Conjure Brilliant Griffin: summons said creature type to caster’s location. A will contest is initiated. If the caster prevails then the creature is under the caster’s control for the duration or until slain. If the duration expires, the creature is returned to its original location at full health. If the caster loses the contest of wills, the creature, which is an inherently positively aligned creature, will act as a normal wild Brilliant Griffin.

  Level of the Brilliant Griffin is 5-10 + ½ level Duration: 60 minutes + 2 minute/level. Cast time: 40 seconds Mana: 240 Cooldown: 1 hour. Tier 4

  Improved Regeneration: Target gains 10 health/level each tick for 1 tick per 5 levels. All natural diseases and poisons are cured at a rate of 2%/tick and 5%/tick respectively. Range: 60’+ 1’/level. Cast Time: 12 seconds. Cooldown: 3 minutes – 2 sec/level. Mana: 100.

  Emiri couldn’t help but be thrilled. This would add extra versatility to her defense, offense, and support functions. She was down to 108 character points and still reeling as she tried to figure out what it was about her son that changed something like this, but she wasn’t going to complain. It was good for her.

  Now she just had to decide how to use her remaining 108 character points. The first thing she decided was that she wasn’t going to try to expand her build at all. She was just going to focus on improving what she had right now. So the question was what the best way was to do that.

  Emiri thought of a few options. The first was to add spell mastery to Improved Regeneration. It would boost the already significant healing power the spell had and would perhaps, most importantly, reduce its cast time. The same skill could be added to Radiant Shell as well. In the same spirit, she could put an extra 20 points into focus for essence magic, which would translate into an additional 20% base healing.

  Since she had been caught off-guard by the attack, Emiri considered putting more points into Esoteric Sense. She wasn’t sure if it would have alerted her, but more knowledge about her surroundings could hardly be a bad thing.

  There were other combat-oriented options like Agile Strike that would improve her base damage. She couldn’t count on always fighting fiends or undead, and her mage-slaying dagger could only be used once per hour. Then again, she could double down on healing and add twenty more points to Internal Healing, First Aid, or Regrowth.

  Decisions, decisions. It was hard for her to weigh what would be best when she really wanted it all. She popped twenty points into Regrowth next—not because it was a skill she had used much but because she wanted to level it up. Her experiences with Kraden had convinced her of the need for this, even if it was going to take some time to improve.

  Then she added twenty more to First Aid. It simply stacked too well with her other healing abilities. Then she used thirty points to create Spell Mastery: Improved Regeneration. Eight more points went to Agile Strike and the final twenty went to Spell Mastery: Radiant Shell.

  Spell Mastery: 30 Improved Regeneration- Cast time reduced to: 4 seconds (max improvement), Mana cost reduced to: 50, Cooldown period reduced to 30 seconds.

  With the improvements and combining all her abilities, the spell would now heal 2,394 health per tick for a total of 25 ticks. That was simply OP, although Emiri still cringed internally that she knew what OP meant.

  Spell Mastery: 20 Radiant Shell - Cast time reduced to: Instant (max improvement), Mana cost reduced to: 90, Damage caused increased by 50%.

  The spell would now deal 525 radiant damage to any enemy within 5’ feet of her target. The mana cost was still high, but the instant cast time and increased damage made up for that in her mind. The duration was still also quite significant at eighty minutes.

  Once all the changes were taken together, Emiri was quite pleased. She only had one thing left to do and that was to assign the 21 stat points she had. She gave consideration to what the Seer had told her. It was going to require strength, wisdom, and charisma to win what was coming.

  That didn’t mean she thought she was supposed to take that literally. She started thinking about the value each of the stats offered her. That brought back to mind that she got to add a 20% modifier to one of her stats.

  Her first temptation was to add the bonus to her Constitution. She was very fragile. The monsters she fought now could easily deal 500 health damage in a flash. The thing was they could probably also deal 1000 damage, so it was better for her to focus on evasion, healing, and magical defense.

  Her offense was already amazing against her key enemies, and for the rest, she would take a support role. One area she felt she was lacking was the size of her mana pool. She needed to get a focus item that could store extra mana, but that was a problem for another time.

  Before she changed her mind, she added the 20% bonus to Intelligence and then dumped fourteen of her stat points into Intelligence and the other seven into her bread and butter, Wisdom. She was definitely content with this.

  Caiden had already drifted off, and despite her missing children, Emiri felt hope for the future. She joined her son in sleep rather than read her character sheet. She was probably never going to have the same fixation with it that her husband had.

