Icarus Awakens

“Well, that went about as well as I could expect,” a man said sarcastically. His most distinguishing feature was the large scar from past lightning burns on his face. Those scars stretched beneath what he was wearing, remnants of the day he’d almost died. He was tall, wearing light blue robes with translucent armor underneath. This protection was made entirely of ice, which did wonders against the fading desert heat. He had another set, but the Artificer that made it was so inexperienced it was liable to explode.

Lograve smiled at the inside joke as he glanced at Tlara. “I’m sure I don’t need to ask this, but there isn’t any way you might have terrified these people by, say, flying your oversized lizard too close to them?”

The avianoid woman with a permanent beaked frown standing next to him folded her arms. “How the fuck should I know?”

“Ah, yes, I should have considered that.” Lograve sighed after the mock apology. “It’s just that we are both very close to the village and right about where you had it turn around. There also seemed to have been at least one arrow fired at your wyvern, but that must have been my imagination. I’m sure there’s no connection between those facts and the faint shouting, but my mind does wander into some far-fetched conclusions on occasion.”

Tlara glared at him, something that could be considered her signature move. “Alright, alright. Jeez.”

“Lograve, what’s a dusker?” Daniel, coming up to his side, asked. His opportunity to clarify this with Thomas had been stolen when the Arcanist leading this evacuation convoy had requested his presence.

“Oh, that’s who lives here. Something you could have mentioned, Tlara.” The Beastmaster grumbled instead of giving a formal response. Sighing again, though this time with faint amusement, Lograve explained. “They’re a race you wouldn’t have seen in the Thormundz. They’re one of the races with a crippling weakness and normally require support to survive, except for environments in which they thrive. For duskers, the light of the sun is poisonous to them.”

“Jeez, do they live underground?”

“They can, but why don’t you tell me? I assume you can see the ones ahead?” Daniel took another look and nodded in realization. “It’s not a desirable trait, but it is offset in a few key ways. A normal dusker capable of using the fullness of their inborn strength could pose a serious threat to someone of level 1 or 2, depending on the class. This village here wouldn’t be able to fight us off if we all suddenly turned black-hearted, but it also wouldn’t be an easy victory.”

“Damn bugs,” Tlara cursed under her breath.

“What?”

Lograve recoiled as if she’d just commanded her wyvern to dive bomb him. “Oh come on, Tlara. I want him to see it for himself! They’re the kind of people you only get to meet for the first time once.”

“Interesting,” another commented. Gadriel the Hero, as in, someone with the Hero class. He didn’t stop semantics from letting him perform regular heroics though. The man was tall with dark hair at a medium length and a cape that fluttered even when the air was still. That last part was undoubtedly due to a power. “I admit these folk are not common in Threst. How do they survive the sun?”

“Patience, you’ll see.” Lograve’s smile faded as he heard more shouting from the village. “Oh gods, I hope you didn’t just militarize the village. Daniel, do any of them look hostile to you?”

The Artificer examined each of the auras in the distance, some of which, as Lograve had implied, were below where he’d expect the sand to be in the oasis. Practically all of them were solid gray, though that could have meant anything as Identify Creature only measured hostility towards him. “They probably won’t attack us on sight,” he answered, seeing why Lograve had asked for him.

The Arcanist gave an exaggerated sigh directed at Tlara before he shook his head dramatically. “Maybe you should go ahead Gadriel? I doubt anyone could take a look at you and think ‘bandit’.”

“I accept your compliment. What should I say?”

“Something along the lines of ‘we’re not here to kill you’, ‘do you have any rooms to spare’, and ‘our Beastmaster is an idiot’.”

“Fuck you!”

“Predictability is a vice, Tlara. Try to vary your aggression. Glares and curses only remain fresh for so long.” Tlara’s wyvern, still summoned and not stored along with her other monsters in the pouches worn at her waist, turned ever so slightly towards Lograve and opened its mouth while lightning crackled across the spines in its wings. “On second thought-”

…

“Master Lograve, is it? I am glad to find that my village can enjoy your presence.”

“Just Lograve.” The Arcanist waved a hand. “I’m sorry for the scare. Is everyone alright?”

“Yes,” the dusker more than a meter taller than Lograve said, still managing to express deference to the human despite that difference. Daniel couldn’t help but stare. They were massive, and so weird.

