Jericho watched as Harr and Lednar passed out two vials of liquids and masks to all the bi-pedal creatures in their group.
They approached Jericho. "You have been playing non-stop for a while now. These masks and potions will help us continue through the forest and mist for a few hours. Based on where we are at and the pace these satyrs are traveling at, we should reach the edge of the forest in just over an hour. I'm surprised how smoothly everything has gone." Lednar explained.
Harr smacked the back of Lednar's head. "You know that that is the tropeiest thing to do in a situation like this. We are almost out of the mist and you commentate how well things are going right before something bad happens."
Lednar scoffed. "If something bad is going to happen, it will happen regardless of if I commented about it or not. That is reality."
Jericho chuckled at the exchange. "Thank you for the items. I could use a break." He recalled his instruments and returned to being one person. He donned the mask and drank the liquids as the mist filled the clearing once more. His skills had increased significantly from all the repetitive playing he had done.
"Everyone put on the masks and drink the potions!" Harr called out.
The group traveled slowly onward for about half an hour.
A loud roar interrupted the now silent journey. "{(Children of the mist hear my command, capture the other Bringer and bring him to me!)}"
A horde of animal cries followed as they rushed the traveling group.
[Emergency Quest: There is a Bringer among you. The powers in the mist wish to claim them. Protect them at all costs. Failure: The mist will evolve into something far scarier.]
Lednar looked over to Jericho. "Bringer?"
Jericho pulled out his punk jacket and mullet and put them on. He pulled out the bronze statue. He focused on turning into a bass guitar. He split himself into four and pulled out his acoustic guitar, zither, and ceremonial drum. "Pay attention, while these aren't the most common instruments for what I am going to do, this is one of many styles of rock music." He said as he placed the instruments in their proper positions so he could play while moving. Using the ceremonial drum to create a basic rhythm, the song played. Two of the four Jerichos started to sing.
[You have learned Inspire Courage 8/10 Adept: Allies who hear this piece will be able to exert more from their stats than normal.]
[You have learned Captivating Song 2/10 Adept: The audience will become focused on the music. This will have varying effects depending on the intent of both the audience member and the player.]
[You have learned Musical Barrier 1/10 Beginner: Hostile attacks towards you and your allies within the sound of your music are weakened. The type of barrier erected is based on the type of music used to create it. Examples: Classical Shield, Metal Bulwark, Electric Fence, Techno-Rampart. (Current application Wall of Rock): Melee physical attacks deal less damage.]
[You currently are under the effects of multiple potions while split. The timer for the potions will wear off 4* faster while you remain split.]
[You have learned Bass Guitar 9/10 Adept.]
The satyrs, Harr, and Lednar started fighting with the beasts as they continued to retreat from the forest.
Harr dexterously wielded his poleax as he slipped around his enemy's attacks. He utilized his body weight and momentum to strike at his opponent's center of balance before landing a fatal blow.
Lednar threw object while chanting to create various effects from explosions to instant ice. Many of the animals slipped and became vulnerable enough for the satyrs to slay.
The beasts were stunned and slowed as they fell captivated by the powerful music. Jericho's allies felt powerful as they fought off the horde of beasts.
Lux emerged from the pet space. (I'll help!) He activated his ugly rat hat and shrunk. Hs skulked around the battle field using Swipe to snag any loose item drops like Ken had taught him. He also used his hat's power on any creature he deemed 'cool' enough to absorb their power. Ken was rubbing off on him.
Minutes went by as they neared the edge of the mist.
[Your potions have worn off. You are being corrupted by the mist. As you are currently split between four weaker forms of yourself you will become corrupted 1% every 15 seconds. If the damage you have taken and the corruption reach a combined total of 100% you will fall to the mist and your comrades' quest will fail.]
Jericho was too focused on playing to notice the notification. The music he was playing progressively got heavier and darker as feelings of revenge, loss, emptiness, and agony filled and penetrated his mind.
Glaw emerged from Jericho. {Hey! Calm down! Those emotions aren't yours! Jericho snap out of it!} He shouted.
