AbyssalRoadTrip
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Abyssal Road Trip - 215 - Out of sight
🕑 Added 2022-07-09 23:44:29 +0000 UTCAmdirlain’s PoV - Maze
Without the vines hampering her, Amdirlain pushed Ki Movement and distributed keys far quicker than she’d expected. Exploring her way through a new area of foul spirits, she spent a few days locating chambers before she got started. The first unit that appeared took a step back from her, though its spear stayed levelled at her chest.
“Please return to your assigned accommodation.”
Amdirlain waved the request off and continued with her plan. “You pointed out the thorns when they broke through my flesh a while back. Were you surprised or just making conversation?”
“Their attitudes do not align with yours. Even if they were an intended occupant, they should not be able to appear in such a manner with you.”
“Well, you folks haven’t been paying attention,” snorted Amdirlain. “It’s burst out of me before that fight.”
The unit circled her and slowly shifted the range between them to the limit of its spear. “We do not monitor everything within the Maze.”
“Orhêthurin linked the concept of knowledge to the redemption path. I want to speak to Gideon, Knowledge’s aspect. That is his name, isn’t it?”
“You’ve heard from Gideon frequently. I’m surprised you wish to hear from him again. Didn’t you want to strangle him?”
Amdirlain let out a long exhalation before she spoke again. “Gideon is who sends me the snarky messages?”
“His role is to know and to share that knowledge when appropriate. As for the tone of his messages, perhaps that is because he knows you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“He’d certainly understood you’d respond better to a challenge than someone holding your hand. Though he gave you knowledge that wasn’t appropriate, I’m not allowed to assist you, Amdirlain. Return to your assigned accommodation.”
As to emphasise its point, the unit jabbed its spear toward her.
“How is talking to Gideon about the redemption path assisting me with the Maze?”
“The rules are clear. The Titan must remain unbiased.”
“I’m not asking Orhêthurin’s father to help me,” retorted Amdirlain, curious to see what reaction that would gain.
“What!”
“They kept the secret that well,” Amdirlain laughed and gave the unit a broad smile. “I have a request to restore balance.”
“The issue between yourself and those things isn’t a matter of balance. Since you allowed it to be done, you’ll need to correct it.”
The unit lunged, using a grip far along the haft to gain as much range as possible. Amdirlain flowed past the spear tip to seize the haft, and her kick burst the shell apart. Her momentum barely slowed, and a follow-on sent the head down the hall.
“At least I can get stronger.”
She’d barely managed the retort before the subsequent two units appeared. Inspired by Orhêthurin’s memory of Ijmti’s plant life, she kept listening for minds as the fighting progressed. When the vines started to shift and flex within her flesh, she caught the edge of their thoughts. When she allowed the coordination of Tier 6s to increase the pressure on her to prolong the fight, they stirred further. Before their jabbing spears, she deliberately retreated into a chamber and allowed them to surround her.
As the units appeared to gain the upper hand, the vines’ reactions sharpened, and she sipped at the surface of their awareness amid the static. The picture she gained was badly incomplete, but two things she discovered: the vines had a mind within them, and a group, not a single entity opposed her. One vine pressed a thorn tip hard beneath the surface of her skin, and its awareness snapped into focus. Rather than mentally attack it, she kept a light touch against its mind, trying to understand how it perceived the world around it.
With her attention split between the fight and its mind; only her quickness let her keep ahead of their attacks. Their jabs hit home more frequently than before, but the vines still bided their time despite the injuries. It took half an hour of enduring constant harassment for Amdirlain to gain a proper connection, but Telepathy and Harmony eventually bridged the gap. When the breakthrough occurred, the impressions from its mind gained elaborate details. Sound painted the units and the corridors in swirls of colour with every footfall, strike, or block.
Those perceptions of the world around her made it clear the vines possessed something close to Tremor Sense and saw the world by the sounds on Amdirlain’s skin. Their common ground allowed Amdirlain a route to understanding its thoughts. It was genuinely aware, not merely an animal’s instincts or reflex reactions, and she could feel complex thoughts churning away. With the wall of static still between them, she didn’t push further into its mind.
[Acoustic Mapping Unlocked!
Acoustic Mapping (1)
Acoustic Mapping greater synergy detected with Tremor Sense!
Acoustic Mapping (1) -> [B](1)]
I need to figure out how to connect to out-of-sync minds. If I can get proper mental contact, I’ll see how well they handle psionic combat.
