Chapter 57. Cryomancer

  We split the raid into four groups of five. Each group had one member that was around level ten, then a healer, a tank or someone who could pass as a tank, and three damage dealers. The goal was to power level as best we could by farming the first level of the dungeon, which was always the same: packs of mobs in twos and threes without any traps or puzzles. I got placed with Rowan, Janica, Cassandra, and Kab. The entire group was stuck near level one, except for Kab who was level nine and also our healer. Once we had gotten a few levels, we would leave the dungeon and go kill Cats nearby in hopes that we could get a specific, very low percentage drop, that would allow us to counteract Clarity’s self-healing buff. Then we would rejoin the rest of the guild, regroup as a raid, then attack Clarity. With at least one pure fire, ice, and earth mage, we figured we could destroy the tanks in the room that gave Clarity his power. I would act as backup with all schools of magic.

  One part of Clarity’s arsenal we didn’t have a plan for; we didn’t yet know how to counter Clarity’s tank of shadow magic, the one that he had used to trap Janica and I. And, presumably, the source of his illusions. But, hopefully, a plan would emerge. If our assessment of the mechanic was off, well, then we’d improvise. At least we had healers, magic users, and tanks.

  Before we started, I purchased my upgraded ring from the quartermaster. The 250 Silver price tag hurt, but I needed to spend the money. The old Warren stirred inside of me, angry that I would spend money on myself. The new me was committed to taking necessary risks. Still. It hurt.

  Edreru’s Graduate Ring

  Cost: 250 Silver

  +4 to all stats

  Required Reputation: 7000

  We descended the steps to the first level, expecting Madmen and Wraiths. Instead, we found Harpies. A whole flock of them. They sat at tables around the room, set with silver flatware, plates and goblets. White linens and dozens of candles provided ambiance. And Harpy waiters fluttered between tables, pouring wine and water. At the setting nearest us, five Harpies gossiped, carefully cutting into cuts of meat with forks and knives. Apparently, we had interrupted dinner time at a fancy restaurant.

  Skeletal Harpy

  Level 12, Elite

  HP: 120/120

  Stamina: 200/200

  Mana 140/140

  Unlike other harpies we had faced, these ones didn’t have flesh. They were bone and feathers. They looked like skeletons with wings. And claws. And teeth.

  “What do we do?” I asked, disturbed that we weren’t facing the Madmen and Wraiths that we had expected. “Try floor six instead?”

  Behind us, the doors closed.

  “Guess we’re staying,” I said.

  “This is just plain eerie,” Cassandra said. “When have you ever seen a dungeon level completely change?”

  “I haven’t,” said Kab.

  “They’re going to have Silence,” Janica said. “They’re so close together. Can we even pull a single group?”

  I switched my Job from Pytomancer to Cryomancer. I needed a skill from each of the two schools anyway, but Cryomancer fit the situation better. I needed some crowd control. I changed my Loadout to the full Cryomancer build. I kept all of the three ice spells, trusting Kab to do the healing. I also kept the Cryomancer passive.

  Current Loadout:

  ● Job: Cryomancer

  ● Passive 1: Damaging an enemy with a frost spell causes a Chill effect that lasts for 12 seconds. Every stack of Chill reduces a target’s movement and haste by 33%. When a target reaches 3 Chill effects, they become Frozen for 4 seconds. Frozen enemies are unable to move or act until they thaw. Cost to buy: 400 JP.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  ● Passive 2: Spiritual Embodiment. Cost to maintain: 2 Stamina/second.

  ● Skill 1: Ice Nova: Release Ice in a ring around you, freezing all targets within 4 yards for 4 seconds and doing D/6 damage. Cost: 15 mana. Cooldown: 8 seconds. Cost to buy: 150 JP

  ● Skill 2: Bomb Cyclone: Hurl a ball of ice toward a location where it explodes, dealing D/2 damage to all targets with 3 yards. Cooldown: 8 seconds. Cost: 30 mana. Cost to buy: 300 JP.

