Four days had passed since Ruskil's return, and I, so far as I knew, could be expecting some sort of emissary from the Misti Hawar any day. The prisoners assured me that their leaders would be honorable, and they couldn't seem to understand why I would have any doubts regarding that. Apparently, honor was a big thing among the Misti Hawar, which I supposed I could use against them, once I had a better understanding of what they would expect and be expected to do. For now, I wanted to see why they decided to approach now, some six months since we'd taken prisoners, and with no apparent attempts at communication until now. I decided to go through my [Status] again, checking to see if there were any [Skills] or abilities that would help me in this upcoming negotiation.
[Status:
Name: Ashlani
Race: Sonic Keel Zak'Tal
Titles: Voice of Nievtala
Killer of Redael
Fahvalo of the Moonchildren
Keel Progenitor
Current quests:
-Hunt 6 new species. Reward will vary depending on the evolutionary level of prey. Base reward: Constitution, Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Magic +8. Progress: Monstrous Ant Soldier, Shoreline Snapper, Shadow Wyrm, Misti Hawar Elder, Heavenly Bear, Greater Shandise Ram. COMPLETE. NEW QUEST: Hunt 7 new species. Reward will vary depending on the evolutionary level of prey. Base reward: Constitution, Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Magic +10.
-Subjugate or otherwise conquer a community of at least 1000 individuals. Base reward: Constitution +7, Strength, Agility +8, Intelligence +10, Magic +9. Possibility of additional rewards for greater difficulty.
- Establish a temple to Nievtala. Base requirements: Sanctum, Altar, Priesthood, Divine Representation. Rewards will vary according to effort, quality of materials, and quality of final product.
- Create a city that can house, provide for, and protect 10,000 inhabitants. Rewards will vary according to the quality of the final product. QUEST COMPLETE. NEW QUEST: Colonize a city of at least 1000 inhabitants. Rewards will vary according to the difficulty of subjugation and the completion of the abnegation of the subdued.
- Lead a force of 1,000 to victory in battle. Rewards: Constitution +10, Strength, Agility, Magic +12, Intelligence +18.
Stats:
-Constitution: 261+8+3+2+8+5+6+4=297+20=317+6=323
-Strength: 296+8+4+2+10+5+8+4=337+20=357+7=364
-Agility: 263+8+2+4+7+7+5+6=300+20=321+6=327
-Intelligence: 255+8+1+1+4+7+4+3=283+20=303+7=310
-Magic: 274+8+0+0+9+10+2+0=303+20=323+10=333
Skills:
Absolute Dominance: 0/1
Combatant's Bloodlust: 3/4 (Imperial Bearing, Nemesis, Absolute Dominance)
Conqueror's Rebuke: 1/5
Evolutionary Exemplar (Cannot Evolve)
Exceptional Individual (Cannot Evolve)
Fanatic's Fortitude: Unqualified
Imperial Bearing (Cannot Evolve)
Innate Leadership (Cannot Evolve)
Nemesis: 0/5
Pack Tactics: 9/10
Pain Tolerance (Cannot Evolve)
Perpetual Sonilphon (Cannot Evolve)
-Cultivating Presence (Cannot Evolve)
-Destructive Wave (Cannot Evolve)
-Disastrous Discourse (Cannot Evolve)
-Innervating Address: 0/1
-Murderous Melody (Cannot Evolve)
-Soundless Stealth (Cannot Evolve)
Raptor's Eyes (Cannot Evolve)
Spear of the Many (Cannot Evolve)
Tremorsense (Cannot Evolve)
Victor's Spoils (Cannot Evolve)
Voice of the Divine (Cannot Evolve)
Evolutionary Possibilities
Evolutions possible, but not currently foreseen. Progress further, and such possibilities will be presented to you.]
I'd seen some measure of growth in my [Stats], and not just because of completed [Quests]. They were, of course, the source of the vast majority of my growth, but there was more. It would seem to be, and had been confirmed by Nievtala, that, for as long as they live, Keel would grow stronger. It wasn't anything particularly noteworthy, but once a week or so, I would see that one of my stats had climbed by one while I slept. I didn't mind having that, but now wasn't the time to pay attention to that. Instead, I scrolled through my [Skills] to ensure that there was nothing that I was missing. After years, this had become a ritual that calmed and centered me, allowing me to see the many ways in which I could control my own fate.
None of my [Skills] or [Titles] had evolved in these months, though I'd partially held back from evolving some of them. [Conqueror's Rebuke] and [Pack Tactics] were going to evolve through the stretch of this war, just needing me to begin leading my people in this inevitable war. Once I finally evolved [Pack Tactics], [Combatant's Bloodlust] would follow, which I was excited to see. The same went for [Innervating Address], which required me to change my people's morale in a fight, which would require a fight that let them see that we were losing or struggling in. It was ironic that my own strength kept my people from losing heart, keeping me from progressing in one of my [Skills]. I knew that wouldn't hold true, though. There were too many enemies in the world, every one of them too strong for me to brush aside. [Nemesis] and [Absolute Dominance] could both see progress as well, once I beat the entirety of the Misti Hawar into submission.
I still hadn't mentally noted the
"Zaaktif." Took's voice pulled me from my consideration of my [Status].
"Yes, Huntmaster?"
"There has been movement spotted in the forests to the south. It doesn't seem to be the ants, but also hasn't held true for the approaches and passage of the Misti Hawar in the past."
"And have you consulted with the prisoners yet?" I asked, turning on my heel to march south.
"I sent Farahlia to verify. She'll return, possibly with one of the prisoners to view. I have her permission to do as she saw necessary. Would you like me to go give her different instructions?" My old Beta, my longstanding friend was ready to go off to fulfill my commands, and I clacked my teeth.
"No, I trust her not to be a fool. No need to explain the tracks to me right now, wait until Farahlia returns. Has the quiet warning been issued?"
"No, Zaaktif." Took replied. Her tail twisted as she said it, but she continued, "It was decided that your decision would be the final one. If you want to prepare the city, all it will take is a word."
"Do it." I said, my frills and scales flexing as I, finally, could prepare myself and my people for the war to actually begin. But first, there would be the problem of finding out what exactly the Misti Hawar were up to. Fortunately, Farahlia came quickly and confirmed what I'd suspected:
"The Misti Hawar are approaching, giving warning of their presence. They should make themselves known within the day and appear at our doors before nightfall."
"Then let's prepare our welcome." I grinned.
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