Ok, only a two, he thought to himself, borrowing Thomas’ improvised scale. But what the hell? The duskers had some form of insect heritage as Tlara had suggested. Beetles, maybe, although Daniel couldn’t easily place what they most resembled. The man, and he was pretty sure about that gender, talking to Lograve was three meters tall, blood red in most places with dust-colored carapace plates around and over the body. Otherwise, they had what could be called normal limbs, and faces that were primarily distinguished by the arrangement of chitinous plates around the head. The breaks in the plates around the face created a large number of small sandy islands atop a red sea, and from what Daniel could tell the pattern of these was unique to each dusker.

It was very noticeable how easily the carapace blended into the sand since it was difficult to tell where that ended and the dusker’s feet began. That was potent natural camouflage. It was just too bad the interior skin stood out easily. Unless? Daniel also took notice of how each armor piece appeared segmented and put the pieces together. “Woah. Thomas, can they shrink down?”

He was back with his normal group now that contact with the village was made and no one was trying to kill each other. The six were standing to themselves amidst the rest of the people from the Thormundz who were gathered on a dune overlooking the oasis. The Cleric nodded. “Yeah, it’s creepy. Look at ‘em! Giant bugs, and strong enough to punch through a house without any enhanced strength.”

“Very strong,” Tak commented. “Very big. That is not fair!”

“Well, they do have it a bit rough. Whenever the sun’s out they have to shrink down and become as slow as sand turtles.”

“Are sand turtles slower than normal turtles?” Daniel asked.

“No, they’re a bit faster. Look, I just, ugh, I’ll just camp over the nearest dune. I swear, nothing against them, they just creep me out.” Thomas pointedly turned away from the majority of the villagers. The actual villagers, and not the former ones that could now only be described as refugees. Lograve was busy explaining the situation to the village headman. A dusker named Xtalo, if Identify Creature could be trusted. No second name. Odd.

Evalyn was also scrutinizing the villagers. “What are you thinking?”

She didn’t turn away as she answered him. “How do classes work with these people? Berserker is obvious. Gods, one of them would be worse than Kob was. But Knight? I’d ask Murdon if natural armor could count, otherwise, how would they bind a full Focus?”

“And forget about one of them becoming a Bard,” Thomas commented over his shoulder.

“Don’t be rude Thomas. Every race has its beauty and there are even gestalt Bards. Duskers have their own love stories and broken hearts. Just because they don’t fit our standards, and I do agree with you there,” she added quietly, “That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t make good Bards! Now, making an instrument that large, that could be a problem.”

“Since when do you wonder about that kind of stuff anyway?”

“Probably my fault,” Daniel admitted, trying to break up what could turn into a fight in front of recently riled villagers. “Mantle of Creativity, remember?”

“Oh. That could be it,” Evalyn said thoughtfully. “Tak, do you feel any different around Daniel?”

“No? I can just tell how smart he is.”

“Khare?”

The earth gestalt who had taken to the desert better than the rest shifted. Khare had acquired the ability to assemble himself into a hybrid form at some point around the threshold of level 2 that they assumed now. It was a simple blend of a humanoid upper half, and a sprawling lower mass of vines that allowed better traction on uneven and vertical surfaces while retaining the better versatility and control of human hands.

“Aura.” Evalyn frowned, not quite comprehending. That was the thing about gestalt. One of the things. In contrast to most races, they had difficulty conversing. In most cases, they only spoke one word at a time, although at several points Daniel had heard gestalt string together words as if they were each a sentence if given enough time. He’d spent the most time with Khare out of everyone here and had the best luck deciphering what the vine person meant.

“They’re right. I don’t quite get the point, but the feature does have the aura tag.”

“Aren’t auras the things your spying ability uses Guy?” Thomas asked, still with his back mostly turned.

“That’s just what I call them. I’m not sure if the descriptors my Encyclopedia uses are official or not, but people use the same words it does more often than not.”

“The Encyclopedia that shouldn’t exist anymore?”

“Yeah?”

Lograve’s voice broke up the conversation. “Alright, everyone! Duststone Oasis has graciously allowed us to make camp here! They’ll even be able to watch over us as they’re nocturnal. Stay peaceful, and be thankful for their hospitality.” A few people in the crowd, Thomas included, shuddered at the thought of being watched by the insectoid goliaths wandering about in front of them.

Strange bugs. Are you sure they are not monsters?

Yeah, Daniel answered Hunter, who used the Telepathic Link between them instead of speaking in such a public area. Why?

They don’t look like the rest of you. Taller.

Yeah, but they’re humanoid. Like, two arms and two legs.

I have four legs. That isn’t too different.

