That left me with having to decide which spells to keep active, as well as assigning my free stat points. Then there was the little matter of forming my level 20 and now my level 40 signature spells. The most basic was the stat points, so I assigned those first.

  It was important how I assigned them, since I was going to get a permanent 10% bonus to the two highest stats I had once I assigned these points. Before any bonuses, Strength and Constitution were at 111 and 110 respectively, so it could go either way. Obviously, Will was my highest at a base of 195, and after this upgrade would be even higher with a total of +30%.

  So far, I had been relying upon my Talisman buff to increase my HP, but I knew at some point that would lose its luster. So, I decided to put 10 points into Constitution to make sure I had enough HP to take a hit. Then given how much the increased agility from the cloak had helped me, I decided to put five points into Agility and 5 into Will. I almost put all ten into Agility, but despite the abundance of mana I had now, it wouldn’t do to ever let my Will slip. It was the cornerstone of my build.

  Once I assigned the points and felt the bonuses take effect, I looked down at my new stats and grinned. My HP and Mana had both jumped by significant amounts. The new higher mana costs didn’t seem that bothersome at all, now. I also assigned the resistance bonuses to Slashing and Blunt. Elemental damage could hit harder, but more often I faced monsters which attacked me physically, so I went with what I would use most often.

  NPC- HI 3a5.x290

  Integration: 22.3%

  AI Usage: 19%

  Call Name: Oogliefrank

  Monster Race: Ogre

  Ht: 9’2” Weight: 848 lbs.

  Class: Shaman

  XP to Level 40th: 0/1000

  Available XP: 1281

  Strength: 111 (117) +10%

  Agility: 65 (105 with cloak)

  Constitution: 120 (132) (+10%)

  Mind: 81

  Will: 200 (260) +30%

  Unassigned Free Stat Points: 20

  HP:1848/1848 +40%

  HP Regen: 5.28/second

  Mana: 3640/3640 +40%

  Mana Regen: 19.5/second

  FU: 3/3

  FU Regen: 1 per 30 days

  Armor Rating: 26

  Physical Resistance-

  Slash: 38

  Blunt: 28

  Pierce: 17

  Fire Resistance: 45

  Cold Resistance: 40

  Electric Resistance: 40

  Acid Resistance: 20

  Necrotic Resistance: 10

  Radiant Resistance: 10

  Poison Resistance: 46

  Disease Resistance: 46

  As I was looking over things, I noticed that a number of my skills had gone up from simple use since the last time I had checked them. Nothing was truly significant, so I didn’t make a big deal of it, but it was nice to see them leveling up. Now I had to decide which spells to keep and which to remove from my active list. With only 10 available slots, it was becoming harder to choose.

  Before I did that, I decided to make another signature spell. I thought about what my weaknesses were. Flame Burst was a great spell, but channeling enough mana into it to make it hit hard was a limiting factor. Frostburn was a great signature spell, but it hadn’t been able to deal with the trolls, so I decided that Flame Burst would be one of the spells I forged together to make a signature spell. The question was what to put with ,it.

  I thought about combining it with Degeneration. That should make the ultimate troll killer, but I put that idea on the backburner. I didn’t want to create one of my limited signature spells just to deal with a single type of monster. The intent of what I wanted with a signature spell was significant. So, I focused again on what I needed.

  I had some crowd control, debuffs, healing, a pet, and direct damage. I really didn’t feel like I was weak in any area. That might be the hubris of having few significant challenges lately, but it was how I felt. Those feelings were definitely going to influence how I designed my spells.

  I considered combining Flame Burst with Call Brother Wolf. The idea of a fiery pet who could put the fear of God into my foes, well that was just sweet. But it would give me less direct control, though it would also make it a weapon that could work as single target or a type of AoE, as he could attack multiple foes.

  The fact that I was so tired that I was struggling to decide should have been my first warning to just wait on this decision, but stupid is as stupid does, so I pulled out a coin and flipped it. Heads and I was going to try and combine Flame Burst with Degeneration or tails I would try to combine it with Call Brother Wolf.

  Tails it was.

  I immediately tried to forge the two spells together. As I did, I focused on my intent that Brother Wolf should be both powerful with flame and yet versatile. The result was pleasing. Something happened differently this time, as I felt dimensional energy rush out of my body into the spell form and then settle into the new tattoo ring upon my arm as the spell was seared into my mind.

  Spectral Hell Hound- (J1): This spell summons a spectral wolf with a connection to fiery planes from beyond. Its body is made of condensed fire, and it is highly vulnerable to cold-based attacks but entirely immune to fire. It will serve as a faithful companion and obey you as though you were the alpha of the pack. The wolf creature summoned has a level equal to your level in this spell, but never higher than your actual class level +25%.

  It additionally possesses a flaming breath attack and may, at your command, leave a flaming trail of spectral fire behind it, which will rise to ten feet in height and burn for one minute. The flames will burn as magical fire against anyone who contacts them and is not a member of your party.

  Cast Time: 1 minute. Mana Cost: 2000 + 50/level. Duration: 6 hours. Cool Down: 3 hours.

