant to this feature. Other conditions, such as Magical Suppression, may prevent this feature from functioning. This is a passive power that does not require Mana.

Focus Enhancement (Feature, Intelligence, Domain: Enchantment, Focus, Level: 1): You possess the Power to alter your focus to provide additional functionality. If an altered focus is lost or destroyed, the benefits will also be lost until you regain your focus. This is a passive power that does not require Mana. Functions granted to your focus may or may not work in an area of Magical Suppression. Current focus functions:

- Maps: Displays maps you have acquired, and your location on them if applicable.

- Music: Allows creation of an audible Illusion based on sounds you have previously heard.

- Encyclopedia: Allows storage and indexing of knowledge known to you.

- Settings: Allows visualization of your Abilities, Attributes, and Features. Additionally, this allows you to commit Advancement Potential instantly.

Artificer Abilities:

Moment of Clarity (Ability, Intelligence, Spell, Domain: Time, Level: 1): You possess the Power to briefly slow your perception of time while remaining conscious for a moderate Mana cost. You are unable to move while in this slowed state, but may Designate your next desired action before the effect ends. The duration of the effect can be extended for a low mana cost per second once activated. This is a Magical Ability that does not function in an area of Magical Suppression.

As far as magical powers went, these were middling. Daniel only had utility powers. Stopping time was amazing, though the inability to do anything during that time kneecapped his enthusiasm for it. More illuminating was that he had mana. “I don’t feel like I have mana,” he remarked to Ringcat, whose species he’d started internally capitalizing for lack of anything else to call it. “I do feel like I’m going to die if I don’t eat in the next day or so. Oh, and there’s the fact that half of my body still hurts. That could be edging it out.”

The formulae he possessed for his Arcane Creator feature were similarly disappointing, as was his phone’s continued refusal to display detailed information outside of the Encyclopedia. At least the hyperlinks in his character sheet worked. The only entry for formulae detailed his lightning wings.

Lightning Wings (Formulae: Enchanting, Construct, Domain: Enchantment, Quality: Shoddy, Level: 0)

A wearable construct made from wood, rope, and scavenged monster parts. While using this Item, the wearer’s maximum fall speed is reduced, and they have a limited ability to control their descent. Use of this item does not grant Flight. The construction of this item is of shoddy quality and is likely to break upon first use.

Creation of this item requires no Mana or significant time beyond assembly. Use of Special Item: Lightning Spine required in sufficient quantity to create this item.

The shoddy quality tag would be insulting if the Encyclopedia wasn’t a representation of his own knowledge.

…

Later in the night, the two stopped when the road crossed a wide stream. Another bridge was built here. It was sturdier than the floating island’s bridge and far less decorative. No paint, more supports. Still, Daniel could recognize similarities in the make. “The same people built this,” he told Ringcat as he guzzled water. He’d found out he could dismiss the green light around him after thinking how obnoxious the constant illumination at his side was at night. The beast didn’t mind either way.

He continued to talk to it, hoping the thrilling conversation would influence Ringcat’s instincts if he ever broke the charm effect. “You didn’t see the first bridge so you wouldn’t know. Also, you’re a cat so I doubt you noticed how it looks like they just drove the bridge supports into the ground. That wouldn’t normally work well without reinforcing the base with something, not for a bridge this large, so there’s probably magic involved. The surface is also all solid wood somehow? No planks, it’s just one piece. If they could do that, why need supports at all?”

Talking about the bridge helped Daniel make sense of the world. It told him there were people here who thought about construction and design. It suggested that their worlds shared similar thought processes, with magic adding interesting dimensions. The people here walked and weren’t so much bigger that their construction dwarfed him. They even had networked villages whose names he hoped hadn’t been translated by his phone. A language barrier on top of everything else would be too much to deal with.

“You could just swim across, so you probably don’t care about the bridge.” Ringcat licked his jowls, finished drinking. “Get enough?” Nothing but an anticipatory gaze. “If that charm ever falls off I hope you spare me at least a second for all the weight I’ve been pulling in our conversations.” Ringcat’s shining eyes stared into his with a mixture of hunger, pain, and impatience. No hostility, though Daniel had to check first with his power.