  Emily/Emiri Stat Sheet

  Name: Emily Nelson

  Race: Moon Elf

  Age: 39*

  Level: 31st

  Alignment: +4

  Position: Lady Emiri of the Circle, Baroness of Murkwood

  Movement: 79

  Defense: 24

  Attack: 15

  Stats:

  STRENGTH: 24

  Bravery: 7.2

  Regen Rate: 2.4/hour

  Melee Damage: +48%

  DEXTERITY: 13

  Ranged Damage: +26%

  Rogue Skills: +26%

  AGILITY: 75 (+30%)

  Movement Rate: +195% (x30%)

  Defense Rate: +375%

  CONSTITUTION: 30

  Health: 500

  Regen Rate: 3.0/hour

  Fury: 9.0

  Regen Rate: 3.0/hour

  ENDURANCE: 25

  Stamina: 7.5

  Regen Rate: 2.5/hour

  Needed Rest: -25%

  INTELLIGENCE: 67 (+20%)

  Mana: 930

  Spell Damage: +134%

  WISDOM: 74 (+70%)

  Mana Regen Rate: 1665/hour

  Faith: 22.2

  Regen Rate: 7.4/hour

  CHARISMA: 29 (+30%)

  Social Skills: +58%

  Teamwork: 8.1

  Regen Rate: 2.9/hour

  LUCK: 10

  +10% chance to avoid catastrophic effects

  +10% improvement on chance of loot drops

  +10% improvement on quality of loot drops

  Total XP: 17,684XP to Next: 836

  Unspent Stat Points: 0Unspent Character Points: 0

  Status:

  Kirashemi +20% mana regeneration

  +60 temporary mana

  Blight Slayer

  Tier 2: +20% Wisdom

  Tier 4: +20% Intelligence

  One Shot One Kill: +10 AGI, +10 STR, +25% on XP for any foe killed by a single melee blow while not in a party.

  Air Walker

  Skills:

  Class:

  Internal Medicine: 40

  Healing Hands: 120 - 3 health/mana

  Regrowth: 60

  Generic

  Running: 16

  Swimming: 32

  First Aid: 132

  Synergy: Add ½ First Aid level to any healing spell regardless of

  Normal tier cap.

  Speak Languages: 8 (Commons, Moon Elf, Sun Elf, Dwarven, Minotaur, Orcish, Treant, Draconic)

  Balance: 240

  Rogue

  Stealth: 45

  Bluff: 10

  Combat

  Sneak Attack: 65

  Improved Critical Strike: 20

  Short Blades: 65

  Weapon Specialization: Short Blades: 60

  Double Strike: 16

  Flanking: 10

  Agile Strike: 36

  Light Armor Proficiency: 10

  Preferred Enemy (Fiend): 60

  Bravery Skills:

  Crippling Strike: 40

  Fury Skills:

  Targeted Strike: 32

  Stamina Skills:

  Dodge: 1

  General Magical

  Quicken Spell: 21

  Focus: Essence Magic: 40

  Focus: Conjuration Magic: 20

  Esoteric Sense: 10

  Spell Mastery- Heal: 20

  Spell Mastery- Acid Spear: 10

  Spell Mastery- Summon Celestial Avatar: 20

  Spell Mastery- Improved Regeneration: 30

  Spell Mastery- Radiant Shell: 20

  Hybrid Magical

  Gather Shadows: 20

  Divine Bond: 60

  Smite Evil: 60

  Judgment: 40

  Bleeding Strike: 40

  Magical Schools

  Abjuration: 60

  Lesser Consecration

  Lesser Cancel Magic

  Conjuration: 60

  Minor Messenger Bird

  Acid Spear

  Summon Celestial Avatar

  Essence Magic: 60

  Minor Heal

  Minor Blessing

  Minor Cure Poison

  Minor Blight

  Lesser Regeneration

  Lesser Heal

  Life Salve

  Heal

  Gear:

  High Steel Dagger of Piercing

  Dagger: Mage Slayer

  Moon Elf Leathers

  Cloak of Fleeting Shadows

  Ring of Mana Regeneration (unworn)

  Ring of Noble Command

  Epic Ring of Blended Resources

  Wand of Fireballs

  Wand of Shadow Spears

  Tabernacle of the Gods

  Wolf Fang Earring

  Throwing Stars

  *she refuses to age beyond 39

  Eloria is conflict, and sometimes the greatest conflict can be with the scale or the calendar.

  Chapter Six

  “Being a parent often feels like juggling flaming brands while standing atop a stack of dynamite as the Jaws theme music plays in the background.” – expression credited to the Warlord of Talos by historians although there is much dispute about just what Jaws theme music is.

  Baldora, Capital of Miromar- David Nelson

  He was a father for the fourth time, and the wonder was no less than before. The experience had been different, with magic and potions replacing machinery and drugs, but Emily had just given him another son. It was amazing to him how he could love another new person just as much as he loved his other kids.

  When he fell in love with Emily, he thought he could never possibly love anyone as much as he loved his wife. She made him ache for her—and not just in crass ways. Then when he had first held Miranda in that tiny hospital room, he had shuddered. He felt like she forced her way into his heart, and suddenly, he didn’t know how he could ever love another person like that.

  It was a different love than he had for his wife. That was a more mature love built upon an acceptance of both the good and bad parts of Emily. With little Mira, it was unconditional. It was a love so pure he didn’t know how to put words to it. He simply knew in that moment that he would do anything for that child, and nothing could ever be as important to him.

  Then Jackson came, and his world changed again. It had been two years of wonder and stress. Being a parent was hard—dang hard at times—but the smiles and little kisses Mira planted on his cheek… Somehow, now he loved two people both with infinite love. The math didn’t add up, but it was true all the same.