Tempted as she was to finish the units, she instead teleported away. The notification appeared with her arrival in her chamber.
[Combat Summary:
Maze Guardian - Tier 1 x 258
Maze Guardian - Tier 2 x 514
Maze Guardian - Tier 3 x 1,026
Maze Guardian - Tier 4 x 2,050
Maze Guardian - Tier 5 x 4,098
Maze Guardian - Tier 6 x 36
Total Experience gained: 202,592,800
Fallen: +40,518,560
Fallen Level Up!
Scion: +40,518,560
Scion Level Up!
Sora Master: +40,518,560
Sora Master Level Up!
Psion: +40,518,560
Psion Level Up!
Warrior Monk: +40,518,560
Warrior Monk Level Up!
Advanced Telepathy [M] (1->2):
Free Movement [J] (25->26)
Tremor Sense [J] (31 -> 32)
Clairsentience [M] (24->25)
Perception [M] (54->55)
Psychoportation [M] (16->17)
Telekinesis [M] (26->27)]
Amdirlain’s injuries were healed by the time she collected Rasha’s pouch from atop her dress. Its folded fabric niggled at her, and she slipped it on amid a brief desire for normality. The trip through the corridors with its fabric brushing against her skin felt strange after long weeks naked. She had nearly reached the stairs when she recognised the reassurance being clothed brought her, despite the fragile material.
Once she arrived in the main corridor, Amdirlain raced past the regions where she’d distributed keys and forced herself to ignore them. She spent days racing along the corridor, noting one region after another of various foul sensations until she finally found one that triggered a reaction from Precognition. The place had a militaristic feel: the stern discipline of a drill sergeant and that acceptance reserved only for experienced comrades at arms.
It suited Amdirlain’s purpose, an area where the occupants wouldn’t be entirely alien but out-of-sync enough to challenge her Advanced Telepathy. When she ventured beyond the stairs, she found the corridors of the region’s maze shared a disciplined approach that matched its atmosphere. Instead of the organic curving passages elsewhere, every path had sharp, ninety-degree corners. Their twists and turns didn’t run outwards from the stairs like veins but frequently reconnected to the one they left. Still, like all areas, the lack of distinguishing marks made it easy to get turned around, and Amdirlain explored carefully. One chamber after another was empty, but the plant life made it clear their inhabitants were elsewhere in the region, so Amdirlain left behind keys.
The fifth chamber was perfectly square and contained an old olive tree that seemed planted deliberately off-centre. Its thick, gnarled base forked into two branches that reached out erratically, almost as if to challenge the region’s discipline. There wasn’t an aura in sight, so Amdirlain moved to leave a key in the area’s hidey-hole.
Upon rounding the tree, Amdirlain spotted the outline of a figure slumped against the tree, out of sight from the corridor. Unlike all the other auras she’d see in various regions, the figure wasn't childlike; instead, the aura marked the outline of a human woman wracked with hunger pains. Above her head, branches ladened with ripe olives dipped down as if to tempt her to eat, but she didn’t even look up at them.
Amid the pain in her aura, regret and sorrow weighed her down, and Amdirlain winced in sympathy. Without thinking, Amdirlain held a key out to her, but the colours of her aura didn’t even flicker. Not sure what else to do, Amdirlain set the key down on her leg and got an immediate reaction, just not one Amdirlain had expected. She’d barely released the key when the woman snatched it from her leg and threw it in one motion.
The key splashed down directly in a small water basin near the hidey-hole and disappeared beneath the water. But the woman’s focus wasn’t on the key she’d thrown away but on the Amdirlain’s pouch of keys, and she gestured imperiously to leave. Not sure if she could see her, Amdirlain moved the bag towards the hidey-hole with Far Hand and watched her focus shift with them.
The moment the woman’s pain spiked, the strength of the emotion cut through the mental static and, shame-faced, Amdirlain stopped herself from playing games.
Retrieving the key from the water, Amdirlain returned it to the pouch and tried to push a question into the woman’s mind. “Who are you?”
The woman tumbled away and flowed to her feet, raising her hands as she did, ready to defend herself.
“I won’t attack you. But why don’t you want a key to get out of here?”
Among broken fragments of other thoughts came a piece of a response. “Should be dead.”
“I’m not a ghost.”
“I should be.” To emphasise her words, the woman slapped a hand against her stomach.
Amdirlain moved closer and, with Ki Infusion activated, rested a hand on the woman’s shoulder and felt a dress’ cloth beneath her fingers. “You’re not dead and don’t have to die.”