  I started to laugh, but was afraid I would wake up Ainsley, so I bit my tongue. This was better than I had hoped for. It was a pet and fire damage and crowd control all rolled up into one. I wasn’t sure what had happened to draw upon the dimensional energy I had been cultivating, but it had been unmistakable. I was also thrilled that it was set to Journeyman level 1. Since it has been my level 20 signature spell, I had expected it to be set to the proficient level, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, even if something was off about it.

  Next, I had to assign my spells. I replaced Brother Wolf with the new pet spell. Then I replaced Frost Rift with Spirit Lance. I hadn’t fought that many caster types, but if I understood it, that only meant that once I drained the mana from a monster, the spell would do HP damage. It had a pretty high power; so, I could live with that.

  Then I replaced Wolf Spirit with Degeneration. The buff was still useful, but I would have to switch it in and out, as needed. I didn’t want to lose Degeneration while there were still trolls so close to the village. I replaced Walking Sleep with Incapacitate. I was a bit worried about that. Yes, it would reduce the enemies’ Agility, and thus hopefully their speed, but I couldn’t be sure how much that would slow their attacks. I was just going to have to see.

  The last decision was the hardest. I had to decide between removing Flame Burst or Polluted Breeze. Both had their uses, and I hated not to have an AoE, but I really wanted to have Status Reversal ready. The more powerful our foes became, the more likely we were to face debuffs. In the end, my love of Flame Burst won out, and I went without the AoE. With that I was done. I would wait on my other signature spell. I fell asleep with a grin on my lips as I looked at the rest of my status sheet.

  Skills: (relevant)

  Blunt Weapons: Proficient 1

  Piercing Weapons: Proficient 15

  Skinning/Butchering: Proficient 4

  Cooking: Proficient 11

  Mana Channeling: Proficient 14

  Rapid Meditation: Proficient 6

  Dodge: Proficient 17

  Spell Forging: Basic 10

  Mana Sight: Proficient 20

  Extra-Dimensional Sight: Proficient 20

  Spells: Flameburst (B-20), Regeneration (B-20), Spectral Hell Hound (J-1), Moderate Healing (P-9), Home (B-5), Levitation (B-20), Status Reversal (J-1), Incapacitate (J-1), Spirit Lance (J-1), Degeneration (P-15)

  Signature Spells: Frostburn (P-20)

  Corrupted Vines (P-11)

  Spectral Hell Hound (J-1)

  Spell-Like Abilities: Talisman of Arctic Force 3/day

  Item-Based Spells: Spirit Song (J-20)

  Racial Abilities:

  Starting Stats: STR: +25, CON: +20, AGI: -5, MIND: -5*, WILL: 0*

  Iron Gut: Poison and Damage Resistance equals level +30%

  Rage: 1/hour

  Frostburn Durability: increased physical, cold, and fire resistances

  Stun Immunity

  Transdimensional Body (P-1)

  Class Abilities:

  Hex Warden: Strength +10%, Buffs and Debuffs- Duration increased by 50%, Mana Cost reduced by 50%. Electricity Resistance: +50, Fire Vulnerability: -20

  Pack Caller: Will + 10%. Spirit-based spells +25% duration, Caster level is treated as 25% higher for the purpose of learning and casting spirit spells, Mana Cost of Spirit Spell -25%. Fire Resistance: +50, Electricity Vulnerability: -20.

  Chapter 18- Reunion

  When I woke, I found Ainsley kneeling next to me. She was staring down at me while absentmindedly stroking the fur of a horned zombie bunny which was the size of a bear. I tried really hard not to jump as my eyes opened. She seemed to have good control over her pets, but I couldn’t be certain, and I didn’t want to get skewered to start my day.

  “Good morning, Master,” Ainsley said before looking at her pet. “See Hop Hop, I told you if we waited that Master would get up. Master will know what we should do.”

  “Uh, morning,” I replied, glossing over the giant undead bunny inches from my face and the whole Master thing again. “What you mean, ‘Know what to do’?”

  She got a pained expression on her face. “I don’t mean to bother you, Master, really I don’t, but my tum-tum is growling. I must have worked up an appetite hunting with Master last night.”

  “You are welcome to eat in the village. I trained some cooks, so the food they make is actually passable now.” I looked up and noticed the sun was already well over the horizon, so I must have slept later than I intended. At that thought, my stomach started to growl too. “Tell you what, I’m hungry too, so we can go check in the village to see what they’ve cooked. Then we need to make plans for the day. Hopefully, Violet will be back soon.”

  Ainsley squealed in delight. I didn’t know where this new childish attitude had come from. Maybe it was just another aspect of her fractured psyche, but I have to admit it was a bit off-putting. “You don’t have to wait for me to eat. You are part of this village. And they all know you are my friend. None of them would dare harm you. Besides… uh, I guess I should ask. What level are you now?”

  “Level thirty-six, Master. I spent the XP we earned last night. Even if something bad happens, I can still use the trick you told me for free stat points. But it is important that I become strong so Master won’t get rid of me. I wasn’t very useful against the trolls.”