  And, of course, his heart expanded once again when Sara was born. He felt like he was living that scene from the Grinch where his heart expanded three sizes. His children became his life. His duty was to protect them. Looking back, Dave could admit that while all of that was true, he had lost his way. He had almost lost Emily over it.

  No, he needed to think of her as Emiri, but he’d been calling her Emily for a very long time. It was hard to adapt. To him, she was still the same woman. She had always been fierce. He was just glad that she was finally adjusting to their new lives. There had been a great many scares since arriving in Eloria. Yet, if he was honest with himself, this past year had been the greatest of his life.

  Maybe he shouldn’t admit it—especially now amidst the turmoil of two missing children—but he had hope. It wasn’t the same thing as Emil… Emiri’s faith. Oh sure, he believed in Shanelle and to a lesser extent the other Gods. It would have been hard not to since they spoke to his wife, and well… there was magic.

  He just didn’t trust in them to solve his problems. Dave had always been more of a God helps those who help themselves sorta guy. Even more so here in Eloria where his growth and power could be objectively measured.

  Those thoughts danced through his head as Dave left the apartment granted to him and Emiri by King Albret. He needed to check in and find out the status of what was going on. Jackson wouldn’t have waited. He knew his son too well, so he was already out with the team looking for hostages.

  Emiri would keep their new son safe. It was obvious that she struggled with what the Seer said. She would, of course. Before he left, Emiri confirmed that those were the words of her Goddess delivered by the Seer. It was hard for her, but she had her faith.

  Dave also believed that there might be some truth to those words. He would need some time to process it, but he wasn’t one to leave things to destiny. In the end, his decision was simple. He didn’t know where Mira or Sara were. If he had, he likely would have rushed to Sara since she was the youngest—and, in his estimation, the least able to take care of herself.

  He did, however, know where Jackson was, or rather Albret’s war council would know where he was. So that was where Dave was headed now. The war council probably needed to hear at least part of what the Seer had to say as well.

  The guards didn’t even ask Dave who he was before allowing him into the strategy room. When he walked in, everyone looked up, and he received a range of nods of the head or even some slight bows. It was good to be respected.

  Of course, that respect came for a variety of reasons, and Dave wasn’t sure he could have said which one was more significant. He was a foreign noble, and not just any noble but arguably the most powerful duke with the ear of the king of the most militarily powerful human nation. Then there was the fact that his son was engaged to the princess and, as things stood, would someday become the king of Miromar.

  But if Dave had to guess, the thing that got him the most respect was that he was 5th Tier. He was the first example of that in the past 1000 years of recorded history on Talos. Some might have doubted, but word of his accomplishments had spread enough for people to believe it.

  Albret was the first to speak, “So, how is your new son and the chosen?”

  It didn’t surprise Dave that the king already knew the gender of their child. The servants and healers who had assisted with the delivery were his. “They are both doing well. I left them so they could get some sleep. Besides, there is much to be done.”

  “A noble’s work is never done,” one of the barons said.

  “Would that it was always so,” Albret said.

  “Well, at least the good nobles. The ones who see their obligation to the people rather than simply enjoying the perks,” Dave added.

  He and Albret exchanged a look. Dave had quickly come to like the Miromaran king. He was a man who cared about his people. Sure, he might live a bit of an opulent lifestyle, but he was also a man who worked to improve his nation for all its residents. It was easy to see why Emiri had taken a liking to both the king and queen.

  “I’d like to discuss where I might find Jackson, but first, a Seer of Shanelle came and spoke to my wife with a prophetic word for her. I believe that the men in this room should hear it, but I will defer to Albret if he wishes it to be a royal secret.”

  As much as Albret was a good guy, he was born and bred a noble and sometimes couldn’t help playing the games of nobility. Dave still wasn’t used to that and didn’t want to become used to it. Transparency was key to him. Of course, he was honest enough with himself to admit that it was easier for him since no one wanted to mess with a Tier 5.

  There were whispers around the room about the Seer. Apparently, she was a known entity here in the capital at least. It drove home the point that there was so much more that Dave still hadn’t to learn about Eloria.

  Albret frowned but was savvy enough to know that the cat was out of the bag so to speak. “I defer to your judgment, Duke Nelson.”

  “She gave three words or prophecies. They are a bit different from the prophecies I read about in stories as a child. The first one was for my family only. The third one is something I will only share with the king, but the second one is relevant to what you are doing here.”

  Then Dave recited the Seer’s words exactly. The benefits of putting points into Intelligence showed up at moments like this. He still wouldn’t agree with Mira that it was the best stat ever, but the processing and recall were amazing.

  “War is coming. It is inevitable, but the shape and outcome of the war are still yours to influence. Strength, wisdom, and charisma will all be needed to forge the best future. Neglect any of them and many will suffer needlessly. It is who rises from the battle of nine nations that is most important for the future of your family, Talos, and all of Eloria.”

  The room was strangely quiet following such a proclamation as all eyes in the room fell on Albret. He took a moment before speaking. “I’ve never heard of the Seer being wrong. Sometimes, it can be hard to understand what she says, but enough of this message is clear that we can draw some conclusions.”