The woman’s hand slapped against her stomach with more force than before, adding physical pain to her sorrow. Through the mental static, Amdirlain caught a repetition of thought. “I want to be dead.”
“I hope it's okay to put my hand on your shoulder. It's easier to hear your thoughts this way. Will you help me practise talking to your mind?.”
“Why?”
“Maybe we can help each other,” offered Amdirlain, and the woman’s hand rose to clasp, pleading at her energised arm.
“Can you kill me?” The intensity of her desire cut through the mental static.
“I don’t kill for no reason.”
At Amdirlain’s refusal, the woman bent with her arms wrapped around her stomach. “End my pain, please. The food does something, and I don’t want my mind to fade away further. End me.”
“I've got an ability that I hope can help with your hunger. Will you let me help so we can talk without its distraction?”
Amdirlain focused on the form beneath her touch at the woman's sharp nod. It took some time, but she felt the Sustenance technique established a connection, and the hunger eased from her aura. “Tell me about yourself, and if I agree, I’ll help. Maybe we can both learn a few things."
“What do you want help with?”
“I need to practise telepathy on minds out of phase with mine. Do I sound clear to you?”
She could feel the woman consider the question, and eventually, she replied. “I can hear you clearer with your hand on my shoulder.”
“Who are you?”
“Athena.”
Amdirlain released Athena’s shoulder and slid her foot back, only to stop with the kick partly started. Rage pulsed through her and Amdirlain didn’t fight it as much as redirect it through the pattern. It was a rage that echoed deep inside her, but the phoenix’s pattern effortlessly guided Orhêthurin’s rage and her own.
[Name: Athena
Species: Spirit of war, strategy and wisdom
Class: Commander
Level: 40
Health: 640
Defence: 32
Melee Attack Power: 42
Combat Skills: Spear [G] (224), Gladius [S] (194)
Details: Having given her Mantle to Minerva, she died from separation backlash because of her self-identification and dependency on it. She backed out of an offer of service to Hestia at the last minute, resulting in her painting the town, or at least a bunch of folks, red.]
She died after giving up her Mantle, so divine potential but no longer divine. Where I got destroyed handing mine to Ebusuku while considered a pseudo-power, hopefully, that means none of the other Greek gods got this second chance. I wonder if a Demon Lord counts as a pseudo-power?
“Guess you should have sworn that oath to Hestia after all,” noted Amdirlain coldly, trying to deal with the rage growing inside her.
“Who are you?” asked Athena, her mind adjusting quickly to the shock of Amdirlain’s unseen presence.
“Amdirlain. You know, the one your brother tried to consume.”
Athena threw herself backwards at the casual pronouncement, and she scrambled to get away from Amdirlain’s unseen presence.
“How?”
The fear in the thought pushed it through the static, and Amdirlain blurred forward to grab Athena’s arm. Again, the physical contact cut down on the static as Athena’s mind raced between hope and fear. Amdirlain caught her intention to provoke a fight and lightly tightened her grip in a warning.
“I’d prefer talking to you presently, and sorry, but I’m not going to assume you're helpless like your brother did to me.”
Athena’s gaze narrowed as she stared at where Amdirlain gripped her arm. “Your destruction preceded the Gods’ War. How do you know what Hestia offered me?”
“Not going to ask how I ended up here instead of destroyed?”
“Part of the Titan’s game, I’m sure,” muttered Athena. “That’s if you’re even real. Are you avoiding answering my question about Hestia?”
Despite knowing Athena couldn’t see her, Amdirlain couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Why, oh why, would I volunteer information to you? Why don’t you tell me something interesting, and I might return the favour.”
“Your destruction poisoned Apollo. I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that,” Athena offered, attempting to ignore Amdirlain’s sarcasm. “He and Zeus had gathered us for a surprise announcement. In the middle of Zeus telling us his plans for victory over the other pantheons, Apollo bragged about having captured you. Apollo’s screams disrupted Zeus’ requests to arrange celestials on the Mortals Plane a short time later. Apollo was in agony and had black blotches bubbling beneath his skin. His pain caused Zeus to discard his careful plans and issue rash orders instead.”
Her explanation came with the mental image of a tanned and handsome man screaming in pain while bubbling blackness swam beneath his skin.
Yin poison indeed.
