The Brokeshale Battle 1 (2/2)
Garon folded his hands. “It's about Mastoya, actually. I think I know how to reach her. But we're going to have to beat her first.”
Threadbare nodded. “Okay.”
“When we meet her on the field, if we meet her on the field, and I'm sure we will, I want you to follow my lead, okay? No matter what I say.”
“Can you tell me what you're planning? So I know how to follow it?”
“That's the hard part. I can't, because it's all going to depend on the circumstances and how it plays out. But...” Garon spread his hands, slapped them on the table. “It's one last try. My last chance to save her. I... I need this. You know? And Mom needs this, even if she won't admit it.”
“Zuula said something about you being in a flier.”
“Then Wind's Whisper me when you come to her. You're staying on the ground, right?”
“Oh yes. I don't know how to fly.”
“Then she'll come to you. I guarantee it. Stall her until I get there. Fight her, talk to her, whatever.” Garon shook his head, tossing his horns. “Please. I need this.”
Threadbare didn't look at Garon's face. Garon's face didn't move, save for his jaws. It wasn't like humans, who he'd spent most of his life studying. Instead he studied Garon's posture, the way his fingers moved, the way he sat.
And Threadbare nodded. “Okay.”
“Thanks. I owe you. Big time.” Garon leaned back.
“Madeline.” Threadbare slapped his forehead. “I forgot to talk with her.”
“She was chilling on the roof of the temple, last I saw. Wanna walk there together? I can't leave Mom alone too long, she'll burn something down.”
“I don't think she can. Most of this place is made out of stone.”
“You don't know Mom like I do. She doesn't do well with boredom.”
The two of them headed back, and sure enough, there was a flash of red on the temple roof as they approached. “There she is. Want a toss?”
“A what?”
“Some of the new guys invented this. The stronger ones just up and threw the weaker ones across a big chasm I put in their way. It bangs you up a little, but you've got mend.” Garon laughed. “Here I was set to be the guy training them, and they're teaching me.”
“Sure, toss me.” Threadbare held his arms out.
The dwarves on the street gaped as the little wooden minotaur whirled around a few times, and threw the bear up to bounce off the steeple.
He flailed, caught ahold of the edge of the roof before he fell, and hoisted himself up.
Your Climb skill is now level 14!
“Hey,” Madeline said.
Next to her, Pulsivar looked up, and immediately hurried over. The Bear no longer smelled like him! This could not stand! Threadbare scrambled for footing, as Pulsivar rubbed his invisible face all over him, the image five feet away rubbing against air. The rank up had made the black cat strong.
Threadbare managed to find his voice. “Hello. I've been checking in with everyone.”
“Why?”
“Cecelia suggested that I do it. And I want to make sure you're all right.”
“Oh. Yeah, mostly.” She put her head down, listened to Pulsivar purr as he groomed his bear.
“Mostly?”
“I've done a lot of things. Never done wah. Theah's a lot of stuff that could go wrong when the bacon hits the pan. I mean...” she flexed her wings, “we've gaht more chances of sahviving than most, so long as they don't take down you and Graves, but we really ah gonna be risking everyone in this. Nothing's for shah.”
“For sure?”
“That's what I said.”
“I'm sorry. We have to do this.”
“I know. Gotta beat the bad guys, win the Kingdom back. But aftah THAT, we gotta go take on the King, and maybe the Hand if we don't stomp'em in the field. And he's a badass. And the people wahking for him are badasses. I'm...” She looked at Threadbare, and he'd never seen her like this. “I've lost so many people, you know? I've fahked up so many things. This heah, this is the best group of friends I've evah had, and I don't want to lose any of them, and I'm so godsdamned scahed-”
Threadbare pushed Pulsivar gently away, marched over, and hugged Madeline.
CHA+1
She sagged into his arms, shaking, and he held her, rubbing her ridged spine. After a bit, Pulsivar came over and curled around them, because why not.
“Thanks,” she said, pulling back from him, after a few minutes. “You give good hugs. I see why Cecelia keeps ya around.”
“I do my best.”
“I'll be fine.” The dragon took a breath, let it out. “Will you?”
Threadbare thought about it.
“Yes,” he said. “I think it will be hard, but we'll win. And I'll fight hard so none of us die.”
The dragon smiled. “Then you're fine.”
“I should be animating more golems. But... I think they can spare me for a moment. Just a moment. If anyone asks please tell them I'm resting.”
“You chose a good spot foah it,” Madeline settled into Pulsivar's furry bulk.
And so, the little bear rested, and prepared for what was to come. Days fled as he animated golem after golem, gaining a level from his work. They managed to get every one of the soulstoned ex-cultists embodied, and somewhat trained. Celia managed to get her Steam Knight armor up and running. And a myriad of other preparations with the leftover reagents helped gain Threadbare gain another two enchanter levels.
But even so, when the alarms rang through the hold, and the scouts returned saying the Crown's army was on the move, Threadbare did not feel prepared....