Ringcat’s head snapped to the far side of the bridge, and in the following silence, Daniel could just make out a sound a few moments later. It was coming from the far side of the stream. The arch and siding of the bridge hid the other approach from Daniel at his position by the river bank. Had he been keeping an eye out he might have seen whoever it was on the bridge, but he’d been too busy talking to his barely restrained murder cat. Should I call out? he wondered. What will Ringcat do if it’s a person? I can’t make my first impression attacking a farmer with a wild animal. He sighed as he realized it wouldn’t matter. Daniel could maybe, maybe squeeze under where the bridge met the shore to hide. All Ringcat could do was try to blend into the open ground.

He stepped towards the bridge, extending a palm in Ringcat’s direction in hopes the creature at least understood hand signs. “Uh, hey! Hi, I mean.” He stumbled as he caught sight of the approaching figure. They had red hair that was hard to see through the darkness and a cowl framing the head. Their form was generally hard to distinguish due to the choice of a thick leather coat. Not made for winter, but defense. Hilts peeked out as shifting gaps in what Daniel assumed was armor revealed themselves. Something was also slung over the shoulder.

He was a human. It was something Daniel wasn’t sure he couldn’t take for granted anymore. The man was moving with a calm, stealthy stride. Only the rattling of the wood under his boots had given him away. This looked like the kind of person who should be roaming the countryside with a ringcat, though they also reminded Daniel of his fears of highwaymen.

Daniel followed his greeting with Identify Creature. The figure was outlined in gray light, but no words appeared over his head. “Hold there,” the man said in a way that made Daniel wonder if he’d landed in Texas for a moment. “We’ve got someone and their familiar on the other side of the bridge. Hurry up!” That was directed as a shout behind him.

I can understand him! The probability he was about to be robbed was still on the table as Daniel didn’t know if his feature only counted intent to kill as hostile. It wasn’t like he had much on him anyway. He’d happily have traded the torn shirt off his back for the ability to talk to the man in front of him if someone had offered moments ago.

Ringcat growled hungrily, but it stayed where it was. The pack member had happened upon a hunter, but it was keeping it at bay for now. It wanted to flee like it did whenever hunters were this close. It couldn’t abandon its pack member. It knew that but didn’t know why it knew that.

“It, he’s not a familiar, I just have him charmed,” Daniel warned the man, who at first had given Ringcat a suspicious glance. He drew one of the knives on him following the warning. “Don’t attack! He’ll-”

“I know. This is just fang for fang.” The man gave Daniel a strange look as if he was seeing him for the first time, before his eyes widened. “Quala, get up here! Gods, how hurt are you?”

Do I look that bad? Daniel had known he should be hurt worse than he felt. The dull ache and sharp pains in his arm would have pushed him to rest if not for the wild animal that could become unfriendly at any point. At least it hadn’t been as bad as his nightmares had suggested. He certainly didn’t see bone sticking out of his leg now, so he shouldn’t look like he was on death’s door. Then he remembered his clothes were caked in dried blood and singed in places.

Two other figures crossed the bridge up to the point the first had reached and stood beside him. One held something similar to a torch, but its burning light was made of magical sparks instead of fire. Daniel’s earlier expectations were met by the new arrivals and in more ways than just that. Both had a mostly gray hue under the Identify Creature effect and like the other man, their names were hidden from him.

The second individual on the bridge had a crown of feathers falling from his head to where it met armor sturdier than the first’s. The feathers were glossy, primarily dark green and white, and reflected the light from the held torch. The armor was latched on in a way that made it clear this individual didn’t have wings. His face peaked in a short beak where the nose and mouth should be, and talons touched the ground instead of toes. The front of the bird person’s armor had a sigil of a cupped hand with smoke stylistically flowing from it. Somewhat encouragingly was the fact that his aura, for lack of a more concise way of saying ‘ringed with light’, had traces of green.

The third was completely alien to human form, though it took one. Daniel’s first impression was some sort of plant monster made of swarming vines. When it came to a stop its mass settled into limbs, a torso, and a head. It had eyes where it should, but nothing else in the way of facial features. Even those eyes were plant matter, taking the appearance of acorns.

The avian spoke. “He looks injured, but not critically.”

She? Daniel corrected his first impression. The voice’s tenor was feminine and had a song-like quality to it. There was no indication this woman was trying for that, so it was probably how she naturally sounded. Additionally, either her armor was covering certain attributes or there wasn’t anything to see.

“Is that someone else’s blood?”A tinge of red drove into the aura around the bird, chasing away the green. This echoed in the others a second later.

He shook his head. “No, I, it’s been-” Daniel didn’t finish the sentence as he didn’t know exactly how to describe it in a way that made sense to him, no less the three in front of him.