“My state had me count as a pseudo-power, and the mantle separation wasn’t clean. Guess it’s unwise to count on victory before you finish the current fight. Since I actually don’t want to hurt you, let me make one thing clear.”
Amdirlain released her and flowed to the tree and let loose a kick that drew on the rage still racing through the pattern. The blow’s force shattered the tree’s base and bounced it into the corridor, leaving only a broken stump behind. Before the tree’s remains had finished dissolving, Amdirlain’s hand gripped Athena’s shoulder again.
“How are you so strong in here?”
The music she’d heard in Orhêthurin’s memory and its interaction with the mantles’ rules had explained much. While she was sure Moradin knew, from hints he’d made during the pantheon’s visit that she had only recently seen, Amdirlain wasn’t sure how best to explain.
“It’s not that I’m strong, you let yourself grow weak by acceptance of the Mantle. The more you saw it as defining yourself, the more of your strength it absorbed. Mantles allow beings to function as gods that aren’t capable of doing so on their own. The Mantle is also an aspect of the office, and all the power accumulated belongs to it, not the individual. Those who aren’t aware can easily find their personal energies and deeds having only strengthened the office.”
“We were gods before we came here,” protested Athena.
The outrage in her mind almost set Amdirlain laughing, but she projected a calm reply. “Weakened gods or you wouldn’t have sought refuge with someone you’d mistreated. And he certainly didn’t want you possessing true power again, did he?. He gave you each a Mantle and restricted you to a single world, so you couldn’t progress to be anything greater than fake gods.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll trade you for the details, but they’ll be useless here, or to you. Though if you get out, you could pass the information to Hestia. Who knows, she might even share them with the new Human pantheon that is forming.”
Athena shook her head and mentally grumbled. “Every time you tell me something, it raises more questions.”
“A Greater Power has been speaking to me; I’ve got lots of information about how things turned out. Isn’t it funny how useful having genuine friends can be?”
“Are you gloating?” asked Athena, her mental voice calm despite the pain Amdirlain could see in her aura.
Her question probed at the rage that Amdirlain could still feel within the pattern, and she had to admit the truth to reclaim it for herself. “Slightly. One Gods’ War wasn’t enough for your father. He had to start a second and didn’t stop to think that the Fates’ alliance would allow two major demons to join in. Your family’s folly allowed a former Demon Lady to execute a plan that allowed her to become the Goddess of Death, with a claim over all the humans' faithless and false souls.”
Athena’s mind pushed past the pain caused by Amdirlain’s retort, and she focused on what Amdirlain had offered instead. “How does Hestia get beyond being a mere tenant to the Mantle?”
“Only after you’ve helped me achieve my goal, then I’ll tell you. Nice how that tidbit revitalises your interest in living. Yet you don’t seem worried about all the souls that now won’t get to wait on judgement, but will get shipped to Hades instead.”
“I can’t do anything about that here. But how could I just wait for death instead of helping Hestia? But how do I know you’ll keep your word? Or that you even have that information?”
“My word is better than yours. The news I got said that you broke your word to Hestia. Even after being injured, kicked out by your father, and her worshippers persecuted, she wanted to ensure you’d live; a marvellous job you did with keeping your word to her.”
Athena shifted uncomfortably under Amdirlain’s hand, though she hadn’t tightened her grip. “I couldn’t even get dying right.”
“It was a messy death. You plastered those nearby with blood and guts.”
“After your demonstration with the tree and the rage in your mind, why should I trust you?”
“I’m not sure we’ll get on, but I don’t break promises. I’ve heard tales about you that disgust me, but I’ve no evidence they’re true. Zeus, Apollo, Artemis and others I had direct evidence of their actions or from their servants to assess them. You, I don’t, so you get to prove yourself. Though your aura shows you can be cold, I’ll give you a chance to make a decent choice. Or I could leave you here to experience starvation without relief until you give in to the lure of food.”
Athena flinched at the response and, after a moment, nodded sharply. Amdirlain didn’t give her time to voice her agreement, but continued.
“Here is what I’d like to do. I’ll let you go, so reading your mind becomes a challenge. I’d like you to think about whatever topics you want, and I’ll repeat the information. Gesture up for yes, or down if I missed elements, and we can keep working on it.”
“There are things I’ve done in the past that I regret, some of them are why I wanted to die. Will you tell me why you want me to do this? How do I know I’m not helping another monster?” asked Athena.