Daniel glanced at the ringcat. Hunter had grown so much from the feral creature that had first stumbled upon him, both mentally and physically. He was an Awakened Ringcat now, and the tag Identify Creature placed on him confirmed that as a true class. What that meant exactly wasn’t clear, but it was obvious that the once monster had fully crossed the line into personhood. Daniel frowned as he sensed something close to bitterness from Hunter. The Empathic Link they also shared was purposefully muted, as having it on full blast brought them far closer than any would have liked. They couldn’t fully turn it off and proximity made it stronger. This close to Hunter, faint emotions sometimes slipped through.

Hmm. It is odd, but I agree. Duskers are people. Ringcats are not. Not normally. Tak’s voice came to Daniel too. The Totem Warrior had formed a bond similar to Daniel’s with Hunter, though it was different in some ways. Like the fact that they got a combo attack, whereas Daniel just got a daily barrage of ringcat instinct whenever the Empathic Link reset at dawn. It wasn’t fair.

The Grafting. Could it be done to me? To other ringcats?

Tak looked at Daniel expectantly, cluing the others around them in on why they’d fallen silent. “Five,” Thomas said, taking that as his cue to walk over a nearby dune and set up his improvised bedroll.

“What is it?”

“Hunter wants to be human. Like a human,” Tak answered Evalyn.

“That would be something to see. I haven’t heard of anything like that happening this side of the Collapse. No stories or the like.”

“Grafted,” Khare stated insistently, pointing to Hunter.

“I’m not so sure.” Evalyn shook her head. “The fact that remnants of the Illustrious were in the region is something to consider, but this doesn’t fit with what the Grafting did to monsters based on the stories I’ve heard. As far as we can tell, Hunter hasn’t physically changed.”

“Well, maybe not that last part,” Daniel countered but didn’t elaborate. “Khare, none of my powers say anything about the Grafting. If it was anything it was an awakening, though the fact that realizing powers is also called awakening doesn’t help clarify the issue.” The gestalt crossed their arms at Daniel’s words, unconvinced. “I didn’t know you wanted that, Hunter. It could be possible. Know any stories well enough to tell us Evalyn?”

“Of course I do. Why would you need to ask?”

“You haven’t told any since I’ve met you. They seem important to you though. Are they like how Bardic music works?”

“Not really. No point in keeping stories secret when some people write them down and share them with everyone. I suppose I’ve never told one because the opportunity never came up amidst fighting for our lives.” She frowned and shook her head. “No, I recall telling some. Not on the trail but in Roost’s Peak. Where were you with- oh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Daniel looked away and saw most of those accompanying them following Thomas’ example of setting up camp a good distance away from the village proper. He didn’t see how anyone could find these people more disturbing than the literal monsters they’d fought.

The duskers themselves were leaving underground homes. Some were appearing from the tents in a compressed state, making sure the sky was dark before drawing themselves up to their full height. It was strange, in their smaller state the duskers looked and moved like near identical statues. Their individuality, to his eyes, came from how their shell plating broke up in their enlarged form.

“Lograve’s still talking to the headman,” he pointed out. “Should we check with him?”

“I think I need to rest.” Tak yawned, a curious gesture for a bird to make that was no less contagious. “I will find Thomas. Hunter?”

There isn’t prey nearby. No hunting tonight. I will stay with Daniel.

“Ok!”

“You two need to figure out a better way of handling that with Tak,” Evalyn pointed out dryly. “I can try to read between the lines, but do that with anyone who doesn’t understand what’s going on, and it won’t matter if people learn you’re an Artificer. It’s risky having Hunter talk in the caravan as it is.”

“I know, but I’m not going to tell him what to do.”

“I’m not saying that. I just want to make sure Hunter understands how dangerous this is for all of us.”

“I do,” Hunter rumbled.

Evalyn took in a sharp breath, then looked Hunter in the eye. “That’s good. I think I’ll rest as well. Khare?”

“Advance.” The gestalt glanced at Daniel and the Artificer shook his head. That had nothing to do with what they’d said, and more with the possessions they were storing in a space within themselves. At first, Daniel had used saddle bags on Hunter to store supplies. The thought of doing that became more and more awkward, to the point that he’d abandoned the idea in favor of giving the ringcat armor instead, with only his pack hanging from it for items he might immediately need. In the safety of the oasis, Daniel didn’t feel he needed any of the special weapons Khare stored and waved him off.

Do you want to be human? Daniel asked when he and Hunter were relatively alone.

I don’t know. It would make things easier.

That shouldn’t be the only reason though.

Hmm. Hunter didn’t elaborate further, so they both walked carefully down the sand to where Lograve and Gadriel were in the midst of a discussion.