  “Nonsense, you did just what I needed you to do. Besides, your roc zombie was amazing.” Then a thought crossed my mind. “Uh, where is the roc?”

  “I had to release it, Master. I can only maintain three pretties while I sleep, and the further they are from me, that harder it is. There was really no place for it to spend the night here, so I released it, but I kept Hop Hop and two of the frost wolves.”

  I must have frowned slightly because her smile dropped and she pled, “I’m so sorry. Did I do something wrong?”

  “Ainsley, you can stay with me, but this ‘Master’ thing isn’t going to work. I won’t stop you from calling me Master, but I need you to remember that I value you. You are part of my team. Your opinion counts, and I won’t try to tell you how to do your job. You just be the best necromancer that you can be.”

  She looked off into the distance. I began to think she might have gotten a notification. Then like she had come to a decision, she nodded and said, “Yes, Master. I will be the best necromancer I can be for you. That is my place.”

  I groaned internally. Yep, the system must be messing with me again. It probably just updated her quest line. That reminded me, I had some uncompleted quests that I should probably take a look at; but for now, I needed to put some food in my belly before Ogre Hunger became a problem.

  Once I stood up, Ainsley looked down at the ground again. “Is something else wrong, Ainsley? Don’t worry; if you are level thirty-six, you will easily be able to deal with any of the ogres.”

  “No, um, Master asked about his pet. She already came this morning with others from the outside, but I told them that Master needed his sleep. Did I do wrong?”

  I thought about it for a second. In the end I was glad she had let me sleep, since apparently, I needed it. The players might be able to come and go, but this was our only life. “No, you did good. But remember that if they say it’s important, that you might need to wake me.”

  She was all smiles and just nodded. This was going to be complicated, but that was basically the description of my life since I got stuck here. I led her into the village, where I found some cooks still making breakfasts. I exercised my right as an elder and cut the line to get food for me and Ainsley.

  I almost felt bad about it, but it was the ogre way. In an odd way, it felt right. A couple of the warriors started to complain, but then one of the shamans whispered something in their ears. I couldn’t make it out exactly, less because ogre whispers were anything other than a slightly quieter shout and more because of all the background noise. What I did here was the word, ‘champion.’ Apparently, at least some of them knew about my passing the next threshold. I wondered what new headaches that would bring for me.

  Then behind me, I heard a voice that I hadn’t known for long, but I would never forget. “Took long enough, didn’t you. Some of us have stuff to do.”

  I looked over my shoulder and down at three feet of vibrant life crammed into artificer armor. “Morning to you, too, Violet. I’m glad you are back. I hope you rested well.”

  “Yeah, but that one wouldn’t let me talk to you. She said something about you being up all night and how she wore you out.”

  I just shook my head. “No, we were up hunting monsters. Trust me, we were hunting monsters.” I glanced over at Ainsley, but she just had an evil grin on her face. Oh yeah, she wasn’t fooling me. She had done that on purpose. It looked like things between her and Violet weren’t going to be smoothed over yet.

  “I figured as much. Even ogres have to have standards. But anyway. I met some friends of yours when I logged… err, I mean when I arrived at the village.”

  I looked around, and then out of nowhere, a flash of green cloth and lithe limbs moved at me, but I startled everyone by moving through the shadows to the far side of the cooking fire. This time the disorientation only lasted a couple seconds. Still too long to use reliably in close quarters combat, but much more manageable.

  The half-elf rogue’s foot was flashing through the space where my fat backside had been just a second ago. As expected, Tauri wasn’t trying to hurt me, but rather, she was trying to prove her superiority. Like sneaking up on an ogre was something to be proud of. I pushed myself and stepped back through the shadow, which resulted in me bumping her back with my oversized frame.

  “Morning, Tauri.”

  She caught herself. As a rogue class, her Agility would be top notch. I assessed her and she was still level thirty-four, but that was impressive enough. I heard a cough behind us and turned as Elgar said, “Morning, Frank. We have some things to talk about with you. Sorry it took us a while to get back we were uh… detained at our home.”

  I looked at him. He was being very deliberate with his words. I could only wonder what that was about, but from the time I had spent with him, I knew that Elgar never did anything by accident. So, he must be trying to tell me something, but I’d been a monkey’s uncle if I knew what. Right now, all I could think of was eating.

  “It’s okay. We all have unexpected things happen to us. But I need to eat. If you want, you can join me back at my campsite right outside the village. Maybe we can get a little quiet there. And I assume Robert is around here somewhere.”

  “Yeah, he was checking on the progress made at the forge, but he will join us. Please don’t let us stop you from eating. The way I remember it, bad things happen if you don’t get fed regularly.” At least he smiled when he said it.

  Then I noticed Robert walking over. The perpetual smile that was on his face was plastered there. He just always seemed to be happy; well, except when he was trying to flirt with Tauri. Next to the paladin was another figure I didn’t recognize, but who I assumed was another player. He was a dark elf but was in extremely ornate-looking gear. I assessed him on instinct and was surprised.