“You’re the first entity in here I’ve met with whom I have some common reference points, and I need to strengthen my telepathy for my plans against something that enjoys torture. You can take the key and leave, stay here forever, or you can help. If you help, then I’ll give you the information you can share with your aunt so she can avoid your fate. Deal?”
With those words, Amdirlain released her and stepped back to scoop up the pouch she’d dropped while confronting Athena.
“I wanted to die.”
“There are worse things than dying,” rebutted Amdirlain and saw Athena start. “A simple topic. Would you tell me about the countryside around Athens?”
At Amdirlain's question, Athena sat down and leaned back against the wall. Despite the anger that still churned within her, Amdirlain sat down within reach; in case she needed physical touch again to improve their mental contact. The topic had been an attempt to give Athena something neutral to think about while avoiding baiting Orhêthurin’s rage. It was quickly clear from the strength in Athena's thoughts that the recollections were causing her anguish.
Amdirlain leaned forward and placed her hand on Athena’s shoulder again. “You can change the topic to something less painful.”
“Given your attitude earlier, I thought you’d be enjoying my discomfort.”
“The provocation of old memories, but I don’t know if you were directly involved. Unlike your family, and perhaps you, I don’t hurt those undeserving of it,” retorted Amdirlain. “Now, if you’d been some of your relatives, I would have gladly shattered your limbs for you.”
“Tell that to the tree.”
Amdirlain huffed in amusement. “It will probably reappear, and you weren’t wanting to eat from it.”
“Are they all poisoned in the same way?” asked Athena.
“Yes, they are. They wipe away memories and cause your sense of time to drift. How did you realise it?”
“I tried a piece of one and then waited. When I realised something was off, I didn’t eat anymore. I was hoping I could starve to death, but that didn’t seem to work out; I just kept getting hungrier. What do you want me to share?”
“I’m not worried about what you share, so choose something less painful. My goal is to strengthen my telepathy; I’m not interested in torturing you,” replied Amdirlain, and leaned back again.
Athena’s topics jumped between the goods of various city-states, boat-building, and other crafts. Bursts of nostalgia would eventually accompany even dry details, and Athena would invariably switch topics. The mundane details, without emotional content, were the most challenging to follow, and progressively Amdirlain’s telepathy improved. The mental static obstructing their contact slowly faded with each improvement, but stayed an annoyance.
[Advanced Telepathy [M] (4->5)]
Fatigue had already set its hooks within Athena’s aura before the latest improvement, and her colours showed hunger had returned. Without warning, Amdirlain rose and rested a hand on Athena’s shoulder to ensure she wouldn’t miss any words.
“I’ll ease your hunger and come back later. In the meantime, why don’t you get some rest? Though do you mind if I leave the rest of the keys here?”
Athena had flinched at her initial touch but didn’t fight to get free from the hand resting on her shoulder. “What happens if I take them and leave?”
“You could do that if the barrier was open. It only happens during a trial, but I’d prefer you take only one key.”
“Not worried I’ll leave you stranded?”
“No, I’m sure I’ll get more keys, and I’ve one left at my hidey-hole. I’ve just been handing out spares to free others. Do you know where the stairs are from here?”
“I’ve never left this chamber,” admitted Athena.
“Well, next time I’ll start by showing you the way, so you know it’s a matter of choice if you stay. I’m going to practise, so you’ll have plenty of time to rest.”
Amdirlain placed the pouch inside the hidey-hole out of Athena’s line of sight and then folded her dress on the ground beside it. Though unsure if the dress would remain, she didn’t intend to waste days travelling back and forth between training with Athena. Teleport placed her back at a location she’d scouted previously, and the destruction of more spirits triggered the first wave.
“I’m surprised you didn’t destroy her.”
“You are chatty today. I thought you didn’t monitor the Maze?”
The unit snorted and motioned with its shield. “Gideon mentioned your tantrum.”
“Old memories and unfinished business. Are you ready to dance?”
“I’m not interested in watching you wiggle.”
“Such a comedian.” Amdirlain retorted and flowed forward to smash the unit apart. When the next units appeared, she closed her eyes and relied on Acoustic Mapping and Tremor Sense to track their movements. Not wanting to spend time on the initial tiers, she lashed out, destroying them as rapidly as they appeared with Psi techniques.
When the Tier 6s appeared at last, she slowed her pace and fought them hand to hand. The proximity of the dangerous units taunted the vines, and when their forms pressed within her flesh, her mind slithered into their thoughts. Though the static was still present, she could hear more details than before, and noted the whispers between the minds.
