Chapter 44: Mistake
"I'm telling you this is the best option!" Kace argued.
Inside one of the rooms of a mansion sat Kace, Grugda, Gyn, Vaskra, Kharja, King Shagrat and newly recovered Durz. Just now a heated debate was going on. The allied forces had made it into the town and it was now a question of whether they could still hold it.
Kace was arguing his own belief that they should strike out with a night attack. Using the trolls and others that had been held in reserve. He was adamant that the allied force had not had enough time to recover yet so they were at their weakest.
Gyn, Kharja and Durz were in agreeme t with this plan. King Shagrat and Vaskra did not want to potentially lose more of their forces in an unpredictable attack and Grugda was only against it because he had not recovered enough to accompany them. What if they ran into someone like the human who had given him a hard time?
Not only that but Phillip had spent tge day melting the ground beneath the walls on his side. Continuing until there was no solid ground to support the walls causing a section to collapse.
Sarah's portion had been smart enough to take ropes. So once the walls were scaled they simply allowed the others to climb up. Sure the attack would work on one section. The one that Lucas had been in charge of since they really had to work for their part.
However both Sarah's and Phillip's troops were fresh as daisy in comparison. What if they had same idea that they were currently discussing?
Kace groaned as the argument continued. For them to take back some morale and momentum they needed a successful assault. However what would that cost them? Would it be worth it in the end? Or would it cause more damage?
He was still in favour of launching an assault though. Mostly because he did not want to wait for the allied forces to decide when the fighting would begin. If they allowed that then it would definitely be at the time that gave them the biggest advantage.
If it was down to a vote then the attack would definitely happen. Except it was not. King Shagrat held the power here and nobody could deny that.
"Listen lad. I understand yer point, I really do. But, we need the trolls to be at their best fer when they attack again." Shagrat said exhaustedly.
Kace had noticed the shift in his speech to a more proper tone barring the odd slip. 'I bet that's driving him mad.' he thought gleefully. Revelling in the small sufferings King Shagrat was going through out of pettiness for stopping his plan.
"What do you suggest instead your majesty?" Kace replied through gritted teeth.
"The King and I have already discussed it. We will hold the new position and continue to fall back if needed. We need to start making plans to get out of here." Vaskra replied in King Shagrats stead.
Kace slammed his fist on the table. They had been through a lot to get to this point but they were ready to throw it all away. He angrily got up from his seat and stormed out of the room.
"He worries. Me." Grugda said aloud.
"He worries us all lad." King Shagrat sighed.
Durz turned his eyes to the doorway. 'That boy is going to do something stupid. I can smell it.' he thought.
Kace stormed through the streets back towards his own mansion. Which just happened to be the very same one that belonged to Roger's family. It was a nice home and he just could not forget about that rug he had wanted to steal. Not that it matters now that he has the whole property though.
Throwing the door open he marched inside. 'What the he'll can I do?' he thought aggravated but he situation. 'If only we could get rid of the more powerful ones on the allied side we would be fine.'
That was it! All he had to do was assassinate the more powerful ones. That way the allied forces would have no backbone left to support them. 'Looks like I'm going hunting.' he thought with a mischievous smile.
Grabbing his halberd and shouldering it he made sure to keep to the shadows. [Curtain of Night] was doing it's thing as nobody seemed to notice him as he slipped through the streets. Well almost. Unknown to Kace there was a set of eyes on a nearby rooftop keeping tabs on him.
He easily avoided the guards at the barricade and disappeared into the shadows despite wearing heavy armour. On the other side however after passing a few streets the enemies presence became thick.
Multiple patrols of at least ten weaved around on different routes. Constantly by each other. 'No chance of wiping out some them. They would notice before long.' he sighed as his arm trembled with nerves.
This was getting to him far more than it should. Perhaps it was the sense of danger at the back of his mind trying to warn him. However he had already made up his mind and intended to go through with it.
