Shada waited until the next day when Luca recovered, before he broached the subject of the Hidden Quest to his family. It was the next evening and the family were gathered in the main room of the cottage snacking on a late dinner. Shada was roaming around in his ghost cat form. Luca was playing on a rug. The rest of the family was gathered around the kitchen table.
“So I have another problem we need to discuss,” Shada said to Shinobin, Alexzandrous, and Vanestra.
“Do I even want to know what trouble you are bringing to my doorstep today, dear grandson?” Vanestra asked in amusement.
“Hey, I never cause trouble, I just seem to be nearby when things happen. Anyhow, when Hag Gabby died I got a System Quest…” Shada said bluntly as everyone’s attention focused on him.
“Well everyone involved with that mess saw the Hidden Quest and got an appropriate reward for participating,” Alexzandrous said, obviously missing Shada’s point.
“Did everyone get part 2?” Shada asked curiously.
“Part 2? There was no part 2, I killed that creature and that was that ,” Alexzandrous said casually.
“I have a Message in my Guide saying otherwise. It seems she essentially cut off her own body to escape. She is somewhere in Westlin and the Quest Notification says I need to track her down, again, as part of a team and eliminate her,” Shada said.
“Share the prompt with us,” Alexzandrous demanded. “What is the damn System thinking sending a low level spirit transpiring after a Hag?” Alexzandrous was shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.
It didn’t take Shada more than a moment to figure out how to share the prompt.
Alexzandrous swore in several languages, including a few completely new to Shada.
After he calmed down Vanestra spoke up and turned to Shinobin. “ShiShi? What happened to the patient? Ms. Esabela?” She asked in concern.
“I sent them to the Temple for more advanced treatment.”
“Did you follow up?”
“No, I assumed that the curse broke when the Hag died. I figured she was released and sent home after. Why? What do you think happened?” Shonobin asked worriedly.
“Possession, with her body dead, an ancient creature like Hag Gabby, likely knew how to linger after death. If she did, as the Quest obviously tells us, then the most likely thing is that she possessed her last victim, Ms. Esabela,” Vanestra explained.
“So, I should start by checking on Ms. Esabela?” Shada asked.
“Of course not! The Quest says you can have a team and so we will get you a team. We were looking into getting you attached to a group of young Delvers, but with this we must accelerate our plan,” Vanestra said decisively.
After much discussion it was decided that members of the Temple needed to be included. Shada suggested Acolyte Vreen and Squire Brumo since they were also near his level, but others suggested a more mature group. Final decisions were put off until the Temple was contacted.
—
The message from the Temple supported Vanestra’s theory. Ms. Esabela was missing and had escaped the curse breakers before her link to the Hag could be severed. No one knew where she had ran off to or what kind of trouble she might be in. While Inquistor Jeris wanted to be involved he had agreed that his involvement would reduce the Quest rewards too much so had assigned Squire Brumo and Acolyte Vreen as Shada’s permanent companions and future Delve partners.
Mina had made some inquiries with the Adventurer’s Guild and found three individuals that she thought would be perfect for Shada’s team. Their names were Alo, Frea, and Carsan. Alo was a Physical Cultivator with a focus on strength and endurance, Frea was also a Physical Cultivator, but focused on speed and agility. Carson followed a hybrid Path focused on dexterity and perception from the Physical and Mental Paths. With the trio’s addition Shada thought they had a well rounded team.
Shada amused himself by slotting his new companions into the classic game roles that they seemed to match so well. Alo with his large stocky build, high strength, and exceptional endurance fit the roles of tank and secondary damage dealer almost too well. Frea’s slender graceful build, with high agility and speed, lent itself well to the rogue/assassin roles. Carson was obviously the ranger/scout type with his high perception and dexterity based hybrid Path. Acolyte Vreen followed the Spiritual Path focused on the faith and channeling attributes, which made them perfect for the healer/cleric roles. Finally Squire Brumo was an actual paladin in training with a focus on strength and channel from his hybrid Physical/Spiritual Paths, which gave him a particularly high damage output. Warrior, rogue, range, cleric, wizard, and paladin made Shada think he was part of a role playing game campaign, but with the death and danger being real and personal.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The new team gathered in a private room of one of the local taverns to hash out plans. Mina had made basic introductions before departing. Shada was in his ghost cat form for the occasion and sat between Brumo and Vreen who say facing the trio of Alo, Frea, and Carsan. Of course everyone was silent. They were all young, except Shada of course, in their early 20s and late teens. There wasn’t a single Social Cultivator among them so Shada took it upon himself to play leader. He wasn’t going to take orders from kids after all.
“Alright, let’s get this meeting started. As you know I am Shada and I am the one forming this team. Though as your Contracts all stated you are to act as if I am simply Acolyte Vreen’s familiar in public if asked. For all intents and purposes I will be acting as the general leader for the group. We will likely need someone to act as combat leader and someone to act as social leader.”
“I have a question,” Frea said. “What the hell are you?” she asked while staring at the talking ghost cat with wide eyes.
“Didn’t anyone tell you? Surely Mina explained what she could right?” Shada asked in confusion.
“Nope, we were only told that we had the opportunity to join a well funded Delve team backed by the famed Aseralis family. No one mentioned a talking see through cat,” Frea replied.