“-honored to have you present for this occasion,” Xtalo was saying as he towered over the others from his sitting position. There was an undercurrent to the voice like the distant cry of a predatory lizard. At least, it had a similarity to how movies made raptors sound. Otherwise, it was a friendly voice expressing gratitude, and Daniel tried to focus on that.

The head of the dusker turned first towards him, and then Hunter as they approached. The flesh below the carapace plates was red there too, and Daniel could see a pattern of smaller scales this close. Not like Murdon’s, he of draconic ancestry. These weren’t meant to withstand attack, appearing to function more like thick skin. There were no ears, hair, or nose, whereas the eyes and mouth were positioned normally if not a little far apart for the former.

“Another of your group’s beasts?” The large head nodded to Hunter. “At least this one is obviously under your control.”

“Right, yes, apologies again for that,” Lograve said quickly before someone would take offense. “This is the one I spoke of. Daniel, are you able to stay up for a few more hours? We plan on extending our little stay here until noon tomorrow to compensate.”

It was, what, 8 or 9 pm? People here didn’t use am or pm, just ‘8 at night’ or ‘4 in the morning’. The point was that back on Earth Daniel could’ve stayed up past midnight. A more sensible sleeping schedule had been forced onto him from days of hunting and marching, but he’d also had very late and very terrible nights. “Sure, I think I can. What’s going on?”

Xtalo answered. “One of our people will attempt to gain her class this night. My daughter. We would be honored by the presence of any blessed by the Octyrrum to bear witness.”

“Oh. Of, of course!” Daniel felt he couldn’t refuse, and was immensely curious. He’d seen people advance their attributes after acquiring their class but hadn’t seen this yet. “What does she want to be? If that’s not rude to ask.”

“She is unsure,” Xtalo answered with an unintentionally unsettling smile. “Khiat will be advancing her dexterity.”

“A lot of options there. Martilalist, Ranger, even Rogue. There’s a lot that could happen from just trusting the Octyrrum,” Lograve commented.

“True, but if the trust is well placed, there is nothing to fear. I am told you can identify her class?”

“Uh, yeah!” Daniel nodded. “Why?”

Lograve spoke up before the dusker could answer. “We’ll let you prepare, Xtalo. Is there anywhere you’d prefer us to observe from?”

“The rest of our family will be by her side. You may watch from any distance, so long as you are no closer than any other of our people.”

Gadriel, standing on Lograve’s other side, placed a hand over his chest. “Good headman, it is we that are honored to stand vigil. May the favor of all gods and the Octyrrum incarnate be by your sides.”

Xtola nodded in thanks. “I don’t suppose there are more than words there?”

“Unfortunately no, good sir.”

“Ah, I am grateful still. All you have brought are welcome to observe so long as they do not interfere.”

“I imagine most are more interested in sleep, I am afraid. However, I will inform them of your generosity. Gadriel, please spread the word. Xtalo, I will speak with Daniel here and then we will take our places.”

There were a few seconds that passed as Xtalo and Gadriel went in opposite directions, and the Lograve let out a huge breath. From the way he suddenly slouched, he lost a few centimeters off his height. “Oh, gods, I hate that.”

“Duskers?”

“What? No. Leadership and diplomacy. Even Murdon barely tolerates that and his class is specialized for it. Who in their right mind wants responsibility?” He frowned and added, “I’m sorry about springing that on you.”

“It’s fine, but why didn’t you warn me with Telepathy first?”

“I’m trying to get out of that bad habit. It’s rude to have a mental and a verbal conversation going at the same time. Of course, back in the Thormundz we were hardly concerned about etiquette, but there are people in Aughal who’d detect and call me on it.” His eyes narrowed. “You aren’t talking to Hunter right now, are you?”

“No. Why don’t they know what class that dusker is going to get?”

“How about I tell you about that while we ‘stand vigil’, as our resident bore put it.”

Daniel caught onto the hypocrisy immediately. “It’s not alright to use telepathy during a conversation, but it is during someone getting their class? From how you all were talking about it I got the impression it was a religious service.”

“Well, there isn’t anyone in this village that would notice. So long as you both don’t say anything,” Lograve emphasized his words as he turned to face Hunter for a moment. “Or do anything to offend, we can have one of our chats. Otherwise, I don’t think we’d have the opportunity tonight.”

“That sounds good.” Daniel took in the tents surrounding the small lake in the center, the tower built off one of the shores, and the three smaller stone buildings branching off of the tower. There didn’t seem to be any temple or ritual circle he’d half expected when hearing what was about to happen. “Where should we go?”