As Jericho played the mist turned black. Water droplets appeared and floated around him dangerously. [Elemental Fury has become active]
[Bringer's Bond has been amplified. The other Bringer, you felt a connection to, has died. Their bringer trait has found home in you. You have absorbed their Change Bringer skill line and bringer skills.]
[Due to past actions your Healing skill line has merged with the Death Bringer skill line.]
[Your bringer skill lines have merged into the Advanced Life Transformation Bringer skill line.]
[Advanced Life Transformation Bringer Skill line Tier 3: Some known skills have been influenced by this new Bringer title.]
[The adept bonus for The Serenade for the Soothing of the Soul is now usable.]
[Form-Shift has been influenced by your Bringer Titles. If you obtain valid forms for this ability, you can access 'hybrid' forms. Currently no hybrid forms are available as water elemental and human forms are not compatible for hybridization.]
[You have gained the skill Grudge Mist (Change + Death + Healing) 8/10 Expert: By utilizing your powerful emotions, you can exude a substance to change the existences of those you target with your hostile feelings.
By utilizing your powerful emotions, you can exude a substance to kill the existences of those you target with your hostile feelings.
By utilizing your powerful emotions you can exude a substance to heal your allies who were hurt by those you target with your hostile feelings.
Adept bonus: You can infuse aspects of other your other skills into the Grudge Mist. Expert Bonus: You can focus your grudge mist ability on a single target to heal, kill, or change faster.]
[The mist around you has tapped into the aforementioned skill. The Grudge Mist near you has come under your command]
Glaw froze himself and placed his icy arm onto the back of Jericho's neck.
The bard stopped playing as he was shocked awake by the cold.
[You have been stunned by your companion Glaw. Abilities have deactivated.]
{Are you back yet? Those emotions you were feeling weren't yours. You know you almost…} Glaw hesitated as he remembered the former conversation he had with the bard and wanted to avoid sending him back into a dark place, especially at this critical moment.
Jericho took a deep breath. {Thanks Glaw. I needed that.} He switched instruments and merged back into two of him to slow down the rate of corruption. The Serenade for the Soothing of the Soul echoed in the surroundings once more. The adept bonus that was formerly locked kicked in. [Adept bonus: This piece now has a greater impact on dispelling harmful effects.]
The mist around them cleared more than before and the animals influenced seemed to regain some clarity of thought and ran away.
Everyone felt tired and weary as they pushed through the last stretch of the woods.
"We made it!" Purai shouted in relief. "We finally made it out!" She looked out over the grasslands with scattered trees and distant farmlands.
Lux returned to the pet space and Glaw merged once more with Jericho.
The majority of the party received a notification. [You have successfully brought the Bringer out of the mist. You have saved the nearby areas from a more dangerous threat. You have…]
Harr walked over to the bard. "Thank you."
Jericho gave a nod in return. He had a lot on his mind as he thought about Princess who had been taken earlier by that same voice that wanted him.
The ax wielder grabbed the minstrel's upper arm. "So, you are a Bringer then?"
Jericho looked over to the man. "A Bringer?" He questioned knowing that he was one. He didn't want to directly confirm it.
"Yes, they are a special existence that can draw immense power from their emotions. This mist was created by a Bringer. We received a quest to bring a Bringer that was in our group out of the mist. Based on the evidence, I can only see you as the one we were tasked to help escape. You were the only one undergoing visible emotional fluctuations."
Jericho lifted his hand to his chin and cheek as he thought about it. "It makes sense, I probably am then. Music does draw from power from the body, mind, and soul. It is very powerful when it comes to influencing emotional states."
"Strange, I wonder if bringers are unaware of their title then." Harr thought aloud.
Jericho smiled as he overheard the conversations between Lednar and Purai regarding the similarities and differences between an apothecary and an alchemist.
Harr woke from his pondering. "Now that we are out of the mist, let me re-introduce myself. My name is Harr. I come from the Dragoons guild. I must say your skills are quite impressive."
Jericho held up a hand to stop him. "I am not interested in joining a guild. I am here to spread my music. Even though Lednar over there and my sister are friends, she wouldn't be interested in joining your guild either. It is nothing against you; it is just that we were taught by a reliable friend that a guild would be harmful to us in the long run with our goals."