Shada grumbled to himself in annoyance, which took far more effort than it should since he had to Conjure the sounds via Material Manipulation just to talk. “Ok, then I guess I need to start from the begginning. You are all under secrecy Contracts with the System. So I can tell you more about what is going on. My full name is Shada Aseralis, as you may have guessed I am obviously a spirit. I needed a Delve team and partners for a System Quests. So my family organized things for me with Mina’s help. You are the chosen members of that team. Squire Brumo and Acolyte Vreen here have been working with me at the Root clinics so already know a lot about me, but for everyone else I walk the Magical Paths with a focus on will and intent. I have several high Tier Skills that make me rather magically versatile,” Shada said as he Conjured earthenware mugs of water and plates of mage bread in front of each person at the table. “As you can see my specialty is Conjuring and I also have a particularly acute Essence sense Skill and the ability to provide Holy Essence.”
Everyone stared at the Conjured food in shock. Brumo and Vreen had the most idea of what Shada could do as they worked with him fairly often, but he had never shown off his Conjuring abilities in their presence. The trio didn’t know what to think. They hadn’t realized they would be working for a magical spirit of all things, let alone a talking magical spirit that could use Holy Essence.
“What? I mean why? Why would you need a team? You are a Blessed Spirit!” Carsan explained.
“I recognize that many see me as Blessed and in a way it is in fact true, but I prefer to just be thought of as a regular spirit…” Shada trailed off as he realized how ridiculous the idea of a ‘regular spirit’ was. “Or rather, please just think of me as another person if you can. I am no higher level than any of you. I need experience and want to make my own way in the world without being totally reliant on my family.”
“Oi, how does a spirit have a family? Are ye a ghost or some such?” Alo asked in an odd accent.
“That is rather complicated and I can’t explain at this time. If it helps you can think of me as a spirit bound to the Aseralis family instead.”
“So we are being led by a spirit? Did I drink too much?” Carsan asked.
“Shada is a Blessed Spirit, but a kind and helpful soul. I see no problem following his lead,” Brumo added his input.
“Of course you would think that. You are a paladin’s squire after all, but this is all just so weird,” Frea said. “So to be clear we are forming a Delve team under the Aseralis family with a spirit as our leader? Is everyone on the same page?” she asked while looking around at the group.
There were nods, some confused, some hesitant, but nods all around.
“I am glad we could clear that up. There are plenty of things we need to discuss. First, as I understand it, official adventuring teams need a name. I am open to suggestions. I want us all to be partner’s in this endeavor even if I get final say,” Shada said.
Discussion of team names seemed to break the ice among the newly formed group. They spent a long time discussing names, talking about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and overall tried to get comfortable with each other. They couldn’t decide on a name. Shada participated, but spent more time watching than talking.
“There Is something else we need to discuss,” Shada said after everyone had relaxed, which included the clergy. It seems they were more casual among their peers, Shada thought.
“What be that oh great and powerful spirit leader?” Alo asked cheerily after having ordered a few too many drinks.
“The Quests of course,” Shada said as he shared the System prompt with the others whose eyes grew large. Quests were apparently rare coveted things.
“You were part of that mess down in the Shelves?” Frea asked in surprise.
“I was, in fact, part of the Hag hunt and the Banishing Ritual. Though my role was kept secret from the general public. Acolyte Vreen here was part of the early investigation as well.”
“Shada has an exceptional perception Skill and was able to track the Hag down from the trail leading from one of its victims. It is beyond a normal mortal’s ability to bear according those who he has shared it with or at least that is what the High Inquisitor told us when we were assigned to this group,” Vreen said.
“You talked with the High Inquisitor?” Carsan asked in surprise.
“Yes, he is very intimidating, but Brumo and I were assigned as permanent representatives of the clergy to liaison with Shada,” Vreen explained.
“Oi, don’t be getting sidetrack ya hear me? We have an honest to goodness System Quest staring us in the face!” Alo called everyone’s attention back to the topic of discussion.
“You are right Alo. So from what my family has been able to learn Ms. Esabela, the victim of Hag Gabby that led us to the Hag’s lair, went missing. It is suspected that she has been possessed by Hag's spirit. I personally suspect she must still be in the city as the entrances and exits are rather well guarded and her likeness has been spread around to the Guard, but this is an Ancient Hag we are dealing with. There is no knowing what tricks she has. So let’s figure out how to start tracking her down. I am open to suggestions.”
“Where would we even start?” Frea asked while tapping her chin. “Westlin isn’t a huge city, but it isn’t small either. “
“It seems obvious, to me at least, that the place to start would be Ms. Esabela’s residence,” Carsan suggested. “We should be able to pick up traces we can track with Skill and spells. I am a good tracker, but I need something to guide my Skills.”
“That is actually a great idea Carsan! Squire Brumo you have contacts with the Guard right? Do you think you can find out where she lived?” Shada asked.
“That shouldn’t be a problem. Several of my brothers are in the Guard. I can ask first thing tomorrow.”
“So we have a place to start. We need to practice working together and coordinating our abilities. Is anyone good at tactics or battle formations?” Shada asked.
“Aye, I am boss spirit, my family have been fighters of some sort for generations. I have been taught how to fight and lead a combat team since I was a wee one,” Alo said. “We need a place to train, but I can lead us once we have one.”
The as yet to be named team continued discussing plans well into the night. Alo actually passed out drunk. Frea proved to be the most social of the group and Carsan provided plenty of intelligent insight. Vreen and Brumo were more reserved and didn’t drink nearly as much as the others. Shada thought they would all make a solid team.
What should Shada's team name be?