“Understand,” the voice came from the vine man as a noise similar to creaking wood, bent and made to emulate speech just as its form mimicked a humanoid shape. The voice’s lack of apparent gender was entirely appropriate. “Upswell. Survivor.” Each word seemed to exist as an individual sentence, a long pause passing between each one. The other two were able to fully comprehend, at least. A rally of green routed the red out of the auras in front of Daniel.

“A survivor? Make way,” a fourth voice called from behind the group, full of concern and passion. Daniel swore a light breeze kicked up just to twirl the approaching man’s cape and long blond hair. It was another human, wearing armor similar to the bird woman’s but without the insignia. A sword and shield were strapped to his body but he seemed only to bear goodwill. Daniel’s identification of him showed a full green aura and name tag. The tag had hyperlinks and to Daniel’s surprise, focusing on the name brought up more ephemeral words. This was the only one that reacted though, increasing Daniel’s slight annoyance at the inconsistency of his powers.

Heldren Storm – (Human, Hero - 3)

Active Abilities:

???

Active Features:

Mantle of Inspiration

Underbrush Step (external)

???

Daniel’s ability didn’t mention anything about revealing active powers on a creature, but neither could he deny what he was seeing. He’s level 3? I shouldn’t be able to know anything about him. Is he letting me see this? The winning smile Heldren gave him when they were at arm’s reach set him at ease.

“These are dark times friend, but fear not. Mortal kind will always find champions in those with the will to overcome adversity.” Daniel should have been put off by how clichéd the speech had started, but the delivery made all the difference. A firm hand was on his shoulder that carried a promise that everything would be alright. “There is a fire in our hearts that no disaster will extinguish! Rouse your fighting spirit and-”

Ringcat growled. The strongest hunter was next to the pack member who now stood frozen. It didn’t like that.

Heldren’s monologue was interrupted as the Hero seemed to register the beast’s presence for the first time. “Ah! A boon companion of yours. It need not fear those who serve justice unless it intends malice against the innocent!” The motivating energy was still there, though the momentum was gone.

The man Daniel presumed to be the group’s scout spoke up. “Heldren, we’re needed at Roost’s Peak and we’re pressed for time as it is. Maybe save the theatrics for the monsters?”

“Of course, William my dear friend.” The space above the scout filled in with his name as Heldren addressed him. Daniel remembered that William had also called one of the other two ‘Quala’ and made a guess, magic proving him right as the name appeared over the bird woman’s head. In the meantime, Heldren continued to monologue. “We must carry on in our duties and I fear you are too wounded to keep pace. Seek Hagain Village and destiny will carry you to your appointed role!” He walked off without waiting for a response, cape still billowing in the wind.

The others moved by, though Quala paused. “Even if Heldren can be... excessive, Hagain Village is where you should go. I’m afraid you’re not injured enough that I could spare any time or mana, but there are more healers there. Do you need direction?” Once again Daniel was taken by the voice. It had a calming effect on its own like Heldren’s, though in a different way.

Is that a power, or are they all just like that? Daniel knew it wasn’t the time to ask. “Just down this road, right?” Seeing her, and the ambulating vine man, up close was more disconcerting than Daniel had expected that was working against the voice. It was the uncanny valley effect, the two were just human enough to pass from a distance at night, but up close the differences were stark.

She nodded. “It will be a few hours, but from here there are no threats beyond the one accompanying you. If you can’t control it, you would be better off leaving it here.”

“That would make sense.” He glanced at Ringcat. It did make sense. He should have left the murder cat on its own a while ago. “We, uh, I haven’t eaten in some time. Is there anything…” he couldn’t finish the sentence. Hunger had pushed him that far in the request, but shame held him from going further. Begging didn’t come naturally to Daniel.

The woman glanced at her companions, getting further away. She sighed and pulled two of something from a bulging pouch at her waist, handing them to Daniel. “Our rations are lean, but this will get you to the village. Just you.” Her green eyes locked with his to emphasize the point. The pupils were normal. It seemed the part of her that was closest to human. “That creature may feel like it’s keeping you safe, but a charm can’t keep a monster from tearing your throat out once it has the chance to escape. We need everyone right now, even level 1 Totem Warriors.”

“Right,” he affirmed, though indecision clouded his voice.

Quala left, getting far enough away that she didn’t hear Daniel’s question. “Wait, Totem Warrior?”