  ● Skill 3: Frost Bolt: Shoot a shard of frost at a target, dealing D damage. Cast time: 2 seconds. Cost: 20 Mana. Cost to buy: 200 JP.

  ● On Level Up: +2 to Constitution, +4 to Dexterity, +2 to Intelligence, +1 to Wisdom, +0 to Strength, +0 to Perception

  I kind of loved this build. With the passive, every single frost spell would slow a target and reduce their Haste. The possibilities to completely shut down a group of enemies was massive. Unfortunately, my Dexterity was only thirty-two which meant that I wasn’t going to be doing much damage, but I was still excited about it. Another minus was that I was back to level one and about to level up as a Cryomancer. But I needed the JP so there was nothing I could do about leveling up in a Job that didn’t give me the best stats. Getting massive stat bonuses would have to wait until I was able to play as an Elementalist.

  I noticed that Rowan was in her Spartan build, Cassandra was an Assassin. Kab had switched to a new Job as well, unlocked by the three healing spells that the group had discovered, all based on Wisdom and target’s max health. His Job was a Priest.

  “I’ll try to pull a group,” Rowan said, looking at me. “If it doesn’t work, do you think you can use your Sleep Song?”

  “Sure,” I said, “though I might put you all to sleep in the process.”

  Rowan pulled out a knife and threw it at a Harpy at the nearest table.

  Each Harpy at the table turned. Hungry eyes locked on us. Thankfully, we hadn’t alerted the other tables.

  All four of the skeletons flew at us, claws outstretched, like eagles descending at their prey.

  Rowan charged at them, meeting them halfway. She casted Tempo, and I saw a haste buff appear on my interface. She raised her shield, and began dodging and spearing at the Harpies.

  Janica charged in next, stunning the entire group. She whirled to the back of the group and cleaved at their legs with her two handed mace.

  Cassandra slipped around the back of the mobs, her body nearly invisible. She lunged at the target flanking her sister. Its health dropped by 20%.

  With the mobs grouped up, I wanted to throw a couple Bomb Cyclones in the mix and see some massive numbers pop up, but in IO it was possible to damage your own party. I didn’t want to blow up my own group. Instead, I started casting Frost Bolts. I had 115 mana, and I needed to use every bit of it. I fired at Cassandra’s target again and again, inflicting thirty-two damage each time. In two casts, it was down.

  I glanced at Rowan's health, which had fallen to 40% fast. But a buff popped up on her.

  Mending. Healing 5% of max health each time struck. 8 charges.

  Kab casted another healing spell, sending her health to 65%. He casted another. It must have crit because her health shot to 100%.

  Rowan lost aggro, and the Harpies charged at Kab who stood beside me.

  In response, Cassandra stunned one of the three.

  It turned, facing her. The harpy flapped its black, feathery wings, lifting itself up into the air, sending a gust of wind in all directions. Cassandra was sent back flying into the wall behind her.

  Janica had her back to the room and she tumbled through the air toward another table of dining Harpies. It pulled the group.

  Janica righted herself. “We have adds!” She yelled.

  “Slow them!” I said. “And kite! Everyone focus the first group.”

  I started casting a Bomb Cyclone at the new group, a three second cast.

  Janica threw on sword and shield and sliced across the group, adding a Bleed to each of them and slowing them to half speed. She turned, in time, and charged back into the group that now had us cornered by the door.

  A giant ball of ice tumbled through the air. My Bomb Cyclone landed, adding a stack of Chill to the group and sending two twenty-one’s and critting one of the mobs for forty-two. Numbers floated up above the enemies.

  Next to me, Kab healed himself while Janica, Cassandra and Rowan pummeled the two remaining harpies.

  I approached the group of four Harpies that came toward us at a crawl, slowed by Janica’s Slowing effect and my Chill effects.