As he watched from behind a corner he was trying to come up with a good plan to proceed. However even his usual go to, the rooftops, were being patrolled.
'Guess it's the hard way then!' he thought as he felt his muscles clench in anticipation.
Using the shadows as much as possible he followed behind the patrol that just passed by. They kept themselves silent, not even chatting with each other. The only sound was that of their footsteps.
Kace felt that it was odd. Even if they were close to the enemy soldiers would usually chat with each other when patrolling. It was like they did not wish to miss a single sound.
He ducked into a doorway as another patrol came into view. Waiting for this one to pass by. They were exactly the same. Disciplined and silent.
It seemed that only the troops from the Mercenary Guild were being used. Which did not make sense to him. 'Surely they would mix in some Heroes since they would be able to handle any situations better?' he thought as the hair on his neck began to stand on end.
He was quite far in now but the whole situation just seemed wrong. His body was shivering and sending other signals to his mind that he was in danger. From what though?
Everything was going smoothly. He had not been noticed and it was only mercenaries around. He just could not place his finger on it.
After dodging another two patrols he got a shock. He was certain the enemy camp should be in front of him but it was not there. 'RUN!' a voice in his head yelled, trying to compel him.
Before he could though the patrol he was following began to shimmer. Right before they faded away into nothing. Suddenly the darkness surrounding him was lit up. Torches that were fully ablaze lined the walls of the streets.
'Since when were they there!' he gasped.
His body quaked as he felt an immense amount of bloodlust directed at him. On the rooftops were at least one hundred men. Quite a few of them had the feeling of having spells at the ready.
"You've done well Lucas!" Urien said with glee. His lips curling up into an almost snarl.
"Hmph! Caught out by nothing more than an illusion. I thought it would be harder." Lucas replied. A hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"Take him!" Urien yelled. Tears forming in his eyes at the thought of finally having the culprit of all of this within his grasp. 'My son, you shall be avenged.' he thought as the tears began to fall and his bottom lip quivered.
*
Current Stats
Name: Kace
Class: Hexblade
Title: Glutton, Man-Eater, Predator, Goblin Lord
Level: 5
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Race: Chimera (Monster)
Rank: Captain
Legendary Feats: 2
HP 340/340
AP 255/255
MP 250/270
Exp 2370/2400
Strength: 20
Endurance: 14
Intelligence: 17
Willpower: 13
Agility: 19
Speed:17
Charm: 9
Luck: 5
Skills:
Racial: Basic DNA Manipulation (Passive)
Description: Having absorbed enough DNA strands into your own DNA chain has unlocked the Chimeras natural ability to alter themselves. Using accumulated DNA points you may choose only one genetic enhancement or skill from each strand per level of Mastery. Spend DNA points to rank up. Next Level: Apprentice. Current points: 0
Just think 'DNA' to activate.
Racial: Digestion (Passive)
Description: Able to eat the meat of any living thing absorbing a portion of its Experience for your own. Slight chance to trigger Assimilation.
Racial: Assimilation (Passive)
Description: A racial ability of the Chimera. When triggered randomly increases HP, AP or MP as a percentage of subjects Max Value. Slight chance to randomly gain an ability or knowledge possessed by the subject.
Racial: Chameleon (Passive)
Description: Your Chimera bloodline his awakened the ability to give a false reading of your status. Allowing you to "blend" into the world of humans with great ease.
Class Unique Skill: Empower.
Description: At the cost of 20 MP, once per day cast a wide area hex. Those caught in it's area of effect will suffer a 20% decrease in all attributes temporarily transferring these stats to you. Lasts for three minutes.
Tracking (Active)
Cost: (None)
Description: Heightens users sense of hearing and smell allowing them to 'see' recent paths of passing lives.
Night Eye (Active)
Cost: (None)
Description: Allows user to see in the dark.
Kinetic Vision (Active)
Cost: (1 AP/ per Second)
Description: Heightens the users ability to track fast movements resulting in faster reaction speeds.