Eventually, she teleported back to her own chamber to heal and wash. While the combat summary wasn’t a surprise, the second notification was a shock.
[Combat Summary:
Maze Guardian - Tier 1 x 258
Maze Guardian - Tier 2 x 514
Maze Guardian - Tier 3 x 1,026
Maze Guardian - Tier 4 x 2,050
Maze Guardian - Tier 5 x 4,098
Maze Guardian - Tier 6 x 78
Total Experience gained: 206,272,000
Fallen: +41,254,400
Fallen Level Up!
Scion: +41,254,400
Scion Level Up!
Sora Master: +41,254,400
Sora Master Level Up!
Psion: +41,254,400
Psion Level Up!
Warrior Monk: +41,254,400
Warrior Monk Level Up!
Acoustic Mapping [B] (1) -> [Ap] (2)
Telekinesis [M] (27->30)]
[Fallen transformation routes unlocked by the accumulation of four hundred levels.
Options available based on accumulated class types, powers, and skills:
- Malfex
- Corruptor
- Martinet
- Profaner]
What are these?
Analysis
[Malfex:
Arcane and spiritual specialists focused on the development of their powers, whether gained from Arcane, Divine, or other sources. Dependent only upon themselves, this limits their opportunities for advancement to direct action, they gain no experience from pawns.]
[Corrupter:
Experts in luring mortals into acts of increasing depravity, they are specialists in negotiation and manipulation. These Fallen earn a portion of experience from the actions of pact-bound mortals they’ve corrupted.]
[Martinet
This route is for those who fancy themselves to be commanders though they are specialists in tyranny and the domination of others. These Fallen earn a tiny portion of experience from those members of an organisation sworn to them, regardless of if it's composed of Mortal or Immortal beings. ]
[Profaner:
Experts in physical debasement, whether from crushing foes in combat, torture, or physically forcing others to participate in deeds that horrify them. These fallen earn a portion of experience from pact-bound mortals undertaking similar actions.]
Ebusuku told me that Pip’s transformation to a Hound Archon absorbed her classes. If this has a similar effect, I can use it to absorb Prestige Classes.
Amdirlain focused on one option and tried to gain further details from Analysis.
[Malfex
Increases the chance of gaining insights into powers and skills directly related to the Fallen’s arcane and spiritual classes.
Attribute adjustments provided by new species:
+7 Strength per Level
+2 Intelligence per Level
+2 Willpower per Level
+7 Charisma per Level
+10 Free Attribute Points per Level
+8 Melee Attack Power per Level
+10 Magic per Level
+8 Defence per Level
Increased Mana recovery. ]
I don’t like the description, but what benefits does the physical route provide?
[Profaner
Increases the chance of gaining insights into physical powers and skills.
Increases the chance of gaining minor insights into available pact powers.
Increases the chance of gaining insights into intimidation and torture-related skills.
Attribute Adjustments provided by new species:
+9 Strength per Level
+3 Endurance per Level
+2 Quickness per Level
+7 Charisma per Level
+8 Free Attribute Points per Level
+10 Melee Attack Power per Level
+10 Defence per Level
Increased Health recovery. ]
It's a combat monster, but it completely loses the magic increases. If it absorbs Scion, I won’t get any further gains from that Prestige Class. The magic rating influences how hard spells hit, so losing the increases sounds like a bad idea.
Comments
Robin Richards
Ki is more relevant to her monk classes than just physical moves. It's usually considered a spiritual power so it probably falls under Malfex and Malfex does give a Willpower. If and when she takes one of these I imagine it'll be something related to that
Glenn Wright
An arc without a surprise seems like a waste. As for picking up a transformation, why rush into things?
StormyAngel
Huh, I was thinking that with how self-contained the maze was there wouldn't be much in the way of surprises to this arc. That was silly of me. Athena and the Fallen advancements were not stuff I anticipated here. It's interesting to see her interacting with someone who's not strictly an enemy, but really is guilty of some bad decisions. At the very least, Athena stood by for all the atrocities the rest of the greeks committed, although I guess that's something Hestia's also guilty of, and I like her after all. It's a very nuanced situation. Profaner really does seem closer to the monk fighting style (insofar as any of these horrid Fallen advancements *can*), but I'm surprised it doesn't boost willpower. Hopefully she can figure out a good route to her advancement. I'll be astonished if she picks one before getting to level 100 though, or possibly 110 as she'd originally intended.