THREADBARE'S CHARACTER SHEET
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Threadbare
Age: 5
Jobs:
Greater Toy Golem Level 16
Cave Bear Level 13
Ruler Level 13
Scout Level 8
Tailor Level 11
Model Level 11
Necromancer Level 11
Duelist Level 10
Animator Level 13
Enchanter Level 12
Golemist Level 19
Smith Level 11
Sculptor Level 13
Attributes:
Strength: 147 Constitution: 163 Hit Points: 388(498) Armor: 57(71)
Intelligence: 262 Wisdom: 224(231) Sanity: 486(656) Mental Fortitude: 47
Dexterity: 177(184) Agility: 147(154) Stamina: 334(448) Endurance: 67
Charisma: 130(159) Willpower: 248 Moxie: 378(517) Cool: 20(55)
Perception: 134 Luck: 101(108) Fortune: 235(352) Fate: 16(23)
Generic Skills
Brawling - Level 50 (+34)
Climb - Level 14
Clubs and Maces - Level 19
Dagger - Level 9
Dodge - Level 13
Fishing - Level 1
Magic Items - Resist Fire 29
Ride - Level 12
Stealth - Level 17
Swim - Level 5
Greater Toy Golem Skills
Adorable - Level 43
Bodyguard - Level 9
Gift of Sapience - Level NA
Golem Body - Level 32
Innocent Embrace - Level 17
Magic Resistance -Level 17
Cave Bear Skills
Animalistic Interface - NA
Claw Swipes - 44
Darkspawn - NA
Forage - 13
Growl - 2
Hibernate - 37
Scents and Sensibility - 22
Stubborn - 10
Toughness - 24
Ruler Skills
Appoint Official - Level NA
Emboldening Speech - Level 19
Identify Subject - Level 10
It's Good to be King - NA
King's Quest - Level 15
Noblesse Oblige - Level 37
Organize Minions - Level NA
Royal Audience - Level 22
Simple Decree - Level 15
Swear Fealty - Level NA
Scout Skills
Alertness - Level 3
Best Route - Level 3
Camouflage - Level 13(20)
Firestarter - Level 10
Keen Eye - Level 12
Sturdy Back - Level 13
Wind's Whisper - Level 15
Tailor Skills
Adjust Outfit - Level 5
Clean and Press - Level 20
Recycle Cloth - Level 2
Tailoring - Level 54(69)
Model Skills
Adjust Weight - Level 14
Call Outfit - Level 5
Dietary Restriction - Level 55 (+110 to all pools)
Fascination - Level 9
Flex - Level 21
Makeup - Level 11
Self-Esteem - Level 21
Sexy Pose - Level 2
Strong Pose - Level 16
Work it Baby - Level 50 (+55% to raw item bonuses)
Necromancer Skills
Assess Corpse - Level 12
Command the Dead - Level 28
Deathsight - Level 9
Drain Life - Level 8
Invite Undead - Level 12
Mana Focus - Level NA (+11% to sanity)
Skeletons - Level 19
Soulstone - Level 45
Speak With Dead - Level 24
Zombies - Level 3
Duelist Skills
Challenge - Level 11
Dazzling Entrance - Level 17
Disarm - Level 1
Fancy Flourish - Level 13 (20)
Guard Stance - Level 21
Parry - Level 22
Riposte - Level 1
Swashbuckler's Spirit - NA (+20 to cool)
Swinger - Level 2
Weapon Specialist - Level 38 (Brawling +19)
Animator Skills
Animus - Level 41
Animus Blade - Level 10
Animus Shield - Level 4
Arm Creation - Level 7
Command Animus - Level 19
Creator's Guardians - Level 33
Dollseye - Level 18
Eye for Detail - Level 20
Magic Mouth - Level 18
Mend - Level 51
Enchanter Skills
Appraise - Level 30
Boost+5 - Level 25
Boost +10 - Level 5
Disenchant - Level 23
Elemental Protection - Level 18
Glowgleam - Level 26
Harden - Level 36
Soften - Level 31
Spellstore I - Level 40
Spellstore V - Level 18
Spellstore X - Level 8
Wards - Level 2
Golemist Skills
Bone Golem - Level 1
Call Golem - Level 4
Clay Golem - Level 3
Command Golem - Level 24
Golem Animus - Level 65
Golem Guardians - NA
Invite Golem - Level 12
Mend Golem - Level 59
Program Golem - Level 43
Toy Golem - Level 83
Wood Golem - Level 19
Smith Skills
Adjust Arms and Armor - Level 20
Refine Ore - Level 15
Smelt Down - Level 7
Smithing - Level 52
Sculptor Skills
Detect Clay - Level 8
Mend Ceramic - Level 6
Refine Clay - Level 18
Sculpting - Level 61
Equipment
Journeyman Tailor's Apron of fire resistance (+6 Armor, +10 Tailoring, Resist Fire 9)(+3 Armor, +5 Tailoring, +5 Resist Fire from WIB)
Okay Quality Bling
Ringtail Master's Coat of fire resistance (+5 CHA, +5 LUCK, +5 Armor, +5 Fate, +10 Resist Fire 10)(+2 CHA, LUCK, Armor, Fate, +5 Resist Fire from WIB)
Rippen Tear Cloak (+10 to brawling, +5 Armor)(+5 Brawling, +2 Armor from WIB)
Rod of Baronly Might (+5 CHA, +5 WIS, +10 Cool)(+2 CHA, WIS, +5 Cool from WIB)
Sneakypants (+5 Camouflage)(+2 Camouflage from WIB)
Yellow Belt of Bravado (+5 AGL, +5 DEX, +5 to the Fancy Flourish skill)(+2 AGL, DEX, Fancy Flourish from WIB)
Toy Top Hat (CHA +10)(+5 CHA from WIB) (In storage)
Golden Laurels (Enables the REST skill, usable every two hours.)
Inventory
A Folded-steel Dagger (Dagger Level 10)
Tailor's Tools
5 vials of Green Reagent.
2 Vials of Blue Reagent
6 beads of Mend Golem (Level 55)
Minorphone (Enhances voice and social skills focused through it twice per day)
Quests
Unlocked Jobs
Air Elementalist, Berserker, Cleric, Cook, Cultist, Grifter, Spirit Medium, Tamer, Wizard