Stampede (Active)
Cost: 5 AP
Description: A skill allowing the user to rush forward at extreme speed for up to 10 metres ignoring all incoming damage in the process.
Instinct (Passive)
Cost (None)
Description: 70% chance to detect a stealth attack aimed at the user. 30% chance to automatically react to what would be a lethal blow preventing a killing strike.
Spider Thread (Active)
Cost: (3 MP)
Description: This is the innate skill of soldier level spider monsters. Able to secrete a mana enriched spider thread. Can be made tough like steel or extremely sticky. Highly versatile.
Ice Spear (Active) (New)
Cost: 10 MP
Description: Freezing the moisture in the air you create a fast moving projectile as cold as the embrace of death.
Flame Spit (Active)
Cost: (5 MP)
Description: This is an innate skill of the Salamander. Using magic you turn air into flammable liquid in your left lung. The right lung sets natural gases on fire. When you breathe out the two mix in your throat to create a high temperature flame. As you breathe out magic power mixes in to greatly increase the propulsion rate. Please note that while magic will keep you from harming yourself internally a serious case of dry mouth may be inevitable.
Silence (Active)
Despription: Cast a curse on your enemy for 10 MP. Causes the enemies mana to be locked making magic impossible for 10 seconds. Upgradeable. Level 1/5
Cursed Weapon (Active)
Description: Curse your weapon for 10 MP. Each strike on an enemy creates a stackable curse. Each curse decreases all attributed by 2 points. Stacks up to 5 times. Stack lasts for 20 seconds. Upgradeable. Level 1/5]
[DNA] [Padded Feet] [Passive]
Increases Agilility by 5.
[DNA] [Fangs and Claws] [Passive]
Increases Strength by 5. Elongates and hardens hosts nails and grows fangs.
[DNA] [Swift Foot] [Passive]
Increases Speed by 5.
[DNA] [Mind Numb] [Active] Cost: 3 MP
Magic that causes opponents thoughts to be slightly clouded. Occasionally causing slower thought processes.
[DNA] [Curtain of Night] [Passive]
Passive ability that greatly enhances the hosts natural stealth. Without great perception the host may as well be invisible to their surroundings.
[DNA] [Rocksteady] [Passive]
Passive that increases hosts Endurance by 5 points.
[DNA] [Natures Pact] [Passive]
Passive granting immunity from poisons possessed by plants.
HUNTER STATS
Name: Kace
Class: Hexblade
Rank: E
Level: 3
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Race: Human
HP 220/220
AP 190/190
MP 50/50
Exp 215/400
Strength: 12
Endurance: 6
Intelligence: 11
Willpower: 6
Agility: 10
Speed: 11
Charm: 4
Luck: 4
Skills:
Tracking (Active)
Cost: (None)
Description: Heightens users sense of hearing and smell allowing them to 'see' recent paths of passing lives.
Instinct (Passive)
Cost (None)
Description: 70% chance to detect a stealth attack aimed at the user. 30% chance to automatically react to what would be a lethal blow preventing a killing strike.
Class Unique Skill: Empower. (New)
Description: At the cost of 20 MP, once per day cast a wide area hex. Those caught in it's area of effect will suffer a 20% decrease in all attributes temporarily transferring these stats to you. Lasts for three minutes.
Silence (Active) (New)
Despription: Cast a curse on your enemy for 10 MP. Causes the enemies mana to be locked making magic impossible for 10 seconds. Upgradeable. Level 1/5
Cursed Weapon (Active)(New)
Description: Curse your weapon for 10 MP. Each strike on an enemy creates a stackable curse. Each curse decreases all attributed by 2 points. Stacks up to 5 times. Stack lasts for 20 seconds. Upgradeable. Level 1/5]
Stampede (Active)
Cost: 5 AP
Description: A skill allowing the user to rush forward at extreme speed for up to 10 metres ignoring all incoming damage in the process.