Harr smiled. "I knew that much. Your sister told Lednar already. I wanted to ask if we could be friends and if we can ask for your help from time to time."
Jericho smiled back. "Friends for sure. As for help, I prefer to avoid fighting whenever possible."
"Sounds good. Our guild leader, Heath has told me to tell you that he looks forward to working with you on occasion."
[Friend Request received from Harr] [Friend Request received from Heath].
Jericho accepted the requests. "I'll see you around then."
"Wait! Jericho, what are you planning on doing now?" Harr inquired. He didn't want Jericho to go back into the mist where he was a target.
"I'm going west. I have a quest far off in the Clogwyni mountain range." Jericho replied.
Harr paused. "That is a wild zone with no quest givers in the area. It is teaming with monsters level 15 to 45. You never know what you might accidentally run into. It isn't a good grinding spot because there is no nearby town or city to replenish your supplies. That is also quite the walk westward. You aren't going to rush back into the mist to save your sister are you?"
Jericho grabbed the warrior's arm in the same manner he had been grabbed. "Of course not, going back would be both a dangerous and foolish idea. My sister and Ken will be fine. Even if they aren't fine, I can meet up with them again afterwards. Besides, haven't you noticed? The mist is slowly receding back into the forest. I suspect my sister is cleansing a part of the mist as she makes her way back out as we speak."
The warrior gave a light nod. "Good. Please don't undo all that hard work we just did to get you out of the mist. Good luck with your quest, but if you can, I would wait until you reach closer to level 25 to attempt going there. You don't want to be caught without the ability to escape if you run into one of the more powerful creatures in the area."
"Thanks for your concern. I will be fine." Jericho wandered the group and said goodbye to a few of the people he had gotten to know.
"Baa! Jericho, before you leave take this." Carn passed over a small stone. "When we set up a new village someplace you can use that to visit us. It will glow once it is usable. You can visit our MC store then."
"Thank you." Jericho took the stone. "I must be going now," He said before walking westward and out of sight.
The large group watched the receding figure of the bard they owed their lives to.
"Now, to stop suppressing my anxiety," Jericho said as he started shaking. "Please be okay."
He turned to make sure that nobody could see him before turning towards the forest.
{I thought you promised that mortal that you would not go back into the mist. If you go, not only will you face great danger, you may have to fight. I mean really fight.} Glaw said.
Jericho sighed. {I know and I lied I planned to go back in anyways.}
{What about the need to fight?}
Jericho sighed. {People only assume I'm a pacifist because I hate fighting and will go out of my way to avoid it like the plague. It isn't that I won't fight it is that I would rather not fight because…} Jericho sighed. {Regardless, I am going to make this stupid choice to go back in.}
{I understand, I am coming with you then. But, I doubt I can bring you back to your senses if you become overrun with the emotions the mist carries again.}
{Thank you, Glaw. My stupid rescue attempt would be much harder without your help.}
{You're welcome. I must thank you too but that is a conversation for another time. Let's go save your sister.}
Jericho was about to walk in when he received a notification he did not expect.
[Summoner Dancing Princess has used Summon Elemental and is requesting your aid by name. You are too powerful of an elemental to answer her weak call.]
A small gate appeared before Jericho.
{A summon gate?} Glaw questioned. {I'm impressed that your sister was able to call for you while you are in your human form. Are you going to go through?}
Jericho gave a nod. {How can I leave my sister alone, especially when she wants me by her side? So how do we go through? This looks too small.}
{You can assume your elemental form and expend some of your own magical power to widen the gate. If you do that though, you cannot be unsummoned as you are using your own power to go there. It will become a one way trip for us. Another option is to use Guise of Weaker Self or split and send a lesser water elemental through but the amount of power you would be able to show would be severely limited and you will be unsummoned once she ran out of MP.}
Jericho assumed his water elemental form and channeled his magic into the portal like Glaw had explained. {One way trip it is. Princess, I'm coming.} He stepped through the large gate back into the mist.
© J Eranoth